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The Minnesota Twins will need to find more consistent offensive production in 2026. With no signs pointing to an ability to spend substantial money in the free agent market, the Twins could turn to a crop of players who were recently made available at the non-tender deadline on Friday. Going into the deadline, it seemed as if the Twins would be keeping an eye on catchers who hit the open market after being non-tendered. The acquisition of Alex Jackson has since then made a move for a catcher no longer needed; therefore, we will turn our attention elsewhere. Here are three players who could help fill some lineup roles for the Twins. Nathaniel Lowe 1B Nathaniel Lowe was non-tendered by the Boston Red Sox, who acquired the left-handed batter mid-2025 from the Washington Nationals. MLBTR projected Lowe to be up for a raise that would land him at $13.5 million, which is too rich for the Twins if Lowe still expects something nearing that. Due to his play, the first baseman’s price should come down considerably, and the Red Sox version of Lowe could help stabilize first base and designated hitter for the Twins. In those 34 games with Boston, Lowe slashed .280/.370/.420 with a .790 OPS. The average and on-base percentage are well above his career marks, but the OPS is close to his career mark, in which he has held a .771 OPS. Lowe is approaching age 30, so the dip in production over the last several years is a concern, but he has still been as good as any of the Twins' current options at first base. Alexander Canario OF If the Twins wanted to try to add some right-handedness to their outfield, a Derek Shelton reunion with Alexander Canario would do that. The 25-year-old got his first significant playing time with the Pirates after spending time in the majors with the Chicago Cubs, where he was once a top prospect. As a prospect, Canario was viewed as someone with good size, which could translate into good pull power, but he hasn’t seen that materialize yet in the majors. Canario has shown his bat at lower levels of professional baseball, producing a .850 OPS and 18 home runs with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in 2024. Last winter in the Dominican Winter League, the right-hander had a .955 OPS. Canario seems like many Twins players who have yet to fully find a way to translate their tools into major league production. If Shelton and the Twins evaluators see something in him, yet he could be worth a flyer to capture a bat with some pop to it. J.J. Bleday OF In the past several offseasons, the Twins' front office has identified a backup centerfielder to bring into the mix. J.J. Bleday has a lot of experience at the position, playing 157 games there in 2024 and another 55 this past season as a member of the Athletics. In 2024, he played 159 games with the Athletics and amassed 2.1 bWAR, a .762 OPS, and an OPS+ of 120. Now, Bleday is unlike those other centerfielders the Twins have employed, as he has struggled with his range in center field. If the Twins believe they can recapture his bat from 2024 and make him into the sort of defender who can spell Byron Buxton in center, there could be a platoon role for Bleday. He would be joining a very full roster of fellow left-handed outfielders, which that redundancy alone may make him a long shot for the Twins. What do you think? Can any of these non-tendered hitters help the Twins in 2026? Are there other non-tendered hitters you'd like to see the Twins try to sign? View the full article

Since the departure of Luis Urías in 2023, third base has been a bit of a revolving door for the Brewers. Brian Anderson and Joey Ortiz served as the main starters in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and other names like Andruw Monasterio, Owen Miller, Oliver Dunn, and even Mike Brosseau served as understudies. After some success converting a lifelong middle infielder (Ortiz) to a third baseman, the Brewers decided to try again with Caleb Durbin in 2025, and the results were mostly positive. Durbin posted a 105 wRC+ across 506 plate appearances and had 5 Defensive Runs Saved at the position, giving him a total of 2.6 fWAR for the season. However, despite his admirable efforts, he could use some backup. His production at the plate steadily slipped as the regular season progressed, and the most telling sign that fatigue was starting to set in was his decrease in bat speed. This, along with other weaknesses in his game, indicate that the Brewers may need to rely on some of their other depth pieces a little more in 2026. In second place for time spent at third base in 2025 was Anthony Seigler. Seigler was a call-up whom many doubted, especially as he continued to receive playing time despite posting a 50 wRC+. Realistically, he proved his ability to put up quality at-bats and actually did certain things very well. In addition to playing solid defense, he had a walk rate of 11% and an elite chase rate of just 18%. Expected stats may lead you to believe he got unlucky, and in a sample of just 73 plate appearances (many of which came in pinch-hit situations), it’s difficult to make any definite conclusions. If the team continues to place their trust in him and his approach, he could see an elevated role in 2026 with more opportunities against right-handed pitching. Andruw Monasterio spent most of his playing time covering for an injured Ortiz at shortstop or riding the pine, but found himself playing third base on a few occasions. He continues to be a reliable utility infielder and could cover the position as a platoon option. He had an .837 OPS against left-handed pitchers in 2025 and has performed better against southpaws across his career. Interestingly, Isaac Collins is also listed on the Brewers depth chart under third base, but he has played just 1 ⅓ innings at the position, so it’s safe to say that he’ll remain in the outfield for the foreseeable future. So what are the Brewers still missing? The most glaring gap is power. Typically, third basemen are characterized by having great arms, good defensive abilities (without the same mobility as a shortstop), and some decent pop. In fact, Durbin and Ernie Clement were the only players within the top 10 third basemen by fWAR who had slugging percentages under .430. Now, it’s important to acknowledge that the game has become modern enough to do away with the shackles of positional archetypes. Otherwise, Durbin shouldn’t even be playing in the majors, given his 5-foot-7 frame. However, Milwaukee is already in dire need of some thump in the lineup. Christian Yelich (29) and Jackson Chourio (21) were the only players to eclipse the 20-home run mark, and the Brewers were 22nd in total home runs (166). They got by with their own brand of fast-paced hustle baseball, but in the postseason, it seems like the odds dig the long ball. Given this need, what are the internal and external options? Within the farm system, the Brewers’ top third base prospects were all in Double A. Brock Wilken and Luke Adams had strong showings with the Biloxi Shuckers, while Mike Boeve—who only played first base, anyway—struggled quite a bit. All three have work to do before they’re big league-ready, and don’t seem like they’d be worth roster spots barring an injury emergency. Externally, there are a handful of options that each come with different financial expectations and risk. It’s safe to say that Alex Bregman and Munetaka Murakami, both of whom are expected to cost north of $100 million this winter, are in the “if only” category. Kazuma Okamoto is on the older side and is projected to sign a deal in the realm of $68 million over four years, which is still on the pricier side, especially for someone with no MLB experience. This leaves Eugenio Suárez, who (after a brutal second-half slump that extended into the postseason) would seem like an overpay even for $55 million over three years. Miguel Andujar is an affordable possibility that showed some promise last year. Across 341 plate appearances with the Athletics and Reds, he slugged .470 with 17 doubles and 10 homers. He’d be a defensive liability, especially when compared to Durbin and Seigler, but his bat could make him useful in certain situations. Even if Milwaukee stays the course with what they have at third base in 2026, it’ll still be a position of strength. It’s not a critical issue that must be patched as soon as possible, but it does present an opportunity to improve on the margins—something the organization loves to do. Don’t expect the landscape of the role to change significantly heading into next season, but do keep an eye out for potential sleeper acquisitions making their way to Milwaukee. View the full article

Fresh off a World Series runner-up finish, the Blue Jays must aggressively address key weaknesses to return and win. Re-signing Bo Bichette is a notable question, alongside acquiring a back-end starting pitcher or reliever. While they can trade prospects, their MLB-ready outfield depth—young players with experience—could yield greater returns if used strategically. Nathan Lukes Lukes doesn't qualify as "young" because he's 31, but this past season was his third in MLB, though it was his first playing in more than 30 games. Due to injuries to Daulton Varsho and Anthony Santander, Lukes was leaned on for a career year. In 438 plate appearances, the left-handed hitter had a .730 OPS, 12 home runs, 55 runs, 65 RBIs, and a 103 wRC+. Lukes found himself hitting in front of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for most of the season. His low strikeout rate (13 percent) led to him being a reliable option at the top of the lineup. Baseball Savant ranked Lukes in the 94th percentile for whiff percentage (14 percent). Defensively, Lukes was as outstanding with +10 DRS (defensive runs saved) in 909 1/3 innings. He only trailed Myles Straw for Blue Jays' outfielders in DRS, but Straw played 209 fewer innings. Lukes still has five years of team control, which, despite his age, would make him a popular target. Although he likely has the upper hand to start in left field next season for Toronto, as the roster stands now. Addison Barger Barger struggled in his MLB debut in 2024 (.601 OPS and 69 wRC+), but had a decent bounce-back in 2025 (.756 OPS and 107 wRC+). He had a significant power surge this past season, hitting 21 home runs, 61 runs, and 74 RBIs. Barger's biggest struggle is striking out, doing so 24 percent of the time. He spent time at the corner outfield positions and third base all season long, while filling in for injured players. His bat speed (75.9 mph) and hard-hit percentage (51 percent) rank him in the 93rd and 91st percentiles, respectively, which is appealing from the left side of the plate. Barger, at 26, has two pre-arbitration seasons remaining and one remaining MLB option. This favorable team control could help secure a top-tier talent at a position of need. It's likely a long shot that Barger gets traded unless the Blue Jays address the hot corner by adding another player. Davis Schneider Schneider has struggled to find consistent playing time in his three MLB seasons. His .708 OPS and 106 wRC+ this past season against left-handed pitchers are a little misleading, as he struggled mightily against lefties in 2024 (.528 OPS and 49 wRC+). As a righty, it won't help your case for playing time if you struggle against southpaws. Schneider could be a developmental piece for a team since he's 26, has two MLB options, and four seasons of team control. While he may not net a top-tier return like Lukes or Barger, trading him could still secure a back-of-the-rotation starting pitcher or a middle-inning bullpen arm, especially if his opportunities in the Blue Jays lineup remain limited. Joey Loperfido Loperfido came over in a trade at the 2024 trade deadline that sent Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros. Loperfido was relied on this season when both Varsho and Santander were on the injured list. The 26-year-old had only 104 plate appearances this past season, but he posted an .879 OPS and a 148 wRC+. Loperfido could appeal to teams seeking a controllable outfielder. Including him in a trade—either as a primary piece or as part of a larger package—could help the Blue Jays acquire a higher-impact player to meet their pitching or positional needs. Trading a valuable outfielder could help the Blue Jays address primary pitching needs, but it risks future depth if injuries hit Varsho or Santander again. The potential reward—a quality starter or reliever for another title run—must be weighed against thinning a traditionally strong position. View the full article

As fans, it's customary to seek the thrill of the marquee player acquisition. That thrill is unique in the sports world, even compared to that of winning a championship. Regardless of confidence level in landing the particular player, knowing your team got them eliminates any doubt, subconscious or otherwise. That said, it's often the moves that get little limelight that put a team over the top, especially in Boston Red Sox history. As crucial as trading for Chris Sale or signing J.D. Martinez and David Price were, there are several players that got little praise in comparison that ended up playing huge roles for the Red Sox. So, as the offseason begins, with all eyes fixated at the top of the market for talent, it's important to remember those under-the-radar acquisitions. The sexy moves aren't always as attractive when they play out. The Red Sox are laden with those outcomes as well—Pablo Sandoval, Carl Crawford, and to some degree, current players like Trevor Story and Masataka Yoshida have all been mixed bags in terms of "living up to" the hype. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of these recent unsung offseason pickups, shall we? UT Romy Gonzalez Gonzalez flashed his potential with a 98 wRC+ and six home runs in 2024, but the waiver pickup from the Chicago White Sox flourished in 2025. Across 96 games, he slashed .305/.343/.483 with a 123 wRC+ and 1.5 fWAR this past season. He also nearly doubled his career RBI total, driving in 53 runs in 341 plate appearances. The former White Sox utility man promised versatility when he came over to Boston, but injuries on the roster held him to mostly first and second base in 2025. At both spots, he filled in admirably and even started to hit right-handers at a clip he'd never previously come close to. Time will tell what his future with the Red Sox looks like as far as his role goes, but finding at-bats for him, especially against southpaws, is something manager Alex Cora needs to continue doing. OF Rob Refsnyder Though not a World Series champion, outfielder Rob Refsnyder is one of the best signings in recent Red Sox history, full stop. Signed as a minor-league free agent before the 2022 season, the lefty-masher posted an 88 wRC+ in 2021 with the Minnesota Twins. Since coming to Boston, he's slashing .276/.364/.440 with a 124 wRC+ across 936 plate appearances. He's tied with Joc Pederson and Jackson Merrill in wRC+ for 17th among outfielders with at least 750 plate appearances in that span. Though primarily manufacturing these gaudy numbers against southpaws, that's been the veteran's role with the club. Given that he's made, in total, less than $6 million in four seasons with the team, it's safe to say he's done his job and then some. The jury is still out on whether the soon-to-be 35-year-old will return to the Red Sox for his fifth season. If not, they will certainly miss his presence in the clubhouse and the lineup. RHP Garrett Whitlock Any time you hit a home run with a Rule 5 selection, they must find their way onto a list like this. You could give an honorable mention to fellow reliever Justin Slaten, but I felt as though there's an element of uncertainty there thanks to injuries. Whitlock's had several injuries to his credit, as well, but is heading into his sixth year in Boston and, hopefully, his third healthy campaign. After the organization waved the white flag on making him a starter, the right-hander returned to high-leverage relief and was almost every bit as good as All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman in 2025. In his two seasons as a full-time reliever, Whitlock has accumulated 3.8 fWAR and ERAs of 1.96 and 2.25, respectively. For all the talk about Slaten being the future closer of this team when Chapman is no longer in the equation, perhaps that sentiment should go to Whitlock. He's filthy on the mound, and it's nice to see him sustain a year of healthy volume. Now, he's just got to do it again. 1B Mitch Moreland Moreland spent three-plus seasons with the Red Sox and filled in admirably at first base. An All-Star and World Series Champion in 2018, Moreland was tasked with filling the roster spot created by David Ortiz's retirement. Despite most public clamoring for eventual Red Sox first baseman Eric Hosmer, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski signed the former Texas Ranger to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million. In three-plus seasons with the Red Sox, Moreland slashed .251/.332/.471 with a 108 wRC+ and 64 home runs in 381 games. He added a .333/.412/.533 slash line in 15 playoff games for Boston and, of course, we all remember his pinch-hit, three-run homer in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. RHP Rick Porcello I had a tough time deciding on Porcello, seeing as he wasn't some unknown commodity at the time of acquisition. Not only that, but he also cost the Red Sox Yoenis Cespedes. But given the level of expectations, him churning out a Cy Young campaign and being a pivotal part of a World Series winner dramatically outweighs the struggles he faced at times in 2015, 2017, and 2019. If nothing else, the right-hander ate up innings with the best of the best during his Red Sox tenure. In fact, he ranked fourth in the league in workload, behind only Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Zack Greinke. He was also top 30 in fWAR during that stretch, among qualifiers. While not a super-valuable pitcher relative to his volume, his Boston career was one of tremendous highs. RHP Koji Uehara It feels somewhat taboo to refer to Uehara as an under-the-radar signing, but people forget he wasn't the Red Sox's Plan A or B at the closer position in 2013. When the call came, though, he was electric. In 2013 alone, Uehara posted a 1.09 ERA with a 1.61 FIP in 74 1/3 innings pitched. Despite not opening as the team's closer, he finished with 21 saves in the regular season. That October, he allowed one earned run in 13 2/3 innings pitched, recorded seven saves, and struck out 16 of 46 batters faced. The only more valuable season by a Red Sox reliever, minimum of 50 innings, was Craig Kimbrel in 2017, with 2006 Jonathan Papelbon tying him at 3.1 fWAR. The only two seasons a reliever had a better ERA was Papelbon's 2006 (0.92) and Chris Martin's 2023 (1.05). But his Red Sox career didn't end after 2013; he played three more years in Boston before wrapping up with the Chicago Cubs in 2017. From 2014 to 2016, Uehara posted a 2.73 ERA and 58 saves across 157 outings. He was über-dependable, hammered the strike zone, and had a tantalizing splitter that kept him dominant despite sub-90 mph velocity on his fastball. UT Brock Holt Holt is one of the most widely loved Red Sox players of the 21st century for several reasons, and that's before we even get to what he did on the field. His impact on the community is still felt to this day, especially with the Jimmy Fund. His impact on the field greatly outweighed expectations seeing as he was a throw-in in the deal that acquired Joel Hanrahan ahead of 2013. Holt spent parts of seven seasons with the Red Sox, slashing .270/.340/.374 with 144 extra-base hits. He hit for the cycle twice, including once in the 2018 playoffs, made an All-Star team, and logged over 100 games at three separate positions. Had it not been for vertigo in 2017, who knows how much better his Red Sox tenure looks, even though it's already viewed in a very favorable light. View the full article

On this day in 2005, the Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox finalized the following blockbuster trade: Red Sox acquire RHP Josh Beckett, 3B Mike Lowell and RHP Guillermo Mota Marlins acquire RHP Jesús Delgado, RHP Harvey García, SS Hanley Ramírez and RHP Aníbal Sánchez Just two years later, the Sox won a World Series title, and both Beckett and Lowell played pivotal roles along the way. The former finished runner-up in 2007 American League Cy Young Award voting and was named MVP of the ALCS, while the latter placed fifth in AL MVP voting and took home WS MVP honors. They combined to spend 12 seasons in Boston, accumulating 30.0 fWAR. All four of the prospects that the Marlins received in exchange made MLB appearances for their new franchise. Ramírez immediately emerged as a brilliant offensive player en route to winning 2006 National League Rookie of the Year. He remains unequivocally the greatest shortstop that the Fish have ever had. Regardless of position, his 30.5 fWAR as a Marlin trails only Giancarlo Stanton (33.6 fWAR). Sánchez's tenure with the team also stretched from 2006-2012. He was a solid No. 3 starter. Some of you may disagree with sticking the "win-win" label on this deal considering that the Marlins didn't have a single postseason berth to show for the Hanley/Aníbal era. They constructed particularly solid rosters in 2008 and 2009, but back then, there was only one wild-card spot available in each league. If today's postseason format with three wild-card spots was in place at the time, we would've likely seen October baseball in South Florida. On Sunday in winter ball, Deyvison De Los Santos (Dominican Republic) went 1-for-4 with a sacrifice fly. Jared Serna (Mexico) went 2-for-4 with a triple double. Serna leads LMP with 45 hits and ranks second with a .995 OPS. Only 122 days away from Marlins Opening Day. 🔷 Freddy Tarnok signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with Nippon Professional Baseball's Hiroshima Carp. It surprised me when the Marlins waived him earlier this offseason, but that makes sense now. Tarnok presumably requested his release in order to pursue this opportunity in Japan, which guarantees him nearly doubled what his MLB salary would've been in 2026. 🔷 The Marlins concluded their 2025 First-Year Player Camp last week. Wilfredo Lara won the camp's MVP award, Wilson Weber was the American MVP and Yohanfer Santana was the strength and conditioning MVP. 🔷 Louis Addeo-Weiss presented the statistical case for Cole Hamels to be considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame. 🔷 Continuing their series of World Baseball Classic-inspired national team rosters, Son Los Marlins constructed the best possible Cuban team comprised of former Fish (en español). 🔷 Happy 25th birthday to Josh White. A new addition to the Marlins 40-man roster, White has spent his entire professional career with the organization. Through four minor league seasons, he has posted a 2.97 ERA, 31.7 K% and .205 BAA in 203.1 IP (124 G/14 GS). 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, the New York Mets and Texas Rangers agreed to a bad contract swap, exchanging Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien (with the Mets sending an additional $5 million to Texas). Both veterans are still solid everyday players, but they've clearly entered the decline phase of their careers. Nimmo was a pest against the Marlins throughout the past decade (.260/.368/.475 slash line with 17 home runs and six stolen bases in 118 games). However, I believe the Mets got the better end of the deal. Semien will bolster their leaky infield defense and he's signed for only three more years (Nimmo is signed for five more). In free agency, the Atlanta Braves inked Joel Payamps to a one-year, $2.25 million contract. View the full article

The Brewers have made some major deals in recent offseasons. In the 2023-2024 offseason, they dealt Corbin Burnes to acquire DL Hall, Joey Ortiz, and the draft pick that became Blake Burke. In the 2024-2025 offseason, Devin Williams was dealt to the Yankees for Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin. But Milwaukee has also made deals with lesser-known players that hit big. In the same offseason Corbin Burnes was dealt, the Brewers made the under-the-radar swap with the Athletics that brought Chad Patrick to Milwaukee in exchange for Abraham Toro. In the 2022-2023 offseason, the Crew moved Esteury Ruiz to the Athletics as part of a three-team trade that landed Joel Payamps, minor-leaguer Justin Yeager, and some guy named William Contreras. Who might the Crew move in a deal nobody pays attention to? Here are five possibilities. LHP Aaron Ashby Ashby has become a key member of the Brewers' bullpen, so he’s worked out reasonably well. But why might the Crew want to consider moving him? Part of it is the deal he signed after the 2022 season, where he was solid as a member of the starting rotation; in 2026, he gets $5.5 million, with $7.7 million due in 2027, along with $9 million and $13 million salaries in 2028 and 2029 if the options are picked up. If Ashby became a mainstay in the rotation, it’d be money well spent. But Ashby has become a bullpen ace after missing 2023 and a large part of 2024 with shoulder problems. It may be time for Milwaukee to see what Ashby could fetch in return. It’s not that he’s a bad pitcher, but the chance to free up $13.2 million over 2026 and 2027 may make a deal worth it. RHP Carlos Rodriguez Rodriguez has been caught up in the numbers game among Milwaukee’s young pitchers in 2025. He emerged as an outlier with an extensive arsenal. He’s had two cups of coffee with the Brewers, and while he’s struggled, there’s a lot of potential. The problem, of course, is that there are a lot of other pitchers with potential forcing their way up. The combination of team control and his youth could make Rodriguez a trade asset – either on his own, or as part of a larger package. A pitcher like Rodriguez could net a solid return, but not if the team holds on to him for too long. SS Joey Ortiz The Brewers have an interesting situation at shortstop. The top three prospects on the Brewer Fanatic Top 20 are all at shortstop. One, Cooper Pratt, is likely to start 2026 at Triple-A Nashville. Jesus Made will likely start at Double-A Biloxi, and then, there is Luis Pena. Joey Ortiz would likely be a prime trade chip if he’d matched his 2024 offensive numbers, but he instead fell off a cliff at the plate. That said, Ortiz may still be someone who could draw interest. A big part is that he is cheap and comes with years of control. The Brewers moved a slumping JJ Hardy in the 2010-2011 offseason and acquired Carlos Gomez. Milwaukee could look to see if it can pull off something similar or use Ortiz to sweeten some other deal to get a difference-maker, particularly if Cooper Pratt is on a hot streak. 1B Andrew Vaughn Vaughn helped save the Brewers’ season after Rhys Hoskins went on the injured list. So why put him on the block? One reason is the $7.8 million he is potentially due. The Crew could try to sell relatively high when it comes to Vaughn, especially with the presence of other first-base options (Jake Bauers and Tyler Black come to mind). In this case, it is a bit of a salary dump. But at the same time, Vaughn’s run with the Brewers is much higher than his career OPS+ of 101. A regression to his 2021-2024 mean would not be the worst the Brewers have had at first base in their history, but it would not exactly be what the Brewers are hoping for from a $7.8 million first baseman, either. OF Garrett Mitchell When Garrett Mitchell’s been on the field, he’s been an incredible talent. The problem is that in his three full major league seasons, he’s averaged just under 38 games a season. That’s less than a quarter of a full major-league season. Yet he is now in his first year of arbitration – while he will only cost the crew about $1 million, the fact is that Blake Perkins, Isaac Collins, and Tyler Black could be more likely to play and contribute than Mitchell has so far. Mitchell, like Ortiz, could be used to pull off a deal similar to the Hardy-for-Gomez trade the Brewers did in the 2010-2011 offseason. The other option is to see if Mitchell can land some prospects or a competitive balance pick. Which players do you think the Brewers should be putting on the market? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

The starter-to-reliever conversion is a Twins specialty. We saw it with Griffin Jax, Jhoan Duran, and Cole Sands in years past: at some point, it becomes clear that someone just may not be cut out for the rotation. That’s no insult: relievers are critical parts of any team, and the job requires a mentality that suits some hurlers better than the one needed to thrive as a starter. Today, we’ll talk about two players who have yet to pitch for the Twins, who may find themselves in the bullpen. Connor Prielipp Let’s start with the Wisconsin native. His bullpen case rests on a simple premise: he’s barely pitched. As a pro, the lefty has tossed 112 ⅔ frames, with 82 ⅔ of those coming this season, his first fully healthy year in the Twins system. Even in this era of diminished inning totals from starters, that’s not a lot of work. Assuming a conservative yearly frames increase, it would take Prielipp two more seasons to build up to 150 innings, even if everything goes well. The Twins can’t afford to wait that long: he had to be added to the 40-man roster this week. Minnesota did so, but will they want to burn precious option years on a slow buildup? Could they stomach having an in-his-prime lefty attempting to develop at St. Paul when the major-league roster demands pitching talent today? I don’t believe so. At some point, a team wants to see a return on their investment, and moving to a relief role accelerates that process. Plus, his play in 2025 wasn’t so dominant that it demands an extended run as a starter: he posted a 4.03 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Place him in the bullpen, pump up the fastball velocity, and let the already elite slider continue to dominate. A lefty gets an especially big bump from that move, because he can go from facing fellow lefties 25% of the time or less to anywhere from 33% to 40% of the time. He could be the team’s best left-handed weapon since peak Taylor Rogers. Marco Raya Raya is a different case. He’s already on the 40-man roster; one of his options is gone. The Twins treated him with contradictory carefulness as a prospect. For years, he was rarely allowed to go past three innings, yet he was also promoted so aggressively that he was always at least three years younger than the level he pitched at. The result? Underwhelming stats, but a sense that his play was more impressive than it appeared. That changed this year. He was dreadful with the Saints. Headed into August 15, his season ERA sat at 6.27 across 80 ⅓ innings, and his WHIP was 1.71—each figure bloated by a ghastly 12.9% walk rate. No qualified MLB starter walked hitters at a rate that high in 2025 (or 2024). Perhaps sensing that this was more than an ordinary case of a youngster struggling against elevated talent, the Twins moved him to the Saints’ bullpen. His final nine appearances were all in relief, though the results were mixed. His ERA and WHIP fell (to 4.91 and 1.25, respectively), but his peripherals remained largely unchanged. The walks dropped a little, but so did the strikeouts. He had outings like September 3, when he whiffed five over three innings, displaying the kind of whizzing sweeper that appears capable of corkscrewing big-league hitters, but he also allowed multiple runs in three of those appearances. A 33% chance of implosion is untenable. The sample was small, this adjustment was made on the fly, he’s (impossibly) still just 23, and I believe an offseason spent preparing as a reliever should sharpen his skills. Like Prielipp, he has a breaking ball that can succeed at the major-league level. That alone could carry a relief profile. Overall, according to Baseball Prospectus, the raw quality of his pitches (release point, trajectory, velocity, movement and location, adjusted for count and batter handedness) was much better after the switch. His stuff was 0.5 runs worse than average per 100 pitches during his time as a starter, and 0.1 runs better than average per 100 as a reliever. Minnesota has a lot to sort through this offseason. They have an abundance of young pitchers, but only a small number of them can claim big-league success in any capacity. Someone will need to move to the bullpen; several will likely make that transition this spring. If you're looking for high-impact arms who may be among that group, Raya and Prielipp are two players to keep your eyes on. They just might be pitching in late-game situations sooner than you think. View the full article

With the offseason now in full gear and rumors flying about the Padres' ownership changing hands, a difficult decision might have to be made. This is part one of a series where we’ll analyze the Padres’ ten best players and how likely each player is to be traded this offseason. 10. Adrian Morejon Pros: Morejon’s breakout 2025 saw the reliever become an All-Star and one of the league’s elite relief pitchers. He ranked in the top 10% in eight advanced metrics, including pitching run value (95th percentile), fastball run value (93rd percentile), xERA (97th percentile), fastball velocity (94th percentile), average exit velocity (98th percentile), barrel rate (97th percentile), hard-hit rate (99th percentile), and ground-ball rate (92nd percentile). It’s what allowed him to finish the season with a 2.08 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, and a 2.28 FIP. He is also cheap and under club control for the next three years. Cons: It feels like there aren’t many holes left in Morejon’s game. He’s cheap and under club control. There is almost no way Morejon will be traded this offseason. While it’s impossible to say a reliever is untouchable, especially with two other elite relievers on the team, this is a player San Diego will likely want to hold onto long-term. Chances of trade: 5% 9. Joe Musgrove Pros: When he’s been healthy, Musgrove has pitched like a star. He has a 3.20 ERA and a 3.68 FIP as a Padre, with a 4.18 K/BB ratio. In 2023, he boasted a fastball run value in the 96th percentile and a chase rate in the 99th percentile. His xERA of 3.11 ranked in the 90th percentile, his BB rate in the 90th percentile, and his barrel rate in the 87th percentile. and his hard-hit rate is in the 84th percentile. Musgrove has been a legit ace in the past. Cons: It will have been over a year and a half between Musgrove’s last start in September of 2024 and his next one in March 2026. Will Musgrove be the same pitcher he was before Tommy John surgery? Will he be the ace he was from 2021-2024, or will he regress due to age and injury? He’s owed $20 million in 2026 and another $20 million in 2027 before he becomes a free agent. Normally, that would be a fairly tradeable contract, but because he is coming off an injury, it’s probably unlikely. The Padres will also need Musgrove to pitch well in 2026, as their rotation looks thin as it is. Chances of trade: 5% 8. Xander Bogaerts Pros: Despite his rough couple of seasons, Bogaerts is still one of the most respected shortstops in the league, and his defense remains strong. He’s a World Series champion with playoff experience and plenty of leadership to go around. His bat also improved slightly in 2025, getting back to a league-average level (99 OPS+, .720 OPS). Cons: The past two years have gone about as poorly as they could have gone for Bogaerts. The infielder, once considered to be one of the elite shortstops in the league, was worth 3.2 bWAR combined between 2024 and 2025. He’s now 33 years old, and his bat appears to be completely lost. His defense will be next to go (though he actually improved defensively in 2025). He’s also owed $236.8 million over the next eight years. If the Padres could trade Bogarts, they probably would, but the contract probably keeps him in San Diego for good. Chances of trade: 1% 7. Jason Adam Pros: He might be the best setup man in baseball. Last year, he held opponents to an xBA of .197 and had them wiffing 33.3% of the time. He has a 1.94 ERA and 3.05 FIP since 2024, and a 2.07 ERA since 2022. Cons: The expected stats show Adam might be due for some regression. His FIP has routinely been over a run higher than his ERA, and his 2.76 xERA in 2025 was significantly higher than his actual ERA of 1.93. On the other hand, these trends have held up for the past four years. If Adam has been able to have such a low ERA for four straight years, even with a higher FIP and xERA, perhaps there is some merit to the idea that Adam is simply better at pitching himself out of jams. The laws of regression haven’t applied so far. Any reliever is a possible trade candidate, simply on the basis that if a team is willing to give up top prospects, it has to be considered (especially with Mason Miller and Morejon already on the team). With that being said, trading away Adam seems highly unlikely. Chances of trade: 5% 6. Jake Cronenworth Pros: He can play solid second base or first base, and has an above-average bat. While Cronenworth has not been the most consistent member of the Padres, he is talented and on a team-friendly contract that pays him $61.4 million over the next five years. Cons: It is beginning to feel unlikely that Cronenworth will ever repeat the 4.8 bWAR, 122 OPS+, All-Star campaign that launched him into stardom and helped him land his contract. That season was 2021, and since then, Cronenworth has averaged 2.2 bWAR per season. His expected stats looked rough in 2025, with an xAVG of .227 and an xSLG of .348, both ranking in the bottom 15% of the league. It’s possible a team looking for a second baseman would trade for Cronenworth, but moving off him would only open up another hole in the Padres’ infield (which already has a hole at first base). Chances of trade: 20% View the full article

Over the past week, the Twins (and all other teams) have been busy with their regularly scheduled roster cleaning in preparation for the Winter Meetings. They added six minor leaguers to the 40-man roster. They made a trade, and they tendered contact to all of their arbitration-eligible players. Across baseball, several players were non-tendered by their organizations making them free agents. Here are three non-tendered pitchers that could help the Twins in 2026. IAN HAMILTON - RHP Raise your hand if you can remember when Ian Hamilton pitched in one game for the 2022 Minnesota Twins. Hamilton is a right-handed reliever who joined the Yankees organization in 2023 and made an immediate impact, posting 1.6 bWAR and a stellar 2.64 ERA over 39 appearances and 58 innings, supported by an impressive 2.82 FIP. His wipeout slider and ability to generate whiffs gave New York a valuable mid-to-late inning option. However, the following two seasons were far more turbulent. Hamilton struggled with consistency in 2024 and 2025, and as the Yankees pushed toward a postseason run with a crowded bullpen picture, he was sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in late July. He finished 2025 with 36 MLB outings, logging 40 innings with a 4.28 ERA, 4.39 FIP, and 42 strikeouts. His non-tender was unsurprising given the Yankees’ depth and their preference to lean on a younger, higher-velocity prospect pool for the stretch run. Hamilton’s profile, solid but not dominant, left him squeezed out in a system known for rapid bullpen turnover and constant role competition. Compared to other relievers in New York’s mix, he was no longer a comfortable postseason option, especially after his mid-season demotion. Age also plays a factor. At 30, Hamilton is not old by reliever standards, but he isn’t a long-term developmental project either, and his underwhelming numbers across 2024–2025 raise fair concerns about durability, swing-and-miss sustainability, and whether his best form is behind him. He could easily be the replacement for Jhoan Duran as the closer, but there will never be another Duran. The Twins represent an ideal landing spot, and Minnesota could unlock a resurgence. With the five losses last year at the trade deadline and several of the August and September relievers also becoming free agents, the Twins clearly need arms for competition in the bullpen. Hamilton’s three-pitch mix, led by a slider that generates 69% strikes and a massive 78% whiff rate, gives him a legitimate carrying tool that fits the Twins’ pitching-development model. He limits hard contact, induces chases from left-handed hitters, and shows enough command to profile as a matchup weapon or full-inning reliever. Under pitching coach Pete Maki, the Twins have found success in maximizing relievers, Hamilton could rediscover the sharpness he showed in 2023. For Minnesota, he’s a low-cost, high-upside bullpen addition who fills an immediate need while offering the chance of meaningful rebound value. OMAR CRUZ - LHP Omar Cruz is a left-handed pitcher whose professional journey has taken him from the Padres system to the Pirates in 2021, and back with the Padres in 2023 through the Rule 5 draft. Cruz originally signed out of Mexico in 2017 and made his MLB debut on April 1, 2025, but then was sent down after his second performance on April 5. He was recalled for a couple of days in late May and then again at the end of September but didn't pitch in any games. Cruz built his reputation on a high-performing changeup, solid strike-throwing, and the ability to neutralize left-handed hitters with a mix that plays above its raw velocity. He has shown flashes of potential in both starting and middle relief. While he hasn’t cemented himself as a major-league contributor, he has shown poise and pitchability teams covet in depth arms. And, well, he's left-handed and just 26 years old. He was non-tendered because San Diego faced a roster-crunch. His lack of elite velocity and limited major-league runway made him expendable for a club reshuffling its pitching depth. None of this reflects a lack of skill; it's just the reality of a crowded pitching pipeline, and the Padres need to allocate roster space to higher-ceiling arms. The Twins should consider signing him because his profile fits what their pitching department has excelled at developing: command-first lefties with a plus changeup and room for analytical refinement. In Minnesota, Cruz projects as a depth starter, long reliever, or matchup-friendly lefty who can shuttle between St. Paul and the MLB roster without disrupting roles. The primary concerns are whether his fastball can miss enough bats at the big-league level and whether his margin for error is thin against right-handed hitters. Still, with his age, pitchability, and Twins-friendly toolkit, he represents a low-cost upside player who could become a quietly valuable piece of the 2026 staff, especially as a lefty. JOEY LUCCHESI - LHP Joey Lucchesi is a 32-year-old left-handed pitcher whose career has spanned the Padres, the Mets, and, most recently, the Giants organizations. Once known primarily as a crafty starter with his signature curve, Lucchesi has transitioned effectively into a bullpen role where his ability to neutralize left-handed hitters has become his defining strength. His delivery remains one of the most unusual in baseball, creating a timing disruptor that helps his fastball and changeup play up despite modest velocity. Even as he’s shifted into a relief-focused workload, he’s maintained the pitchability and poise that made him a steady rotation option earlier in his career. Lucchesi was non-tendered due to a combination of age, roster crunch, and the Giants’ increasing push toward younger, higher-octane bullpen arms. San Francisco has spent the past two seasons aggressively turning over its pitching depth, especially in the relief corps, prioritizing velocity and swing-and-miss traits over deception-driven profiles. For a 32-year-old soft-contact lefty, that made him expendable—even if his results and peripherals remained perfectly serviceable. He wasn’t cut because he couldn’t contribute; he was cut because he no longer fit the organizational direction and didn’t offer long-term upside for a club shifting philosophies. For the Twins, however, Lucchesi’s profile is exactly the kind of asset they need. Minnesota lacks reliable left-handed bullpen depth behind Kody Funderburk, and Lucchesi immediately fills that gap with experience, versatility, and a proven track record against tough lefty bats. His “churve”, which is part changeup, part breaking ball, has long been a problem pitch for left-handers, generating weak contact and expanding the zone when leveraged correctly. The concerns are age and ceiling: at 32, he’s not a long-term piece, and his margin for error is smaller than power relievers. But in the short term, he provides the Twins with a steady, matchup-friendly lefty who can handle pockets of left-heavy lineups, piggyback innings, or operate as a multi-out bridge option. Given Minnesota’s bullpen needs and coaching staff’s success with finesse-and-deception arms, Lucchesi is a smart, low-risk fit who could deliver high-value innings right away. Non-tendered pitchers are not going to be the cream of the crop, and it does take the right team to take them on and rebuild them, these three pitchers have a potential to be a good fit for the Twins as short-term options while the teams adjusts to the new structure. View the full article

Predicting a lineup several years into the future is always an exercise in projection and optimism, but the Twins have placed themselves in a strong position for long-term success. A wave of high-end prospects is poised to join an established big-league core, giving Minnesota the type of roster flexibility that front offices crave. If everything breaks right, the 2029 Twins could feature a roster built around homegrown stars, polished young talent, and a few veterans who still have more to give. Let's take a look at how the 2029 lineup might take shape, and why each player fits into Minnesota’s long-term vision. Behind each player’s name is their age during the 2029 campaign. Catcher: Eduardo Tait (22) The Twins are dreaming big with Tait. As the top prospect acquired in the Jhoan Duran deal with Philadelphia, Tait arrived with significant development time ahead of him. He finished his age-18 season at High-A Cedar Rapids, where he posted a 103 wRC+ while facing competition more than 4 years older on average. Minnesota is hoping the early grind pays off and that Tait grows into the athletic and durable catcher who can anchor the position for the next decade. First Base: Luke Keaschall (26) Keaschall showed flashes of his offensive upside in 2025, but his long-term defensive home remains unsettled. As he moves further from Tommy John surgery, the Twins expect him to get plenty of reps at second base and even in the outfield during the next couple of seasons. By 2029, Minnesota should have stronger defenders locked into its infield spots, making first base a natural landing place where Keaschall can focus on providing steady offensive production. Second Base: Brooks Lee (28) Lee will get every chance to be the club’s everyday shortstop in 2026, but his lack of speed and the wear of age may prompt a position switch by 2029. Even with that shift, the Twins believe his sharp instincts and plus bat-to-ball ability can shine in an up-the-middle role. If his minor-league contact skills begin to appear more consistently in the majors, Lee can remain an impact player even after moving off shortstop. Third Base: Kaelen Culpepper (26) Culpepper surged through the system in 2025, with a 138 wRC+ in a campaign split between High A and Double A. Improved defense and a strong arm give him a chance to debut as a shortstop as early as 2026, but by 2029, the Twins may prefer him at third base. The key question will be whether his power breakout proves sustainable, because a permanent move to the hot corner requires consistent extra-base authority. Shortstop: Marek Houston (25) Houston was selected in the first round of the 2025 draft, largely because of his standout defensive ability. Scouts view his glove as major league-ready, though opinions vary on how much offensive value he can provide. He hit .354/.458/.597 with 15 home runs and 14 doubles in his final collegiate season, but those numbers may be difficult to replicate in pro ball. If the Twins can help him find even modest offensive consistency, his defense gives him a real chance to become a reliable everyday shortstop. Left Field: Emmanuel Rodriguez (26) The story with Rodriguez has always centered on health. When he is on the field, he brings a rare blend of patience, power, and defensive value, highlighted by a walk rate over 20% and a 135 wRC+ last season. He can handle center field if needed, but his availability has been limited, as he has not eclipsed 100 games in any professional season and has averaged only 56 games over the last two years. Center Field: Walker Jenkins (24) Jenkins is the projected centerpiece of the organization’s future. Ending his age-20 season at Triple-A St. Paul is an indicator of his prodigious potential, and his 154 wRC+ in Double A cemented his status as a franchise-level talent. With a debut coming as soon as the first half of 2026, Jenkins should be firmly established by 2029 and ready to lead a young, dynamic Twins lineup. Right Field: Byron Buxton (35) Buxton’s contract runs through 2028, which means a new deal would be required for him to be part of this roster. If he wants to remain a Twin for life, the door will be open, especially after a season in which he captured a Silver Slugger and finished 11th in American League MVP voting. Even in his mid-30s, Buxton’s combination of athleticism, leadership, and power could make him a valuable piece of a youthful lineup. Designated Hitter: Matt Wallner (31) The 2029 season will be Wallner’s final year under team control, and by then, he may have transitioned fully into the designated hitter role. His defense regressed in 2025, and the organization could shift him to first base or DH even sooner. Wallner’s value is built almost entirely around his powerful left-handed swing, making the DH spot an ideal long-term fit. Some of the most notable changes from last year’s prediction include the absence of Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, and Ryan Jeffers. Minnesota’s farm system also took on a different look since this point last year, with additions made in the MLB Draft and through trades. It’s hard to imagine that all of the young hitters above will translate their minor-league production to the big-league level. Minnesota has struggled to turn top prospects into consistent big-league contributors; that will need to change by 2029. A lot can change in four years, but the Twins appear well-positioned to build a roster that blends stars, veterans, and emerging talent into a competitive core. Which players do you see locking down spots in Minnesota’s 2029 lineup? Share your thoughts and join the discussion. PREVIOUS YEARS' PREDICTIONS — 2026 Lineup — 2027 Lineup — 2028 Lineup View the full article

Late Tuesday afternoon, organizations had to set their 40-man rosters, forcing club decision-makers to decide which prospects to protect from Rule 5 Draft eligibility. The Minnesota Twins protected six players, bringing their 40-man reserve list to its capacity. All six players could impact the major-league club in some capacity next season. Yet, Minnesota could add more young, high-upside reinforcements to its roster during the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 10, with hopes of them becoming immediate contributors with the parent club. Minnesota is more likely to select a young pitcher, since the easiest path to the Opening Day roster for a newcomer would be in the bullpen. However, that doesn't mean they won't target a position player. Which could they select, if the right chance arises? Andrew Pintar One of the many talking points new Twins manager Derek Shelton emphasized in his introductory press conference was that the Twins will prioritize speed and defense. Miami Marlins prospect Andrew Pintar embodies those traits. He's an above-average defensive center fielder with near-elite speed. The 24-year-old was serviceable at the plate in Triple A last season, hitting .269/.338/.384 (good for a 99 wRC+) over 384 plate appearances. He also has some pop in his bat, with a 105.4-MPH 90th-percentile exit velocity. Pintar lacks in-game power, however, as he hit only four home runs last season. His hard-hit balls had an average launch angle of 7°, much lower than the league average, so not all of his exit velocity translated into concrete value. Still, the right-handed hitting prospect is an intriguing gadget outfielder who could provide plus value in the field and on the bases. Blaze Jordan Surprisingly, the St. Louis Cardinals elected to leave first base prospect Blaze Jordan unprotected. Jordan has received more accolades and attention than he deserves during his minor-league career, thanks to his cool-sounding name. Still, the former top Boston Red Sox prospect could develop into an above-average major leaguer, making him an intriguing candidate for the first base-deficient Twins. Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for left-handed pitcher Steven Matz at last season's trade deadline, the 22-year-old failed to impress his new organization, hitting .198/.242/.366 with a 53 wRC+ over 186 plate appearances with Triple-A Memphis. On the other hand, the right-handed bat generated a strong first half with Boston's Triple-A affiliate, hitting .298/.341/.480 with a 115 wRC+ over 182 plate appearances. Jordan is a solid hitter for contact with superb zone control, who also hits the ball hard. That being the case, Minnesota could be tempted to poach the right-handed hitter, with intentions of turning him into the long-term solution at the position. T.J. Rumfield Spending the better part of the past two seasons with the New York Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, Rumfield has ascended into one of the best pure hitters in the high minors, slashing .289/.372/.454 with a 120 wRC+ over a combined 1,061 plate appearances. He sported an above-average 11.9% strikeout rate last season. The 25-year-old hits for contact and power, with an above-average maximum exit velocity and near-elite zone swing rates. The young lefty pulls the ball in the air a lot, a skillset understandably preached by the Yankees' hitting development staff. Still, given how often he makes hard contact, his extreme pull profile would translate well to Target Field. Minnesota is in dire need of young hitting talent. Rumfield is arguably the most talented hitter Minnesota could add to its 40-man roster, while playing a position of need. The Twins haven't selected a position player in the Rule 5 Draft since Alejandro Machado in 2006. Yet, Rumfield possesses an intriguing enough skill set that the front office should consider breaking the 19-year trend. View the full article

With nearly the entire roster that won a franchise-record 97 games in the regular season still under club control for 2026, the Brewers need not pursue much turnover this winter. If there’s any area that could use reshuffling, it’s a portion of the bullpen. In an era where many bullpens are tasked with covering more than 40% of a team’s regular-season innings with a 13-pitcher limit, front offices need the flexibility to shuttle a handful of relievers between Triple-A and the big leagues throughout the season to pace workloads. The current makeup of the Brewers’ projected 2026 relief corps leaves little room to do so. Six of Milwaukee’s best eight relievers will carry at least one minor-league option into next season, but four of them – Abner Uribe, Trevor Megill, Jared Koenig, and Aaron Ashby – are valuable high-leverage arms who must remain on the roster if healthy. In practicality, that leaves Grant Anderson and DL Hall as the Brewers’ lone optionable arms, and even those two boast unique strengths that could keep them on the roster nearly full-time. The rubber-armed Anderson appeared no worse for wear after logging 69 2/3 innings, while Hall was a useful long reliever who occasionally opened for right-handed starters with pronounced platoon splits. Perhaps the Brewers feel those two spots offer enough flexibility as they are, but they could benefit from adding another optionable slot to their bullpen. At minimum, the casualty would have to be one of Nick Mears or Rob Zastryzny, the two relievers on the 40-man roster who cannot be optioned. Mears’s importance to next year’s team is debatable after an up-and-down 2025. After an illness in spring training delayed his debut, a diminished fastball upon his return proved much easier to barrel and led to fewer strikeouts. However, mechanical changes unlocked nearly pinpoint control, allowing him to post a 0.51 ERA and 1.89 FIP over his first 19 appearances and emerge as Pat Murphy’s preferred fireman. The relative lack of strikeouts and the heaviest workload of his big-league career seemingly caught up to Mears in the second half. His walk rate nearly tripled from 3.6% before the All-Star break to 9.9% after, and he limped to a 5.59 ERA and 6.34 FIP. Interestingly, though, his fastball qualities improved. While it was still hit hard when put in play, Mears rediscovered that extra tick of velocity, raising its stuff grades to just above average and reintroducing more whiffs. Split FB Velo FB Stuff+ FB StuffPro FB Whiff% FB xwOBA 1st Half 95.1 95 0.1 12.1% .376 2nd Half 96.1 102 -0.2 21.5% .369 Through one lens, Mears flamed out after an unsustainable workload and could be in for regression in 2026. Through another, he’s due for a better year because his stuff is trending in the right direction. While the Brewers tendered him a contract for next season, his unclear outlook and lack of roster flexibility could make trading him for a lottery ticket a tempting option. Zastrynzy, meanwhile, has dealt with injuries in both of his seasons in Milwaukee but has pitched to a 2.12 ERA, 4.09 FIP, and 4.27 SIERA over 29 2/3 innings when healthy. His strikeout and walk rates have been below average, but he has generated whiffs and weak contact at outstanding rates. The greatest knock against Zastrynzy may be that he’s redundant at times in a bullpen that already features Koenig, Ashby, and Hall as left-handed options. Mears and Zastrynzy profile as useful middle relievers in the right bullpens, but Milwaukee may not be the best fit for both at once. The Brewers could use another flex spot for shuttle arms like Craig Yoho, Easton McGee, and Sammy Peralta, to say nothing of the stable of minor-league starters they could deploy out of the bullpen throughout the season. The offseason is still in its infancy, but at this moment, moving one of their non-optionable veterans is the easiest way to create more breathing room on the depth chart. View the full article

In the 2024 Rule 5 draft, the Jays were picking sixth (yes, it was a tough year!). They chose Angel Bastardo from the Red Sox. In some ways, Bastardo was a classic Rule 5 pick: he had a starter’s arsenal with a 50-grade fastball, slider, and curve, and an “out pitch” in his 60-grade changeup, "an 84-88 mph offering that dies as it approaches the plate as if an invisible parachute has popped out of the back of it" (per FanGraphs). And even if he did not make it as a starter, he could profile as a particularly nasty late-inning reliever. The issue with Bastardo was his health – he had Tommy John surgery in June 2024 and was expected to miss most or all of the 2025 season. So if the Jays took him, they would have to carry him for all of 2025 (using up a 40-man roster spot) before they could meet the 90-day test in 2026. But Toronto clearly thought the upside justified the cost. The Jays currently have 38 players on their 40-man roster. This implies that they want to have the flexibility to make Rule 5 pickups in the upcoming December 10 draft. Might they be considering a similar strategy in 2025? Choosing a player with high upside, but who will be injured for most of 2026? In nine games (eight starts) at double-A ball in 2025, Yordanny Monegro had a 2.67 ERA (2.34 FIP) and a 13.10 K/9 as compared to a 2.14 BB/9. In 2024, in class A+ ball, he finished the season with 42 innings without an earned run. He has four pitches graded (by MLB.com) at 50 or better, and his control is also a 50 grade. But Monegro had Tommy John surgery in August 2025 and is expected to miss most or all of 2026. There are other red flags, as MLB.com notes: Monegro fits the classic high-upside, high-risk pitcher profile. At one time, his upper-70s curveball was ranked as the highest in the Boston farm system, and his pitch mix is still improving (he only added his now-55-grade slider in 2023). So the potential is very real for either a mid-rotation starter or a strong middle-relief/swingman. But the issues with his inconsistent delivery are equally real. There was a time when to say that a pitcher carried “reliever risk” was considered a very strong negative. But with the price of good relievers increasing, and with the importance of a good-to-great bullpen becoming increasingly evident, having a Bastardo or Monegro “only” becoming a Yimi Garcia or Eric Lauer is no longer a negative. If anything, having high reliever potential as a backup plan adds to their value. It is true that the Jays will be picking much later (29th) in the upcoming Rule 5 draft. So it is entirely possible that Monegro might be chosen before then. But Rule 5 picks can be traded, so if Toronto really believed in Monegro’s potential, they might be able to swing a deal with one of the teams picking earlier (Rockies / White Sox / Twins?) whereby that team picks Monegro and then trades them to Toronto. The Jays would then be subject to the same rules as if they had chosen Monegro themselves. The Bottom Line It has become increasingly difficult for teams to find good pitching talent. Even mediocre starting pitching has become very expensive on the free agent market (and top-of-rotation starters even more so). Teams are reluctant to trade young pitching, and when they do, their asks can be extortionate. So it behooves teams to be creative in their search for good pitching help. Bastardo was a gamble in 2024, but an intelligent and high-upside one. Monegro could be a similar intelligent gamble in 2025. View the full article

In the 2022-2023 offseason, the Brewers acquired William Contreras as the centerpiece of their haul for getting involved in a deal with the Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics. But who’s behind Contreras? Brewers fans have rarely had to worry, but it may be time for a look because there is talent down the depth chart. On The 40-Man Roster William Contreras: .260/.355/.399 with 28 doubles, 17 home runs, and 76 RBI in Milwaukee Contreras has been incredibly durable – appearing in 446 games over three seasons. That’s out of a possible 486. That’s not very many days off. When he isn’t catching, he’s often serving as the designated hitter for the Crew. Contreras is the undisputed starter at catcher, at least through 2026. The real question is whether Milwaukee runs with him through 2027, or if they deal him for a haul of young players in the 2026-2027 offseason. Until then, he is likely to get the bulk of the starts. Jeferson Quero: .261/.371/.468 with 17 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, and 57 RBI between Triple-A Nashville and Rookie League ACL Brewers Quero’s progression has been delayed by injuries. In 2024, an effort to avoid being picked off first base cost him the entire season, save for that initial plate appearance, due to a shoulder injury. In 2025, he dealt with other injuries, playing only 58 games at Nashville. While initially a top prospect due to defensive prowess, the injury has affected his ability to keep baserunners honest. He still excels at handling pitchers and has worked with Milwaukee’s young talent in the minors. His bat is also very solid for the position, and could allow the Crew to rest Contreras. Anthony Seigler: .267/.391/.424 with 17 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, and 44 RBI between Triple-A Nashville and Milwaukee Seigler may seem like an odd inclusion since he is officially listed as an infielder. But he started 22 games behind the plate for the Sounds, and also caught for the Brewers for one frame. Baseball-Reference projects him to provide a .696 OPS in the majors in 2026, which wouldn’t be bad for a catcher. Seigler was a switch-hitter before he started hitting exclusively from the left side in 2025. With some serious talent in the minor-league infield, Seigler’s best shot at sticking with the Brewers may be to once again don the tools of ignorance. Minor-League Players Who Could Impact 2026 Darrien Miller: .192/.381/.329 with 10 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, and 37 RBI at Double-A Biloxi Miller, a minor-league free agent, has re-signed with Milwaukee, marking his seventh season with the organization, and he will only be 25. Miller’s forte has been OBP. In 2025, he posted a .381 OBP in the pitching-friendly Southern League despite his batting average being eight points below the Uecker line, thanks to drawing 57 walks and getting plunked 17 times. Miller has also provided solid defense – not as spectacular as Quero at his best, but not horrible, either. His power surged a bit in 2025 as well, nearly quadrupling his home run total from 2024. Miller will likely be in Triple-A Nashville in 2026, and his familiarity with the Brewers' young pitchers could be an asset. Matt Wood: .256/.372/.380 with 16 doubles, seven home runs, and 43 RBI between Advanced-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi Wood will also be 25 in the 2026 season, the same age as Miller, but was drafted by the Brewers in the 2022 amateur draft. Wood’s offensive profile is very solid, posting a .787 OPS in 59 games at Double-A, 77 points higher than Miller’s. His left-handed bat should perform well at American Family Field. Wood’s defense has also been solid. It’s an open question if he will be at Double-A Biloxi or if he will make the jump to Triple-A Nashville alongside Miller. Marco Dinges: .300/.416/.514 with 12 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, and 62 RBI between Single-A Carolina and Advanced-A Wisconsin Dinges has always had a potent bat. The Brewers, though, have been developing him behind the plate – and he rocketed all the way to Wisconsin in his first full professional season, then added a couple of games in the Arizona Fall League. Dinges is likely to be in Double-A Biloxi in 2026, but if he hits like he did in 2025, he could end up in Nashville and possibly Milwaukee. Which catchers do you think will make the biggest impact for the Crew in 2026? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

The guys discuss what Brandon Woodruff's return means for next season's starting rotation, Jake Bauers' potential importance in the middle of the order, and a few minor-league signings to keep tabs on. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2Td iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/ Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627 Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic View the full article

On Friday, the Royals announced two official non-tenders: reliever Taylor Clarke and outfielder MJ Melendez. The move puts their current 40-man roster at 38. The Clarke move was a bit surprising, especially since he wasn't expected to command much in arbitration, and he is coming off a solid past season with the Royals. After spending two seasons in Kansas City in 2022 (4.04 ERA) and 2023 (5.95 ERA), he returned to the Royals and thrived in a middle-innings reliever role. In 51 appearances and 55.1 IP, he posted a 3.25 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 17% K-BB%. However, his FIP was 3.97, and while he indeed sported excellent stuff metrics with the Royals last year (104 overall TJ Stuff+), he struggled to generate whiffs, and his xwOBACON was higher than one would want. With the acquisition of Alex Lange this week, it seemed like the Royals felt Clarke's role was expendable. His lack of Minor League options also gave him less flexibility in Spring Training. However, the bigger transaction of the day was the release of Melendez, a 2017 second-round pick and former top prospect who advanced through the Royals' farm system with Bobby Witt Jr. Melendez Showed Early Promise With the Royals Drafted and initially developed as a catcher, Melendez showed excellent power as a prospect in the Royals system, especially after the pandemic. Initially, he had a brutal campaign in High-A ball in 2019, hitting .163 with a .571 OPS and 39.4% K rate in 419 plate appearances. To make matters worse, he only hit nine home runs that season. While the park factors of Wilmington didn't help, the lack of power was disappointing, especially since that was his calling card when drafted out of high school. The Royals changed up their hitting development after the 2019 season, bringing on Alec Zumwalt and Drew Saylor as hitting coordinators. Melendez was a success story of the new team, absolutely thriving in 2021. Across Double-A and Triple-A ball, he led the Minor Leagues in home runs with 41, he lowered his K% to 21.7%, and improved his OPS to 1.011. He was also named Offensive Player of the Year that season by Minor League Baseball. As a result, Melendez became a Top-100 prospect in baseball heading into 2022, ranking 42nd by Baseball America, 51st by MLB Pipeline, and 32nd by Baseball Prospectus. When Melendez made his debut in 2022, the Royals were looking for a spark in what would be manager Mike Matheny's last season. He provided exactly that, spending time as the Royals' leadoff hitter that season. In 537 plate appearances, he hit 18 home runs, collected 62 RBI, scored 57 runs, and posted an OPS of .706 and a wRC+ of 97. Unfortunately, poor defense behind the plate and in the outfield (where he rarely played before he arrived in Kansas City) resulted in a -0.6 fWAR, a microcosm of what was to come in the next three years with the Royals. Power Potential, But Inconsistent Results in Kansas City Over the next two seasons, Melendez was a regular outfielder for the Royals, moving away from catcher completely. Here's a look at what he did in 2023 and 2024: 2023: .235/.316/.398, 10.3% BB%, 28.2% K%, 16 HR, 56 RBI, 93 wRC+, 0.4 fWAR in 602 PA. 2024: .206/.273/.400, 7.8% BB%, 25.1% K%, 17 HR, 44 RBI, 86 wRC+, -0.2 fWAR in 451 PA. The home run power was certainly there, and even in his down season in 2024, he posted a .194 ISO, a career-high. Unfortunately, strikeout and contact issues (career 71.6% contact rate, 79.1% Z-Contact%) deflated his batting average and his overall performance, as illustrated by sub-100 wRC+ marks. In 2025, Melendez worked with Witt's hitting coach and tried to revamp his entire swing. The change was the big story in Royals camp in Surprise, Arizona, that Spring Training. Unfortunately, the change did more harm than good. In 23 games and 65 plate appearances, Melendez slahed .083/.154/.167 with 4.6% BB%, 35.4% K%, -14 wRC+, and -0.6 fWAR. To make matters worse, many of the endearing qualities he had as a hitter, such as max exit velocity and barrel rate, plummeted dramatically last season, as illustrated in his TJ Stats metrics. Based on this slow start, the Royals optioned Melendez to Triple-A, and he pretty much spent the entire season down in Omaha. The numbers were much better with the Storm Chasers. In 107 games and 480 plate appearances, he hit 20 home runs, scored 70 runs, collected 64 RBI, stole 20 bases, and hit .261 with an .813 OPS. Unfortunately, many of the same contact problems he had with the Royals persisted in Omaha, which explains why he didn't receive much of an opportunity with Kansas City after being sent down (he was only called up once at the end of July, and he only played in seven games before going back down). There were some incentives to keep Melendez for at least another season in Kansas City. He still holds a Minor League option for next season. Additionally, he'll be 27 in 2026 and is widely liked by players in the organization, especially young homegrown players like Witt, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Michael Massey. However, it seems his expected arbitration price tag, estimated at around $2.2 million, was a bit too high for a guy who wasn't guaranteed any playing time at the Major League level next season. What is Melendez's Outlook in 2026 and Beyond? Melendez will likely get picked up by a team this offseason, though it probably will be a Minor League deal with an invite to team camp. He has a history of hitting the ball hard, and a more advantageous home run park could help him boost his offensive production. For his career, he has a 91.7 average exit velocity, a 10.1% barrel rate, and a 46.2% hard-hit rate. Those are batted-ball numbers that would intrigue any team. The big question from now on will be whether Melendez can hone his discipline at the plate, which deteriorated with each season at the MLB level. After posting a 0.50 BB/K ratio in his rookie season in 2022, it fell to 0.36 in 2023, 0.31 in 2024, and 0.13 in 2025. A significant contributor to that was an increasing O-Swinig% during those last three seasons. After posting just a 24.4% O-Swing% in 2022, it was 27.4% in 2023, 29.9% in 2024, and 31.6% in 2025. Thus, it's not a surprise that his swing-and-miss rates remained well above-average (and not in a good way) in the past three seasons, as illustrated in his rolling swing-and-miss chart via Savant. Melendez has the opportunity to pull a Ryan O'Hearn (another homegrown player who showed initial promise but disappointed in Kansas City) and turn things around in new surroundings. The talent is undoubtedly there, and this wasn't an easy decision for Royals GM JJ Picollo, especially considering Melendez was such a high draft pick. That said, it was evident that Melendez's tenure in Kansas City was done, and he needed a fresh start. View the full article

Let’s just cut to the chase, because there's a lot to discuss. The Twins already have a ton of outfielders. When I asked Twitter this week about how many internal options the Twins have in the outfield, the smallest estimate I received was 12. For reference, the Twins had 12 players play outfield for them all of last season, which included two who were traded away at midseason, three who were acquired midseason, and one Mickey Gasper for an inning in March. How would you handle all these names, even those who you’re going to comment “It’s not even worth discussing ______!” in the replies about? 1. Byron Buxton Not much to discuss here. Very good player. Should be the Opening Day center fielder. I suppose they might have to trade him if they upset him enough to waive his no-trade clause, and he might be moved to a corner if one of the guys further down covers center field better than he does at 32. 2. Matt Wallner More than likely, he’s the Opening Day left fielder. However, he’s coming off his worst MLB season, with a just barely-above league-average .776 OPS (.202/.311/.464 110 OPS+), and his already shaky defense has taken a step back, despite his rocket arm. He seems to be a valuable asset in a lineup that lacks power, but he’s also on the wrong side of 27 and is best suited as a DH. His DH days might be closer than he’d prefer, given other exciting names further down the list. 3. Trevor Larnach If Larnach is still on the team in March, he’s probably the primary left fielder or DH, but it’s become canonized across the Twins’ fanbase that he’s likely taken his last swings as a Twin. He has a pedestrian career slash line around league average with a .727 career OPS, but spotted against righties, he’s an above-average hitter with no speed or defense to add to his profile. With an estimated $4.7 million due in arbitration for next year, odds seem high that he will either be traded, but the Twins have a history of holding on to lefty corner outfielders even when fans believe they’ll be traded any day now. 4. Alan Roden Roden was acquired as part of the Louis Varland trade and would be far more exciting on many other teams. Instead, he’s one of 10 current Twins on the 40-man roster who have played left field and are left-handed. He profiles as a solid glove and solid hitter with more on-base potential than power, but he’s struggled in his 55 games as an MLB player. The Twins have a combination of MLB depth in the corner outfield position and high-upside players behind him (whom he has had only 153 more plate appearances than). So, his path to playing time in the medium- and long-term may be at first base, where he played some in college. 5. Austin Martin The once-top-prospect seems to be settling into a big-league role finally, if the last two months of 2025 are any indication. Martin seems resigned to left field, where his lack of power is a weakness, but if his .374 OBP from 2025 holds up, he can at least be a platoon option, whether that be with Roden, Larnach, or any of the names below. He can also play center field or second base in a pinch, and he’s fast enough to pinch run in games he didn’t start. 6. James Outman Outman was probably the biggest head-scratcher of an acquisition from the Twins’ 2025 trade deadline. The return for reliever Brock Stewart. Outman placed third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2023, but his .529 OPS since is 50% below league average. He also did not impress in center field for the Twins, despite his positive reputation as a defender. The fourth lefty on this list (thus far), he needs to improve his fielding, hitting, or both to carve out a role. He also may be moved—traded or released—if the Twins decide that his replacement outweighs sunk cost. 7. Kody Clemens Clemens is currently penciled in as the Twins’ starting first baseman by most, but (should they bring in some other names to cover the position) he may be an option in a corner. He’s looked fine defensively in limited action in right and left field, so it’s not the worst solution—especially early in the season or if the team catches the injury bug. But names further down the list could probably make his outfield skillset obsolete, even if he is platooning with Martin in left field come March. 8. Walker Jenkins Okay, finally, one of those names further down the list. Jenkins is one of the top prospects in the sport, and even with significant time lost to injury, the 2023 number five pick has made it to Triple-A, holding his own as a 20-year-old for a month in St. Paul. He’s preferably a fixture in the Twins outfield for the next decade. He should be able to play center field enough to at least be Buxton’s backup, which may squeeze Outman out of a job. His hit tool has shone, and if it translates to the majors—especially if he can add some power—he’d be in position to take starting reps away from corner guys like Larnach and Roden and situational reps from Martin and Clemens. It might even happen early in the season, but it’s good not to count chickens before they hatch. 9. Emmanuel Rodriguez Rodriguez’s situation bears similarity to Jenkins—he’s a left-handed top prospect who could play center and hit enough to man a corner but has been slowed by injury. But the way he’s gotten there is different, as he’s a three-true-outcomes hitter with power, plate discipline, and a lot of strikeouts, which contrasts with Jenkins’ more pure hitting approach. He’s also been more plagued by injury, playing just 295 games across five minor league seasons, though the 22-year-old has raked at every level. It’s not hard to see both Jenkins and Rodriguez covering the corners by midseason, health permitting, reframing the roles of whoever is still in the organization between Wallner, Larnach, Roden, Martin, and Outman. Clemens, too. Sure. Wallner could slide to more DHing, playing right field when any of the other three need a day off, and Martin could continue to platoon, but there are a lot of question marks. 10. Carson McCusker and DaShawn Keirsey Jr Before you run off to comment that you stopped reading here, let me draw your attention to the fact that it took me nine starting-caliber outfielders to reach the end of the bench major leaguers. Also, more interesting names are coming. Keep reading. McCusker, is reasonable bench options as a one-trick pony. He can slug as a righty. Technically, he could be a 26th man, but there’s a solid chance he will be designated for assignment this offseason, like DaShawn Keirsey Jr, who originally shared this spot in the article with McCusker before his release. 11-12. Utility Players with Outfield Chops: Ryan Fitzgerald, Ryan Kreidler, and Payton Eeles Both of these guys are currently fighting over the utility infield position, but each has played some outfield to expand their utility. They likely won’t ever be primary guys out there, but they could factor into the picture. Payton Eeles was originally list here as well, but he was traded Friday morning. I'm being thorough. Okay, on to the minor leaguers. 13. Gabriel Gonzalez One of the most recent additions to the 40-man roster, Gonzalez had one of the better turnarounds among Twins minor leaguers last season. Acquired in the Jorge Polanco trade, Gonzalez struggled at High-A in 2024, but he hit his way to Triple-A late in the season, hitting .329 across three levels. A righty, he provides the Twins a platoon option, provided that he continues to hit at St. Paul in 2026. He likely factors more into the second half, but he could fill a needed role, should the Twins have roster room to carry a platoon partner (alongside Martin; or in place of Martin) for their bevy of lefty hitters in the corner outfield. 14-16. Gonzalez-Adjacent Prospects: Kala’i Rosario, Ricardo Olivar, Kyler Fedko These guys’ paths to the Twins’ plans are the least clear, but each righty outfielder could fill the same platoon role that Gonzalez would, should they hit well. The odds are low, but between injuries and underperformance, there’s a world in which any of them play into the Twins’ plans and will spend much of the year at Triple-A, one string of fortune from the majors. Rosario and Fedko each had unexpected 25-25 seasons, and Olivar can catch some. Fedko also saw some time at first base in 2025, adding utility. 17. Hendry Mendez Mendez was the return for Harrison Bader, and he might be the farthest name on this list from the major league outfield, but the 22-year-old was just added to the 40-man roster, which raises his odds of major-league action just out of necessity. Gilberto Celestino played 23 games in 2021 simply because he was a warm body on the 40-man. Mendez had a great year at Double-A, like the three names above, but he’s also left-handed and might be more in the plans at first base than in the outfield. 18. Luke Keaschall You didn’t expect to see Keaschall on this list, did you? He is an interesting case in this discussion, because in many organizations, he’d already be classified as an outfielder. He played 141 innings in center in 2024 but ceased doing so due to a torn UCL. The Twins have committed to him at second base, where his offense is more valuable, but his future may be in left or center. Given the myriad other options, he’s likely to stay on the dirt—at least for now. But I told myself if a player had at least a 5% chance of being in the Twins outfield, I’d list them, and there's a world in which Keaschall does end up spending some time in the outfield, even just in platoon lineups. 19. Mickey Gasper He played an inning there last year. Listen, some things had to change when Eeles was traded and Keirsey was released. This is my fault for dragging my feet on this article. 20. Royce Lewis Maybe Derek Shelton sees part of recapturing the old Royce Lewis is doing some exposure therapy and having him run around in the outfield a bit. Exorcise those center field demons. It could happen. So how would you handle all these names? Who starts, who sits, who is headed to St. Paul (where there might be an outfield logjam made of these names, too)? Who would you trade? Who would you cut? Is there a single righty in your picture? Did I somehow miss your favorite option? View the full article

The San Diego Padres finished 90-72 last season, three games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. Their postseason run ended in a Game 3 Wild Card loss to the Chicago Cubs. Manager Mike Shildt left the dugout as a result, and newbie Craig Stammen has taken his place. All told, this is a roster capable of competing for a World Series title, but the margin for error is thin. With financial constraints, the Padres will find it hard to add free agents, making in-house depth essential for 2026. Let's examine their depth options at each position, starting with the middle infield. Second base Starter: Jake Cronenworth (31 years old, .246/.367/.377, 61 runs, 11 home runs, 59 RBIs, .744 OPS. 117 wRC+) Cronenworth will return for the 2026 season as the everyday starter at second base. He played in 135 games despite missing a month due to a fractured right rib after being hit by a pitch. The second baseman doesn't offer a great deal of power, but when he's played at least 155 games in a season, he has hit a minimum of 17 home runs. He's a reliable bat for the bottom-third of the lineup. Cronenworth will have no competition for starts unless he misses time due to injury; however, he's played at least 127 games in each of the last five seasons. Depth: Will Wagner (27 years old, .225/.324/.279, 15 runs, 7 RBIs, .603 OPS, 78 wRC+) Wagner appeared in 55 games in his second MLB season, joining the Padres from the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline in exchange for Brandon Valenzuela. While he struggles offensively, he provides solid infield defense across multiple positions. Wagner, 27, won't compete with Cronenworth for innings but will fill in on days off or in case of injury. He is currently the only backup second baseman on the roster. With a weak farm system, additional depth would require a trade or free-agent signing. Shortstop Starter: Xander Bogaerts (33 years old, .263/.328/.391, 63 runs, 11 home runs, 53 RBIs, .720 OPS, 104 wRC+) Bogaerts exemplifies durability, having played at least 135 games in 10 of 12 seasons (excluding the shortened 2020 season). A four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger (all with the Boston Red Sox), the 33-year-old no longer delivers elite offensive numbers, though he'll run an above-average wRC+. The lineup does not require much from him if everyone else is clicking, but a return to form from the shortstop would go a long way to fixing what ails the offense. Despite limited production, Bogaerts posted 3.2 fWAR last season. He has only 22 home runs over the last two seasons despite 463-plus plate appearances each year. Due to his lengthy contract signed after his fifth Silver Slugger in 2022 (11 years, $280 million), he remains the team's shortstop for the foreseeable future, health permitting. Depth: Mason McCoy (30 years old, .136/.269/.182, five runs, 1 RBI, .451 OPS, 42 wRC+) McCoy has played only 43 games in his brief three-season career. He hit 21 home runs in 2023 for Triple-A Tacoma, an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. However, he has not matched that production since, hitting just five and 11 home runs in the last two seasons in Triple-A and failing to homer at the MLB level. Like Wagner, McCoy serves as the only backup at his position, at least for right now. The farm system remains depleted at every position, and shortstop offers no exception. So, if Bogaerts gets injured, the Padres will turn to McCoy unless Wagner shifts to the other side of second base. View the full article

If you grew up watching baseball in the late 2000s and 2010s, you know the name Cole Hamels. With silky smooth mechanics, one of MLB's best changeups, and movie-star good looks, he had a brilliant pitching career. For the first time this winter, Baseball Hall of Fame voters are being tasked with deciding whether or not Hamels is worthy of induction into Cooperstown. Peruse the list of Hall of Fame starting pitchers and you will see a variance in the caliber of careers. For every Walter Johnson and Cy Young, you have ten CC Sabathia/Waite Hoyt/Dazzy Vance types. Inductees exist on a spectrum, and if chosen, Hamels would certainly be on the lower end of that spectrum. His candidacy ought to be mulled over carefully. While a player's place in the history of the sport factors into their HOF candidacy, important, too, is where they rank among their contemporaries. The timing of Hamels' debut makes this particularly complicated. Breaking into the majors in 2006, Hamels got his feet wet in the midst of the golden years of Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. They epitomized the last great era of starting pitcher workhorses. All four would be inducted in their first year of HOF eligibility. When Hamels debuted, MLB starters were averaging 5.8 innings per outing. By the time he announced his retirement in 2023, individual workloads had diminished to an average of 5.1 innings per start. The job description gradually changed in the interim. Hamels made the necessary adjustments along the way. Since 2006, he ranks fifth in bWAR and sixth in WAA (wins above average) among pitchers to throw at least 2,000 innings. His 123 ERA+ (100 represents league average) is tied with David Price for sixth. Broaden the scope of our search by an additional half-decade and Hamels still looks elite. Since 2001, he is the seventh-best pitcher on a bWAR per inning basis (.021), ahead of HOF ballot holdovers Mark Buehrle, Andy Pettitte, and Félix Hernández. Speaking of the latter, Hernández received an encouraging 20.6 percent of the vote in his first year of eligibility. For a player to be elected, they must receive votes on at least 75 percent of ballots cast. What Hernández lacks in terms of longevity, he nearly makes up for it in accolades. "The King" won an AL Cy Young in 2010, hurled a perfect game, and made six All-Star appearances. However, he had no postseason pedigree to speak of, having never thrown a single playoff pitch, with Seattle sporting just five winning seasons during his fifteen seasons in the majors. MLB Career Comparison Metric Cole Hamels Félix Hernández bWAR 59.0 49.8 IP 2,698.0 2,729.2 bWAR/IP 0.021 0.018 ERA 3.43 3.42 ERA+ 123 117 FIP 3.68 3.52 All-Star Selections 4 6 Cy Young Awards 0 1 Hamels, on the other hand, meaningfully added to his résumé in October. During the 2008 postseason, Hamels went 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA over five starts in which he averaged seven innings a start, as the Phillies won their first World Series since 1980. Hamels would go on to receive NLCS and World Series MVP honors. Some more notable Hamels fun facts: He's one of 57 pitchers with at least 2,500 innings pitched and an ERA+ greater than 120, of which 32 are in the Hall of Fame. Three others—Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, and Justin Verlander—are destined to be elected once eligible. By WAR, Hamels is the 16th-most valuable pitcher in the Cy Young Award era (1956-present) to never win the hardware himself. To completely discount Cole Hamels' HOF candidacy is to be ignorant about how the role of the starting pitcher has evolved throughout the past two decades. It's difficult to imagine a 2026 induction for him, but over time, hopefully BBWAA voters evaluate his remarkable career with the proper context. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs have housed plenty of hyped prospects over the last few years. Players such as Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Shaw have been developed through the system and have become regulars for the major-league team. Rookies such as Owen Caissie and Moises Ballesteros both made debuts in the last year. Others like Kevin Alcantara and Jonathon Long have, at times, made appearances on Top-100 or honorable mentions lists. However, one prospect who hasn't gotten this type of love is 24-year-old catcher Owen Ayers. That tide is changing after his big performance this fall. Heading into the yearly Arizona Fall League, excitement around Cubs attendees was kind of low. Outside of Cole Mathis, there weren't really any big names the North Siders were sending. Even then, I failed to mention Owen Ayers as one of the four prospects I was going to be paying attention to; boy was I wrong. Not only was Ayers wonderful this fall, he was just named 2025 AFL Breakout Player of the Year. It's great that the catcher had a breakout performance, but figuring out what we should expect moving forward for is the difficult thing. Is Ayers someone who has been criminally slept on? Or is he a flash in the pan? Why you should be excited for Owen Ayers: A 1.130 OPS combined with a 22:10 walk to strikeout ratio over 88 plate appearances in Arizona is a good starting point for why he's worth following next season; that's just an excellent run of baseball. The Cubs' catcher ranked sixth in the league in OPS and hits, while also finishing second in on-base-percentage and first in walks. It was an eye-opening statistical performance, but one that was also supported by batted ball data. He averaged nearly a 95mph average exit velocity while absolutely hammering a few pitches for well over 105+mph. It's one thing to have great numbers, but another thing to really back it up with the underlying data. Ayer's impressive batted ball data was not just isolated to his time in Arizona either, as he finished in the 90th percentile of exit velocity during his 65 games in Myrtle Beach while finishing his time there with a 23.1 K% to go with a walk rate over 11%. Naturally, he was 26% better than league average overall. I don't want to make too much of this, but it should also be noted: Ayers hits from both sides of the plate, which makes him a unique hitter in today's changing landscape of specialization. Will Ayers stick to both sides? You certainly hope so, and it would give him a bit of a leg up; even if he's ultimately much better from one side, he has multiple platoon pathways. The more outcomes a player can have, the better chance he'll find success with one. Defensively, the Cubs' prospect is very young for his position. He switched from splitting time at first base and catching at Marshall to being a full-time catcher only in his senior year. He also showed out quite well in Arizona in this regard, tossing out a few runners with east. Baseball America wrote on October 31st that, "The two throws registered 81.2 and 81.4 mph and reached second base in 1.81 and 1.86 seconds, as measured by Hawk-Eye. Ayers, a 24-year-old Marshall alum, has now thrown out 31% of runners trying to steal against him in the AFL." There's still learning to be done, but the raw skills appear to be there. Why you should remain skeptical of Owen Ayers: First and foremost, Owen Ayers is 24 years old already. That shouldn't immediately eliminate a prospect from hype-train consideration, but should cause us to be a bit more skeptical. For example, while Ayers posted exceptional batted ball data in Myrtle Beach, the average age of a hitter in Single-A this season was just a hair above 21 years old. Ayers was nearly three years older than the average competitor in South Carolina; compared to some of these teenagers, he's a fully grown adult. Baseball America defined "old for his level" as one-and-a-half years above the average, meaning Ayers nearly doubled this metric. The Arizona Fall League, as well, is not known for it's excellent pitching. While top hitting prospects such as the Tigers' Kevin McGonigle and recent draft pick, Charlie Condon of the Rockies represented the offensive talent, teams rarely allow strong pitching prospects to expend extra bullets at this time of the year. So while, once again, Ayers posted excellent batted ball data and numbers, an asterisk reminding us all about his level of competition needs to be added at the end. What should we make of Owen Ayers? I think finding the middle ground between being excited about his performance and skepticism about his age and competition level is the right answer. Being that the bar for what makes a good hitting catcher is so low (a 94 wRC+ was league average this season and this was a year in which saw offensive outbursts from Cal Raleigh, Drake Baldwin and Carson Kelly), even if you're skeptical about his age relative to his competition, he doesn't ever have to be amazing to find a home. He's also still learning the position, so while he's not a defensive maven yet, but there are enough physical tools that make you believe he could get there. Working against him, however, is just how far he's going to need to go in a short-amount of time. In 2026, you'd realistically like to see him finish the year in Tennessee, so that by age 26 he's in Iowa and knocking on MLB's door, but that's also asking a 19th-round pick to move three levels in two years. A tall task indeed. Would I pencil Owen Ayers into my personal top-10 Cubs prospects because of a good 65-game stretch in Myrtle Beach, or a strong 88-plate-appearance showing in the AFL? Nope! I wouldn't have him in my top-15 and I think he would sit outside of my personal top-20 as well (he was not listed, for example, in Prospect Live's top-20). Instead, I'd highlight his name as someone to watch very closely in 2026, because while he might not make my top-20 today, a hot two-month-start in South Bend would strap a rocket to his back and make him highly intriguing. I don't think the lack of making a list is a reason to ignore someone, and heck, Ayers is probably more interesting to follow, than say, Nick Dean, the Cubs' 19th-round selection who Prospect's Live listed 19th on their list. What do you think of Owen Ayers as we head into the 2026 season? Where would he rank in your prospect list? Do you believe in the hype? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Milwaukee had many amazing moments during an improbably good 2025 season. In this article, we take a look back at the top five greatest moments in terms of Win Probability Added (WPA). Win Probability Added calculates the likelihood a team will win a game from one plate appearance to the next. For example, if the Brewers are tied 0-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Milwaukee's chances of winning might be 50%. If Christian Yelich grounds out weakly to second base to lead off the inning, the Brewers' odds of winning might reduce by 1%. In other words, the Yelich at-bat had a negative 1% WPA. 1. William Contreras’ two-run home run off Emilo Pagán, Top 9 with 1 out, trailing 1-0 on August 17 Win Probability, before: 18% Win Probability, after: 81% WPA: +63% The Brewers entered this contest on a franchise-record, 14-game winning streak. The league was beginning to believe that Milwaukee’s probability of winning was 100% for every game, no matter what. Jose Quintana pitched six scoreless innings before allowing a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 7th inning. It seemed like that run would be the difference until the 9th inning. Anthony Siegler drew a leadoff walk. Caleb Durbin popped out. William Contreras then hit the opening pitch into the left-center field bleachers. Just like that, 2-1 Brewers. The most pivotal play during a season of unlikely moments. Unfortunately, this game was not over. Cincinnati ultimately won 3-2 in ten innings. 2. Andrew Vaughn’s RBI single off Tanner Scott, Bottom 9 with 1 out, trailing 2-1 on July 9 Win Probability, before: 33% Win Probability, after: 82% WPA: +49% Andrew Vaughn was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on July 7. Vaughn immediately made his presence felt, recording 4 RBI in his first two games with Milwaukee. The Brewers were going for a three-game sweep against the Dodgers when they trailed 2-1, heading into the bottom of the 9th inning. Vaughn pinch hit for Jake Bauers with runners on first and second and one out. Vaughn then hit a broken bat flair over the shortstop to tie the game on the very first pitch. The game was now tied at 2-2. Milwaukee went on to win 3-2 in ten innings. The legend of Andrew Vaughn was born. 3. Andrew Vaughn’s two RBI double off Kyle Finnegan, Bottom 9 with 0 outs, trailing 5-3 on July 12 Win Probability, before: 33% Win Probability, after: 81% WPA: +48% The Brewers were riding a six-game winning streak as play began on July 12. However, it looked like things would slip away after Abner Uribe allowed a two-run home run to Brady House in the top of the 8th inning to give Washington a 4-3 lead. Andrew Vaughn stepped to the plate with two runners on and nobody out in the bottom of the 9th inning. He ripped a first-pitch fastball to the right-center field gap, scoring Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich. Vaughn’s heroics tied the game at 5-5, allowing Caleb Durbin to win it with a walk-off single, three batters later. 4. William Contreras’ walk-off home run off Randy Rodriguez, Bottom 9 with 2 outs, tied 4-4 on August 22 Win Probability, before: 54% Win Probability, after: 100% WPA: +46% Milwaukee was glad to be home after losing three out of five games in Chicago. It seemed like Willy Adames was excited to be back at his old ballpark, too. Adames hit two home runs on the evening. Trevor Megill started the ninth inning with a one-run lead. Megill retired the first two batters before allowing a double, an infield single, and a wild pitch. San Francisco tied the game at 4-4. After two quick outs, William Contreras hammered his first career walk-off home run, barely clearing the wall in left field. The Brewers won 5-4. 5. Caleb Durbin’s RBI single off Félix Bautista, Bottom 9 with 2 outs, trailing 3-2 on May 21 Win Probability, before: 17% Win Probability, after: 61% WPA: +44% No one expected much from Milwaukee in May. The Brewers were below .500, even as they looked to sweep Baltimore on May 21. Caleb Durbin had also done little to inspire optimism since being called up on April 18; he had produced a .501 OPS until this point. Milwaukee was down to its final out, trailing by a run. Durbin came to the plate with runners on first and second. On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Durbin was able to punch a hanging slider to the opposite field to tie the game at 3-3. In a disappointing turn of events, Milwaukee later lost 8-4 in 11 innings. Tyler Alexander took the loss, allowing four runs in relief. Bonus: Paul Molitor’s walk-off three-run home run off Tom Henke, Bottom 9 with 2 outs, trailing 4-2 on August 13, 1991 Win Probability, before: 9% Win Probability, after: 100% WPA: +91% For context, the greatest play in franchise history (in terms of WPA) came at County Stadium in 1991. The Brewers faced the Toronto Blue Jays in the opening game of a three-game series. Bill Wegman pitched well through eight innings but allowed a go-ahead home run to Joe Carter in the ninth. Chuck Crim allowed another run in relief, extending the Blue Jays' lead to 4-2. B.J. Surhoff and Franklin Stubbs were quickly retired to start the bottom of the 9th inning. A two-out double from Jim Gantner, followed by a walk by Bill Spiers, brought Paul Molitor to the plate. Molitor drove a deep flyball to left field, clearing the fences, creating the most sudden change in win probability in Brewers' history. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox made an intra-division trade Tuesday afternoon, shipping previously-designated-for-assignment Luis Guerrero to Tampa Bay. In return, the Red Sox received 29-year-old utility player Tristan Gray. Gray appeared in 30 games last season after the Tampa Bay Rays acquired him in a trade with the Chicago White Sox. He would go on to hit .231/.282/.410 with five doubles, three home runs, and nine RBIs. Gray profiles as a depth option with the Red Sox, the utility player having spent time at all infield positions in 2025 with most of his games played in the majors being at first base. Should Gray make it through the offseason and enter spring training with the Red Sox, he would be competing against the likes of Nick Sogard, Nate Eaton and David Hamilton for an end-of-bench role. Though, in all likelihood, should Gray still be with the team by the end of spring training, he would open the season with Triple-A Worcester, providing a veteran depth option for the organization on a cheap contract. Gray as a hitter is a rather interesting figure. Offensively, he may not make contact often (based on a 28.6% strikeout rate in his short career) and will chase pitches as shown by a 27.6% chase rate last season (not to mention a whiff rate of 31.9%), but when he does make contact, he doesn’t miss out. Gray hits the ball hard, as evidenced by his average exit velocity for 2025 being 91.4 mph along with his max velocity being 110.6 mph. Of the balls he did hit this past season, nearly half of them were considered hard-hit as well, his rate being 44.3% in the 30 games he played. One other interesting trait of his offense is his bat speed. In 2025, it averaged 74.4 mph. As written by our very own @Jack Lindsay earlier this offseason, the Blue Jays focused on improving their bat speed so that when they fell into disadvantageous counts, they could still put together a powerful, controlled swing on the baseball. Of the Red Sox players in 2025, only Triston Casas, Jarren Duran and Roman Anthony had bat speeds higher than Gray’s. The Red Sox are clearly interested in pumping up their lineup's bat speed, and Gray follows that trend, especially for someone on the bench. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter what your bat speed is if you fail to make contact. His zone-contact rate last season was only 75.4%, an increase from his 2024 numbers but still below what many consider to be average (roughly 85-87%). Also of note, while he showed he could handle fastballs, Gray struggled against off-speed pitches and whiffed more against breaking pitches, especially at Triple-A. And while he has struck out at a 28.7% rate for his career, his walk rate of 7.4% isn’t high enough to make up for the lack of contact. Defensively, Gray’s versatility is of interest. The fact he can play not just one or two infield positions but all four makes him extremely valuable for depth purposes. Last year, Nick Sogard was in a similar role, where he could be called up from Worcester to cover the loss of a player for a week or two and be plugged into the lineup in a wide variety of positions. Gray fills a similar need as thanks to his one remaining option year; he could be shuttled back and forth from Worcester to Boston as the team needs a body, giving Alex Cora someone who can be inserted into the lineup anywhere on the infield dirt. He doesn’t stand out with the glove at any one position, though he's competent at each, making one error at each of first base, second base and third base while accruing an Outs Above Average of one at shortstop last season. He very much fits the mold of end-of-the-roster players that the Red Sox have brought in over the past few seasons and have managed to turn into contributors at the major-league level. Guys like Rob Refsnyder, Romy González, and Nate Eaton were all castoffs from their previous teams who are now core depth pieces on the roster. While that’s no guarantee Gray will continue that trend, the Red Sox's track record with similar players suggests a brighter future than most may expect from the now-former Ray. View the full article

Minnesota’s offseason has been filled with speculation about trades, payroll cuts, and who might actually be on the Opening Day roster. But while many veterans are resting and preparing for 2026, a handful of Twins players are building their résumés elsewhere. Few have boosted their stock this offseason more than Emmanuel Rodriguez. The 22-year-old outfielder spent most of 2025 on the Triple-A St Paul roster and then headed home to the Dominican Republic for an extended run of competitive baseball. For a player who has lost so many reps to injuries, the chance to play may prove to be the most important development of all. He needed this winter more than most. Rodriguez has had top prospect tools for years, but rarely the sustained opportunity to show them by averaging fewer than 60 games played per season over the last two years. This time, he finally got the reps, and he made them count in a big way. 2025 Minor League Season Recap Rodriguez entered the 2025 season with the same scouting report he has carried for years. Tremendous strength. Explosive bat speed. The kind of strike zone discipline that usually develops much later in a player’s career. The only thing missing has been durability. He arrived at Triple-A with a career OPS over .900, but he had never played more than 100 games in a season thanks to a knee injury in 2022, an abdominal strain in 2023, and a thumb issue in 2024. Even with the missed time, Rodriguez managed to showcase his strengths in St. Paul. His power continued to jump off the page. His walk rate (31.8 BB%) again ranked among the highest in the Twins system. What continued to plague him was the strikeout rate (20.6 K%). It is part of his approach right now, though the Twins have always believed he will naturally trim that number as he gains more experience against upper-level pitching. Overall, his 2025 season looked similar to his previous years. He finished the year slashing .269/.431/.409 (.839) with a 135 wRC+ while facing older batters in nearly 85% of his plate appearances. Big production in smaller samples. Impressive numbers that hinted at a huge ceiling. And another year where injuries robbed him of the consistency needed to turn tools into polish. Dominican Winter League Performance The Dominican Winter League is often described as the best offseason proving ground in baseball. The stadiums are loud. The pitching is sharp. The games matter. It is the kind of environment that pushes talented young players. It was also the perfect place for Rodriguez to cash in on some much-needed innings. Playing for Águilas Cibaeñas, Rodriguez did far more than hold his own. He dominated. Over 18 games, he posted a .292 batting average with a .417 OBP and a .646 slugging percentage for a robust 1.063 OPS. He was aggressive when he needed to be and selective when pitchers tried to work around him. He hit the ball to all fields. He drove mistakes deep. And he did it against pitchers with big league experience. If that were not enough, he walked away with All-Star MVP honors in a game that was played at Citi Field in New York City. It was the clearest sign yet that when he is healthy and getting regular plate appearances, he looks exactly like the player the Twins invested $2.5 million in back in 2019. More importantly, he stayed on the field for the entire winter stretch. No nagging injury. No interruption. Just baseball. For a player whose biggest development hurdle has been availability, that alone feels like a victory. His Outlook for 2026 and Beyond The biggest question for Rodriguez moving forward is simple. Can he stay healthy long enough for his talent to take over? The Twins still believe the answer is yes. The winter numbers only reinforce that belief. He already has major league quality plate discipline. He hits the ball extremely hard. He can play an above-average outfield corner and hold his own in center. The raw ingredients are star caliber. The winter league performance may not guarantee an Opening Day roster spot in 2026, but it does put him firmly in the conversation. If he carries this momentum into spring training and shows the same durability he displayed in the Dominican, he could force his way into the lineup sooner rather than later. Even if the organization opts to give him more seasoning, he looks like a player ready to impact the big league club at some point next year. Long term, nothing has changed about the ceiling. Rodriguez still projects as a middle-of-the-order bat with patience and thunder. The difference now is that he finally has a clean stretch of playing time behind him and the confidence that comes with proving himself in a competitive winter league. The Twins have waited a long time for Rodriguez to get this kind of runway. After this winter, it finally feels like he is ready to take off. What stands out about Rodriguez's winter performance? When do you expect to see him in the Twins lineup? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs and right-handed reliever Phil Maton agreed to a two-year deal Friday night, according to a source familiar with the negotiation. The news was first reported by Michael Cerami, of Bleacher Nation, on Twitter. Maton, who will turn 33 next March, gets two guaranteed years on the pact, and the Cubs will hold an option for 2028. More to come. View the full article

4:30 Update: We are still waiting on Twins news beyond the trade and the Topa contract. we will update this article as soon as we know more. 4:35 Update: Trevor Larnach Tendered, per Darren Wolfson. 4:53 Update: The Twins tendered a contract to all of their arbitration-eligible players. Also, DaShawn Keirsey was released, making him a free agent. Next Steps: On January 8, if the two sides haven't reached an agreement, they will submit their arbitration requests. Soon after, if an agreement is till not reached, the case will be heard with an arbitrator who will determine the player's 2026 contract. It will be either the player's request or the team's requested number. Often the sides just meet somewhere in the middle. Of note, tendering a contract to Trevor Larnach does not guarantee he will be with the Twins in 2026. The front office likely has had enough trade interest to indicate that he could be traded during the offseason. Teams would obviously much rather lose a player, especially a former first-round pick, for something rather than nothing. Baseball's offseason can be long and winding, sometimes boring, and other times hectic. For instance, today (at 3pm central time) marks the deadline for teams to tender 2026 contracts to their arbitration-eligible players and pre-arbitration players. Check back to this article throughout the day to see if the Twins have reached agreements with their arbitration-eligible players or if they will need to exchange values. Some of those decisions have already been made. The Twins DFAd three relievers, right-hander Michael Tonkin and lefties Genesis Cabrera and Anthony Misiewicz. They each became free agents. This morning, the Twins traded Saints utilityman Payton Eeles to the Orioles in exchange for catcher Alex Jackson. To make room on the 40-man roster, DaShawn Keirsey was DFAd. Jackson has played in parts of five big-league seasons and has just over three years of service time which makes him arbitration-eligible for the first time. Here are the eight arbitration-eligible Twins players with their MLB Trade Rumors 2026 salary projection: C Ryan Jeffers: $6.6 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) RHP Justin Topa: $1.7 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) The Twins had a $2 million team option for Topa that they declined. Adding the $225,000 buyout to his $1.225 million 2026 contract, Topa gets $1.45 million in an awkward total. As for the 2026 contract, his salary will be $1 million with an option for $5 million in 2027 with a buyout at $225,000. RHP Bailey Ober: $4.6 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) RHP Joe Ryan: $5.8 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) OF Trevor Larnach: $4.7 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) 3B Royce Lewis: $3.0 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) RHP Cole Sands: $1.3 million (Arbitrary Thoughts) C Alex Jackson: $1.8 million Again, continue to check back throughout the day for more updates and to discuss. View the full article