DiamondCentric

The 2025 Detroit Tigers season was an emotional rollercoaster. Heading into the All-Star Break, the team held a 59-38 record, the best in baseball, and a 12-game division lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central. Following an epic collapse (28-37), they finished the season second in the division behind the Guardians. It’s difficult to imagine where the Tigers would be without their ace Tarik Skubal. Over the past three seasons, the team went 38-13 in the southpaw's starts. Skubal won the AL pitching Triple Crown in 2024, leading AL pitchers with 18 wins, a 2.39 ERA, and 228 strikeouts, and unanimously won the AL Cy Young Award. His dominance continued in 2025, and he won his second consecutive AL Cy Young Award, finishing with 13 wins, a 2.21 ERA, and 241 strikeouts. Skubal had Tommy John surgery in 2017, causing him to miss part of the 2016 season and the entirety of the 2017 season at Seattle University. Although Skubal’s velocity (95 mph fastball) was promising, concerns over his injury led him to fall in the 2018 MLB Draft, with the Tigers selecting him in the ninth round (255th overall). After his first two seasons in the Tigers’ farm system, a December 2020 Baseball America scouting report projected Skubal’s “ceiling of at least a mid-rotation starter”. Skubal underwent flexor tendon surgery in August 2022. He returned to pitching just before the 2023 All-Star Break, with the velocity on almost all of his pitches increasing. The following season, he tinkered with his pitch sequencing, reducing the use of his slider (14.9%) and fastball (33.2%), while throwing his changeup (27.0%) and sinker (20.6%) more often. Following the Tigers' departure from the 2025 postseason, Jon Heyman reported that the Tigers and Skubal are over $250 million apart in extension negotiations, sparking speculation that Skubal could be dealt this offseason. At the recent GM meetings, Craig Breslow stated the Red Sox were looking to add a frontline starter to put behind Garrett Crochet and a power bat. What about a pitcher who could slot in front of Garrett Crochet? Let’s imagine a Red Sox trade for Tarik Skubal. To start, it’s worth examining the Tigers’ positional needs. Like Alex Cora, Tigers skipper A.J. Hinch values defensive versatility and moved players around the field during the season. The chart below shows the Tigers’ and Red Sox’s 2025 positional splits, highlighting the top contributor at each position by fWAR ranking among qualified players. 2025 Red Sox vs Tigers Positional Split Rankings Red Sox Position Tigers 12th Catcher 3rd 18th 1B 13th 25th 2B 8th 7th 3B 32nd 17th SS 22nd 8th LF 12th 3rd CF 32nd 9th RF 11th 12th Rotation 7th 2nd Bullpen 24th First-time Gold Glove winner catcher Dillon Dingler (4.6 fWAR) is under control through 2030. First baseman Spencer Torkelson (2.3 fWAR) had a strong season and enters free agency in 2029. Second base is more unsettled; Gleyber Torres (2.6 fWAR) signed a $15 million, one-year deal and is now a free agent. The Red Sox utilized a revolving door at second base during the season, so the team doesn’t have a surplus to assist Detroit. Going into the 2026 season, there is uncertainty at third for both teams. The Tigers aggressively pursued Alex Bregman last offseason, offering a six-year, $171.5 million contract, but he signed a three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox. Now that Bregman has opted out, the Tigers are rumored to be gearing up for another run for him. Utility man Zack McKinstry (1.7 fWAR) generated the most production at shortstop. In the outfield, Riley Greene (2.3 fWAR) primarily manned left field. Center field stands out as a major area for upgrade, as Tigers center fielders ranked 28th overall in baseball. Though he’s primarily regarded as a shortstop, Javier Báez’s 0.7 fWAR led the eight players who appeared in center field in 2025. Wenceel Pérez (1.9 fWAR) and Kerry Carpenter (0.9 fWAR) were a productive platoon pair in right field, similar to Wilyer Abreu and Rob Refsnyder. Pérez, a defensive wizard, produced four Outs Above Average, while Carpenter dominated right-handed pitching (122 wRC+ split). Trade Scenario Gauging a potential Skubal trade is tough. Skubal enters free agency after the 2026 season, leaving him with one year of team control. A somewhat comparable trade occurred in February 2024, when the Orioles acquired then 29-year-old Corbin Burnes, who also had one year of remaining control. Though Burnes is a quality pitcher, he doesn’t reach Skubal’s ceiling and was a couple of years removed from his 2021 Cy Young Award season. Mock Trade: Boston receives: LHP Tarik Skubal Detroit receives: LHP Connelly Early/Payton Tolle, OF Jarren Duran, and SS Franklin Arias (Baseball America’s No. 48 prospect) Connelly Early or Payton Tolle help offset the loss of Skubal. Both have high ceilings and experience pitching in the majors. While Duran's performance took a step back in 2025, his 3.9 fWAR ranked 13th in baseball among position players. He’s posted seven OAA in center field over the past two seasons, and would be a significant upgrade for the Tigers. Arias is a well-regarded right-handed shortstop, ranked fourth in the Red Sox’s system and 48th overall (Baseball America). Sox Prospects projects his major league debut in mid-2027, which coincides with the expiration of McKinstry’s contract. Outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia could be swapped for Arias, though adding another outfielder to the trade would be somewhat redundant. Fellow shortstop Marcelo Mayer could factor into a Skubal trade, though his trade value is diminished after his season ended prematurely with a wrist injury. Since Skubal is a Scott Boras client, he is unlikely to sign an extension with his new team. Adding another layer of complexity to a Skubal trade is the potential for a lockout. MLB’s Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire on December 1, 2026. If/when a lockout occurs, Skubal will likely be a free agent. The 2021 Major League Baseball lockout lasted 99 days, spanning from December 2, 2021, to March 10, 2022. Four days before the start of the lockout, 11 players, including Javier Báez, Max Scherzer, Corey Seager, and Marcus Semien, signed a total of $1.9 billion of contracts. The final day set a record of $1.3 billion in new contracts. During lockouts, free agents aren’t allowed to negotiate with teams, but once the work stoppage ends, a flurry of free agent signings typically ensues. After the 2021 lockout ended, several notable players quickly signed contracts: 3/18/22: Kris Bryant signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Rockies 3/18/22: Freddie Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers 3/22/22: Carlos Correa signed a three-year $105.3 million contract with the Twins 3/23/22: Trevor Story signed a six-year, $140 million contract with the Red Sox Alternatively, Sandy Alcantara is a controllable No. 2 starter in the trade market that wouldn’t cost as much as Skubal. Meanwhile, this year’s free agent starting pitching market is thin, “headlined” by Dylan Cease, Ranger Suarez, and Zac Gallen. Under Craig Breslow, free-agent pitching additions have been an area of weakness. FanGraphs’ 2024 “We Tried” Tracker shows the Red Sox pursued starters Blake Snell, Yusei Kikuchi, Shane Bieber, and Max Fried, but ultimately fell short. Looking ahead, waiting to pursue Skubal in free agency would be a cleaner path for the Red Sox. By the time Skubal enters free agency, the team will have a general manager to oversee free agent contract negotiations. Moreover, the Red Sox are one of the few organizations that could afford Skubal’s projected $400 million contract without sacrificing a substantial package of young talent. View the full article

At just 22 years old, Trey Yesavage has already lived a fascinating life. When most of us are his age, we're still trying to figure ourselves out, searching for a career, trying to find love, or even just trying to find a way to move out of our parents' basement. Yesavage isn’t your typical 22-year-old. By now, we all know the story. Drafted in July of 2024, he began 2025 in Single A before making a meteoric rise throughout the system to the big leagues, and then making three appearances in the World Series. It's as much of a fairytale moment as you can get in baseball without winning the championship. Shortly after the season concluded, the fairytale continued for Trey, as he announced on his Instagram that he and his girlfriend, Taylor, had gotten engaged! (Congrats from all of us at Jays Centre!) It capped off what will certainly be an extremely memorable year for Yesavage and his family. Getting engaged is a sign of commitment, a sign that no matter what happens, two people will be there for each other through thick and thin. An engagement shows that you're connected; it’s represents the bond that the two of you have formed as you take on the world together. And just like Trey and Taylor did, maybe it’s time that the Blue Jays should make a commitment of their own by offering Yesavage a long-term extension to keep him in Toronto. As things currently stand, Yesavage is still set to be a Blue Jay for years to come. He is in his pre-arbitration seasons and won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2029. He doesn't become a free agent until after the 2031 season, when he will hit the market as a 29-year-old. It wouldn’t be unheard of for the Blue Jays to offer a guaranteed contract to a player as young as Yesavage. The Boston Red Sox just did it with their star outfielder Roman Anthony, giving him an eight-year, $130 million contract extension this summer. Jackson Merrill signed a nine-year, $135 million deal with the Padres in April, while Jackson Chourio, Bobby Witt Jr., and Corbin Carroll also signed similar early-career extensions in recent years. The Blue Jays, however, have not historically been a team to do this; the only pre-arb extension they’ve ever given out was the three-year, $3.7 million pact they made with a then 22-year-old Roy Hallyday in 2000, and it’s been 25 years since then. The case for the extension makes sense. Yesavage has already shown he can get big league hitters out and do it on the biggest stage in baseball, despite being so young and inexperienced. Nothing in baseball is guaranteed, but if the Blue Jays believe that Yesavage is going to be a front-line starter for years to come, then giving him a small pay raise now, in exchange for long-term cost certainty, may be a smart investment. Star pitchers in baseball can make upwards of $35 million a season, and if Yesavage ends up signing a contract now, the Blue Jays could potentially have a starting pitcher who is worth that much money on a much cheaper deal, which could help keep the team competitive into the 2030s. For Yesavage, it makes some sense, too. I'm sure that engagement ring wasn’t cheap, and being able to have some cost certainty throughout his career would be a major plus. Having guaranteed money attached to your name can provide a sort of comfort, a consistent feeling knowing that no matter what happens in your career, whether it's an injury or poor performance, the income will still be coming. With the arbitration process, that isn't necessarily a guarantee. The main question that is going to have to be answered is how certain the Blue Jays are that Yesavage is going to be good and consistent for a long time. Pitchers are inherently injury-prone; the action of throwing the ball over the head causes a lot of strain on the elbow and shoulder, which can be a precursor to severe injuries. Yesavage also had a massive innings jump this year (174.2, compared to just 93 in his final season in college), and the fact that he throws with such a high arm angle means he puts more torque and pressure on the elbow than pitchers who throw more from the side, potentially putting him at higher risk for elbow issues going forward. The last time the Blue Jays had a pre-arb pitcher pitch so well at the highest level was Alek Manoah, who debuted in 2021. He pitched to a 3.22 ERA over 20 starts that year and followed that up with a 6.0 bWAR season, where he made the All-Star team, made 31 starts and finished third in Cy Young Award voting. If the Blue Jays were to have given Maonah an extension then, nobody would have questioned it. It looked like Manoah was set to be the next Blue Jays ace. Yet injuries, setbacks and a decline in command, derailed his career. The Blue Jays DFA’d him in September, and he is now a member of the Atlanta Braves. If the Blue Jays had given Manoah the big extension, then they would be stuck paying for a pitcher that isn't helping them win today. In hindsight, the fact that they didn’t looks like a smart move by the front office. Now, Trey Yesavage isn’t Alek Manoah; they're different pitchers with different paths. For every story like Manoah’s (or, say, Nate Pearson’s) there comes along a Roy Halladay or a Dave Stieb who becomes the backbone and anchor of a pitching staff. The Blue Jays will factor in injury risk, but at some point, the potential of Yesavage might be too high, and the Blue Jays may want to explore an extension sooner rather than later. Especially as the offseason rolls on. View the full article

Admit it, you thought the 2025 Miami Marlins would be bad. It's okay—I did, too. And yet, they finished a year with disaster in the forecast at 79 wins and played meaningful baseball late into September. With a pipeline of projectable minor league talent expected to make an impact, the prospects for a competitive Marlins club in 2026 seem within reach. However, the organization cannot solely rest on the laurels of what they already have. What reinforcements can they bring aboard to continue moving the needle in the direction of postseason contention? Stating the obvious, certain marquee names are unrealistic for the Fish, whose revenue streams pale in comparison to most other MLB franchises. They would inevitably get outbid for the likes of Kyle Tucker, Kyle Schwarber, Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz. Rather, I'll be highlighting several free agents who have less leverage and more inconsistent track records, but intriguing skill sets nonetheless. SP Dustin May Key 2025 statistics: 4.96 ERA, 4.88 FIP, 132.1 IP, 1.42 WHIP Regardless of how 2025 played out, there was a time in the not-too-distant past when Dustin May was among the more exciting young pitchers in baseball. The flame-throwing left-hander pitched to a 3.10 ERA in 191 ⅔ innings of work over parts of five seasons from 2019-2023, but an injury history highlighted by Tommy John surgery in 2023 kept fans wondering what would be of May once fully healthy. The result was a 4.96 ERA split between the eventual world-champion Los Angeles Dodgers and wild card-bound Boston Red Sox. While not the outcome May would have liked, there remains light beneath the paltry results. For one, May threw a career-high 132-plus innings, and with reports from May himself that an elbow issue that cut his season short is now healed, confidence in him assuming a similar or possibly even higher workload isn't out of the realm of possibility. Two, age is still a friend, as May will pitch 2026 in his age-28 season. For the Marlins' sake, May's suspect track record of health and recent subpar season make him affordable, even by their conservative spending standards. The prospect of a healthy and more productive May could be a welcome addition to a club expected to part with some of its current pitching staff. RP Andrew Chafin Key 2025 statistics: 2.41 ERA (177 ERA+), 3.46 FIP, 5.1 BB/9 If you've followed my work here, you know I've been on the "sign Andrew Chafin" train for the past several years. After another productive season in 2025, I'm still buying a ticket. While he didn't make his season debut until May 3, Chafin didn't miss a beat, pitching to a sub-3 ERA with Washington before finishing the year with an even better sub-2 ERA in his brief time with the Angels. As was the case in Washington, Chafin's underlying metrics suggest luck—he issued walks at the highest rate of his career—but the larger body of work says otherwise. In 542 career innings pitched over his 12 seasons, Chafin owns a 3.30 ERA and 3.35 FIP. Chafin isn't without concern. His fastball velocity continues to deteriorate, ranking merely in the fourth percentile among MLB pitchers this year. But with uncertainty surrounding the status of Andrew Nardi, who missed all of 2025 due to injury, Chafin represents a cost-effective—emphasis on effective—option for Miami in 2026. 1B Nathaniel Lowe Key 2025 statistics: .689 OPS (94 OPS+), 18 HR, 10.2 BB% If the 2026 Marlins want to emulate the 2002 "Moneyball" Oakland A's, then Nathaniel Lowe could be their Scott Hatteberg. The version of Lowe that the Nationals got in 2025 (.665 OPS) would have most running for the hills, but upon arriving in Boston on August 18, he resumed his old ways, hitting .280 with a 114 wRC+ and helping the Red Sox reach the postseason for the first time since 2021. Lowe brings a Silver Slugger, World Series championship, power, and a career 10.9-percent walk rate to the table despite a career-worst season. The Sox designated him for assignment on Tuesday rather than pay a projected $13.5 million salary in his final year of arbitration eligibility, so he should be attainable for a significantly lower price than that. Lowe can provide a boost to a Marlins team whose first basemen ranked 28th with a 83 wRC+ in 2025. Better than having Eric Wagaman atop the club's depth chart at the position. 1B Rhys Hoskins Key 2025 statistics: 90 G, .748 OPS (108 OPS+), 11.6 BB% Similar to Lowe, Hoskins would provide the Marlins with an injection of offense that they severely need at first base. Profile-wise, the two are eerily similar, sporting above-average plate discipline with above-average over-the-fence power and negative defensive value as strictly 1B/DH types. The difference, however, is in age, as Hoskins will enter his age-33 season in 2026, sporting a 102 OPS+ over the last two seasons with Milwaukee. Despite being two years his senior, Hoskins can still very much turn on a fastball. Among the 261 MLB hitters with at least 100 plate appearances ending on four-seamers in 2025, Hoskins' 59.7-percent hard-hit rate ranked 31st. Against all varieties of fastballs, he whiffed only 18.6% of the time (compared to his 27.6 whiff% overall). A notorious Marlins killer in his younger days, perhaps it's time for Hoskins to make amends by joining the Fish. View the full article

The Cubs made three additions to their 40-man roster Tuesday. Teams had a deadline of 6 PM Central to add players to their 40-man roster who would otherwise be exposed to the Rule 5 Draft, which is set to take place on December 10 at the MLB Winter Meetings. The Cubs selected left-handed pitcher Riley Martin, and infielders James Triantos and Pedro Ramírez. Of the trio, Ramírez is the highest-ranked prospect. Per mlb.com, Ramirez ranked as the Cubs’ eighth-best prospect in their latest prospect rankings, and he was 10th on Baseball America's ranking of them to begin the offseason. The 21-year-old signed with the Cubs as a teenager back in 2021 out of Venezuela, just like 2025 rookie Moisés Ballesteros. Much like Ballesteros, Ramírez has hit well at every level at which he has played so far. In 2025, Ramirez played the entirety of the season with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies. Over 563 plate appearances, he slashed .280/.346/.386 with 8 home runs, hitting primarily in the top of the order. Ramírez played 68 games at third base and 59 at second base in 2025, although due to a lack of arm strength, he should provide more value at second. Ramírez doesn’t have a clear path to playing time the way the current roster is constructed, so he may be viewed best as a potential trade chip for this upcoming winter. Although he is only 21 and has not played above Double A, his hit tool might have been too attractive for an infield-needy team to pass up in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. If he does stay with the Cubs, his utility will be as a flexible backup at both the positions he played this season. Triantos is the name on this list that most fans will recognize. The second-round pick from 2021 still has a bit of prospect sheen, but it wasn’t too long ago that he was viewed as the heir apparent to Nico Hoener. Some even thought his arrival could put Hoerner in more trade rumors. His stock was highest in 2022, when he ranked as the club's third-best prospect behind only Brennen Davis and Christian Hernandez. He hit .302 with the Iowa Cubs in 2024, but took a step back in an injury-plagued 2025. He batted .258/.315/.369 over 102 games with 7 home runs, and while he did tally 28 stolen bases, he was also thrown out 10 times. Triantos has never been a power hitter, and he is an average defender at best, so he needs to get on base more to provide value to a big-league club. Like Ramírez, Triantos doesn’t have a path to playing time with the Cubs in 2026, and with his prospect stock in decline, he probably won’t be the main piece in a significant trade. If he does end up hitting more with Iowa, the 22-year-old could end up getting a brief look at some point next season as a bench bat or injury replacement. Martin has the clearest path to playing time in 2026. If he was on the 40-man in 2025, he could have been considered for a September call-up. In fact, some fans called for that very thing, even though it would have meant adding him to the roster a couple months sooner. Martin was never a big-name prospect, and has been volatile during a five-year professional career, but he just put together his best full season exclusively at Triple-A Iowa. The southpaw had an ERA of 2.69 across 63 2/3 innings, striking out 80. He had one start, but worked mainly as a reliever who could handle longer outings. There's no such thing as too much bullpen depth, and with aging lefties Caleb Thielbar and Drew Pomeranz hitting free agency, Martin should get a long look in spring training. The Cubs will add relief options this winter, but Martin being added to the roster shows there’s confidence in him. Even if he doesn't break camp with the club, the 27-year-old should get his shot sometime next season. View the full article

Tuesday night was the deadline for teams to add Rule 5 Draft-eligible players to the 40-man roster. According to MLB.com Royals beat writer, the Royals added two pitchers to the 40-man roster by the deadline: Ben Kudrna and Steven Zobac. Kudrna is ranked No. 5 on our Top-20 Prospects list at Royals Keep. The former 2021 second-round pick from Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, primarily pitched in Double-A with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals last season. In 20 outings (19 starts) and 94 IP, he posted a 4.21 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. While those weren't elite, his 24% K rate, 15.7% K-BB%, and 3.53 FIP were much more encouraging marks. The 22-year-old righty struggled in the transition to Triple-A at the end of the season. In four outings (three starts) and 11.1 IP, he posted a 14.29 ERA and 2.74 WHIP. He also saw his K rate plummet to 15.7% and walk rate balloon to 27% (nearly 20% higher than his walk rate in Northwest Arkansas). Unfortunately, his stuff didn't profile well with the Storm Chasers either, which makes one wonder whether he was dealing with fatigue at the end of the season. In addition to a meager 35.5% zone rate and 20.6% chase rate, his overall TJ Stuff+ was below average at 94. On a positive note, he still posted a 29.5% whiff rate, showing his ability to make batters swing and miss was still there in Omaha, despite the poor peripherals. A full offseason and time with the big league coaching staff could help him rebound with the Storm Chasers in 2026, making him a viable option for the rotation at the end of next season or in 2027. As for Zobac, our 15th-ranked prospect, he struggled with injuries last year, which led to a down season despite the preseason hype (as we discussed in his scouting report). The 25-year-old only made 14 starts overall between Northwest Arkansas and the Complex League, with the latter being rehab outings. In that 44.2 IP sample, he posted a 7.25 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, and 13.7% K-BB%. The control and ability to throw strikes remain a plus aspect of Zobac's profile, and he still struck out 21.3% of batters in the Minor Leagues last season. The hope is that Zobac is fully healthy and can recapture the buzz he once had at the conclusion of the 2024 season. He could be a candidate to make the Royals roster at some point in 2026 as a long reliever or spot starter, as long as he can accumulate innings next season and solve his longball issues (2.01 HR/9 allowed in the Minors last season). The Royals roster is currently at 39, and some notable players were left off the 40-man roster, exposing them to the December Rule 5 Draft, which takes place at the conclusion of the MLB Winter Meetings. Here's a list of the most intriguing Rule 5-eligible players who could get drafted in less than a month. Felix Arronde, RHP: 12th-ranked prospect who posted a 2.80 ERA in High-A Quad Cities. Daniel Vazquez, SS: 14th-ranked prospect and had a Solid AFL campaign. Frank Mozzicato, LHP: 2021 First-Round Pick and 20th-ranked prospect. Gavin Cross, OF: 2022 First-Round Pick. Luca Tresh, C: Posted a .794 OPS in Omaha in 2025. Javi Vaz, UT: Athletic utility player who posted a 1.25 BB/K ratio and stole 25 bases in Double-A in 2025. Henry Williams, RHP: Former Padres prospect acquired in the Scott Barlow trade in 2023 Shane Panzini, RHP: 2021 Fourth-Round Pick who posted a 3.39 ERA, 109 IP across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels last season. Photo Credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images View the full article

Heading into Tuesday, some Twins fans (at least those of us who care about prospects) were anxious to find out who the Twins would protect. The assumption was that it would be a sizable group of players, but due to limits, they would still leave several players vulnerable to the Rule 5 draft in a couple of weeks. The Twins chose to protect six players. They added two right-handed pitchers (John Klein, Andrew Morris), two left-handers (Connor Prielipp and Kendry Rojas), and two outfielders (Gabriel Gonzalez, Hendry Mendez). None of the names are terribly surprising. If you read our article previewing and somewhat predicting the Twins roster additions, the first five that were assumed Givens were all added. The one surprise, and a minimal surprise at that, is arguably the closest to Target Field. Sure, John Klein ended the 2025 season pitching in St. Paul, but he spends his offseason in the Twin Cities. He is a 2020 graduate of Osseo High School and grew up in Brooklyn Park. At the time, he was a catcher. He went to Iowa Central Community College, and while there, he became a pitcher. One of his coaches was Jonas Lovin who was the pitching coach for the Saints in 2025. He was going to go play baseball at Minnesota State in Mankato, but a Twins scout saw him and signed him in August of 2022 as a non-drafted free agent. Just three years later, he finds himself on the Minnesota Twins 40-man roster. He really impressed at Wichita in 2025. He was throwing harder, touching 96 with a couple of fastballs. At 6-5 and 225 pounds, he's got a chance to pitch for his hometown team as early as the second half of next season. Tomah, Wisconsin, is about two-and-a-half hours east of Target Field on I-94. That's where Connor Prielipp grew up and went to high school before heading south to Alabama. The southpaw hasn't pitched a lot of innings as a pro, but he was able to remain healthy throughout the season. He ended the year at Triple-A St. Paul and tossed six innings in his final start. Blessed with size and a big fastball, Prielipp also has a tremendous slider and a good changeup too. It will be interesting to see whether he continues to build as a starter or come to the big leagues in the bullpen. We should see that happen, maybe even fairly early in the 2026 season. Kendry Rojas presumably has the most interesting story of the bunch. It started in Cuba. He came to the States and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. He missed time early in 2025, but he was pitching very well before the trade deadline, absolutely dominating Double-A hitters. He made one Triple-A start for the Jays before being included with outfielder Alan Roden in a last-second deadline deal with the Blue Jays. He really struggled in St. Paul, getting hit and issuing too many walks, but his stuff is electric. He's a guy they will likely want to keep starting as long as that is realistic. The fourth pitchers added to the Twins roster is right-hander Andrew Morris. He was the Twins fifth-round pick in 2022 out of Texas Tech. He pitched at three levels in 2024, ending the season with the Saints. That's where he spent the entire 2025 season, though he missed almost two months on the IL. Morris looks the part of starter. He sits 94-95 mph with the fastball, and yet he has touched 97. He also throws three breaking balls with three different paths to the plate and three different velocities. While the bullpen is always possible, Morris's stuff most shouts starting pitcher. The Twins also added two hitters, both outfielders, to the 40-man roster. Like Rojas, Hendry Mendez came to the Twins at the trade deadline from the Phillies in the Harrison Bader trade. At 6-4 and about 220 pounds, he looks like a power hitter, and he has that potential. To this point in his career, however, he has been a batting average, doubles type of hitter. He puts the ball in play, even walking more than striking out at several stops, including his two-month stint with the Wind Surge. With his size, it is likely that he will get some work in at first base this offseason and moving forward. However valuable his becomes will likely depend on how much game power he is able to develop. Finally, Gabriel Gonzalez was an easy addition to the roster. The 21-year-old came to the Twins from the Mariners in a February 2024 trade for Jorge Polanco. He struggled in Cedar Rapids last year and missed half the season with injury. But he returned to form in 2026. he played at three levels and hit over .315 at each spot. He combined to hit 38 doubles and 15 homers. He hit the ball hard. Defensively, he's got work to do on reads and routes and such, but he does have a strong arm. For more Twins Daily content on these six new Twins 40-man roster members, click their links here: John Klein, Andrew Morris, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, Gabriel Gonzalez, Hendry Mendez. At Risk: The Other Side of the Proverbial Coin With their six new additions to the 40-man roster, other minor leaguers (several legitimately called prospects) are now at risk of being lost in the Rule 5 draft in two weeks at the Winter Meetings. C.J. Culpepper has to be intriguing to teams. While he was hurt early in the 2025 season and eased very cautiously the rest of the season, he also looks like a starting pitcher. He sits 94-96 with the fastball, but he also has a sinker, a slider, a cutter, a curveball, and a changeup, and probably a couple of variations of each. Jose Olivares is the high-upside, hard-throwing pitchers who at 22 is incredibly intriguing to Twins coaches, front office, fans and more. Likely scouts and coaches from other organizations have noticed as well. While he's got some really good stuff and an ability to miss bats, he has a lot of walks. But, with his question marks, would he last with another organization all season? For the second straight season, the Twins are exposing Kala'i Rosario to the Rule 5 draft. He's coming off of a 2025 season that started slow and ended with him hitting .256/.358/487 with 30 doubles, five triples, 25 homer runs, and a shocking 32 stolen bases. Could the increased athleticism shown make him intriguing to another organization this year? Kyler Fedko broke out in 2025. At glance at the raw numbers is impressive. In 130 games, he had 25 doubles, 28 homers, and 38 stolen bases. Combined with speed, defense, and versatility, he does profile as a guy who some team will like as their fourth or fifth outfielder. And there are others who could be selected as well. Cory Lewis had a rough 2025 season, but maybe a team believes in that knuckleball. Catchers are very valuable, and at season's end, Patrick Winkel, Noah Cardenas, Ricardo Olivar, Andrew Cossetti and Nate Baez were all in Double-A or Triple-A. That group shows a mix of great defensive catchers and not-so great defensive catchers. There are a couple of guys that will have to hit their way to remain a backup in the big leagues, but that's possible. Other prospects who have ranked in the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins prospects who are eligible are infielders Danny De Andrade, Tanner Schobel, and Rayne Doncon. Former first-round pick Aaron Sabato was left unprotected. Lefty relievers like Christian MacLeod and Jaylen Nowlin could intrigue a team. Miguelangel Boadas just completed a nice showing in the Arizona Fall League. Again, most years we worry about how many players the Twins will lose in the Rule 5 draft. It is possible the Twins lose their first players since Tyler Wells and Akil Baddoo were lost in the 2020 Rule 5 draft. Most won't. Generally, somewhere between 15 and 20 MLB Rule 5 picks are made. Roster spaces are limited. But it truly does take just one organization who had a coach or scout see the right player on the right day and will vouch for that player. Even then, he'd have to stick with the organization all season. Twins Acquire Reliever From Rays The Twins sent right-handed pitcher Jacob Kisting, their 14th round pick in the 2024 draft out of Bradley to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for reliever Eric Orze. For much more on this trade, click here. The trade also puts the Twins 40-man roster at 40. Will the Twins non-tender some players later this week? We shall see. What are your thoughts on the Twins additions? Who might they lose? Share your thoughts below. View the full article

In what is sure to be the blockbuster move of the winter season (just kidding… maybe?), the Twins and Tampa Bay Rays made a trade Tuesday, swapping major league-ready hurler Eric Orze for minor-leaguer Jacob Kisting. The 6-foot-4 Orze made his debut with the Mets during the 2024 season, before the team dealt him to the Rays for Jose Siri. He ranked 51st on Tampa’s seemingly endless prospect chart. Orze did not make the Opening Day roster, but he appeared only two weeks into the season, and eventually posted a 3.02 ERA over 41 2/3 innings. The underlying stuff offers cause for some concern, including a 4.65 xFIP and a 10.7% walk rate. Tampa optioned Orze back to Triple A in July, but the decision allowed some tinkering that pushed his game forward. Though trading with the Rays can be a dangerous game, the team often ends up with a roster crunch that pushes good players through their cracks; ask Joe Ryan. Orze transferred from Northwest Florida State College to the University of New Orleans, before he discovered that he had testicular cancer in 2018. When he was ready to return to the mound, the pandemic pushed him back to the sidelines. Despite the short track record, the Mets drafted him in the fifth round, as the 150th overall pick. He relies on a splitter with lots of depth, which plays off a four-seamer and a slider. The splitter shows signs of wildness, hovering around 84mph and often dropping out of the zone to induce swings and misses—but without much luck getting strikes if hitters don't chase. In that case, he pushes a fastball that comes in around 94 mph, from a true three-quarter arm lot. His slider has a fine spin rate, but hitters demolished for a .404 AVG and an .844 SLG last year. Prospect analyst Eric Lonenhiggen suggested last year that Orze could comp to Trevor Richards, if he could manage more strikes. (But, like the good Trevor Richards. Not the Twins version.) Sent off in the trade is Jacob Kisting, drafted out of Bradley University in the 14th round in 2024. Kisting pitched mostly in relief for the Low- and High-A Twins affiliates in 2025, leaning on a high strikeout rate for an overall 3.79 ERA over 73 2/3 innings, and getting at least a couple votes from the Twins Daily staff for minor-league reliever of the year. Like most prospects at this level, it’s hard to know exactly how he might develop, though never discount the Rays when it comes to developing monsters from anonymous relief arms. Expect Orze on the Opening Day roster. If the stuff is there, he could manage his way up the relatively open pecking order into a 7th- or 8th-inning role. The Rays generally left him as a one-inning guy, but called upon him a few times to go a second. If his stuff is less than stellar, he might do the same for the Twins. View the full article

The Blue Jays' number five prospect, Ricky Tiedemann, was Rule 5 eligible and was headed for the Rule 5 draft on December 10. However, the Blue Jays protected him by adding him to the 40-man roster. The 23-year-old had impressive first two MLB seasons, posting a 2.17 ERA over 78 2/3 innings in 2022 and a 3.68 ERA over 44 innings in 2023. He missed most of the 2023 season due to a biceps injury. He was still dealing with the injury at the start of the 2024 season. In July, he left a game due to another injury and subsequently required Tommy John surgery. This surgery caused him to miss the remainder of 2024 and the entire 2025 season while recovering. Being added to the 40-man roster shows the Blue Jays have MLB plans for Tiedemann next season. The team could use a fifth starter instead of Eric Lauer, and Tiedemann could take his spot as the lefty in the rotation. If the prospect can replicate his early success in spring training next season, he could make the Opening Day roster. This decision will also depend on the Blue Jays' offseason moves. Tiedemann could also be a late-season call-up, following the Trey Yesavage path, and join for the postseason run if needed. View the full article

There's no denying Pablo Lopez is on the trade block this offseason, but with Lopez slated to earn $21.75 million next season, he may be harder to move compared to Joe Ryan, who is still under arbitration. Will the Twins entertain offers for Lopez, or will they intend to keep him and improve their chances of contending in 2026? View the full article

It isn't very often that I'm in full agreement with the Miami Marlins on roster moves, but Tuesday was an exception. They selected catcher Joe Mack and right-handers Josh White and William Kempner to their 40-man roster, protecting them from next month's MLB Rule 5 draft. To clear a spot on the 40-man to accommodate all three prospects, outfielder Joey Wiemer was designated for assignment. Mack has risen to No. 2 on the Fish On First Top 30 list following a season in which he represented the Marlins at the Futures Game. Spending most of 2025 at the Triple-A level, he slashed .257/.338/.475 with 21 home runs and nine stolen bases, and he played plus defense behind the plate, including a 33.3% caught stealing rate. He turns 23 next month. White (FOF #21) has emerged as a fascinating relief arm. Another homegrown Marlins prospect, he pitched to a 1.86 ERA, 40.8 K% and .166 BAA in 45 appearances this season against AA/AAA competition. He could challenge for an Opening Day job depending on how active the team is shopping for veteran relievers this winter. The unranked Kempner was nearly as effective as White (2.26 ERA, 33.6 K% and .162 BAA in 67.2 IP), though his lack of control upon being promoted to Jacksonville indicates that more developmental time is needed. A former San Francisco Giants farmhand, he was acquired by the Fish in January in exchange for international bonus pool money. As for Wiemer, he was claimed off waivers by the Marlins in August. In 27 games for them, he slashed .236/.279/.436 with three homers and an 88 wRC+. He played excellent defense in right field over that small sample (4 DRS and 3 OAA). Worth noting that if Wiemer clears waivers this time around, the Marlins can outright him to the minors and maintain club control of him for the 2026 season—that's because he has never been outrighted before and does not have the seven years of professional experience needed to elect minor league free agency. Notable Rule 5-eligible prospects who were left unprotected by the Marlins include: OF Andrew Pintar (acquired in the 2024 A.J. Puk trade) 1B Nathan Martorella (acquired in the 2024 Luis Arraez trade) INF/OF Jacob Berry (Miami's 2022 first-round draft pick) INF Yiddi Cappe (2022 Marlins Minor League Player of the Year) RHP Matt Pushard (career 3.21 ERA in 174 innings pitched as a minor leaguer) The Rule 5 draft will be held on December 10 in Orlando as the final event of the MLB Winter Meetings. The draft order is determined by the previous season's reverse standings, so the Marlins will pick 12th. View the full article

Brandon Woodruff will continue his tenure with the club into 2026, as Ken Rosenthal reported on Tuesday afternoon that the Brewers' former ace is accepting Milwaukee's qualifying offer. Woodruff's future with the Brewers was a major offseason storyline, for a few reasons. For starters, his injury woes over the past three seasons made it difficult to confidently project his value on the open market. The 32-year-old has taken the mound just 23 times over the last three years, pitching just 131 ⅔ innings. He made his return from shoulder surgery this year, but a right lat strain ended his season in September after 12 starts. Both Woodruff and the Brewers said his shoulder remained fully healthy, though, and they extended him a $22.025-million qualifying offer, an unprecedented salary commitment to a pitcher for the franchise. Some outlets projected he would land a three-year deal north of $60 million in free agency. He'll instead take the short-term route, with Rosenthal also noting that the two sides could still agree to a new multi-year contract with a lesser annual value. Woodruff's return brings some clarity to his short-term future, but it also raises new questions—the first being what he'll contribute on the field. He predictably lost three ticks of fastball velocity this year, but his pitch shapes and strong command remained intact, and he added a cutter during his rehab. That allowed his stuff to play just as well as it did in his prime, culminating in a 3.20 ERA, 2.18 xERA, and 81 DRA-. It's difficult to imagine the Brewers committing more than $20 million to their former ace if they did not expect additional velocity and durability from a fully healthy shoulder in 2026. Even so, it's an uncharacteristic gamble for a front office that usually prefers to maintain financial flexibility with more measured investments. That leads into the second question: how the Brewers will construct the rest of their pitching staff with Woodruff back in the fold. Cot's Contracts now projects their 2026 luxury tax payroll to exceed $130 million. Woodruff's presence in the clubhouse and on the books could make trading Freddy Peralta more palatable, especially with Logan Henderson, Robert Gasser, Tobias Myers, and Coleman Crow on the 40-man roster as capable rotation options. Plenty of moving parts remain throughout the pitching mix, both on and off the field. Some answers will become clearer in the coming weeks, while others will not until next summer. The only certainty, for now, is that Woodruff is still a Brewer. View the full article

In a move that's more procedural than anything else, Bo Bichette officially rejected his $22.025 million qualifying offer this afternoon. He is expected to sign a long-term, nine-figure contract in free agency – far more than the value of the QO. So, his decision today comes as no surprise. Now that Bichette has rejected the offer, the team that eventually signs him – unless it's the Blue Jays – will have to forfeit a draft pick (and possibly also international bonus pool space). Speaking to our own John Bonnes at the GM Meetings, Ross Atkins made it clear that the Jays are interested in re-signing Bichette. However, they will have competition. Most recently, the Red Sox have emerged as a potential suitor for his services (per Rob Bradford of WEEI.com). Featured image courtesy of Nick Turchiaro, Imagn Images. View the full article

Dylan Cease and Michael King have both declined the Padres’ one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer for 2026, keeping them on the free-agent market and leaving two significant vacancies in San Diego’s rotation. Cease is coming off a 2025 season in which he made 32 starts and threw 168 innings with a 4.55 ERA, 3.46 FIP, and 11.52 K/9, marking his fifth straight year with at least 32 starts and 214 strikeouts. King’s year was limited by injury; he started 15 games and logged 73 1/3 innings with a 3.44 ERA, 4.26 FIP, and 9.33 K/9 after a full 173 2/3-inning workload as a starter in 2024 that featured a 3.33 FIP and a 19.0 percent K-BB rate. MLB Trade Rumors projects Cease to land a seven-year, $189 million contract and King to secure a four-year, $80 million deal on the open market. From a rotation standpoint, the club now has to account for the loss of Cease’s 168 regular-season innings and the portion of King’s workload it reasonably expected in 2026. Cease paired his 4.55 ERA with a 3.46 FIP and a 33.8 percent whiff rate in 2025, leading all starters in whiff rate. King’s shortened 2025 followed his 2024 transition to a full-time starting role, where he provided 173 2/3 innings with a 3.33 FIP for San Diego. Replacing that combination of innings and strikeout production becomes a central offseason task. The compensation side is straightforward. Under current qualifying-offer rules, Competitive Balance Tax payors receive a single compensation pick after the fourth round when a qualified free agent signs elsewhere, and the value of that player’s contract does not change the placement of the pick. The Padres are classified as CBT payors this offseason, so if Cease signs with another club, San Diego will receive one compensation pick after the fourth round of the 2026 Draft; the same structure applies to King. If both pitchers depart, the Padres would add two such selections. View the full article

Shota Imanaga might have miscalculated a bit. He didn't think the Cubs would extend him the qualifying offer, so he turned down $15 million for 2026 with the right to earn either $15 million more in 2027 or $42 million more from 2027-28. Then again, the Cubs might have miscalculated, themselves. When they gave the offer to Imanaga, it was (in part) because they believed he would reject it, said one source familiar with their thinking. On Tuesday, each side took their medicine, as Imanaga accepted the offer. That entitles the left-handed starter to $22.025 million for 2026, a nice immediate raise, and it means the Cubs can't trade him without his permission until May 15. In essence, it ensures that the relationship between the two will last one more season, after which the Cubs will not be allowed to make the same offer even if they want to do so. Chicago chose this possibility over a team option that would have amounted to the same annual salary for three years, so they did gain some medium-term flexibility, but they now have a minor logjam forming in their starting rotation. Imanaga, 32, pitched 144 2/3 innings this year with a 3.73 ERA. His strikeout rate plunged, though, and his velocity was down after he returned from a long stint on the injured list due to a hamstring strain. He slots in, tentatively, as the team's second or third starter for 2026, but they now face the challenge of upgrading that department of their roster despite already being heavily invested in it. In addition to Imanaga's $22 million, the team owes Matthew Boyd $14.5 million; Jameson Taillon $18 million; and Colin Rea $5.5 million, not counting buyouts on the 2027 options for Boyd and Rea. Justin Steele is likely to make over $7 million via arbitration, too. That's a heavy investment in the rotation, for a team also locked into four eight-figure salaries on the positional side and needing to fill several more holes. View the full article

The San Diego Padres re-signed Kyle Hart, kicking off their offseason with a necessary depth move to shore up the pitching staff. View the full article

Ask anyone who's been paying attention, and they'll tell you: there's likely to be a work stoppage in the next year-plus in Major League Baseball. The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the league and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) expires on Dec. 1, 2026, and the overwhelming likelihood is that owners will lock out the players on that date. That's what they did on Dec. 1, 2021, when the last CBA expired, and they've telegraphed their intention to do it again. Everyone agrees that a lockout is very likely. From there, many have extrapolated that the 2027 season itself is in some jeopardy—and more still have suggested that even if the season is played, it will be shortened by labor strife. I think everyone is probably right about a lockout coming next December. I think those who foresee lost games in the actual 2027 season are baselessly speculating, and that their baseless speculation will turn out to be wrong. Tensions between the league and the union are high, though the degree to which they exceed where they were five or 10 years ago has been overstated by some. Because catastrophizing makes for better content, though, many who see that tension are jumping from that premise to the conclusion that the on-field product will be directly affected. For fans who lived through work stoppages in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, it's impossible to imagine an expiration of the CBA that doesn't come with either an immediate renewal or games being lost. Even if you were a sentient fan in 2002, you probably have that association in your head. That summer, the league nearly shut down again in late August, as the players and the owners again engaged in a fierce staredown. Since then, though, these fights have been confined to offseasons. It wouldn't automatically have to be that way. In 1994, the players began the season without a new contract, because the previous one expired on Dec. 31, 1993. They did so again in 2002, after the CBA expired on Halloween 2001. Since then, though, the union's position has changed. They refuse to take the field without an active CBA, and when the last CBA expired on Dec. 1, 2021, the owners locked the players out to ensure that contracts wouldn't be signed while a new deal was pending. The game of chicken that is a season played without a new agreement is over. Both sides ended it, without a formal agreement to do so, because the roughly quadrennial panic that a perfectly good season would grind to a halt over labor strife was untenable for all involved. However, it's only when at least some chance of lost games creeps into view that the stakes of a lockout or a strike rise enough to stir movement from either side. With neither side willing to proceed with their business without a signed deal in place, they've pushed the fight into the winter—but in the winter, it doesn't get resolved quickly or reliably. We'll probably experience another protracted lockout next winter, which will damage fan morale and prompt lots of hand-wringing over whether any games will be played the following summer—all for naught, really, because all 162 games will probably be played. There's no perfect time on the calendar to have the CBA expire, and no perfect way to handle the fact that both sides are intransigent and greedy. There's no easy solution to the eternal problem of labor strife in MLB. However, for the good of the game, each side might consider retreating a bit from the direction in which they've moved the fight over the last two decades. While they've shielded themselves from the disaster of lost games or a nixed postseason, they've also decreased the costs of brinksmanship. Each side can afford to be more rigid and more pugnacious, and that's bad for everyone: the players, the owners, and the fans. Were these debates and these moments of near-crisis still happening in the summer, there would be much greater risks if things didn't get done, but for that very reason, the deals would get done faster and with less posturing on each side. We're not heading for Armageddon next winter. We're just heading for a headache. For fans being squeezed for more of their dollars each year while the profits for both owners and players skyrocket, it's obnoxious. It's certainly unnecessary, given that the union isn't even protecting their most vulnerable members or taking on some of the most important issues they should be addressing. The sides are fighting over money, and both sides already have too much money. They're going to have a long staredown, because each side believes it's the best way to maximize the slice of the pie they eventually get. Meanwhile, fans are all anxiety over a calamity that probably isn't coming, and it's just because this is the cycle of negotiations that is most comfortable for the already comfortable parties thereto. When we escaped the summer sweats over the danger of lost games, we lost something vital: the sense of urgency that gets the owners and the players to the table faster, in deal-making mode. View the full article

With the deadline to protect prospects ahead of the Rule 5 draft set for today at 6p.m. EST, the San Diego Padres roster is beginning to shape up. They are currently carrying 21 pitchers, two catchers, five infielders, and six outfielders on their 40-man roster. That leaves room to add up to six players to protect ahead of the deadline, if the team desires to. Let's take a look at who has been protected — and who still should be. Will Wagner - protected Despite his poor showing with the Padres in 2025, the Liberty product is on the 40-man and will return to San Diego barring a trade. Infield depth is not strong right now in San Diego, and Wagner, as of this moment, would probably make the big-league roster if the season started today. Tirso Ornelas - protected Another player who did not look very impressive when he got the call-up to San Diego last year, Ornelas, is protected as well. He'll likely get another chance to man the outfield in San Diego, especially if other outfielders get hurt next season. Luis Campusano - protected Padres fans might be sighing over this one. It sure can feel as if Campusano has been given endless chances to succeed in San Diego, and he's going to get another one. He's currently the No. 2 catcher on the roster, and even if San Diego acquires another backstop this offseason, there is a very high chance they will give their former top prospect another shot in 2026. Omar Cruz - protected It feels like the Padres have a real belief in Cruz, despite having logged only two games at a big league level by the time he turned 26. Still, he's protected on the 40-man, and could be a candidate to break into the bullpen in 2026, depending on if the team acquires any more relievers this offseason. Miguel Mendez - not protected FanGraphs seems to think it would be a mistake not to add Mendez to the 40-man roster, and I agree. The 23-year-old starter impressed in multiple levels of the minor leagues last year. "Mendez is the only truly mandatory add," wrote Brendan Gawlowski. Garrett Hawkins - not protected Hawkins posted a 0.850 WHIP and 1.50 ERA across 45 relief appearances in High-A and Double-A last year, and it feels like the 25-year-old could still have some untapped potential. With six open spots, it might make sense for the Padres to add Hawkins to the 40-man, just in case another organization sees something in him that they like. Jagger Haynes - not protected The Padres might also want to protect Jagger Haynes, currently their No. 10 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Haynes, a southpaw starter, was a fifth-round draft pick who has shown flashes while also dealing with injuries. He made 25 starts for Double-A San Antonio in 2025 and was solid. Scouts give his slider a grade of 60, his best pitch, while grading his control at a 40. There's potential here if he can hone his command. Francis Pena - not protected Among these past three candidates, Pena is the most likely to be protected. He pitched exclusively at Triple-A at 24 years old this past season, and though he struggled there, he ran a 2.43 ERA and 3.16 FIP across three levels in 2024. View the full article

As the Chicago Cubs plot their course for the offseason, which free agent and trade targets should they prioritize pursuing? How would Dylan Cease or MacKenzie Gore look at the top of the rotation? Would Bo Bichette be a fit in the infield? How about Steven Kwan roaming the outfield? View the full article

The San Diego Padres are in a weird place this winter. On one hand, this is a team that is on the cusp of title contention. They reached the National League Division Series in 2024 and won 90 games again in '25 on the strength of a really strong pitching staff. But with key arms set to depart (Dylan Cease, Michael King) or miss all of next year (Yu Darvish), a need for offense, and assumed budget constraints, it remains to be seen whether they can get over those final few steps toward championship realization. With that said, we can assume that at least some of their position players will have their names floating out in the trade ether. Whether that's in connection to filling a need or shedding additional dollars will add some complexity to the rumors, but given the number of (backloaded) long-term contracts on the books, it would probably make some degree of sense on paper to get the payroll sheet looking at least a little bit healthier. By now, you've probably seen some suggestion that Fernando Tatis Jr. could be among the names the Padres explore a trade of this offseason. He's under contract through 2034 on a deal that gets mighty pricey toward the tail-end. With his elite defense and an above-average bat (that has lost some power), one doesn't have to stretch to see the logic in moving him from a pure dollars perspective. But even with his power decline, Tatis still represents one of the most stable entities on this roster. His approach has improved while his quality of contact has remained as good as ever. As such, it's nearly impossible to imagine such a deal coming to fruition, both from a personnel and an optics standpoint. You're unraveling your pursuit of a title at that point with several ramifications to come after, including hurting franchise valuation (in case a sale actually happens). The same could be said of Manny Machado. On a contract that runs through 2033, we've seen Machado carry the offense for long stretches. Even if his defense has started to decline, the stability he provides in the lineup (even at a slight power decrease reflected in a .185 ISO in 2025) and in the clubhouse is something that the Padres aren't going to be terribly interested in moving. Beyond that duo, however, one imagines there's going to be some interest in the part of the Padres in exploring a move of one of their other two long-term position contracts: Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth. Bogaerts' contract is surely the one the Padres would love to move. His right-handed bat hasn't been a great fit at Petco Park, as reflected by a steep power decline since his arrival in San Diego (.123 ISO combined over the last two seasons). He was able to salvage some value after an abysmal start to the '25 season (104 wRC+) and has added improved baserunning and defense to his skill set. Teams could use that toolbox, in a vacuum. But — and as the Padres would probably realize by needing to replace him — it's a skillset that could be had for a lot cheaper. If a team were to take him on, it would require consumption of significant dollars on the part of San Diego. Such a deal would be a logistical nightmare, even if it would be the preferred move of the available candidates. Even for a team in need of help at shortstop that has a healthy financial outlook (think Detroit or, potentially, Toronto), it's not something that would come together with any sort of ease... and maybe not even any real financial benefit given the precarious spot in which the Padres are purported to be. Which is why Jake Cronenworth could be the likeliest to be moved of the longer-term position players on this roster. We'll explore the merits of a Cronenworth-specific move in the near future, but you've got a player whose original deal was for seven years and $80 million. He's never been the power bat that he appeared to be back in 2021, but he's a versatile player with a keen approach. His 13.4 percent walk rate was the 12th-best among qualifiers this season. Capable of playing either second or first, it's an affordable contract, even if it runs through 2030. Teams reportedly inquired on Cronenworth prior to the deadline, and if the Padres are looking to clear out some of their long-term obligations, then there's a certain logic to it. But that's the thing about moving any of these position players. Logic exists if you examine things from the Padre perspective. Clearing out money or term is in ownership's interest. But you leave a massive void in moving a Tatis or a Machado. Not to mention the brutal optics. You have to eat money to move Bogaerts. And you'd have to backfill the entire right side of the infield if you move Cronenworth, the most affordable of the bunch. It's quite a paradox which A.J. Preller will have to navigate this winter while simultaneously trying to build a starting staff from near-scratch and shore up the bullpen facing departures and potential transitions. It leaves a chance for a huge mess, though it does lend itself to plenty of intrigue, to say the least. View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays have long been linked to Munetaka Murakami, but they may favor another NPB star with fewer red flags in Kazuma Okamoto. View the full article

Twins 5: A rundown of a handful of recent Minnesota Twins news items. Today's video reacts to Derek Falvey's comments from the GM meetings about wanting to add this offseason, the lack of MLB playing experience on the Twins coaching staff, Royce Lewis' first impression of new manager Derek Shelton and a whole lotta bullpen talk.View the full article

Game Results: Monday, 11/10 | Peoria 2, Surprise 1 (7 innings) Tuesday, 11/11 | Peoria 3, Mesa 5 (7 innings) Wednesday, 11/12 - Division Series Playoff Game | Glendale 7, Peoria 8 Thursday, 11/13 - AFL Play-in Semifinals | Peoria 9, Scottsdale 4 Friday, 11/14 - AFL Championship | Peoria 4, Surprise 9 While Peoria finished the season with a 12-15 record that was good for fourth in the overall standings, with the changes to how the AFL playoffs function, they still had a chance—just like everybody else. They took advantage of it. Peoria scored four runs late in Wednesday's playoff opener to steal the game from the Glendale Desert Dogs. On Thursday, against the league-leading Scottsdale Scorpions, they kept that momentum going, building a 4-0 lead early and pulling away in the middle frames to reach the AFL Championship. Twins farmhand Miguelangel Boadas took the mound for Peoria against Surprise on Friday, with the coveted AFL banner on the line. He did his part and then some over the first three innings. The team took a 4-2 lead into the eighth inning, but that’s where it fell apart for the rest of their pitching staff. Maybe one or two more of the Twins players should have gotten the ball. The Saguaros stormed into the lead with a 7-run inning, and the title hopes of your Twins prospects were dashed. (I will note that the “overall” numbers shown below do not include the Javelinas' three playoff games, but they are included in the weekly numbers.) OF Hendry Mendez Week (did not play) Overall: .300/.391/.500 Outfielder Hendry Mendez had to leave the AFL to attend to a personal matter all the way back in week 2, and was not able to return. He had made the start in the outfield in five games for the Javelinas, and had at least one hit in all of them. He also hit the first home run in the league, all the way back on Opening Day. While many speculated that Mendez would see time at first base during the AFL season, that opportunity never came up. He hit .299/.399/.439 in Double A with the Phillies and Twins organizations in 2025, and with 118 games under his belt at that level, he should debut with the St. Paul Saints to start 2026. IF Brandon Winokur Week (5 games): 5-for-18, 2 R, 3 2B, RBI, BB, 6 K Overall (21 games): .192/.277/.315, 10 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 9 BB, 19 K, 2 SB Winokur played in all five of Peoria's games in the final week, and did some damage with the balls he put in play. He played third base in every game, batting in the bottom third of the lineup. His lone RBI came on Tuesday, when he drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning that put the Javelinas up by one. In their first-round playoff matchup, he finished 2-for-4 with a double and scored two runs. He added another double in their semifinal win on Thursday, helping them to jump out to a 4-0 lead after two innings. In the championship game, his single in the top of the sixth loaded the bases, and a groundout from the next batter put them ahead 4-0 at the time. While Winokur’s overall numbers may not jump off the page in the AFL or at the lower levels of the minors thus far, I’ve been impressed by his abilities in big moments. He has every athletic tool imaginable as well, so I wouldn’t count out a breakout in 2026 with the Wind Surge. IF Billy Amick Week (1 game): 0-for-3, 2 K Overall (11 games): .033/.293/.033, R, 8 BB, 20 K Amick got his final action of the season in the Javelinas' final game of the regular season, batting ninth and playing first base on Tuesday. He was called out on strikes in his first at-bat and flew out to right in his second. After Winokur had drawn his bases-loaded walk to put Peoria in front, Amick had a chance to break the game open in the top of the sixth. Instead, he went down looking again. While I’m sure Amick never wants to see the playing fields of Arizona again, his 2025 season was a very successful one with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. His WRC+ of 152 ranked fourth in the Midwest League among players with at least 240 plate appearances. You might also be surprised to learn that he sits right ahead of breakout shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper on that leaderboard, who finished at 147 with the Kernels. RHP Miguel Boadas Week (1 start): 3 IP, 2 H, 4 K Overall (4 appearances): 1-0, 1.54 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, .158 BAA, 9 BB, 8 K (11 2/3 IP) Boadas finished a very successful return to the mound in the AFL by making the start for the Javelinas in the AFL Championship game. He delivered. After Peoria had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Boadas took the mound and struck out the side in the bottom half, inducing seven swings and misses in the frame. With a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, he got the first two outs (including another strikeout) before allowing a pair of singles. He induced a grounder to escape that rally unscathed. In his final frame, he got all three hitters to ground out for another 1-2-3 inning. He breezed through the Saguaros on 45 pitches, with 30 going for strikes (67%) and 10 total whiffs. He topped out at 97.8 MPH with his fastball and had the Javelinas in great position for an upset after three frames. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. Boadas was definitely the star of the AFL when it comes to Twins prospects. While you might look at the strikeout-to-walk ratio and say “hold on,” these were stats from a guy who had not been on a mound in well over a year. Boadas showed excellent stuff, with a sinking fastball in the 95-98 MPH range, a cutter that got weak contact, and a slider that picked up whiffs at a good clip. He should be on everyone’s radar going into the 2026 season, and I’m sure he was on the short list of candidates to take home the Breakout Player of the Year award. LHP Zander Sechrist Week (1 appearance): 1/3 IP, H Overall (7 appearances): 0-0, 2.45 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, .240 BAA, 4 BB, 6 K (7 1/3 IP) Sechrist was given a hard assignment in his lone appearance during the week, coming in with runners on second and third base with two outs after the Solar Sox had just taken a 4-3 lead. Although they added one more run on the infield single he gave up, they also caught the other runner napping around third, so he got out of the inning by facing just one batter. The undrafted lefty may not have the big fastball that gets pitching prospects noticed, but he is also a legend at the University of Tennessee. His dominant pitching throughout the College World Series helped propel them to the national title in 2024, and I love guys who succeed by throwing nothing but “junk” that gives hitters fits. RHP Dylan Questad Week (did not pitch) Overall (5 appearances): 0-1, 15.19 ERA, 3.38 WHIP, .238 BAA, 13 BB, 5 K (5 1/3 IP) The right-hander was not called upon to pitch during the season's final week, including during any of the Javelinas' playoff games. It’s a bit hard to be trusted while walking nearly three hitters per inning, which is something the Wisconsin native will have to work on. With the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels in 2025, Questad had a nice strikeout rate of 10.0 per nine innings, but paired that with 7.5 walks per nine. RHP Jakob Hall Week (1 appearance): 1 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 K Overall (7 appearances): 0-2, 10.13 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, .400 BAA, BB, 6 K (8 IP) While Sechrist was the pitcher who had to clean up a mess on Tuesday against the Solar Sox, it was Hall who had gotten them into it. He came into the game to begin the fifth inning with the score 2-2, and set Mesa down in order, needing just eight pitches to do so. Back out for the sixth, he gave up a leadoff single, but struck out the next two hitters to put himself back in control. But then a single, a single, and a double put the Solar Sox in front for good and ended his outing. The Twins' 8th-round pick in the 2024 draft from Oral Roberts University, Hall also isn’t known for big velocity, but he does get some swings and misses on his breaking stuff and limits walks. He pitched 54 innings with the Mighty Mussels in 2025, but will need to put away more hitters while moving up, as that came with a 6.83 ERA. RHP Hunter Hoopes Week (1 appearance): 1 IP, 3 K Overall (7 appearances): 0-2, 10.13 ERA, 2.13 WHIP, .273 BAA, 8 BB, 10 K (8 IP) Hoopes’s one appearance during the final week was electric, as he came on to protect a 2-1 Javelinas lead in the bottom of the sixth inning of a seven-inning contest. He struck out all three hitters he faced swinging, inducing four swings and misses total among his 15 pitches (10 for strikes). All three of the knockout pitches were changeups. After signing with the Twins midsummer in 2024, Hoopes pitched in relief at three different levels during the 2025 season. He was barely hittable with the Mighty Mussels (0.95 WHIP) and even less hittable with the Kernels (0.64 WHIP), before finally having some trouble in Double A with the Wind Surge (1.21 WHIP). He should be a big piece of the Wichita bullpen to begin the 2026 season. Please feel free to ask questions and discuss the Twins prospects playing in the AFL this week! View the full article

It's Decision Day for Shota Imanaga, to whom the Cubs extended the qualifying offer two weeks ago. He doesn't currently count as a member of the organization, but if he accepts the offer, he'll go right back onto the 40-man roster. Right now, there's lots of room for him, but while he makes a decision about his own future, the Cubs have decisions to make about those of several of their prospects who would otherwise become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Tuesday is the deadline for teams to add players set to be eligible (based on the age at which they entered pro ball and the number of seasons they've played since signing) for the Rule 5 to the 40-man roster, thus protecting them from being selected. The Cubs need to protect several players, including infielder Pedro Ramírez and pitchers Brody McCullough and Brandon Birdsell. James Triantos, who was briefly in league with the team's top hitting prospects (Owen Caissie, Moisés Ballesteros and Kevin Alcántara) as they climbed the ladder, has stalled out in the high minors and enters Tuesday as an edge case. The Cubs have the open spaces to spare, for the moment, but if they have as active an offseason as Jed Hoyer envisions, they'll need to keep a few slots on their 40-man open for external additions. The main question with any Rule 5 protection decision is whether the player is likely to be taken if left unprotected. Any team who selects a player in the draft (which takes place at next month's Winter Meetings) would have to keep them on the big-league roster all year, or offer them back to their original team, so the Cubs just need to decide whether they believe anyone will be able to carry Triantos in the majors all year. If not, they can leave him off the list. If, alternatively, they just no longer believe in Triantos, the conclusion is the same. Triantos, 22, was a second-round pick in 2021, and has flashed a plus hit tool at some points during his professional career. However, injuries and a lack of power have stunted his development. In 538 plate appearances with Triple-A Iowa over the last two seasons, he's batted just .266/.322/.371, with 7 home runs. He does offer speed and versatility, but he's not a plus at any important defensive position, and while those numbers might be respectable for a slick-fielding middle infielder in the majors, they're underwhelming (to say the least) coming from a bat-first player still waiting to get the call. Ramírez, 21, is in position to simply take over whatever role the Cubs once hoped Triantos would fill. In 2025, he spent the whole season at Double-A Knoxville, where he batted .280/.346/.386. Those were virtually identical numbers to the ones he put up at High-A South Bend in 2024. He's no future star, but he looks like a solid, well-rounded backup at multiple infield positions, with upside from there. It's likely that the team protects him and lets Triantos dangle. Some of the day's other interesting calls will be on arms. Iowa starter Connor Noland doesn't have a plus pitch, but he was healthy and effective in Triple A in 2025 and offers high-floor, low-ceiling depth. Brandon Birdsell, who had climbed prospect lists and was my sleeper pick to contribute to the parent club when the team reported to spring training, almost immediately went down with a shoulder ailment that cost him the whole season. If he's healthy now, he's worth protecting from selection. The number of vacancies on their 40-man also opens the door to some trades today. The Cubs are in position to swoop in, should another team find themselves in a roster crunch and either not be able to add a player with upside or want to ship out someone taking up a precious 40-man place. By no means do Jed Hoyer and company want to end the day with their roster full, but even if they only add three or four of their current prospects to the slate, they might fill another two spots Tuesday, as well. Imanaga's decision will grab the most headlines, but there will be lots of other activity throughout the league. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox made a bevy of roster moves Tuesday afternoon in the lead-up to the deadline of being able to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft. Entering the day, the Red Sox 40-man roster was full as it was expected for the team to make some room to open a spot for pitcher David Sandlin. Instead, the team began the flurry of roster moves by trading Luis Guerrero to the Tampa Bay Rays for infielder Tristan Gray, per MassLive's Chris Cotillo. Guerrero, who had been previously designated for assignment and went unclaimed, didn’t open any roster spot but instead put the team at 41 players on the 40-man roster. The need for an opening led the Red Sox to designate Nathaniel Lowe for assignment. The first baseman joined Boston in August after being released by the Washington Nationals. He helped to provide stability at first base after the team had relied on a combination of Abraham Toro and Romy González. Appearing in 34 games, Lowe hit .280/.370/.420 with six doubles, a triple, two home runs, and 16 RBIs. Projected to earn around $13.5 million in arbitration, Lowe was viewed as a non-tender candidate, so the announcement of being DFA’d was not much of a surprise. The team followed the roster turnover by designating Josh Winckowski for assignment. Winckowski, the last remaining player in the system from the Andrew Benintendi trade, was viewed as another non-tender candidate due to other relievers having passed him on the depth chart. After a surprise campaign in 2023 that saw him become a trusted option in Alex Cora’s bullpen, Winckowski was never able to repeat that success as he struggled in 2024 before a flexor strain in his right elbow limited him to six games with Boston in 2025. Winckowski pitched in 121 games during his four seasons in Boston, making 21 starts. The right-hander went 13-14 with five saves and a 4.20 ERA in 242 1/3 innings pitched. With those moves, Boston saw their 40-man roster drop to 39, leaving room to add at least one player. But the team wasn’t finished; they would move another reliever a few hours later. With 33 minutes until the deadline to protect players, the Red Sox shipped left-hander Chris Murphy to the Chicago White Sox, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. In return, the Red Sox received catcher Ronny Hernandez. Murphy made his debut with Boston in 2023, where the left-hander appeared in 20 games for the team. Through July, he pitched well, allowing just five earned runs across 28 1/3 innings, suggesting he could be a key bullpen piece if the team hoped to overcome injuries to its starting pitchers. Unfortunately, he fell off in August from possibly being overused, allowing 17 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings before only tossing five innings in September. Murphy would miss the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2024. He would return in 2025, appearing in 23 games and going 3-0 with a 3.12 ERA in 34 2/3 innings. For his career, Murphy pitched in 43 games for Boston and had a 4.15 ERA in 82 1/3 innings. Hernandez is 21 years old and spent the 2025 season with Single-A Kannapolis, where he hit .251/.344/.336 with 12 doubles, one triple, four home runs, and 34 RBIs. Hernandez signed with the White Sox at 17 in 2022, and he immediately played in the DSL, throwing out 51% of base stealers. In 2025, he appeared in 64 games behind the plate, committing 10 errors in 622 defensive chances. He also threw out 24% of base stealers, up from 14% in 2024. Now down to 38 players on the 40-man roster, David Sandlin was added to the roster as reported by SoxProspects’ Andrew Parker. Sandlin was the one prospect everyone expected to be added to the roster, but it ended up being that he wasn’t alone. Chris Cotillo soon added that both Shane Drohan and Tyler Uberstine were also to be added, the two pitchers having previously been viewed as candidates, but it was unclear whether they would be added. Both spent most of the 2025 season in Worcester, pitching well enough to gain the attention of the front office to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. With Worcester, Drohan appeared in 12 games, making 11 starts and going 5-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 47 2/3 innings pitched. What stuck out for him was his 67 strikeouts in that span. Uberstine made 19 appearances for Worcester, going 6-4 with a 3.56 ERA in 91 innings. He also struck out 102 batters. With the 40-man roster back up to 41 players, the Red Sox made one more trade to bring it back down to 40 players as they shipped left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino to Colorado for minor leaguer Braiden Ward, as first reported by Beyond the Monster’s Hunter Noll. Bernardino joined the Red Sox back in 2023 after the team claimed him off waivers from Seattle, and he immediately became one of Cora’s most-used relievers during his tenure with the team. In three seasons with Boston, Bernardino appeared in 169 games, making 12 starts as an opener and going 10-8 with a 3.47 ERA across 155 2/3 innings. During that time, he struck out 157 batters and walked 68 while allowing just 11 home runs. Ward, who plays center field, left field, and second base, split last season between Double-A and Triple-A, where he hit a combined .290/.395/.391 with 17 doubles, four triples, two home runs, and 37 RBIs in 97 games. Most of Ward’s playing time in 2025 came in the outfield, playing 78 of his 97 games between left field and center field. He did play six games at second base and three at third base. Center field appears to be his best position defensively, as he’s made just four errors there in 456 defensive chances in his career. Boston finished the day by trading pitcher Alex Hoppe to the Seattle Mariners for catcher Luke Heyman, per Tim Healey of the Boston Globe. Hoppe, who was drafted by the Red Sox in 2022, split 2025 between Portland and Worcester, appearing in 44 games. The right-hander tossed 61 1/3 innings, striking out 73 batters and walking 34. He also had a 4.55 ERA. Hoppe was best known for his fastball, which could reach triple digits, and his slider, which, when he was on, could make batters look silly. Hoppe appeared in 123 games with the Boston organization, tossing 176 innings and striking out 203 batters. Heyman was Seattle’s 14th-round pick in this year’s draft, having played three years of college baseball for the University of Florida. In 2025, Heyman played in 49 games, hitting .301/.397/.578 with seven doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, and 44 RBIs. He did not play in any professional games after being drafted. Craig Breslow had a busy Tuesday as he overhauled the backend of the 40-man roster while adding prospects into the system. The offseason has only been in session for a few weeks, but Breslow seems willing to make moves, and it should make for an interesting offseason. View the full article

Last season, when I approached this series, the Twins’ roster was in a very different place. Minnesota looked like a playoff contender for much of the 2024 season, before an epic collapse. In 2025, the fall came much earlier, and the front office dealt away multiple core pieces at the trade deadline. It’s tough not to wonder if the winning window has abruptly shut on the current core. As the Minnesota Twins gear up for the 2026 season, the focus shifts to the core group of players who form the backbone of the roster. Some players have cemented their place as long-term building blocks, while others could be valuable trade assets. In this article, we rank the Twins' most important pieces at the big-league level, considering their impact and the likelihood of them being traded before the 2026 season. 10. RP Cole Sands Pros: Sands emerged as one of Minnesota’s most reliable bullpen arms in 2025, giving the team late-inning stability at a time when it desperately needed it. His splitter was worth seven runs, and his 6.4% walk rate was among the best quartile in the league. With three years of team control remaining, Sands offers cost-effective value at a position that constantly turns over. Cons: The Twins have limited options for the bullpen, so it seems unlikely that the front office will trade another reliever. While Sands was a needed bright spot, his track record is still inconsistent. As the Twins showed at the deadline, teams often look to sell high on relievers, and middle reliever is a high-volatility, non-premium role. A club searching for bullpen help could view Sands as an appealing second piece in a larger deal. His limited ceiling compared to other controllable pitchers also factors into Minnesota's long-term roster building. Trade Likelihood: Low Minnesota values the role Sands fills, and unless a trade package specifically targets him, it is hard to see the team pushing him out the door. 9. 3B Royce Lewis Pros: When healthy, Lewis remains one of the most dynamic talents in the organization. Last season, I ranked him at the top of this list, but his 2025 performance dropped him. The Twins hoped that his early-career offensive performance would make him a franchise cornerstone. Even in 2025, Lewis showed improved defense at third base, with one OAA. Offensively, his 73.6 bat speed was in the 72nd percentile, and the rate at which he pulled the ball in the air (24.5%) continued to rank well. Cons: Durability remains the defining question. Multiple significant injuries have kept Lewis off the field, and Minnesota must evaluate how much they can count on him. Even with this season’s improvements, his defensive future is unclear, and depending on roster construction, the Twins may question whether he fits best at third base, designated hitter, or somewhere else entirely. If the front office believes another club is willing to pay full value for his upside, the door is at least cracked open. Trade Likelihood: Medium While the Twins are far from eager to move Lewis, he is one of the few players who could be traded to shake up the team’s offensive core. That keeps the possibility in play. 8. SS Brooks Lee Pros: Lee took over the team’s starting shortstop role after the club dumped Carlos Correa at the trade deadline. His athletic ability is worse than Correa’s at shortstop, but he can hold down the position, with -1 OAA in nearly 600 innings. Before his big-league debut, scouts praised him for his ability to control the zone, hit for average, and produce tough, professional at-bats. This season, he ranked in the 74th percentile or higher in both avoiding strikeouts and squaring up the ball, thereby getting the most out of his bat speed. The Twins have no other options for shortstop, so they would need to be blown away by a trade offer for Lee. With five years of control remaining, Lee looks like a core piece in the making. Cons: His ceiling may not be as high as some of Minnesota’s other young hitters, and that could make him expendable in the right deal. If another club views Lee as a ready-made solution at a premium position, the Twins might have the opportunity to address a glaring organizational need. There is also the looming question of where Lee fits long-term if the front office believes he can’t stick at shortstop. Trade Likelihood: Low The Twins have little incentive to trade Lee, and would require a significant return to even consider it. 7. SP Bailey Ober Pros: Entering last season, Ober looked like he had established himself as a dependable mid-rotation starter. He had impressive strike-throwing ability and a track record of durability. His size, delivery and command make him uniquely difficult for hitters to time. Last year, his walk rate, chase rate, and extension toward the plate at release ranked in the 93rd percentile or higher. With two years remaining in team control, he continues to be cost-effective. Cons: Ober’s margin for error remains thinner than that of the typical front-line starter. He struggled with a hip injury last season, which seemed to throw off his mechanics. When his fastball command wavers, hitters can elevate against him and produce damage quickly. His stuff is more solid than electric, which may make him more replaceable in the long term as top prospects move closer to the majors. Trade Likelihood: Medium-Low The Twins like what Ober brings, but as they reshape the rotation, they could listen if a team makes a compelling offer. However, his trade value might be at an all-time low. 6. OF Matt Wallner Pros: Like many Twins hitters, Wallner struggled in 2025—but he was still among the team’s best hitters, with a 110 OPS+. According to Baseball Reference, he was worth 6, relative to an average batter. He has game-changing power, with his Barrel rate, bat speed, and walk rate ranking in the 84th percentile or higher. His elite arm adds to his defensive value. When he is locked in, Wallner looks like the type of middle-of-the-order bat that Minnesota has been desperate to develop internally. Cons: His track record still contains peaks and valleys. Wallner’s offensive success relies heavily on his ability to maintain strike-zone discipline, and slumps get especially ugly. For instance, before going down at the end of the year, Wallner batted just .163/.293/.347 in September. With Minnesota’s growing outfield depth and the emergence of other left-handed bats, the front office must decide whether Wallner fits the long-term puzzle or represents one of their best trade chips. A club looking for controllable power could push for his inclusion. Trade Likelihood: Medium Wallner remains part of the Twins' plans, but his combination of upside and uncertainty makes him a realistic trade candidate, depending on the team’s offseason priorities. The Twins have a strong core for 2026, but that doesn’t mean they won’t explore trades to reshape the roster. Lee and Wallner are young, foundational players the team will probably build around, while others like Sands, Ober, and Lewis could be moved to fill other needs. The offseason will be critical, as the front office balances improving the team without disrupting its future success. Will any of the players above be traded this winter? Which player is the most critical building block? Leave a comment and start the discussion View the full article