DiamondCentric

Every offseason, we offer our You’re The GM! tool to build your ideal Cubs roster. This year, we’ve updated and streamlined the tool a bit to improve the experience. The idea behind this feature is to give fans a chance to play the role of General Manager (or CBO or PoBO… you get the idea) for their favorite team, the Chicago Cubs. It’s meant to give fans the opportunity to discuss (and, let’s be honest, argue) how they would approach the long, dark MLB offseason. This tool is intended to be informal and fun, so we’ve left it as open as possible. There is a payroll “budget” that loosely resembles the Cubs 2026 payroll, but there is no penalty for going over that number. It’s a guideline, nothing more. Second, you can submit as many blueprints as you like throughout the offseason. As the offseason landscape changes, users often return multiple times over the winter and create new blueprints. Before we get into the breakdown of the tool, you can save your blueprint and come back to it at any time. The only restriction is that you must register an account on the site to create a blueprint (so we can save a draft for you and also post the blueprint for others to discuss). Create an account on DiamondCentric.net, then return here, log in using those credentials, and get to creating your 2027 blueprint! Let’s get into the tool itself. It has four quadrants that work best if addressed in a counter-clockwise order (this tool works much better on a desktop due to its complexity, but it will work on mobile devices if need be). Top Left: The 26-Man Roster We have created a rough guideline for the Cubs 26-man roster. The roster is flexible; you can add or remove players as you see fit. We’ve also included either guaranteed salaries or, in the case of arbitration and contract options, the recommendations of MLB Trade Rumors. This section is where you build your roster and make changes based on the following two sections. As you make changes to players and salaries, the total payroll number (right side of the screen) will change, allowing you to track your budget on the fly. The bottom field in both columns is for any dead money you assume during the course of your offseason. Acquiring dead money should be uncommon, but we want to give users the option to take on dead salary if it suits their purposes. Bottom Left: Arbitration & Trade Decisions Here, you will find a selection of arbitration options and internal options (usually from the 40-man roster or minor leagues) to assist in building your offseason roster. On the right-hand side of this column, you will see Trade Candidates, a list of the 40 players most likely to be traded this offseason, again per MLB Trade Rumors. To help you get up to speed with these candidates, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on trade candidates. Bottom Right: Free Agents Here, you will find the top 75 free agents according to our rankings on DiamondCentric. These are sorted by position to facilitate quickly finding your desired free agent and include the recommended salary for that player. Because this is a blueprint for a single year, we only include their projected salary for the coming season, not the number of years, deferrals, or anything else. Top Right: Dead Money, Your Total Payroll, & Commentary The only unalterable field on the page is Dead Money; it is players to whom the team has committed money but has no reasonable way to get out of the contract. Below that, you will see the recommended budget, your current total, and the percentage you are over or under that budget. Again, keep in mind the budget is only a guideline, and you can go above it as much as you like… But defend your choices, coward! The following field is Title, which gives other users an idea of what to expect with your blueprint (e.g., Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!). When your blueprint posts for other users, it will read “Your Username’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!”. The following field is Your Comments & Explanation, a long-form field meant to type out the rationale behind your decisions. Here is the place to fully explain your trades (including which players are leaving the Cubs to bring in new players), why you targeted specific free agents, and any promotions from the minors you advocate or any options you declined to extend to a specific player. This is often multiple paragraphs; you can write up as much detail as you desire. That’s it, you’re done! At this point, you can either publish your blueprint to the forums or save it for later if you feel it’s incomplete. Thank you for joining us at North Side Baseball. I hope you enjoy playing the role of general manager, at least for a moment! Start Your Payroll Blueprint Now View the full article

Every offseason, we offer our You’re The GM! tool to build your ideal Cubs roster. This year, we’ve updated and streamlined the tool a bit to improve the experience. The idea behind this feature is to give fans a chance to play the role of General Manager (or CBO or PoBO… you get the idea) for their favorite team, the Chicago Cubs. It’s meant to give fans the opportunity to discuss (and, let’s be honest, argue) how they would approach the long, dark MLB offseason. This tool is intended to be informal and fun, so we’ve left it as open as possible. There is a payroll “budget” that loosely resembles the Cubs 2026 payroll, but there is no penalty for going over that number. It’s a guideline, nothing more. Second, you can submit as many blueprints as you like throughout the offseason. As the offseason landscape changes, users often return multiple times over the winter and create new blueprints. Before we get into the breakdown of the tool, you can save your blueprint and come back to it at any time. The only restriction is that you must register an account on the site to create a blueprint (so we can save a draft for you and also post the blueprint for others to discuss). Create an account on DiamondCentric.net, then return here, log in using those credentials, and get to creating your 2027 blueprint! Let’s get into the tool itself. It has four quadrants that work best if addressed in a counter-clockwise order (this tool works much better on a desktop due to its complexity, but it will work on mobile devices if need be). Top Left: The 26-Man Roster We have created a rough guideline for the Cubs 26-man roster. The roster is flexible; you can add or remove players as you see fit. We’ve also included either guaranteed salaries or, in the case of arbitration and contract options, the recommendations of MLB Trade Rumors. This section is where you build your roster and make changes based on the following two sections. As you make changes to players and salaries, the total payroll number (right side of the screen) will change, allowing you to track your budget on the fly. The bottom field in both columns is for any dead money you assume during the course of your offseason. Acquiring dead money should be uncommon, but we want to give users the option to take on dead salary if it suits their purposes. Bottom Left: Arbitration & Trade Decisions Here, you will find a selection of arbitration options and internal options (usually from the 40-man roster or minor leagues) to assist in building your offseason roster. On the right-hand side of this column, you will see Trade Candidates, a list of the 40 players most likely to be traded this offseason, again per MLB Trade Rumors. To help you get up to speed with these candidates, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on trade candidates. Bottom Right: Free Agents Here, you will find the top 75 free agents according to our rankings on DiamondCentric. These are sorted by position to facilitate quickly finding your desired free agent and include the recommended salary for that player. Because this is a blueprint for a single year, we only include their projected salary for the coming season, not the number of years, deferrals, or anything else. Top Right: Dead Money, Your Total Payroll, & Commentary The only unalterable field on the page is Dead Money; it is players to whom the team has committed money but has no reasonable way to get out of the contract. Below that, you will see the recommended budget, your current total, and the percentage you are over or under that budget. Again, keep in mind the budget is only a guideline, and you can go above it as much as you like… But defend your choices, coward! The following field is Title, which gives other users an idea of what to expect with your blueprint (e.g., Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!). When your blueprint posts for other users, it will read “Your Username’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!”. The following field is Your Comments & Explanation, a long-form field meant to type out the rationale behind your decisions. Here is the place to fully explain your trades (including which players are leaving the Cubs to bring in new players), why you targeted specific free agents, and any promotions from the minors you advocate or any options you declined to extend to a specific player. This is often multiple paragraphs; you can write up as much detail as you desire. That’s it, you’re done! At this point, you can either publish your blueprint to the forums or save it for later if you feel it’s incomplete. Thank you for joining us at North Side Baseball. I hope you enjoy playing the role of general manager, at least for a moment! Start Your Payroll Blueprint Now View the full article

Every offseason, we offer our You’re The GM! tool to build your ideal Twins roster. This year, we’ve updated and streamlined the tool a bit to improve the experience. The idea behind this feature is to give fans a chance to play the role of General Manager (or CBO or PoBO… you get the idea) for their favorite team, the Minnesota Twins. It’s meant to give fans the opportunity to discuss (and, let’s be honest, argue) how they would approach the long, dark MLB offseason. This tool is intended to be informal and fun, so we’ve left it as open as possible. There is a payroll “budget” that loosely resembles the Twins 2026 payroll, but there is no penalty for going over that number. It’s a guideline, nothing more. Second, you can submit as many blueprints as you like throughout the offseason. As the offseason landscape changes, users often return multiple times over the winter and create new blueprints. Before we get into the breakdown of the tool, you can save your blueprint and come back to it at any time. The only restriction is that you must register an account on the site to create a blueprint (so we can save a draft for you and also post the blueprint for others to discuss). Create an account on DiamondCentric.net, then return here, log in using those credentials, and get to creating your 2027 blueprint! Let’s get into the tool itself. It has four quadrants that work best if addressed in a counter-clockwise order (this tool works much better on a desktop due to its complexity, but it will work on mobile devices if need be). Top Left: The 26-Man Roster We have created a rough guideline for the Twins 26-man roster. The roster is flexible; you can add or remove players as you see fit. We’ve also included either guaranteed salaries or, in the case of arbitration and contract options, the recommendations of MLB Trade Rumors. This section is where you build your roster and make changes based on the following two sections. As you make changes to players and salaries, the total payroll number (right side of the screen) will change, allowing you to track your budget on the fly. The bottom field in both columns is for any dead money you assume during the course of your offseason. Acquiring dead money should be uncommon, but we want to give users the option to take on dead salary if it suits their purposes. Bottom Left: Arbitration & Trade Decisions Here, you will find a selection of arbitration options and internal options (usually from the 40-man roster or minor leagues) to assist in building your offseason roster. On the right-hand side of this column, you will see Trade Candidates, a list of the 40 players most likely to be traded this offseason, again per MLB Trade Rumors. To help you get up to speed with these candidates, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on trade candidates. Bottom Right: Free Agents Here, you will find the top 75 free agents according to our rankings on DiamondCentric. These are sorted by position to facilitate quickly finding your desired free agent and include the recommended salary for that player. Because this is a blueprint for a single year, we only include their projected salary for the coming season, not the number of years, deferrals, or anything else. Top Right: Dead Money, Your Total Payroll, & Commentary The only unalterable field on the page is Dead Money; it is players to whom the team has committed money but has no reasonable way to get out of the contract. Below that, you will see the recommended budget, your current total, and the percentage you are over or under that budget. Again, keep in mind the budget is only a guideline, and you can go above it as much as you like… But defend your choices, coward! The following field is Title, which gives other users an idea of what to expect with your blueprint (e.g., Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!). When your blueprint posts for other users, it will read “Your Username’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!”. The following field is Your Comments & Explanation, a long-form field meant to type out the rationale behind your decisions. Here is the place to fully explain your trades (including which players are leaving the Twins to bring in new players), why you targeted specific free agents, and any promotions from the minors you advocate or any options you declined to extend to a specific player. This is often multiple paragraphs; you can write up as much detail as you desire. That’s it, you’re done! At this point, you can either publish your blueprint to the forums or save it for later if you feel it’s incomplete. Thank you for joining us at Twins Daily. I hope you enjoy playing the role of general manager, at least for a moment! Start Your Payroll Blueprint Now View the full article

Every offseason, we offer our You’re The GM! tool to build your ideal Brewers roster. This year, we’ve updated and streamlined the tool a bit to improve the experience. The idea behind this feature is to give fans a chance to play the role of General Manager (or CBO or PoBO… you get the idea) for their favorite team, the Milwaukee Brewers. It’s meant to give fans the opportunity to discuss (and, let’s be honest, argue) how they would approach the long, dark MLB offseason. This tool is intended to be informal and fun, so we’ve left it as open as possible. There is a payroll “budget” that loosely resembles the Brewers 2026 payroll, but there is no penalty for going over that number. It’s a guideline, nothing more. Second, you can submit as many blueprints as you like throughout the offseason. As the offseason landscape changes, users often return multiple times over the winter and create new blueprints. Before we get into the breakdown of the tool, you can save your blueprint and come back to it at any time. The only restriction is that you must register an account on the site to create a blueprint (so we can save a draft for you and also post the blueprint for others to discuss). Create an account on DiamondCentric.net, then return here, log in using those credentials, and get to creating your 2027 blueprint! Let’s get into the tool itself. It has four quadrants that work best if addressed in a counter-clockwise order (this tool works much better on a desktop due to its complexity, but it will work on mobile devices if need be). Top Left: The 26-Man Roster We have created a rough guideline for the Brewers 26-man roster. The roster is flexible; you can add or remove players as you see fit. We’ve also included either guaranteed salaries or, in the case of arbitration and contract options, the recommendations of MLB Trade Rumors. This section is where you build your roster and make changes based on the following two sections. As you make changes to players and salaries, the total payroll number (right side of the screen) will change, allowing you to track your budget on the fly. The bottom field in both columns is for any dead money you assume during the course of your offseason. Acquiring dead money should be uncommon, but we want to give users the option to take on dead salary if it suits their purposes. Bottom Left: Arbitration & Trade Decisions Here, you will find a selection of arbitration options and internal options (usually from the 40-man roster or minor leagues) to assist in building your offseason roster. On the right-hand side of this column, you will see Trade Candidates, a list of the 40 players most likely to be traded this offseason, again per MLB Trade Rumors. To help you get up to speed with these candidates, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on trade candidates. Bottom Right: Free Agents Here, you will find the top 75 free agents according to our rankings on DiamondCentric. These are sorted by position to facilitate quickly finding your desired free agent and include the recommended salary for that player. Because this is a blueprint for a single year, we only include their projected salary for the coming season, not the number of years, deferrals, or anything else. Top Right: Dead Money, Your Total Payroll, & Commentary The only unalterable field on the page is Dead Money; it is players to whom the team has committed money but has no reasonable way to get out of the contract. Below that, you will see the recommended budget, your current total, and the percentage you are over or under that budget. Again, keep in mind the budget is only a guideline, and you can go above it as much as you like… But defend your choices, coward! The following field is Title, which gives other users an idea of what to expect with your blueprint (e.g., Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!). When your blueprint posts for other users, it will read “Your Username’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!”. The following field is Your Comments & Explanation, a long-form field meant to type out the rationale behind your decisions. Here is the place to fully explain your trades (including which players are leaving the Brewers to bring in new players), why you targeted specific free agents, and any promotions from the minors you advocate or any options you declined to extend to a specific player. This is often multiple paragraphs; you can write up as much detail as you desire. That’s it, you’re done! At this point, you can either publish your blueprint to the forums or save it for later if you feel it’s incomplete. Thank you for joining us at Brewer Fanatic. I hope you enjoy playing the role of general manager, at least for a moment! Start Your Payroll Blueprint Now View the full article

With the latest moves, everyone who had the chance to come back to the San Diego Padres' bullpen in 2027 is returning. Yuki Matsui opted in to his $6.5 million contract for 2027, while fellow left-handed reliever Kyle Hart had his option picked up on his $2.5 million deal. The only members of the bullpen who were on the postseason roster not returning are the two free agents, left-hander Adrian Morejon and right-hander Jason Adam, both key setup relievers. Designated hitter Miguel Andujar declined his portion of a mutual option, while the Padres declined their side of mutual options for right-handers Griffin Canning and Lucas Giolito, the team said Sunday. Andujar had a $2.5 million buyout on an $8 million contract for next year, while Canning had a $1.5 million buyout on a $5 million pact and Giolito a $1.5 million buyout on his $8 million deal for 2027. The Padres on Saturday declined the team option on right-handed starter Nick Pivetta, the biggest option decision on the roster. According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, there are health concerns about Pivetta's right elbow. There is a chance Pivetta returns on a contract that protects the Padres and includes performance bonuses. Does Matsui's decision indicate anything regarding Morejon's future? The unlikely duo are terrific friends. Matsui blossomed into a leverage reliever as this season went on, finishing the best of his three MLB seasons with a 1.83 ERA (4.18 FIP) and 1.141 WHIP with a 26.2% strikeout rate, but a career-worst 13.8% walk rate. Matsui made up for those walks with a sensational .171 opponent batting average. He worked 64 innings, two-thirds of an inning more than he did last year, while pitching in 54 games, seven less than 2025 and 10 fewer than 2024. Matsui has an $8 million player option for 2028. Hart, who had a $200,000 buyout on his club option for 2027, had his most extensive action in his three MLB seasons. After four appearances with the Boston Red Sox in 2020 and 20 with the Padres in 2025 after spending 2024 in South Korea, Hart pitched in 46 games this year and had a 3.63 FIP (4.92 ERA), tossing 64 innings. Hart often served as the first reliever if a starter had to exit early, also serving as an opener four times. He had a 9.7% walk rate and 22% strikeout rate, also allowing a .218 opponent batting average. View the full article

Every offseason, we offer our You’re The GM! tool to build your ideal Blue Jays roster. This year, we’ve updated and streamlined the tool a bit to improve the experience. The idea behind this feature is to give fans a chance to play the role of General Manager (or CBO or PoBO… you get the idea) for their favorite team, the Toronto Blue Jays. It’s meant to give fans the opportunity to discuss (and, let’s be honest, argue) how they would approach the long, dark MLB offseason. This tool is intended to be informal and fun, so we’ve left it as open as possible. There is a payroll “budget” that loosely resembles the Blue Jays 2026 payroll, but there is no penalty for going over that number. It’s a guideline, nothing more. Second, you can submit as many blueprints as you like throughout the offseason. As the offseason landscape changes, users often return multiple times over the winter and create new blueprints. Before we get into the breakdown of the tool, you can save your blueprint and come back to it at any time. The only restriction is that you must register an account on the site to create a blueprint (so we can save a draft for you and also post the blueprint for others to discuss). Create an account on DiamondCentric.net, then return here, log in using those credentials, and get to creating your 2027 blueprint! Let’s get into the tool itself. It has four quadrants that work best if addressed in a counter-clockwise order (this tool works much better on a desktop due to its complexity, but it will work on mobile devices if need be). Top Left: The 26-Man Roster We have created a rough guideline for the Blue Jays 26-man roster. The roster is flexible; you can add or remove players as you see fit. We’ve also included either guaranteed salaries or, in the case of arbitration and contract options, the recommendations of MLB Trade Rumors. This section is where you build your roster and make changes based on the following two sections. As you make changes to players and salaries, the total payroll number (right side of the screen) will change, allowing you to track your budget on the fly. The bottom field in both columns is for any dead money you assume during the course of your offseason. Acquiring dead money should be uncommon, but we want to give users the option to take on dead salary if it suits their purposes. Bottom Left: Arbitration & Trade Decisions Here, you will find a selection of arbitration options and internal options (usually from the 40-man roster or minor leagues) to assist in building your offseason roster. On the right-hand side of this column, you will see Trade Candidates, a list of the 40 players most likely to be traded this offseason, again per MLB Trade Rumors. To help you get up to speed with these candidates, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on trade candidates. Bottom Right: Free Agents Here, you will find the top 75 free agents according to our rankings on DiamondCentric. These are sorted by position to facilitate quickly finding your desired free agent and include the recommended salary for that player. Because this is a blueprint for a single year, we only include their projected salary for the coming season, not the number of years, deferrals, or anything else. Top Right: Dead Money, Your Total Payroll, & Commentary The only unalterable field on the page is Dead Money; it is players to whom the team has committed money but has no reasonable way to get out of the contract. Below that, you will see the recommended budget, your current total, and the percentage you are over or under that budget. Again, keep in mind the budget is only a guideline, and you can go above it as much as you like… But defend your choices, coward! The following field is Title, which gives other users an idea of what to expect with your blueprint (e.g., Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!). When your blueprint posts for other users, it will read “Your Username’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!”. The following field is Your Comments & Explanation, a long-form field meant to type out the rationale behind your decisions. Here is the place to fully explain your trades (including which players are leaving the Blue Jays to bring in new players), why you targeted specific free agents, and any promotions from the minors you advocate or any options you declined to extend to a specific player. This is often multiple paragraphs; you can write up as much detail as you desire. That’s it, you’re done! At this point, you can either publish your blueprint to the forums or save it for later if you feel it’s incomplete. Thank you for joining us at Jays Centre. I hope you enjoy playing the role of general manager, at least for a moment! Start Your Payroll Blueprint Now View the full article

Every offseason, we offer our You’re The GM! tool to build your ideal Red Sox roster. This year, we’ve updated and streamlined the tool a bit to improve the experience. The idea behind this feature is to give fans a chance to play the role of General Manager (or CBO or PoBO… you get the idea) for their favorite team, the Boston Red Sox. It’s meant to give fans the opportunity to discuss (and, let’s be honest, argue) how they would approach the long, dark MLB offseason. This tool is intended to be informal and fun, so we’ve left it as open as possible. There is a payroll “budget” that loosely resembles the Red Sox 2026 payroll, but there is no penalty for going over that number. It’s a guideline, nothing more. Second, you can submit as many blueprints as you like throughout the offseason. As the offseason landscape changes, users often return multiple times over the winter and create new blueprints. Before we get into the breakdown of the tool, you can save your blueprint and come back to it at any time. The only restriction is that you must register an account on the site to create a blueprint (so we can save a draft for you and also post the blueprint for others to discuss). Create an account on DiamondCentric.net, then return here, log in using those credentials, and get to creating your 2027 blueprint! Let’s get into the tool itself. It has four quadrants that work best if addressed in a counter-clockwise order (this tool works much better on a desktop due to its complexity, but it will work on mobile devices if need be). Top Left: The 26-Man Roster We have created a rough guideline for the Red Sox 26-man roster. The roster is flexible; you can add or remove players as you see fit. We’ve also included either guaranteed salaries or, in the case of arbitration and contract options, the recommendations of MLB Trade Rumors. This section is where you build your roster and make changes based on the following two sections. As you make changes to players and salaries, the total payroll number (right side of the screen) will change, allowing you to track your budget on the fly. The bottom field in both columns is for any dead money you assume during the course of your offseason. Acquiring dead money should be uncommon, but we want to give users the option to take on dead salary if it suits their purposes. Bottom Left: Arbitration & Trade Decisions Here, you will find a selection of arbitration options and internal options (usually from the 40-man roster or minor leagues) to assist in building your offseason roster. On the right-hand side of this column, you will see Trade Candidates, a list of the 40 players most likely to be traded this offseason, again per MLB Trade Rumors. To help you get up to speed with these candidates, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on trade candidates. Bottom Right: Free Agents Here, you will find the top 75 free agents according to our rankings on DiamondCentric. These are sorted by position to facilitate quickly finding your desired free agent and include the recommended salary for that player. Because this is a blueprint for a single year, we only include their projected salary for the coming season, not the number of years, deferrals, or anything else. Top Right: Dead Money, Your Total Payroll, & Commentary The only unalterable field on the page is Dead Money; it is players to whom the team has committed money but has no reasonable way to get out of the contract. Below that, you will see the recommended budget, your current total, and the percentage you are over or under that budget. Again, keep in mind the budget is only a guideline, and you can go above it as much as you like… But defend your choices, coward! The following field is Title, which gives other users an idea of what to expect with your blueprint (e.g., Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!). When your blueprint posts for other users, it will read “Your Username’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!”. The following field is Your Comments & Explanation, a long-form field meant to type out the rationale behind your decisions. Here is the place to fully explain your trades (including which players are leaving the Red Sox to bring in new players), why you targeted specific free agents, and any promotions from the minors you advocate or any options you declined to extend to a specific player. This is often multiple paragraphs; you can write up as much detail as you desire. That’s it, you’re done! At this point, you can either publish your blueprint to the forums or save it for later if you feel it’s incomplete. Thank you for joining us at Talk Sox. I hope you enjoy playing the role of general manager, at least for a moment! Start Your Payroll Blueprint Now View the full article

Every offseason, we offer our You’re The GM! tool to build your ideal Red Sox roster. This year, we’ve updated and streamlined the tool a bit to improve the experience. The idea behind this feature is to give fans a chance to play the role of General Manager (or CBO or PoBO… you get the idea) for their favorite team, the Boston Red Sox. It’s meant to give fans the opportunity to discuss (and, let’s be honest, argue) how they would approach the long, dark MLB offseason. This tool is intended to be informal and fun, so we’ve left it as open as possible. There is a payroll “budget” that loosely resembles the Red Sox 2026 payroll, but there is no penalty for going over that number. It’s a guideline, nothing more. Second, you can submit as many blueprints as you like throughout the offseason. As the offseason landscape changes, users often return multiple times over the winter and create new blueprints. Before we get into the breakdown of the tool, you can save your blueprint and come back to it at any time. The only restriction is that you must register an account on the site to create a blueprint (so we can save a draft for you and also post the blueprint for others to discuss). Create an account on DiamondCentric.net, then return here, log in using those credentials, and get to creating your 2027 blueprint! Let’s get into the tool itself. It has four quadrants that work best if addressed in a counter-clockwise order (this tool works much better on a desktop due to its complexity, but it will work on mobile devices if need be). Top Left: The 26-Man Roster We have created a rough guideline for the Red Sox 26-man roster. The roster is flexible; you can add or remove players as you see fit. We’ve also included either guaranteed salaries or, in the case of arbitration and contract options, the recommendations of MLB Trade Rumors. This section is where you build your roster and make changes based on the following two sections. As you make changes to players and salaries, the total payroll number (right side of the screen) will change, allowing you to track your budget on the fly. The bottom field in both columns is for any dead money you assume during the course of your offseason. Acquiring dead money should be uncommon, but we want to give users the option to take on dead salary if it suits their purposes. Bottom Left: Arbitration & Trade Decisions Here, you will find a selection of arbitration options and internal options (usually from the 40-man roster or minor leagues) to assist in building your offseason roster. On the right-hand side of this column, you will see Trade Candidates, a list of the 40 players most likely to be traded this offseason, again per MLB Trade Rumors. To help you get up to speed with these candidates, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on trade candidates. Bottom Right: Free Agents Here, you will find the top 75 free agents according to our rankings on DiamondCentric. These are sorted by position to facilitate quickly finding your desired free agent and include the recommended salary for that player. Because this is a blueprint for a single year, we only include their projected salary for the coming season, not the number of years, deferrals, or anything else. Top Right: Dead Money, Your Total Payroll, & Commentary The only unalterable field on the page is Dead Money; it is players to whom the team has committed money but has no reasonable way to get out of the contract. Below that, you will see the recommended budget, your current total, and the percentage you are over or under that budget. Again, keep in mind the budget is only a guideline, and you can go above it as much as you like… But defend your choices, coward! The following field is Title, which gives other users an idea of what to expect with your blueprint (e.g., Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!). When your blueprint posts for other users, it will read “Your Username’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!”. The following field is Your Comments & Explanation, a long-form field meant to type out the rationale behind your decisions. Here is the place to fully explain your trades (including which players are leaving the Red Sox to bring in new players), why you targeted specific free agents, and any promotions from the minors you advocate or any options you declined to extend to a specific player. This is often multiple paragraphs; you can write up as much detail as you desire. That’s it, you’re done! At this point, you can either publish your blueprint to the forums or save it for later if you feel it’s incomplete. Thank you for joining us at Talk Sox. I hope you enjoy playing the role of general manager, at least for a moment! Start Your Payroll Blueprint Now View the full article

Every offseason, we offer our You’re The GM! tool to build your ideal Blue Jays roster. This year, we’ve updated and streamlined the tool a bit to improve the experience. The idea behind this feature is to give fans a chance to play the role of General Manager (or CBO or PoBO… you get the idea) for their favorite team, the Toronto Blue Jays. It’s meant to give fans the opportunity to discuss (and, let’s be honest, argue) how they would approach the long, dark MLB offseason. This tool is intended to be informal and fun, so we’ve left it as open as possible. There is a payroll “budget” that loosely resembles the Blue Jays 2026 payroll, but there is no penalty for going over that number. It’s a guideline, nothing more. Second, you can submit as many blueprints as you like throughout the offseason. As the offseason landscape changes, users often return multiple times over the winter and create new blueprints. Before we get into the breakdown of the tool, you can save your blueprint and come back to it at any time. The only restriction is that you must register an account on the site to create a blueprint (so we can save a draft for you and also post the blueprint for others to discuss). Create an account on DiamondCentric.net, then return here, log in using those credentials, and get to creating your 2027 blueprint! Let’s get into the tool itself. It has four quadrants that work best if addressed in a counter-clockwise order (this tool works much better on a desktop due to its complexity, but it will work on mobile devices if need be). Top Left: The 26-Man Roster We have created a rough guideline for the Blue Jays 26-man roster. The roster is flexible; you can add or remove players as you see fit. We’ve also included either guaranteed salaries or, in the case of arbitration and contract options, the recommendations of MLB Trade Rumors. This section is where you build your roster and make changes based on the following two sections. As you make changes to players and salaries, the total payroll number (right side of the screen) will change, allowing you to track your budget on the fly. The bottom field in both columns is for any dead money you assume during the course of your offseason. Acquiring dead money should be uncommon, but we want to give users the option to take on dead salary if it suits their purposes. Bottom Left: Arbitration & Trade Decisions Here, you will find a selection of arbitration options and internal options (usually from the 40-man roster or minor leagues) to assist in building your offseason roster. On the right-hand side of this column, you will see Trade Candidates, a list of the 40 players most likely to be traded this offseason, again per MLB Trade Rumors. To help you get up to speed with these candidates, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on trade candidates. Bottom Right: Free Agents Here, you will find the top 75 free agents according to our rankings on DiamondCentric. These are sorted by position to facilitate quickly finding your desired free agent and include the recommended salary for that player. Because this is a blueprint for a single year, we only include their projected salary for the coming season, not the number of years, deferrals, or anything else. Top Right: Dead Money, Your Total Payroll, & Commentary The only unalterable field on the page is Dead Money; it is players to whom the team has committed money but has no reasonable way to get out of the contract. Below that, you will see the recommended budget, your current total, and the percentage you are over or under that budget. Again, keep in mind the budget is only a guideline, and you can go above it as much as you like… But defend your choices, coward! The following field is Title, which gives other users an idea of what to expect with your blueprint (e.g., Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!). When your blueprint posts for other users, it will read “Your Username’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!”. The following field is Your Comments & Explanation, a long-form field meant to type out the rationale behind your decisions. Here is the place to fully explain your trades (including which players are leaving the Blue Jays to bring in new players), why you targeted specific free agents, and any promotions from the minors you advocate or any options you declined to extend to a specific player. This is often multiple paragraphs; you can write up as much detail as you desire. That’s it, you’re done! At this point, you can either publish your blueprint to the forums or save it for later if you feel it’s incomplete. Thank you for joining us at Jays Centre. I hope you enjoy playing the role of general manager, at least for a moment! Start Your Payroll Blueprint Now View the full article

Every offseason, we offer our You’re The GM! tool to build your ideal Mets roster. This year, we’ve updated and streamlined the tool a bit to improve the experience. The idea behind this feature is to give fans a chance to play the role of General Manager (or CBO or PoBO… you get the idea) for their favorite team, the New York Mets. It’s meant to give fans the opportunity to discuss (and, let’s be honest, argue) how they would approach the long, dark MLB offseason. This tool is intended to be informal and fun, so we’ve left it as open as possible. There is a payroll “budget” that loosely resembles the Mets 2026 payroll, but there is no penalty for going over that number. It’s a guideline, nothing more. Second, you can submit as many blueprints as you like throughout the offseason. As the offseason landscape changes, users often return multiple times over the winter and create new blueprints. Before we get into the breakdown of the tool, you can save your blueprint and come back to it at any time. The only restriction is that you must register an account on the site to create a blueprint (so we can save a draft for you and also post the blueprint for others to discuss). Create an account on DiamondCentric.net, then return here, log in using those credentials, and get to creating your 2027 blueprint! Let’s get into the tool itself. It has four quadrants that work best if addressed in a counter-clockwise order (this tool works much better on a desktop due to its complexity, but it will work on mobile devices if need be). Top Left: The 26-Man Roster We have created a rough guideline for the Mets 26-man roster. The roster is flexible; you can add or remove players as you see fit. We’ve also included either guaranteed salaries or, in the case of arbitration and contract options, the recommendations of MLB Trade Rumors. This section is where you build your roster and make changes based on the following two sections. As you make changes to players and salaries, the total payroll number (right side of the screen) will change, allowing you to track your budget on the fly. The bottom field in both columns is for any dead money you assume during the course of your offseason. Acquiring dead money should be uncommon, but we want to give users the option to take on dead salary if it suits their purposes. Bottom Left: Arbitration & Trade Decisions Here, you will find a selection of arbitration options and internal options (usually from the 40-man roster or minor leagues) to assist in building your offseason roster. On the right-hand side of this column, you will see Trade Candidates, a list of the 40 players most likely to be traded this offseason, again per MLB Trade Rumors. To help you get up to speed with these candidates, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on trade candidates. Bottom Right: Free Agents Here, you will find the top 75 free agents according to our rankings on DiamondCentric. These are sorted by position to facilitate quickly finding your desired free agent and include the recommended salary for that player. Because this is a blueprint for a single year, we only include their projected salary for the coming season, not the number of years, deferrals, or anything else. Top Right: Dead Money, Your Total Payroll, & Commentary The only unalterable field on the page is Dead Money; it is players to whom the team has committed money but has no reasonable way to get out of the contract. Below that, you will see the recommended budget, your current total, and the percentage you are over or under that budget. Again, keep in mind the budget is only a guideline, and you can go above it as much as you like… But defend your choices, coward! The following field is Title, which gives other users an idea of what to expect with your blueprint (e.g., Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!). When your blueprint posts for other users, it will read “Your Username’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!”. The following field is Your Comments & Explanation, a long-form field meant to type out the rationale behind your decisions. Here is the place to fully explain your trades (including which players are leaving the Mets to bring in new players), why you targeted specific free agents, and any promotions from the minors you advocate or any options you declined to extend to a specific player. This is often multiple paragraphs; you can write up as much detail as you desire. That’s it, you’re done! At this point, you can either publish your blueprint to the forums or save it for later if you feel it’s incomplete. Thank you for joining us at Grand Central Mets. I hope you enjoy playing the role of general manager, at least for a moment! Start Your Payroll Blueprint Now View the full article

Every offseason, we offer our You’re The GM! tool to build your ideal Mets roster. This year, we’ve updated and streamlined the tool a bit to improve the experience. The idea behind this feature is to give fans a chance to play the role of General Manager (or CBO or PoBO… you get the idea) for their favorite team, the New York Mets. It’s meant to give fans the opportunity to discuss (and, let’s be honest, argue) how they would approach the long, dark MLB offseason. This tool is intended to be informal and fun, so we’ve left it as open as possible. There is a payroll “budget” that loosely resembles the Mets 2026 payroll, but there is no penalty for going over that number. It’s a guideline, nothing more. Second, you can submit as many blueprints as you like throughout the offseason. As the offseason landscape changes, users often return multiple times over the winter and create new blueprints. Before we get into the breakdown of the tool, you can save your blueprint and come back to it at any time. The only restriction is that you must register an account on the site to create a blueprint (so we can save a draft for you and also post the blueprint for others to discuss). Create an account on DiamondCentric.net, then return here, log in using those credentials, and get to creating your 2027 blueprint! Let’s get into the tool itself. It has four quadrants that work best if addressed in a counter-clockwise order (this tool works much better on a desktop due to its complexity, but it will work on mobile devices if need be). Top Left: The 26-Man Roster We have created a rough guideline for the Mets 26-man roster. The roster is flexible; you can add or remove players as you see fit. We’ve also included either guaranteed salaries or, in the case of arbitration and contract options, the recommendations of MLB Trade Rumors. This section is where you build your roster and make changes based on the following two sections. As you make changes to players and salaries, the total payroll number (right side of the screen) will change, allowing you to track your budget on the fly. The bottom field in both columns is for any dead money you assume during the course of your offseason. Acquiring dead money should be uncommon, but we want to give users the option to take on dead salary if it suits their purposes. Bottom Left: Arbitration & Trade Decisions Here, you will find a selection of arbitration options and internal options (usually from the 40-man roster or minor leagues) to assist in building your offseason roster. On the right-hand side of this column, you will see Trade Candidates, a list of the 40 players most likely to be traded this offseason, again per MLB Trade Rumors. To help you get up to speed with these candidates, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on trade candidates. Bottom Right: Free Agents Here, you will find the top 75 free agents according to our rankings on DiamondCentric. These are sorted by position to facilitate quickly finding your desired free agent and include the recommended salary for that player. Because this is a blueprint for a single year, we only include their projected salary for the coming season, not the number of years, deferrals, or anything else. Top Right: Dead Money, Your Total Payroll, & Commentary The only unalterable field on the page is Dead Money; it is players to whom the team has committed money but has no reasonable way to get out of the contract. Below that, you will see the recommended budget, your current total, and the percentage you are over or under that budget. Again, keep in mind the budget is only a guideline, and you can go above it as much as you like… But defend your choices, coward! The following field is Title, which gives other users an idea of what to expect with your blueprint (e.g., Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!). When your blueprint posts for other users, it will read “Your Username’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!”. The following field is Your Comments & Explanation, a long-form field meant to type out the rationale behind your decisions. Here is the place to fully explain your trades (including which players are leaving the Mets to bring in new players), why you targeted specific free agents, and any promotions from the minors you advocate or any options you declined to extend to a specific player. This is often multiple paragraphs; you can write up as much detail as you desire. That’s it, you’re done! At this point, you can either publish your blueprint to the forums or save it for later if you feel it’s incomplete. Thank you for joining us at Grand Central Mets. I hope you enjoy playing the role of general manager, at least for a moment! Start Your Payroll Blueprint Now View the full article

Minnesota baseball lost one of its hometown connections last week. George Thomas , a former major-league utility player who wrapped up his professional playing career with the Minnesota Twins, died on October 23, 2026, at the age of 88. Although Thomas spent most of his big-league career with other organizations, his baseball journey eventually brought him back to Minnesota. Thomas was a standout at Bloomington High School before continuing his playing career at the University of Minnesota. His performance caught the attention of professional scouts, and the Detroit Tigers signed him in 1957 with a $25,000 bonus. It would take some time for him to establish himself in the major leagues, particularly after serving in the Army, but he eventually found his opportunity. The expansion Los Angeles Angels gave Thomas a chance to become an everyday contributor in 1961. He made the most of that opportunity, hitting .280 with 13 home runs across 79 games. His defensive versatility also became apparent, as he saw regular playing time in both the outfield and at third base. Thomas returned to Detroit through a midseason trade in 1963. The following year proved to be his best offensive season, as he established career highs with a .286 batting average and 12 home runs. His production dropped in 1965, and the Tigers eventually dealt him to the Boston Red Sox. Boston became an important chapter in Thomas's career. Rather than serving as an everyday starter, he developed into a dependable bench option who could provide defensive flexibility and contribute offensively when called upon. His value extended beyond the box score, making him a useful presence in the clubhouse. One of the highlights of his career came with Boston's 1967 team. The club captured the American League pennant and advanced to the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Thomas appeared in 65 games that season, even making an appearance behind the plate. He also saw action during the World Series. His final seasons in Boston included some impressive offensive numbers despite limited opportunities. Thomas hit .353 in 1969 and followed that performance with a .343 average in 1970. Over 685 major-league games, he finished with a .255 batting average, 46 home runs, and 202 RBIs. He also demonstrated remarkable versatility, playing every position except pitcher. Finishing His Career in Minnesota Thomas's final major-league stop brought him back to where his baseball journey began. The Red Sox released him on June 28, 1971, and the Twins quickly signed him. Minnesota used him primarily as a pinch-hitter and reserve left fielder. In 23 games, he collected eight hits in 30 at-bats for a .267 average, adding a double, two RBIs, and four walks. His final appearance came on September 6 against the Chicago White Sox. The Twins released him on October 27, officially ending his 13-year major-league career. Thomas wasn't finished contributing to Minnesota baseball, however. He returned to the University of Minnesota as an assistant coach in 1972 and eventually took over as head coach in 1979. During his three seasons leading the Golden Gophers, his teams compiled a 95-43 record. His 1981 squad captured a Big Ten division championship and earned a trip to the NCAA tournament. The university continues to recognize his legacy through the George Thomas Most Improved Player Award, presented in his honor. Thomas may not be among the most recognizable names in Twins history, but his story connects several important pieces of Minnesota baseball. He was a local player who reached the major leagues, contributed to a memorable Boston team, and eventually finished his playing career with his hometown organization. His return to the University of Minnesota allowed him to leave another lasting mark on the state's baseball community. View the full article

While the San Diego Padres had one of MLB’s best offenses over the last two months of the regular season, there was a little bit of magic fairy dust built into that. All you have to do is look at the left field position. Beginning Aug. 1 and up through the end of the regular season, Dustin Harris, with his third franchise of the 2026 season, posted a slash line of .299/.342/.383 with one homer, 15 RBIs and six steals. Meanwhile, Samad Taylor, playing for his third franchise in the last three seasons, had a .284/.341/.392 slash line with one homer, seven RBIs and eight stolen bases. Other than the power output, that is pretty solid production. But can the Padres depend on that for 2027? It's very unlikely. The 27-year-old Harris had a combined 21 MLB games with the Texas Rangers in 2024-25, putting up a .217/.280/.435 slash line, two homers, five RBIs and a stolen base. The 28-year-old Taylor, meanwhile, had 38 games with the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners that yielded a .532 OPS. It's hard to argue that the Padres didn't benefit from peak performances from the pair. There is a solution to getting sustained power and speed from left field, though. His name is Randy Arozarena. The Cuban turns 32 at the end of February and is one of five players in MLB history with six consecutive 20-homer, 20-steal seasons, the last two being 25-25 years. The others? Willie Mays, Bobby Bonds, Barry Bonds and Bobby Abreu. Arozarena’s 2026 slash line with the Seattle Mariners was .281/.381/.484, his best since his second MLB season and first with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he became a national star in the postseason. Picture Arozarena hitting behind Fernando Tatis Jr. and ahead of Manny Machado, Ty France and Jackson Merrill. Or even a scenario with Merrill second and Arozarena behind Machado with France fifth. However it would go, that is a pretty dynamic top half of the lineup. There are a lot of reasons to like Arozarena at this moment. He most definitely is looking for a winning situation, which the Padres certainly are coming off their franchise-record third straight postseason appearance, and his fiery personality would fit right in with the Friars. One thing that makes his 2026 numbers more impressive is that the Mariners’ stadium, T-Mobile Park, is famously suppressive for hitters, which does bear out in Arozarena’s splits. At home, the right-handed hitter slashed .250/.366/.422 with nine homers, 31 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. On the road, those numbers ballooned to .309/.394/.539, hitting 17 homers, driving in 48 and stealing 12 bases. All of that contributed to him leading the AL with 113 runs scored, while he hit 10 of his 26 homers from Aug. 16 onward. Arozarena also logged top-10 finishes in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, hits, doubles and extra-base hits. There was some bad stuff mixed into those good numbers. Arozarena’s hard-hit percentage dropped from the 90th percentile in 2025 (50.6%) to the 67th in 2026 (43.5%). Similarly, his barrel rate fell from the 71st percentile (11.5%) to the 52nd (8.15%), while his bat speed went from the 53rd percentile (72.3%) to the 31st (70.9%). But he did make improvements in his squared-up percentage (47th, 25.5% last year to 60th, 26.1%) and launch-angle sweet spot (23rd, 32.6% to 68th, 36%). Arozarena is likely to get a qualifying offer from the Mariners, which would guarantee him $23.15 million for 2027. He will decline and be one of the top bats available this offseason, the first time he'll be available on the open market. The qualifying offer has tended to be a scarlet letter for some teams when pursuing free agents, but not really for Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller. He signed right-handed starter Nick Pivetta two offseasons ago, costing the Padres a second-round draft pick in 2025. But with the Padres being a competitive-balance tax payor this offseason, that penalty stiffens to a team’s second- and fifth-highest picks and $1 million in international bonuses. Preller loves to play in the international market, so that could factor into his decision to pursue Arozarena. There won’t be any sort of discount considering how popular Arozarena will be in this thin market and with his agent being Scott Boras, who gets every penny and then some he can from ownership (see the Xander Bogaerts contract). The Athletic projects Arozarena to get a five-year, $124 million deal, mentioning the Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta as primary suitors. That price would seem palatable for the type of production Arozarena provides, perhaps front-loading the deal to minimize the impact of the last two years when he is 35 and 36. Regardless of the structure, dreaming on Arozarena’s bat alongside Tatis, Machado and Merrill along with France is tantalizing. Add in bounce backs from Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth and sprinkle in the potential of 20-year-old catcher Ethan Salas, and that would make for an awfully impressive lineup. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins have several intriguing catching prospects working their way through the organization, but Enrique Jimenez might be the one fans know the least about. That could change as he gets more opportunities to develop and work his way up the organizational ladder. Jimenez was added to Minnesota’s contingent in the Arizona Fall League after an injury opened a roster spot. The young catcher missed significant time this season with two injuries, and a hamstring strain in July appeared to bring his year to an early end. Fortunately, his recovery progressed well enough to get him back on the field before the offseason. “He progressed much quicker than anticipated down in Fort Myers for rehab,” said Twins farm director Drew MacPhail. “Otherwise we would’ve originally sent him [to the AFL]. But he was well ahead of schedule, so when we got the spot, we were excited to send him. The main priority is plate appearances and catcher developing time that he missed out on.” The opportunity became available when outfielder Jacob McCombs suffered an oblique strain. For Jimenez, it represents a chance to make up for lost time against advanced competition while continuing to develop behind the plate. Background and Prospect Development Minnesota's catching situation remains one of the more interesting areas to monitor heading into 2027. Ryan Jeffers is on the free agent market, and the upper levels of the farm system lack an abundance of established catching prospects. However, a little farther down the organizational ladder, the Twins have assembled a group of young backstops with intriguing potential. Jimenez is another name to add to that collection. Ranked as Twins Daily’s No. 20 prospect, Jimenez was acquired from the Detroit Tigers in last year's Chris Paddack trade. He won't turn 21 until November 3rd, giving him plenty of time to develop before Minnesota needs to make any major decisions about his long-term future. The Tigers originally signed Jimenez for $1.25 million when the 2023 international signing period opened in January. He entered professional baseball as a Top 50 international prospect and one of the better catching talents in his signing class. Jimenez had a solid debut in the Dominican Summer League (.807 OPS, 115 wRC+) before moving stateside in 2024. He started well in the Florida Complex League but cooled off as the season progressed, ending with a 110 wRC+. He returned to the FCL to begin 2025 before the Twins acquired him at the trade deadline. The change of organizations provided an immediate boost. Jimenez posted a .982 OPS across 23 games after joining Minnesota, making a strong first impression while moving up to full-season baseball. He carried that momentum into Single-A Fort Myers, where his bat continued to produce. After another strong start to 2026 with a 170 wRC+, the Twins promoted him to High-A Cedar Rapids. His offensive numbers dipped against more advanced pitching (91 wRC+), but his approach remained encouraging. Then came the injuries. Missing substantial portions of the season interrupted his development, particularly behind the plate. The Arizona Fall League now gives him an opportunity to regain some of that lost experience. Scouting Report: An Intriguing Switch-Hitter Jimenez offers an interesting combination of plate discipline, developing power and defensive potential. He is a compact, stocky switch-hitter with a quick swing and short levers, allowing him to generate bat speed and impact despite his smaller frame. His approach has been one of his most consistent strengths. Jimenez has demonstrated a good understanding of the strike zone, drawing walks (20.7 BB%) while limiting strikeouts (23.0 K%). That combination gives him a foundation to build upon as he faces more advanced pitching. His power began to emerge more noticeably in 2025, particularly after the trade to Minnesota. Much of that production came from the left side of the plate, where he showed an ability to create loft and drive the ball toward his pull side. There is still work to do defensively. Jimenez is developing his overall catching skills, but he has the makings of a capable backstop with average catch-and-throw abilities. Continued experience receiving pitches, blocking balls and managing a pitching staff will be important as he progresses. Jimenez could eventually develop into a solid big league backup catcher, but it remains too early to place a firm ceiling on his potential. His age, offensive approach and early production give Minnesota reasons to remain optimistic. How Does He Fit With Minnesota's Other Catching Prospects? Jimenez is part of a growing group of young catchers who could help Minnesota address a position that remains uncertain beyond the major league level. Vahn Lackey headlines the group after the Twins selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in this summer's draft. Carson Tinney, Minnesota's second pick in 2026, is another intriguing addition. Both prospects played at major college programs and are slightly older than Jimenez, giving the organization a different developmental timeline for each player. Khadim Diaw also deserves attention after a breakout offensive season in 2026. Meanwhile, Eduardo Tait, the top prospect acquired in the Jhoan Duran trade, adds another young player to the catching conversation. The question is how many of these prospects will ultimately stick behind the plate. Catching is a demanding position, and a player's ability to remain there can have a major impact on his long-term value. Lackey is an important part of Minnesota's future plans, but there are still plenty of questions surrounding the rest of the group. That uncertainty creates an opportunity for Jimenez. He does not need to rush through the system, especially with several other prospects ahead of him in the developmental process. Instead, he can focus on improving his defense, maintaining his disciplined approach at the plate and showing that his emerging power can translate against better competition. The Arizona Fall League Is an Important Opportunity Jimenez's late addition to the Arizona Fall League might not generate the same attention as the arrival of a top draft pick or a highly ranked prospect, but it could be an important step in his development. The priority is straightforward: get him plate appearances and additional time behind the plate after injuries limited his season. Those opportunities are particularly valuable for a 20-year-old catcher who is still learning the finer points of his position. Minnesota has several potential answers to its long-term catching questions, but none of its young prospects is a sure thing. Lackey, Tinney, Diaw and Tait will all have opportunities to establish themselves, while Jimenez will try to build on the promise he showed after arriving from Detroit. His path to the majors remains a long one, and his defensive development will help determine his eventual role. Still, Jimenez has already shown that he can hit, control the strike zone and make adjustments as he moves through the minors. The Twins need catching depth, and Jimenez is another young player who could eventually provide it. His Arizona Fall League stint gives him a chance to get back on track after an injury-filled season and remind the organization why it was excited to acquire him in the first place. What does Jimenez need to do in 2027? What stands out about his development so far in the Twins organization? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

In 2026, the Chicago Cubs’ starting rotation battled through injuries and ineffectiveness, but they still had enough to land a postseason spot. They finished in the bottom third in xERA (22nd), K/9 (22nd), HR/9 (28th) and fWAR (28th). They did finish tenth in innings pitched, but that says more about the distrust Craig Counsell had in the bullpen. In theory, they had a solid plan. Familiar faces Matt Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, sophomore fireballer Cade Horton and their big offseason trade acquisition Edward Cabrera would round out the rotation, with Justin Steele set to return mid-season. There was even hope for an eventual debut from top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins. Well, we know how that went. The injury bug bit hard, wiping Horton from the active roster after two starts. Cabrera went to the injured list three times, while Steele and Wiggins didn’t end up making an MLB appearance at all. The Cubs were forced to hit the trade market hard for starting pitching, acquiring David Peterson in a June swap, and Kevin Gausman along with Clay Holmes at the deadline. Thus, in 2027, this group is going to look very different. Imanaga, Peterson, and Gausman are free agents. Holmes and Boyd have just declined their options as well, so they will also be hitting the open market. There are some interesting options out there, headlined by Tarik Skubal, and we know the front office is not shy when it comes to making trades. Before any offseason moves, though, let's at least go over all the in-house options the Cubs have at their disposal. Cubs' 2027 Rotation Outlook: Every Starter Currently on the Roster Edward Cabrera Though his 2026 was mired by injuries and effectiveness, he still has one of the highest ceilings on the active roster. He pitched a career high 137⅔ innings in 2025 with the Marlins, with a fastball averaging 97 mph and a 3.53 ERA. He turns 29 in April, and while he may never live up to his potential as a frontline arm, he can still be a solid mid-rotation starter. With the way the roster currently looks, combined with the fact that they moved their top outfield prospect Owen Caissie in the trade, the Cubs can’t afford any less from Cabrera for his tenure to be considered successful. Ben Brown Brown put together the best season of his career so far in 2026. He began the year in the bullpen, but was thrown into the rotation in early May. He made eight starts, allowing one or fewer earned runs in six of them. In his 42⅓ innings pitched as a starter, he had a 1.70 ERA with 41 strikeouts while giving up only one home run. He was looking like their next breakout pitcher, and was on track for a potential All-Star nod, but went down with a neck injury at the end of June. He was expected to return in about a month, but a setback cost him the rest of the season. This was his second neck strain since his debut in 2024. If he is healthy, the 27-year-old is one of the highest upside options that the Cubs have going into next season. Justin Steele Back in 2022, Steele broke out as the Cubs' ace over his last seven starts of the season, posting a 0.98 ERA with 49 strikeouts. Easily the best starter on their staff across the 2023-2024 seasons, he went into 2025 leading the rotation that had legitimate playoff aspirations for the first time since the World Series core disbanded. That dream only lasted four starts, as he went to the injured list for a UCL surgery that would cost him the season. He was expected to return around the All-Star break for 2026, but a series of setbacks kept pushing the return date further and further. There was hope he would get some work out of the bullpen in September, but that never happened and now here we are. He should be healthy for 2027, which is his last year of arbitration. With the current state of the Cubs’ rotation, they are going to need Steele to return to pre-injury form quickly and pitch like a frontline starter again. Cade Horton One of baseball's biggest breakout candidates for 2026, Horton lasted all of two starts before going under the knife for elbow surgery. The estimated recovery time is 15-16 months, which would put his hypothetical return around the All-Star break next year. Horton is their most promising young arm, so he probably won't take on much volume even when he does return. This marks the second UCL surgery for Horton, who had Tommy John back in 2021 at Oklahoma. His return will be a nice bonus for the Cubs, even if it is in the bullpen, but the team should plan their pitching staff like they won’t be having him around next season. Javier Assad Assad’s role is a bit more ambiguous, like it always has been. The 29-year-old pitched in 28 games in 2026, totaling 94⅓ innings. He made 11 starts, pitching to a 3.49 ERA, but that number is a bit misleading as he had a much more shaky FIP at 5.01. As a reliever, he had a lower FIP of 4.80 but a higher ERA at 3.82. Though his numbers make him about a league-average arm, at least he is consistent whether he is in the bullpen or rotation. Assuming the Cubs sign a couple of free agent starters, Assad will likely begin the season in the bullpen, but he'll be one of the first replacement options whenever injury strikes. Braxton Garrett The Cubs acquired the seventh overall pick of the 2016 draft from the Marlins at the deadline shortly after their leaked trade for Reid Detmers fell apart. Garrett has made 10 appearances since the 2024 season, and misses the entirety of 2025. In 2023, he did accumulate 4.3 bWAR in a season where he made 30 starts with a 3.66 ERA. After the trade, he spent almost the entirety of his Cubs tenure in the minors, appearing in only one big league game. Maybe the pitching lab sees something that they can easily tweak, because this trade doesn’t make a ton of sense at face value. He’s already pretty low on the depth chart, but if he is making regular starts at any point next season, something either went really wrong or really right. Jaxon Wiggins North Side Baseball’s number three Cubs prospect was once thought to be a secret weapon for 2026 pitching staff as a potential mid-season call-up, similar to Cade Horton in 2025. Much like many others, though, Wiggins' season was affected by injuries almost immediately. After two starts in April, he hit the IL with elbow issues, and ended up only pitching 33⅓ innings at the AAA level. When he did pitch, he was not good, and bounced between the rotation and bullpen. He had a 7.83 ERA over 18 games (seven starts), and although he struck out 41, he issued an inexcusable 31 walks. The health plus control issues cast a doubt on his future as a potential starter. He might end up making more of an immediate impact in the majors as a reliever. That may be the track he is heading toward, because he was moved to the bullpen to finish up the Triple-A season and pitched well, allowing runs in only two of his 11 outings. Depth Options As of now, the Cubs have not made a decision on the $7.5 million club option for Colin Rea, who has been a fine bullpen arm/spot starter over the last two seasons. The righty will turn 37 next July, and had a 4.34 ERA in 2026. That price tag might be a bit expensive, but it might be worth it to explore a cheaper reunion. Righty Brooks Caple has ascended up the prospect lists and currently has a 2027 MLB ETA, per MLB Pipeline. He pitched to a commendable 3.24 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP across 86 innings (16 starts) with Double-A Knoxville and could be in line for an early promotion to Iowa. Jordan Wicks, the former first-round pick, is still on the 40-man roster and made 21 Triple-A starts this year, leading the Iowa Cubs. His 5.99 ERA in those starts, plus his ineffectiveness in the majors across parts of three seasons, puts him on the periphery of the picture and firmly entrenched into bust territory. The Bottom Line The Cubs’ starting pitching pipeline is the single-most important area of weakness that needs to be addressed before the 2027 season, which is almost entirely due to five dependable arms heading to free agency. Unlike the position player pool, starting pitching options in free agency are pretty deep. They will need an ace to compete again in 2027, which could be anyone like Skubal, Michael King or Freddy Peralta, plus another guy who could confidently start a Game 2 or 3 in a postseason series. This could be Sonny Gray, a reunion with Clay Holmes, Nick Martinez or Trevor Rogers. Really, any two of all of these options would be quite nice. Another mid-rotation arm like Tyler Mahle, Kris Bubic, Dustin May, Foster Griffin, or even Boyd or Imanaga again would go a long way and take a ton of pressure of Justin Steele and Edward Cabrera. It seems that the 2027 Cubs, once again, are a team that will only go as far as their pitching will take them, and it’s certain the starting rotation will look a lot different than it does right now. View the full article

In 2026, the Chicago Cubs’ starting rotation battled through injuries and ineffectiveness, but they still had enough to land a postseason spot. They finished in the bottom third in xERA (22nd), K/9 (22nd), HR/9 (28th) and fWAR (28th). They did finish tenth in innings pitched, but that says more about the distrust Craig Counsell had in the bullpen. In theory, they had a solid plan. Familiar faces Matt Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, sophomore fireballer Cade Horton and their big offseason trade acquisition Edward Cabrera would round out the rotation, with Justin Steele set to return mid-season. There was even hope for an eventual debut from top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins. Well, we know how that went. The injury bug bit hard, wiping Horton from the active roster after two starts. Cabrera went to the injured list three times, while Steele and Wiggins didn’t end up making an MLB appearance at all. The Cubs were forced to hit the trade market hard for starting pitching, acquiring David Peterson in a June swap, and Kevin Gausman along with Clay Holmes at the deadline. Thus, in 2027, this group is going to look very different. Imanaga, Peterson, and Gausman are free agents. Holmes and Boyd have just declined their options as well, so they will also be hitting the open market. There are some interesting options out there, headlined by Tarik Skubal, and we know the front office is not shy when it comes to making trades. Before any offseason moves, though, let's at least go over all the in-house options the Cubs have at their disposal. Cubs' 2027 Rotation Outlook: Every Starter Currently on the Roster Edward Cabrera Though his 2026 was mired by injuries and effectiveness, he still has one of the highest ceilings on the active roster. He pitched a career high 137⅔ innings in 2025 with the Marlins, with a fastball averaging 97 mph and a 3.53 ERA. He turns 29 in April, and while he may never live up to his potential as a frontline arm, he can still be a solid mid-rotation starter. With the way the roster currently looks, combined with the fact that they moved their top outfield prospect Owen Caissie in the trade, the Cubs can’t afford any less from Cabrera for his tenure to be considered successful. Ben Brown Brown put together the best season of his career so far in 2026. He began the year in the bullpen, but was thrown into the rotation in early May. He made eight starts, allowing one or fewer earned runs in six of them. In his 42⅓ innings pitched as a starter, he had a 1.70 ERA with 41 strikeouts while giving up only one home run. He was looking like their next breakout pitcher, and was on track for a potential All-Star nod, but went down with a neck injury at the end of June. He was expected to return in about a month, but a setback cost him the rest of the season. This was his second neck strain since his debut in 2024. If he is healthy, the 27-year-old is one of the highest upside options that the Cubs have going into next season. Justin Steele Back in 2022, Steele broke out as the Cubs' ace over his last seven starts of the season, posting a 0.98 ERA with 49 strikeouts. Easily the best starter on their staff across the 2023-2024 seasons, he went into 2025 leading the rotation that had legitimate playoff aspirations for the first time since the World Series core disbanded. That dream only lasted four starts, as he went to the injured list for a UCL surgery that would cost him the season. He was expected to return around the All-Star break for 2026, but a series of setbacks kept pushing the return date further and further. There was hope he would get some work out of the bullpen in September, but that never happened and now here we are. He should be healthy for 2027, which is his last year of arbitration. With the current state of the Cubs’ rotation, they are going to need Steele to return to pre-injury form quickly and pitch like a frontline starter again. Cade Horton One of baseball's biggest breakout candidates for 2026, Horton lasted all of two starts before going under the knife for elbow surgery. The estimated recovery time is 15-16 months, which would put his hypothetical return around the All-Star break next year. Horton is their most promising young arm, so he probably won't take on much volume even when he does return. This marks the second UCL surgery for Horton, who had Tommy John back in 2021 at Oklahoma. His return will be a nice bonus for the Cubs, even if it is in the bullpen, but the team should plan their pitching staff like they won’t be having him around next season. Javier Assad Assad’s role is a bit more ambiguous, like it always has been. The 29-year-old pitched in 28 games in 2026, totaling 94⅓ innings. He made 11 starts, pitching to a 3.49 ERA, but that number is a bit misleading as he had a much more shaky FIP at 5.01. As a reliever, he had a lower FIP of 4.80 but a higher ERA at 3.82. Though his numbers make him about a league-average arm, at least he is consistent whether he is in the bullpen or rotation. Assuming the Cubs sign a couple of free agent starters, Assad will likely begin the season in the bullpen, but he'll be one of the first replacement options whenever injury strikes. Braxton Garrett The Cubs acquired the seventh overall pick of the 2016 draft from the Marlins at the deadline shortly after their leaked trade for Reid Detmers fell apart. Garrett has made 10 appearances since the 2024 season, and misses the entirety of 2025. In 2023, he did accumulate 4.3 bWAR in a season where he made 30 starts with a 3.66 ERA. After the trade, he spent almost the entirety of his Cubs tenure in the minors, appearing in only one big league game. Maybe the pitching lab sees something that they can easily tweak, because this trade doesn’t make a ton of sense at face value. He’s already pretty low on the depth chart, but if he is making regular starts at any point next season, something either went really wrong or really right. Jaxon Wiggins North Side Baseball’s number three Cubs prospect was once thought to be a secret weapon for 2026 pitching staff as a potential mid-season call-up, similar to Cade Horton in 2025. Much like many others, though, Wiggins' season was affected by injuries almost immediately. After two starts in April, he hit the IL with elbow issues, and ended up only pitching 33⅓ innings at the AAA level. When he did pitch, he was not good, and bounced between the rotation and bullpen. He had a 7.83 ERA over 18 games (seven starts), and although he struck out 41, he issued an inexcusable 31 walks. The health plus control issues cast a doubt on his future as a potential starter. He might end up making more of an immediate impact in the majors as a reliever. That may be the track he is heading toward, because he was moved to the bullpen to finish up the Triple-A season and pitched well, allowing runs in only two of his 11 outings. Depth Options As of now, the Cubs have not made a decision on the $7.5 million club option for Colin Rea, who has been a fine bullpen arm/spot starter over the last two seasons. The righty will turn 37 next July, and had a 4.34 ERA in 2026. That price tag might be a bit expensive, but it might be worth it to explore a cheaper reunion. Righty Brooks Caple has ascended up the prospect lists and currently has a 2027 MLB ETA, per MLB Pipeline. He pitched to a commendable 3.24 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP across 86 innings (16 starts) with Double-A Knoxville and could be in line for an early promotion to Iowa. Jordan Wicks, the former first-round pick, is still on the 40-man roster and made 21 Triple-A starts this year, leading the Iowa Cubs. His 5.99 ERA in those starts, plus his ineffectiveness in the majors across parts of three seasons, puts him on the periphery of the picture and firmly entrenched into bust territory. The Bottom Line The Cubs’ starting pitching pipeline is the single-most important area of weakness that needs to be addressed before the 2027 season, which is almost entirely due to five dependable arms heading to free agency. Unlike the position player pool, starting pitching options in free agency are pretty deep. They will need an ace to compete again in 2027, which could be anyone like Skubal, Michael King or Freddy Peralta, plus another guy who could confidently start a Game 2 or 3 in a postseason series. This could be Sonny Gray, a reunion with Clay Holmes, Nick Martinez or Trevor Rogers. Really, any two of all of these options would be quite nice. Another mid-rotation arm like Tyler Mahle, Kris Bubic, Dustin May, Foster Griffin, or even Boyd or Imanaga again would go a long way and take a ton of pressure of Justin Steele and Edward Cabrera. It seems that the 2027 Cubs, once again, are a team that will only go as far as their pitching will take them, and it’s certain the starting rotation will look a lot different than it does right now. View the full article

On June 20, it seemed certain that the Boston Red Sox would be sellers at the trade deadline. A fire sale seemed imminent, and it felt like a foregone conclusion that All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman would be moved, among other pieces. But then, the improbable happened. There was a historic win streak, an infusion of magic to a season that seemed bleak at best. The Red Sox secured a playoff berth before sputtering out in the Wild Card Round. But the potential trade chips remained on the team including Chapman, the cornerstone of the Red Sox bullpen. That unit was a constant source of optimism through an up-and-down season. A 3.00 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP were good for league-leading marks and complemented one of the league's best rotations. But what will the relief corps look like in 2027? With Chapman and newfound star Tyron Guerrero reaching their age-39 and age-36 seasons, respectively, and ever-present injury concerns, there are plenty of questions needing answers. Red Sox's Bullpen Outlook: The Positives The Red Sox's bullpen is a terrific unit, and that should keep up in 2027. A well-rounded group as is, the Red Sox aren’t candidates to go out and sign a big name. And with the returns of Garrett Crochet, Johan Oviedo, Tanner Houck, and Kutter Crawford expected next year, the relief corps' workload should let up. With a surplus of rotational talent, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a couple of those names in the bullpen at least to start the season. Chapman has proven that he’s still a top-five closer in the game, even as he approaches his 40s. A 1.92 ERA ranked 10th among all relievers, and his 35 saves were tied for third-most across the league. His $13-million option vested at the end of the season, and while durability could be an issue, Chapman will provide late-inning stability as Boston’s closer. But before teams face Chapman, they need to get through Garrett Whitlock first. A brutal 1-2 punch, the two combined to shut down teams all season long. The righty Whitlock held opposing batters to a 1.72 ERA and walked just nine all season. With a $8.25-million club option, Boston’s dynamic duo will be back to haunt hitters throughout 2027. Then you have Guerrero, who emerged as a dependable piece down the stretch, showcasing his flame-throwing capabilities. However, he’s entering his age-36 season, and with a slim major-league sample size, it’s yet to be seen if that success is sustainable across an entire season. Erik Miller was acquired from San Francisco in exchange for former top prospect Marcelo Mayer. He began his Red Sox tenure with questions about his control, but seemed to quiet them with some early success. But as the season dragged on, the concerns resurfaced; Miller was shaky at best, posting a 7.36 ERA and limping through his final few outings of the season. But he’s proven that he can be a valuable part of the pen and will return to a middle-innings role with a $1.5 million projected paycheck in 2027. Jovani Moran and Greg Weissert weren't always consistent throughout the season, but they pitched well when it mattered and will return to similar roles in 2027. Moran posted a 3.15 ERA and held batters to a .153 average. His walks were a point of concern, however, posting a 4.25 BB/9 mark. Despite being inconsistent in high-leverage situations, Weissert was leaned upon heavily throughout the 2026 campaign. His 3.26 ERA isn’t ugly, but his 3.96 FIP tells a slightly different story. If he finds stability in clutch moments, his role would increase significantly, but until then it seems like he’ll fit in where most fans want him to: low-pressure situations. Justin Slaten faced similar struggles in clutch moments, compiling a 4.60 ERA across 36 games. He struggled with elbow issues all year long, similar to the two prior seasons. He posted a 2.93 ERA in 44 games in 2024, but hasn’t seen the same levels of success since. He occupies a precarious position, but he should pitch in a low-leverage role to start. Alec Gamboa was called up towards the end of the season, and pitched extremely well across 21 outings. He ate up innings to the tune of a 1.91 ERA and will certainly see big league time even if he starts the season back in Triple-A. One of the most intriguing storylines throughout the season was Brayan Bello’s success as a reliever. He pitched the most innings of any Red Sox pitcher out of the bullpen with 63.2, and posted a dominant 1.98 ERA. As a starter, he had an abysmal 10.35 ERA (though he got better later in the year). His role is yet to be determined, but if his form keeps up he would be yet another weapon for Chad Tracy to utilize in the late stages of games. Red Sox's Bullpen Outlook: The Negatives There’s no question about it, the Red Sox have the talent to be the best. But whether or not they can weather age and injury will be key. Slaten has missed significant time over the past three seasons, and Chapman and Guerrero aren’t getting any younger. Guerrero missed the postseason due to shoulder issues, and Whitlock missed time with elbow inflammation as well. Chapman will be 39 when Opening Day rolls around. While he hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down, there is always fear when it comes to aging players, especially one who relies on velocity so heavily. The bullpen got hammered by the New York Yankees in the postseason, giving up an ERA over 20.00 with more innings falling to Moran, Weissert, and the rest of the healthy pen. The aforementioned return of various starters will be helpful, but Boston will need healthy seasons all around. Another reason for concern? The lack of prospects in the pipeline. The minor-league system was severely thinned out after a series of trades. Now, there are four organizational top-20 pitching prospects with a 2027 ETA: John Holobetz, Eduardo Rivera, Blake Wehunt, and Gage Ziehl. Rivera pitched well in two 2026 MLB appearances, but fell apart in a third. The other three prospects aren’t held in extremely high regard, and it seems unlikely that the Red Sox will turn to any unless there is no other option. Still, the return of established starters will play into Boston’s favor even if the injury bug strikes again. This might not be the best bullpen in baseball, but the Red Sox are poised to keep dominating the late innings with this group. View the full article

On June 20, it seemed certain that the Boston Red Sox would be sellers at the trade deadline. A fire sale seemed imminent, and it felt like a foregone conclusion that All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman would be moved, among other pieces. But then, the improbable happened. There was a historic win streak, an infusion of magic to a season that seemed bleak at best. The Red Sox secured a playoff berth before sputtering out in the Wild Card Round. But the potential trade chips remained on the team including Chapman, the cornerstone of the Red Sox bullpen. That unit was a constant source of optimism through an up-and-down season. A 3.00 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP were good for league-leading marks and complemented one of the league's best rotations. But what will the relief corps look like in 2027? With Chapman and newfound star Tyron Guerrero reaching their age-39 and age-36 seasons, respectively, and ever-present injury concerns, there are plenty of questions needing answers. Red Sox's Bullpen Outlook: The Positives The Red Sox's bullpen is a terrific unit, and that should keep up in 2027. A well-rounded group as is, the Red Sox aren’t candidates to go out and sign a big name. And with the returns of Garrett Crochet, Johan Oviedo, Tanner Houck, and Kutter Crawford expected next year, the relief corps' workload should let up. With a surplus of rotational talent, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a couple of those names in the bullpen at least to start the season. Chapman has proven that he’s still a top-five closer in the game, even as he approaches his 40s. A 1.92 ERA ranked 10th among all relievers, and his 35 saves were tied for third-most across the league. His $13-million option vested at the end of the season, and while durability could be an issue, Chapman will provide late-inning stability as Boston’s closer. But before teams face Chapman, they need to get through Garrett Whitlock first. A brutal 1-2 punch, the two combined to shut down teams all season long. The righty Whitlock held opposing batters to a 1.72 ERA and walked just nine all season. With a $8.25-million club option, Boston’s dynamic duo will be back to haunt hitters throughout 2027. Then you have Guerrero, who emerged as a dependable piece down the stretch, showcasing his flame-throwing capabilities. However, he’s entering his age-36 season, and with a slim major-league sample size, it’s yet to be seen if that success is sustainable across an entire season. Erik Miller was acquired from San Francisco in exchange for former top prospect Marcelo Mayer. He began his Red Sox tenure with questions about his control, but seemed to quiet them with some early success. But as the season dragged on, the concerns resurfaced; Miller was shaky at best, posting a 7.36 ERA and limping through his final few outings of the season. But he’s proven that he can be a valuable part of the pen and will return to a middle-innings role with a $1.5 million projected paycheck in 2027. Jovani Moran and Greg Weissert weren't always consistent throughout the season, but they pitched well when it mattered and will return to similar roles in 2027. Moran posted a 3.15 ERA and held batters to a .153 average. His walks were a point of concern, however, posting a 4.25 BB/9 mark. Despite being inconsistent in high-leverage situations, Weissert was leaned upon heavily throughout the 2026 campaign. His 3.26 ERA isn’t ugly, but his 3.96 FIP tells a slightly different story. If he finds stability in clutch moments, his role would increase significantly, but until then it seems like he’ll fit in where most fans want him to: low-pressure situations. Justin Slaten faced similar struggles in clutch moments, compiling a 4.60 ERA across 36 games. He struggled with elbow issues all year long, similar to the two prior seasons. He posted a 2.93 ERA in 44 games in 2024, but hasn’t seen the same levels of success since. He occupies a precarious position, but he should pitch in a low-leverage role to start. Alec Gamboa was called up towards the end of the season, and pitched extremely well across 21 outings. He ate up innings to the tune of a 1.91 ERA and will certainly see big league time even if he starts the season back in Triple-A. One of the most intriguing storylines throughout the season was Brayan Bello’s success as a reliever. He pitched the most innings of any Red Sox pitcher out of the bullpen with 63.2, and posted a dominant 1.98 ERA. As a starter, he had an abysmal 10.35 ERA (though he got better later in the year). His role is yet to be determined, but if his form keeps up he would be yet another weapon for Chad Tracy to utilize in the late stages of games. Red Sox's Bullpen Outlook: The Negatives There’s no question about it, the Red Sox have the talent to be the best. But whether or not they can weather age and injury will be key. Slaten has missed significant time over the past three seasons, and Chapman and Guerrero aren’t getting any younger. Guerrero missed the postseason due to shoulder issues, and Whitlock missed time with elbow inflammation as well. Chapman will be 39 when Opening Day rolls around. While he hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down, there is always fear when it comes to aging players, especially one who relies on velocity so heavily. The bullpen got hammered by the New York Yankees in the postseason, giving up an ERA over 20.00 with more innings falling to Moran, Weissert, and the rest of the healthy pen. The aforementioned return of various starters will be helpful, but Boston will need healthy seasons all around. Another reason for concern? The lack of prospects in the pipeline. The minor-league system was severely thinned out after a series of trades. Now, there are four organizational top-20 pitching prospects with a 2027 ETA: John Holobetz, Eduardo Rivera, Blake Wehunt, and Gage Ziehl. Rivera pitched well in two 2026 MLB appearances, but fell apart in a third. The other three prospects aren’t held in extremely high regard, and it seems unlikely that the Red Sox will turn to any unless there is no other option. Still, the return of established starters will play into Boston’s favor even if the injury bug strikes again. This might not be the best bullpen in baseball, but the Red Sox are poised to keep dominating the late innings with this group. View the full article

Over a month has passed since the curtain fell on a dismal 2026 season the Kansas City Royals didn’t see coming. Fresh off two straight winning seasons, including their surprise 2024 return to the playoffs, the Royals sank to last place in the American League Central with a 93-loss campaign that left them a long list of critical questions for 2027. At least one of those questions, though, should be easy for the club and general manager J.J. Picollo to answer, and answer quickly. That question — should the club bring back Nick Loftin? — requires little, if any, deliberation. The answer is “Yes”. Loftin needs to be in Kansas City. He proved that convincingly in 2026. Nick Loftin Brought Promise to the Royals That the Royals considered Loftin a key part of their future became evident when they made him their second pick in the 2020 amateur draft. After grabbing pitcher Asa Lacy with the fourth overall selection, they took Loftin with the 32nd overall pick, a Competitive Balance Round A choice sandwiched between the first and second rounds. He’d just finished three collegiate seasons at Baylor with a nice .311/.370/.479 cumulative line. He performed well enough in the minors, including clubbing 16 homers, driving in 61 runs, and hitting .280 with a .362 OBP and .820 OPS in 88 games split between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, to earn a promotion to the majors when rosters expanded in September 2023. But Loftin’s promise didn’t translate into a major role with the Royals. Instead, he spent 2024 and 2025 shuttling between Kauffman Stadium and Omaha, never making a showing sufficient to keep him in Kansas City. Until 2026, that is. Nick Loftin Breaks Out for the Royals To understand how much Loftin meant to the Royals this season requires understanding how much Maikel Garcia unfortunately didn’t mean to them. After a spectacular 2025 campaign — he homered 16 times, drove in 74 runs, slashed .286/.351/.449, and won a Gold Glove and an All-Star berth — landed him a hefty new $57.5 million, five-year contract; injuries robbed third baseman Garcia of 80 games. To say the club missed Garcia understates the matter. Loftin, however, helped ease some of the pain of losing Garcia for half the season. He made the best of his first extended opportunity to play regularly, parlaying the chance into a serviceable 118-game, 426-plate-appearance .240/.322/.388 line with career highs in doubles (27), home runs (8), RBI (45), and fWAR (1.3); he also posted a 98 wRC+, .710 OPS, and 100 OPS+. And he blossomed defensively as a hot corner replacement for Garcia. Loftin’s 6 OAA and 5 DRP tied Boston’s Caleb Durbin and Minnesota’s Brooks Lee for the American League lead in both categories; he also had 6 DRS and, with Durbin and Brooks, is in the running for the AL’s third base Gold Glove to be awarded Nov. 1. Nick Loftin Represents High Value to the Royals As good as it was, Loftin’s 2026 performance doesn’t tell the entire story. He doesn’t strike out much or chase too many bad pitches, and his versatility — he played everywhere in 2026 except on the mound, behind the plate, or in center field — plays well for a club that places a high premium on that asset. And unless things change in the new collective bargaining agreement the clubs and players' union are trying to hammer out, he won’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2030 season. All things considered, Loftin has increased his value to the Royals at a time when they need every ounce of it they can muster. He’s a player the club needs to keep in Kansas City. View the full article

Over a month has passed since the curtain fell on a dismal 2026 season the Kansas City Royals didn’t see coming. Fresh off two straight winning seasons, including their surprise 2024 return to the playoffs, the Royals sank to last place in the American League Central with a 93-loss campaign that left them a long list of critical questions for 2027. At least one of those questions, though, should be easy for the club and general manager J.J. Picollo to answer, and answer quickly. That question — should the club bring back Nick Loftin? — requires little, if any, deliberation. The answer is “Yes”. Loftin needs to be in Kansas City. He proved that convincingly in 2026. Nick Loftin Brought Promise to the Royals That the Royals considered Loftin a key part of their future became evident when they made him their second pick in the 2020 amateur draft. After grabbing pitcher Asa Lacy with the fourth overall selection, they took Loftin with the 32nd overall pick, a Competitive Balance Round A choice sandwiched between the first and second rounds. He’d just finished three collegiate seasons at Baylor with a nice .311/.370/.479 cumulative line. He performed well enough in the minors, including clubbing 16 homers, driving in 61 runs, and hitting .280 with a .362 OBP and .820 OPS in 88 games split between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, to earn a promotion to the majors when rosters expanded in September 2023. But Loftin’s promise didn’t translate into a major role with the Royals. Instead, he spent 2024 and 2025 shuttling between Kauffman Stadium and Omaha, never making a showing sufficient to keep him in Kansas City. Until 2026, that is. Nick Loftin Breaks Out for the Royals To understand how much Loftin meant to the Royals this season requires understanding how much Maikel Garcia unfortunately didn’t mean to them. After a spectacular 2025 campaign — he homered 16 times, drove in 74 runs, slashed .286/.351/.449, and won a Gold Glove and an All-Star berth — landed him a hefty new $57.5 million, five-year contract; injuries robbed third baseman Garcia of 80 games. To say the club missed Garcia understates the matter. Loftin, however, helped ease some of the pain of losing Garcia for half the season. He made the best of his first extended opportunity to play regularly, parlaying the chance into a serviceable 118-game, 426-plate-appearance .240/.322/.388 line with career highs in doubles (27), home runs (8), RBI (45), and fWAR (1.3); he also posted a 98 wRC+, .710 OPS, and 100 OPS+. And he blossomed defensively as a hot corner replacement for Garcia. Loftin’s 6 OAA and 5 DRP tied Boston’s Caleb Durbin and Minnesota’s Brooks Lee for the American League lead in both categories; he also had 6 DRS and, with Durbin and Brooks, is in the running for the AL’s third base Gold Glove to be awarded Nov. 1. Nick Loftin Represents High Value to the Royals As good as it was, Loftin’s 2026 performance doesn’t tell the entire story. He doesn’t strike out much or chase too many bad pitches, and his versatility — he played everywhere in 2026 except on the mound, behind the plate, or in center field — plays well for a club that places a high premium on that asset. And unless things change in the new collective bargaining agreement the clubs and players' union are trying to hammer out, he won’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2030 season. All things considered, Loftin has increased his value to the Royals at a time when they need every ounce of it they can muster. He’s a player the club needs to keep in Kansas City. View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers turned to 32 different pitchers during the 2026 season, with arms coming and going throughout the year. While some of the names were mainstays on the pitching staff, others were called upon for only a handful of appearances as the Brewers searched for ways to cover innings and keep their staff intact. Injuries, roster moves, and the demands of a 162-game schedule all contributed to the Brewers’ extensive use of their pitching depth. By the time you reach the bottom of this list, a few names are likely to have faded from memory. With the season now in the books, it’s time to look back at every pitcher who took the mound for Milwaukee. Here are my grades for all 32 Brewers pitchers, ranked by innings pitched. Jacob Misiorowski (174.2 IP): A+ 1.80 ERA, 2.17 FIP, 252 strikeouts, 44 walks, 0.802 WHIP. If those stats aren’t enough to tell the story, add this to the picture: his .157 average against is the lowest by any qualified starting pitcher in MLB history, he threw 1,115 pitches over 100+ mph this year, and the Miz is the first pitcher in franchise history to lead the league in both ERA and strikeouts. All in all, Misiorowski had high expectations coming into the season and cruised past them, becoming the clear Cy Young favorite and one of the most dominant arms in major league history. Shane Drohan (124.2 IP): B Had an evolving role in his rookie season, switching between starting and relieving a few times in 2026. Drohan was solid, putting together a 4.19 ERA (3.73 FIP) after coming over from the Red Sox in the Caleb Durbin trade. A new, more consistent sinker should be a weapon in the playoffs and in the future. Kyle Harrison (115.2 IP): C+ Drastically different halves were the story of Harrison’s season, with a 1.83 ERA in the first half and a 6.67 ERA in the second half. Injury issues with his throwing arm and elbow led to these struggles and ultimately pushed Harrison out of the rotation down the stretch. Still, before he went on the injured list, he was dominant, so he at least gets a C+, but his second half leaves a ton of questions to be answered. Robert Gasser (109.1 IP): B+ Did not open the season with the Brewers but was crucial down the stretch for a rotation that dealt with injuries and inconsistency throughout the season. Gasser only had seven major league appearances coming into the season and added 21 more this year, pitching to a 3.87 ERA (4.24 FIP). His second half is what bumped his grade up significantly as his ERA improved from 5.24 in the first half to 2.86 in the second half. Chad Patrick (106.0 IP): B Moved from a starter into a relief role this year and was good, producing a 3.40 ERA (4.17 FIP). His numbers as a reliever improved slightly as well, as his OPS allowed dropped from .702 as a starter to .667 once he shifted to the bullpen. Logan Henderson (98.1 IP): A Missed time with a back strain and a minor elbow issue in Spring Training, but besides that, Henderson was elite, posting a 2.47 ERA (3.32 FIP) with 110 strikeouts compared to only 19 walks. He should be an excellent number two arm behind Misiorowski for a long time. Brandon Sproat (97.0 IP): F Disastrous season for an arm that was supposed to contribute meaningfully after coming over in the Freddy Peralta trade. Walk rate was at the 9th percentile, with Chase percentage at the 4th percentile. He wasn’t getting hitters to expand the zone, which cost him his rotation spot and the coaching staff's trust moving forward. Aaron Ashby (89.1 IP): A- Appeared in the most games for the pitching staff this year as Pat Murphy’s go-to guy. Ashby won 12 games in the first half of the season alone and finished with 13 overall, along with a 3.12 ERA (3.11 FIP) and an improved strikeout rate. Trevor Megill (61.2 IP): A Struggled early in the season but bounced back, posting a career-low FIP (1.85) and striking out 69. Megill only allowed one home run all year, which was to Pete Crow-Armstrong, so we won’t hold that against him. DL Hall (61.1 IP): B+ May have overperformed slightly, with his 1.91 ERA being well below his 3.88 FIP. Still, a great year for the Corbin Burnes return as a whole and for Hall, a strong year that puts him in a good spot for the bullpen hierarchy next year, despite a walk rate in the 2nd percentile (14.5 %). Abner Uribe (59.1 IP): A Lowered his walk rate a percentage while posting a career-low FIP (2.68) while only missing time with a right forearm flexor strain in August and his viral one-game suspension in June. Uribe is still a great arm and a more than suitable set-up arm for the Brewers moving forward. Grant Anderson (59.0 IP): B Pitched well before hitting the injured list in early September, ending with a 3.36 ERA (4.32 FIP) primarily due to his sweeper and sinker, each possessing a run value of 3 and 4, respectively. Brandon Woodruff (45.1 IP): B+ Made only 9 starts this season because of a right shoulder injury. Surgery was initially expected, though it was later revealed that surgery wasn’t necessary, and he made an appearance in the World Series. Woodruff began throwing again and is still trying to push to get back in 2026. Despite the limited number of starts, Woodruff was good, finishing with a 2.98 ERA (3.19 FIP) with a 47/10 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Dustin May (36.2 IP): C- Acquired by the Cardinals at the deadline and hasn’t performed up to the Brewers' expectations so far, compiling a 5.65 ERA (5.06 FIP) and giving up as many home runs as he did with St. Louis in 11 fewer starts. Still, May has a chance to be a worthwhile addition if he performs in the postseason. Bryse Wilson (25.2 IP): B- Registered a 3.51 ERA (2.95 FIP) after rejoining Milwaukee for his second stint with the club. Spent time with the Phillies and Cubs this year as well. Jake Woodford (23.1 IP): D- Bounced around in 2026, pitching for the Brewers, Cubs, and Rays. He wasn’t great for Milwaukee, earning a 6.94 ERA (3.96 FIP) with 34 hits allowed, and that was most of the innings he pitched all year. Antonio Senzatela (21.0 IP): C- Former Rockie who was better this year for Colorado, recording a 3.61 ERA (3.37 FIP) compared to a 5.14 ERA (4.43 FIP) with the Brewers. For how good he was with the Rockies, Senzatela has been slightly disappointing in his tenure in Milwaukee. He is a free agent in 2027. Craig Yoho (20.0 IP): B Looked good at the big-league level, registering a 3.15 ERA (4.75 FIP). Yoho never quite fit into the Brewers bullpen plan, so he subsequently was traded to the Guardians at the deadline in the Bo Naylor trade. Coleman Crow (18.2 IP): C- Made four starts and one relief appearance in his rookie season, compiling a 5.30 ERA (4.55 FIP) with a 10/6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Crow was BrewerFanatic’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year, so hopefully more of his great play in Nashville transfers over to the major leagues next season. Garrett Stallings (14.0 IP): B Debuted this season after being acquired from the Orioles in late May. He didn’t give up a run, striking out 17 batters while only allowing four hits. A good debut season for an older rookie bulk arm out of the bullpen. JoJo Romero (13.1 IP): B- A trade deadline acquisition that was solid in his short time in Milwaukee due to missed time because of an emergency appendectomy. Romero posted a 3.38 ERA (3.85 FIP) with 11 strikeouts. He should be a prominent piece of the bullpen in the playoffs and is a free agent at season's end. Angel Zerpa (12.2 IP): D- Acquired from the Royals in the offseason in the Isaac Collins trade, Zerpa was supposed to pitch significant innings for the Brewers this season. Instead, he struggled to start the season, allowing 11 runs (9 earned) on 16 hits and 6 walks before having his season abruptly ended due to Tommy John at the end of April. Joel Kuhnel (9.2 IP): F Brutal in his short time in Milwaukee, possessing a 6.52 ERA (9.31 FIP), which was mostly due to four home runs and six walks allowed. The Giants selected him off waivers in September. Carlos Rodriguez (9.1 IP): C+ Struggled in 2024 and 2025 but was better in his third consecutive year with a limited workload in the majors, earning a 3.86 ERA (4.07 FIP) with eight strikeouts compared to four walks. He cleared waivers post-trade deadline when the Brewers’ acquisitions were added to the roster. Jared Koenig (7.0 IP): D- Injury and inconsistency led to Koenig being a shell of the productive reliever he was the two previous years with Milwaukee. BrewerFanatic’s Jack Stern wrote a great article back in July about Koenig’s issues during the season, canvassing how his arsenal may have been slightly worse overall before he got optioned to Nashville in July, and as Koenig approaches his 33rd birthday, time may be running out for him to earn back the trust of the Brewers. Brian Fitzpatrick (6.2 IP): C+ Made his debut this season at 26, possessing a 1.35 ERA (2.95 FIP) with only two runs allowed. Like Zerpa, his season ended with Tommy John surgery in July. Drew Rom (5.2 IP): C Satisfactory in his limited sample, striking out 11 while walking 4. Rom was designated for assignment in September and picked up by the Athletics a few days later. Colton Gordon (5.0 IP): C Made one appearance in late September against the Phillies, allowing three runs in five innings in a loss. Gordon could be an option for the Brewers bullpen or as a substitute for an injury in the rotation next season. Lance McCullers Jr. (4.2 IP): D Designated for assignment less than two weeks from when the Brewers acquired him from the Astros, McCullers gave up five runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings, walking five and striking out the same amount. Command was clearly an issue, and after so many injuries, he may just never be the same above-average arm that Houston had in the early parts of his career. Thomas Pannone (3.0 IP): D+ Started a 16-3 loss against the Giants in August, throwing three innings while allowing three runs, two earned, including a home run to Giants catcher Daniel Susac. Good for him to make it back to the majors to pitch his first innings since 2023. Easton McGee (2.0 IP): C Solid in two appearances, didn’t allow a run in two games against the Nationals. Had his contract purchased by the Royals mid-July. Lyon Richardson (1.2 IP): C Pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in August against the Padres, walking one batter while adding a strikeout as well. Solid, not a very large sample size though. The Brewers used 32 different pitchers in 2026, and while turnover and injuries created plenty of questions, it also gave Milwaukee a look at its pitching depth. Misiorowski emerged as the dominant rotation piece, while several younger arms such as Drohan, Harrison, and Gasser showed potential for bigger roles. There are still plenty of questions heading into 2027, but the Brewers now have a better idea of which pitchers can be part of the next version of this staff. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins have rarely been willing to make significant financial commitments to free-agent relievers. Over the years, the organization has generally preferred short-term contracts, minor-league signings, internal options and trades when trying to improve its bullpen. There was one notable exception in January 2018. Coming off a playoff appearance, the Twins signed right-handed reliever Addison Reed to a two-year, $16.75 million contract. It was an unprecedented investment for the franchise, representing a significant commitment to a pitcher who had established himself as one of baseball's more reliable bullpen arms. Unfortunately, the deal did not work out as Minnesota had hoped. Reed struggled during his first season, injuries derailed his second, and he never pitched in another major-league game. As the Twins consider how aggressively to invest in their bullpen, Reed's brief time in Minnesota offers a useful lesson about the risks of committing multiple years to relief pitchers. Why the Twins Invested in Addison Reed When Minnesota signed Reed, there were plenty of reasons to believe he could help stabilize its bullpen. Reed was 29 years old and already had seven seasons of major-league experience. He had pitched for the Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox, recording 125 saves and a 3.40 ERA across his first 402 2/3 innings. His performance in 2017 made him particularly appealing. Reed began the season with the Mets before being traded to Boston at the deadline. Across both clubs, he posted a 2.84 ERA in 76 innings, striking out 76 batters while issuing only 15 walks. He also converted 19 of his 21 save opportunities with New York. Reed had been remarkably durable, too. He appeared in 157 games between 2016 and 2017, leading the major leagues in appearances over that span. His ability to handle a heavy workload was an important part of his appeal to a Minnesota team looking to improve its relief corps. The Twins had already signed veteran closer Fernando Rodney and left-handed reliever Zach Duke that offseason, but Reed represented the most significant commitment of the three. Minnesota envisioned him working in a high-leverage setup role ahead of Rodney while providing another option to close games if necessary. The team had a clear reason to prioritize the bullpen. Minnesota relievers ranked 20th in the majors with a 4.40 ERA in 2017 and weren’t any better in terms of FIP (4.50, 23rd) or xFIP (4.49, 22nd). On paper, the signing made sense. Reed was still relatively young, had an extensive track record of success, and offered the kind of strikeout ability the Twins needed. The organization was not paying for a brief breakout from an unproven pitcher. It was investing in someone who had been effective and durable for several seasons. A Disappointing First Season in Minnesota Reed's first year with the Twins quickly became a disappointment. He opened the 2018 season looking like the reliever Minnesota had hoped to acquire. Through his first 20 appearances, he recorded a 2.42 ERA, suggesting he could become a dependable option in the late innings. The results deteriorated from there. Over his next 21 appearances, Reed posted a 7.71 ERA. His fastball velocity declined, opposing hitters made more consistent contact, and he struggled to put away batters at the rate he had in previous seasons. The Twins placed Reed on the injured list in July because of right triceps tightness. He returned later that month, but the time away did not restore his earlier effectiveness. He continued to struggle, and his role became less important as the season progressed. Reed finished the year with a 4.50 ERA across 55 appearances and 56 innings. He posted an 18.2 K%, a significant drop from the 29.9 K% he recorded in 76 innings the previous season. Those numbers represented a difficult return on the Twins' investment. Minnesota had paid for a reliable late-inning arm, but Reed became a pitcher the club could not consistently trust in important situations. The contract still had another year remaining, however, giving the organization an opportunity to see whether he could rebound. Year Two Never Got Off the Ground Reed's second season in Minnesota was even more disappointing because he never returned to the major-league club. A left thumb sprain delayed his start to the 2019 season, and he began the year on the injured list. He eventually went to Triple-A Rochester on a rehabilitation assignment in May, but his outings did not provide much reason for optimism. In five minor-league appearances, Reed allowed 13 hits, eight runs, and four home runs in just five innings. The Twins designated him for assignment on May 16 and released him five days later. He never appeared in a major-league game again. Minnesota had guaranteed $16.75 million with the expectation that Reed would help anchor its bullpen for two seasons. Instead, the club received a disappointing first year and no major-league production in the second. Buyer Beware: Relievers Can Burn Bright and Fade Away Reed's experience illustrates one of the biggest challenges of spending money on relief pitching. A reliever can look like an exceptionally safe investment right up until the moment his performance changes. Bullpen pitchers often work in shorter bursts than starters, but their workloads can be demanding. They may be asked to pitch on consecutive days, handle high-leverage situations, and perform with little margin for error. A small decline in velocity or command can quickly turn a dependable arm into a liability. Reed had demonstrated both effectiveness and durability before signing with Minnesota. His 2017 season was particularly strong, and his recent history suggested he could handle a substantial workload. Yet those qualities did not protect the Twins from a sudden decline. The lesson is not that teams should never sign relievers to multi-year contracts. Bullpens are essential to postseason success, and clubs sometimes need to spend money to acquire pitchers capable of handling the most important innings. A reliable closer or setup man can be worth a substantial investment when everything goes according to plan. The challenge is determining how much security a team should provide at a position with so much uncertainty. Guaranteed years can become expensive quickly when a pitcher loses velocity, struggles with command, or suffers an injury. A deal that looks reasonable when signed can become a burden before it reaches its second season. For the Twins, Reed's contract helps explain the organization's long-standing preference for shorter commitments to free-agent relievers. It also shows why a player's recent statistics and workload cannot be the only factors in evaluating a potential signing. The Takeaway for Minnesota Reed's time with the Twins is a reminder that even an established reliever can become an expensive disappointment. Minnesota made a logical investment in January 2018, targeting a pitcher with a strong résumé who seemed capable of addressing a clear roster weakness. The results never matched the expectations. That experience should not prevent the Twins from pursuing significant bullpen upgrades. Building a competitive relief corps requires a willingness to take calculated risks, particularly when a team needs dependable options in the late innings. However, Reed's contract demonstrates why those risks require careful consideration. A two-year commitment can provide stability when a pitcher maintains his effectiveness, but it can also leave a team paying for production that disappears almost immediately. As the Twins look to construct their next competitive roster, the goal should be to invest in the bullpen without assuming that past performance guarantees future results. Reed arrived as one of the most accomplished relievers the franchise had ever signed. His departure offered a lasting reminder that, with bullpen arms, even the most promising investment can burn bright and fade away. Should the Twins sign another reliever to a multi-year deal this offseason? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

After the Milwaukee Brewers won their first World Series in franchise history on October 28th, the MLB "quiet period" began the next day, October 29th. During these five days, eligible players become free agents, and teams can begin negotiating with their own players (especially with player, club, or mutual options). However, the free agency period doesn't begin until five days after the World Series ends. This year, the "quiet period" will end at 5 p.m. on Monday, November 2nd. After a 69-93 season, the Royals will likely be aggressive this offseason, most likely in free agency and through the trade market. Kansas City seemed to be making progress as an organization, going 86-76 in 2024 and 82-80 in 2025 after a 56-106 season in 2023, JJ Picollo and Matt Quatraro's first season together as President and Manager. While the Royals saw the emergence of young stars like Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone, they will need to do some serious rebuilding on the pitching end, especially in the bullpen. For a team making lots of moves, the 40-man roster matters. Kansas City already did some purging over the past few days. They non-tendered five pitchers (Alex Lange, Connor Seabold, Alec Marsh, Easton McGee, and Mason Black), allowed four players to walk in free agency (Josh Rojas, Craig Kimbrel, Jonathan India, and Luke Maile), and declined the club option on Carlos Estevez. That leaves the roster currently at 38 players. However, by Monday, all players on the IL need to be added back to the 40-man roster. The Royals have six players currently on the IL (Luinder Avila, Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, Cole Ragans, Ben Kudrna, and Nick Mears). If they all are returned, that will put the Royals' roster at 44. (Though Mears could be a non-tender candidate, as we talked about here on Royals Keep in our Arbitrary Thoughts series). Thus, the Royals will need to make some cuts to get to or under that 40-man roster limit by Monday. Let's look at three stories about players who could be on the chopping block, and why Kansas City may part ways with them, regardless of their performance this past season. The Expendable Relievers In cases like this, relievers are typically the first to be removed from the 40-man roster. While relievers are important, they are volatile assets, and teams typically purge relievers who lack upside, even if they had a productive season last year. Anthony Gose, Jose Cuas, Connor Thomas, and Mitch Spence all fit that "expendable" profile. Gose and Cuas, both former position players, are easy cuts, even though they are coming off solid 2026 campaigns in Kansas City after not pitching for MLB teams in 2025. In 14 games and 13.2 IP, Gose posted a 0.66 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. His FIP was a little higher at 3.47, mostly due to a paltry K% (13.7%), but he limited walks (3.9% BB%) and limited contact, as evidenced by his Statcast profile via TJ Stats. Gose's stuff profile was also impressive, with an 110 overall TJ Stuff+ that ranked in the 94th percentile. He had two solid pitches, with his four-seamer at 114 TJ Stuff+ and his slider at 105 TJ Stuff+. The stuff on those pitches generates hard hits (99th percentile hard-hit rate) and generates swinging strikes (70th percentile SwStr%). However, the K% didn't necessarily correlate with those other impressive metrics, and his small sample size makes one wonder if Gose would've gotten more exposure with more innings. Another issue with Gose right now is that he lacks Minor League options, and it's unlikely that he would be guaranteed an MLB roster spot. He feels like an easy cut and someone who could command a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training, whether it is with the Royals or not. Cuas is in a similar boat as Gose. After not playing in the Majors in 2025, the 32-year-old returned to the Royals organization in Spring Training and rose to the MLB bullpen due to injuries and lackluster performance by the Kansas City relievers. In 24 games and 23.1 IP, Cuas posted a 2.31 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, and 2.89 FIP. He was a better strikeout pitcher than Gose (23.1% K%), but he struggled more with control and didn't have Gose's stuff profile either. Even if Cuas gets released from the 40-man roster, he's seen most of his success as a Major Leaguer with the Royals. So he could return to Kansas City on a Minor-League deal with a Spring Training invite. After a disastrous stint with the Braves early in the 2026 season (21.32 ERA in 6.1 IP), Thomas turned himself around in Kansas City. In 17 appearances and 19.1 IP, he posted a 2.33 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 2.43 FIP. He also sported a 14.1% K-BB%, highlighted by a 3.8% BB%. Thomas doesn't have the most electric stuff profile, but he threw strikes, induced a high number of groundballs, and was efficient on the mound, even if he typically was in low-leverage situations. Thomas is a tougher dilemma because he has two Minor League options remaining. Thus, he may be worth keeping around for depth. However, Thomas also feels like the kind of pitcher the Royals could easily replace via a trade or a cheap minor-league free agent. He may simply be the victim of a crowded roster. The last expendable reliever to talk about is Spence, who barely pitched with Kansas City this year and spent most of the season in Omaha. The 28-year-old righty was lit up in his three appearances with the Royals this year. In 9.1 IP, he posted a 21.21 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 8.89 FIP, and -5.4% K-BB%. He not only struggled to throw strikes, but he got hit hard in his extremely small sample. Spence provided some nice pitching depth in Omaha. He posted a 5.35 ERA in 16 starts and 74 IP with the Storm Chasers. That said, being Triple-A depth isn't worth a spot on the 40-man roster. The "Other" Lugo Likely Gone The Royals claimed outfielder Matthew Lugo off waivers after the Angels designated him for assignment in June. Lugo was a former top prospect who gave the Royals a right-handed bench bat who could play multiple outfield positions. That said, he failed to realize his potential in Anaheim, hitting .232 with a .707 OPS in 70 plate appearances in his MLB debut with the Angels in 2025. With the Storm Chasers, Lugo put up gaudy numbers. In 245 plate appearances, he hit .263 with an .838 OPS. That also included 12 home runs, 39 runs scored, and 39 RBI. Unfortunately, that performance didn't carry over to Kansas City in limited action. In 15 plate appearances, the 2019 second-round pick hit .143 with a .343 OPS. He didn't make much hard contact with the Royals, and he also struggled to make consistent contact, as evidenced by his Statcast percentiles. Again, it was such a small sample size, so it's hard to take too much away. Nonetheless, the Royals had ample opportunities to play Lugo more down the stretch, and they opted not to. That suggests they don't have much long-term confidence in Lugo. Therefore, based on his struggles and limited playing time, the Royals will likely part ways with Lugo, which should open an outfield spot they can fill through free agency or a trade. Is Zobac on the Chopping Block? The Royals had high hopes for Steven Zobac going into last year, adding him to the 40-man roster last offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. However, it's been tough sledding for Zobac since being added to the 40-man. After posting a 7.68 ERA in 36.1 IP with the Naturals in 2025, the former Cal product posted a 4.85 ERA in 42.2 IP with the Naturals in 2026. On the one hand, Zobac improved after his disastrous 2025 Texas League campaign. On the other hand, he was a 26-year-old repeating Double-A, and he should've dominated that competition. On a positive note, his Statcast percentiles were more impressive than his surface-level metrics, which suggests Zobac may be better as a reliever than a starter going forward. Zobac ranked in the 79th percentile in O-Swing%, 74th percentile in SwStr%, and 62nd percentile in BB%. Those are all impressive percentiles, and he could be better with more concentrated work in relief. While Arizona Fall League numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, Zobac's fall campaign wasn't exactly memorable. In 4.1 IP, he posted a 12.46 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, and 6.15 FIP. He struggled with walks, as shown by a 17.4% BB% and a meager 8.7% K-BB%. That said, like his Double-A campaign in 2026, his AFL Statcast metrics were a little more encouraging. With a three-pitch mix, starting just may not be in Zobac's future, whether it's in Kansas City or elsewhere. It also doesn't help that his stuff profile isn't great overall either (98 TJ Stuff+ in AFL, though it did rank in the 68th percentile). That is why I think there's a possible chance the Royals part ways, even though he still has some upside ahead of him. If I had to choose, Zobac is more likely to stay in Kansas City than leave. After all, he hasn't started his Major League clock yet, and he has shown that he can stay healthy this year, which was a goal after dealing with so much injury in 2025. The Royals need a young controllable pitcher who can provide future value, and Zobac still can fit that mold, even if it seems riskier than before. Still, if the Royals cut Zobac by Monday, fans shouldn't be surprised, given how the past year has gone and the club's need to solidify the bullpen with proven pitching talent. View the full article

After the Milwaukee Brewers won their first World Series in franchise history on October 28th, the MLB "quiet period" began the next day, October 29th. During these five days, eligible players become free agents, and teams can begin negotiating with their own players (especially with player, club, or mutual options). However, the free agency period doesn't begin until five days after the World Series ends. This year, the "quiet period" will end at 5 p.m. on Monday, November 2nd. After a 69-93 season, the Royals will likely be aggressive this offseason, most likely in free agency and through the trade market. Kansas City seemed to be making progress as an organization, going 86-76 in 2024 and 82-80 in 2025 after a 56-106 season in 2023, JJ Picollo and Matt Quatraro's first season together as President and Manager. While the Royals saw the emergence of young stars like Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone, they will need to do some serious rebuilding on the pitching end, especially in the bullpen. For a team making lots of moves, the 40-man roster matters. Kansas City already did some purging over the past few days. They non-tendered five pitchers (Alex Lange, Connor Seabold, Alec Marsh, Easton McGee, and Mason Black), allowed four players to walk in free agency (Josh Rojas, Craig Kimbrel, Jonathan India, and Luke Maile), and declined the club option on Carlos Estevez. That leaves the roster currently at 38 players. However, by Monday, all players on the IL need to be added back to the 40-man roster. The Royals have six players currently on the IL (Luinder Avila, Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, Cole Ragans, Ben Kudrna, and Nick Mears). If they all are returned, that will put the Royals' roster at 44. (Though Mears could be a non-tender candidate, as we talked about here on Royals Keep in our Arbitrary Thoughts series). Thus, the Royals will need to make some cuts to get to or under that 40-man roster limit by Monday. Let's look at three stories about players who could be on the chopping block, and why Kansas City may part ways with them, regardless of their performance this past season. The Expendable Relievers In cases like this, relievers are typically the first to be removed from the 40-man roster. While relievers are important, they are volatile assets, and teams typically purge relievers who lack upside, even if they had a productive season last year. Anthony Gose, Jose Cuas, Connor Thomas, and Mitch Spence all fit that "expendable" profile. Gose and Cuas, both former position players, are easy cuts, even though they are coming off solid 2026 campaigns in Kansas City after not pitching for MLB teams in 2025. In 14 games and 13.2 IP, Gose posted a 0.66 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. His FIP was a little higher at 3.47, mostly due to a paltry K% (13.7%), but he limited walks (3.9% BB%) and limited contact, as evidenced by his Statcast profile via TJ Stats. Gose's stuff profile was also impressive, with an 110 overall TJ Stuff+ that ranked in the 94th percentile. He had two solid pitches, with his four-seamer at 114 TJ Stuff+ and his slider at 105 TJ Stuff+. The stuff on those pitches generates hard hits (99th percentile hard-hit rate) and generates swinging strikes (70th percentile SwStr%). However, the K% didn't necessarily correlate with those other impressive metrics, and his small sample size makes one wonder if Gose would've gotten more exposure with more innings. Another issue with Gose right now is that he lacks Minor League options, and it's unlikely that he would be guaranteed an MLB roster spot. He feels like an easy cut and someone who could command a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training, whether it is with the Royals or not. Cuas is in a similar boat as Gose. After not playing in the Majors in 2025, the 32-year-old returned to the Royals organization in Spring Training and rose to the MLB bullpen due to injuries and lackluster performance by the Kansas City relievers. In 24 games and 23.1 IP, Cuas posted a 2.31 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, and 2.89 FIP. He was a better strikeout pitcher than Gose (23.1% K%), but he struggled more with control and didn't have Gose's stuff profile either. Even if Cuas gets released from the 40-man roster, he's seen most of his success as a Major Leaguer with the Royals. So he could return to Kansas City on a Minor-League deal with a Spring Training invite. After a disastrous stint with the Braves early in the 2026 season (21.32 ERA in 6.1 IP), Thomas turned himself around in Kansas City. In 17 appearances and 19.1 IP, he posted a 2.33 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 2.43 FIP. He also sported a 14.1% K-BB%, highlighted by a 3.8% BB%. Thomas doesn't have the most electric stuff profile, but he threw strikes, induced a high number of groundballs, and was efficient on the mound, even if he typically was in low-leverage situations. Thomas is a tougher dilemma because he has two Minor League options remaining. Thus, he may be worth keeping around for depth. However, Thomas also feels like the kind of pitcher the Royals could easily replace via a trade or a cheap minor-league free agent. He may simply be the victim of a crowded roster. The last expendable reliever to talk about is Spence, who barely pitched with Kansas City this year and spent most of the season in Omaha. The 28-year-old righty was lit up in his three appearances with the Royals this year. In 9.1 IP, he posted a 21.21 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 8.89 FIP, and -5.4% K-BB%. He not only struggled to throw strikes, but he got hit hard in his extremely small sample. Spence provided some nice pitching depth in Omaha. He posted a 5.35 ERA in 16 starts and 74 IP with the Storm Chasers. That said, being Triple-A depth isn't worth a spot on the 40-man roster. The "Other" Lugo Likely Gone The Royals claimed outfielder Matthew Lugo off waivers after the Angels designated him for assignment in June. Lugo was a former top prospect who gave the Royals a right-handed bench bat who could play multiple outfield positions. That said, he failed to realize his potential in Anaheim, hitting .232 with a .707 OPS in 70 plate appearances in his MLB debut with the Angels in 2025. With the Storm Chasers, Lugo put up gaudy numbers. In 245 plate appearances, he hit .263 with an .838 OPS. That also included 12 home runs, 39 runs scored, and 39 RBI. Unfortunately, that performance didn't carry over to Kansas City in limited action. In 15 plate appearances, the 2019 second-round pick hit .143 with a .343 OPS. He didn't make much hard contact with the Royals, and he also struggled to make consistent contact, as evidenced by his Statcast percentiles. Again, it was such a small sample size, so it's hard to take too much away. Nonetheless, the Royals had ample opportunities to play Lugo more down the stretch, and they opted not to. That suggests they don't have much long-term confidence in Lugo. Therefore, based on his struggles and limited playing time, the Royals will likely part ways with Lugo, which should open an outfield spot they can fill through free agency or a trade. Is Zobac on the Chopping Block? The Royals had high hopes for Steven Zobac going into last year, adding him to the 40-man roster last offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. However, it's been tough sledding for Zobac since being added to the 40-man. After posting a 7.68 ERA in 36.1 IP with the Naturals in 2025, the former Cal product posted a 4.85 ERA in 42.2 IP with the Naturals in 2026. On the one hand, Zobac improved after his disastrous 2025 Texas League campaign. On the other hand, he was a 26-year-old repeating Double-A, and he should've dominated that competition. On a positive note, his Statcast percentiles were more impressive than his surface-level metrics, which suggests Zobac may be better as a reliever than a starter going forward. Zobac ranked in the 79th percentile in O-Swing%, 74th percentile in SwStr%, and 62nd percentile in BB%. Those are all impressive percentiles, and he could be better with more concentrated work in relief. While Arizona Fall League numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, Zobac's fall campaign wasn't exactly memorable. In 4.1 IP, he posted a 12.46 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, and 6.15 FIP. He struggled with walks, as shown by a 17.4% BB% and a meager 8.7% K-BB%. That said, like his Double-A campaign in 2026, his AFL Statcast metrics were a little more encouraging. With a three-pitch mix, starting just may not be in Zobac's future, whether it's in Kansas City or elsewhere. It also doesn't help that his stuff profile isn't great overall either (98 TJ Stuff+ in AFL, though it did rank in the 68th percentile). That is why I think there's a possible chance the Royals part ways, even though he still has some upside ahead of him. If I had to choose, Zobac is more likely to stay in Kansas City than leave. After all, he hasn't started his Major League clock yet, and he has shown that he can stay healthy this year, which was a goal after dealing with so much injury in 2025. The Royals need a young controllable pitcher who can provide future value, and Zobac still can fit that mold, even if it seems riskier than before. Still, if the Royals cut Zobac by Monday, fans shouldn't be surprised, given how the past year has gone and the club's need to solidify the bullpen with proven pitching talent. View the full article

Every offseason, we offer our You’re The GM! tool to build your ideal Miami Marlins roster. This year, we’ve updated and streamlined the tool a bit to improve the experience. The idea behind this feature is to give fans a chance to play the role of General Manager (or CBO or PoBO…you get the idea) for the team they know inside and out. It’s meant to give fans the opportunity to discuss—and, let’s be honest, argue—how they would approach the long, dark MLB offseason. This tool is intended to be informal and fun, so we’ve left it as open as possible. There is a payroll “budget” that loosely resembles the Marlins 2026 payroll, but there is no penalty for going over that number. It’s a guideline, nothing more. Second, you can submit as many blueprints as you like throughout the offseason. As the offseason landscape changes, users often return multiple times over the winter and create new blueprints. Before we get into the breakdown of the tool, you can save your blueprint and come back to it at any time. The only restriction is that you must register an account on the site to create a blueprint (so we can save a draft for you and also post the blueprint for others to discuss). Create an account on DiamondCentric.net, then return here, log in using those credentials, and get to creating your 2027 blueprint! Let’s get into the tool itself. It has four quadrants that work best if addressed in a counter-clockwise order (this tool works much better on a desktop due to its complexity, but it will work on mobile devices if need be). Top Left: The 26-Man Roster We have created a rough guideline for the Marlins 26-man roster. The roster is flexible; you can add or remove players as you see fit. We’ve also included either guaranteed salaries or, in the case of arbitration and contract options, the recommendations of MLB Trade Rumors. This section is where you build your roster and make changes based on the following two sections. As you make changes to players and salaries, the total payroll number (right side of the screen) will change, allowing you to track your budget on the fly. The bottom field in both columns is for any dead money you assume during the course of your offseason. Acquiring dead money should be uncommon, but we want to give users the option to take on dead salary if it suits their purposes. Bottom Left: Arbitration & Trade Decisions Here, you will find a selection of arbitration options and internal options (usually from the 40-man roster or minor leagues) to assist in building your offseason roster. On the right-hand side of this column, you will see Trade Candidates, a list of the 40 players most likely to be traded this offseason, again per MLB Trade Rumors. To help you get up to speed with these candidates, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on trade candidates. Bottom Right: Free Agents Here, you will find the top 75 free agents according to our rankings on DiamondCentric. These are sorted by position to facilitate quickly finding your desired free agent and include the recommended salary for that player. Because this is a blueprint for a single year, we only include their projected salary for the coming season, not the number of years, deferrals, or anything else. Top Right: Dead Money, Your Total Payroll, & Commentary The only unalterable field on the page is Dead Money; it is players to whom the team has committed money but has no reasonable way to get out of the contract. Below that, you will see the recommended budget, your current total, and the percentage you are over or under that budget. Again, keep in mind the budget is only a guideline, and you can go above it as much as you like. But defend your choices, coward! The following field is Title, which gives other users an idea of what to expect with your blueprint (e.g., Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!). When your blueprint posts for other users, it will read “Your Username’s 2027 Payroll Blueprint: Be Unreasonable, Sign Tarik Skubal!”. The following field is Your Comments & Explanation, a long-form field meant to type out the rationale behind your decisions. Here is the place to fully explain your trades (including which players are leaving the Marlins to bring in new players), why you targeted specific free agents, and any promotions from the minors you advocate or any options you declined to extend to a specific player. This is often multiple paragraphs; you can write up as much detail as you desire. That’s it, you’re done! At this point, you can either publish your blueprint to the forums or save it for later if you feel it’s incomplete. Thank you for joining us at Fish On First. I hope you enjoy playing the role of general manager, at least for a moment! Start Your Payroll Blueprint Now View the full article