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On Friday, the Royals made some big headlines in the baseball world, as Jeff Passan reported that the Kansas City Royals had agreed on a five-year extension with third baseman Maikel Garcia. Royals MLB.com writer Anne Rogers finalized the details of Garcia's deal, which totaled $57.5 million in guaranteed money over the five-year span, with a club option for 2031. Rogers shared more details about the deal in her whole piece on MLB.com later in the afternoon. He will be making a little over $4 million next season, which would have been his first year of arbitration. The deal gives Garcia financial stability through the 2030 season and shows the Royals' long-term commitment to their young infielder. That said, his first year is a bit of a discount for the Royals. His estimated salary in arbitration was $5.8 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Thus, the Royals saved nearly $2 million for next year's payroll by agreeing to this Garcia extension. Therefore, this is an interesting deal for Garcia and the Royals, as it maintains their ability to build their roster in the short term this offseason while still providing a blueprint for the long term. Let's look at why Royals GM JJ Picollo gave Garcia this extension, the long-term impact, and what other moves are on the horizon in Kansas City in the wake of this extension announcement. Garcia's Hitting Changes and Skill Improvement in 2025 The 25-year-old Royals infielder has been a key part of the Royals since the 2023 season, and he showed flashes of strong play in 2023 and 2024. In his first full season in 2023, Garcia posted an 85 wRC+ and 2.2 fWAR in 515 plate appearances. However, things regressed a little bit in 2024, especially at the plate. In 626 plate appearances, he posted a 71 wRC+ and 1.2 fWAR. He hit seven home runs, three more than he did a season ago. Garcia also scored 84 runs and stole 37 bases, both improvements from what he did in his rookie year (59 and 23, respectively). Unfortunately, his average exit velocity declined (91.8 MPH to 90.4 MPH), as did his hard-hit rate (50.6% to 42.8%). That led to a .270 wOBA, a 29-point decline from his 2023 mark. After a disappointing season in 2024, Garcia went to the drawing board and retooled some things in his swing in 2025. With the help of hitting coach Alec Zumwalt, the Venezuelan infielder made some modifications to his hands and leg kick, which was noticeable in Spring Training last year. Resting the bat on his shoulder in his batting stance and opting for a toe tap instead of a leg kick did wonders for his batted-ball metrics and overall results. In 666 plate appearances, Garcia slashed .286/.351/.449 with an .800 OPS and 121 wRC+. He also hit 16 home runs, a career-high, scored 81 runs, and collected 74 RBI, the latter being a career-high. The stolen bases fell to 23, a bit of a regression from a year ago. However, he traded speed for power, which was welcomed by a Royals lineup that ranked 26th in runs scored and home runs last season. The Royals' primary third baseman also saw a boost in many important Statcast categories last year. His 91.3 MPH average exit velocity was 0.9 MPH higher than his previous average. His 45.1% hard-hit rate was 2.3% higher than a year ago. Lastly, his 9.7 average launch angle and 5.6% barrel rate were career-highs. When looking at his overall Statcast profile via TJ Stats, he demonstrated some encouraging growth in his batted-ball categories while still maintaining elite plate discipline skills. That kind of combination made him one of the Royals' most effective hitters, skills-wise, in 2025. Now, Garcia's overall profile is far from perfect. He still struggled to consistently pull the ball last year, as he ranked in the 9th percentile in pull rate and 23rd percentile in Pull Air%. His barrel rate and max EV percentiles were also pedestrian, at the 24th and 34th percentiles, respectively. That said, as illustrated in his hits spray chart from a season ago, he did a much better job of pulling the ball for home runs, even if the other base hits were a bit more sprayed out. A lot of his singles were in the gaps. However, most of his extra base hits were pulled, whether they were home runs or doubles. For context, let's take a look at his hits spray chart from 2023 and 2024. Garcia sprayed the ball a lot more around the field and had more doubles and triples in the gaps. However, the home runs were a little more spread out, resulting in less consistency in launched batted balls and, thus, fewer home runs overall in those 2023 and 2024 seasons. Furthermore, by improving his ability to pull and launch the ball, he also posted a better xwOBA trend in 2025 than in his other seasons, which can be seen in the chart below via Savant. Not only did Garcia see much more consistency in his xwOBA trend last year, but he also saw extraordinary positive spikes that he never reached in 2023 or 2024. That is a positive sign that what he did in 2025 illustrated legitimate hitting growth and wasn't a fluke. These positive pull and xwOBA trends only justify the five-year extension that Garcia received from the Royals on Friday. The power is developing nicely and will only mature as he gets older and adds more natural strength to his frame. What Kind of Impact Does Garcia Have On the Royals' Payroll Long Term? The signing of Garcia has the most significant impact on the left side of the Royals' infield, as Kansas City has its shortstop (Bobby Witt Jr.) and third baseman (Garcia) under contract for quite some time. Given that both players won Gold Gloves last year and combined for 13.6 fWAR, that kind of stability is essential for the Royals to be a competitive club in the long term. What's interesting about the deal is that the Royals will have Witt and Garcia until at least 2030. After 2030, Witt can opt out of the 11-year contract he signed before the 2024 season, and Garcia will be in the final year of his deal (he has that club option in 2030). Rogers made a note of this in her piece on Garcia's signing. Witt is the franchise star for the Royals, but as baseball fans know, a team needs more than one guy to win a World Series. Salvador Perez has had a nice end-of-career resurgence, but he'll be 36 this season and may only have a couple of years left in his illustrious career. Thus, the Royals need young players that they can surround Witt with. Garcia is the first piece Kansas City has committed to in building its long-term offensive core. With Garcia signed, the main question is this: who are the Royals going to commit to next? Vinnie Pasquantino seems like the most logical choice, especially after leading the team in home runs (32) and RBI (113). He is in his first year of arbitration this offseason, much like Garcia. Unfortunately, Pasquantino doesn't offer the defensive value (-8 career OAA) or baserunning (-10.3 career Baserunning Runs above average). As a result, he has only accumulated a 4.5 fWAR in his career, much lower than Garcia's (9.1 fWAR). That makes it a lot tougher for the Royals to commit in the long term to Pasquantino when all of his value is tied to one particular area (i.e., hitting). Other extension options could be Jac Caglianone or Carter Jensen, both rookies a season ago. An extension now for both of them could be cheap, and we have seen other teams give out extensions to players before they had much, if any, MLB time. Colt Keith of the Tigers and Kristian Campbell of the Red Sox are two examples. Both Caglianone and Jensen have their fair shares of upside and risks as extension candidates. Caglianone may have the best power tool in the organization, even at the Major League level, but he struggled in his rookie debut, posting a 46 wRC+ and -1.6 fWAR in 232 plate appearances. He will need to improve his launch angle and some of his swing decisions in 2026 for the Royals to give him an extension. As for Jensen, his MLB debut went as well as it possibly could've. In 69 plate appearances, he posted a 159 wRC+ and 0.7 fWAR. His Statcast profile was pretty immaculate as well, with many of his Statcast categories ranking in the upper percentiles of the league, as seen in his TJ Stats summary below. That said, while Jensen's debut was impressive, it was only 69 plate appearances. The Royals need a larger sample from him in 2026 if they are going to make a significant financial commitment, especially at his age (22). Nonetheless, Caglianone and Jensen may be better extension candidates than Pasquantino, mainly because they hold better upside value and are both much younger than Pasquantino (28). What's the Next Big Move This Offseason? The Royals likely won't extend another player under arbitration this offseason. Conversely, they have more moves to make, especially when it comes to rounding out their lineup, preferably in the outfield. Passan, in his write-up about the Garcia deal, mentioned that the Royals have been inquiring heavily in the trade market. While he noted the Royals have been inquiring with the Red Sox about Jarren Duran, which is not new, he said they have also been inquiring with the Nationals regarding shortstop CJ Abrams and pitcher MacKenzie Gore. Abrams and Gore is an interesting discussion, mainly because Abrams plays the same position as Witt, and Gore is a pitcher. That said, Abrams has been rumored to be a candidate to move positions, especially after posting a -11 OAA last year at shortstop for the Nationals. The former Padres first-round pick could move to second base or possibly left field, where his speed and athleticism should profile well. Abrams' Statcast percentiles weren't eye-popping, but he still has some upside at 25, and he pulled the ball effectively last year for Washington as well. As for Gore, his possible acquisition may be a contingency plan for the Royals' rotation, especially if they need to trade away Cole Ragans for a big-time outfielder like Duran or someone else on the trade market (maybe Teoscar Hernandez, though he wouldn't be worth an asset like Ragans). Picollo, during the Winter Meetings, mentioned that the Royals needed an "ace" like Ragans to be competitive in the postseason. Could Gore fill that "Ragans" role? The TJ Stats summary profile for Gore compares quite favorably to Ragans', which could force the Royals to pull the trigger on a Ragans trade this offseason. Granted, while trade talks are circulating even more since the conclusion of the Winter Meetings, the Royals still have a lot of legwork to do to make one or any of these deals a reality. A lot of moving parts have to click first, and that could take weeks. Still, the Royals are going to be aggressive this offseason, not only in building their long-term future, as was the case with Garcia, but also in shaping their team for 2026. Garcia's contract stability gives Picollo one less deal to worry about, which should help him focus on that much-needed big-time trade or free-agent signing this offseason. View the full article

The Blue Jays clearly have put a focus on their bullpen this offseason, and that continued on Friday. Hours after they announced the acquisition of Chase Lee from the Tigers, reports began circulating that the Jays have signed free-agent submariner Tyler Rogers. The right-hander will receive a three-year contract worth $37 million with a vesting option for a fourth season that would pay him $11 million. Tyler and his twin brother Taylor Rogers will turn 35 next week. Taylor Rogers has played for six big-league teams over the past 10 seasons. Tyler Rogers was the 10th round pick of the Giants in 2023 out of Austin Peay State. He made his MLB debut as a 28-year-old in 2019. Since then, he has been one of the most active relievers in baseball. He has led the National League in appearances in 2020, 2021, 2024, and again in 2025. He pitched in 68 games in both 2022 and 2023. Tyler Rogers spent his entire career with the Giants until the 2025 trade deadline when he was dealt to the New York Mets. Rogers's release point is basically the ground. Because of that, he has the slowest fastball in the game. Read this Royals Keep article discussing what Rogers can do for a team to illustrate how he can help the Blue Jays bullpen. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== Rogers will be a completely different look out of the Jays bullpen, much different than the big velocity arms like Jeff Hoffman, Louis Varland, and Braydon Fisher. Rogers won't get a ton of strikeouts, but he also walks very few batters. What do you think of this signing for the Blue Jays? Maybe they should bring in Taylor too. View the full article

Back on October 1, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the Miami Marlins payroll was "expected to rise" from its 2025 level, "but the extent of the increase remains to be determined." Jackson provided an update on Friday in the aftermath of the club agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with free agent Christopher Morel: "a source said last week that while the payroll will increase some, a significant payroll increase would not happen." The 2025 Marlins had a year-end 40-man roster payroll of $67.7 million, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. Their luxury-tax payroll estimate was $84.9 million. Since Bruce Sherman took over as the franchise's principal owner during the 2017-18 offseason, the Marlins have perennially ranked in the bottom third of MLB team spending, but they had never been dead last in either category until now. For context, from 2022-24, the Marlins averaged a 40-man payroll of $97.1 million and a luxury-tax payroll of $123.6 million. Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic previously theorized that "the Marlins might be operating with an additional motivation" because they did not come close to spending 150% of their league revenue-sharing intake on player payroll—approximately $105 million for luxury-tax purposes. "When a club fails to hit the specified number, the burden of proof shifts from the (Major League Baseball Players Association) to the club," encouraging the union to file a greivance against them. The Athletics found themselves in a similar predicament last winter and their payroll spiked accordingly. Jackson disputes the notion that the Marlins are concerned about this. If challenged by the MLBPA, they will argue that an ample amount of money is being spent to bolster the organization's infrastructure ("things you don't see," to quote Sherman himself). President of baseball operations Peter Bendix has been clear that the Marlins' overarching goal is to qualify for the postseason as frequently as possible. Coming off a 79-win season, they are only a few effective moves away from genuinely contending for an October berth. Yet the budget is apparently so tight that Bendix had to address the team's biggest weakness—first base—by rolling the dice on Morel, who's coming off a sub-replacement-level season and has zero experience at the position?! As Fish On First has reported on, they have repeatedly fallen short in pursuits of free agent relievers despite craving more experience in high-leverage roles. As currently constituted, the 40-man roster payroll for the 2026 Marlins would already be in the $70 million range (though that is based on my rough estimates of Morel's compensation and not-yet-determined salaries for arbitration-eligible players). If indeed there isn't "significant" room to spend on top of that, they are headed for an unacceptably stagnant offseason. View the full article

Editor’s Note: This is the first Jays Centre article by five-time MLB All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. We’re always looking for eager new writers to join our staff, whether you’re a Home Run Derby champion or just the reigning ALCS MVP. If you’d like to learn more, please click here, fill out the form, and someone will reply with more information. LeBron James? Are you kidding me? Earlier this week, Sports Reference published year-in-review website trend data for the 2025 MLB season. You know, the season where I made my fifth consecutive All-Star team and led the Blue Jays on their deepest postseason run of my lifetime. No big deal. I was honoured to have the most-viewed baseball player page throughout the country, despite Showboat Ohtani’s best efforts. In 2023 and ‘24, that World Series-stealing free agent tease had the most-viewed Baseball Reference player page across most of the Great White North. In 2025, Canadians finally made the right call (even if Jordan Baker, home plate umpire in Game 7 of the World Series, did not). In every province and territory, no Baseball Reference player page got more hits than my own. per Baseball Reference (2023, '24, '25) I wish I could say the same across all the Sports Reference platforms. Instead, I was shocked, appalled, and frankly hurt to see a different name plastered from sea to sea to sea. A name we’ve all seen plastered everywhere for the last two decades. LeBron James had the most-viewed Sports Reference page in most of the country. LeBron James! It would be one thing if it were Auston Matthews or Scottie Barnes. Heck, I’m not mad to see Hamilton's own Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on there. You do you, Yukon. But you’re telling me that while I was bringing our home and native land together with earth-shattering grand slams (and my award-winning personality), y’all were looking up LeBron’s plus/minus? While almost half the country was tuning in to watch me dominate in the World Series, the other half just needed to know LeBron’s field goal percentage? All I can say is thank god for Prince Edward Island. You guys are real ones. If I could take my talents to Charlottetown, believe me, I would. per Baseball Reference I don’t do it for the recognition. I don’t do it for the fame. But LeBron?? Come on, Ontario. Come on, Canada. What happened to elbows up? What happened to Canada first? I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed. View the full article

On Friday afternoon, news broke from multiple sources, national and local, that the Kansas City Royals and third baseman Maikel Garcia have agreed to a five-year, $57.5 million extension with an option that could push it to six years and $85 million. 2025 was a huge breakout season for the 25-year-old from Venezuela. He originally debuted with nine games in 2022. He was a solid, one-win type of player in 2023 and 2024. In 160 games in 2025, Garcia hit .286/.351/.449 (.800) with 39 doubles, five triples, and 16 home runs. He also had 23 stolen bases. He had a 123 OPS+ and was worth 5.8 bWAR and 5.6 fWAR. Taking a slightly deeper look, his approach at the plate was much improved in 2025. His walk rate increased from 6.7% in 2024 to 9.3% in 2025. More impressive, his strikeout rate has dropped from 22.3% in 2023 to 16.5% in 2024 to just 12.6% in 2025. And he did that while improving his overall hitting and his power. The improvements led to him earning his first Gold Glove Award. He also improved his defense at the hot corner. He played about 143 more innings at third base in 2025 than 2024, he had four less errors. While not the best defensive metric, his fielding percentage went from a very solid .961 to .980. His DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) at third base jumped from 3.0 in 2024 to 13 in 2025. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. just completed Year 2 of his massive 11 year, $288.8 million deal (with options for 2035-2037). Garcia's contract will run through the 2030 season (with an option for 2031). Both were All-Stars in 2025. Both received MVP votes. Check back throughout the day for updates as we learn more about the details of the deal. What are your initial thoughts on extending Garcia? View the full article

Just after the 2025 Winter Meetings ended earlier this week, the Miami Marlins reached an agreement on Friday afternoon with Christopher Morel. It will be a one-year big league deal, sources tell Fish On First. Morel, 26, spent the 2025 season with the Tampa Bay Rays, slashing .219/.289/.396/.684 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI and a 90 wRC+. He was designated for assignment at the end of the season and elected free agency after going unclaimed. He spent most of the season in left field. A source tells Fish On First that they expect him to play first base as well, a position he has never played in his career. The Marlins are buying low on Morel in hopes that he can recapture his 2023 season, where he slashed .247/.313/.508/.821 with 26 home runs, 70 RBI and a 120 wRC+. In the middle of the 2024 season, he was shipped off to the Rays with two other players in exchange for Isaac Paredes. He was never able to get it going with the Rays after that. A main reason for Morel's struggles has been his high strikeout percentage. In 2025, he struck out 35.7% of the time, which is a career-worst. The hope here is that they can help him cut down on the K%. In a best-case scenario, he could follow in the footsteps of Kyle Stowers (35.4 K% in 2024 and 27.4 K% in 2025). Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic cites hitting coach Pedro Guerrero as a key part of this acquisition. Despite having a great arm—ranking in the 93rd percentile of arm strength, per Baseball Savant—Morel posted minus-five defensive runs saved in left field, and has never been able to find a home defensively. Maybe the move to first base can help him establish himself defensively, opening up for more production on the offensive side. It is worth noting that Morel has two more arbitration years after 2026. That gives the Marlins club control of him through the 2028 season. He doesn't have any minor league options remaining. Morel was being pursued by teams in both Japan and Korea, according to Francys Romero. It's unclear if any other MLB teams were willing to offer him a guaranteed major league deal. Ely Sussman's updated Opening Day roster projection has Eric Wagaman losing his spot to make room for Morel. We could possibly see Morel in a platoon situation, with Liam Hicks or Graham Pauley getting starts at first base against tough right-handed pitchers. The Marlins 40-man roster will be at 40 players once the deal is announced. Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Marlins are trying to acquire another bat via trade. View the full article

Last week, Twins Daily's Matthew Trueblood wrote a piece on changeup specialists the Twins will target in free agency, highlighting Tommy Kahnle, Luke Weaver, and Kyle Finnegan. Finnegan is off the market, signing a two-year, $19 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. Kahnle and/or Weaver would still be welcome additions to Minnesota's bullpen, presumably stepping in as the club's primary closer. However, if the Twins are unable to sign them, the club could potentially lean on an in-house option as their changeup relief specialist in Pierson Ohl. Making his major league debut late last July, Ohl primarily operated in a hybrid stretch relief role, pitching in four-inning spurts. The 26-year-old struggled in his inaugural campaign, generating a 5.10 ERA and 4.75 FIP over 30 innings pitched. However, the young righty improved upon transitioning into a short relief role in mid-September, manufacturing a 3.86 ERA, 2.81 FIP, and 11-to-2 strikeout to walk ratio over his final 9 1/3 innings pitched. Ohl could continue inhabiting that role with intentions of entrenching himself as part of Minnesota's long-term bullpen plans. However, he will need to compete with fellow inexperienced arms in Travis Adams, Connor Prielipp, Marco Raya, John Klein, and others for one of the final spots in the eight-pitcher unit. Interestingly, Ohl could have the inside track on the aforementioned quartet (besides maybe Prielipp) due to his possessing what might be the best pitch in Minnesota's bullpen. Thrown 205 times last season, Ohl's changeup generated the second-highest Pitching+ (a metric that uses the physical characteristics, location, and count of each pitch to try to judge the overall quality of the pitcher's process) rating of all Twins reliever pitches post-trade deadline, achieving a 129 (100 is average). The only pitch that netted better results than Ohl's changeup was Justin Topa's sinker, which manufactured a 131 Pitching+. Ohl's changeup had better physical characteristics than Topa's sinker. However, Topa was able to locate his sinker better than Ohl did his changeup, resulting in a slightly better score. MnIyZ2pfWGw0TUFRPT1fVjFNRlZWRlhYd1VBWGxNTFh3QUhBRkpRQUFNRlUxY0FWZ0ZVVlZBSEJnc0VBUUFB.mp4 Ohl's changeup and Topa's sinker are neck-and-neck in overall pitch quality. However, with Ohl expected to transition into a one-inning role next season, he should be able to refine his pitches further, adding more velocity and movement. If Ohl takes that step, his changeup could become the highest-graded pitch in Minnesota's bullpen, potentially resulting in him progressing from throwing the pitch 38% of the time last season to over half of the time in 2026. Ohl, Prielipp, and Raya form an exciting trio of young arms who could blossom into high-leverage relievers early next season. Prielipp's slider and/or changeup and Raya's curve could challenge Ohl's changeup and Topa's sinker for being the best pitch in Minnesota's bullpen next season. For now, though, Ohl's changeup is arguably the most enticing pitch of Twins relievers with major league experience. If the young right-hander can fortify his secondary pitches this offseason (four-seamer, cutter, and knuckle curve), he could be the recipient of save opportunities early next spring. View the full article

The MLB Winter Meetings concluded earlier this week, and the Red Sox walked away without addressing their main focus, a middle-of-the-order bat. There are still plenty of free agents left to be signed, headlined by Kyle Tucker, but Craig Breslow may have to turn to the trade market to land someone who can slot into that role. While pure power hitters can be hard to trade for, swinging a deal with a team looking to shed salary is likely the path that can lead to some interesting trade partners. I’ve already discussed why the Red Sox and Cardinals should make a trade for Brendan Donovan, but there’s another Red Bird infielder who arguably makes even more sense for the Sox. Willson Contreras would solve the first base dilemma in Boston and slot into the middle of the lineup as another 20+ home run threat. In 2025, Contreras slashed .257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs, 80 RBIs, and five stolen bases. He posted an fWAR of 2.8 and a 124 wRC+. The bulk of his home runs came on the road, but Busch Stadium is a pitcher’s dream park. If we overlay his home spray chart over Fenway Park, we can add six more home runs and quite a few Green Monster wall balls to his stats. He’s a pull-happy right-handed hitter, and the team is lacking that exact profile in the lineup. He is a bit strikeout-happy and doesn’t walk much (25.2 K% vs. 7.8 BB%), but he can swing it, and that plays well in Boston. Defensively, Contreras is a plus defender at first base. He has years of experience at catcher, and could slide behind the dish in a pinch, but he thrived in his first full year at first base in 2025, posting an incredible +6 Outs Above Average. Typically, first base is a position where you hope someone can pick it and move on, but Contreras actually offers range and stability there. Scorchers down the line don’t intimidate him, and he’s got a quick enough first move to be able to get a glove on most of what gets hit his way. Adding a player like Contreras doesn’t necessarily spell the end for someone like Triston Casas, but it allows him to start the season at Triple-A Worcester to get his feet back under him. Once Casas is ready, he could even be called up to split time at first and DH with Contreras to give both guys a regular break from playing the field. Adding a player like Willson Contreras would help to calm the waters with fans after a quiet few days at the Winter Meetings. People tend to forget that while those meetings attract a ton of media coverage, many deals get done afterward from the productive conversations that start during the meetings. Craig Breslow and company are still trying to improve the major league roster, and adding Contreras would go a long way towards doing that. Maybe make it a package deal for him and Donovan? Two Red Birds, one stone. View the full article

The San Diego Padres were more interested in creating rumors than waves at the Winter Meetings, and it appears that the entire roster could be available in A.J. Preller's search for his blockbuster fix.View the full article

As the dust settles from MLB's Winter Meetings, the Orioles made one of the loudest moves by signing Pete Alonso to take over first base and provide the middle-of-the-order thump they have been seeking. It is a win for Baltimore, but it also creates a very real roster squeeze. The Orioles now have three players who primarily fit at first base or designated hitter, yet they only have two spots to place them. That imbalance should immediately draw the attention of a Twins team that desperately needs help at first base. Minnesota has multiple avenues to improve its lineup, but first base remains one of the clearest openings on the roster. There are multiple free-agent options, but the Twins are operating on a shoestring budget with needs in the bullpen, too. Baltimore’s situation changes that, because the combination of Alonso’s arrival and the Orioles' depth makes them one of the few clubs that can trade from a surplus. If the Twins want to find a solution without paying premium free-agent prices, this is the kind of opportunity they cannot afford to overlook. Here’s a look at Baltimore’s two first base options, besides Alonso. Each comes with different levels of intrigue. Ryan Mountcastle Mountcastle represents the most straightforward option for Minnesota, because his situation in Baltimore feels increasingly cramped. He is entering the final year of team control, which limits long-term risk for any acquiring team. MLB Trade Rumors projects him to earn $7.8 million in his final arbitration season. That also means the Orioles have motivation to listen, especially after his worst season to date. In 2025, he hit seven home runs with a .653 OPS in 89 games, a steep drop from what he showed earlier in his career. His track record still matters, though, because through his first five seasons, he produced a .265 average with a .766 OPS and a 113 OPS+. He has been an above-average bat for most of his career. Mountcastle’s cost should be manageable, because the Orioles no longer have room to give regular at-bats to Alonso, Mountcastle, and either Samuel Basallo or Adley Rutschmann. (On any given day, one of the latter two can catch, but the team will want the other's bat in the lineup most of the time.) That positional overlap lowers the asking price and allows the Twins to explore a short-term addition, without spending significant prospect capital. His pros are easy to see. Mountcastle has proven big-league power, a history of above-average production, and the appeal of a one-year commitment if things do not work out. The cons include the uncertainty around his recent decline, questions about his ability to rebound, and limited defensive value beyond first base. Still, the affordability and upside make him a natural fit for Minnesota’s needs. Coby Mayo If the Twins want to chase ceiling rather than floor, Coby Mayo is the more ambitious target. Mayo was once a consensus top-50 prospect with big raw power and a profile built around offensive damage. His big-league performance has not met expectations so far, as in 102 career games, he has hit .201 with a .634 OPS and an OPS+ of 79. Even with those struggles, though, his long-term value remains significant. He is not arbitration eligible until 2028, and is under team control through 2031. The pros with Mayo revolve around projection, as his power potential remains enormous and his underlying contact quality hints at untapped upside. Last season, his 74.7 mph bat speed would have ranked in the upper quartile of the league if he qualified. In September, he posted a .941 OPS with five homers. He could give the Twins a long-term answer at first base if he develops into the hitter scouts once envisioned. The cons stem from risk, as his early performance raises reasonable questions about how quickly he can adjust and whether he will ever reach his ceiling. Acquiring him would require a substantial trade package, and Minnesota would need confidence in its ability to smooth out the rough edges in his game. Minnesota also doesn’t have the greatest track record with young hitters in recent seasons. He is the higher-ceiling play, but also the higher-volatility one. Baltimore created a roster bottleneck by signing Alonso, and the Twins happen to have a clear path to playing time at first base. Whether Minnesota targets Mountcastle for short-term stability or Mayo for long-term upside, the Orioles are one of the few organizations positioned to deal from depth. The alignment is there, and it is a path the Twins should seriously consider pursuing. Should the Twins trade for Mountcastle or Mayo? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Joey Gallo has seen a career of highs and lows, but his latest chapter might be his most unexpected yet. After a decade of towering home runs, highlight reel throws, and extended slumps, the 32-year-old is now pursuing a return to the big leagues as a relief pitcher. And according to reports from the Winter Meetings, multiple teams are giving the idea more than a passing glance. Gallo sparked renewed attention this offseason by posting a 15-second video on X that showed him unleashing three pitches. The clip was short, and viewers could not see the catcher, but the sound told the story. Each pitch popped the mitt with enough force to make evaluators wonder if his elite arm strength could finally find a new home on the mound. For a player searching for a way back into the league, it felt like a statement that he is taking this transition seriously. The interest he has generated is not just social media buzz either. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported that several clubs have legitimate intrigue in the former slugger as a pitcher. For someone who launched 208 career home runs and once served as one of the most feared left-handed bats in the game, it is remarkable to see teams now asking whether he can help them in the bullpen instead of the batter’s box. The Twins have multiple open spots in the bullpen, so a minor league deal with an invite to spring training could be on the table. It is easy to understand why the idea is compelling. At his peak with the Rangers, Gallo owned one of the strongest throwing arms in the sport. His average outfield throw in 2021 clocked in at 93.9 miles per hour, ranking fifth in MLB. Even as he shifted more toward first base late in his career, he still averaged nearly 90 miles per hour on his throws. Translating that raw arm talent to the mound is far from guaranteed, but the baseline tools give pitching coaches something intriguing to mold. Gallo’s decision to remake himself began earlier this year when he told the White Sox that his future was on the mound, not in the outfield. Chicago released him shortly afterward, but the move only opened the door for him to commit to this experiment fully. Since then, he has been posting training clips and working to develop a delivery that can hold up at the professional level. The progress appears real enough that teams are now willing to explore the possibility. It would be one of the most surprising reinventions in recent memory if Gallo were to pitch in a major league game. This is a player who once hit 40 home runs in back-to-back seasons and won two Gold Gloves. But careers rarely move in straight lines, and Gallo’s willingness to try something bold has given him a new path. Whether it results in an MLB comeback remains unclear, but for the first time in a while, there is genuine optimism surrounding Gallo again. View the full article

AJ Preller is a box of chocolates... or something. Just days ago, news out of the Padres' front office was that they weren't interested in dealing high-end relievers. Now, according to Underdog MLB, the Padres are listening on not only their best reliever, but their best starting pitcher. Mason Miller, 27, is arbitration-eligible beginning in 2026 and is scheduled to reach free agency in 2030. In 2025, he made 60 relief appearances split between Oakland and San Diego, working 61 2/3 innings and recording 22 saves. He struck out 44.4% of hitters with a 12.0% walk rate, and he posted a 2.23 FIP with a 0.73 HR/9. His BABIP was .240, and his strand rate was 76.0%. He finished with 2.0 fWAR, a 2.63 ERA, and a 2.27 xFIP. Nick Pivetta, 32, is signed through 2028 on a four-year, $55 million contract covering the 2025-28 seasons. In 2025, he started 31 games for San Diego and threw 181 2/3 innings. He recorded a 26.4% strikeout rate and a 6.9% walk rate, and his season FIP was 3.49 with a 3.85 xFIP. Pivetta's HR/FB rate was 9.7%, while his K-BB% was 19.5%. View the full article

The MLB Winter Meetings have concluded, and the Red Sox appear serious about adding offense in 2026. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the Cardinals' Willson Contreras has become their most recent trade target. Contreras turns 34 early in the 2026 season. He signed a five-year deal with St. Louis that runs through 2027, so he remains under contract for 2026 and 2027. At the plate in 2024, Contreras logged 663 plate appearances and hit .262/.380/.468 with a .365 wOBA and 141 wRC+. He walked in 12.6% of his plate appearances, struck out 26.8% of the time, and finished at 2.7 fWAR. In 2025, he had 622 plate appearances and hit .257/.344/.447 with a .358 wOBA and 124 wRC+. His BB% was 7.8% with a 25.2% K%, and he produced 2.8 fWAR. Defensively, he caught 431 2/3 innings in 2024. In 2025 at first base, he logged 1011 2/3 innings with -1 Defensive Runs Saved. While he could still technically catch, he's not a volume receiver at this point in his career, and it's possible the Red Sox will not consider him a catcher at all. View the full article

The San Diego Padres reportedly are looking to do Padres things this offseason, even after the conclusion of the Winter Meetings. President of baseball operations A.J. Preller is devising something that would "rival" the Juan Soto trade (the one to the Yankees, that is) and/or "pale in comparison" to what he pulled off the past two trade deadlines, if Kevin Acee's sources are to be believed. What could such a deal -- or series of deals -- involve? Hint: It's not moving Jeremiah Estrada and/or Jake Cronenworth. No, there's a more obvious one, even it isn't being intensely discussed at the moment: moving Fernando Tatis Jr. for a haul. As odious as that might seem to Tatis (full no-trade through 2028) and Padres fans, it's THE move to attempt, now or in 2026, if Preller wants to keep the club's current run going -- or start a new one quickly. Based on San Diego's major-league roster and farm system, he has all but check-mated himself into doing it. A quick personnel review: After Tatis, the only young foundational position player is Jackson Merrill, whose nine-year, $135 million contract extension kicks in next year. Merrill produced 2.7 bWAR in 2025 despite injuries, but Tatis is in another galaxy of stars (team-leading 5.9 bWAR last year). The other lineup fixtures are getting old. Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts are entering their age-33 seasons. Cronenworth is entering his age-32 season. Ramon Laureano is entering his age-31 season. Tatis will be in his age-27 campaign, with nine years and $286 million remaining on his extension, next year. Nick Pivetta is the lone reliable starting pitcher. Joe Musgrove is a dice roll. If the rotation remains a weak spot, then the bullpen needs to stay elite. An Estrada trade would need to significantly improve the roster. Is such a deal available? The farm is fallow. The Padres' system was dead last in Baseball America's midseason talent rankings last August. "This is the thinnest system in the game because of trades. The bottom two-thirds of this Top 30 would not crack the Top 30 of the game’s deepest systems," BA wrote. The owners are all but a lock to lock out the players a year from now, which might change payroll dynamics. The clubs will want to force the union into accepting a salary cap (evergreen sentence). The '26-27 offseason, therefore, figures to be as chaotic as the '21-22 offseason, which was the last lockout winter. Padres chairman John Seidler told Acee and other reporters this week that he is committed to keeping the payroll steady in '26, but will his thinking change if MLB's salary system changes? And will that then require really hard decisions, such as asking Tatis to leave? Back to now: Preller could try to push all-in for Tarik Skubal or Sandy Alcantara, but the Tigers seem uninterested in moving their ace and Alcantara hasn't yet regained his pre-surgery form. With the Pirates suddenly wanting to win, a Paul Skenes mega-trade has almost no chance of happening. And even if it was, Preller could add Estrada and Cronenworth to the prospects and it still wouldn't be good enough. Maybe he can offer enough to get Brandon Lowe from the Rays and/or Kodai Senga from the Mets. But much larger moves are being teased. Like, say, a 5- or 6-for-1 return for Tatis. Preller could aim for prospects who would rival the likes of James Wood, C.J. Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, Jakob Marsee, Stephen Kolek and Leo De Vries. During his MLB Network segment Tuesday night at the meetings, Preller wouldn't say outright whether Tatis or anyone else was untouchable. "Like anything, you want to listen," he said. "You want to be able to listen to hear what people are going to say. That's the only way to find out more information, what's out there. But we like our team." That's typical GM talk, of course. But when it comes to the 2026 and 2027 Padres, "We want to listen" needs to become "I'm all ears," particularly when it comes to Tatis. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs didn't do much at the Winter Meetings, but as their signing of reliever Hoby Milner proves, they're clearly planning to be active throughout the rest of the offseason. View the full article

While there is still some time until the 2026 MLB Draft Bonus Pool Money is finalized, Jamie and Jeremy provide early insight on how much money the Twins could have to spend on their signing bonus for their first round pick in 2026.View the full article

The Winter Meetings came and went, all without the Blue Jays making any major moves. This wasn't a cause for panic, though, as the team has already reshaped its pitching staff, signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract, followed by giving a three-year, $30 million contract to Cody Ponce. With Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer likely departing, those additions were essential. Toronto still has some work to do in the bullpen. Collectively, Jays relievers posted a 3.98 ERA in 2025 (16th in MLB), and the team has identified the 'pen as a need that will have to be addressed this winter. They have already made some small transactions this offseason; Seranthony Doínguez was granted free agency, Nick Sandlin and Yariel Rodríguez were outrighted to the minors, with Sandlin electing free agency, and they recently acquired right-hander Spencer Miles in the Rule 5 draft from the Giants. He must remain on the active roster all season, or else he will be offered back to San Francisco. This leaves the Blue Jays' bullpen in an interesting spot. As things currently stand, Jeff Hoffman is still the closer, Yimi García will be making his return from his elbow injury, and after some speculation about stretching out Louis Varland to take on a starting role, GM Ross Atkins confirmed that he will remain in the bullpen going into 2026. It seems like the Blue Jays have six starters for five spots, and one of those arms will likely have to move to the bullpen, unless there are injuries or the club unexpectedly goes to a six-man rotation. That creates competition for only a handful of relief roles among Braydon Fisher, Brendon Little, Tommy Nance, Mason Fluharty, Eric Lauer, Miles, Justin Bruihl, Rodriguez, Paxton Schultz, and Rule 5 draft holdover Angel Bastardo, who will have to be on the active roster for 90 days, or he will be offered back to the Red Sox. The Blue Jays certainly aren't just content with the group they have, though. Over the past couple of weeks, the top free agent relievers Edwin Díaz, Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, and Robert Suarez all found new homes, and while the Blue Jays had various amounts of interest in these players, none of them ended up in Toronto. The team is certainly not done, and there will be more additions along the way, whether in the form of Pete Fairbanks, Brad Keller, or maybe a trade. But if there is one area of need that may require reinforcement, it's the left side of the bullpen. Right now, the top three left-handed arms in Toronto's projected bullpen are Little, Lauer, and Fluharty, and while all three had various levels of success in 2025, it didn't end that way. Little went from being one of the best relievers in baseball in the first half of the season to being almost unplayable in the postseason, and while Lauer and Fluharty had bright spots in 2025, neither of them is an established high-leverage arm. Managing a bullpen is always key to getting through baseball games, and being able to bring in a left-handed pitcher to get out a tough pocket of lefties is always important. John Schneider knows this well, as the Blue Jays are certainly going to face a slew of elite left-handed hitters over the course of a long season, and a pitcher who can be relied on to shut them down is a piece that Schneider would love to have. With that being said, here are three names the Blue Jays should consider adding this offseason to be their left-handed specialist out of the bullpen. 1) Drew Pomeranz - 46.1 IP, 1.94 ERA, 27.9 K%, 6.8 BB% (as a reliever) Before last season, Pomeranz hadn't seen big league time since 2021 with the Padres. He resurfaced in 2025 and was a key part of the Cubs' bullpen. Now, at 37 years old, he could be a useful piece in any bullpen, especially when you consider left-handers hit just .176 with just two extra-base hits off him all season. 2) Sean Newcomb - 70.0 IP, 2.19 ERA, 22.4 K%, 7.0 BB% (as a reliever) Newcomb, now 36, began the year in the Red Sox organization and made five starts for the team before a trade at the end of May sent him to the Athletics. From there, he pitched out of the bullpen and was extremely effective, posting a 1.75 ERA in 51.1 innings for the A’s. Lefties had a .283 wOBA against him last season, and with the potential for him to start some games, he would be an intriguing option for rotation depth should it come down to that. 3) Tim Mayza - 16.2 IP, 3.78 ERA, 20.3 K%, 6.8 BB% Yes, seriously, that Tim Mayza. His Blue Jays tenure didn’t end according to plan. After spending parts of seven seasons with the Blue Jays, he was let go in 2024 after he had an 8.03 ERA through 24.2 innings that season. But he did look like he was back to being a big league reliever in 2025. He’s still effective at getting left-handers out (.228 wOBA against LHH vs. .373 against RHH), and the fastball velocity has taken a tick up, to 95 mph. He may never again be the guy who posted a 1.52 ERA and 2.1 bWAR for the Jays in 2023, but he’s not done as a major league reliever and could be had on a minor league deal. Not only would it make for a great storyline, but he could be effective if put in the right position. View the full article

Despite the division-rival Chicago White Sox nabbing the top pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, most Twins fans (and the front office) were pleased to land at No. 3, behind only the (formerly) godless South Siders and Tampa Bay. There was a notable exception. “Winning the lottery is supposed to mean a boatload of money,” said a source close to the Pohlad family. “They are furious that baseball’s lottery means the exact opposite. They want some answers from the Commissioner’s Office, and they want them now.” The Twins most recently benefited from the draft lottery in 2023, when they leapt to the fifth pick and snagged Walker Jenkins, the organization’s top prospect. The source says the Pohlads dispute that characterization. “In 2024, they were able to fall from the 12th pick to the 16th pick. That’s four slots worth of savings," said the family friend. "Jumping up to five when you’re 13th? That means you have to sell one of your country estates—or your entire bullpen.” Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and general manager Jeremy Zoll seemed pleased with the pick, telling The Athletic it was “a good outcome.” Behind the scenes, the Pohlads were fuming. “When a poor wins the lottery, they get money to buy their Big Gulps and Crocs,” said another source with knowledge of the Pohlads’ reaction. “Why don’t those same rules apply to their betters? The Pohlads will put that money right back into the community! “I should clarify that by ‘community,’ I mean the community of Pohlad family members, who will then deposit it in offshore tax havens where it can’t be touched by the government.” The 2026 MLB Draft takes place on July 12 and 13 in Philadelphia. Both sources say the team hopes that the prospect will accept vouchers at the Target Field Team Store in lieu of a signing bonus. Image license here. View the full article

Spencer and Joseph Zarr discuss the minor league departures and additions to this point in the offseason, and then break down their tiers for the DSL and ACL rosters from 2025. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2Td iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/ Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627 Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays sat on their laurels at the Winter Meetings while watching the rest of the league try to catch up to their signings of Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox were predictably quiet at the Winter Meetings after trading for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo earlier in the offseason, though they did ship out a disgruntled prospect in Vaughn Grissom. View the full article

Welcome to part four of our offseason series covering the 1918 Chicago Cubs. Here are parts one through three so you can catch yourself up on everything covered to this point: Part 1: Introduction Part 2: The Start of the Season Part 3: Charlie Hollocher In part four, we’ll look into how the Cubs performed in the month of June. Another Winning Streak At the start of the month, the Cubs found themselves 1.5 games behind the New York Giants in the National League standings. Fresh off of a win in their last game in the month of May, the Cubs continued on to win their first four games of June. This set up the debut of Phil Douglas on June 6. Douglas, who was one of the Cubs’ best pitchers in 1917, suffered appendicitis in February that kept him out until now. Coming off of a season in which he pitched to a 2.55 ERA, expectations were high for the veteran. Behind a complete game shutout from Douglas and home runs from Dode Paskert and Charlie Deal, the Cubs defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0. With that win, and a New York Giants loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cubs were officially in first place in the National League. The Cubs would win their next two games, extending their win streak to eight games, and their lead in the NL to 1.5 games. This created quite a bit of buzz around their upcoming four-game series against the Giants. According to the New York Times, the Cubs were “the sensation of the league, and the Giants face the hardest ordeal of the season in this coming series.” A Huge Series As reported by the Times, game one of the series against the Giants, with Claude Hendrix and Jeff Tesreau set to be the starting pitchers, was Bat and Ball Day, where 25 percent of the gate receipts was donated to baseball equipment for WWI soldiers in France. This fundraiser, which was created by Clark Griffith, was a huge success. Per Griffith’s Society for American Baseball Research biography, over $7,500 had been raised by July.. Unfortunately, the first shipment was struck down by a German U-boat. Griffith persisted, however, and would end up creating another campaign that successfully sent baseball supplies, as well as copies of The Sporting News so soldiers were up-to-date on happenings around baseball, to the troops. Back to the series against the Giants, the Cubs were able to take game one to extend their winning streak to nine games. Down 3-2 in the ninth inning, the Cubs took a 5-3 lead via clutch hits from Fred Merkle, Charlie Deal, and Bill Killefer. “The impulsiveness of their scrappy attack carried the Giants off their feet,” the Times said in their recap the next morning. That same article continued: “How manager Fred Mitchell has enticed this collection of ancient and youthful players to play winning ball is something of a mystery. Such familiar relics as Rollie Zelder, Dode Paskert, and Fred Merkle perform as if they had discovered some kind of a tonic which laughs at the advancing years. This young Charlie Hollocher, the former caddie boy of St. Louis, is all that they have said about him at shortstop, and is a whirlwind with his hands and feet. Charley Deal, who is no Spring chicken, manages to insert hits at the proper time, and Claude Hendrix blooms forth into a better pitching commodity than he has been for half a dozen years. The conjurer behind it all must be Mitchell, for the Cubs are the scrappiest bunch that has hit the Harlem meadow this year.” Game two pitted Lefty Tyler against Pol Perritt. With two outs in the first inning, George Burns of the Giants stepped to the plate. According to the Times, Burns hit a ball all the way to the fence that Max Flack fell while pursuing, which allowed Burns to circle the bases for an inside-the-park home run: ”Just as the ball was about to flirt with the fence, Flack made a grab for it, but slipped in the mud and sat down suddenly. All this time George Burns was making tracks around the muddy base paths. Great hunks of mud were flying up from his spikes as he tore around the bases. Burns hasn’t run quite as fast as he did yesterday since he hustled to catch the train out of Utica to come to New York.” Perritt would make that stick, pitching all nine innings and allowing just six hits and two walks. The Cubs lost 1-0, and the winning streak was over. But the Cubs would bounce back the next day behind three hits each from Flack, Hollocher, and Merkle. After all of that, though, the series would end up in a 2-2 split. Hippo Vaughn gave up five runs in the first inning of game four en route to a 7-0 loss. This dropped the Cubs to 32-14 and their lead in the National League to 1.5 games. Another Win Streak to Close the Month Strong After going 3-3 in their next six games after the Giants series, the Cubs would start up another win streak. With a victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, a four-game sweep of the Cardinals, and a couple of wins against the Cincinnati Reds, the Cubs had won another seven in a row before closing the month with a loss and then a tie. In the month of June, the Cubs went 19-6-1, and went from one game back of the Giants for first place in the National League to 1.5 games up on them. The offense fell off a tad, hitting for just a .262 batting average after a sterling .295 in May. It was the pitching that really carried them. The Cubs’ team ERA in June of 1918 was just 1.95. The addition of Douglas was huge, as he had just a 0.94 ERA to that point. With Vaughn and Tyler continuing to do their part at the top of the rotation, the pitching was leading the way for the first-place Cubs. View the full article

There have been many reports suggesting that the St. Louis Cardinals are open to trading Brendan Donovan. On December 7th, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch discussed the latest information on Donovan. The Cardinals have made it clear they are willing to trade veterans Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras, but other players could be available as well. With the Royals’ well-documented need for offensive production, particularly in the outfield, the Cardinals look to be a natural trade partner. Below is a look at the most realistic targets and how they might fit in Kansas City. Potential Royals Trade Targets Brendan Donovan - Free Agent in 2028 Donovan was the Cardinals’ best player in an otherwise disappointing season last year, posting a team-high fWAR of 2.7. While he logged most of his innings last year at second base, he has spent over a third of his career playing in the outfield. If the Royals end up trading for him, the fact that Royals second basemen Michael Massey and Jonathan India have also spent time in the outfield would give the Royals some flexibility to find the defensive combination that works best for them. Donovan has been a consistent offensive threat in the Cardinals' lineup, never posting an OPS+ below 114, and his OBP of .353 would have topped all Royals hitters last season, so despite his below-average sprint speed, he would be a good option to lead off for the Royals and pair well with Bobby Witt Jr. batting second. Alec Burleson - Free Agent in 2029 Burleson is an intriguing option for the outfield. Over the past two seasons, he has hit for a decent average and power, resulting in an OPS+ of 105 and 125 in 2024 and 2025, respectively, which earned him a Silver Slugger in 2025 at the utility position. FanGraphs projects him to maintain his 2025 form into 2026. The big issue with Burleson is that his defense is definitely lacking. Last season, he graded in the 14th percentile in fielding range with -4 outs above average, and his fielding run value has been -6 or -7 in each of his three full seasons at the big league level. If the Royals wish to pursue Burleson, his offensive upgrade will come at the cost of his poor defense. Lars Nootbaar - Free Agent in 2028 On the surface, Nootbaar would not be a huge upgrade in the outfield, batting closer to league-average than previous years with an OPS+ of 95. He also graded well below average in xwOBA, xBA, and xSLG last season, after several strong seasons prior. Despite his regression, his OBP stayed relatively high at .325, which was higher than every qualified Royal other than Witt Jr., Mike Yastrzemski, and Maikel Garcia. Nootbaar also shows good plate discipline, with above-average chase, whiff, and walk rates. The issues with Nootbaar are his declining defense and injury history. His defense has regressed over the last two seasons, posting negative run value and OAA in both 2024 and 2025. For his injury history, he has only managed to play in more than 120 games once; however, that season was last year, so hopefully he can maintain his relative health going into next season. JoJo Romero While Romero does not fit the Royals’ need in the outfield, Anne Rogers recently reported that the Royals are “looking at the reliever market, particularly a left-on-left arm that could fit in the back of their bullpen.” Romero had an excellent season last year, posting a 1.7 fWAR while assuming closer duties after Ryan Helsley was traded before last year’s trade deadline. While his strikeout and walk rates are less than ideal, both being below average according to Statcast, his ability to induce ground balls and prevent hard hits would be a valuable addition to the back of the bullpen. Cardinals Players Less Likely to be Involved Willson Contreras - Free Agent in 2028 Contreras has been a productive hitter in St Louis and has posted an OPS+ of at least 123 and a total fWAR of 8.7 in his three seasons as a Cardinal. There is no doubt that he would provide a massive upgrade to the Royals’ lineup. Even though he is willing to waive his no-trade clause, according to Katie Woo on the Athletic, the Cardinals are not as motivated to trade Contreras. Another issue is fit, since the Royals have enough depth at first base with Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, and Jac Caglianone all expected to spend time there. Contreras has spent some time in left field when he was still in Chicago, but he is probably destined to be a designated hitter if there is any potential fit in Kansas City. This would leave the questions in the outfield in Kansas City unanswered. Nolan Arenado - Free Agent in 2028 It has been widely reported that Trading Arenado is one of Chaim Bloom’s main tasks in his first year as Cardinals’ general manager, and Arenado is reportedly more willing now to waive his no-trade clause than in past years. His defense is still above average, though not quite at the level it once was, and he also had his worst season at the plate since his rookie year, excluding the shortened 2020 season. His OPS+ dropped to 87, and his OBP was below .300 for the first time in his career. Entering his age-35 season, he can no longer be relied upon to be an impact in the lineup. Adding Arenado to the lineup would likely mean that Maikel Garcia would be displaced from third base following his Gold Glove-worthy season. Another issue is his contract. Arenado is owed $22 million by the Cardinals and $5 million by the Rockies next season, and $15 million in 2027. For the Royals to even consider a trade for Arenado, the Cardinals would have to retain a portion of his salary, something they were willing to do in their trade for Sonny Gray last month. Even so, there are too many issues for a trade involving Arenado to be likely. Nolan Gorman - Free Agent in 2029 Gorman has spent most of his career playing second and third base, but, as mentioned earlier, the Royals have some potential flexibility with Massey and India being able to play in the outfield. Gorman had a productive year in 2023 with a 2.4 fWAR and 116 OPS+, but he followed that up with disappointing seasons in both 2024 and 2025, with a total fWAR of 0.4 and an average OPS+ of 87.5 in those seasons. If the Royals trade for him, they will hope he can return to his 2023 form, but they should be able to find more impactful options on the market. Royals-Cardinals Possible Trade Scenarios Option 1: Major Trade Royals Receive: 2B Brendan Donovan OF Lars Nootbaar LHP JoJo Romero Cardinals Receive: LHP Noah Cameron 2B/OF Nick Loftin LHP Angel Zerpa RHP Ben Kudrna (No. 5 prospect) This is a trade that would involve a lot of moving parts. The Royals would receive an upgrade, with some risk, in their outfield with Nootbaar, in addition to a major upgrade in their lineup with Donovan. JoJo Romero would provide a boost to the back of the bullpen to group with Lucas Erceg and Carlos Estevez. The Royals would likely need to find a new home for either Massey or India to allow Donovan to take over at second base. The cost is likely worth it for the Royals here. They do give up Cameron, who just finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting, but the Royals have enough pitching depth to allow him to leave. Loftin becomes surplus to needs with the addition of Donovan and Nootbaar, and he can hope to benefit from a change of scenery after having a less impressive 2025 season. Zerpa will give the Cardinals a left-handed bullpen arm with more years of control than Romero, and Kudrna will give the Cardinals a look at a future pitching option. The key with all of these additions for the Cardinals is controllable assets. With the Cardinals looking less likely to compete in 2026, targeting controllable talent aligns with Bloom’s long-term strategy. Zerpa will be a free agent in 2029, Loftin in 2031, and Cameron in 2032. Option 2: More Realistic Royals Receive: 2B Brendan Donovan Cardinals Receive: LHP Noah Cameron RHP Ben Kudrna (No. 5 prospect) This trade scenario is much more realistic than option 1, but it leaves the Royals still searching for another option in the lineup, particularly in the outfield. However, the same logic applies to each team. The Royals add an impactful bat to the lineup, and the Cardinals gain a starting pitcher with five years of control plus a promising prospect. Option 3: Realistic, but Less Ideal Royals Receive: OF Lars Nootbaar LHP JoJo Romero Cardinals Receive: RHP Stephen Kolek LHP Angel Zerpa This option is less ideal for the Royals because while it does improve the outfield with the addition of Nootbaar, his offensive ability will not be as impactful as Donovan’s. Trading Zerpa for Romero is a “win-now” bullpen upgrade, and adding Nootbaar brings upside with risk. Kolek was acquired last season from San Diego in exchange for Freddy Fermin. He impressed after joining the Royals with a 1.91 ERA and 2.71 FIP in five starts in Kansas City. He would be ready to slot into the Cardinals' rotation and doesn’t become a free agent until 2031. Conclusion Since the Royals and Cardinals are actively looking in the trade market for their own roster solutions, they could likely end up dealing across Missouri. Whether they can agree on a mutually beneficial deal remains to be seen, but the framework is certainly there. View the full article

Starting in early 2023, the Twins appeared to have the shortstop position figured out for the foreseeable future, with a Carlos Correa megadeal. Correa has since been shipped back to the Astros, though, and we now have a 189-game sample of Brooks Lee. According to Baseball Savant, last season, he was well below average in batting, baserunning and fielding. However, he did do two things well: squaring up the ball and avoiding strikeouts. In total, he tallied -0.8 bWAR last year. It was really, really bad, but there's a glimmer of hope. What’s the answer for a player like Lee, who needs to get better and is on a team that claims it would like to compete in 2026? He profiles substantially better at second base. With his poor arm strength and slow feet, he is far more palatable on the right side of the infield. He has good actions as a defender, but the reality of the majors is that if he’s going to be a soft-hitting shortstop, he needs to bring above-average defense to that spot. I just don’t see it. Swing him over to second base, and let him continue to develop the bat. He needs to be a high-contact switch-hitter, and a Swiss army knife when constructing a batting order. That introduces a new question: What should the team do with Luke Keaschall? I love his offensive makeup, but he was extremely clunky at second base. His arm was also a source of tsuris and agita. The Twins have been searching for another right-handed bat in the outfield every offseason for a few years now. Left field could be the long-term fit for Keaschall The organization should obviously continue to rehab his arm and have him on a strict throwing program, but with his athletic ability, a move to left could be great for him and the ball club. So, what about the Twins’ need for a shortstop? They have a great candidate to be a long-term solution, in Kaelen Culpepper. I love his swing, and I expect him to knock on the door of the big leagues in 2026. But again, we return to the fact that they want to compete in 2026. It’s not a real answer to say this guy who finished in Double A is going to hop onto the big club after spring training, and they’re rolling with the rookie. That is, it’s not a real answer if you’re trying to be a serious threat in 2026. Regardless of how well he hits in Fort Myers this March, we should expect to see Culpepper in St. Paul, where he will likely be hitting in front of Walker Jenkins for a month or two (talk about a fun Triple-A squad). Well, now what? I just moved Brooks Lee to second base, Keaschall to the outfield, and declared Culpepper to be unready for a club trying to be a contender. With some alleged spending money, the Twins can go to a tried-and-true method: the stopgap shortstop. It’s an extremely unsexy play, but it makes so much sense for the current state of the ball club. Pending his price tag, a guy like Ha-Seong Kim (coming off an injury =-plagued season, likely looking for a prove-it deal) would be a phenomenal fit. This gives us a good look at the infield, with Royce Lewis improving defensively and Kim always grading well at short. Lee will get one final chance to be the answer in the big leagues, and if so, the team will have a long-term home for Keaschall’s top-of-the-order bat and legs. If Culpepper rakes and he gets the call, bump Kim to second or keep Lee rolling, depending on who is playing better. This will allow the other to fall into the “day-off” infielder role, since they can each fill in at all the infield spots. The stopgap move is flat-out boring, but I think it would be a sneaky big move with the Twins' current personnel. This could also give Culpepper a smooth runway to the bigs letting him take the reins as the shortstop when he is ready. The move puts the roster in a very healthy spot to potentially move Trevor Larnach for a bullpen arm or a prospect, which seems increasingly likely as we get further into December. This course of action isn’t ESPN headline-worthy, but it’s a sensible move that could pay huge dividends in the short- and long-term outlook for the Twins. View the full article

Quinn Priester made incredible in-season strides shortly after joining the Brewers via trade in early April. They first found success by leaning on his two best existing pitches—his sinker and slider—before working a retooled cut fastball and more curveballs into his mix. In 157 ⅓ innings, Priester posted a career-best 3.32 ERA and 82 DRA-, with an excellent 56.7% ground ball rate. Even after all that progress, there was still something missing from his arsenal by season's end: a reliable changeup. As the Brewers have emphasized mixing fastball variations, they've largely avoided throwing mediocre changeups, and Priester was no exception. He threw his changeup at a decent rate early in his career, but after joining the Brewers, he only used it sparingly for a few starts—before ditching it almost entirely. Without a slower pitch to break away from lefties, Priester attacked them with more cutters and curveballs in addition to his sinker. It created noticeable platoon splits: righties managed just a .275 xwOBA against him, but lefties posted a .317 mark. The Brewers used an opener ahead of him five times during the regular season against lineups with left-handed sluggers at the top, and his postseason usage suggested they were shielding him from those matchups with added urgency. To become a more well-rounded starter, Priester will need another weapon against opposite-handed opponents. When talking in early June about his sinker-slider pairing, pitching coach Chris Hook kept coming back to the changeup. They were still working at it on the side, he said, adding that he expected it to become a more significant factor in the future. "I think the changeup is there," Hook said. "We've got to get to a point where we can trust it and throw it in spots that it's good for him, but he's got to be on time [mechanically] to be able to do it." That point, seemingly, never arrived. For the rest of the season, Priester threw just 10 changeups. Even if his execution improves to the Brewers' liking, he would benefit from adding a little more depth to the pitch. In 2025, the average right-handed sinker and changeup differed by 7.5 mph, 3.4 inches of spin-induced vertical movement, and 9.1 inches of total vertical drop. For Priester, those figures were 5.5, 2.7, and 6.5, respectively, meaning his changeup lacked separation from his heavy sinker. Notice in the movement plot below how close the green cluster of changeups is to the orange cluster of sinkers. As someone who slightly cuts the ball at release and relies on seam effects to make it sink, Priester could be a candidate for a kick changeup, which incorporates a spiked middle finger to promote more sidespin. Another option may be a split-change, which became a weapon for Tobias Myers after he adopted it midseason. Regardless of what it takes to get there, it's clear that Priester will need more dependable offspeed stuff to close one of the remaining holes in his arsenal, and the Brewers want him to develop it. "He's showing me that he's able to do it," Hook said. "I look forward to the day that he's going to be able to incorporate the changeup as well." View the full article