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After the first day of the Winter Meetings, there have been multiple rumors and reports swirling around the Boston Red Sox. Craig Breslow and company seem to be busy scheduling meetings with teams, Zoom calls with players, and trying to put packages together to land them their impact bat for the middle of the order. A still glaring hole in the defense. though, sits at second base. At Talk Sox, we’ve highlighted the issues at second base both in writing and through our podcast, and it seems that this offseason could be the right time to finally plug that hole for the foreseeable future. All Breslow has to do is pick up the phone and give old friend Chaim Bloom another call. Brendan Donovan is expected to be traded at some point this offseason as the Cardinals navigate a near-complete tear down and rebuild. Donovan brings the perfect skillset to Boston that would fit right into Alex Cora’s lineups. He would slot in as an every day second baseman, a position he manned in 100 games last season for the Redbirds, but he is arguably the most shining example of a super-utility player that Breslow seems to covet. He won the National League Rawlings Gold Glove for utility players in 2022 and hasn’t really slowed down on defense yet. In 2025, he made appearances at second, third, shortstop, left, and right field. He’s played first base as recently as 2024 and could help to shore up that position if the team doesn’t address it fully during the offseason. Offensively, Donovan is a dependable bat. He slashed .287/.353/.422 with a .775 OPS, 10 home runs, 50 RBIs, and a 2.9 fWAR in 2025. He was named a National League All-Star for his efforts. He worked a strikeout rate of 13% against a walk rate of 8.2% last season. so he'd infuse some much-needed contact to the top of the order. However, Donovan isn’t a bopper, at least not in his current home ballpark. Busch Stadium is notoriously pitcher-friendly, and it has done a disservice to Donovan’s hit profile. If we overlay his home spray chart over Fenway Park though, a ton of power is evident. Yes, he's left-handed, a profile the Red Sox already have plenty of in the lineup. Look at that spray chart again, though. He’s going to the opposite field quite a bit and like many other lefties before him, spending time in Boston will teach him how to punish the Green Monster. He will have some pressure taken off of him with a move to Boston as well, as long as Roman Anthony continues to man the leadoff position in the lineup. Moving Donovan down a spot will allow for him to use his bat-to-ball skills in the best way possible and put himself in a position to score as much as possible. It's true that Brendan Donovan isn’t the flashiest move the Red Sox could make this offseason and he won’t come super cheap since he has two more years of control remaining via arbitration. But, he is the type of player that helps cement the team as a contender in 2026. His positional versatility would allow for multiple people to receive breathers during the week and, if needed, he could slot into the lineup as the starting second baseman on a daily basis. His bat would come alive in Fenway Park, and it could prove to be one of the best deals of the offseason if Craig Breslow can pull it off. View the full article

ORLANDO, FL—Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara has accepted the invitation from the Dominican Republic to participate in the World Baseball Classic, per FanDuel Sport Network's Craig Mish. This will mark the second time he participates in the WBC, having previously done so in 2023. Dominican Republic manager Albert Pujols could not confirm that Alcantara had accepted when asked on Tuesday afternoon, but said DR was interested in having him on the team. "Hopefully, he can be part and help us win," said Pujols. Alcantara, who returned from Tommy John surgery this past season, posted a 5.36 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 7.32 K/9 and 2.94 BB/9 through 174 ⅔ innings pitched. Even while struggling early in the season, he expressed his desire to once again participate in the tournament, saying "if they want to call me, I'm ready." In his lone outing of the 2023 tournament, Alcantara went 3 ⅔ innings, allowing three runs on five hits (one home run), three walks and struck out two. He took the loss against Venezuela and DR was eliminated during pool play. It has been announced this week that MLB All-Stars Elly De La Cruz, Manny Machado and Junior Caminero will also be on the team. The Dominican Republic has been assigned to Pool D along with Venezuela, Netherlands, Israel and Nicaragua. All of their tournament games will be played at Miami's loanDepot park, beginning with their March 6 opener against Nicaragua. Alcantara might not be the only Marlin representing DR. Nelson Cruz, the general manager of the team, told Fish On First that they have contacted Agustín Ramírez, but also Samuel Basallo of the Baltimore Orioles, so there is competition at the catcher position. "We have so many players, and it's hard to choose," said Cruz. He does not expect a decision to be made until February. View the full article

No team in baseball is paying a smaller share of its own team's payroll than are the Milwaukee Brewers. Even if we set aside the huge lump sum each team receives each year from the league's national TV rights agreements and the quarterly payments the Crew get as revenue-sharing payees, they get subsidized heavily, because their players received nearly $21 million in playoff shares and pre-arbitration bonus pool payouts. That money all comes from pooled league funds, rather than the pockets of Milwaukee's ownership group under Mark Attanasio. Nonetheless, financially, the Brewers operate at a disadvantage. The Dodgers, Phillies, Mets, Cubs, Padres, and the team from Cobb County, Georgia each outspend the Crew every year, and with good reason; their revenues dwarf those of the team playing in the league's smallest market. While the Brewers get significant help with their payroll (some of it coming directly from their rivals), they need that help in a way none of their rivals do. That reality is never thrown into sharper relief than on days like Tuesday, which saw the Phillies re-sign slugger Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150-million deal and the Dodgers set a new benchmark for relief pitcher salaries by signing Edwin Díaz for $69 million over three years. The final four teams in the 2025 National League bracket were the Phillies, the Dodgers, the Cubs and the Brewers, and already, the other three teams have spent varying amounts to reinforce their clubs for another run deep into October in 2026. (The Cubs, so far, have spent much more modestly than the others, but they're being cited as a potential destination for several high-profile free agents and trade candidates.) Don't expect the Brewers to match those outlays. They could do it—they fill Uecker Field well and are a success story of marketing and revenue capture, to the greatest extent that that's possible for a team without an adjacent commercial district next to their home park or a major media market to exploit. If Attanasio were thus disposed, Milwaukee could push their payroll to $150 million or higher, at least for a year or two. That's not how he chooses to run the team, though, and eventually, even that modest increase would begin to stretch the club a bit thin. Instead, the perennial focus for the Crew is on homegrown talent, and as we know, they have arguably the best assemblage thereof in baseball. Theirs is the deepest corps of solid pre-arbitration players in the league, and their farm system is one of the three best in the game. They can (and will) continue to compete with the big boys, on a total budget less than half that of some of the others. Fans will (rightfully) maintain high expectations for the 2026 team, though. The plan should be for the Crew to win a fifth NL Central crown in six years and try to claim their first-ever National League pennant. That doesn't require an enormous monetary stretch, but it does require that the club reckon with their star power gap. As good as Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, Brice Turang and Jacob Misiorowski can be, they don't quite match the Phillies (Schwarber, Trea Turner, Cristopher Sánchez) or the Dodgers (Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto) man-for-man. Those teams are also out to accrue better depth. The logical next step for Milwaukee is to beat these teams in October, but to make that possible, they'll have to find a creative way to keep getting more dynamic—more dangerous. Nationals trade candidates MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams could each be interesting fits for the Crew. So could Tigers mega-ace Tarik Skubal, about whom the Brewers had discussions with Detroit at the 2024 trade deadline. We've already written, this month, about why Ketel Marte and Byron Buxton are interesting potential targets. The Brewers are unlikely to deal for Skubal now, since he's only a year from free agency and will be well-paid in 2026, but they do need to think aggressively, as well as farsightedly. As Schwarber and Díaz reminded them on Tuesday, Milwaukee has a tall mountain to climb. They might have the best overall organization in baseball, but that doesn't guarantee them a turn with the pennant. To get one, they'll need to exit their comfort zone and do something big. View the full article

Perhaps superstar is a bit much, but it's undeniable that Brice Turang has been one of the best second basemen in baseball over the past two years. In 2025, he posted a 124 wRC+ and accumulated 4.4 fWAR, both marks placing him fourth amongst all second basemen. Although his defensive prowess took a step back last season, it has only been a year since he was the National League's Platinum Glove award winner. Turang joins a growing list of exceptional baseball talent and was part of the latest batch of players to officially join the team, along with Kyle Schwarber, Gunnar Henderson, and Will Smith. The roster and depth chart are far from complete, but there's a solid chance that Turang ends up as the starting second baseman for all, if not most, of the tournament. He could split time with Nico Hoerner if he ends up participating as well, but Brewers fans can expect to see plenty of Turang on the international stage regardless. It's a well-deserved honor for the 26-year-old and also begs the question, what other Brewers will be participating in the World Baseball Classic? Freddy Peralta hasn't officially announced his commitment, but has expressed a strong desire to represent the Dominican Republic. Neither William Contreras nor Jackson Chourio played for Venezuela in 2023, but they could be key parts of their lineup in 2026. Sal Frelick competed for Italy but hasn't confirmed his return to the team. One of the biggest struggles for teams in the past has been assembling a quality pitching staff, as the best arms are typically still ramping up when the tournament starts in early March. So far, Paul Skenes is the only pitcher who has decided to play for Team USA, and depending on the willingness of other top names like Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet to join him, the Brewers could send a few of their own. Quinn Priester and Jacob Misiorowski would be the top two candidates, but Chad Patrick or Tobias Myers could provide some solid value as well. View the full article

With the latest reports taking focus away from Joe Ryan, Pablo López, and Byron Buxton, there are other Twins trade candidates to consider this winter, including catcher Ryan Jeffers. Is it possible the Twins could trade Jeffers, but hang on to the other players mentioned in rumors? If they go that route, they would need to sign a catcher to replace their erstwhile starter. Jeffers split time with Christian Vázquez from 2023 through 2025, and absent a major addition, he's in line to take on a bigger role in 2026. While it might not make a ton of sense on the surface, there are a few options the Twins would have if they do move on from Jeffers. Let’s take a look at a trio of interesting mid-level free agents. Danny Jansen Jansen started the year with Tampa Bay and was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers near the trade deadline. He played in 98 games between the Rays and Brewers, hitting .215/.321/.399, which was good for a 101 OPS+. For comparison, Jeffers hit .266/.356/.397, which was good for an OPS+ of 108. A burly 6-foot-1, Jansen, 30, put up 2.8 bWAR in 2025, compared with Jeffers's 1.2. If the Twins trade Jeffers, Jansen could make some sense on a one- or two-year deal, as a bridge to prospect Eduardo Tait. Minnesota acquired Tait as part of the return in the Jhoan Duran trade at the trade deadline, so they hope only to need a stopgap behind the plate. Jonah Heim Heim had a down year in 2025 and was non-tendered by the Texas Rangers last month, making him a free agent. He broke out in 2023, hitting for a 106 OPS+ and earning his first career All-Star nod. He won a Gold Glove the same season, and was the main catcher as the Rangers marched to their first-ever World Series title. Since then, he has not been as consistent offensively as he (or the Rangers) would have hoped. While he may be a downgrade offensively from Jeffers, he has shown the ability to be an above-average defender, and being solid behind the plate can mask being a below-average hitter. As the starting catcher, playing in 124 games, Heim hit .213/.271/.332 in 2025, which equates to a 77 OPS+. While this is below average even for a catcher, if the Twins believe that Heim is a bounce-back candidate, they could get him for good value. The Rangers non-tendered him when he was projected to make in the ballpark of $6 million, so he will likely command less than that on the free-agent market. As a switch-hitter, he provides solid matchup value at a righty-dominated position. Reese McGuire In a backup role with the Cubs in 2025, McGuire hit .226/.245/.444 over 140 plate appearances. The Cubs non-tendered him after the season, and he was projected to make $1.9 million next season. If the Twins were to trade Jeffers, could they look to McGuire to split time with the recently acquired Alex Jackson? It sure seems like a plausible option. Offensively, in limited appearances, he was on par with the average catcher across the majors. Another positive in signing McGuire is that he grades out above average defensively, particularly as a framer and thrower. However, like Jackson, he has never handled a full starter’s workload, so he would be more likely to be a candidate to split duties than to play as much as Jeffers would. Do you think the Twins should trade Jeffers? And if so, whom should they sign to replace him? View the full article

Life is never boring with AJ Preller as your favorite team's president of baseball operations. MLB Network recently reported that Preller is once again going big-game hunting, though it's questionable how much ammunition he has to bring along this time around. Reports out of Nashville suggest the Padres are at least listening on veterans like Nick Pivetta while gauging interest in other pricey pieces, even if a major teardown remains unlikely. With payroll tight and the farm thinned out, any blockbuster would likely involve some creative thinking. A decade into his tenure, Preller’s résumé is defined by blockbuster trades. The most famous is the 2022 deadline blockbuster for Juan Soto and Josh Bell, a move that cost a haul of prospects but helped power San Diego’s run to the NLCS. He doubled down on pitching by landing Blake Snell from Tampa Bay, Yu Darvish from the Cubs, and Joe Musgrove from the Pirates in a rapid-fire series of deals that signaled an all-in push around Manny Machado. Preller has also aggressively overhauled the bullpen, sending prospects to Milwaukee for Josh Hader. This past deadline, he once again emptied the farm to bring in flamethrower reliever Mason Miller. View the full article

Rocco Baldelli’s time in Minnesota officially came following the 2025 season, but his next chapter has already begun. After a difficult 92 loss season led to his dismissal, the former Twins manager is joining the Los Angeles Dodgers front office according to reporting from the Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale. The move brings Baldelli into the heart of baseball’s most dominant organization and reunites him with a familiar face. The Twins chose to move on from Baldelli after missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. It was a decision driven more by frustration than by a clear indictment of his abilities. Baldelli was never the sole reason the team stumbled through 2025, and he certainly was not the source of the deep flaws that defined the club’s roster and performance. Instead he became the public face of accountability when those above him would not accept their share of the responsibility. Even so it was never expected that Baldelli would remain unemployed for long. The real question was whether he wanted to jump back into the grind immediately. His answer came sooner than many anticipated. The Dodgers have brought him aboard in a front office role, a path he knows well from earlier in his career. Before he ever filled out a lineup card Baldelli worked in the Tampa Bay Rays system after a mitochondrial disorder ended his playing career in 2010. He joined Andrew Friedman’s baseball operations group as a special assistant and quickly earned a reputation as a thoughtful evaluator with a strong grasp of player development. That experience helped launch his coaching and managerial trajectory, and now he returns to work alongside Friedman for an organization with unmatched resources and championship expectations. Baldelli’s tenure in Minnesota ends with a 527-505 record across seven seasons, including three American League Central titles and the drought breaking playoff series win in 2023. He captured the American League Manager of the Year award in 2019 and helped guide several young players into key roles. With one year left on his contract the Twins dismissed him after their 70-92 finish, setting off broad changes across the staff. Many of his former coaches quickly landed on their feet in new roles around the league, a sign of how well respected that group had become. While Baldelli is stepping out of the dugout for now, a front office role does not signal the end of his managerial aspirations. Minnesota even considered a similar transition with Scott Servais earlier this winter. If anything this move may serve as a launching pad. The Dodgers operate with a level of infrastructure and financial backing that could not be more different from what Baldelli experienced with the Twins. Working under Friedman again and within an ownership group that pushes relentlessly for championships may give him an even broader skill set. For Baldelli this is a chance to reset and reemerge. For the Dodgers it is another savvy addition to a front office that rarely misses. View the full article

Using a built-in off-day from their original 2026 regular season schedule, the Miami Marlins announced on Tuesday that their Opening Day matchup against the Colorado Rockies has been moved from March 26 to March 27. Just like all of the club's other Friday home games, first pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. The dates and start times for the other two games of the series remain the same. This news comes nearly a month after the Marlins began selling single-game tickets. They had to wait for approval from Major League Baseball before finalizing the change. Opening Day always draws one of the Marlins' largest crowds of the season. The team anticipates less congestion around loanDepot park for a 7:10 p.m. game compared to a 4:10 p.m. game; each of the past three years, they have hosted 4:10 p.m. openers. Another byproduct of the later start time is the game will end long after the sun sets, allowing for a postgame fireworks show. The biggest benefit to the Marlins is maximizing attendance and local television viewership. Needless to say, a higher percentage of people will be available for a Friday night game than a Thursday afternoon game. The Marlins have an awful 2-9 record over their last 11 Opening Day games, though they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in walk-off fashion on March 27, 2025. Perhaps superstitious folks can appreciate that this date change perfectly aligns the 2026 opener with that fond memory. View the full article

There are few worse places to be in sports than organizational purgatory. That middle ground where you're not quite good enough to legitimately contend, but also not quite bad enough to begin the rebuilding process. The latest trade rumor from the Winter Meetings has the San Diego Padres barreling toward such a status. While nothing of note has unfolded quite yet (none of Pablo Reyes, Sean Boyle, or Ty Adcock count), the Padres have the look and feel of a team on the brink. Already working within financial constraints that have grown tighter in the years since owner Peter Seidler's passing, the reported exploration of a sale has only furthered growing concern over the team's ability to hang, financially, with their major-league counterparts. That's left just about everybody on the roster involved in a trade rumor of some kind at various points in the early stages of this winter. The latest case is starting pitcher Nick Pivetta. Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported on the first day of the Winter Meetings that the team was listening to overtures on Pivetta and Jake Cronenworth. The latter is of no surprise, of course. We've long known that the team had taken calls on Cronenworth and that his contract could be the logical one to move among the bevy of long-term position players that the team currently rosters. There's plenty of logic to it. Pivetta's inclusion, however, necessitates an entirely different perspective. Pivetta's contract paid him just $2.5 million in 2025, but the number leaps up to $20.5 million next season. The team would then owe a remaining $32 million combined over the final two years of his deal. It all seems fairly reasonable when you consider the fact that Pivetta's coming off the best season of his career from a run prevention standpoint. Each of Pivetta's 2.87 ERA and 3.49 FIP were career bests, with the former checking in as his best mark by a wide margin. His 26.4 percent strikeout rate sat in the 78th percentile and his 6.9 percent walk rate was in the 69th. While the strikeout rate was a continued drop from his last two seasons, his walk rate did stand as the second-best mark of his career. Between preventing baserunners and garnering some good fortune on the batted-ball side of things (.235 BABIP), Pivetta was able to work around some less-than-desirable contact metrics (45.0 Hard-Hit%, 10.8 Barrel%). In any case, it was a strong year from the arm that wound up as the team's top starter for 2025. Which is why hearing his name in trade rumors is so distressing. It's not that the Padres need Nick Pivetta in order to contend. He's likely due for some very legitimate regression next season. You could even make an argument that the Padres selling high on Pivetta makes some degree of sense. The trouble is less about Pivetta's skill set and himself in a vacuum and more about what it means in the scheme of the larger narrative around this team. We already know the Padres are working within the confines of an ever-shrinking budget. This winter, though, reads as a little bit different of a vibe. There's more of an urgency to shed money and fewer prospects, despite both being important in bringing in players of note that would help this team realize their championship aspirations. Having a name like Pivetta in the trade mix speaks to that exact trouble, especially considering the state of the current roster. The Padres have virtually no starting pitchers to speak of. Dylan Cease is now a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. Michael King is poised to get a significant contract with a team not named the Padres in free agency. Yu Darvish is already out for all of 2026. Joe Musgrove is returning from Tommy John surgery. Pivetta represents the only legitimate starter on a 40-man roster sprinkled with names like Randy Vásquez, Matt Waldron, and JP Sears. Ty Adcock and Kyle Hart don't quite count there, either. With the team set to keep Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, and David Morgan in relief, it's Pivetta, a rusty Musgrove, and a collection of fringe starters comprising the rotation at present. That the Padres would be willing to trade their only presently-viable starter speaks to the trouble in which this organization finds itself. To trade a key component from such a dire position of need would signal to the rest of the league that the Padres are trending in exactly the wrong type of direction. Without the resources in the farm system to make a trade, the road toward improving the roster becomes narrower — potentially to the point of becoming impassible. The budget was already a dark cloud looming over the offseason for this team from the jump. Compounding that fact along with the team's lack of depth was already a concerning reality. But the involvement of their only viable starting pitcher in the rumor mill speaks to another level of darkness. It's not about Pivetta the pitcher. It's about the larger narrative, and A.J. Preller is clearly going to have his work cut out for him to fight back toward the other direction, or risk slipping into organizational purgatory before long. View the full article

As he focuses on shoring up a pitching staff in need of significant reinforcement, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer also knows that he has work to do on the positional side. With Kyle Tucker unlikely to re-sign with Chicago, there's a hole in the heart of the batting order that helped the team win 92 games in 2025. Hoyer must find a way to enter 2026 with confidence in the production he'll get from the middle of Craig Counsell's lineup, but he has some competing imperatives to consider, too. Firstly, of course, the Cubs have pressing needs on the pitching side, too. They need at least two more above-average, reliable pitchers, be they starters or relievers. That will take up a major chunk of the spending capacity Hoyer has for this winter—although there's a lot of money available to him, after the team had a remarkably lucrative year. Whether he ultimately plunges financial resources into those additions or finds a way to swing a key trade, Hoyer will use some of his hot stove fuel bolstering the staff, leaving him with constraints when it comes to the offense. Secondly, he must figure out how to leave space for whichever of the team's top prospects remain with the Cubs come Opening Day. Another year in Triple A would be a waste of time and talent for Moisés Ballesteros and Owen Caissie, and although Kevin Alcántara has one more option year (thanks to time missed because of injuries), he, too, needs the challenge of some big-league work. The Cubs need to finish 2026 having a much clearer idea of the future roles for each of those three players. There are many ways to achieve that—making Caissie and Ballesteros pieces of a three-player platoon across two roles, along with Seiya Suzuki; letting Alcántara sponge up at-bats as a platoon partner for Pete Crow-Armstrong and a backup to Ian Happ; and/or trying out Ballesteros or Caissie at first base, to spell Michael Busch—but none of them are perfect or obvious solutions. Speaking of Suzuki and Happ, Hoyer also has a major background problem to navigate. Both of those sluggers will hit free agency after 2026. So will second baseman Nico Hoerner. It seems unlikely that the team will extend more than one of those three, so they'll need to replace two key hitters for 2027—in an offseason bereft of big-name bats, and under the haze of confusion caused by a likely winter lockout. That doubles the importance of making sure Caissie, Ballesteros and Alcántara are known quantities; one of the set is likely to be asked to take over an everyday place in the heart of the order by 2027. If it can be two, that would be perfect, but the team can't project that without seeing what they can do over larger samples next year. That need to play the kids stands in some tension with an equally powerful mandate, though. The 2026 Cubs need to win. They need to build upon what they did in 2025 and compete for another NL Wild Card berth. Playing Caissie, Ballesteros or Alcántara every day (or even letting them share a job, but using up two or three roster spots at a time all year) would be a big risk, for a team with high expectations. Average offensive output wouldn't be enough, either. The team needs a batter who's worth something like 20 runs above average, and it's hard to trust that any or all of those three can be that guy. It's a dilemma for Hoyer, which means that there's no perfect solution. In all likelihood, the team will end up charting some middle course. It's unlikely that they'll sign Alex Bregman or Eugenio Suárez, but either is certainly possible. Those guys would displace Matt Shaw, at least part of the time, but they'd be with the club for multiple seasons, so they would cushion the eventual losses of Suzuki and/or Happ—or, perhaps, even Hoerner, with Shaw moving to second base in 2027. They're a better fit for players with youth and upside, like Munetaka Murakami and CJ Abrams, but those guys' price tags are very uncertain and much will hinge on whether they can be had at palatable costs. Remaining competitive on a consistent basis over several years is difficult. The Cubs, a large-market team in a sport where large markets have tended to dominate, haven't met that standard over a full decade since before World War II. To change that, they have to get the balance just right this winter. Hoyer will have to find a way to infuse new talent into his lineup, without creating a morass for Counsell when filling out the lineup card or thwarting the development of key long-term pieces. View the full article

This weekend, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported the Minnesota Twins do not anticipate moving Byron Buxton, Pablo López, or Joe Ryan this offseason, intending to contend for a postseason berth in 2026. In the article, Rosenthal noted that club officials believe they have “’mild flexibility’ to make additions,” signaling the front office could have more spending room than previously thought. Soon after Rosenthal’s piece was published, Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll told reporters at the Winter Meetings on Monday that the club plans on targeting “another bat or two with some thump, some impact, to bolster a group that we’re excited about.” High-cost impact bats like Pete Alonso or Kazuma Okamoto would be ideal candidates for Minnesota’s power-deficient lineup. Even though the front office has seemingly been given some spending room, though, needle movers like Alonso or Okamoto will be too expensive for the Twins. Given what we can assume are still reasonably snug constraints for a team looking to spend modestly, no other player would fit Minnesota’s needs better than Ryan O’Hearn. Splitting last season between the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres, the 32-year-old hit .281/.366/.437, with 17 home runs and a 127 wRC+ over 544 plate appearances. Earning the first All-Star nod of his career, the left-handed batter performed better in the first half (135 wRC+ over 361 plate appearances) than he did post-trade deadline with San Diego (112 wRC+ over 183 plate appearances). Still, given his three-season span of strong performances (121 wRC+ over 1,406 combined plate appearances), the veteran bat projects to earn his first eight-figure contract this winter. Our top 50 free agents list ranked O'Hearn in the top half, and predicted that he'll sign for two years and $23 million. 0edabd21-df3e8c74-7185d797-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 If Zoll is to be taken seriously, O’Hearn is the most intriguing bat Minnesota could realistically sign to bolster its lineup entering 2026. Posting a 135 wRC+ over 109 plate appearances against same-handed pitching (compared to a 125 wRC+ over 377 plate appearances facing right-handed pitching), O’Hearn excelled as a platoon-proof bat, cementing himself as a cog in the middle of Baltimore and San Diego’s lineups. He hits the ball hard and often, with hard-hit rates over 40% in each year of his career, according to Statcast—and better-than-average strikeout rates in each of the last two seasons. O’Hearn is also a tremendous defensive first baseman, sporting 6 Outs Above Average (OAA) at the position in 2025. Minnesota has unexpectedly been the gold standard of first base defense in recent history, fielding the last two AL Gold Glove winners at the position in Carlos Santana and Ty France. O’Hearn would possess the defensive skillset necessary to match Santana and France’s performances, if not surpass them. The veteran lefty could also mix in at both corner outfield spots; he played 149 innings in right field and 16 innings in left field in 2025. Given his plus bat, defensive flexibility, and reputation as a beloved clubhouse figure, the Twins would be wise to target O’Hearn, adding a middle-of-the-lineup presence while addressing their most pressing position of need. Twins Daily's John Bonnes contributed to the reporting in this piece. View the full article

The Padres are by no means a bad team, but being in MLB’s most competitive division means being good often isn’t enough. If San Diego wants a chance at surpassing Los Angeles, they has quite a bit of ground to cover. One position that needs a complete overhaul is undoubtedly first base. The team produced 1.5 fWAR and a 109 wRC+ at the position, which is perfectly average. This stat line is largely thanks to Luis Arraez, who made 500 plate appearances at first base, and it goes without saying that he hardly fits the profile of the position. Now that he has hit free agency, the Padres will want someone with more pop and on-base ability in the role. Unfortunately, the free agent climate isn’t exactly one that benefits San Diego. Given the organization’s unfortunate ownership situation, they’re probably out of the running for Pete Alonso, who is by far the most appealing candidate. The team had mixed results with Ryan O’Hearn after acquiring him at the trade deadline, and other options are either too old or ineffective. However, Rhys Hoskins could be just cheap and productive enough for the Padres to be interested. Unfortunately, he might not be much better than his peers. He most recently completed a two-year stint with the Brewers, which, despite being a highly anticipated signing at the time, was immensely underwhelming on all fronts. For a total of $30 million ($34 million if you count the $4 million buyout of his mutual option), Milwaukee received a first baseman with a 102 OPS+ and 0.7 rWAR, hardly a strong return on investment. There was inherent risk following a long injury layoff in 2023, but even with 221 games under his belt, he never seemed to return to the hitter he was with the Phillies. The most drastic drop was undoubtedly in his ability to hit for power. Across six seasons in Philadelphia, he had a slugging percentage of .492, while he managed a slugging percentage of just .418 while with Milwaukee. Although this is a steep decline, one might note that by 2025, both his average and maximum exit velocities were back in the same ballpark (teehee) as in his best years in Philadelphia. This means that he hadn’t really lost the raw power he's had his whole career, but it points to something more insidious. Instead, it seems the reason for this apparent discrepancy is that his quality of contact varied depending on the pitches he was seeing. In 2025, he pummeled fastballs but struggled immensely against breaking balls. Here are some of his batted ball metrics when separated by pitch type. # of pitches Average Exit Velocity BA SLG wOBA Fastball 715 92.7 mph 0.281 0.556 0.402 Breaking 545 85.5 mph 0.179 0.253 0.209 Offspeed 169 88.5 mph 0.194 0.226 0.254 As you can see, there’s a huge spread between the average exit velocity on fastballs and breaking balls. An average exit velocity of 92.7 mph is on par with Corey Seager’s season numbers, whereas an average exit velocity of 85.5 mph would be on par with Sal Frelick’s season numbers. This crucial vulnerability, along with returning injury issues, is what caused his OPS to decline from .877 in May to just .532 in June as opposing pitchers began to exploit his shortcomings. Unless he makes major adjustments, expect this steady diet of breaking balls and offensive slump to continue, especially as a more varied pitch mix is becoming vogue. Another symptom to check is his bat speed. Unfortunately, we only have bat-tracking data starting in 2024, which doesn’t provide enough data to definitively say whether he’s in the midst of a gradual decline. At 32 years old, his bat speed isn’t going to get any faster. In the two seasons for which we do have data, he was around the 40th percentile. It isn’t the reason for his diminished production at the plate, but it sure isn’t helping either. Offensively, he still does some things well. His plate discipline is as good as ever, and he has yet to post a walk rate below 10% for any season in his career. He still makes excellent swing decisions, posting an elite chase rate of just 19.9% last year. Finally, his batted-ball profile was still elite last season, with 34.5% of his batted balls pulled in the air, more than double the MLB average of 16.7%. But again, these positive batted ball results come almost exclusively against fastballs. Of the 25 total extra base hits he had, 19 of them came against fastballs, including all but one of his home runs. Based on the way that things have been going for him recently, Rhys Hoskins should be seen as more of a depth piece or placeholder than a starting option capable of moving the needle. Sure, the Padres don’t exactly have the most appealing options at either position, but does it really make sense to spend additional money on a player who could be at most a sidegrade? Of course, it remains to be seen what direction the Padres will take in 2026. They’ve been surprisingly dormant thus far despite a laundry list of needs this winter. Does this mean they’ll begin tearing down the expensive roster they built just a few years ago, or are they just biding their time to reload? Maybe they do need a placeholder like Hoskins just to have somebody’s name to pencil into the lineup every day. Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the construction of next year’s roster, bolstering their depth at first base may not be close to the top of their list of priorities. Still, spending any of what might be a contracted payroll in 2026 on a player with more risk than reward is never a good move. At this point, signing anyone may be enough cause for excitement, but recent data suggests that a Rhys Hoskins contract could hurt more than it would help. View the full article

The Blue Jays might lose an opportunity if they continue to wait on Bo Bichette to make a decision. In all likelihood, both sides know each other’s valuations and are mulling the “what ifs”. One “what if” for the Jays is exploring alternatives. Much has been made of moving Andrés Giménez to short and filling the vacancy at second or third by moving existing personnel around the infield, but what if the better move is to bring in Ha-Seong Kim? The move would be similar to last year’s trade that brought Giménez to Toronto. Like Giménez, Kim, is a premium up‑the‑middle defender. He also brings above-average baserunning, is an adaptable infielder, and has above‑average plate discipline at a fraction of the cost of other elite shortstops. This offseason market is notably thin at shortstop. After opting out of his 2026 player option with Atlanta, Kim re‑entered free agency as arguably the best glove‑first shortstop available. Bichette is the only other regular shortstop at or above Kim’s tier. However, the biggest difference between the two will be the cost, especially given Bichette’s offensive production. Kim’s selling point to interested teams is that he provides arguably the best shortstop defence on the market and at a manageable, shorter-term cost. Kim has some hurdles to overcome, and injuries are one. He had shoulder surgery before last season that reduced his playing time with Tampa Bay, and then he was bothered by a bad back and eventually waived by the team. Atlanta picked him up in September, and he played another 24 games, batting .253 with three home runs, 12 RBIs, and an OPS of .684. There have been rumblings in the past that Kim was on the Jays’ radar. He is represented by agent Scott Boras, who recently worked with the Jays to sign Dylan Cease's $210 million contract. From 2021 to 2023 with San Diego, Kim posted strong defensive metrics across shortstop, second, and third. He won a Gold Glove in 2023 (utility). His overall Wins Above Replacement in 2022 and 2023 (5.0 and 5.4 by bWAR) was driven largely by defense and baserunning. Kim is the kind of infielder who turns contact into outs. In 2025, the Jays’ up‑the‑middle defense improved with the addition of Giménez and Ernie Clement’s continued breakout. Adding Kim to the infield (with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first), and the Jays get an infield that erases mistakes and supports the rotation. At the plate, Kim doesn’t have Bichette's numbers, but he does have a competent bat that comes with on‑base skills, above‑average contact, and situational awareness. Over his career, he has a .324 OBP and a 97 OPS+, quite close to the league average. If you discount his injury-shortened 2025, his last full season (2024 with San Diego) was impressive. He slashed .233/.330/.370 and delivered an above-average wRC+ with a strong walk rate and selective chase profile. You might recognize those stats as something the Jays prided themselves on last season. The offence emphasized contact and plate discipline over power. Statcast shows consistent discipline for Kim. His chase rate is typically near 21%, his whiff around 16%, and his walk rate in the 10% band. In 2025, returning from injury, his expected contact quality tracked near his career numbers, with modest power but solid zone contact. He isn’t going to hit many home runs, but he will get on base and knock in runners. Kim’s bat is portable across positions. Whether he plays short, second or third, a league‑average bat is perfectly fine if the glove saves runs. On a roster with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and other middle‑order anchors (and potentially another premium bat like Kyle Tucker), Kim’s role would be to stabilize the run‑prevention side and keep the line moving at the plate. He also adds value on the bases. He stole 38 bags in 2023 and 22 in 2024, with a Statcast sprint speed around league average to slightly above but with excellent decision making. That combination produced several 90‑foot advancements without reckless outs. While Kim might be hoping for a longer-term contract, he is likely open to a one-year deal just over the $16 million player option that he declined from the Braves. If the Jays can persuade Kim and Boras to turn their sights north, plenty of possibilities would remain for the Jays. Adding Kim at under $18 million per season would maintain payroll flexibility, perhaps allowing the signing of a player like Tucker or providing more money to upgrade the bullpen. Kim just turned 30, and if the shoulder is sound, then he should still be in the prime years of his career. His arm strength in 2025 did fall according to Statcast, but that can be addressed by reps — as long as the shoulder has healed. Even if his bat lands near league average and the arm grades slightly below where it was, Kim’s multi‑position utility and savvy baserunning provide a 2–3 WAR floor when healthy. Toronto’s 2025 season demonstrated that strong defense can carry a rotation through thin margins. The transition to that defense-first philosophy started in the outfield with the addition of Daulton Varsho and has expanded into the infield with Giménez and Clement and even Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Kim has a reputation as a hard worker and adaptable teammate, illustrated by his seamless transition between infield positions in San Diego, his fitting in quickly with the Tampa Bay and Atlanta clubhouses last season, and his immediate contributions with the Braves. Those characteristics matter on a contending roster with evolving roles. Another interesting benefit to signing Kim relates to the Jays’ international reach and focus. Kim is a respected figure in Korean baseball circles and a fan favorite from his San Diego tenure. Toronto has historically benefited from international stars (both on the field and in fan engagement). Adding Kim would strengthen the Jays’ global brand, particularly across Asia, which might be another consideration. As the clock continues to tick with no decision from Bichette, maybe it’s time for the Jays to make a move and fill their infield vacancy. They already have Boras on speed dial. Is it time to make the call? View the full article

Each team gets a slice of MLB's signing bonus pool money with every draft pick in the first round of the MLB Draft. How much money could be allocated for the Twins and their first-round pick? Jamie and Jeremy have the answer. View the full article

In one sense, it seems absurd that Tyler Black is in a make-or-break situation with the Brewers. He was a top-100 prospect after his breakout 2023 season, but then things went sideways. Two trades in the 2023-2024 offseason put Joey Ortiz and Oliver Dunn ahead of Black at third base—though he, in turn, gave no evidence that he could handle the spot, anyway. Another trade saw Jake Bauers take the role of left-handed complement to Rhys Hoskins in Milwaukee for the 2024 season—though Black didn't hit enough to be a first baseman, either. Black ended up riding the Milwaukee-Nashville shuttle a bit, and never really got the chance to fully adjust to big-league pitching or to settle in at some position and find a defensive home. Even when Christian Yelich was gone for the season, the Brewers kept Black in Nashville, instead of giving him the chance to fill in at DH. Black’s luck got a bit worse in 2025, when he suffered a hamate injury. Again, he spent most of the season at Triple-A Nashville, while also spending time at Maryvale rehabbing with the ACL Brewers. In a brief stint with Milwaukee, with far fewer plate appearances than he had in 2024, he posted a .538 OBP and only struck out once. Black could still be an asset in the Brewers lineup. He's not powerful enough to hit in the middle of the batting order and he lacks defensive value, but he seems likely to sustain an average or better on-base percentage even against the best pitching in the world. The big question, of course, is whether can he break through on a talented Brewers team. Isaac Collins properly won plaudits for his defense in left field, and his approach is somewhat similar to Black’s. He's a switch-hitter, unlike Black, and he's proved that he can be a plus hitter in the majors. Collins's sluggish finish to the season cracks the door for Black, but he's probably the only player on the projected 26-man roster Black has any hope of displacing—and again, that would require the best version of Black to show up this spring, whereas Collins has much less to prove. Could Black also end up at first base? It would require, at the very least, a slump or injury to Bauers, who has the power normally associated with that position. Bauers also plays better defense at the cold corner. Even if Bauers were hurt, Andrew Vaughn might expand his role to take all the playing time at the position; he certainly showed more in 2025 than Black has ever shown. Collins’s defense is similarly better in left field, which has been the sticking point for Black. He’s not found a defensive home. In short, Black needs to get significant at-bats at the major-league level in order to be sure about his remaining upside. If the Brewers can find him some playing time, Black deserves one more chance. If they can’t, he will likely be traded—or worse, designated for assignment and picked up for a song by another team. That could happen before Opening Day, but at the very latest, he'll finish the season as either a late-blooming breakout guy or some other team's problem. Do you think Tyler Black will make it in 2026? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Byron Buxton’s 2025 resurgence continues to pay dividends, and this time, the spotlight is coming from the international stage. According to reporter Francys Romero, Buxton has been included on Team USA’s preliminary roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. While preliminary rosters are not final, this early nod signals how dramatically his status has shifted in the eyes of evaluators across baseball. The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled for March 5 through March 17 and will feature 20 teams competing across four host cities. Pool play will take place in Miami, Houston, San Juan, and Tokyo. After that, quarterfinals will be split between Miami and Houston before the tournament returns to Miami for the semifinals and championship round. It will be the sixth edition of the tournament, and Japan will enter as the defending champions after winning the 2023 event. For Buxton and the Twins, the timing of this recognition could not be better. It was not long ago that the idea of Buxton participating in the WBC would have been dismissed immediately. During the previous edition of the tournament the Twins were protective of their star center fielder as he worked to prepare his body for the upcoming season. The focus then was strictly on building the foundation for a healthy year rather than adding competitive innings in March. Everything changed last year. Buxton delivered the most complete season of his career, rewriting personal bests across the board and reminding fans of the superstar talent he brings when healthy. He set career highs in home runs with 35, runs batted in with 83, and runs scored with 97. He also reached new marks in walks, plate appearances, and at bats while surpassing 120 games played for only the second time in his eleven major league seasons. His .264 batting average, .327 on base percentage, and .551 slugging percentage added up to an impressive .878 OPS and a 136 OPS plus. The season culminated with his first career Silver Slugger Award and a renewed belief that he could still elevate his game even further. That level of production combined with his elite athleticism makes Buxton an enticing fit for Team USA’s roster construction. More importantly for Minnesota, his inclusion on the preliminary list suggests that other evaluators share the Twins confidence in his health and long term outlook. Participating in the WBC would give Buxton a chance to showcase his abilities on one of the sport’s biggest stages while entering the regular season with competitive momentum. While the final Team USA roster will not be set for some time, Buxton’s presence on the early list stands as another milestone in his return to form. For the Twins, it is the latest reminder of how valuable a fully operational Buxton can be. View the full article

The MLB Draft Lottery arrives on Tuesday at 4:30 PM Central, and the Minnesota Twins enter with the second-best odds to land the first overall selection. It should be a moment of optimism. It should be the kind of scenario where a franchise dreams of future superstars. But this is Minnesota, and hope is more of a seasonal rental than a long-term investment. In a search for any possible edge, the Twins reportedly reached out to the Minnesota Timberwolves to learn how they once navigated NBA Draft Lottery night. The goal was simple. The Twins wanted the MLB version of Anthony Edwards or Karl Anthony Towns. Unfortunately, the Wolves sent advice from a different era—one that Twins leadership quickly realized should have been left in the vault. Derek Falvey admitted the team was simply looking for any insight that might help them avoid the standard Minnesota drop on lottery night. “We thought they would walk us through the Anthony Edwards process,” Falvey said. “Next thing we know, they're showing us grainy footage of the David Kahn years. I called the room to an immediate halt when someone said the phrase 'dual point guard theory'.” Initially, the Twins were hoping to build off their own success, since they vaulted from the projected 13th overall pick to the 5th overall pick in MLB’s inaugural lottery, conducted in 2022 ahead of the 2023 Draft. That jump allowed Minnesota to land Walker Jenkins, who has been the organization’s top prospect ever since. But instead of championing good fortune, the Wolves insisted on teaching the principles of accidental chaos. Tim Connelly was reportedly confused by the request, but still tried to offer what he called “institutional wisdom.” “The old files are what they are. If your scouts believe in the baseball equivalent of Jonny Flynn, you cannot let public pressure stop you," Connelly said. "You have to ignore everything and take the shortstop who won the dunk contest at his high school pep rally.” At one point, a Wolves staffer offered a laminated sheet titled: “Approaches That Definitely Do Not Work Anymore.” The Twins say it included handwritten notes on drafting players who share agents, searching for prospects with the best smile, and selecting multiple identical skill sets because it looks cool on paper. A Twins analytics employee reportedly fainted after reading the final line, which read simply, “Trust your gut, even if the numbers beg you not to.” Falvey tried to remain polite as the meeting spiraled. “We kept waiting for the moment when they explained how they got Edwards,” Falvey said. “Instead, they kept telling us that if two prospects look the same, the correct answer is drafting both. I am not sure that translates to baseball. Also, someone tried to argue that swing decisions are overrated. I am pretty confident that is not true.” The Twins attempted to redirect the meeting by asking how the Wolves avoided lottery heartbreak in recent years. “We traded all our picks for Rudy Gobert," Connelly said. "It really simplifies lottery night.” Falvey reportedly wrote the phrase down and circled it 17 times. Still, the Twins are hoping luck will remain on their side. The organization knows how dramatically fortunes can shift, just as they did the year Minnesota jumped to fifth with no expectations and landed Jenkins. Falvey remained hopeful, despite the questionable guidance. “We still love our odds and our process,” he said. “We are just choosing to forget everything we heard today.” By the end of the consultation, the Twins promised to send the Wolves a fruit basket. The Wolves suggested including two identical baskets because “sometimes you just take both and let the future sort it out.” The Twins left Target Center immediately. Now, Minnesota waits to see if the lottery gods reward their bold curiosity or punish them for taking advice from the one franchise that accidentally taught an entire city what could go wrong on draft night. View the full article

Byron Buxton’s 2025 resurgence continues to pay dividends, and this time, the spotlight is coming from the international stage. According to reporter Francys Romero, Buxton has been included on Team USA’s preliminary roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. While preliminary rosters are not final, this early nod signals how dramatically his status has shifted in the eyes of evaluators across baseball. The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled for March 5 through March 17 and will feature 20 teams competing across four host cities. Pool play will take place in Miami, Houston, San Juan, and Tokyo. After that, quarterfinals will be split between Miami and Houston before the tournament returns to Miami for the semifinals and championship round. It will be the sixth edition of the tournament, and Japan will enter as the defending champions after winning the 2023 event. For Buxton and the Twins, the timing of this recognition could not be better. It was not long ago that the idea of Buxton participating in the WBC would have been dismissed immediately. During the previous edition of the tournament the Twins were protective of their star center fielder as he worked to prepare his body for the upcoming season. The focus then was strictly on building the foundation for a healthy year rather than adding competitive innings in March. Everything changed last year. Buxton delivered the most complete season of his career, rewriting personal bests across the board and reminding fans of the superstar talent he brings when healthy. He set career highs in home runs with 35, runs batted in with 83, and runs scored with 97. He also reached new marks in walks, plate appearances, and at bats while surpassing 120 games played for only the second time in his eleven major league seasons. His .264 batting average, .327 on base percentage, and .551 slugging percentage added up to an impressive .878 OPS and a 136 OPS plus. The season culminated with his first career Silver Slugger Award and a renewed belief that he could still elevate his game even further. That level of production combined with his elite athleticism makes Buxton an enticing fit for Team USA’s roster construction. More importantly for Minnesota, his inclusion on the preliminary list suggests that other evaluators share the Twins confidence in his health and long term outlook. Participating in the WBC would give Buxton a chance to showcase his abilities on one of the sport’s biggest stages while entering the regular season with competitive momentum. While the final Team USA roster will not be set for some time, Buxton’s presence on the early list stands as another milestone in his return to form. For the Twins, it is the latest reminder of how valuable a fully operational Buxton can be. View the full article

In separate MLB Network interviews, Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and manager Clayton McCullough addressed some frequently asked questions about why the team wants coaches to make pitch-calling decisions instead of catchers. View the full article

The 2025-26 Major League Baseball offseason remains in its relative infancy, but things are beginning to pick up with the Winter Meetings in full swing. One of the more notable developments thus far for the Chicago Cubs is their connection with a pair of high-profile third basemen. This offseason has already brought renewed reports of the team's interest in Alex Bregman. The Cubs were reported to have offered Bregman a deal last winter before he ultimately landed in Boston. From the time he opted out of his deal with the Red Sox this winter, though, the Cubs have been a team whose name has been floating around in connection with the veteran. More recently, we've heard the Cubs and Eugenio Suárez's name mentioned in tandem with one another. Suárez was a popular name that appeared in conjunction with the Cubs' trade deadline pursuits this past year before he wound up traded to the Seattle Mariners. Of course, July also wasn't the first time that we've heard his name come across the rumor circuit as a potential addition. Either player presents a certain level of logic for the team to target as an addition for 2026. Bregman offers more of an all-around game while Suárez would add a massive power component (.298 ISO in 2025). Both would provide a boost to an offensive team to help cover for Kyle Tucker's imminent departure. And given the prominence of each name in connection with the Cubs, there's plenty of time to hash out what their respective fits look like from a skill set standpoint. Regardless of how either pursuit shakes out, however, there's a crucial element worth discussing in relation to the team's current roster construction. Heading into this offseason, the infield group looked like as stable a phase as the roster had to offer: Carson Kelly and a healthy Miguel Amaya behind the plate, Michael Busch at first base, Nico Hoerner at second, Dansby Swanson at shortstop, and Matt Shaw resuming his post at third base. The latter's role now becomes something of a question considering this recent batch of hot-stove rumors. There isn't any question that Shaw's bat still has a ways to go in its development. As good as his defense was as the season wore on, his total body of work included a .226/.295/.394 line and a 93 wRC+. The power manifested at points during the summer but disappeared again toward the end of the year. His only contributions during the team's brief playoff run came by way of his five walks. His swing mechanics remain inconsistent, and there are some zone issues to be worked out. None of these are things that can't be fixed, but if the Cubs fancy themselves within a contention window, then that changes the calculus on how long the team is willing to wait with him entrenched as an everyday third baseman. Should the Cubs ultimately sign one of Bregman or Suárez (or acquire a different yet-to-be-named everyday type), it changes the perception of Shaw's role entirely. In general, we're left to wonder if there's more development on the horizon for Shaw in Iowa or if he becomes part of a trade to a rebuilding club for a starting pitcher. Those would appear to be the most likely outcomes in a situation such as this. It's also possible that the outcome becomes dependent on which third baseman is signed. That's because there's something of a possibility that Shaw remains on the big-league roster as a utility-type as the bat comes along, but only if it's Suárez that puts ink to paper. Benefits exist with that approach, at least in the sense that he'd provide coverage in the middle infield for a pair of players that rarely get a break while also rotating in at third should the Cubs choose to occasionally deploy Suárez as the designated hitter. But teams are not always compelled to turn to such a role with a high-upside prospect, as it can tend to stifle their actual playing time. It would be a delicate balancing act if required. That said, such a scenario is less likely to exist in the event of a Bregman signing. In that instance, Shaw is likely destined for a pure backup role, rotating in on more of an as-needed basis. It's also not as if Shaw is the only one that could be impacted by a third base signing. Nico Hoerner is a free agent after 2026 coming off a career year in which he garnered down-ballot MVP votes. We don't know if the Cubs are interested in retaining Hoerner on a new deal or what terms might look like. We do know that his name was making the rounds in trade rumors as recently as last winter. Would the Cubs sign a third baseman, flip Shaw and his multiple years of team control over to the keystone, and move Hoerner as part of a deal for a coveted starting pitcher via trade? Again, that's purely speculation. But it fits another logical route that could be traversed if the team were to bring in a fresh face at the hot corner. This is all completely hypothetical, of course. Then again, everything is this time of year. What's important is that the Cubs are clearly interested in retooling their roster given some of the names to which we've seen them attached. The fallout from a deal, were they successful in pursuit, would lead to some fascinating outcomes within the rest of the roster. View the full article

The MLB Winter Meetings began on Monday, and the hot stove was heating up, with plenty of rumors swirling about the Royals and the transactions they may make this week. According to Ken Rosenthal, the Royals are interested in acquiring two outfielders this offseason: one through free agency and one through a trade. When it comes to a possible trade candidate, one name that has been floated is Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox. While the White Sox are in the Central Division with the Royals, it appears that GM Chris Getz is adamant about getting something of value for Robert on the trade market, even if it's a fraction of what it was a few seasons ago. Bradford Doolittle of ESPN predicted Robert going to the Royals in a recent ESPN Winter Meetings preview piece. Here's what Doolittle said about the possible fit for Robert in Kansas City. Robert would come with his fair share of baggage. Over his career, the Cuban outfielder has played more than 110 games in a season only once, in 2023, when he posted a 4.9 fWAR. Last year, in addition to playing 110 games and accumulating 431 plate appearances, he slashed .223/.297/.364 with a .661 OPS, 84 wRC+, and 1.3 fWAR. He also hit 14 home runs and stole 33 bases with the White Sox in 2025. While that's not an awful line (he has a positive fWAR at least), it certainly isn't the ideal profile of a player who will be making $20 million next season. Robert Has the Power Profile to Fit in Kansas City (And New Staff Could Help) There's no question that Robert's surface-level metrics are pretty disappointing, which is why many Royals fans are averse to GM JJ Picollo acquiring the White Sox outfielder. However, when diving deeper into his profile, he checks a lot of boxes for the Royals in terms of satisfying their outfield needs this offseason. While he only had 14 home runs and a .141 ISO last season, his exit velocity, barrel, and launch angle metrics were a lot more palatable. That is evident in his TJ Stats summary below. Robert's Max EV ranked in the 90th percentile, his 90th EV ranked in the 64th percentile, his barrel rate ranked in the 61st percentile, and his LA Sweet-Spot percentage ranked in the 65th percentile. Additionally, he also pulled the ball well, with a 67th percentile pull rate and 59th percentile Pull Air percentage. That ability to pull the ball is key, as it can lead to many home runs at Kauffman Stadium (the gaps are what kill most hitters). Granted, there may be a home run decline or plateau in Robert's move to the K, and that is evident: Of his 103 career home runs, only 89 would've gone out at Kauffman, according to Statcast data. However, he could still find a lot of extra-base hit production based on his hits spray chart from last year, modified for Kauffman Stadium dimensions. Right now, the Royals outfield depth looks thin, and not just in the corners, but even in center field. While Kyle Isbel is a phenomenal defensive outfielder (he was a Gold Glove finalist last year), his hitting has left a bit to be desired, especially against left-handed pitchers. Isbel had a 56 wRC+ against lefties last year, and he has a 64 wRC+ mark against southpaws over his career. Having someone like Robert, who can play center, could keep the Royals competitive against left-handed starting pitchers. When looking beyond Isbel, Robert's Statcast profile looks pretty impressive compared to other Royals outfielders currently on the 40-man roster who are projected to be on the Opening Day roster as of today, according to Roster Resource. As Royals fans can see from above, Robert tops the other three Royals outfielders in not just wOBA, but xwOBA as well. He also compares well with Jac Caglianone in terms of batted-ball and barrel skills, which is encouraging, especially considering Caglianone was so well-known for those two skills as a prospect. While Robert still needs work, the upside of bringing Robert in is that the Royals have a new hitting coach staff who not only could help him, but are also familiar with him. Obviously, Alec Zumwalt knows Robert quite well after playing against him for so many seasons. That said, the new assistant hitting coach, Marcus Thames, also worked closely with Robert in Chicago. That familiarity could help, especially since Thames will be able to do more work individually with Robert in Kansas City than he could in Chicago, when he had to run the entire team hitting program. That kind of attention could be the boost Robert needs to help him turn his career around after two subpar seasons by his standards (1.9 fWAR combined over the past two seasons). Robert Brings a Solid Defensive and Baserunning Profile While the Royals had a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder in Isbel, the rest of the outfield was pretty mediocre in 2025, based on Fielding Run Value. The Royals ranked 16th in the league in FRV with a -1 mark, a six-run drop from their 2024 mark, when they ranked 8th in outfield FRV. Thus, it's important for the Royals not just to find a solid-hitting outfielder but one that can hold his own defensively in Kauffman's spacious dimensions. Robert fits that mold perfectly. Last season, the 28-year-old produced a +7 FRV and +7 OAA. Based on Statcast OAA box plot data chart, Robert showed an ability to cover all kinds of ground in center field. Robert could easily play one of the corner outfield spots against right-handed starting pitchers (most likely left field) and play center field when the Royals face left-handed starting pitchers. That's the kind of defensive versatility and value Kansas City has been missing the past couple of seasons, especially from outfielders who hit in the middle of the lineup (which Robert would). Another positive of Robert's profile is that he is a solid baserunner, which fits in manager Matt Quatraro's aggressive philosophy. In 2024, the Royals ranked fifth in baserunning runs above average with a +9 mark, according to Statcast. Last season, they ranked 24th in baseball with a -4 mark. That's a 13-run difference and honestly, a key contributor to why they won four fewer games in 2025. As for Robert, he produced +2 runs on the basepaths last year, with three of those runs coming on stolen bases. That led all White Sox players with 10 or more opportunities, according to Statcast. Furthermore, Robert's 33 stolen bases would've ranked second among Royals players last season. Thus, the White Sox centerfielder would boost the Royals not just at the plate, but in the field and on the basepaths in 2026. A Trade That Could Work for the White Sox and Royals There's no question that Robert presents a financial challenge for the Royals with his $20 million salary for 2026. However, the Royals could trade a couple of bad contracts to the White Sox in exchange for taking Robert off their books. The Royals tendered deals to pitcher Bailey Falter and second baseman Jonathan India this offseason, with India agreeing to an $8 million contract on November 22nd. Falter is still in the negotiation process. The White Sox already have a second baseman of the future in Chase Meidroth. However, they may be open to having India around as insurance and to provide some veteran leadership on the club. India could be a good mentor for Meidroth, and India could take on designated hitter duties for a White Sox lineup that ranked 28th in OPS and 27th in runs scored. As for Falter, he is out of Minor League options and may be a better fit for the White Sox rotation, who have bigger question marks in the No. 4 and 5 spots. New White Sox pitching coach Zach Bove has familiarity with Falter, and thus, could get the most out of the lefty. Furthermore, Falter could end up being a nice trade piece at the Trade Deadline if he bounces back. To balance out the trade, based on Baseball Trade Value surplus value, reliever Brandon Eisert would be thrown into the deal along with Robert. Eisert posted a 4.54 FIP last year in 69.2 IP and could be a nice middle-innings arm for the Royals, who could thrive under the Royals' pitching coach team. Here's the trade in its entirety, via BTV. Their model validated this deal as a fair trade for both sides. This deal could be a win-win for both Kansas City and Chicago. The White Sox get a couple of possible Trade Deadline flip pieces, and the Royals get a lineup-changing outfielder and a reliever who could add some depth to the bullpen (who also has Minor League options). Of course, Robert has to stay healthy to make this deal a valuable one for the Royals in 2026. However, if he does, then Kansas City may get an All-Star-caliber player for next season, which will help them in their quest to return to the postseason. View the full article

Freddy Peralta has been the most popular Brewer in trade speculation this offseason, but the New York Post’s Joel Sherman reported on Monday evening that Milwaukee has also received calls about reliever Trevor Megill, including from the New York Mets and New York Yankees. It’s best to take most rumors with a grain of salt during hot stove season, but if Megill is indeed drawing interest from multiple contenders, the Brewers should strongly consider selling high on him. Generally speaking, relievers are baseball’s most volatile players and often have short shelf lives. What worked for three to six outs at a time one season could be less effective the next. Even if their performance quality remains similar from one year to the next, their results can fluctuate more in smaller sample sizes than those of starting pitchers or position players. Given the fickle nature of the position, consistently cycling through relievers each year is typically the shrewdest way to build bullpens. Acquire them when their value is low, roster them for a few seasons when they’re at their best, and trade them away before they regress or become free agents. The Brewers have adhered to that pattern during their sustained run of competitiveness. They traded away All-Star closers Josh Hader and Devin Williams for controllable talent as they neared free agency, backfilling them with in-house arms and breakout scrap-heap pickups like Joel Payamps, Jared Koenig, Grant Anderson, and Megill himself three years ago. (To further illustrate the point, Payamps crashed and burned in 2025, after the Brewers transformed him into a reliable high-leverage arm for two seasons.) This situation is slightly different. Unlike Hader and Williams, Megill has two full seasons of club control remaining before he’ll reach free agency. The Brewers have not reached the crossroads with the 32-year-old that they did with their previous two closers. Even so, they should be motivated to move him for the right return. No one can dispute the quality of Megill’s performance with Milwaukee—a 2.88 ERA, 2.99 SIERA, 85 DRA-, and 31% strikeout rate in 128 innings are sparkling numbers—but it is fair to question whether his best work is behind him. Megill’s stuff dominates when things are clicking, but he lacks the shapes and angles to miss enough barrels when he’s not at his best. When he’s properly sequencing his 99-mph backspin fastball and hard knuckle curve, they rack up whiffs and chases. When he isn’t, that straight fastball yields plenty of hard-hit fly balls. Since 2023, batted balls against it have had an average exit velocity of 92.3 mph and an average launch angle of 18°. Even though Megill threw harder than ever in 2025, his fastball whiff rate declined for the second consecutive season. While he successfully adapted by leaning more on his curveball as the year progressed, things could get dicier if his fastball loses another bit of effectiveness for any reason. Season FB Run Value FB xwOBA FB Whiff% 2023 1 0.309 22.00% 2024 9 0.282 25.40% 2025 1 0.336 20.50% Those concerns are particularly relevant after a late-season elbow scare. A flexor strain limited Megill to 47 frames in 2025 and sidelined him for nearly all of September. He was noticeably diminished when he returned for the postseason, and while his velocity was trending in the right direction throughout October, it never quite returned to its pre-injury level. The Brewers deemed Megill fully recovered after their season ended in the NLCS. Even if his elbow is entirely healthy, though, it’s worth noting that he enters his mid-30s without having reached 50 innings in a big-league season. None of this is to say that the front office must prioritize selling Megill for any return. Given his contractual situation, they should aim higher than the two-player package they received for Williams last year. However, Megill’s star is likelier to dim than to continue brightening next season, and Abner Uribe is poised to anchor the bullpen after closing games in his absence. If a fair deal for Megill is available, the Brewers should take it. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins enter Tuesday’s MLB Draft Lottery with the second-best odds at securing the No. 1 overall pick, and they are guaranteed to select in the top 10 for the 2026 MLB Draft. It's a rare opportunity for a club that has spent most of the past decade trying to compete while still building internally. Any time a front office gets access to elite amateur talent, the stakes rise. Minnesota’s recent history with premium picks shows promise in some places, frustration in others, and plenty of room for debate, as the club prepares for what could be a franchise-shaping selection. Here’s a look back at Minnesota’s recent track record with top-10 picks and how those players have developed in the team’s farm system. 2023 MLB Draft: OF Walker Jenkins (5th Overall Pick) Minnesota used the fifth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft on outfielder Jenkins, and his rapid rise through the system has earned him national attention. In many other draft classes, he likely would have been the first overall pick. Few prospects reach Triple A as 20-year-olds, and players who do often develop into above-average big-league regulars. Jenkins has shown advanced bat speed and a mature approach, but he is still an unfinished product. Last season, he posted a 135 wRC+ in 84 games. There are no guarantees in prospect development, though, and the Twins will need patience as he adjusts to the highest levels of the minors. His trajectory is encouraging, but stardom is not yet assured. 2022 MLB Draft: SS Brooks Lee (8th Overall Pick) One year before Jenkins, the Twins grabbed college shortstop Lee with the eighth overall pick. His plus hit tool turned him into one of the fastest-moving prospects in baseball, and helped him reach the major leagues ahead of schedule. Minnesota pushed him to Triple-A St. Paul in his first full professional season, and he made his MLB debut in 2024. That intriguingly natural feel for hitting has yet to translate to production in his early MLB returns. Over the last two seasons, Lee has posted a 75 OPS+ in 189 games. He's slated to open next season as Minnesota’s starting shortstop, and that comes with pressure on both sides of the ball. The organization still believes his approach and swing will win out in the long run, but it is fair to say he has been more frustrating than fulfilling so far. His upcoming season may be one of the most critical individual storylines on the roster. 2017 MLB Draft: SS Royce Lewis (1st Overall) Lewis was Derek Falvey’s first premium draft choice as chief of Twins baseball operations, when they selected him first overall in 2017. The Twins took Lewis over a group that included Hunter Greene, Brendan McKay, and MacKenzie Gore, ultimately signing him to an underslot deal to distribute additional money to the rest of the class. For stretches, that decision looked brilliant. Lewis has flashed superstar ability, launching big home runs and showcasing a dynamic skill set that few players can match. The trouble, of course, is that injuries and inconsistent playing time have made it difficult for the Twins to view him as their long-term anchor. Last season, he played in a career-high 106 games but posted an 83 OPS+. Lewis remains a fascinating talent whose next chapter could swing the team’s overall trajectory. Looking Back at the Previous Regime’s Track Record Before the current front office took over, Minnesota went through a stretch of four straight top-10 picks under Terry Ryan. The results were uninspiring, except for one undeniable success story. Tyler Jay, Nick Gordon, and Kohl Stewart were all selected in the top six picks, but none developed into cornerstone players. Gordon provided some big-league value, but not enough to justify his draft spot. Stewart never found traction. Jay moved to the bullpen and battled injuries. Byron Buxton, selected second overall in 2012, became the exception. When healthy, he has played at an MVP level and turned into a franchise icon. Without Buxton’s success, that run of picks would be remembered far more harshly. The MLB Draft remains one of the most unpredictable talent pipelines in sports. Variability in development, wide gaps in competition levels, and the number of professional levels a player must climb after being drafted before getting to the majors all contribute to uncertainty. Still, teams must hit on top-10 picks if they want sustained success—especially teams like Minnesota, who operate with a below-average payroll. Minnesota’s recent record shows both optimism and caution as it prepares for a potentially pivotal selection in 2026. With the lottery approaching and talent evaluations underway, the Twins know this opportunity does not come around often. The true test will be turning a premium pick into a premium player. What stands out about Minnesota’s recent top-10 picks? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

ORLANDO, FL—The Winter Meetings are underway and on day one, president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and manager Clayton McCullough spoke to the local media. After a 17-win improvement, Bendix believes that the 2026 club will be one that can compete for a National League wild-card spot, noting that 79 wins "is not the goal." Bendix also said that there will be additions needed from outside the organization to ensure the goal of another improving year. "We are trying to put a really competitive team together in 2026 and we're trying to build for to be as good as we can for as long as we can," said Bendix on Monday morning. "We're having lots of conversations with free agents and with other teams. It's my job to listen and to understand where the market is and what our opportunities are to ultimately to make the best decisions." When it comes to the current free agent market, a couple big names connected to the Marlins have come off the board. Relievers Devin Williams and Ryan Helsley signed multi-year deals with the Mets and Orioles, respectively. "I think there's parts of the market that are surprising, other parts that are taking a long time," said Bendix. "That's how it is every year. I think it's very easy to craft narratives when you get to the end of the offseason and look back, but in the moment, it's hard to tell." One of the main topics discussed was the potential trades of starters Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera. As Fish On First reported ahead of the winter meetings, Cabrera appears to be the most likely to get traded, with the market looking similar to what it was during the trade deadline. Other reports have surfaced that the team is listening on every starter aside from Eury Pérez. "It is my job to listen," said Bendix. "I would be doing a disservice to our fans, a disservice to Bruce (Sherman), the organization if I didn't listen to what is out there and understand our possibilities. The second thing is that not everything that you read is true." Following an uneven season returning from Tommy John surgery, the Marlins expect Alcantara to be closer to his Cy Young self in 2026. Later in the day, manager Clayton McCullough opened his press conference, noting how year two of this process has been much more slowed down, rather than the craziness of having to fill out a staff and taking in as much information as possible. This also bleeds into spring training, now having more familiarity and a structure that the coaches and players are familiar with. "When you walk on the fields, it's one thing to know someone, their name, we watch them on the other side of the field or know a stat sheet," McCullough told the media. "But to spend a year or spend months with a person, that's when real bonds start to form. We hope that we can just somewhat pick up where we left off last year. The players will come in with an expectation and an understanding of what's important to us, how we are going to run our drills and going to run camp. There's going to be less of those unknowns. We can firmly make the focus on areas of which our team and individuals need to get better for us to accomplish what we'd like to." Although McCullough is retaining the majority of his 2025 staff, assistant pitching coach Alon Leichman is the most recent ex-Marlin to depart for a promotion elsewhere as he will become the Colorado Rockies lead pitching coach. Derek Shomon, Joe Singley and Tyler Smarslok also left for gigs with the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, respectively. The additions to the staff filling their shoes are assistant hitting coaches Chris Hess and Corbin Day, first base/catching coach Craig Driver, and as Fish On First reported, Blake Butler will become the new infield coach. "As we went through that process, Blake stood out," said McCullough. "Coming over from the Pirates, he managed in their system. He was going to be their infield coordinator. We love his technical acumen. He's also someone who culturally will be a real additive for our group. I feel like Blake will come in and build strong relationships with our guys and team up with Hector Crespo, and those guys will continue to push our infield program forward." Looking at the team in 2026, the expectation is that Agustín Ramírez will catch Sandy Alcantara on Opening Day. The Marlins continue to believe in Ramírez as a catcher and want to see more out of him before pivoting. Driver and McCullough both spent time with the 24-year-old in the Dominican Republic. "I think Gus had a chance to self-reflect some on the year, take a breath," said McCullough. "One thing that he mentioned: physically he felt okay, but mentally, it's quite the grind. I asked him to hit in the top of the lineup almost every day and having to go back there and catch, probably played more than he ever has. Gus was saying all the right things. He was embracing and taking on this offseason different than he did the last season, which is fair. He has a different perspective on what's ahead and what's expected." Aside from the two media availabilities, it was a slow first day at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando. Day two will feature the MLB Draft Lottery, where the Marlins have a 1.85% chance to earn the number one overall pick in the 2026 draft. A new episode of Fish On First LIVE begins at 6:00 p.m. ET to react to the lottery results. Elsewhere around the league, Michael Soroka signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Steven Matz signed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. View the full article

When the Blue Jays made the first big splash of the offseason by signing Dylan Cease, it was understandably the talk of the town. One curious thing I noted in the early discussions was the framing of the potential Toronto rotation. The most egregious (in my opinion) came from a TSN Instagram post. The post, straightforwardly titled “Potential Blue Jays Rotation in 2026,” showed Cease, centred in the foreground, flanked by Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage. Behind them, representing the potential fourth and fifth starters were Shane Bieber and… Eric Lauer? No disrespect to Lauer, who was one of the (relatively) unsung heroes of the 2025 team and arguably, at times, the most important member of the rotation, but that’s Berríos’ spot. We were all caught a little off guard by the Cease signing, so I don’t want to put *too much* weight on a social media post from the network that doesn’t have the rights to the Jays — but it was something I noticed. Then it was Cody Ponce coming to Toronto on a three-year deal. Owen Hill laid out some of the possible ramifications for Berríos, and it comes down to how Toronto intends to use Ponce. Is he the fifth starter, or does he slide into a Lauer-type role? Those are questions you could fairly ask about Berríos, too, Then it was a Mitch Bannon report that the Jays “will listen to trade offers” for Berríos. Let’s not forget, Berríos wasn’t just one of the 38 different players to throw a pitch for Toronto last season. He’s been the Opening Day starter in three of the four seasons he’s been here since the Jays acquired him from Minnesota in 2021. Given the time of year, I’ve been watching a lot of holiday-themed programming. I was all prepared to use the Island of Misfit Toys as a comparable – “What good is a Machine that’s lost its calibration?” – but I’m not sure that Berríos is as broken as that premise would lead us to. Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. Berríos wasn’t great last season. His ERA (4.17) was the worst it’s been in three seasons, he threw his fewest innings (pandemic-shortened season aside) since 2017, and despite the drop in innings, he still walked more batters (56) than in any season since 2018. A quick look at his peripheral stats isn’t much better. His Statcast percentile ranks graphic is bluer than an Elvis Presley Christmas (there’s the seasonal analogy I needed!). His average fastball velocity was the lowest it’s been since he came to Toronto, while his average exit velocity and barrel rate were both at their highest. So where is the bright side? Berríos’ season ended with a career-first appearance out of the bullpen, followed by another career-first: a trip to the injured list. Here’s where I’m going to throw in some speculation. I think he was pitching hurt most of the second half of last season and potentially longer. He was a little shaky out of the gates to start last season, but in May, he showed serious improvement, and in June, he was the best pitcher in the rotation. We recognized it at the time, and he was Jays Centre’s Pitcher of the Month in June and a runner-up in May. Looking at his splits, the numbers really spiked in July/August/September, culminating in that IL stint and a full absence through the playoffs. His arm angle was lower than in the previous two seasons, which could point to a player who was just gritting his way through the season, trying to maintain the IL–free streak he had through his career to that point. If that were the case, he certainly wouldn’t be the first player to ever try to mask an injury and ‘play through it.’ We’ll shelve the discussion of whether that’s heroic or stupid for another day. Considering that he had over 1,500 career innings pitched without ever hitting the IL, maybe pitching through pain has gotten him through previous seasons. Ross Atkins told reporters that Berríos should “have a completely normal offseason and be ready for spring training.” I don’t want to completely hand-wave away his 2025 season, but if the results were influenced by injury and he’s healthy for next season, isn’t he a lock for at least the last rotation spot? John Schneider has shown himself to be loyal to “his guys,” and Berríos has a track record of durability if nothing else. When the announcement was first made of his move to the ‘pen in September, Berríos said a lot of the right things about wanting to help the team and doing whatever it took to win – but he was less convincing than some of his teammates when similar moves occurred. He is undoubtedly a guy who wants to start. He’s also a guy with three years remaining on his contract. Now, if the trade rumours are anything more than ‘of course we’ll listen to a trade offer for a player, we’ll listen to an offer for anyone on the roster, that’s literally our job’ then would Toronto be selling low just to clear salary? I think the most likely outcome is that Berríos goes into spring training as a Blue Jay and starts the season as the fifth man in the rotation. His days as the Opening Day starter are likely behind him now, but there’s nothing to definitively suggest that he can’t put up close to 200 innings with an ERA around 4.00, and if that’s your fifth guy, that’s not bad. Toronto was also more aggressive with its management of pitchers last year than in previous years, and if Berríos breaks camp in his expected spot, it might be with the shortest leash of his career. View the full article