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Well, that Rafael Devers trade tree continues to expand. At long last, the Boston Red Sox have addressed their glaring need in the infield, adding Caleb Durbin in an out-of-nowhere trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. The full return — Kyle Harrison, David Hamilton, and Shane Drohan — continues to deplete the Red Sox's pitching depth, which has been a key part of their offseason strategy. Expect Payton Tolle and Connelly Early to serve as the next-men-up in case of an injury to the major-league rotation. As for Durbin, the 25-year-old infielder primarily played third base for the Brewers in his rookie campaign, but he's a capable middle infielder and will almost certainly slide over to second upon arriving in Boston. He hit .256/.334/.387 (105 wRC+) with 11 home runs and 18 steals last season. More to come... View the full article

Caleb Durbin had a tremendous rookie season with the Brewers, but it will be his only one. Milwaukee dealt the diminutive infielder to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for three players, a source confirmed to Brewer Fanatic on Monday. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first reported the news. In fact, the deal is big and involves multiple players on both sides. Milwaukee will also send the Red Sox infielders Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler, plus their competitive balance Round B pick in this summer's draft, while getting back left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, infielder David Hamilton, and left-handed pitching prospect Shane Drohan. The immediate question, here, is what the move means for the Milwaukee infield. Durbin, who will soon turn 26, became the team's everyday third baseman early in 2025 and held the job through the NLCS. He batted .256/.334/.387, with 11 home runs and 18 stolen bases, and went from unplayable at third base in spring training to a plus defender there by season's end. His departure leaves a gap at the hot corner for Milwaukee. Harrison is the biggest name of the three players Milwaukee will acquire. He made multiple appearances on global top-100 lists and was the Giants' best pitching prospect for a couple of seasons, but he has yet to get over the hump and find consistent success in the majors. He was part of the Rafael Devers trade last June. More to come. View the full article

Will Payton Tolle crack the rotation, be a bullpen arm, or spend more time sharpening his skillset in Triple-A? In this video, we dive into Tolle's background, his electric fastball, and most importantly, what he needs to sure up if he wants to make it into a rotation that is littered with competition. At the end, we give a full projection of Tolle's 2026 season. Enjoy! View the full article

It's easy to imagine the Louis Varland trade as one of those moves that will linger in the background for a while. Varland and Ty France landed with a Blue Jays team that went on to win the American League pennant, and any contribution on a stage that big tends to tilt public opinion quickly. From the Twins’ perspective, the return has mostly been discussed through the lens of Kendry Rojas, a left-handed starter the organization remains high on despite a rocky performance in Triple-A after the deal. He's the player whose upside so tantalized Derek Falvey and the front office that they were willing to deal away a local kid with several years of team control remaining. That's not quite fair to Alan Roden, the quieter piece of the trade and arguably the one who could make the whole transaction feel a lot different by the end of the 2026 campaign. When the Twins and Blue Jays lined up on the deal, Varland was still viewed by many as a controllable arm with upside, and France provided immediate major league depth. Rojas fits Minnesota’s long-term pitching mold as a young lefty with traits the organization believes it can develop. Roden, though already having played in the majors and being a more instantly recognizable name than Rojas, was viewed as a low-ceiling inclusion—a perception that has stuck. Though immediately brought to the big-league team, Roden wasn't able to demonstrate his value down the stretch. His year ended on the 60-day injured list, after he sprained a ligament in his left thumb on a headfirst slide. Surgery followed, and the timing could not have been worse for someone trying to establish momentum in a new organization. The good news is that the 25-year-old is healthy now and had a normal offseason, which matters a lot for a player whose game is built on rhythm and consistency. The roster math in Minnesota does him no favors. The Twins already have a logjam of left-handed-hitting corner outfielders, in Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, and fellow traded deadline addition James Outman. Roden adds another lefty bat to the mix, but his profile is different enough to matter. He is more athletic than Larnach or Wallner, can handle all three outfield spots, and does not bring the same swing-and-miss concerns as each of the other three do. In the minors, he showed an ability to hit for average, draw walks, and sprinkle in occasional power, rather than sell out for it. Before the trade, Roden was one of the most productive hitters at Triple-A Buffalo, in the Blue Jays system. In 32 games, he slashed .331/.423/.496, with nine doubles, 3 home runs, and more walks (16) than strikeouts (13). That wasn't just a hot month, either. Across four minor-league seasons, Roden has posted a .302/.409/.457 line, walking and striking out exactly 165 times each over 1,319 plate appearances. He also graded out as a plus defender, something that can give him a leg up on the other lefty corner options. There are still obstacles to clear and questions to answer. Roden has two minor-league options remaining, while Outman is out of options entirely. That reality likely sends Roden to St. Paul, unless injuries open a door. At the same time, he is entering his age-26 season, and there isn't much left for him to prove against minor-league pitching. Players with his track record tend to force the issue eventually, especially when their skill set fits multiple roster needs. He also needs to prove adaptable and smart in making changes to his swing and/or approach. Although the sample is small, his big-league time showed below-average bat speed, a flat swing plane and some issues with timing he'll need to iron out. If he makes progress on those points this spring, though, he'll rise especially quickly in the organization's esteem. There's an important precedent to consider. Roden was the star of Blue Jays spring training last year and played his way onto the Opening Day roster by hitting .423 with a 1.287 OPS. He did exactly what organizations say they want from their prospects: He made it impossible to keep him off the roster. If he repeats anything close to that in Twins camp, the calculus changes quickly. The Varland trade may not be judged fairly for another year or two, but it's worth paying attention to the quieter parts now. Rojas still has a chance to develop into a meaningful arm. Roden might be closer to helping than most people think. If he turns his on-base skills, athletic defense, and low-maintenance approach into real production at the major-league level, the narrative around that deal could flip faster than expected. Can Roden make the Twins’ Opening Day roster? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

There are multiple reasons the Milwaukee Brewers felt comfortable trading away ace righthander Freddy Peralta this offseason. One of the big reasons was the presence of controllable righty starter Logan Henderson. The soon-to-be 24-year-old has scaled the ranks of Crew prospects, currently ranked No. 7 by MLB Pipeline, and made his big-league debut early in 2025. Overall, he had three call-ups: a one-start sneak peek in April, three turns as an injury fill-in in May, and one more in August before a right flexor strain ended his season. This article is the second in a series of breakdowns of the Brewers pitchers in ambiguous positions at the outset of spring training. To see the first entry, on left-handed starter candidate Robert Gasser, click here. A fourth-round draft choice in 2021 out of a Texas junior college, Henderson has now been a hot prospect name for long enough that his pedigree feels better than that. He was really good in those five starts in the majors, too. In 25⅓ innings, allowed just five runs, with eight walks and 33 strikeouts. As a bonus, the Brewers won all five starts. At Triple-A Nashville, Henderson had 16 outings with a 3.71 ERA, notching 24 walks and 87 strikeouts over 77⅔ innings. Alas, his season was derailed by the flexor strain in early August. He rehabbed and worked his way back to be in consideration for the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He didn't make the roster for that series, but the good news was that he was ready then, so he should be fine entering spring training. With two spots to be claimed in the rotation behind fellow righties Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester and Jacob Misiorowski, Henderson is in prime position to make his first Opening Day roster. Logan Henderson's Stuff Due to the injury, we have a small sample of big-league data with which to work. However, Henderson worked relatively deep into each of his appearances, so there is a solid sense of what he does to be successful. He relies on a four-seam fastball and a changeup to get most of his work done. Henderson's four-seamer is effective due to having 3.4 inches more arm-side run than that of an average right-handed pitcher, while his changeup has 4.4 more inches of horizontal movement. After accounting for his low-three-quarters arm slot, the horizontal movement is a bit less deceptive than the raw numbers suggest, but the rising action on his four-seamer is more so. Using his unique combination of arm slot and movement, he limited right-handed batters to a .216 average and .473 OPS, while left-handed hitters had a .167 average and .602 OPS. All three homers he allowed were to left-handed batters on four-seamers. The movement and deception are vital, because Henderson's velocity is below average on each of his pitches, with his four-seamer coming in 2.1 mph below the typical big-league righty's. Logan Henderson's Pitch Arsenal As mentioned above, Henderson uses two of his four pitches a bulk of the time. In fact, eight of every nine pitches he threw in the majors were either four-seamers or changeups. In the minors, he was a bit less extreme, throwing his cutter and curveball about 10% of the time each. Henderson used those last two pitches depending on the type of batter he was facing. He used his cutter only against left-handed batters in the big leagues, while he went to the curveball (or slider, as Statcast tags it) almost exclusively against right-handed hitters. Regardless of batter handedness, he throws the fastball around half the time, and the changeup plays against lefties and righties, alike. No batters got a hit off his cutter (0-for-5, 32 pitches), but his breaking ball was tagged a bit (2-for-4, 14 pitches). To be successful at the highest level, Henderson will need those two pitches to achieve greater utility, especially as he works his way through the order again and faces teams multiple times. What Should Logan Henderson's Role Be In 2026? Henderson has made 65 appearances as a professional, and the only non-start was a four-inning piggyback appearance last year in Triple A. The Brewers have a defined role for him: rotation or bust. He, Robert Gasser, Chad Patrick and Brandon Sproat will be the top contenders for the final two starting spots this spring. Patrick showed his versatility in the postseason by being a quality reliever, so he has that experience and could easily slide into the bullpen and be ready to jump into the rotation as needed. Sproat is like Henderson, in that he's been a starter throughout his pro career. Gasser would be the only lefty in the team's rotation, which might give him an edge on the other three. If you were to pencil in a rotation entering spring training, Henderson would have one of those final two spots. Had it not been for his right flexor strain, Henderson would have been a solution for the Crew's lack of starters in the postseason. He does have two minor-league options remaining, though, should others surpass him this spring. Eventually, if enough other hurlers stay healthy and he struggles enough to refine the cutter and the breaking pitch, he might make more sense in the bullpen, where he could find an extra tick of velocity and be played as a reverse-split matchup guy with the great changeup. For 2026, though, he enters camp as a starter who will get a chance to fill that role with the parent club. The fallback plan is still to start, but in Nashville. View the full article

As one of the oldest franchises in Major League Baseball, the Boston Red Sox are deeply embedded in the sport’s history. The organization has stepped into the limelight at various points over the past 125 years, more often than not for trading the face of their franchise. Each seismic move significantly impacted the Red Sox, creating a ripple effect. If you believe in alternate timelines, imagine if: Babe Ruth wasn’t sent to the New York Yankees to help finance former owner Harry Frazee’s Broadway musical Billy Beane accepted the Red Sox's 5-year, $12.5 million general manager contract offer The team kept Anthony Rizzo Mookie Betts wasn’t traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a salary dump Signing Rafael Devers to a 10-year, $313.5 million contract, the largest in franchise history, supposedly washed away the remorse of trading Mookie Betts. Devers was a homegrown player. A World Series Champion. The last man standing from the 2018 core. Nonetheless, history repeated itself. Following an exhilarating home sweep of the Yankees in mid-June of 2025, the Red Sox parted ways with Devers, sending him across the country to the San Francisco Giants. The move’s fallout has curdled faster than milk. The Red Sox received four players from the Giants: reliever Jordan Hicks, bulk reliever Kyle Harrison, outfield prospect James Tibbs, and pitching prospect Jose Bello. Come February 2026, Harrison and Bello are the only remaining pieces from the trade. The team quickly parted with Tibbs at the trade deadline, sending him to the Dodgers for Dustin May. Hicks is now the Chicago White Sox's problem. Trading the face of your franchise to appease Alex Bregman — who ended up being a one-year rental on a pillow contract — is a tough pill to swallow. Quantifying the move’s damage is even more brutal. Between Hicks, Harrison, and May, the Red Sox acquired a total of 5.9 fWAR. Sending Devers to San Francisco gave up 27.8 fWAR. The net loss sits at -21.9 fWAR. These totals reflect what players produced with their former teams. Their actual contributions with the Red Sox were much worse. When trading an established contributor, you should expect a decent return, not a bag of peanuts. Hicks’ 18.2 innings for the Red Sox featured -0.4 fWAR, 8.20 ERA, 6.19 FIP, and a ghastly 3.1% K-BB%. He continually forgot the strike zone existed and blew leads. Harrison, the more immediate bright spot from the trade, is under control through the 2030 season. Baseball America ranked him as the Giants’ #1 prospect in 2024. He tinkered with his pitch mix in Triple-A Worcester by adding a cutter and altering his changeup grip. The results point in a positive direction: 3.00 ERA, 2.47 FIP, 14.3% K-BB%, and 0.4 fWAR. With two remaining MiLB options, Harrison will likely start the 2026 season in Worcester. In the aftermath of the Joe Ryan debacle at the 2025 trade deadline, Red Sox fans were left with Dustin May as a consolation prize. Oh well, oh well. The Mayday Parade limped to a dismal 5.40 ERA, 5.39 FIP, 9.8% K-BB%, and -0.1 fWAR. Bello only tossed 23.1 innings at Single-A Salem last year. Entering his age-21 season, he could develop into a solid arm, but it’s too soon to tell. @Nick John broke down newcomer Gage Ziehl. Like Bello, he is a low-level prospect. Some of the organization’s pitching prospects have sped through the minors, so that we might see Bello and/or Ziehl in Triple-A Worcester by the end of the season. Other blockbuster trades in recent memory just haven’t aged this poorly so quickly. Hicks, Harrison, and May have combined for -0.1 WAR with the Red Sox. Meanwhile, Devers accumulated 1.3 fWAR on the West Coast (3.3 total). I’ll acknowledge that Devers’ contract won’t hold up over time. The extension was an orchestrated PR move to restore the team’s reputation and appease the fanbase after the departures of Betts and Xander Bogaerts. It occurred less than a month after Bogaerts was lured to the Padres on an 11-year, $280 million contract. Devers was never going to contend for a Gold Glove at third. His value came from his bat, tearing the seams off the ball from the two-hole. The Red Sox knew this. The trade wasn’t inevitable. It was the product of poor roster management, short-term thinking, and egos run unchecked. Comparison Trade Tree On the surface, Juan Soto and Rafael Devers share similar profiles. Both are bat-first players with questionable defense. The circumstances of their trades were vastly different. Soto was 23 years old when the Nationals traded him, earning $17.1 million under arbitration for the 2022 season. He had two years of team control before he hit free agency. Devers was 28, earning $29.66 million in AAV with about 8.5 years left on his 11-year, $331 million extension. The Nationals sold high on a young player they couldn’t retain instead of letting him walk for nothing. The Red Sox traded a franchise cornerstone owed $250+ million on a long-term deal because egos in the clubhouse and front office couldn’t be managed properly. After Soto rejected a 15-year, $440 million extension offer, the Nationals decided to cash out, shipping him to the Padres for a king’s ransom. Less than two years later, the Padres flipped Soto to the Yankees in his final year of arbitration. The move that emptied their farm system ended up replenishing it. Upon an initial review of the Soto trade tree, it looks like the Nationals were fleeced. But, the fWAR displayed reflects each player's value with their original team before being traded. It doesn’t account for any post-trade production, as prospects without any major league playing time do not initially register any value. From the draft until the majors, baseball prospects take time to develop. Most don’t pan out. However, the Nationals struck gold on their return of starter Mackenzie Gore, outfielder James Wood, shortstop CJ Abrams, and outfielder Robert Hassell III. Pitching for a team that’s finished at (or near) the bottom of the National League East over the past three seasons, Gore tossed 462.1 innings for a 4.15 ERA, 4.01 FIP, 16.6% K-BB%, and 7.3 fWAR. Wood, as a 22-year-old rookie, has amassed 4.6 fWAR and a 125 wRC+. His peripherals are outstanding, and he’s an exciting player to watch. Coming off a career-high season of 3.1 WAR (7.0 total), Abrams is more of a bat-first shortstop. He’s marked -18 OAA since 2023, the worst among qualified shortstops, and a .250/.307/.417 slash line and 99 wRC+ with the Nats. Hassell III (-0.5 fWAR) has struggled at the plate (.572 OPS). On the field, his defense passes the eye test. These players have generated a combined 18.4 fWAR. The Nationals have already broken even with at least two more seasons of Wood and Abrams. Soto posted 18.1 fWAR from 2022-24, before hitting free agency. The Soto trade tree continues to bear fruit. This offseason, the Nationals swapped Gore to the Rangers for another group of prospects. While these players aren’t knocking on the door yet, Paul Toboni, the Nationals’ newly minted President of Baseball Operations, has shown a knack for acquiring and developing young talent. Soto’s stint with the Padres was short. He slashed .265/.405/.488 across 936 PA in 214 games for a 148 wRC+ and 7.3 WAR. Realizing that they couldn’t retain Soto amid a bloated payroll, the Padres shipped him back to the East Coast, this time to the Yankees. In exchange, they received starters Michael King, Drew Thrope, and Randy Vásquez, reliever Jhony Brito, and catcher Kyle Higashioka. King’s career splits with the Yankees and Padres are nearly identical. When healthy, he’s a dominant pitcher. He put up 3.9 WAR in 2024 and 0.8 WAR across 15 games in 2025. This offseason, he signed a three-year, $75 million extension with the Padres. Brito posted 0.3 fWAR in 2024. He underwent an internal UCL brace surgery and missed the 2025 season. Heading into the 2026 season, his role is uncertain. Vásquez stepped up when injuries plagued the Padres rotation. Though his performance was a mixed bag in 2025, netting 0.8 fWAR. Higashioka (1.6 fWAR) was a serviceable catcher during his single season with the Padres. As a Red Sox fan, there’s schadenfreude in watching the Yankees trade a boatload of talent for a one-year Juan Soto rental. All told, the Padres’ return of 7.4 WAR falls just short of Soto’s 8.3 fWAR with the Yankees in 2025. If King stays healthy and Vásquez and Brito don’t regress, that gap could break even as soon as this season. The Other Awful Red Sox Trade Chaim Bloom’s tenure with the Red Sox was marred by the Mookie Betts trade. Six years later, rehashing this move is beating a dead horse, so I’m not going into too much detail here. The Dodgers’ return and its resulting moves have accumulated 7.9 fWAR for the Red Sox: OF Alex Verdugo: 6.0 fWAR INF Jeter Downs: - 0.4 fWAR RP Greg Weissert: 1.2 fWAR C Connor Wong: 0.9 fWAR SP Richard Fitts: 0.2 fWAR This total is fluid, as Sonny Gray hasn’t stepped on the mound in a Red Sox uniform yet. Barring him turning into a pumpkin, the number should climb, though it still won’t come anywhere close to Betts’ performance (28.0 WAR) with the Dodgers. You can chalk up one bad return to bad luck. Prospects are volatile. But two franchise players, traded under different GMs, both yielding dismal returns, point to a deeper issue. If you’re trading a generational talent, you should at least receive proven talent in return. Reclamation projects are a huge gamble. Craig Breslow flew too close to the sun and thought he could fix Jordan Hicks and Dustin May. He did not. After the Betts trade, the Red Sox found themselves in limbo, stuck between fully committing to a rebuild and attempting to compete. With the Devers trade behind them, the team is in a different place with a young, controllable core. Reinvesting the $250 million owed to Devers into Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony, and Ranger Suárez signals they want to turn a new leaf. Whether the Red Sox have learned from their past mistakes remains to be seen. Mookie Betts was strike one. Rafael Devers was strike two. One more swing-and-miss and they’re out. View the full article

At Marlins Media Day, veteran reliever Pete Fairbanks speaks with Fish On First about getting acclimated to a new team, new MLB rules and more. View the full article

In October of 2025, Bo Bichette said that his goal was to play his entire career with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and win championships with the Blue Jays, but the Jays prioritized other offseason moves ahead of bringing him back. In January, Bo signed a massive three-year, $126 million deal with the New York Mets, ending his career with the Blue Jays. Bichette and the Mets will come to the Rogers Centre for a three-game series on June 29 through July 1, and he will surely receive a touching tribute video and a standing ovation from the fan base that he grew up in front of. But how is he going to be remembered in Toronto? Heading into 2019, there wasn’t much for Blue Jays fans to be excited about other than prospect rankings. The core from the 2015 and ‘16 playoff runs had moved on, and the hype around the team had died back down to pre-2015 levels. The Jays were coming off back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the AL East and were destined for a similar season in 2019 with Justin Smoak as the face of their lineup, and a soon-to-be-traded Marcus Stroman as their best pitcher. But there was light at the end of the tunnel for fans. At the top of just about any prospect list you could find was Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The son-of-a-Hall-of-Famer, blue-chip third base prospect with generational power and an elite approach that hit .381 across Double and Triple A as a teenager was due to come up and make his debut at some point in 2019. But throughout Guerrero's journey to the big leagues, a shortstop prospect just as important to the future of the Blue Jays was making a name for himself as Vladdy’s partner in crime. While Vlad Jr. was headlining all of the prospect lists and generating all of the excitement, Bo Bichette was quietly developing into a star. Bichette was a second-round draft pick of the Jays in 2016, and he opened up 2019 as the game's 11th-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. But, at just 21 years old, he wasn’t expected to be ready for a big league debut until at least 2020. That’s why it was so exciting when the trade deadline rolled around, the Jays traded away Eric Sogard to the Tampa Bay Rays, and they decided it was time to let their shortstop of the future take the big league job for a spin. Bo met the Blue Jays in Kansas City on July 29, 2019, and picked up his first major league hit on the second pitch he saw. From the moment he stepped into the box for the first time as a Blue Jay, all he did was hit. It didn’t take long for Bichette to figure out he belonged in the big leagues. That first hit started an 11-game hit streak to open his MLB career, which included eight multi-hit games and his first four big league homers. Despite the blazing start to his Blue Jays tenure, the lasting memory of Bo Bichette’s rookie season, and the moment that many baseball fans recognize as when he truly arrived, took place in Dodger Stadium, late on an August night. The matchup was highly anticipated: the veteran superstar Clayton Kershaw against a young, up-and-coming Blue Jays team. Bo appeared in 748 regular season games as a Blue Jay. It’s easy to forget about so many of those, even ones where he had great performances. But there aren’t a lot of Jays fans that don’t remember a rookie Bichette taking a future Hall of Famer deep twice in the same game. It was moments like that one that propelled Bo Bichette to stardom so early in his career. He always seemed to have his most impressive performances when the lights were brightest. (Even if he looked really silly on a couple of Cooperstown curveballs in between homers.) Bichette finished his rookie season hitting .311 with a .930 OPS across 212 plate appearances at just 21 years old, but didn’t garner any attention for Rookie of the Year because he debuted so late in the season. The important thing was that it looked like with Bichette and Guerrero, as well as Cavan Biggio, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Danny Jansen and Teoscar Hernández, in place for years to come, the Blue Jays had the start of a promising position player core. On the back of that position player core, and with the big free agent addition of Hyun Jin Ryu leading the rotation, the Jays snapped a three-year playoff drought as a Wild Card team in 2020. Bichette wound up missing about a month of the shortened season, which meant he only appeared in 29 games, but in those games, he continued to be productive at the top of the lineup, finishing with a .301 average and 120 wRC+. The Jays would end up losing in two straight games to the eventual American League champion Tampa Bay Rays, but a new era of winning Blue Jays baseball was officially underway, with Bichette and Guerrero as the faces of it. The 2021 Blue Jays were one of the most exciting teams in baseball. They supplemented that exciting young core with big free agent signings like George Springer and Marcus Semien, and Robbie Ray dominated en route to winning the AL Cy Young. Those 2021 Jays had the second best offense in MLB according to wRC+. Most fans probably remember Vlad hitting 48 homers and finishing second for AL MVP behind Shohei Ohtani, or Semien setting the single-season home run record for a second baseman with 45 bombs of his own, finishing one spot behind Vlad in MVP voting. At the time, it was the best season of Blue Jays baseball in more than half a decade. But for the first four months of that season, the Jays had one of the biggest disadvantages in baseball. Due to COVID-related travel restrictions, the Jays were forced to use their minor league facilities as their home ballparks. They played their first two months of home games on their Single-A field in Dunedin before moving to their Triple-A field in Buffalo until the end of July. From their final home game in 2019 to July 30, 2021, the Toronto Blue Jays did not play a game in Toronto. It was 670 excruciating days that a baseball team was taken away from its fans. So, you can imagine the emotion from both the fans and the players when the Jays were finally able to get back to where they belonged. Throughout his career, the fans and the media have always had a hard time reading Bichette. He never had the same “wear your heart on your sleeve” disposition as his co-star Vladdy, and a lot of breath was wasted debating whether or not he truly enjoyed being a Toronto Blue Jay. That’s why it meant so much when Bo went to The Players' Tribune to post an article titled “Toronto!!!!! We’re HOME.” He wrote about how much he missed the city and playing for the fans during the team’s time away and how excited he was to bring playoff moments like José Bautista’s iconic bat flip back to the Rogers Centre. His words were an emotional read at the time, and looking back on them after his departure hits just as hard. Bichette backed up his words with a two-run bomb in the Jays' first game back, propelling them to a 6-4 win in their first game on home turf in nearly two full years. Aside from his heart-warming tribute to Toronto, 2021 was also the year that Bo Bichette proved he was a true star. It’s not really fair to call his third major league season a breakout, because he was so good in the first two, but if the baseball world hadn't bought into his game before, it definitely had after 2021. Over 690 plate appearances, Bichette hit .298 with an .828 OPS, which was good for a 122 wRC+. He led the American League in hits with 191, mashed a career high 29 homers, cashed 102 RBI and even added 25 stolen bases, earning his first career All-Star appearance. The Blue Jays won 91 games, and the move back home helped them finish the season as the hottest team in the sport, going 22-9 in September. Their season ended up coming down to the final day, and they missed the playoffs by a single game after the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees both won their final contests, giving them 92 wins apiece. The way that season ended was heartbreaking, but at just 23 years old, Bichette was already one of the league’s best offensive shortstops, and the Jays were poised to be a playoff threat for years to come. Heading into 2022, the excitement around Blue Jays baseball was as high as it had been for an Opening Day since 2016. Fans were finally allowed back in the ballpark at full force, and the Jays were viewed as a lock to make the playoffs and contend for the World Series. But the road was a little bit rockier than expected. Semien had departed for Texas in free agency, Guerrero didn't quite follow up his near-MVP caliber season from the year before, and Bichette himself was very disappointing. After a full five months of baseball, heading into September, the Jays found themselves in the third Wild Card spot, just 1.5 games up on the Baltimore Orioles. Far short of their expectations at the start of the season. Bichette was hitting just .260 with a .725 OPS and had a wRC+ of only 107. Not bad numbers, but his 2.3 fWAR was 13th among primary shortstops through August 31. He was behind guys like Jorge Mateo and Amed Rosario. There were serious questions about whether or not Bo was actually the player we thought he’d proven himself to be the year before, because without above-average defense at shortstop and the ability to be a well-above-league-average hitter, his value to the team wasn’t very high. But then the calendar flipped, and the month Blue Jays fans refer to as “Septem-Bo” rolled around. It was one of the most impressive sustained offensive performances I can remember, and it came right when his team needed it the most. Bichette was a man on fire in September and October of 2022, picking up 54 hits in 133 at-bats, good for a .406 average. His 1.105 OPS led shortstops that month, and his 218 wRC+ was the second best mark in the majors behind only the eventual AL MVP Aaron Judge. He set the Blue Jays franchise record for hits in a month, and they all seemed to come in the biggest moments of games. Bichette more than doubled his fWAR in the last month of the season, as it skyrocketed from that mediocre 2.3 to 4.8 in just 32 games. That blazing month got his wRC+ up to 129 by the end of the season, seven points higher than it was the year before, and Bichette led the American League in hits for the second season in a row. Toronto went 22-11 over that span and was able to clinch the top Wild Card spot in the American League, returning to the playoffs in a full season for the first time since 2016. However, an eventual collapse in the Wild Card round against the Seattle Mariners would lead to some big organizational decisions heading into 2023. It was a busy offseason for Ross Atkins and the Blue Jays. It started with Teoscar Hernández and the last year of his contract getting shipped to Seattle for Erik Swanson and eventually saw Daulton Varsho come over in exchange for Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. It was the start of the Blue Jays emphasizing defense and the details of the game rather than pure offensive upside. But, a sneaky important part of the offseason was that the Blue Jays bought out Bichette’s arbitration years with a three-year extension. See, as much as 2019 through 2025 will be remembered as the “Vladdy and Bo era” to Blue Jays fans, so much of it was spent debating which of the two was actually the better player, and if the Jays would be able to keep one or both past their rookie contracts. At the time, this deal looked like a major indication that the Jays might prefer Bichette to Guerrero long-term. Bichette made good on that new contract early on. In 2023, he continued to do exactly what he had the two previous seasons. Although it ended as another disappointing season overall for his team, Bo hit .306 with an .814 OPS, putting together his third straight 20-homer season and earning his second All-Star appearance. Yet, some adversity was right around the corner for Bo and the Blue Jays. After back-to-back playoff appearances without a win, and a total of three playoff appearances without a win in the Vladdy and Bo era, the fanbase was getting restless for some postseason success. Pressure was on for the Jays heading into 2024. By now, you know how this story ends, and that the playoff victories were just around the corner, but based on how 2024 went, you can’t blame the people who were calling for the removal of the front office or for a full-scale teardown and rebuild. There were a lot of sources to blame for that 74-win, last-place season, and Bo Bichette’s inability to stay on the field, and his poor performance when he did play was definitely a big one. That 74-88 record was the worst record for a Blue Jays team since before Bichette's rookie season, and it was by far Bo’s worst season as an individual. He suited up for just 81 games, hit just .225, and only managed four homers. When it was all said and done, he had put up just 0.3 fWAR and a 70 wRC+, 30% below league average. The season was a complete write-off for both Bichette and the Jays on the field. When the shortstop responded to a question from a San Francisco reporter about what he liked about the California city and if he’d be willing to play there, Bichette seemed eager to emphasize how much he wanted to play for a winner, and that the Giants would be a fit if he were choosing his team. Some saw this as him “flirting” with the idea of being traded at the deadline, as he was only under contract for one more season. I don’t think this episode taints his legacy with the Jays, but at a time when a lot of fans were upset with the direction of the team, and with Bichette himself, it seemed more likely than not that Bichette would play the final year of his contract somewhere other than Toronto. As we know, Bichette was not traded, and his bounce-back season was essential to the Jays winning their first division title in a decade – and their first pennant in more than three decades. I could have written this whole article about Bichette’s 2025. His 134 wRC+ was his best in a qualified season as a Blue Jay. He hit .311 with just a 14.5% strikeout rate, which was the lowest of his career by more than five points. There’s a serious case to be made that 2025 was the best offensive season of Bo’s career, and that’s without even getting into some of his biggest moments. The Jays were just 26-28 before play on May 28, and the offense was limping through the start of the season. They’d hit the fifth fewest homers in the sport and had just a 94 team wRC+. The whole lineup needed a spark, and after being held scoreless through eight innings by Tyler Mahle and the Texas Rangers, it looked like they were en route to falling three games below .500. That is, until Bichette came off the bench to pinch hit for Michael Stefanic in the top of the ninth inning with two outs and Ernie Clement on second base. Bo swung and hit a wall-scraping homer over the left field fence, lifting the Jays to a much-needed win, which many claim as the moment the 2025 Blue Jays hit their stride. The win sparked a five-game win streak and a 12-2 stretch that the Jays never looked back from. From Bichette's clutch homer on May 28 through the end of the season, the Blue Jays had the best offense in baseball by wRC+, fWAR, and, most importantly, runs scored. They’d finish the season on a 67-40 run; that's a .626 winning percentage, or a 101-win pace. I can’t honestly tell you that the Jays’ magical 2025 season came because of that moment in Texas. But I also can’t tell you that it would have happened without it. The question in the title of this article is a tough one to answer because, for as beloved as he was in Toronto, Bichette was far from a perfect player. The obvious things to point at are that his shortstop defense always left something to be desired, he wasn’t always a good baserunner, and when he wasn’t hitting, he didn’t bring much else to the table. Yet, when the Jays needed him, he was always there to answer the call. FanGraphs’ definition of high-leverage situations is complicated, but I can tell you that throughout his career, in those high-leverage situations, that is when Bo has been at his best. You can argue all you want that clutch isn’t a repeatable skill, but I’ll just keep pointing at Bichette’s career 143 wRC+ and .888 OPS in those situations. There’s no better example to point to than his performance in the 2025 World Series, which he played in after missing more than a month of games due to a knee injury. On one knee, and on the biggest stage baseball has to offer, Bo Bichette went 8-for-23 with six RBI. But the lasting memory of Bo Bichette in a Blue Jays uniform will always be him hitting a go-ahead, three-run home run off of Shohei Ohtani in Game 7. A swing that was painfully close to being the swing that clinched the Blue Jays their third World Series championship. You’ll be seeing fans wearing #11 jerseys at the Rogers Centre for years to come, and when the New York Mets visit Toronto in June this season, the standing ovation Bichette receives will be deafening. View the full article

We tweet Miami Marlins GIFs from the @FishOnFirst account on a daily basis—highlights, celebrations, funny reactions, etc. However, the app does not allow you to directly download these GIFs for unlimited personal use. That is where the GIF Database comes in! Exclusively for SuperSubs, I curate a series of Google Drive folders holding my best GIFs (more than 500 in total entering 2026 spring training). Save your faves and use them to express yourself online. Here are a few free examples of recently created GIFs. To access the rest, become a SuperSub and click the link below... View the full article

MIAMI—Christopher Morel was the only free agent position player this offseason who signed a major league deal with the Miami Marlins. With a salary of two million dollars, he will be the club's highest-paid hitter despite coming off a disappointing 2025. In 105 games with the Tampa Bay Rays, he slashed .219/.289/.396/.684 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI and a 90 wRC+. His 35.7% strikeout rate was the highest in the American League among players with at least 300 plate appearances. The 26-year-old is grateful to still be in MLB—aside from the Marlins, his most serious suitors this offseason were teams in Korea and Japan. “I’m truly going to give my best every moment, every second that the manager gives me the opportunity, I’ll give 100 percent of myself," Morel said in Spanish at Friday's Marlins Media Day. "I've been working extremely hard this season to have an excellent season here. I feel healthy, and I’m going to give my best so we can win and keep pushing forward." Morel has had inconsistencies defensively as well. He was primarily used in left field last season and at second base and third base the year before. In 2026, he is expected to play a lot of first base, a position that he has never played in his career. He jokingly told the media that he is already "dancing bachata" at first base. "We’re already practicing it, getting some movement in, trying to find the coordination. I’ve felt a little more comfortable than the first time I practiced there. But wherever the manager needs me, I’ll be there to help the team.” The bar for Morel to clear is pretty low as the Marlins were one of only seven teams in 2025 to receive sub-replacement-level production at first base. As recently as 2023, he blasted 26 homers with a 120 wRC+. If he bounces back close to that level of production, the Marlins have the flexibility to retain Morel through the 2028 season via arbitration. Morel has a pre-existing relationship with Marlins right-hander Eury Pérez, who is also a native of Santiago, Dominican Republic. They've known each other since they were kids. "(Eury) was really the first person who showed me that love and support to come here," said Morel. "Seeing all those talented young guys who are coming up from the farm system, it really makes you feel it. Honestly, seeing the Latin culture as well, the Latin fans here, I know it’s going to be a very good year.” View the full article

Last week, Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the Toronto Blue Jays were interested in signing Framber Valdez, shortly before the All-Star left-hander inked a three-year, $115 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. After Valdez signed with Detroit, Heyman noted that Max Scherzer was "back on [Toronto's] radar." He also wondered if the Jays might pursue Zac Gallen or Chris Bassitt, though only the link to Scherzer was more than speculative. Adding another starting pitcher would further complicate an already overcrowded rotation picture. The Blue Jays might have been willing to do that for Valdez, but none of Gallen, Bassitt, or Scherzer is the same calibre of pitcher. It's no guarantee any of them would be an upgrade over Toronto's internal options. However, Scherzer has expressed a willingness to wait to sign until after Opening Day (per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal). So, at least it makes sense why the Jays are staying in touch with the three-time Cy Young winner. They might not have a job for him right now, but Scherzer could be a nice backup plan if any of Toronto's other starting pitchers suffer injuries in the next few months. View the full article

Former Kansas City Royals catcher and outfielder MJ Melendez had a polarizing career in Kansas City. On one end, he showed tremendous promise, both as a prospect and at the MLB level. He led the Minor Leagues in home runs in 2021 with 41 in 123 games with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Omaha Storm Chasers. Furthermore, he had a promising start to his MLB career in 2022. In 129 games and 534 plate appearances that season, he hit 18 home runs, scored 57 runs, collected 62 RBI, and posted a 97 wRC+. Unfortunately, Melendez had his share of flaws as well, unfortunately. During his rookie season, he posted a -0.6 fWAR, which was mostly due to his poor defense behind the plate and in the outfield. That season, he was worth 19.9 runs below average defensively, according to Fangraphs' Def. He also had a -18 DRS and -21 FRV at catcher that season and -5 DRS and 0 FRV in the outfield. Despite those defensive shortcomings, it seemed like Melendez was going to be a core piece of the Royals' future under new manager Matt Quatraro, along with Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino. However, while Witt and Pasquantino have lived up to their billing, and Maikel Garcia has joined the fray as part of the key position player group, Melendez eventually fell out of favor with Kansas City. Starting in 2023, he accumulated a -0.4 fWAR in 306 games. His defense in the outfield improved, but his wRC+ declined from 93 in 2023 to 86 in 2024 before bottoming out to -14 in 2025. As a result, the Royals not only kept him in Omaha for most of the year, but he was non-tendered this offseason as well. Melendez's MLB outlook initially appeared bleak this winter, and it seemed possible that he could return to Kansas City on a Minor League deal. However, on Sunday, MLB Insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post announced that the New York Mets agreed to a one-year deal with Melendez worth at least $1.5 million. Let's look at why the Mets acquired Melendez, what he could bring to Queens, and if this move has any impact on the Royals as they prepare for Spring Training. Melendez Brings Upside and Insurance to the Mets New York has been aggressive since missing out on free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker this offseason, much to owner Steve Cohen's chagrin. After Tucker signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers to a record-setting four-year, $240 million deal, the Mets responded by signing shortstop/third baseman Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million deal and acquiring starting pitcher Freddy Peralta from the Mets in a deal that involved them trading away prospects Jett Williams (a utility player) and Brandon Sporat (a right-handed pitcher). They also acquired infielder Jorge Polanco and closer Devin Williams earlier in the offseason. However, the Mets' outfield looks thin depth-wise at this moment. According to Roster Resource, prospect Carson Benge is penciled in to be the Mets' Opening Day left fielder. He certainly merits consideration, as he is rated as the 59th-best prospect in baseball, according to Fangraphs, and is known for his athleticism and impressive batted-ball profile. However, Benge had an underwhelming sample in Triple-A, posting an OPS under .600 despite some impressive Statcast percentiles, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary profile from 2025. Benge hits the ball hard and doesn't strike out. That said, he doesn't walk much either (27th percentile), and he also struggled to pull the ball, both in the air (30th percentile) and overall (20th percentile). It's possible that he may need some time for more seasoning and at-bats in Triple-A before making his MLB debut. Furthermore, he isn't Rule-5 eligible until 2027, so Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns doesn't have to rush to add Benge to the 40-man roster. Thus, Melendez could satisfy the Mets' short-term need in the outfield (especially in left field) until Benge is fully ready. While his MLB stats last year were poor, he was much better in Triple-A Omaha, posting a 20 HR-20 SB season and an .813 OPS in 480 PA. The 27-year-old sported some solid hard-hit, barrel, and exit velocity metrics, according to TJ Stats. Melendez certainly has his fair share of issues at the MLB level when it comes to whiffs and strikeouts, and that was again the case in Omaha last year. Despite his solid power profile, he ranked in the 12th percentile in whiff and Z-contact rates, 17th percentile in strikeout and O-Swing rates, and 19th percentile in walk rate. He also wasn't consistent with launching the ball, as illustrated by his 29th percentile LA Sweet-Spot percentage. That shows some nice progress for him that could be transitioned to the Major League level with the Mets. In many ways, Melendez's profile feels similar to Ryan O'Hearn back in 2023, who had questionable production with the Royals and broke out with the Orioles in 2023. After posting 70 or below wRC+ marks from 2019 to 2022 with the Royals, O'Hearn had had three straight seasons of wRC+ marks of 118 or higher with Baltimore and San Diego. O'Hearn was 29 when he had his turnaround, so Melendez is in good shape at 27. Does that mean Melendez is going to be an O'Hearn 2.0? Not necessarily, as O'Hearn had an excellent rookie year in 2018 when he posted a 153 wRC+ in 170 plate appearances with the Royals. Melendez has never had a season close to that in terms of wRC+. Still, O'Hearn showed signs of a breakout in 2023 thanks to his strong batted-ball and exit velocity metrics. That is a similar situation for Melendez, so there is potential for the former 2017 second-round pick to experience a breakout in New York, given the similarities in their profiles. What Does Melendez's Signing Mean for the Royals? Melendez inking a deal with the Mets doesn't necessarily directly impact the Royals, as it was a long shot that Melendez would return to Kansas City anyway (even on a Minor League deal). However, it could signal that more moves from teams are on the way, with two days until pitchers and catchers report to camp. The Royals could be one of those teams. One signing that seemed likely earlier in the offseason but hasn't come to fruition yet is bringing back Adam Frazier. The Mississippi State product was a spark plug for the Royals after returning to Kansas City at last year's All-Star Break (he was traded for Cam Devanney, who currently is playing in Japan). In 197 plate appearances with Kansas City last year, Frazier posted a 98 wRC+, a .283 average, and accumulated a 0.6 fWAR. The 34-year-old is not only familiar with the Royals' clubhouse but also a veteran who can play multiple positions in the infield and outfield. Frazier doesn't offer much in the batted-ball and exit-velocity categories. However, he has sported strong plate discipline and contact ability, two areas where the Royals want to improve upon in 2026. Royals GM JJ Picollo and owner John Sherman have said they are satisfied with where they are with the roster, but are open to adding another piece if they feel it would make them better overall. With the Tigers getting better last week with the addition of pitcher Framber Valdez, the Royals may feel the need to add one more piece to the roster, especially since they could use one more outfielder on the active roster to truly fill out the roster (and be insurance for Jac Caglianone if he struggles out of the gate in 2026). Melendez's signing could be the domino that pushes the Royals to make one last move before all players report to Surprise in 12 days. View the full article

Depth is something every organization tries to create, and it goes well beyond what we see at Target Field or in St. Paul. I'm researching the Twins' depth beyond the 40-man roster, and have already taken a look at catcher, first base, second base, and third base. Many prospects are drafted or signed as shortstops, but most move to other positions. Being able to field the position at a high level is key to a prospect's journey to sticking as a shortstop at the major league level. Here is a list of shortstop prospects not on the Twins' 40-man roster. I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level they played this past season. Orlando Arcia Acquired: Free Agent, 2026 Highest Level in 2025: MLB You may recognize the last name, as Orlando is the younger brother of former Twin Oswaldo Arcia. He is, however, a very different player. Arcia will be playing his age-31 season in 2026 and has had his ups and downs since his call-up by the Brewers in 2016. He was an all-star in 2023 with the Braves and had his best overall year in 2017, accruing 2.2 bWAR in his first full season with Milwaukee. He is a glove-first shortstop and was signed to a minor league contract this offseason. He will be a non-roster invitee to spring training and will be competing with the likes of Ryan Kreidler and Tristan Gray for a utility infield spot. There is no question that Arcia can handle multiple defensive positions; the big question will be whether he can show enough offensively to be a solid option off the bench for Derek Shelton and Co. Ben Ross Acquired: 5th round, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A A fifth-round pick in 2022 out of Notre Dame College (not University), Ross hit for a slash line of .405/.471/.758 over three college seasons. While he didn’t take many walks in college, the soon-to-be 25-year-old has walked at an above-average rate as a professional. In 2025, he walked in 11.2% of his at-bats and struck out in 22.7% of his at-bats, which are not bad numbers on their own. The big question is whether he can adjust to the upper minors, as he has posted OPSs of .626 and .671 in 2024 and 2025 with Wichita. In the field, he has mostly played shortstop but has also been tried in the outfield, most specifically center field, and he has held his own out there as well. He’s athletic enough to handle most positions, but the big question will be if he can hit enough to carve out a role for the Twins going forward. Kaelen Culpepper Acquired: 1st round, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Culpepper cemented himself as a first-round pick during the 2021 college baseball season for Kansas State, where he hit .328/.419/.574 with 11 home runs and 17 stolen bases. After being selected, he made his professional debut and worked his way up to High-A Cedar Rapids. He started the 2025 season with Cedar Rapids but was then called up to Double-A, where he finished the year. Between the two levels, he hit for an .844 OPS and a 138 wRC+, and has shown the potential of sticking at shortstop defensively long term. He could also move to third base, depending on the team's need as well. Culpepper is a top-100 prospect on most rankings and currently ranks #2 on Twins Daily’s prospect rankings. The 23-year-old is in for a big year, and as long as he is able to continue to develop, it won’t be long until you see him at Target Field. Marek Houston Acquired: 1st round, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Houston was not a high-end recruit, but won the shortstop job at Wake Forest and played there for three years. The 21-year-old is already one of, if not the best, defensive shortstop in the entire Twins system, so how he develops offensively will be key in when and how big of an impact he is able to make. Like Culpepper, he started professionally in Single-A and was called up to High-A, where he struggled more offensively. Expect him to start the year with High-A Cedar Rapids, and as long as he makes the adjustments, he could be playing in Wichita soon. He was ranked as the Twins Daily #11 prospect, but could easily climb up that list with either other players graduating from prospect status, or just by passing them from his own performance. Still early in his professional career, Houston will be a prospect a lot of Twins fans have an eye on due to being a first-round selection. Bryan Acuna Acquired: International Free Agency, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A The younger brother of Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. and new White Sox infielder Luisangel Acuna, Bryan was signed in 2022 and has slowly progressed in the minor leagues since signing. He will be playing his age-20 season this coming year and will likely start the year where he finished 2025, at Single-A Fort Myers. In 2025, across the Complex League and Single-A, he posted a .637 OPS and played shortstop primarily, but also appeared at second base, third base, and in the corner outfield. In his professional career, he has demonstrated solid plate discipline but limited power to date. Still just 20 years old, he isn’t going to make an immediate impact, but he has the potential to carve out a role for himself, either as a shortstop or at another position. Bruin Agbayani Acquired: 6th round, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A A sixth-round selection in this past year’s draft, Agbayani is the son of former Mets infielder Benny Agbayani. A left-handed hitter, the soon-to-be 19-year-old was committed to play college at the University of Michigan but chose to forego college and sign with the Twins. Like many young players, he has room to grow into more power, as he stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds. He is very athletic, but he may move off of shortstop, and some evaluators think he will be a better fit at second base or in left field long term. He got a small taste of professional ball, playing in five games for Single-A Fort Myers in 2025, so 2026 will be a big first step to see if he can follow in his father’s footsteps and create his own story as a big leaguer. Shai Robinson Acquired: 10th round, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Another 2025 draft selection, Robinson was not a prep bat like Agbayani or Quentin Young, as he was drafted out of Illinois State, where he hit .813 with an OPS over three collegiate seasons with the Red Birds. He will turn 22 in May, and 2026 will be his first full year in professional baseball with the Twins. Like Agbayani, he got into a handful of games, four specifically, to get his feet wet, but this coming year will be the first step in seeing if he can develop into an impact player for the Twins. Robinson has a solid glove at shortstop, and his offense will be the big test to see. In his final two collegiate seasons, he walked more than he struck out, which shows a good approach at the plate. Keep an eye on whether he can hit enough to start climbing the prospect rankings. Haritzon Castillo Acquired: International Free Agency, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: DSL Signed out of Venezuela, Castillo is a switch-hitter and has upside offensively from both sides of the plate. He was a top-50 international prospect in the 2025 international class. The soon-to-be 18-year-old looked the part in his time in the Dominican Summer League, hitting .283/.395/.428 over 39 games. He also showed off some speed, stealing 12 bases in 15 attempts over that same time. Still early in his professional career, Castillo isn’t going to make an immediate impact at Target Field, but he has the potential to do so in a few short years, so keep an eye on him if he continues to impress early on in his career. Daiber De Los Santos Acquired: International Free Agency, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Florida Complex League Signed out of the Dominican Republic as the No. 8-ranked prospect in the 2024 international class, the 19-year-old played in the Florida Complex League this past season. In the Complex League, he struck out at a jarring 47.8% rate, but also walked at a solid rate as well. The strikeout rate isn’t anything to be too worried about, as young players often are adjusting their swings and trying different things in lower-pressure environments. The hope is that he can cut down on those strikeouts and continue to develop offensively, since his tools show plenty of potential. Santiago Leon Acquired: International Free Agency, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: DSL Leon was the other top international signing for the Twins in the 2025 international class, signing out of Venezuela. He will be playing his age-18 season in 2026; he is seen as a sure thing to stick as an infielder long term. He played this past season in the Dominican Summer League, where he walked as much as he struck out, which is a sign of a good approach at the plate. Like many young prospects, he has some things to work on, but he has plenty of things to be excited about as well if you like keeping an eye on prospects. Which of these prospects are you most excited about? View the full article

With news that Eugenio Suarez is joining the Cincinnati Reds for 2026, it meant that someone's opportunities were being taken by the slugger's return to the Queen City. Whether that person is corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand is up for debate, but with Suarez's addition as the designated hitter, Sal Stewart's late-season promotion and production at first base, and the Ke'Bryan Hayes acquisition locking up third base, it is hard to see a role for Encarnacion-Strand at the MLB level with the Reds. Could there be an opportunity for the 26-year-old with the San Diego Padres? Most certainly, even as other options are on the table. The bench as currently constructed is weak. Taking the backup catcher out of the equation, there are three bench spots. That typically means one infielder, one outfielder and another who is hopefully a hybrid. The big question for the Padres' starting lineup is how the right side of the infield will sort out. Ideally, that would be newcomer Sung Mun Song in a hybrid role, with Jake Cronenworth at second base and Gavin Sheets at first. Based on how FanGraphs sees the Friars' depth chart, that would mean a bench of Mason McCoy, Will Wagner and Bryce Johnson. That certainly doesn't inspire anyone looking for some offense in the event of an injury. Does Miguel Andujar change this equation, as a right-handed hitter with power? Perhaps, but he's a defensive liability better suited for full-time DH duties at this point. And save for his explosion with the Reds in the second half of the 2025 season, he's been as inconsistent as any hitter in the sport over the past half-decade. Which is where the Encarnacion-Strand, a fellow right-handed hitter, could come into play. But first, what would the Padres need to give the Reds in order to acquire him? It could be a simple 1-for-1 deal in which the Friars take from their deepest spot, the bullpen, and send a reliever to the Reds for Encarnacion-Strand. Who? Depends on who the Reds like. With Encarnacion-Strand entering 2026 with four seasons of team control yet ticketed for Triple-A to begin the season, it could be someone like right-hander David Morgan, a surprise in 2025, or left-hander Yuki Matsui, who has been solid yet underwhelming in his two years with the Padres. Losing either one of those two wouldn't damage the Friars' bullpen that much, especially with two injured relievers (Jason Adam and Jhony Brito) potentially returning in the first two months of the season. But we will let president of baseball operations A.J. Preller figure that part out. Encarnacion-Strand in a Padres uniform would be something worth exploring. While he has battled a couple of injuries (fractured right wrist in 2024, back inflammation in 2025), he also hasn't excelled when given the MLB opportunity. Across three seasons, Encarnacion-Strand has played in 128 games with 501 plate appearances, posting a slash line of .233/.275/.404 with 21 homers and 72 RBIs. However, that comes on top of gaudy minor-league numbers of a .305/.369/.580 slash line with 67 homers and 233 RBIs in 275 games over four seasons. So, you can see where a front office would dream on him. But the one troubling trend with Encarnacion-Strand has been his strikeouts. He has 136 in 128 MLB games and 297 in 275 games in the minors. When he was sent down to Triple-A in mid-July, manager Terry Francona had a chat with Encarnacion-Strand about not chasing as many pitches. That is the baggage Encarnacion-Strand would bring to San Diego. How would that affect the bench? Song is expected to get time this spring in the outfield, so that helps there. He also will fill in for Manny Machado at third base and can also slide over to first base. Cronenworth can play first or second. McCoy can play either middle infield spot, while Wagner is a second and third baseman. At least one of those latter two wouldn't make the Opening Day roster if the Friars make this move, especially since Andujar can technically play the infield and outfield corners as well. Regardless of how the exactly the Opening Day roster shakes out, the offense Encarnacion-Strand would bring to the bench would be a big boost for a team lacking in viable depth. View the full article

Connor Norby entered 2025 looking like a key building block for the Miami Marlins. His unremarkable performance on the field and limited availability pushed him out of the picture. In 88 games, Norby slashed .251/.300/.389/.689 with eight home runs, 34 RBI and a 90 wRC+. "Last year was the most frustrating year of my career," Norby told Fish On First in an exclusive interview at Friday's Marlins Media Day. "Never really been hurt, spending three different stints on the IL and most of it just freak things that popped up. Frustrating overall and just never really got into a rhythm." Norby's season debut was delayed by an oblique strain. Then he underwent left hamate surgery during the All-Star break and missed more time in September due to a quad strain. "I really thought I was playing my best baseball those last six weeks of the season along with the team, which is the most important thing," Norby said. "It was definitely a learning experience for me and it's going to be the most important year of my career. In Norby's final 16 games of the season, he hit .293/.344/.500/.844 with two home runs and 18 RBI. Norby has only played third base since being called up by the Marlins in August 2024 and he'll compete against Graham Pauley for playing time there in 2026. Norby's priority this spring is "to be the best third baseman that I can be." Pauley was clearly the better fielder last season as measured by outs above average (+6 to -4) and defensive runs saved (+3 to -5). "Learning third base is incredibly hard and I'm still learning," the 25-year-old admitted, "but with how I finished defensively and offensively, that last month was where I believe my standard is right there." Norby's natural position is second base, but he continues to be blocked there by Xavier Edwards. He played occasionally in the corner outfield spots during his minor league career with the Baltimore Orioles. Although undersized for first base, the Marlins have plenty of reps available there. "First and foremost, whatever helps the team win," Norby said when asked about the position change and where he feels best. "Secondly, I am an infielder and have always been an infielder...I have some experience [in the outfield]. It's whatever keeps me in the lineup, right? Whether it's third base one day or left field the next, wherever it may be. I'm sure we'll dive more into that when we get to camp." The next couple of weeks, Norby is expecting to take ground balls about two to three times per day with new infield coach Blake Butler. "I'm excited to see what he brings and I'm an open book," said Norby. "I'm eager to learn and try new things and he knows that...I'm eager to turn a lot of heads and prove a lot of people wrong and go out and prove a lot of people right." Last year at Media Day, Norby said that his 2025 goal was to hit 30 home runs. In 2026, he is going to keep the individual goals to himself, but as a team, he wants the Marlins to win the NL East division and make the postseason for the first time since 2023. As currently constructed, he believes they have the talent to achieve that. "My play elevates more when I am focused on team play and think so does everybody else's. It's going to be a hungry group this year and we're coming." View the full article

Most Brewers fans enjoyed the bulk of the 2025 season, with the team setting a franchise record for wins and beating the Cubs in the National League Division Series (a bit of payback for the Cubs signing away Craig Counsell in the 2023-2024 offseason). The 2025 NLCS, where the team ran out of gas, is more forgettable, but the Brewers could avoid that by rethinking their bench. The Brewers usually operate with the maximum allowed 13 pitchers, leaving them 13 position players. Nine position players are spoken for in the everyday lineup, thanks to the National League catching up with the times and adopting the designated hitter. That leaves four spots on the bench. How should Milwaukee use them? One will obviously have to be for the backup catcher. But the Brewers should think out of the box when it comes to the other three. Instead of just having the conventional approach of a fourth outfielder, a backup infielder, and a platoon option at first base (who may or may not be able to handle corner outfield spots), the team may want to turn to versatility instead. How well can this work? The 2018 season provides an example: Javier Baez, then with the Cubs. He mostly played at second base, third base, and shortstop, but he also saw action as a pinch-hitter and first baseman that year, and in the two previous seasons had been at corner outfield spots. He posted 6.8 Wins Above Replacement that year, per Baseball-Reference, and was the runner-up in the NL MVP race to Christian Yelich. He's dropped off the face of the earth offensively with the Tigers, but his versatility still propelled him to 1.9 WAR in 2025, again via Baseball-Reference. The recently traded Isaac Collins could’ve been another example. While he mostly held down left field in 2025, he also saw action at second base, third base, center field, and right field during his professional time with the Brewers (counting the minor leagues). Believe it or not, between the 40-man roster and the non-roster invitees as of Jan. 31, the Brewers could assemble a supersub bench. Here are some of the contenders. Jett Williams Williams is part of the return Milwaukee netted in the Freddy Peralta trade, and multiple Brewers may already be nervous about him. The reason why is pretty obvious. His bat profiles as a very potent one – one that adds power to superb OBP skills, speed, and versatility. It’s not hard to imagine him on Milwaukee’s bench in 2026, covering all three outfield positions, as well as shortstop, second base, and third base. He’s a more versatile version of Baez – and that could be very valuable indeed. Anthony Seigler Seigler has mostly played infield the last two seasons, but he originally came up as a catcher and also saw action there for Triple-A Nashville in 2025. Given the durability of William Contreras, Seigler might be a choice to take a third catcher role, simply because he could contribute elsewhere on the field, including on the pitching mound, occasionally, keeping him from getting rusty. Andruw Monasterio Monasterio has seen less action in 2024 and 2025 combined than he did in his rookie campaign of 2023. However, he brings a competent bat to the plate, and his versatility (playing all four infield positions and left field) is an asset as well. While his offensive floor has been high, he’s also not a likely Silver Slugger candidate, either. Still, he's reliable. Tyler Black Black’s biggest problem has been the lack of a defensive home. The Brewers have tried him at second base, center field, third base, first base, left field, right field, and he’s even seen action at designated hitter. As a supersub, his experience all over the diamond could allow him to give other Brewers a rest, while not sacrificing as much on offense. His bat has never really been in question, just the ability to hold a single position down on defense. Eduardo Garcia Garcia received an invitation to the big-league camp after first signing as an international free agent in July 2019. At one point seen as the Brewers’ shortstop of the future alongside catcher of the future Jeferson Quero, he seemed to stall out after injuries and high strikeout totals, while Cooper Pratt and Jesus Made emerged ahead of him at shortstop. However, he seemed to put his bat together more in 2025, his age-22 season, and he’s now morphed into a very versatile player, handling all three outfield spots as well as second base, third base, and shortstop. His defense, speed, and even occasional pop aren’t in question, just the consistency of his hit-to-contact tool. He's also only 23 years old. By turning to supersubs with higher offensive performance who could play all over, the Brewers might be able to become even more potent in the playoffs, having given players like Sal Frelick, Brice Turang, Caleb Durbin, and Jackson Chourio a chance to rest during the regular season, but also having the option to ride a "hot hand" with minimal disruption. Do you think the Brewers should turn to supersubs on the bench? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Is Marcelo Mayer the answer to resolving Boston's third base vacancy? Let's take a dive into what he brings to the table. If not, let's explore the other options available. View the full article

At Marlins Media Day, right-hander Sandy Alcantara speaks with Fish On First about being back to full strength—physically and mentally—and tuning out the constant trade rumors. View the full article

The Miami Marlins held their annual FanFest on Saturday. A total of 20,737 fans attended the event, per a club official, the most in loanDepot park history. As usual, the Marlins held a variety of Q&A sessions with players and "State of the Marlins" with team leadership. On top of that, the second Marlins Legends Hall of Fame class was revealed and teal uniforms were revived. Entry to the four-hour event was free. All things considered, this was one of the best FanFests that the Marlins have ever hosted. Here's what you may have missed. Player Availability From 4:30-6:30 pm on the main stage, Marlins players were organized into small groups. It started with the voice of Marlins Radio, Jack McMullen, talking to pitchers Braxton Garrett, Max Meyer and Pete Fairbanks and outfielder Jakob Marsee. Spanish Marlins radio voices Yiky Quintana and José Luis Nápoles did a panel in Spanish. In that interview, Agustín Ramírez that his goal is to hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs. He was joined by Eury Pérez, Sandy Alcantara and Otto Lopez. The last time a Marlins player reached 30 home runs and 100 RBI in the same season was Giancarlo Stanton (59 HR and 132 RBI) and Marcell Ozuna (37 HR and 124 RBI) in 2017. Stanton won the National League MVP and Ozuna made the All-Star Game and finished 15th in MVP voting. Only 12 Marlins ever have achieved a 30 HR/100 RBI season. In his rookie season, Ramírez slashed .231/.287/.413/.701 with 21 home runs, 67 RBI and a 91 wRC+ through 136 games played. Ramírez also stated that he wants to prove to everyone that he can remain a catcher. He emphasized throughout the interview that he has worked extremely hard to make that possible. State of the Marlins At 6:30 pm, president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and manager Clayton McCullough took the stage to answer questions from Marlins.TV play-by-play man Kyle Sielaff. Later on, fans asked questions and let out some of their frustrations. The first question asked was about why the Marlins do not spend more money or value having veteran leadership on their roster. Bendix said that money is being invested in all aspects of the organization. He first mentioned the recently renovated Jupiter Academy. Regarding veteran leadership, he agreed with this fan, and then said that they signed Pete Fairbanks. Fairbanks, 32, is the oldest player on the team and has the second-most service time (6.057) behind Alcantara (7.100). "Pete Fairbanks is here partly for that reason," Bendix said. "I have a relationship with Pete from my time in Tampa Bay. I know what he brings to the table on the mound, and I know what he brings to the table in the clubhouse. I think he's going to be really really good for our clubhouse." Not only does the Marlins media ask McCullough about bullpen management, but fans do as well. One fan asked if sometimes decisions were made for developmental reasons instead of trying to win games. "I definitely hear the feedback," McCullough said. "I think with the bullpen, when we get into a good stretch and we are playing close games every day, I'd love to be able to pitch the same people all the time, but in reality, you just can't do that. In order to get through a full season and have a chance to win a lot of games, everybody has to be able to contribute." McCullough also mentioned that when very high-leverage situations present themselves early in the game, he will "try to go win this moment" instead of limiting his best options to the eighth and ninth innings. One clever fan began his question by naming Marlins infielders and when he got to first, he asked, "Who's first?" Bendix with a smile said, "I don't know," so McCullough took the longer answer noting all the competition that is happening throughout camp, specifically first base. "There will be a lot of competition for playing time and one thing that we tried to put upon our group last year and preach was positional versatility and flexibility," said McCullough. "We have talked to a number of players this offseason about being open-minded about it." Christopher Morel and Griffin Conine were brought up as examples, both of whom are completely inexperienced at the position. For the final question of this session, a fan asked Bendix if we will see players get locked up to contract extensions. No Marlin has been extended in nearly four years (Richard Bleier in March 2022), which was when Kim Ng was still general manager. It was reported this offseason that Kyle Stowers, Jakob Marsee and Eury Pérez have been engaged in extension talks. Stowers seems to be the least likely of those candidates given that the Marlins already have club control of him through age 31, but Marsee and Pérez are both realistic. "We're expecting that we are going to have a lot of these really good players for a long time," Bendix said. "Right now, we have a lot of players who are 23, 24 and 25. These guys are going to be here for a while. Yes, the answer to your question is we want to keep our best players for as long as possible." Following that final statement, the crowd erupted as Bendix and McCullough walked off the stage. With how much of a closed book Bendix typically is, that statement was likely the most transparent he has ever been in public to fans or media. Marlins Hall of Famers Very briefly, the Marlins announced that they will be inducting pitchers Josh Beckett and Dontrelle Willis into their Marlins Legends Hall of Fame. Both Beckett and Willis were on the 2003 World Series-winning team. Unlike the players chosen for the inaugural HOF class in 2025, they were not in attendance at FanFest. Isaac Azout has more on the upcoming inductions of both players, which will take place on September 6 (Beckett) and September 13 (Willis). The teal is BACK After months of build-up, the Marlins announced that they will be bringing back teal jerseys for every Sunday home game. The uniform set also includes Florida Marlins caps. The blue jerseys previously used on Sundays are now out of the regular season rotation, but will remain their primary spring training look. What's next? Marlins pitchers and catchers will report to Jupiter, Florida, on Wednesday. The full-squad report day is Monday. February 16. The first spring training game will take place on Saturday, February 21 at 1:10 pm in Port St. Lucie against the New York Mets. View the full article

The Twins have spent most of the winter creating problems rather than solving them. A manager was fired. Payroll was cut for a second consecutive offseason. New voices were promoted in the front office with spring training less than two weeks away. None of that inspires confidence, but the biggest issue might be the one that has barely registered in the public conversation so far. Shortstop depth is thin, and the plan behind the plan is murky at best. Brooks Lee is scheduled to be the Twins' Opening Day shortstop, and that part is fairly straightforward. What happens after that is where things start to unravel. No one expects Lee to log 140-plus games at the position, and the Twins do not have an obvious fallback option on the major league roster. That reality was bluntly summed up on a recent episode of Baseball America’s Prospect Podcast by JJ Cooper and Ian Cundall. “But I'm just going to say right now, the Minnesota Twins do not have a shortstop right now,” Cooper said. “And I do mean, Brooks Lee is not a shortstop. I'm sorry, but there is no logical path where you say Brooks Lee is going to be defensively what you want to get from an MLB shortstop.” That is not a fringe take from a hot-take artist. That is an evaluator pointing out a structural issue. Lee can handle the position in stretches, and the Twins hope his bat plays almost anywhere on the infield. The problem is that asking him to be the everyday answer ignores both defensive limitations and the physical reality of a long season. If the Twins want Lee’s bat in the lineup consistently, they may have to accept that it cannot always come from shortstop. Orlando Arcia is the most obvious name behind Lee, but even that comes with caveats. He arrived on a minor league deal and still has to earn a roster spot in camp. Even if he does, there are legitimate questions about whether he can still handle shortstop at a level that makes the defense workable over extended stretches. He is insurance, not a solution, and the Twins know it. That pushes the conversation toward the minors, where things get interesting quickly. Kaelen Culpepper is the name most fans will gravitate toward after his breakout 2025 season. The tools are loud, and the confidence is obvious, but the shortstop question has followed him since draft day. Baseball America did not shy away from that concern with Cooper adding, “I don't even think Kaelen Culpepper's a shortstop.” That assessment does not slam the door completely, but it frames the challenge. Culpepper has the arm and the athleticism. What remains in question is whether his range and actions allow him to stick at the position long term. Cundall left open the possibility of Culpepper sticking up the middle. “If Culpepper comes out this year and shows improvement at shortstop because he has the arm, it's just a range question and actions question talking to scouts about him, that a lot of them think he can play third base and so if he can stay on the left side of the infield, there's a pathway and I think that he has that drive that he wants to stay at shortstop.” That pathway matters. If Culpepper shows real progress early in the season, the Twins could be tempted to accelerate his timeline or at least view him as a viable depth option by late summer. If not, the organization may be forced to look elsewhere sooner than planned. That brings us to Marek Houston, last July’s first-round pick and arguably the cleanest defensive shortstop in the system. The bat is still a question, but the glove is not. “We could get to Marek Houston, who is, we don't know how much he's going to hit," said Cooper. "But Marek Houston is 100% is a shortstop. He is the best shortstop that the Twins have at this moment. He's so much better defensively than Brooks Lee right now.” That statement alone should make the Twins pause. Houston is not expected to be in the major league mix this season, but the defensive gap is significant enough to not be ignored. “It’s a lot easier to push Houston, quicker because the hit tool’s a question, but how much is that going to improve in the minors?” Cundall said. “I’m not sure. So, you might as well just push him more aggressively if you know that he’s MLB-ready at defense.” Cooper expanded on Houston’s defensive reputation. “I looked at the best plays for every shortstop in our top-100 and then the guys within the range of the top-100. Marek is the best.” “We’re looking at what guy can make the plays that most shortstops can’t make. Marek Houston makes plays on the other side of second base,” Cooper said. “How did he get to that ball? How is he going to get his body in position to throw? How did he make that throw? He does. Check, check, and check.” The Twins may not push Houston aggressively, but the contrast highlights how thin the current shortstop plan really is. Lee is the best offensive option. Houston is the best defensive option. Culpepper might be something in between. None of that adds up to short-term stability. This is why creativity will be required. That could mean more rotation between shortstop and third base for Lee. It could mean quicker hooks for Arcia if the defense slips. It could even mean an uncomfortable midseason decision to test a prospect before the organization feels fully ready. In a winter defined by uncertainty and cost-cutting, shortstop may end up being the position that exposes just how fragile the roster construction really is. The Twins do not need perfection there, but they do need a plan that extends beyond Opening Day. Right now, that plan feels unfinished. Do you believe Lee can handle shortstop in 2026? How quickly can Houston move through the system? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

With his eighth big league camp over a week away, Vernon Wells already felt a spark for the upcoming season. Wells and a dozen other Blue Jays showed up in Dunedin well before their scheduled check-ins to get a head start on their preseason work at the Bobby Mattick Training Center. Wells’ early arrival was partly to get ready for the inaugural World Baseball Classic, but Toronto’s starting center fielder was also feeling enthused about this season’s team. An aggressive offseason (see 2006 Rewind Part 1 and Part 2) had improved Toronto’s roster and put the Jays in the conversation to win the American League East. For all of the acquisitions made over the winter, the Blue Jays would need the best version of Wells in order to stay in contention. The year before, Wells was expected to shoulder more of the load offensively following the loss of Carlos Delgado, but he came out of the gates flat. Manager John Gibbons dropped Wells from third in the lineup just two weeks into April, a month in which he hit under the Mendoza line. Wells picked up the pace as the season rolled into summer but struggled again after the All-Star break, collecting only 15 extra-base hits over the season’s final two months. As he put 2005 behind him, Wells was energized by the moves his front office made. “We’re being talked about from coast to coast, said Wells. “It’s fun to talk about possibly winning this year.” Wells would be in Team USA manager Buck Martinez’s lineup on March 8 when they were upset 8-6 by Canada in what is remembered as the Adam Stern game. (photo credit: Baseball Canada) Not arriving in Dunedin in as good of a mood was Gregg Zaun, and it was hard to fault the Blue Jays’ catcher. In 2004, Zaun was exiled by the exiled when he was an early spring cut of the Montreal Expos. Toronto had been looking for catching depth, and then-manager Carlos Tosca remembered Zaun from their days in Florida when Tosca was heading the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate. The Blue Jays signed Zaun in April, and when Greg Myers severely sprained his ankle on newly-installed turf at the Metrodome a few weeks later, Zaun was given an opportunity with his eighth organization. It was one he made last: Data from Baseball-Reference.com. View original table, generated 2/4/2026. Season Age Team Lg WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ 2004 33 TOR AL 2.3 107 392 338 46 91 24 0 6 36 47 61 .269 .367 .393 .761 96 2005 34 TOR AL 3.6 133 512 434 61 109 18 1 11 61 73 70 .251 .355 .373 .729 94 For the first time in his career, Zaun headed into the offseason preparing, expecting, to catch every day. Weeks before he was set to depart for Dunedin, Zaun received a call from Gibbons: the Blue Jays were signing Bengie Molina. Zaun was not happy, though he had a sympathetic ear from his manager. “I told him if he needs to vent, he can call me anytime,” said Gibbons. “I’ll take care of it. I’ll get him his playing time. He waited so long for that job, and he did a great job. We owe him the at-bats.” For general manager J.P. Ricciardi, the addition of Molina simply made the team better, potential disharmony aside. Early in the offseason, the Blue Jays made Molina an offer of $4 million for one season, but entering free agency for the first time and coming off his best year at the plate, the two-time Gold Glove-winning backstop was seeking a big payday. It would not come. Toronto’s offer to Molina stood through the winter, and by February, it was basically all that remained of his market. About two months after Baltimore gave Ramón Hernández $27.5 million over four years, Molina signed a one-year deal with Toronto for $4.5 million. With another starting-calibre catcher in camp, Zaun joined Shea Hillenbrand as the less-than-chipper returnees who were relegated to lesser roles. Ricciardi spent a good chunk of his offseason trying to replace Hillenbrand, who, despite being an All-Star in ‘05, the team felt was too inconsistent throughout the year. Hillenbrand somewhat agreed, feeling that he had “fought [his] mechanics” all year, and he spent the winter tweaking his stance, turning his stride leg inward to combat stepping out. While the results weren’t showing up early on in Grapefruit League play, Hillenbrand felt he was taking quality at-bats and was encouraged by the changes. Another player who revamped his approach at the urging of the Blue Jays was Zaun, who started spring hot at the dish. Zaun had six hits in his first 12 at-bats after he “slowed his feet down” over the winter, delaying his stride to temper swing aggressiveness. Ironically, Zaun said he felt confident enough to work through those changes, as he felt assured he would return as the number one catcher for the first time in his career. Molina or not, Zaun was determined to make it hard for Gibbons to keep him off the lineup card. In the end, Molina chose the Jays over an offer from the Dodgers due to reported concerns about losing playing time to Los Angeles’s two young catchers, Dioner Navarro and Russell Martin. Molina’s contract with Toronto also had a mutual option for the 2007 season. (photo credit: Rick Madonik/Toronto Star) Another player who arrived in Dunedin with an improved swing was Alex Rios. On the second day of camp, Rios launched several home runs in an intra-squad game, one clipping a yellow Hummer belonging to a Jays’ executive in the parking lot. Rios was working on mechanical changes after his power disappeared the season prior. Digging into the box with a widened stance and lower hand placement, everything looked great early, but no one ever really knew what Rios was feeling. 2005 had been a frustrating year for all involved in the Alex Rios business. In July, he stopped running after a batted ball that was ruled fair, leading to a costly run in a loss against the Royals. It was the play that stood out most in a season of frustrating moments for his manager, Gibbons, who benched Rios for parts of September. “How can they just justify keeping him out there?” a teammate wondered aloud over the winter. “He doesn’t run balls out. He hasn’t been around long enough to start playing the game that way.” No one was as experienced in dealing with Rios as Marty Pevey. The veteran Blue Jays minor league coach had managed Rios in Double A and had taken the outfielder out of games for not running balls out before. In the final month of the ‘05 season, Toronto made Pevey the big league first base coach, and while he watched Rios’ struggles along with the rest of the staff, Pevey saw the player differently than most. To Pevey, Rios was just as hard on himself, aware of the expectations he carried and how he wasn’t meeting them. “I was just surprised at how he was letting all of it affect him,” said Pevey. Pevey joined the Blue Jays in 1999, hired by Tim Johnson as the bullpen coach before Johnson was, uh, let go. He lasted one year on Jim Fregosi’s staff before being reassigned to coach High A. “I did know when (Fregosi) walked in, we were all in trouble...and eventually we were in trouble.” (photo credit: Chicago Cubs) Rios would soon be off to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, allowing his potential platoon partner in right to have a loud start to camp. Eric Hinske hit a meager .545 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2005 and lost any semblance of a role on the infield over the offseason. Toronto asked Hinske to learn the outfield in spring in hopes of platooning him with Rios in right, allowing the Blue Jays to hopefully salvage some production out of Hinske’s near-$5 million price tag. Hinske tagged six home runs in spring and played well enough in the field that Gibbons would start the regular season with a platoon in right field. The player with the largest spotlight on him in Dunedin was Toronto’s big free agent signing, A.J. Burnett, who threw two scoreless innings in his spring debut against Team Canada. In his second start, Burnett attempted to add an overhead windup to his delivery and was taken for four runs in three innings before returning to form in his subsequent turn, striking out six Astros across four frames. It was his next outing that gave Blue Jays fans their first scare of the season. Burnett took himself out of the game with discomfort in his right elbow, the same one that required Tommy John surgery three years prior. The follow-up MRI allowed a big sigh of relief. The discomfort was just loose scar tissue from the prior surgery. There was no serious issue, and Burnett would be able to resume throwing in a few days. Still, with Opening Day on the horizon, the Blue Jays opted to start Burnett on the injured list. In his absence, Gibbons moved Scott Downs from the bullpen to the rotation, opening a roster spot for another lefty who put together quite the spring. In January, Ricciardi acquired Brian Tallet from Cleveland for a right-hander named Bubbie Buzachero. Gibbons declared early on that there would be little competition in spring training, and Tallet was one of the six pitchers in camp who figured to be on the outside looking in. As spring rolled through, all Tallet did was get outs. The 6-foot-7 (with 4-inch sideburns) lefty allowed no runs over nine appearances, outperforming the last gasp veterans (James Baldwin and Ben Weber) and trio of young homegrown prospects (Dustin McGowan, Brandon League, and Shaun Marcum). When final cut-down day came, Tallet had a ticket for the flight north as the 12th and final member of the Blue Jays’ pitching staff. Also making the Opening Day roster was Jason Phillips. After being let go by the Dodgers, Phillips called Gibbons, his former minor league manager in the Mets organization, and all but begged for a job. Gibbons went to Ricciardi, and the general manager signed Phillips as a favour to his manager. Phillips was expected to compete with Guillermo Quiroz for the backup job behind Zaun before the Molina signing, which left his chances of making the team near nil. However, Zaun would start the season on the injured list, and Phillips would win the roster spot over Quiroz. Signed as a 17-year-old out of Venezuela, Quiroz was once Toronto’s top catching prospect but looked out of place in 29 games over two seasons. He was claimed off waivers by Seattle after being designated for assignment. (photo credit: MLB) After a pair of games against Triple-A Syracuse, the Blue Jays arrived home in Toronto ahead of a Tuesday night opener against the Minnesota Twins. Over 50,000 tickets were sold for the first game of Toronto’s 30th season, and after a somewhat low-key spring, everyone was finally about to see what the new look Blue Jays were made of. View the full article

The second class of the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame has two new members. At the club’s annual FanFest event at loanDepot park, the Marlins announced that 2003 World Series pitching heroes Josh Beckett and Dontrelle Willis will have their names enshrined on plaques in the stadium’s museum. The Marlins took their first step toward properly celebrating the franchise’s history by establishing the team’s Hall of Fame last season. “Each year, we’ll celebrate former players, coaches, managers, and staff members for their contributions to not just the Marlins organization, but also our South Florida communities,” the club said. Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman added, “We are proud to create a deserving tribute for legends who have played integral roles in shaping our franchise.” Beckett, arguably the greatest homegrown pitcher in franchise history, spent the first five seasons of his major league career with Florida. He made 106 starts during that span, not including five superb outings during the team’s 2003 championship run. His World Series–clinching Game 6 start was the highlight of an impressive postseason, as he tossed a complete-game shutout against the Joe Torre–led New York Yankees. Willis, affectionately known as “D-Train,” remains a fan favorite. The talented left-hander also spent five seasons with the Marlins, beginning with the championship season in 2003, when he won National League Rookie of the Year honors. During his time in South Florida—the best stretch of his career—Willis made 162 starts, posted a 3.78 ERA, and earned two All-Star selections. The HOF's inaugural class included Luis Castillo, Jeff Conine, Jim Leyland and Jack McKeon. All of them with the exception of Leyland were part of the '03 squad as well. Beckett’s induction ceremony will be on September 6 and Willis’ on September 13. The first 10,000 fans to arrive for each of those games will receive bobbleheads. View the full article

On Saturday morning, Martie Cordaro, Omaha Storm Chasers President and GM, shared some tragic news that Terrance Gore, a postseason hero in 2014 and 2015, passed away at the age of 34. Gore's wife confirmed his passing on Facebook, noting that he died from complications from a routine surgery. The Kansas City Royals also shared their condolences to Gore and his family on social media later in the morning. Gore is survived by his wife, Britney, and three children. On Saturday, many shared their condolences and fond memories of Gore's tenure in Kansas City. That included former GM and Royals President of Baseball Operations Dayton Moore, who was quoted in an Anne Rogers article about Gore's passing. Former Royals First Baseman and All-Star Eric Hosmer also shared his condolences on Twitter with a broken-heart emoji and some pictures of him and Gore playing together with the Royals. A 20th-round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Royals, Gore played in 112 career games at the Major League level. Most of his career was spent with the Royals, where he played in 85 games (including a career-high 58 in 2019). That said, Gore also played with the Cubs, Mets, and Dodgers. He was primarily utilized as a pinch runner, as he only had 85 career plate appearances and accumulated a 0.1 fWAR and .580 OPS. That said, he was a weapon for the Royals during the 2014 and 2015 postseason runs. He had four postseason stolen bases with the Royals, including one in the 2014 Wild Card game against the Athletics and two in the 2014 ALDS against the Angels. His unique role for the Royals made him a bit of an anomaly, as baseball content creator Jolly Olive profiled in a 2022 breakdown on YouTube. Gore will certainly be missed, not just by his family and friends, but by Royals fans who remembered his career fondly, especially in the postseason. Without Gore, it's possible that the Royals may still be searching for that second World Series championship today. Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images View the full article

Through the first two months of 2025, Max Meyer was on track to lead the Miami Marlins in innings pitched. Then a hip issue popped up, leading to season-ending surgery. "I feel good," Meyer said when he spoke to the media on Friday. "Had a good offseason, put on some weight and everything feels good—how it should feel. Hoping that I can just continue that throughout the whole season." The Marlins saw a 17-win improvement from the previous year, though Meyer unfortunately had to watch most of that from the dugout due to his injury. While being sidelined, he kept himself involved in team activities and tried to make the best of the situation. "There is a lot you can always learn every day and you just can't stop while going through injuries like that," Meyer said. "You have to be there for your teammates and you always have to be a good guy in the clubhouse. There is a lot you can do when you are even on the shelf for a long time. You can help the team out by being with guys who are maybe down or playing games and having fun in the clubhouse, so you just have to attack it a different way every day." In 2025, Meyer pitched 64 ⅔ innings, posting a 4.73 ERA, 4.47 FIP, 9.46 K/9 and 2.78 BB/9. He had gotten off to a red-hot start, highlighted by his 14-strikeout performance against the Cincinnati Reds. Within his first five outings, he posted a 2.10 ERA and 2.50 FIP. In Meyer's final seven starts before landing on the IL, he posted a 7.01 ERA and 6.16 FIP. He had two games where he surrendered 10 hits. Meyer already began to feel like himself again at the end of the 2025 season. "The whole offseason, I've felt pretty good," he said. "Started running and sprinting probably halfway through and everything just feels good." With the exception of his signature slider, Meyer has made "tweaks" to the other four pitches in his arsenal. He "tightened up" his sweeper and worked on a "more consistent sinker shape." He also focused on "getting my depth back on my changeup and a little more (induced vertical break) on my fastball." The Marlins went into the offseason with a projected 2026 rotation featuring Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers. Now that Cabrera is a Chicago Cub and Weathers is a member of the New York Yankees, there's a lot more room for Meyer...as long as he stays healthy. "I wanna be there when they call my name," said Meyer. "When they call my name, I don't want to be sitting on the sidelines anymore because it's pretty frustrating. I'm gonna miss those guys, fun to be around, but obviously I gotta step it up." View the full article

In a rare Friday news dump that didn’t make fans want to reach for their Pepto Bismol, the Twins unveiled an updated alternate navy blue jersey for the upcoming season. The release comes a day after the jersey was leaked in an MLB: The Show 26 trailer. In the update, the Twins simply took their existing alternate and replaced the ‘MINNESOTA’ across the chest, and replaced it with the script ‘TWINS’ in white lettering. On the right sleeve, the alternate logo of the state of Minnesota with the North Star over the Twin Cities remains. The left sleeve is not shown in any photos released on Friday but it is more than likely reserved for a jersey sponsor patch, which was Securian Financial in the 2025 season. The ‘MINNESOTA’ blue alternate had been in existence since the Twins rebranded their logos and uniforms prior to the 2023 season. This is not the first time the Twins have switched from ‘MINNESOTA’ to ‘TWINS’ on their blue jerseys, as they had employed one of each jersey in the 2000s with the ‘MINNESOTA’ jersey used for road games and ‘TWINS’ jerseys used for home games. Both were dumped following the 2009 season when the Twins revamped their road uniforms. While this is a nice updated homage to those 2000s home alternates, the jersey itself still comes off as a bit bland. The white ‘TWINS’ lettering across the front over the navy blue jersey just does not strike well. The lettering could benefit from either red borders around the white letters, or going further down the rabbit hole of tributing the 2000 jerseys and make the ‘TWINS’ lettering red with white borders. The same review can also be applied to the numbers on the jersey. The numbers could benefit from some type of border to further emphasize them on the navy blue backdrop. Before this 2023 rebrand, the Twins have always employed some kind of border on their jersey numbering going back to their inaugural 1961 season in the Twin Cities. While the Twins did right with their 2023 rebrand and moved off the gaudy uniforms with gold trim (never understood the gold even though the team tried to tell us often it was ‘kasota gold’), this new alternate and their uniforms as a whole could use some extra tinkering to make them that much better. Simply adding some borders to the letters (not the name on the back, though, those can stay as is) and numbers can take these uniforms from alright to excellent. What do you think of the Twins new jersey? Share your thoughts in the comments below! View the full article