DiamondCentric

Following up on their previous reporting, Kevin Barral, Isaac Azout and Ely Sussman discuss whether the Marlins could still wind up trading Edward Cabrera this offseason.View the full article

The Boston Red Sox have placed a high price tag on outfielder Jarren Duran. They are reportedly looking for a top of the rotation starter in exchange for the 2024 All-Star Game MVP. It's fine to place a premium value on a premium player, but the rest of the league isn’t valuing Duran nearly as high as the Red Sox are, at least not yet. As the offseason drags on, more teams could come calling about Duran as they miss out on their primary free agent targets. That should drive the return package up, but perhaps not to the level the Sox are seeking. For a player who was a legitimate MVP candidate just 12 months ago, why is that the case? First, there was regression from his stellar 2024 campaign. In '24, Duran slashed .285/.342/.492 with 75 RBIs, 21 home runs, 34 stolen bases, an .834 OPS, 6.8 fWAR, and a 131 wRC+. Almost everything dropped in '25 though—Duran slashed .256/.332/.442 with 84 RBIs, 16 home runs, 24 stolen bases, a .774 OPS, a 3.9 fWAR, and a 111 wRC+. By all accounts, he had a really good season, but the drop in performance was noticeable to anyone paying attention. Manager Alex Cora ended up dropping Duran in the lineup late in the season in hopes that would help him right the ship, and it seemed to work. He was getting on base more and driving more runs in, but it may have been too little too late. In addition to the overall statistical decline, his plate approach was less than stellar. He swung at more pitches outside the zone than he ever has in his career, 31.6%, while swinging at fewer pitches inside the zone, 62.5%. His overall contact percentage was the lowest it has been since his rookie year at 73.8%. Once again, not awful numbers by any means, but it’s safe to wonder if this is the start of a downward trend as he nears the age of 30. Next, Duran’s defense in 2025 was abysmal. He started in left field for the bulk of the season but logged 28 games in center and two games in right. He doesn’t have the arm to play right field at Fenway Park, and likely wouldn’t be able to man it on a regular basis for many other teams either. In center, he takes suboptimal paths to the ball and is able to make up for it due to his speed, but that speed won’t be there for his whole career. In left, his best-fitting position, Duran made five fielding errors and one throwing error. He looked beaten by balls he should have been able to easily track down and made easily avoidable mistakes with those errors. In the Wild Card round, you can point to his error in the outfield as the turning point in the whole series. Defensive Runs Saved loved him (+11) this year, but Outs Above Average (-4) felt the opposite. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Finally, and unfortunately, there are off the field concerns with Duran that could be keeping some teams away. His use of a homophobic slur in 2024 and subsequent suspension are definite detractors, and his verbal altercation with a fan in Cleveland in 2025 could leave a bitter taste in some mouths. His open struggle with his mental health has been, and should continue to be, applauded, but there will be front offices and clubhouse leaders across the league that won’t want that kind of attention brought onto their teams. It’s unfortunate, but this is part of the equation with superstar athletes. At the end of the day, the Red Sox have every right to hold firm to a high asking price for Duran. He’s a leader in the clubhouse and is just one year removed from an MVP-caliber season. Holding onto him and trying to make a four-outfielder rotation work could be in the cards if they don't find someone willing to meet their price. However, something will have to give eventually. Hopefully the Red Sox can find their frontline starter before then. View the full article

This is part four of a five-part series about top Milwaukee Brewers player assets for 2026. Part 1: Players 21-25 Part 2: Players 16-20 Part 3: Players 11-15 Part 4: Players 6-10: 10. Caleb Durbin 2026 Season Age: 26 Controlled through: 2031 Jason's rank: 16 | Michael's rank: 9 | Steve's rank: 11 Durbin was acquired (along with Nestor Cortes) from the New York Yankees for Devin Williams last December and was added into the mix at third base as spring training began. When Vinny Capra and Oliver Dunn batted a combined .134 (9-for-67) for Milwaukee, Durbin was called up from Triple-A Nashville. He got a hit in his first big league at-bat, and the newest Brewer third sacker was found. Other than a slow month of May, Durbin was fairly consistent and finished the season with a batting line of .256/.334/.387, across 445 at-bats. Durbin hit lefties and righties equally (.717 OPS vs. LHP, .722 OPS vs. RHP) and showed a bit of power (11 homers) and speed (18 stolen bases). He was one of the few players to play well in the postseason, including 4-for-13 against Los Angeles in the NLCS. Defensively, Durbin posted a Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) number of +5, which placed him in the company of Gold Glovers Nolan Arenado (+6) and Matt Chapman (+5). His Outs Above Average (OAA) was +2, which was in the middle of the pack for third basemen. Durbin had a fine rookie year, and with little pressure on him to start the upcoming season, the Brewers should expect even more from him in his sophomore campaign. Caleb Durbin on his rookie season. 9. Brandon Woodruff 2026 Season Age: 33 Controlled through: 2026 Jason's rank: 23 | Michael's rank: 6 | Steve's rank: 6 Jason appears to be a little skeptical about Woodruff’s 2026 season, while the other two think that this season will be ‘business as usual’ for Big Woo. We all know what he can do, but the question is whether he can recover from the lat strain he suffered late last year—and avoid further injuries. Woodruff struck out batters at a higher rate than in 2023, increasing his K rate from 29.2% to 32.2%. He also changed his repertoire, using fewer fastballs (41% to 30%) while throwing more cutters and sinkers. His velocity dropped a couple ticks, but he found ample compensations for that shortfall. The righty accepted the qualifying offer (QO) of $22.025 million, and if he can have a successful season, he will be in line for a big raise in 2027. 8. Quinn Priester 2026 Season Age: 25 Controlled through: 2030 Jason's rank: 12 | Michael's rank: 12 | Steve's rank: 8 ‘The Reverend’ had a great stretch for Milwaukee last year, winning 12 straight decisions while pitching well enough that Milwaukee won 19 consecutive contests while he was on the mound. Priester came over from the Boston Red Sox in an April trade that much of ‘Bushville’ hated. Losing Yophery Rodriguez, John Holobetz, and a competitive draft pick for a seemingly fringy pitcher chapped the hides of many Brewer fans. However, when Priester started winning, he quickly became a fan favorite. He became a sinker, slider, cutter guy, throwing those three offerings a combined 89% of the time to great success. He improved his K rate from 15% to 20% and kept his groundball rate at 56%, a great thing when you have Turang-Ortiz-Durbin behind you. Priester has a pretty safe lock on a starting job in the rotation; he would have to fall apart in order to lose it. Quinn Priester reflecting on the 2025 season. 7. Sal Frelick 2026 Season Age: 26 Controlled through: 2029 Jason's rank: 15 | Michael's rank: 5 | Steve's rank: 9 Frelick starred in football, baseball, and hockey at Lexington High School in Massachusetts. Is it any wonder that the guy would dive for any ball or run through a fence to catch a fly ball? The lefty-swinging Frelick, aka ‘The Hit Collector,’ has become a fan favorite in Milwaukee, a smaller, faster version of ‘Stormin’ Gorman Thomas, a much-beloved Brewer from 40 years ago. Frelick has already won a Gold Glove in 2024 and challenged for a batting title in 2025. What more can he do? He set a career high with 12 home runs and 19 stolen bases, and smart money says he will better those numbers soon. In 2025, Frelick actually hit for a better average (.301) against lefties than against righties (.282), though all his power came against opposite-handed pitchers. Everyday play and some minor injuries made for a long season for Frelick, which might have been a big part of his less-than-stellar 1-for-14 showing against Los Angeles in the NLCS. One thing to know about Frelick: he will never give up. That is the kind of player that Milwaukee fans fall in love with. Sal Frelick's crazy twin killing in the NLCS. 6. Jesús Made 2026 Season Age: 19 Controlled through: TBD Jason's rank: 2 | Michael's rank: 7 | Steve's rank: 17 There is much discord in the rankings of this trio of BF scribes for the future Brewer infielder. All I know is that all three of us hope that he lives up to what all the scouts have projected for him. Made has moved quickly up the ladder, from Single-A to High-A to Double-A, all in one year. Made should start at Biloxi this year, and if history is any guide, will be at Triple-A Nashville before the year ends. Made has 60 grades for the hit, power, arm, and overall tools. Last year at three levels, he batted .285/.379/.413 across 453 at-bats. He has good line-drive power, as he stroked 28 two-baggers and showed his speed tool with 47 stolen bases. Currently ranked the fourth-best prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, the 18-year-old phenom has an ETA of 2028 at ‘The Ueck,’ but if he keeps making progress like he has been, we could see him as early as September 2026 in a big-league uniform. Made's first home run in at Double-A Biloxi. Next up, Part 5 (1-5). Enjoy! Let us know how we are doing. Did we miss anyone? Somebody rated too high or too low? Start the conversation in the comments section below! View the full article

The nature of an organization led by a hyper-aggressive executive like A.J. Preller is that, eventually, your farm system looks like it was ransacked by a prospect-hungry Galactus. Such is the state of the San Diego Padres at present. Despite years of building up an impressive minor-league system, Preller has recently emptied the cupboard in a way that's left the Padres at or near the bottom of just about every ranking from any outlet. While we shouldn't discount the front office's ability to build it back up rather quickly, that level of activity has left the upper levels of the organization without much talent capable of impacting the major-league roster in the immediate future. That doesn't mean it's completely hopeless, however. Prior to this year's 40-man rostering deadline, in which teams had to select players to their roster as means of protection from the Rule 5 Draft that took place earlier this month, Preller and the Padres added pitcher Miguel Mendez to the mix. MLB Pipeline has Mendez currently as the No. 5 prospect in the organization, with his profile noting the following: With the exception of Bradgley Rodriguez — who got a cup of coffee at the top level in 2025 — Mendez is the only prospect listed in the team's top 10 with an ETA even close to 2026. His recent addition to the 40-man, in conjunction with that exciting profile above, combine to create an exciting, if a bit overlooked, arm heading into next season. Of course, even such excitement comes with certain caveats. In 2025, Mendez made three starts with Single-A Lake Elsinore, a dozen in High-A Fort Wayne and another six with Double-A San Antonio. In those 21 starts, his ERA checked in at 3.22 (3.86 FIP), with a 29.4 percent strikeout rate and a walk rate just over 11 percent. When you consider the arsenal — an upper-90s fastball with an effective slider and developing changeup — against the results, you can understand why the Padres were concerned about protecting Mendez from selection in the Rule 5 Draft. However, let's circle back to those caveats before assuming we'll see Mendez throwing baseballs at Petco Park early in 2026. The first is his free pass habits. Since joining the organization back in 2021, Mendez has pitched to a BB% of 11.3. In each of 2023 and 2024, both with Lake Elsinore, he posted figures of 13.3 and 14.9, respectively. While he was able to improve that in his third time around in his trio of starts this year (8.0), it did increase gradually as he rose through the system. It was at 9.8 with Fort Wayne before leaping to 15.9 in San Antonio. That higher rate with San Antonio is also notable, as it was upon reaching Double-A that Mendez faced his biggest struggle of last season. In addition to the jump in free passes, Mendez's ERA came in above eight with the Missions. While his 5.91 FIP indicated slightly better results, the combination of walks and homers (16.7 percent homer-to-fly-ball ratio) did him in. It's likely he'll get another run against that same competition before he even touches Triple-A El Paso, let alone the top level. That doesn't mean Mendez was a total loss the higher he rose in the system, however. His strikeout rate was actually higher with the Missions than with Fort Wayne, and it's fairly clear that he ran into some bad luck with the former (.346 BABIP, 56.1 percent strand rate). It was also a mere 22-ish inning sample against more than 60 in High-A. It's a rather complex stage of development, where you're looking for growth against stronger competition but also have to be aware of the nuances and not take the stats purely at face value. Within all of that, it's important to note that the command has improved over his years in the organization. Last year's walk rate is a far cry from the 15.5 percent rate he posted back in 2022 and reflects steady improvement in the two seasons in between. Nevertheless, it's the command that will need to demonstrate continued and sustained improvement before Mendez is considered for a role on the San Diego staff. Regardless of that, the young right-hander is a fascinating piece of the puzzle for the Padres in 2026. The upside is undeniable; when you're flashing that kind of heat and an effective secondary pitch, you're going to find your way up the ladder in an expedient fashion. It's a matter of the command and perhaps that changeup emerging as a more effective tertiary offering that may dictate how fast the rise is. If Mendez can show that both of those things are coming to fruition early on, maybe he gets a look in El Paso. Or, depending on the team's pitching at the major-league level, he jumps a level entirely in order to get working with Ruben Niebla even faster. In any case, with a team that has such little upside at the upper levels at present, Mendez is an essential watch for a Padres staff that will be seeking quality starting pitching in any way they can find it in 2026. View the full article

For much of the past several seasons, the Twins have leaned heavily on left-handed power at the big league level, particularly in the outfield corners. That trend is not slowing down anytime soon. Minnesota’s current roster includes bats like Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, and James Outman, all of whom must produce next season after mixed results in 2025. Waiting in the wings is Emmanuel Rodriguez, one of the top prospects in baseball, and even the organization’s crown jewel, Walker Jenkins, swings it left-handed. There is nothing inherently wrong with that profile, especially when the power plays from the strong side of the platoon. Still, roster balance matters. Late-inning matchups, division rivals stacking left-handed relievers, and simple lineup construction all become trickier when the offense leans too far in one direction. In an offseason where payroll flexibility could be limited, the Twins may need to look inward rather than shopping for an external right-handed bat. Fortunately, the farm system does offer a few intriguing options. None is a sure thing, but each brings some level of right-side power that could help reshape the lineup as soon as next season. Gabriel Gonzalez (Twins Daily No. 9 Ranked Prospect) Gonzalez is already on the 40-man roster, and that alone puts him squarely in the conversation. After a breakout season, he finished the year at Triple-A and forced the organization to take a long look at how close he really is. The 21-year-old hit .329/.395/.513 (.908) with a 148 wRC+ with a 14.5 K%. Gonzalez brings a compact swing with surprising pop and has shown the ability to drive the ball to all fields with 38 doubles and 15 homers in 123 games last season. While he is not a pure slugger in the traditional sense, the power is real enough to matter, especially when paired with his improving approach. The question with Gonzalez has always been defensive home and ultimate ceiling. Last season, he split time between left and right field. Even so, a right-handed bat who can hold his own in the corners and punish mistakes is valuable, particularly when he is already positioned to contribute without additional roster maneuvering. He will start the year at Triple-A but should make his MLB debut in the first half. Kala'i Rosario If the Twins are looking for raw power, Rosario might be the loudest answer. He landed back on the radar in a big way this season, and the power is hard to ignore. Rosario crushed 11 home runs in August alone and finished with 25 on the year to lead the Double-A Texas League. In 130 games, he hit .256/.358/.487 (.844) with a 131 wRC+ and a 12.6 BB%. Even with those totals, Minnesota left him unprotected from the Rule 5 Draft, and 29 other teams passed him over. There is swing and miss in his game (27.5 K% in 2025), and it will always be part of the package. Still, Rosario balances that with a willingness to take walks and a clear understanding of his damage zones. He will play most of 2026 at age 23, which is a crucial context point. He faced older pitchers in 84.5% of his plate appearances last season. He is young for his level, still learning, and already producing elite power numbers. If the contact rate improves even marginally, the upside is significant. Kyler Fedko (Twins Daily No. 18 Prospect) Fedko is not always mentioned alongside the louder names in the system, but he remains an interesting sleeper. He reached Triple-A last season as a 25-year-old and combined for 28 homers, a 130 wRC+, and a 21.2 K%. He brings athleticism, sneaky pop, and the kind of versatility the Twins tend to value. Last season, he played all three outfield positions and spent some time at first base. What Fedko offers is balance. He is a right-handed hitter who can impact the ball without being a one-dimensional slugger. Many wouldn’t consider him a top prospect because of his age. However, player development is rarely linear, and Fedko can provide big-league value. If the Twins are prioritizing lineup flexibility and defensive versatility, Fedko could carve out a role faster than expected. Ricardo Olivar Olivar is the furthest away of the group, but the upside is intriguing enough to mention. Last season, he played the entire season at Double-A, posting a 114 wRC+ and a 12.0 BB%. He flashes power potential and has shown the ability to control the strike zone as he climbs the organizational ladder. Minnesota also continues to use him as a catcher, a position with few long-term prospects in the organization. For an organization that may need internal solutions, Olivar represents the longer-term bet. The other names on this list will likely reach the big leagues before him, but a hot start to the 2026 campaign could force him back into the team’s long-term plans. He is not likely to impact the major league roster immediately, but his right-side power potential is something to keep an eye on as the system evolves. The Twins may not solve their lineup imbalance overnight, but the answers do not have to come from outside the organization. With a system that quietly features multiple right-handed power bats at different stages, Minnesota has options. The next step is figuring out which one is ready to seize the opportunity. Which name stands out as an impact right-handed bat? Who has the highest upside? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

With about a week left in the posting window for infielder Kazuma Okamoto, the San Diego Padres have emerged as a contender for the 29-year-old from Japan. While it isn't known how many teams are involved in the process at this point, the report from Francys Romero also included the Los Angeles Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates. His posting window closes Jan. 4. Okamoto, primarily a third baseman who also has experience at first base and the outfield, is coming off a 2025 season in which he put up an impressive .327/.416/.598 slash line with 15 homers, albeit in just 69 games for the NPB's Yomiuri Giants. As third base is currently held down by superstar Manny Machado, Okamoto's path to playing time is likely at first or the outfield, although there are contenders at those spots, too. View the full article

On Monday, December 22nd, the Kansas City Chiefs announced their decision to leave Arrowhead Stadium and the Truman Sports Complex for the state of Kansas, with the hope of building a new stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, in the Legends area. The decision has sparked mixed reactions from Kansas City sports fans. On one hand, many are excited about the possibility of a new, state-of-the-art facility. An indoor stadium could not only help attract a future Super Bowl to the City of Fountains but also attract other events, such as the NCAA Final Four. Considering how big college basketball is in these parts (this is Jayhawk country, after all), a Final Four in Kansas would be enticing to this community. Conversely, many are unhappy with the decision. For those unaware of the history in these parts, the rivalry between Kansas and Missouri goes far beyond sports. "Bleeding Kansas" and John Brown are the most significant events and figures of this "war" in the middle of the country, which has spanned over 150 years. Many Missouri denizens feel betrayed by the Hunt family, which built a legacy of tradition at Arrowhead Stadium that has stood since 1972. This feeling is further exacerbated by the fact that the Hunt Family and their sports group are worth $24.8 billion, and the Chiefs alone are worth $4.8 billion. And yet, it seems the state of Kansas is on the hook for most of the bill in the short and long term. There's no question that sports owners and teams hold the upper hand in stadium decisions. Many cities have seen their beloved franchises ripped away, with the Athletics (MLB), the Raiders (NFL), the Rams (NFL), and the Coyotes (NHL) being the most recent examples. To keep a team from moving to another metro area, cities are forced to do what they can tax-wise to entice teams and owners to stay put. The Chiefs did what was best for them, and it's a difficult pill to swallow. And yet, it's not the move itself that's frustrating, but the Chiefs' approach to their negotiations. I'm hoping the Royals can handle things differently. Photo Credit: The Capital-Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK The History of Baseball in Kansas City Should Be Considered The Royals have essentially floated three sites as possibilities for a move: Washington Square Park in downtown Kansas City, North Kansas City in Clay County, and Leawood in Kansas. The Royals have seemed to position themselves to acquire land necessary to build a stadium in Leawood, around 119th and Nall, on the Aspiria campus. However, the Leawood and Johnson County communities and leaders have been pretty vocal in opposition to a new Royals stadium in the area. North Kansas City seemed like a favorite for a while, especially since it was less congested than downtown. However, news regarding the site across the river has been dead for quite a while, which makes it seem like the Royals have moved on from the possibility. As for downtown, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has reignited media talks, seemingly pushing for the Royals after the city and Jackson County lost the Chiefs in very public fashion last week. Even though Sherman and the Royals' ownership group have options, they need to make staying in Kansas City a priority, especially given the city's baseball history. The Chiefs predate the Royals in Kansas City's franchise history. The Chiefs moved from Dallas to Kansas City in 1963, while the Royals weren't established as a franchise until 1969. However, the Athletics were in Kansas City from 1955 to 1967, playing at Municipal Stadium, the legendary Kansas City baseball stadium located on the outskirts of the Jazz District in 18th and Vine. Speaking of Municipal Stadium, the ballpark not only hosted the Athletics, but the Kansas City Blues, a Minor League team, and the Kansas City Monarchs, a powerhouse of the Negro Leagues. The Monarchs were essentially the "Yankees" of the Negro Leagues. They won 12 titles between 1923 and 1957. Legendary players and managers suited up for the Monarchs at Municipal Stadium, including Ernie Banks, Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, and Buck O'Neil. A seat at Kauffman Stadium is marked in honor of O'Neil, and a local community hero is honored in O'Neil's seat each game, where he used to scout before his passing in 2006. Kansas City, Missouri, is rich with baseball history, and especially Negro League baseball history. The Negro League Baseball Museum is one of the city's most famous landmarks, located in the Jazz District on 18th and Vine. A popular pastime for visiting fans, especially those staying downtown, is to stop by the Museum and Arthur Bryant's BBQ or Gates BBQ, two legendary KC BBQ institutions, on the way to Kauffman. A stadium in Kansas would make that very difficult, especially since the museum is in the opposite direction from the proposed location. However, a downtown stadium would allow visiting fans to continue the tradition of visiting the museum, giving them the immersive Kansas City baseball history experience this city offers without having to travel all over the metro to do so. Photo Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images The Royals Belong in Kansas City (And Jackson County) Listen, I understand the Royals are going to do what's best for them financially. If the Royals get the kind of sweetheart deal that the Chiefs get from Kansas or North Kansas City, it's going to be difficult for them to turn down. However, Sherman and his ownership group seem to be cut from a different cloth than Clark Hunt and the Hunt Sports Group. Sherman grew up in Ottawa, Kansas, not Dallas. He's a regular fixture at Royals games and is often seen outside the stadium after games, talking to fans. He talks a lot about his first date with his wife at Kauffman Stadium, and he's helped support GM JJ Picollo in building the Royals into a regular winner, despite being in one of baseball's smallest markets. Deep down, I think Sherman wants to keep the Royals in Kansas City. He wants to keep them in Jackson County and Missouri, much like Ewing Kauffman did before him. Now, Jackson County and the Missouri have to do their part and give them a reasonable deal. That may be easier to do with Frank White out of the picture. The former Jackson County Executive was voted out of office on September 30th. White was a primary opponent of the 2024 sales tax extension that would've guaranteed the Royals and Chiefs in Jackson County. Now, Sherman and the Royals still have work to do. They need to pick a site in Kansas City and stick with it, keeping all factors in play. One reason their plan failed in the 2024 vote was its shoddy organization, which suddenly shifted from the East Village to the Crossroads with little notice. The Royals should either pick the Washington Square Park site, which has been the most recent downtown location suggested, or go back to the drawing board in the East Village, which is closer to the Jazz District and Negro League Baseball Museum. Baseball stadiums can revitalize an area that may seem "undesirable." South of Market in San Francisco was a ghost town before Oracle Park arrived. The same could be said of the area where Petco Park is now in San Diego, as the stadium's presence has helped develop the "Gaslamp District" in downtown San Diego. Kansas City has made strides in developing the city over the past 20 years. The airport is one of the finest in the country, with the right balance of amenities and ease of access. The Streetcar has developed into a legitimate form of public transit. It has now extended to the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus and will extend to the Riverfront in April. CPKC Stadium is the crown jewel of women's stadiums, not just in the country but in the world. Sherman and the Royals have a chance to help Kansas City and Jackson County continue their much-needed growth. There's no reason Kansas City can't be another Denver, a big city with "smaller community" charm and feel. However, all the stadiums are located in the Denver city area. Fans do not need to rent a car to attend a Broncos, Nuggets, or Rockies game. Unfortunately, that is the case with the Chiefs right now. The Chiefs, like other NFL teams like the Cowboys and 49ers, keep the name of their city even though the stadium is not in the town itself. The Royals could break that cycle predominantly utilized by NFL teams (though the Rangers and Braves are guilty of this, too). The Kansas City Royals should still be in Kansas City. If they can't continue at the Truman Sports Complex (which shouldn't be completely ruled out with the Chiefs moving), they need to be downtown, closer to the Negro League Baseball Museum and the old Municipal Stadium, the heart of baseball history in Kansas City. View the full article

Since being a first-round pick out of high school in 2013, Hunter Harvey has pitched 453 innings. That's not 453 innings in the majors, or 453 innings in the last five years. In parts of 13 professional seasons, Harvey has pitched a total of 453 innings. Since moving to the bullpen in 2020, he's been consistently good, with a fastball that reaches the upper 90s, a good splitter and a sometimes devastating slider. Even in that limited role, though, he's had no success staying healthy. The closest Harvey has ever come to pitching a full season was in 2023, when he piled up 60 innings in the Nationals bullpen and "only" missed a month with an elbow strain. In 2025, he dealt with a teres major strain that kept him out until after the All-Star break and an adductor strain that knocked him out for good in mid-August. He made less than $4 million this year, and only managed to pitch 10 2/3 innings in 12 games for Kansas City. He's averaged just 34 innings at the big-league level over the last five seasons. It's peculiar, therefore, that the Cubs ponied up $6 million in guaranteed money to sign Harvey, according to ESPN. He's an above-average reliever, when healthy, but he's very rarely healthy, and at age 31, it's unlikely that that will change. He's had at least four separate elbow injuries; three different shoulder issues; an oblique strain; and multiple leg injuries as a pro. The Cubs have plenty of money left to spend this winter, but their budget is not limitless. On the contrary, they're unlikely to be allowed to spend more than about $230 million on their 2026 roster, and that figure is already over $190 million, after the commitment to Harvey. This isn't a wise expenditure of resources. It's the kind of thing the Dodgers or Mets might do—paying for a pitcher with a chance to work in high-leverage moments in October, but rolling the dice on an exceptionally fraught health record. The Dodgers and Mets, though, will each spend about $100 million more than the Cubs will in 2026. Unlike the Dodgers, too, the Cubs have little chance of winning their division. Harvey is the wrong kind of luxury item—like a high-maintenance sports car that doesn't even impress people all that much between its too-frequent breakdowns. Harvey really is a fine middle reliever, as these things go. He's struck out 26.8% of opposing batters and walked just 6.8% of them in his time in the majors. Still, signing him to a guaranteed deal needlessly ossifies Chicago's bullpen, and giving him a substantial sum (more than Phil Maton will make in 2026, though he's guaranteed a second season and has a chance to see his salary rise further via incentives) risks tying their hands financially. As it stands, the Cubs' relief corps features five hurlers—Maton, Harvey, Caleb Thielbar, Hoby Milner, and Jacob Webb—who can't be optioned to the minors. Daniel Palencia can theoretically be sent down, but in any scenario wherein the Cubs entertain doing so, their bullpen is in big trouble, anyway. In theory, that leaves two spots for optionable arms, but in reality, the Cubs are still likely to add a starting pitcher this offseason, pushing Colin Rea into a long relief role. Rea, too, is locked into the roster, so they would then have just one spot with real flexibility remaining. In one sense, that part is a minor concern, because Harvey is so likely to spend so much time on the injured list that he barely clogs the pipeline. Still, spending both a roster spot and a meaningful amount of money on him seems like a bizarre decision. He's the level of player and risk where, if signing him costs them a chance to do anything else they might wish to do, it was a mistake. The Cubs must believe they'll unlock something in him, either by taking his game to another level or by keeping him healthy, where all his previous employers have failed to do so. They shouldn't have had to put such stakes on that kind of wager, though, and the smart money says they'll rue the choice to do so sometime next summer. View the full article

My DiamondCentric colleague Greggory Masterson has written some excellent articles about trade trees over at Twins Daily. Most recently, he drew a line linking Michael Cuddyer, Minnesota’s first-round pick in 1997, to a couple of current Twins, Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson. Inspired by his writing, I wanted to trace the lineage of some recent Blue Jays trades. However, I was less concerned with the more broad-ranging concept of the “trade tree” and more interested in what I’m calling “trade strings.” The term “trade tree” is often used to describe, in the words of Harold Hutchison at Brewer Fanatic, “the future transactions stemming from any given trade.” In other words, as long as the tree starts with a trade, it can include transactions beyond just trades. For instance, I could draw you a line from Marco Scutaro to present-day Paxton Schultz. The Blue Jays traded for Scutaro in 2007 and later drafted Aaron Sanchez as a compensation pick for losing Scutaro to free agency. In 2019, the Jays traded Sanchez, Joe Biagini, and Cal Stevenson to the Astros for Derek Fisher, and in 2021, the Jays and Brewers swapped Fisher and Schultz. On the other hand, a trade string, as the name implies, needs to be a string of trades – and only trades. Sixteen players on Toronto's 40-man roster became Blue Jays via trade. I've listed them all below, in the order in which they joined the organization: Paxton Schultz Bowden Francis José Berríos Adam Macko Daulton Varsho Braydon Fisher Jonatan Clase Jake Bloss Joey Loperfido Tommy Nance Andrés Giménez Myles Straw Shane Bieber Louis Varland Brandon Valenzuela Chase Lee Most of these players aren't part of a trade string at all, meaning that no one they were traded for also joined the Blue Jays via trade. Take a look: Bowden Francis Blue Jays career: 62 games, 0.4 fWAR (2022-present) The Blue Jays acquired Bowden Francis and Trevor Richards from the Brewers in exchange for Rowdy Tellez. The Blue Jays selected Rowdy Tellez in the 2013 MLB Draft. Daulton Varsho Blue Jays career: 365 games, 7.3 fWAR (2023-present) The Blue Jays acquired Daulton Varsho from the Diamondbacks in exchange for Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno. The Blue Jays signed Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno as international free agents in 2016. Braydon Fisher Blue Jays career: 52 games, 0.8 fWAR (2025-present) The Blue Jays acquired Braydon Fisher from the Dodgers in exchange for Cavan Biggio. The Blue Jays selected Cavan Biggio in the 2016 MLB Draft. Jonatan Clase Blue Jays career: 41 games, 0.0 fWAR (2024-present) The Blue Jays acquired Jonatan Clase and Jacob Sharp from the Mariners for Yimi García. The Blue Jays signed Yimi García as a free agent in 2021. Tommy Nance Blue Jays career: 50 games, 0.8 (2024-present) The Blue Jays acquired Tommy Nance from the Padres in exchange for cash considerations. The Blue Jays acquired cash considerations from ticket sales, TV revenue, loonie dog nights, etc. Andrés Giménez Blue Jays career: 101 games, 1.0 fWAR (2025-present) The Blue Jays acquired Andrés Giménez and Nick Sandlin from the Guardians in exchange for Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell. The Blue Jays selected Spencer Horwitz in the 2019 MLB Draft and Nick Mitchell in the 2024 MLB Draft. Shane Bieber Blue Jays career: 7 games, 0.3 fWAR (2025-present) The Blue Jays acquired Shane Bieber from the Guardians for Khal Stephen. The Blue Jays selected Khal Stephen in the 2024 MLB Draft. Louis Varland Blue Jays career: 23 games, 0.2 fWAR (2025-present) The Blue Jays acquired Louis Varland and Ty France from the Twins in exchange for Kendry Rojas and Alan Roden. The Blue Jays selected Alan Roden in the 2022 MLB Draft and signed Kendry Rojas as an international free agent in 2020. Chase Lee Blue Jays career: N/A The Blue Jays acquired Chase Lee in exchange for Johan Simon. The Blue Jays signed Johan Simon as an international free agent in 2020. However, the Blue Jays aren't without any active trade strings. Here's what we've got: Two-Trade Strings The following three Blue Jays were all acquired via trades, and at least one of the players the Blue Jays traded to acquire them was also acquired via trade. Paxton Schultz Blue Jays career: 13 games, 0.1 fWAR (2025-present) The Blue Jays acquired Paxton Schultz from the Brewers as the player to be named later in exchange for Derek Fisher. The Blue Jays acquired Derek Fisher from the Astros in exchange for Aaron Sanchez, Joe Biagini, and Cal Stevenson. The Blue Jays selected Aaron Sanchez in the 2010 MLB Draft, Joe Biagini in the 2015 Rule 5 draft, and Cal Stevenson in the 2018 MLB Draft. José Berríos Blue Jays career: 139 games, 8.0 fWAR (2021-present) The Blue Jays acquired José Berríos from the Twins in exchange for Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson. The Blue Jays acquired Simeon Woods Richardson and Anthony Kay from the Mets in exchange for Marcus Stroman and cash. (The Blue Jays selected Austin Martin in the 2020 MLB Draft) The Blue Jays selected Marcus Stroman in the 2012 MLB Draft. Brandon Valenzuela (feat. Jake Bloss & Joey Loperfido) Valenzuela's Blue Jays career: N/A Bloss's Blue Jays career: N/A Loperfido's Blue Jays career: 84 games, 0.4 fWAR (2024-present) The Blue Jays acquired Brandon Valenzuela from the Padres in exchange for Will Wagner. The Blue Jays acquired Jake Bloss, Joey Loperfido, and Will Wagner from the Astros in exchange for Yusei Kikuchi. The Blue Jays signed Yusei Kikuchi as a free agent in 2022. The Three-Trade String The following Blue Jay was acquired via trade, and the player the Blue Jays traded to acquire him was acquired via trade, and the player the Blue Jays traded to acquire the player the Blue Jays traded to acquire him was also acquired via trade. Adam Macko Blue Jays career: N/A The Blue Jays acquired Adam Macko and Erik Swanson from the Mariners in exchange for Teoscar Hernández. The Blue Jays acquired Teoscar Hernández and Nori Aoki from the Astros in exchange for Francisco Liriano. The Blue Jays acquired Francisco Liriano, Reese McGuire, and Harold Ramírez from the Pirates in exchange for Drew Hutchison. The Blue Jays selected Drew Hutchison in the 2009 MLB Draft. At the head of the longest active Blue Jays trade string is Adam Macko, who has been on the 40-man roster for two years, although he's yet to make his MLB debut. The 24-year-old left-hander has outlasted Erik Swanson in the organization; Swanson was released in June. Macko and Swanson came to Toronto in the trade that sent long-time fan favourite Teoscar Hernández to Seattle. Hernández played parts of six seasons with the Jays, hitting 129 home runs in 609 games. He was an All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger winner, even earning a handful of down-ballot MVP votes. To bring in Hernández, the Blue Jays parted with veteran Francisco Liriano. The southpaw pitched well for Toronto down the stretch in 2016 (49.1 IP, 2.92 ERA, 3.55 xERA) but struggled the following season (82.2 IP, 5.88 ERA, 5.07 xERA) before he was flipped to Houston. It all starts with Drew Hutchison, a low-round draft pick out of high school in 2009. He debuted for the Jays in 2012 and made 76 appearances (73 starts) for the club before they dealt him to the Pirates to knock over the first domino of the Adam Macko trade string. The TBD Trade String An eagle-eyed observer might have noticed one trade-acquired Blue Jay missing from my breakdown. Let me explain... Myles Straw Blue Jays career: 137 games, 1.8 fWAR (2025-present) The Blue Jays acquired Myles Straw, international bonus pool space, and cash considerations from the Guardians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash. The Guardians dealt Myles Straw to the Blue Jays for salary relief. Still, they were also supposed to (maybe) receive a PTBNL in the deal. If the Blue Jays are indeed sending anyone back to the Guardians (or if they already have?), we don't know who it is. So, it's possible (though unlikely) that there's another trade string waiting to materialize here. View the full article

The final Fish Unfiltered episode of 2025 is overflowing with Miami Marlins content. Kevin Barral, Isaac Azout and Ely Sussman begin by discussing Saturday's trade sending Dane Myers to the Cincinnati Reds for outfield prospect Ethan O'Donnell, the addition of Pete Fairbanks to the Marlins bullpen and the latest reporting on trade candidate Edward Cabrera. Then, Kevin and Ely sit down with Victor Mesa Jr. Coming off his first taste of the big leagues, the 24-year-old outfielder takes us through his baseball journey and what he hopes to accomplish in 2026. You can find Fish Unfiltered on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. Our audio programming also includes Fish On First LIVE, The Offishial Show, Swimming Upstream and more. Although proud of his Cuban heritage, Mesa tells Fish Unfiltered that he will not be participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic as he prioritizes his health and his major league career. Last season, he had three separate stints on the injured list. Even with Myers removed from Miami's outfield depth chart, Mesa faces an uphill battle to crack the Opening Day roster. Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee are locks to make it, with Griffin Conine and Heriberto Hernández very likely occupying the third outfield spot as platoon partners. Utilityman Javier Sanoja can absorb the remaining outfield reps. Connor Norby may also be in the mix depending on how he fares defensively during spring training. "I give my 100% and then whatever decision that they gotta (make), it's gonna be based on what we do on the field." Mesa said. "I'm not worried about it. I'm just worried about (doing) my job. If I do my job, I know I'm gonna help the team." Follow Victor (@victormesajr10) on Instagram. Follow Kevin (@kevin_barral), Isaac (@IsaacAzout), Ely (@RealEly) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Join the Marlins Discord server! Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. View the full article

I am going out on a limb and assuming that the Miami Marlins won't be making any more trades over the final three days of this calendar year. Although none of their individual moves in 2025 met the criteria of a blockbuster deal, the cumulative impact of these trades on the organization was substantial. Technically, the Marlins made a dozen "trades" if you include Jonah Bride, Jhonny Pereda, Michael Petersen, Tyler Phillips, Austin Roberts, John Rooney and Joey Wiemer each being swapped for cash considerations. Well, I'm not—those amount to glorified waiver claims. That leaves us with the following five transactions: Acquired RHP William Kempner from San Francisco Giants for $250,000 in international bonus pool money (Jan. 15). Annual spending on the international market is restricted by a cap, so parting with this quarter-million dollars essentially transferred amateur talent to the Giants, qualifying as a trade in my book. A full year later, the Marlins ought to be feeling pretty good about their side of it. Kempner posted a 3.06 FIP in 67 ⅔ minor league innings pitched to earn a spot on their 40-man roster. With slight improvements to his control, the hefty right-hander can be an impactful piece of their 2026 bullpen. Acquired RHP Colby Martin from Toronto Blue Jays for RHP Robinson Piña (Jun. 24). At the time of the deal, Martin barely had any experience above Low-A; by the end of the season, he was throwing gas at Triple-A. The 5'11" righty has an overpowering fastball and deceptive delivery. Turning 25 shortly after Opening Day, we should be seeing Martin at Marlins big league camp as a non-roster invitee. Piña is now a free agent after making just one low-leverage relief appearance in a Blue Jays uniform. sau3ry.mp4 Acquired OF Matthew Etzel from Tampa Bay Rays for C Nick Fortes (Jul. 29). The Marlins bought low on Etzel coming off an injury. The early returns have been encouraging. In 36 minor league games following the trade, he slashed .280/.370/.390 with two home runs and 10 stolen bases. He's best suited to playing left field at the major league level. Fortes did well enough defensively to be tendered a contract by Tampa Bay for 2026. The imminent arrival of Joe Mack in Miami made him expendable. Acquired RHP Ryan Gusto, INF Chase Jaworsky and OF Esmil Valencia from Houston Astros for OF Jesús Sánchez (Jul. 31). Gusto and Jaworsky were limited by injuries down the stretch, while Valencia thrived upon joining his new org (.327/.367/.510, 3 HR and 14 SB in 24 G). The toolsy 20-year-old should be batting near the top of High-A Beloit's lineup next season. The Astros have one more year of club control over Sánchez, who is being strictly platooned. Acquired OF Ethan O'Donnell from Cincinnati Reds for OF Dane Myers (Dec. 27). Myers performed brilliantly through the first two-plus months of 2025, but his offensive production cratered from there. He still has impressive raw athleticism and the versatility to handle all three outfield spots. Beginning in 2027, the Marlins hope that O'Donnell become a left-handed-hitting version of Myers. On Sunday in Puerto Rican winter ball, Brian Navarreto went 2-for-4 and Orlando Ortiz-Mayr struggled with control in his final regular season start (1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K). Marlins Opening Day is only 88 days away. 🔷 I produced this Dane Myers highlight reel to commemorate his Marlins tenure. 🔷 Agustín Ramírez confirmed to Juanfrank Kranwinkel that he is on the Dominican Republic's preliminary 35-man roster for the World Baseball Classic. Ramírez's playing time would be very limited, so I wouldn't be surprised if he ultimately passes on the opportunity and remains in Marlins camp. 🔷 Declan Cronin spoke extensively about his injury-riddled 2025 season. After tearing his UCL, Cronin was under the impression that the Marlins would retain him throughout the rehab process, but it turns out they released him before his Tommy John surgery even took place. He has since signed a two-year minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. 🔷 With the NHL's Winter Classic approaching on Friday, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now shows us how the rink is set up in the middle of loanDepot park. Tickets are still available in most sections, though the get-in price is $235. 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Tyler Soderstrom and the Athletics agreed on a seven-year, $86 million contract extension. The Baltimore Orioles re-signed Zach Eflin to a one-year, $10 million deal and the Chicago Cubs signed Hunter Harvey to a one-year, $6 million deal. Former Marlins first-round draft pick Andrew Heaney announced his retirement from baseball. Used primarily as a starter, Heaney posted a 4.57 ERA in 1,136 ⅔ innings pitched across parts of 12 MLB seasons. He won a World Series title with the Texas Rangers in 2023. View the full article

Rewatch the best hits, throws and catches from Dane Myers' three seasons with the Fish. Myers was traded to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.View the full article

Football is at its apex. The NFL is closing in on the postseason, while the collegiate ranks play out their multitude of wacky, eccentric bowl games and new, expanded playoff system. You've probably already seen a million different analyses of the remaining matchups, so how about a new, entirely Twins-focused one? Here are the current and notable past Twins players with ties to teams in the College Football Playoffs. Indiana An upstart football powerhouse, the Hoosiers have consistently churned out MLB talent. Led by future fourth overall pick Kyle Schwarber, Indiana made the College World Series tournament in 2013 but fell to Mississippi State. Though Schwarber was the star of the team, the Twins had their eye on someone else: the 6’10” right-handed pitcher, Aaron Slegers, whom they drafted in the fifth round that year. Their most recent selection from the college—a 31st round third baseman named Luke Miller in 2017—did not sign with the team. Ohio State The Buckeyes are an oddly moribund program in terms of impact MLB talent: Nick Swisher and Dave Burba are the only two Ohio State products with a career rWAR over 3, though Dillon Dingler and Dominic Canzone could soon change that. Still, the Twins looked to Columbus for their 2010 first-round pick, right-handed pitcher Alex Wimmers. He labored in the minors before debuting in 2017, totaling 24 ⅔ innings in his Twins (and big-league) career. Georgia Minnesota claims a Bulldog in their system: 2025’s 12th-rounder, Kolten Smith. The righty served as a swingman for Georgia, striking out hitters at an impressive rate yet never holding an ERA below 5. He has yet to pitch for a Twins minor league team. Smith also broke a streak of 24 years between Georgia draftees by the Twins; the organization’s previous selection from Athens was fifth-round right-hander Jeremy Brown in 2001, who never pitched beyond rookie-ball. Recent Twin Kyle Farmer also played college ball with the Bulldogs. Texas Tech Eight of the top 10 Texas Tech products by rWAR are pitchers, which is perhaps unsurprising considering one of the greatest quarterbacks ever claims the college as his alma mater: this is the university for powerful arms. It’s fitting, then, that top Twins pitching prospect Andrew Morris was a fourth-round selection in 2022 from Lubbock. The 24-year-old broke out with a 2.88 ERA in 2023, split between A Fort Myers and A+ Cedar Rapids, before dominating for AA Wichita the following year. He’s now a Saint and a likely candidate to pitch for the big-league squad in 2026. Minnesota tried to add two Red Raiders in 2021 in Brandon Birdsell and Dylan Neuse, but only Neuse signed; he last played in the system in 2023. 2025 half-season relief ace and past, future one-that-got-away hurler, Danny Coulombe, also went to Texas Tech. Oregon Of all the teams in the CFP, the Twins have the greatest recent relationship with the Ducks. They selected the 6’11” pitcher Jason Reitz in the fourth round in June, likely hoping his awesome size augurs a unique look from the mound. 2023 eighth-rounder, Jace Stoffal, was also a Duck, although he retired before the 2024 season. Minnesota selected Jake Reed in the fifth round in 2014; he eventually debuted in 2021 and bounced around for three seasons before leaving baseball after 2023. Then, there are a pair of top 100 picks: right-hander (and Minnesota native) Madison Boer in 2011, who topped out at AA, and utility man Spencer Steer in 2019, who became a top prospect before his inclusion in the infamous Tyler Mahle deal in 2022. Ole Miss Lance Lynn is the Rebel with the best MLB career. That is the only mention he will get in this article. Minnesota looked to Oxford with their ninth-round selection in 2023, right-handed pitcher Jack Dougherty. He has yet to pitch in the system with what appears to be a nagging shoulder issue. The Ole Miss product you all know, though, is former piranha Matt Tolbert, who spent four deeply memorable seasons with the Twins as a gritty Nick Punto clone. Miami A four-time College World Series champion, the Hurricanes have been relatively eschewed by the Twins, who have only inked three Miami products since 2010, and haven’t looked to Coral Gables since taking pitcher Andrew Cabezas in 2018. Tertiary catcher Chris Hermann, who played for the Twins between 2012 and 2015, went to Miami, as did the team’s 2008 first-round pick, Carlos Gutierrez. But the most notable former Hurricane was a 19th-round diamond in the rough: Danny Valencia. The one-time third-place finisher in the rookie of the year vote could never match his 2010 season with the Twins, yet ended up playing in nine seasons as a journeyman bat who usually flashed enough slugging prowess to earn another contract. Alabama We conclude with what could be the most relevant college for Minnesota's future pitching staff. The Twins just selected Crimson Tide ace Riley Quick with the 36th overall pick in the 2025 draft. Ranked as the 10th-best prospect in the system by MLB.com, Quick’s bowling ball sinker could anchor a nasty east-west profile. Look for him to speed through the ranks in 2026. Minnesota double-dipped and handed nearly $200K to right-handed Alabama reliever Jonathan Stevens in the 16th-round; he’s already pitched in the system. The most MLB-imminent player with Tuscaloosa ties is lefty Connor Prielipp. The Twins made a rare aggressive play in 2022 with the Wisconsin native, handing him nearly $2 million despite a blown-out elbow, thanks to the strength of his wipeout slider. He finally stayed healthy in 2025 and should impact the big-league team in some capacity in 2026. View the full article

The Twins started the week by signing first baseman Josh Bell and have indicated they have some small, but extra room to spend for the 2026 season. Will the Pohlads back up their words and add more to the team before spring training, or will the rest of the offseason move at the slow pace it's been for the previous two? View the full article

The 2025 offseason has been an eventful one for the San Diego Padres. It started with the shocking resignation of Mike Shildt and the hiring of Craig Stammen. It has also featured the losses of star pitchers Dylan Cease and Robert Suarez, and most recently, the acquisition of sought-after Korean free agent Sung Mun Song. While the Padres have faced dramatic internal shifts this offseason, the remainder of the NL West is reshaping itself as well. Let’s take a look at San Diego’s divisional foes and how they stack up after notable additions and subtractions. Los Angeles Dodgers The rich continue to get richer. To the dismay of the Friar Faithful, the Padres’ arch-rival took home its second consecutive World Series title in 2025. The bad news for San Diego is that the Dodgers’ offseason has indicated nothing other than another year as World Series favorites. The most notable move by Los Angeles this winter was the acquisition of All-Star closer Edwin Diaz. If the Dodgers had one weak link in the 2025 postseason, it was the bullpen’s struggle to close games. Now, bringing in one of Major League Baseball’s top closers makes them all the more deadly. The retirement of future Hall of Fame pitcher Clayton Kershaw will put a void in the Dodgers’ clubhouse, but their dominant starting rotation will have no concern filling his role. Here are notable additions and subtractions for the back-to-back champions this offseason, according to MLB: Additions: Signed RP Edwin Diaz to a 3-year deal. 2025 WAR: 3.0 Re-signed SS Miguel Rojas to a 1-year deal. 2025 WAR: 1.9 Subtractions: SP Clayton Kershaw (retired). 2025 WAR: 1.6 Still on the board: UTIL Kiké Hernandez. 2025 WAR: -0.1 RP Michael Kopech. 2025 WAR: 0.2 RP Evan Phillips. 2025 WAR: 0.4 RP Kirby Yates. 2025 WAR: -0.5 OF Michael Conforto. 2025 WAR: -0.7 SP Tony Gonsolin. 2025 WAR: 0.0 SP Andrew Heaney. 2025 WAR: -0.3 Excluding re-signings and counting all remaining free agents as subtractions, the WAR +/- of the Dodgers’ additions and subtractions still comes out to +2.4. Another offseason where the empire to the North gets stronger. San Francisco Giants Like the Padres, the Giants’ offseason started with a change in manager. After firing Bob Melvin, San Francisco made an unprecedented move, hiring Tony Vitello from the University of Tennessee, who has no former coaching experience at the professional level. Buster Posey is taking the team in a new direction at the top, aiming to keep the Giants in Postseason contention in 2026. The Giants’ moves mostly rely on reshaping their pitching staff. Here are those moves so far, according to MLB: Additions: Signed RP Jason Foley to a 1-year deal. 2025 WAR: 3.4 Signed RP Sam Hentges to a 1-year deal. 2025 WAR: 1.4 Signed SP Adrian Houser to a 2-year deal. 2025 WAR: 3.3 Subtractions: C Andrew Knizner (signed with Seattle). 2025 WAR: 0.3 Still on the board: 1B Wilmer Flores. 2025 WAR: 0.3 1B Dominic Smith. 2025 WAR: 0.4 SP Justin Verlander. 2025 WAR: 1.2 RP Joey Lucchesi. 2025 WAR: 0.4 C Tom Murphy. 2025 WAR: N/A Even when counting all remaining free agents as subtractions, the Giants still have a WAR +/- of +5.5 in the offseason. A bolstered pitching staff should keep San Francisco afloat in the NL West in 2026. Arizona Diamondbacks Two years removed from a Cinderella run to the World Series, the D-backs are trying to turn the tide back towards the postseason. Arizona has not played postseason ball since the 2023 World Series, finishing just outside of the NL Wild Card in consecutive years. Like San Francisco, the Diamondbacks' offseason has focused on pitching reinforcement, notably bringing back Merrill Kelly just months after dealing him to Texas at the trade deadline. Zac Gallen, the club’s long-time ace, is currently testing the market, which would leave a hole in the rotation, but Arizona’s signings have prepared them for his departure. These are the Diamondbacks' moves this offseason, according to MLB: Additions: Signed SP Merrill Kelly to a 2-year deal. 2025 WAR: 2.9 Signed SP Michael Soroka to a 1-year deal. 2025 WAR: 0.6 Re-signed C James McCann to a 1-year deal. 2025 WAR: 1.0 Subtractions: RP Kyle Backhus (traded to Philadelphia). 2025 WAR: -0.1 Still on the board: SP Zac Gallen. 2025 WAR: 1.1 RP Jalen Beeks. 2025 WAR: 0.9 Excluding re-signings and counting all remaining free agents as subtractions, Arizona’s WAR +/- this offseason is +1.6. Although their moves have been marginal, the Diamondbacks are gearing themselves up for another year of postseason contention. Colorado Rockies After a historically bad 2025 season and third-straight 100-loss season, the Rockies finally decided to make front office changes. Colorado hired analytics guru and Moneyball hero, Paul DePodesta, as President of Baseball Operations and hired former Padres General Manager Josh Byrnes as GM. The moves stop there. Despite the changes at the top, it has been another offseason of non-action for Colorado, being the only team yet to sign an MLB contract this winter. All signs point to German Marquez, their former ace, walking in free agency, but he has not been the same since receiving Tommy John surgery. Here are Colorado’s moves (or lack thereof) this offseason: Additions: None as of Dec. 27, 2025 Subtractions: RP Ryan Rolison (traded to Atlanta). 2025 WAR: -0.3 Still on the board: SP German Marquez. 2025 WAR: -1.1 1B Michael Toglia. 2025 WAR: -1.7 SS Orlando Arcia. 2025 WAR: -1.2 INF Kyle Farmer. 2025 WAR: -0.8 Somehow, if all of Colorado’s free agents sign elsewhere, they will gain 5.5 WAR in the offseason, without making any signings. If their inactivity doesn’t make it obvious, the Rockies have no plans of competing in 2026, but moves at the top of the organization could be the start of much-needed change for Colorado. Implications for the Padres All signs point to another competitive season in the NL West for the Padres in 2026. The Dodgers, Giants, and Diamondbacks have all made improvements at the margins this winter, making for another exciting year of baseball out west. View the full article

This may be the biggest and most star-studded World Baseball Classic yet. The 2023 tournament was a massive success, punctuated by Shohei Ohtani striking out his at-the-time teammate Mike Trout to clinch Japan's third WBC championship in six tournaments. Fast forward to 2026, and the event is picking up even more steam. Many more of baseball's star players have committed to playing, and Team USA is loaded with elite talent led by Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, along with frontline starters Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. Team Japan, led by Shohei Ohtani, will once again be a tough challenge, while the Dominican Republic is stacked with All-Stars and MVP-caliber players, including the Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. Team Canada may not have the same high-end talent as these other nations, but there is no doubt that the roster Canada puts together will be able to compete and have a chance to strike an upset or two, and in a short tournament where small samples mean so much, anything is truly possible. Canadian baseball fans may remember in 2006, when Team Canada, led by Justin Morneau, Jason Bay, and Matt Stairs, upset a loaded American team 8-6, showing that on any given day, anything is truly possible. The team already has several MLB and high-end prospects committed to Team Canada, and thanks to Shi Davadi of Sportsnet, we have a list of players who have confirmed to wear the Maple Leaf for Team Canada when pool play starts in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in March. Team Canada Locks Manager - Ernie Whitt Infield Catcher - Bo Naylor First Base - Josh Naylor Second Base - Edouard Julien Shortstop - Otto Lopez Third Base - Abraham Toro UTIL - Trei Cruz The infield seems to be a strength for this team. Josh Naylor is a former All-Star and is coming off a career-best 3.1 bWAR season. His brother Bo played in 123 games for Cleveland and hit 14 home runs. Julien was exceptional in the 2023 WBC (1.821 OPS) and is looking to bounce back after two sub-replacement-level seasons in Minnesota. Lopez provides elite shortstop defence, and he’s coming off a 3.5 bWAR season. Toro can play all around the infield, and Cruz (the son of former Blue Jay Jose Cruz Jr) is a switch-hitter who posted an .867 OPS across two minor league levels in Detroit's system in 2025. Outfield Tyler O'Neill Denzel Clarke Owen Caissie Jared Young The outfield is young and has a wealth of talent. O’Neill is a veteran of eight MLB seasons, has two Gold Glove awards, and has two 30-home-run seasons under his belt. Clarke may be one of the best up-and-coming defensive centerfielders in all of baseball. Caissie made his MLB debut with the Cubs this season and is considered the best prospect in their system. Jared Young has had some MLB time, but he did post a .969 OPS, getting on base over 40% of the time in Triple-A with the Mets. Pitchers RHP Michael Soroka RHP Cal Quantrill RHP Matt Brash LHP Rob Zastryzny LHP James Paxton RHP Phillippe Aumont RHP Curtis Taylor LHP Adam Macko RHP Jordan Balazovic RHP Eric Cerantola LHP Logan Allen If there is one downside to Canada, it may be the rotation. Soroka and Quantrill have had some success in the big leagues. Matt Brash is armed with a 98 mph fastball and a career 31.1% strikeout rate. Zastryzny is a veteran of seven big league seasons and has a 2.12 ERA over his last two years with Milwaukee. James Paxton, who retired after the 2024 season, brings veteran experience and familiarity with high-leverage play. Aumont has pitched for Canada in four WBCs already. Taylor, Macko, and Cerantola are all currently pitching in Triple A in the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Royals systems, respectively. Balazovic got a cup of coffee with the Twins in 2023 and posted a 3.75 ERA in Detroit's minor league system. Allen has most recently pitched in Korea, made 31 starts, and logged 173 innings, and will likely make a start for Team Canada during the tournament. Team Canada Maybes Infield First base - Freddie Freeman Catcher - Liam Hicks UTIL - Tyler Black Outfield Tristan Peters Freddie Freeman becomes the big wild card here, a nine-time All-Star, three-time World Series winner, and former MVP would help any team, and Canada is no exception. Freeman’s mother is Canadian, and he has played for Team Canada in the past to honor her. There seems to be mutual interest between the two parties, and if Freeman can play, he would immediately become the focal point of Canada’s lineup. The drawback may be that he’s not 100% healthy, as he has battled wrist, ankle, and hip injuries over the course of the 2025 season, and manager Ernie Whitt said that Freeman is “having some procedures done” and the Dodgers may prefer it that he spends more time resting and recovering in camp, especially since they played deep into October. Expect more information to come about Freeman as the tournament draws closer. Hicks, Black, and Peters all have a decent shot of being on the roster, as all of them have made it to the majors and have had limited forms of success. Hicks may have the best chance as he is a catcher, but assuming everyone on the prior list is ready to play, these players may be the odd men out Pitchers RHP Jordan Romano LHP Mitch Bratt RHP Jonah Tong RHP Jameson Taillon RHP Zach Pop RHP Rowan Wick If Team Canada adds some of these pitchers, that would add to the upside of the team. From reading Shi’s Article, there is some mutual interest in Romano pitching for the team. Tong and Bratt both may prefer to spend time at their respective spring training camps, but both are young and have immense upside. Taillon said Canada asked him back in November, but he's still “working through it all right now”. Pop and Wick seem unlikely, but both have had big league success previously and could always be an option. Team Canada Unlikelys Infielders First base - Vladimir Guerrero Jr. As fun as it would be, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has already committed to playing for the Dominican Republic in the WBC. Pitchers RHP Nick Pivetta RHP Cade Smith LHP Erik Sabrowski Nick Pivetta is coming off his best MLB season, where he threw a career-high 181 2/3 IP and 5.3 bWAR. The chances of him playing are not zero, as he was going to play for Canada during the 2023 WBC but then dropped out due to illness. Davidi mentioned in the previous article that Pivetta, Smith, and Sabrowski are all unlikely to play, citing a large workload over the past two seasons with Smith and injury issues with Sabrowski. All three of these pitchers would have been a boost to Team Canada, but they will likely have to piece things together without them this go around. Things are certainly going to change between now and March when the tournament is set to get underway, but on paper, Team Canada has a blend of solid major leaguers, young players with upside, and a reliable set of position players. It's exactly the type of team that could surprise and go on a run in a short tournament. If there was ever a World Baseball Classic where Canada was positioned to break through, 2026 might be it. View the full article

Spencer and Joseph Zarr discuss the Carolina Mudcats' final season in Zebulon, their rebrand and move to Wilson, and give their personal tiers of position players and pitchers. They also answer listener questions along the way. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2Td iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/ Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627 Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic View the full article

There is a growing list of players who were designated for assignment by their previous MLB teams, only to very quickly experience newfound success with the Miami Marlins. That list includes Declan Cronin, who was Miami's most effective reliever for an extended stretch of the 2024 season. Cronin showed a lot of versatility as a rookie—he frequently went multiple innings, worked back-to-back days and inherited baserunners depending on what the club needed from him. He pitched a total of 70 ⅓ innings with a pedestrian 4.35 ERA, but a far more encouraging 2.58 FIP. However, Cronin was unable to build upon that campaign in 2025 because of a series of injuries. Anything he achieves once he fully recovers will transpire in a different uniform. Cronin's age-27 season got off to a delayed start. During spring training, he suffered what was publicly announced as a left hip strain. Cronin got much more specific in an interview with Ben Lindbergh on Friday's episode of Effectively Wild, explaining that incorporating a new drill into his workout routine caused damage to "delicate little muscles" in his hip. Rotating his hips while going through his pitching delivery aggravated the injury. "What I probably should've done was taken some serious time off from throwing, just actually allowing the muscles and the tissue to fully heal before putting them through that stress again," Cronin said. "But I wanted to kind of 'go, go, go,' so we 'kept the arm moving,' kept throwing." He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on April 10. While making back-to-back appearances on April 12-13, he had a setback and was "back to square one." A hip specialist in Nashville provided Cronin with a different interpretation of his unique injury and his rehab plan changed accordingly. A month later, he was throwing pain-free and cleared to face live batters again. Although Cronin's velocity and pitch shapes weren't all the way back to his 2024 form, "I and everyone else kinda thought, 'Okay, you're just getting back into the swing of it. You gotta remember this is kinda like a second offseason/on-ramp for you.'" When the Marlins optioned Cronin to Jacksonville on May 31, he believed that he was only a week or two away from being major league-ready. Unfortunately, "I just never got back to what I felt like before the hip injury," Cronin said. "My body had patterned—over months of low-intensity throwing and/or throwing with pain—certain kind of compensatory movement patterns that just totally compromised by ability to throw how I want to throw. Even though I was pain-free, I could not convince myself to throw normally and to use my lower half specifically normally." That led indirectly to shoulder pain. Even when that subsided and Cronin returned from another IL stint in early August, he still felt out of sync. "Something has to give here," he remembered thinking at the time. Indeed, on August 16, his right UCL gave out. "I immediately knew," Cronin said. "I could feel the space in my elbow expand at ball release...I kinda felt that 'pop' and release of tension." After consultation with renowned surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, it was clear that Cronin would need Tommy John surgery. Cronin was under the impression that the Marlins would be retaining him for the 2026 season, placing him on the 60-day IL throughout the year-long rehab process. That's what they will be doing for Ronny Henriquez, who had his own elbow surgery earlier this month. Instead, before the procedure even took place, the Marlins released Cronin on September 6. "It was very surprising," he said. "Certainly not something that I anticipated or anybody close to me anticipated. It also kinda wasn't what we had been told and nothing I'd ever seen before, but check the rulebook, they're allowed to do it, so power to them to exercise their rights." The Marlins apparently had doubts about Cronin reestablishing himself as an impactful pitcher in 2027. Even so, the timing of the release was callous. Rather than making him navigate the surgery and early rehab process on his own, they could have easily waited until the conventional 40-man roster cleanup period in November. In free agency, Cronin signed a two-year minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. Many teams expressed interest in him, but the Rangers were the first to submit a written offer. "I'd play for Skip (Schumaker) any day, so I was really excited to see that he was over there," Cronin said about reuniting with his 2024 manager. His former Fish teammates Jake Burger, Jonah Bride and Anthony Veneziano are also in the Rangers organization. View the full article

When baseball fans think about Red Sox pitching, most revert straight to Garrett Crochet. What if I told you their rotation is destined to get exponentially better in the years to come? This video goes through an in-depth analysis of top pitching prospects Payton Tolle, Kyson Witherspoon, Connelly Early, and Jake Bennett. View the full article

In the first half of this countdown, the lower half of the list highlighted how rarely the Minnesota Twins have dipped into free agency and come away with long-term value. Even the players ranked ten through six carried some combination of brevity risk or narrow roles. That is simply the reality for a franchise that has historically relied far more on development and trades than open checkbooks. The top five tell a different story. These are not just valuable contributors or pleasant surprises. These signings shaped seasons, changed expectations, and in some cases altered the direction of the franchise itself. Each arrived with a clear purpose and delivered at a level that justified the investment, even if the contract length was short or the window was brief. What separates this group is not just production but timing. These were players signed when the Twins were ready to win or desperate to matter again. Free agency did not merely supplement the roster here. It defined it. 5. Jim Thome, DH Contract(s): 2-years, $4.5 million 2010-2011 Seasons: 4.5 rWAR, .266/.387/.562 (.949) 158 OPS+ The Twins signed Thome late in his career and got exactly what they needed. He brought massive power, instant credibility, and a historic milestone when he hit his 600th home run while wearing a Twins uniform. He was a linchpin in the team’s 2010 AL Central title and provided some of the most memorable moments in Target Field history. 4. Brian Harper, C/1B Contract(s): 6-years, $6.26 million 1988-1993 Seasons: 13.4 rWAR, .306/.342/.431 (.773), 110 OPS+ Harper was never flashy, but he was productive and dependable. He provided offense from the catching position and played a meaningful role on competitive teams, including the 1991 championship club. In that epic World Series, he slashed .381/.435/.476 (.911) with two doubles. Harper might be one of the most underrated players from the Twins teams of the early 1990s. 3. Chili Davis, DH/OF Contract(s): 2-years, $4.5 million 1991-1992 Seasons: 5.2 rWAR, .282/.385/.476 (.862), 136 OPS+ Davis was a vital piece of the 1991 World Series team. He got on base, drove in runs, and delivered in the postseason. In the 1991 ALCS, he went 5-for-17 (.294 BA) with two doubles and five walks. In the epic World Series, he hit two key home runs and posted a .556 SLG. For a short-term signing, his value could hardly have been higher. 2. Jack Morris, SP Contract(s): 1-year, $3.7 million 1991 Season: 4.3 rWAR, 3.43 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 125 ERA+ One season was enough. Morris signed before 1991 and anchored a championship rotation. His ten-inning shutout in Game 7 of the World Series remains one of the most iconic performances the sport has ever seen. In that 1991 World Series, he posted a 1.17 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 23 innings. He was an All-Star and finished fourth in the AL Cy Young voting during his lone Twins season. 1. Nelson Cruz, DH Contract(s): 3-years, $39 million 2019-2021 Seasons: 8.3 rWAR, .304/.386/.598 (.984), 162 ERA+ There may be debate over who gets the top spot, but Cruz is a deserving candidate. His arrival before the 2019 season transformed the Twins' lineup overnight, and his 41 homers helped power the team to a record-breaking home run season. He provided veteran leadership and mentorship on a team that won over 100 games. Few free agent signings have delivered that level of impact so quickly in Minnesota. It also helps that the Twins were able to flip his expiring contract to the Rays for Joe Ryan. The Top 5 free agent signings in Twins history represent the rare moments when Minnesota fully extracted value from the open market. None of these players were perfect fits forever, and most did not stay long. That is not the point. Their impact was concentrated, meaningful, and often unforgettable. From championship-defining performances to offensive transformations, these signings show what free agency can look like when conviction meets opportunity. The Twins may never be a franchise that lives at the top of the market, but history suggests they do not need to be. They just need to be right. Do you agree with the Top 5 rankings? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Add another name to the list of infielders the Toronto Blue Jays have checked in on this winter: Yoán Moncada. According to reporter Francys Romero, the Blue Jays have shown "early interest" in the 30-year-old third baseman, as have the Angels, Pirates, and White Sox. Moncada briefly debuted with the Red Sox in 2016 before he was traded to the White Sox as part of the package for Chris Sale. He spent the next eight years of his career with the South Siders. For one shining season in 2019, he looked like the generational superstar the White Sox thought they were trading for, but for the most part, he struggled with injuries and underperformance. Injuries (thumb and knee) continued to plague Moncada in 2025 with the Angels, but when he was on the field, he played reasonably well, hitting 12 home runs in 84 games, with a .783 OPS and 117 wRC+. Although he's a switch-hitter, Moncada has always been worse against left-handed pitching, and the Angels largely shielded him from southpaws. However, he was a legitimately productive hitter facing righties from the left-hand side. For what it's worth, the Blue Jays would reportedly like to add a lefty bat. That said, it's worth wondering if the Blue Jays really have enough at-bats to offer a player like Moncada. GM Ross Atkins might be just doing his due diligence on the infield market. After all, the Jays already have a much more promising lefty-batting third baseman in Addison Barger. The big-name infielders the Blue Jays have checked in on include Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman (link), Ketel Marte (link), and Kazuma Okamoto (link). Each of those players would be a substantial upgrade for Toronto's offense. As for Moncada, it's not a given that he would be enough of an upgrade to be worth his taking playing time away from the likes of Barger, Ernie Clement, Andrés Giménez, and Davis Schneider, Toronto's current infield alignment. So, what do Blue Jays fans think? Is this nothing more than smoke, or would you like to see Toronto make a serious offer to Yoán Moncada? Share your thoughts in our comments section below. Featured image courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images. View the full article

Compared to star closers like Edwin Diaz and Devin Williams — both of whom signed long-term contracts in free agency this offseason — the Chicago Cubs' bullpen remodeling has been about reeling in a bunch of small fishes, rather than a giant one worth posing with. Phil Maton has been the only multi-year splurge made by the front office; other additions include a reunion with Caleb Thielbar, and one-year pacts with Hoby Milner and Jacob Webb. The team's latest signing of Hunter Harvey fits that same model, though he brings a bit more heat (literally and figuratively) to a relief corps in desperate need of some true high-leverage horsepower. All of the Cubs' reliever additions this winter have one thing in common: they don't throw fast. Thielbar, Milner and Maton ranked toward the very bottom of the league with fastballs that averaged less than 90 mph in 2025, and Webb was below average in that category as well. Daniel Palencia should be a reliable leverage arm moving forward, but as the primary (only?) source of meaningful velocity in the bullpen, Craig Counsell was going to have to get really creative with piecing together outs from the relief corps Jed Hoyer had assembled. Luckily, Harvey can add some gas to the fire. His fastball averaged more than 96 mph this past season with the Kansas City Royals, and in 2022-23, he was pumping it in around 98.3 mph. Even if injuries have sapped some of his juice, there's clearly a high-powered arm attached to the 31-year-old. Of course, injuries are a big part of the equation for the right-hander, who has struggled to stay healthy since turning pro. Despite turning in a 0.00 ERA and 1.35 FIP this past season, he only made 12 appearances (10 2/3 innings) due to a teres major strain and a separate Grade 2 adductor strain. In fact, he's only made 50 appearances in a season once (2023), and his healthiest three-season stretch (2022-24) only saw him tackle about 150 innings. He's just not durable, hence the short-term nature of his deal. As long as he can stay relatively put together for 2026, that's of no great concern to the Cubs. He's struck out 27.4% of opposing hitters since the start of the 2022 season, and his walk rate plummeted to 2.6% in 2025. That's a wildly intriguing combination, even if hitters tend to crush the ball (40.7% hard-hit rate, 92.4 mph average exit velocity allowed) when they make contact. Those batted-ball trends can likely be chalked up to the fact that he relies so heavily on his four-seam fastball and lives so frequently in the zone; he still generates whiffs and chases at a solidly above-average rate. Harvey makes a living off his high-rise fastball and bowling-ball splitter, featuring them about 80% of the time, give or take a few pitches each season. Peculiarly, he absolutely feasts with run on his pitches rather than any real cutting action, which is somewhat of a departure from the norm for the Cubs. Perhaps there's some work to be done with his slider and curveball that he continues to oscillate favor with, as both pitches represent his best chances to work away from right-handed hitters (he's worked reverse splits quite often, including his small sample in 2025). Still, the whole point of adding Harvey was adding premium velocity to a bullpen short on it. Insofar as his fastball doesn't fall off a proverbial cliff in 2026, that one pitch alone should make him a breath of fresh air for Craig Counsell and Cubs fans alike. View the full article

The Miami Marlins traded Dane Myers to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday afternoon. In exchange, they picked up outfielder Ethan O'Donnell. Myers landed in Miami three years ago as a minor league Rule 5 draft pick and immediately surpassed expectations. The converted pitcher raked in the upper minors and made his MLB debut on July 4, 2023. Playing the game with an extremely high motor, he quickly became a fan favorite. The 2025 season was a rollercoaster for Myers. At age 29, he looked to be emerging as the Marlins' everyday center fielder, slashing .333/.377/.481 in 44 games played through June 15. Coincidence or not, he was hit by a pitch on June 16, and from that point forward, Myers became a liability at the plate. His campaign ended prematurely after colliding with the outfield wall at Citizens Bank Park on September 23. Overall across parts of three MLB seasons, Myers is merely a .245/.299/.354 hitter (81 wRC+). However, he's a weapon versus left-handed pitching (.297/.360/.456 and 126 wRC+). O'Donnell was drafted by the Reds out of the University of Virginia in 2023. He spent this past season with Double-A Chattanooga, where he slashed .236/.327/.325 with seven home runs, 20 stolen bases and a 90 wRC+ in 125 games. Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs cautions that there is "a huge hole in his swing against fastballs up and away from him." MLB Pipeline had O'Donnell ranked 18th on their Reds top prospects list, while Longenhagen didn't rank him at all among the organization's top 39 prospects. The left-handed hitter has gotten professional reps at all three outfield positions. He turns 24 years old in March and will be Rule 5-eligible after the 2026 season. Fish On First's own Isaac Azout reported that the Reds also attempted to acquire Myers prior to the July 31 trade deadline. It's unclear if he had other suitors back then or during this offseason. Myers' departure fully clears the runway for Heriberto Hernández to make his first career Opening Day roster coming off a productive rookie season. Fellow righty bats like Christopher Morel and Connor Norby could get more reps in the corner outfield spots than previously thought. This also creates a temporary opening on the Marlins 40-man roster. That opening should be filled in the coming days when the club's one-year, $13 million deal with reliever Pete Fairbanks is officially announced. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins have had a very quiet offseason, at least in terms of adding on-field talent. Even during the winter meetings when other teams were making movements to fill gaps, the Twins grabbed a player during the Rule 5 Draft and traded him immediately. Nothing flashy, nothing grandiose, just a little building and maintenance. Looking at the 40-man roster and the potential active roster, the Twins have talent, and with the turnover on the coaching staff, the hope is that results will improve. The front office not making big moves is probably smart on their part right now, but there are still gaps in the lineup. There are still questions at first base where there has been a lot of turnover and change the past four seasons. Last season, Twins first basemen ranked 25th out of 30 teams defensively. There was plenty of talking around, looking specifically at first base options. During the Winter Meetings, the Big Fish, Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, signed their new contracts. Clearly the Twins weren't swimming in that pool, but they were believed to be looking at the secondary market at first base, such as Rhys Hoskins, Ryan O’ Hearn, and Josh Bell were floating around the rumor mill as potential targets for the Twins. Not a poor choice in the bunch, just what would fit best, and what would the front office be willing to spend with their available funds. The Twins were serious about plugging in another first baseman, so it wasn’t a matter of when, just a matter of who. The Twins jumped into the secondary first base market shortly after the Winter Meetings completed. At 9:28 am on December 15th, Jeff Passan posted on X that the Twins and switch-hitter Josh Bell had agreed to a one-year contract with a 2027 mutual option. While Bell is a first baseman and can and will more than likely play first base, the switch-hitter was picked up for his bat. He will likely serve in the DH role often as he did his last season with the Washington Nationals. At the same time, most fans recall Bell’s 2025 season as being far less productive at the plate than his previous seasons. He ended 2025 with a .237/.325/.417 slash line, suitable for a 110 OPS+, and his relentless work ethic is what makes him a reliable player and leader. If you haven't followed Josh Bell in his career, here is a little background and a snapshot of what the Twins are getting. Bell attended Jesuit College Preparatory in Dallas and had committed to play baseball at the University of Texas. In his senior year of high school, he hit .548 with a 1.054 slugging percentage, 13 home runs, 54 runs batted in, and 54 runs scored. However, Baseball America stated that he was the nation’s top corner outfielder available in the 2011 draft, and even though he was a sought-after commodity, he wrote a letter to the Commissioner's office stating that he would not sign with anyone and intended to honor his commitment to Texas. Despite the notification, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round, He still went to Texas, took some classes, worked out, and then decided to sign with the Pirates in August 2011 for a $5 million signing bonus, setting a record for a second-round draft pick. MLB.com ranked Bell as the 69th best prospect in baseball and number three in the Pirates organization. His professional rise wasn’t instantaneous. In fact, he was in the Pirates minor league system for five years. Ultimately, he used that time to develop, to ready himself for the big leagues. He debuted in 2016, a reminder that some of the game’s most impactful bats aren’t always the fastest risers. Once in the majors, Bell immediately showcased why Pittsburgh invested in him. Even though he was brought up, sent down, and had knee surgery all within a year, he never missed a game or went on the Injured List. On September 4, 2017, Bell broke the National League record for most home runs by a rookie switch hitter. Over five seasons with the Pirates, he posted a .261 batting average with power that translated into 86 home runs across 552 games. His breakout 2019 season earned him an All‑Star nod and a Home Run Derby appearance, milestones that cemented his status as a legitimate middle‑of‑the‑order presence during his peak. But Bell’s career arc hasn’t been a straight line of success. After his All‑Star season, he moved through several teams, including multiple stints with the Nationals. He won a Silver Slugger in 2022. However, a series of trades and signings that have kept him moving around the league, landing back again with the Nationals in 2025. In 2025, Bell experienced the kind of inconsistency that has marked parts of his career. Bell opened the season slowly at the plate before settling into more reliable production. He ended the season with 22 home runs and became the second player on the Nationals, joining Danny Espinosa, to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game. Bell’s defensive metrics have drawn mixed reviews, and rightfully so. In 2025, an already struggling offense for the Nationals was not assisted at all with Bell’s first base performances, or lack thereof, but for the Twins, he will primarily be a DH and will bring a veteran voice to the locker room. The Twins have a fairly young team, not the youngest anymore, but certainly comparatively young and inexperienced to the rest of the league. Along with his presence and a shake-up of the coaching staff, Minnesota is still adamant on 2026 being a season of developmental emphasis and roster evaluation, particularly as the team assesses its competitive timetable. He will add a nice, power-hitting bat to the lineup, while hopefully helping grow the confidence and professionalism of the younger players. This move is calculated. It doesn’t mean that Hoskins or O’Hearn would have been a bad fit. However, having a switch-hitting DH, especially with Clemens available to cover first base, a veteran bat with pop and a track record of production who might unlock lineup balance and offer clubhouse mentorship while allowing Minnesota to keep its long‑term options open by not spending a lot. The AL Central clearly isn’t the best division. Still, it’s a division that demands both offense and savvy roster construction, especially against the ever-frustrating Cleveland Guardians. Bell’s signing strikes a balance of both and gives the Twins another intriguing storyline to follow as spring training approaches. View the full article

As the calendar turns to 2026, the Jays are about to embark on a season they hope will play out similarly to last season… but with a different outcome. This offseason has been a busy one for Toronto’s front office as they try to maintain some consistency in the roster while strengthening areas they hope will make a difference. A lot of headlines are focusing on the Jays “going all in,” but one of the many question marks is whether the team is building solely for 2026 or whether the success can be sustained. Is it all in for 2026 or bust? Or will it just be a start? By 2027, the Jays will be the product of several converging storylines: the maturation of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a bridge class of pitching additions, and a wave of prospects, particularly on the mound. Layered atop that baseball story is the club’s evolving financial profile. Rogers seems content to spend after a sensational season, but does that approach continue? The 2026 starting pitching staff is structured as a bridge to youth. In late 2025, the Jays spent aggressively to sign Dylan Cease (seven years, $210 million), brought in Shane Bieber on a short-term arrangement (through 2026 with a player option), and elevated Trey Yesavage into an October role that signaled a near‑term rotation track. Cody Ponce (three-year, $30 million contract) also signed while Kevin Gausman wraps up the final year of his (five-year, $110 million signed in 2021) and José Berríos is signed through 2028 with a player opt-out at the end of 2026. By Opening Day in 2027, the starting rotation will be something like Yesavage, Cease, Ponce, and Berríos. Likely, Ricky Tiedemann will have worked his way into the rotation. All signs point to him joining the team at some point in 2026. Prospects Stephen, Watts‑Brown, Gage Stanifer, and Johnny King might also make the jump by 2027. Every bullpen sees highs and lows throughout a season. 2026 will see a somewhat new look back-end for the Jays. One would assume the same for 2027. By then, Jeff Hoffman might still be the closer and in the final year of his three-year, $33 million deal. Tyler Rogers will be in the second year of a three-year, $37 million deal. Chase Lee, who was acquired from the Tigers, has some options and will be arbitration eligible in 2027. Will Yimi Garcia return? His current deal expires after 2026. Brendon Little will be arbitration-eligible potentially in 2028 and can hit free agency in 2031. Mason Fluharty’s current deal (3-year, $33 million) wraps up in 2027. Braydon Fisher and Paxton Schultz will be eligible for arbitration in 2029 and free agency in 2032. Eric Lauer is under club control for 2026, and there has been no word on whether they will extend him. There will undoubtedly be questions for 2027 and beyond when it comes to the bullpen. Offensively, the team will be led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who will be under contract through 2039. In 2025, the team’s season was defined by universal offensive upticks versus 2024, including a higher batting average, OBP, and slugging percentage. It still isn’t clear whether 2026 and the team's long-term outlook will emphasize contact quality, but it does seem likely given 2025’s success. Signing Bo Bichette and/or Kyle Tucker to long-term contracts would signal that the team will maintain this approach. Around the infield, into 2027, will include Andrés Giménez at second or short. Giménez has a club option in 2030. Ernie Clement will play a role in the infield until 2029, having been tendered a contract for that year. Clement is arbitration-eligible, meaning he'll be controlled by the team until becoming a free agent in 2029. At the start of last season, Alejandro Kirk signed a 5-year, $58 million contract extension that will keep him with the team through 2030. Tyler Heineman is signed through 2028 and is arbitration-eligible. Prospect Edward Duran is projected to be ready for the majors by 2027. Outside of free agency or trades, there’s a chance that Arjun Nimmala, who surged into the Top‑100 status as the youngest regular in the Northwest League this past season, might be ready for the majors by 2027 (although projections suggest the #3-ranked prospect in the Jays system will arrive in Toronto in 2028). #2-ranked prospect JoJo Parker, who was drafted 8th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 MLB Draft, is projected to get to the Majors by 2029. In the outfield, prospects might also be in the mix by 2027. Prospects Yohendrick Pinango, Victor Arias, and RJ Schreck are projected to be ready by then. George Springer wraps up his 6-year ($150 million) contract in 2026. Daulton Varsho will hit free agency at the same time. Addison Barger is under club control until 2030, as is Nathan Lukes, and potentially Anthony Satander (club option in 2030). Myles Straw has team options for 2027 ($8M) and 2028 ($8.5M) and a $1.75M buyout in 2027. If Tucker signs a long-term deal with the Jays, that would probably mean the front office will start moving around those pieces a bit. Nothing about 2027 happens in a vacuum. The AL East remains the sport’s elasticity test: multiple 90‑win entrants, back-and-forth winters, and tiny margins. FanGraphs’ depth charts and projection snapshots around late 2025–26 consistently put the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Red Sox in the 90‑win bandwidth for 2026, with the Orioles and Rays oscillating based on youth graduation and payroll posture. The lesson for 2027: roster quality isn’t enough; optionality is the currency. That means sixth/seventh starter depth, RHP/LHP relief symmetry, platoon bats, etc. Can the Jays build a dynasty based on their 2025 season success? It won’t be easy, or cheap. Every successful team needs talent, a strong culture, and a bit of luck. The first two seem to be mainly in place, not just for 2026 but also for 2027. Can the existing and new pieces maintain the winning culture that propelled them within two outs of a world championship? Right now, everyone is focusing on 2026, but 2027 is already taking shape. If the team sputters in 2026, then it might throw 2027 into flux as players on expiring contracts will likely be traded for prospects, and even the coaching staff might change. The result might be a shift in chemistry and culture, maybe for the better but maybe for the worse. A disappointing 2026 might also tighten Rogers’ purse strings and shift the approach from “win it now” to “tread water.” Here’s hoping that 2026 mirrors 2025, and the Jays don’t stop. 2025 might just have been the start of something special, and two seasons from now might see that momentum continue. If the pieces fall into place, 2027 could be the year Toronto turns momentum into a lasting legacy. View the full article