DiamondCentric

Still in just the beginning stages of the offseason, the Boston Red Sox still have a giant logjam at the major league level in the outfield. There are four, and up to six, names that are starting-caliber outfielders on the 40-man roster. and they all have a chance to break spring training with the major league club in 2026. As we’ve covered multiple times here at Talk Sox, the free-agent market for virtually every position is incredibly thin and offers very little upside outside of the top four or five names that are available. While Craig Breslow expects the Red Sox to add through free agency, any huge impact will likely have to come through trades. Since the Red Sox have so much talent in the outfield, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of trading any of Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, or Ceddanne Rafaela. For the sake of this exercise, we'll consider Roman Anthony safe... unless the Dodgers put Shohei Ohtani on the trade block. Jarren Duran Seems best to start with the one who currently has rumors attached to him as the GM Meetings in Las Vegas wrap up. Jarren Duran’s name has come up in trade rumors since his break out 2024 season when a portion of the media and fan base believed the team should have sold high. He followed that season up with a solid, but far less impressive, 2025 campaign. The biggest pro of trading Duran is that it opens up left field for Anthony and allows Rafaela and Abreu to play their natural positions in center and right field. Both men just won Gold Gloves and shouldn’t be moved off them for anyone else on the roster. Can Duran even play center or right? Technically yes, but he’s best suited for left field, as his throwing arm leaves a lot to be desired from any other outfield position. He continues to be an obvious fit as the centerpiece of a trade package to a team that’s willing to deal a starting pitcher back to the Red Sox. The flip side here is that Duran is a locker room favorite and a team leader. His absence would leave a void that would have to be filled, which isn't as easy as simply buying a veteran in free agency—Duran is one of the longes-tenured members of the roster. Wilyer Abreu Fresh off his back-to-back Gold Glove wins, it may be hard to envision the Red Sox trading the rising star that is Wilyer Abreu. Stranger things have happened though. Abreu spent a portion of the last half of the season on the injured list and when he returned, he was a shell of himself. That being said, he was second on the team in home runs and served as a spark on both sides of the ball when healthy. Similar to Duran above, the biggest pro in trading Abreu is opening up a full-time position for Roman Anthony. Anthony played a great right field before he was injured, so there should be a decent level of comfortability with him taking the position over full time. Abreu, with an extra year of team control and several birthdays separating him from Duran, should fetch a nice haul in a trade. The biggest con in trading him is that the Red Sox may actually be selling low on his potential; he continues to get better with each passing year and hasn't even had a chance to play every day without the benefit of a platoon partner. His absence would leave a lineup that already lacked power with even fewer options. We’ve talked about how thin this free-agent market is, and unless the team plans to bring in both Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso in free agency, Abreu’s departure would come close to zapping the team of its power entirely. Ceddanne Rafaela While it would be shocking to see the team trade Rafaela, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. He’s a first-time Gold Glove winner and plays arguably the best center field defense in the entire league. He’s shown flashes of potential on offense and has a propensity for coming through in big moments. Typically though, his offense is boom or bust and he’s best suited for the bottom of the lineup. His contract makes him a steal for most teams, and that’s likely the biggest reason he could be available for the right price this winter. The only positive that can be found from trading him is that the team could potentially upgrade his position with an offensive-minded center fielder like Cody Bellinger, but that also comes as the biggest con of moving him: the team would lose its best defender. At such a premium position like center field, losing Rafaela’s glove would put the team in a much worse position than they current are. Masataka Yoshida was left off of this list because he barely played in the outfield during the 2025 season and honestly, most people expect that he will not be with the club come 2026. He’s never going to live up to his contract, but he has the ability to catch fire in a bottle and be productive. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him involved in a trade with any of the outfielders mentioned above to try and make salaries match for a second playoff-caliber starter. The Red Sox have so much talent at positions of need for a lot of teams in the league and they’d be smart to capitalize on that as the offseason begins to progress. Remember, none of this conversation thus far has mentioned Kristian Campbell or Jhostynxon Garcia. With the GM Meetings in the rearview mirror, all eyes turn to the Winter Meetings where Craig Breslow made his biggest trade to date last year. Will history repeat itself this time around? View the full article

The Jays enter the 2025-26 offseason in pretty good shape. Their 2025 offense was excellent; the Jays' team wRC+ of 112 was fourth in baseball, and their FangGraphs Off (a measure of overall offense) was fifth. And this was despite losing Anthony Santander for effectively the entire year, and Daulton Varsho (and his holy-cow-Batman .310 ISO) for half the year. They were no slouches on defence, either. Their FangGraphs Def (a measure of overall defence) of 38.7 was the best in baseball, despite Bo Bichette's struggles at shortstop (his -13 Outs Above Average were tied for last in the majors at any position). On top of that, Shane Bieber’s surprising opt-in gives the Jays a current rotation of Bieber, Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, and Eric Lauer. They're possibly only one more solid starter and a swingman away from being ready for 2026. Which brings us to the bullpen. The bullpen's 3.98 ERA was 16th in MLB in 2025, and their 3.2 fWAR was 18th. To be fair, this was partly due to injuries. Yimi García had a 2.70 ERA (2.21 xERA) in 2024 and was Toronto’s primary setup man before he was traded. In 2025, a combination of injuries and August surgery limited him to 21 innings. Similarly, Nick Sandlin (right elbow inflammation) pitched only 16 innings, and Erik Swanson (who had a brilliant 2023) dealt with a median nerve entrapment in training camp and was ultimately cut. These injuries forced the Jays to make some difficult decisions – as my colleague Bob Ritchie noted in August: "One aspect of [Jeff] Hoffman’s usage is that he has, on five occasions, pitched four times in five days. In 2025, [Josh] Hader has not pitched four times in five days. … [Aroldis] Chapman has pitched four times in five days on two occasions. Hence, Hoffman’s concentrated usage over five days is unusual." In 2026, the Jays should benefit from a healthy García and a full season of Louis Varland. Even so, upgrading the back end of the bullpen should be a priority for the front office this offseason. Not surprisingly, this has led to the Jays being linked to almost every top free agent reliever – including Edwin Díaz and Raisel Iglesias. Devin Williams and Robert Suarez are two more names that have come up in plenty of fan speculation. But the competition for those arms might be intense, raising the price and the risk (giving term to a reliever is always dangerous). Might there be a better option? Suppose there were a reliever with extensive closing experience (75 saves in the last three years, seven more than Williams). And suppose he had a save conversion percentage (saves divided by save opportunities) of 86% – higher than Díaz’s 83%. And suppose he would be pitching in 2026 at age 32 – three years younger than Suarez and four years younger than Iglesias. And (are you tired of supposing yet?) imagine that he is projected to cost only $18 million on a two-year contract – less than half the term and AAV expected for Díaz? Let’s talk about Pete Fairbanks. We can start with the red flags. In 2022 and 2023, Fairbanks’ fastball averaged over 99 mph, with a Stuff+ in the 140 range (in 2022, the stuff+ of 152 on his fastball was second in the majors). As a result, his K/9 was a stellar 13.5. But, as the saying goes, that was then. His velocity and Stuff+ have declined steadily, with the result that in 2025, his velocity was 97 mph and his K/9 was “only” 8.80. There are also injury concerns. Fairbanks’ 60 innings pitched in 2025 were a career high – the most he had ever pitched before was 45.1 innings. These concerns are likely why Tampa Bay did not pick up his $11 million option for 2026, and why they were unable to trade him to a team that would. But let’s examine those concerns, starting with the fastball. Three points to consider: Despite the decline in fastball velocity, Fairbanks still put up a 2.83 ERA (3.00 xERA) in 2025. For comparison, Jeff Hoffman had a 4.37 ERA and a 3.91 xERA, while Williams posted a 4.79/3.07 and Suarez a 2.97/3.67. Stop me if you’ve heard this one: A pitcher has lost 2 mph on his fastball and is struggling. He joins Toronto, and with the help of an excellent pitching coach and his team, miraculously regains his mojo and his velo, going on to an uber season. Am I talking about Robbie Ray in 2021 or Pete Fairbanks in 2026? Finally, Fairbanks started experimenting with a cut fastball in September of 2024. He only threw it 42 times, so the usual small sample size caveats apply. But what was his opponents’ batting average against it? Zero. And how did his Stuff+ rating of 141 for that pitch compare to other pitchers in MLB throwing cutters? Best in baseball (Emmanuel Clase was second with a Stuff+ of 122). Bottom line, Fairbanks is doing just fine with the fastball, and he has crazy-high upside. Now let’s talk about the injuries. It is entirely valid to worry that Fairbanks’ injury record makes him too high-risk to be a solo #1 closer. But as a 1A, working with Hoffman (and possibly García, who has 29 career saves), the expectation should not be for him to pitch so many innings. And remember – Fairbanks pitched 60 innings in 2025. None of the tier one free agent closers pitched as many as 70 (Díaz pitched 66.1, Suarez 69.2, Iglesias 67.1, and Williams 62). The Bottom Line Pete Fairbanks offers an ideal combination of strong recent production and extreme upside. He would hugely enhance the Jays’ bullpen, at a moderate cost and term. The Jays could sign him now, and then, if an elite closer became available on a one-year pillow contract later in the offseason, Toronto could still consider forming its own version of the KC “three-headed monster.” View the full article

Pending physical, Josh Naylor is headed back to the Seattle Mariners on a five-year deal, per numerous reports on Sunday night. He'll be getting $90-100 million guaranteed. It never seemed plausible that the former Miami Marlins top draft pick would reunite with his original organization, but the news is nonetheless notable around these parts because of how it may impact other first basemen on the market. Ryan O'Hearn, for example, was a very comparable hitter to Naylor in 2025, albeit with far less impact as a baserunner. O'Hearn, 32, isn't a candidate for a long-term contract, but his representatives figure to be aiming for an annual average value in the same neighborhood as Naylor's $18M-20M. There are also trade market ramifications. The Mariners have the high-end prospects—seven of them included on Just Baseball's new MLB Top 100 list—worthy of headlining a package for practically any controllable big leaguer who might be available. Now, Miami won't have to worry about those assets being used to drive up the price on potential first base solutions like Alec Burleson (St. Louis Cardinals) and Tyler Soderstrom (Athletics). On Sunday in winter ball, Jared Serna (Mexico) went 2-for-4. His ninth triple established a new all-time Mexican Pacific Winter League single-season record. In addition to Serna, Deyvison De Los Santos (Dominican Republic), Chris Arroyo (Puerto Rico) and Eric Rataczak (Australia) are still actively playing internationally, as shown in our Fish On First tracker. SuperSub ForeverMarlins has notes on every Marlin who participated in the just-completed Arizona Fall League. Only 129 days away from Marlins Opening Day. 🔷 Marlins catching coach Joe Singley has been hired by the Baltimore Orioles, as first reported by The Baltimore Banner's Andy Kostka, where he'll be working double duty as both their catching coach and field coordinator. 🔷 Kevin Barral and Sean McCormack combined to select 10 notable minor league free agents who they'd like to see the Marlins target. 🔷 77.8% of Marlins fans who participated in this poll expect the club to spend more in free agency this offseason than they've done on average during Bruce Sherman's ownership tenure. 🔷 DYM explains why he is optimistic about Marlins prospects Chris Arroyo, Colby Martin, Aiden May, Julio Mendez and Andrés Valor having breakout seasons in 2026. 🔷 Congratulations to Cloie and Braxton Garrett, who got married on Saturday. Former Marlins teammates Trevor Rogers and Nick Fortes were among the guests in attendance at the wedding. 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Kyle Hendricks announced his retirement. A soft-tossing right-hander out of Dartmouth, Hendricks spent 11 of his 12 MLB seasons with the Chicago Cubs. In 2016, he led the National League in ERA, finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting and helped the Cubs snap their 108-year championship drought. View the full article

The Twins have brought in one of the longest tenured MLB relievers to become their next bullpen coach in LaTroy Hawkins. Hawkins has spent the last eight seasons as a special advisor to the club and will now be the coach in the area in which he has the highest level of expertise. Jamie and Jeremy break down how Hawkins will be a great addition to a bullpen full of young talent. View the full article

We're still a few weeks away from the Winter Meetings, but that hasn't stopped the offseason buzz regarding possible trades, especially with the Kansas City Royals. One player that has been the focus of trade talks among Royals fans is outfielder Jarren Duran of the Red Sox. The Royals need to improve their outfield, which ranked 30th in fWAR and wRC+, according to Fangraphs. Duran could be an option for Kansas City, especially since he has two years of club control left, and doesn't seem in line to receive an extension from the Red Sox anytime soon, due to the presence of other young outfielders like Roman Anthony and Wilyer Abreu. Last season, Duran posted a 111 wRC+ and 3.9 fWAR in 696 plate appearances with the Red Sox. He also hit 16 home runs, collected 84 RBI, scored 86 runs, and stole 24 bases. The BB/K ratio (0.36) leaves a bit to be desired, and he regressed defensively (-2 OAA in OF) after a stellar campaign in 2024 (+10 OAA). Still, Duran would be a significant upgrade for the Royals at any of the three outfield positions next season, and his Statcast profile last year was a lot better than what Kansas City trotted out primarily in the corner outfield positions. A popular tool for determining "fair" trades is Baseball Trade Values' Trade Simulator. As with any simulator, there are kinks to be worked out (and BTV does a good job of consistently updating it). That said, it does provide a benchmark for what a player costs in terms of value (both short- and long-term) and the capital required to acquire them. In this "Royals Trade Machine" post, I am going to look at a couple of hypothetical trades floating around on social media and offer one trade that I think could work not just for the Royals but for the Red Sox as well. Trade #1: First Baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and Catcher Ramon Ramirez for Duran Sammy from the Play Tessie podcast posted this trade proposal on social media on November 6th. Pasquantino is coming off one of his best seasons in his career on the offensive end. In 682 plate appearances, he hit 32 home runs and collected 113 RBI, both career-highs. He also posted a 116 wRC+, his highest mark in that category since his 72-game rookie sample in 2022 (136 wRC+). However, while those surface-level metrics are nice, Pasquantino didn't offer much on defense (-7 OAA) and only accumulated 1.5 fWAR. As for Ramirez, injury limited him to 331 plate appearances in his first full professional season with Columbia. Still, he hit 12 home runs and posted a 116 wRC+. The 20-year-old catcher also had some big moments in Low-A Columbia, including a walk-off homer in May. When looking at the trade via BTV, their model rejected this proposal due to a significant gap in value between the two teams. A gap of nearly 30 in value is a lot to overcome, which is why this deal probably doesn't get done. Even though this deal is friendly to the Royals in terms of BTV's surplus value, it also seems unlikely that Kansas City would trade a fan favorite like Vinnie, especially after the season he just had. Trade #2: Staring Pitcher Noah Cameron, Catcher Blake Mitchell, and Reliever Angel Zerpa for Duran Max Rieper of Royals Review brought up this trade proposal in a November 12th piece on the site, which also delved deeper into Duran's profile and history. Max did the hard work of ensuring this trade worked for both sides in the BTV Trade Simulator. The Royals get the better value still in this trade, but it's only a 2.80 difference rather than the 28.80 difference from the Play Tessi proposal. In many ways, I like this deal for a few different reasons: Kansas City holds onto Kris Bubic, who I think is more valuable than Noah Cameron. While Cameron had a good year, Bubic's ceiling is much higher than Cameron's, which is evident in Bubic's TJ Stats summary from a season ago. That said, trading Cameron away puts some pressure on the Royals to sign Bubic to an extension. I am not sure the Royals are willing to do that, based on what GM JJ Picollo said in the GM meetings. Losing Blake Mitchell is a tough pill to swallow, especially after a solid AFL campaign, which can be seen in his TJ Stats profile from Arizona below. However, with the emergence of Carter Jensen last year, two more years of Salvador Perez, and Ramirez showing promise in Low-A ball, Mitchell is the most expendable of their top prospects. Plus, Mitchell's "swing and miss" issues are worrisome, and that was evident in Arizona with a 38.2% whiff rate with Surprise. Angel Zerpa is fine, but he's not a high-leverage lefty, as his 4.18 ERA and 0.3 fWAR demonstrated a season ago. The main drawback of this deal is that the Royals are giving up three players for one player, which seems like a lot for Duran, who is a free agent after the 2027 season. Trade #3: Starting Pitcher Kris Bubic, Reliever James McArthur, and Utility Player Nick Loftin for Duran and Pitcher Jordan Hicks My trade proposal involves the Royals not just acquiring Duran, but also a bad deal on the books for the Red Sox that could soften the deal. While I prefer the Royals to keep Bubic, the reality is that he's their best trade chip, especially with Boston. I don't think the Red Sox, an analytical organization, would be sold on Cameron based on his TJ Stats summary. A subpar four-seamer and a slightly below average TJ Stuff+ mark of 98 pales in comparison to Bubic's TJ Stuff+ numbers. Thus, for the Royals to get a player of Duran's caliber, Bubic makes more sense in a trade scenario. I also threw in Nick Loftin, who gives the Red Sox a utility option off the bench. The Red Sox have had success with Nate Eaton, another former Royals utility player and draft pick. They may be able to utilize Loftin in a similar role, and Loftin has more of a prospect pedigree than Eaton, who's been a bit up and down at the MLB level. Loftin posted a 0.1 fWAR and 73 wRC+ in 188 plate appearances last year. The last part of this deal involves trading a talented but slightly erratic arm, James McArthur, for a similar pitcher with a bigger contract, Jordan Hicks. McArthur missed all of 2025 due to recovery from surgery, and he had troubles holding down the closer position in 2024. However, while his 4.77 ERA wasn't impressive, he still posted pretty solid TJ Stuff+ numbers with the Royals a couple of seasons ago. He could be a nice project for the Red Sox, who should come at a pretty reasonable price (expected to make $800,000 this year). As for the Red Sox, they would deal Hicks, who posted a 6.35 ERA and is making $12.5 million over the next two years. That's a lot to sink on a likely reliever, though the Red Sox were hoping they could get something out of him in the rotation when they acquired him. I think the Royals could take on Hicks' money to sweeten this deal, and Hicks could also be a nice project for pitching coach Brian Sweeney. Based on all these factors, here's how this trade calculates out on the BTV Trade Simulator. The deal not only favors the Red Sox value-wise, but it's nearly identical in terms of value given up by both teams, according to the BTV Trade Simulator. Of course, would the Red Sox give up Hicks as well in the deal? Would McArthur and Loftin be the types Boston would like in return, along with Bubic? Those are all questions that would need to be clarified for this deal to be a reality. However, if they are explained, I think this would be the best win-win for both the Royals and Red Sox in 2026 and beyond. Which trade do you like the most? Let us know in the comments below or on the Royals Keep Forums! View the full article

While many baseball fans in the hot stove league are asking “will they or won’t they” on a Brandon Woodruff return to the Brewers, the free agent market might have some real bargains for the Crew to bolster their major-league pitching staff. The team’s been very successful at finding bargains in the past, like Colin Rea or Julio Teheran. So, who could be the next free-agent bargain for the Crew? Here are some options. LHP Foster Griffin, Yomiuri Giants (NPB) Griffin had cups of coffee in MLB in 2020 and 2022, where he mostly handled mop-up duty. He then went to Japan, where he found himself a spot in the starting rotation of the Yomiuri Giants of the Central League. Over those three years, he started 53 of the 54 games he appeared in, pitching 315 2/3 innings with a 2.57 ERA while striking out 9.1 hitters per nine innings while averaging only two walks per nine. Notably, Griffin had a grand total of three wild pitches and 15 hit batsmen during that time. Griffin has slightly over one year of MLB service time, so the Brewers could have team control for five years. While he made strides in NPB, the Brewers’ pitching lab could refine him into a back-end of the rotation option for the team who can reliably eat innings. LHP Brent Suter, Cincinnati Reds A reunion with “The Raptor” could be a boon for the Brewers bullpen. On November 5, the Cincinnati Reds declined a $3 million team option on Suter, making him a free agent. Over the three seasons since Milwaukee put him on waivers, he’s appeared in 152 games and posted a 3.69 ERA over 202 2/3 innings pitched. He has done this while pitching half the time in two rather notoriously hitter-friendly stadiums. Suter comes with few question marks, the biggest being his age (36). That said, he’s fit in with the Brewers’ clubhouse before, he has been able to eat 65-70 innings out of the bullpen for each of the last five years, and he could benefit from the Brewers’ pitching lab. He’d slot in as a replacement should Aaron Ashby and/or DL Hall earn spots in the starting rotation. RHP Michael Soroka, Washington Nationals/Chicago Cubs Soroka’s had to come back from multiple Achilles injuries, and may be a candidate for the pitching lab, given his 3-18 record, 4.62 ERA, and 4.57 FIP over the last two seasons. There is some good news: In six games with the Cubs, mostly working out of the pen, he had a dominant stretch that flashed the talent that made him the youngest Opening Day starter in Atlanta Braves history. Last year, Soroka got a $9 million deal. Between his age and the deal he received, he may end up being one of the more expensive options on this list. That said, this could be a pickup that could pay off big for Milwaukee compared to the expense. RHP Adrian Houser, Chicago White Sox/Tampa Rays Houser is another former Brewer on this list, but like Brent Suter, he may be worth the reunion. After he was released by the Texas Rangers, Houser signed on with the White Sox, where he became their staff ace with a 2.10 ERA in 68 2/3 innings pitched across 11 starts, then added another 56 1/3 innings in 10 starts with the Rays. Like Suter, there would be little question about his fit in the clubhouse. He’s 33, but his arsenal, with the heavy use of a sinker, according to FanGraphs, would be an excellent match with the Brewers’ infield defense. That’s before he gets in some work with the pitching lab. RHP Dustin May, Los Angeles Dodgers/Boston Red Sox May has had some difficulty with injuries, but when he’s been on the mound he has generally pitched well. Like Houser, he primarily throws a sinker, but his can touch 98 miles per hour. May was reasonably healthy, but was pushed out of the Dodgers’ rotation, and eventually traded to Boston, where he went 1-4 over six games (five starts) with a 5.40 ERA across 28 1/3 innings pitched. May would make an excellent fit for the Brewers’ excellent defense, being the type of pitcher that could do really well with work in the pitching lab. Like Soroka, he might be a more expensive pickup, but at the same time, he could pay off big time for the Brewers. Honorable Mentions The Brewers may also want to look at bringing back Jordan Montgomery on a deal similar to Brandon Woodruff’s. Montgomery was a very solid pitcher from 2021-2023 and could be similar to a mid-season acquisition after missing all of 2025 with an elbow injury. Nestor Cortes underwent surgery for a flexor injury on October 16, and will be out for nine to ten months, but is another candidate for the Crew if they want to buy low and rehab him. Do you think any of these free agents make sense for the Brewers? Who do you think they should try to sign in the off-season? View the full article

Royce Lewis is one of the most pivotal players of the current core. He’s also, unfortunately, one of the most difficult players to predict. This is true for his play on the field, and for his overall mindset and how he shows up to the media through his comments. He’s capable of being a team leader, an offensive force, and a building block for the next several years. But, it’s also possible that Lewis’ tenure with the Twins could be winding down. How did we get here, and is it possible that frustration has led to his sharp decline? As Lewis was coming up through the minors, he was known for being a consummate professional and for being profoundly positive. This showed up through his comments after suffering his second torn ACL in as many years, when he told Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com: “I learned that every time I get put down, I come back stronger. So, why would I not bet on myself? … I don't think there's anything that can really stop me, to be honest.” Fans saw it through his infectious grins in postgame interviews after hitting yet another grand slam. The Twins saw it through his ability to carry the team on his back and to change the outcome of games — over and over again. He was joy incarnate. Then, sometime around August of 2024 (you know, right around the time the Twins began their epic collapse down the stretch to miss the playoffs after having better than 90% odds to make them), something changed. This change showed up in the box scores, in his comments, and in his demeanor. All of a sudden, it appeared that Lewis was no longer having a good time. He admitted as much during a slump this season, telling Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic “I'm tired of being the one who's being bullied and picked on by this game. Whether it wants me to suffer on the offensive side or when I'm going hot, it just wants to kick me out with an injury. Seems like it's picking on me at this moment, so I'm waiting for one of my friends to pick me up and stop this bully.” This is a moment of self-reflection, where it was clear that he was feeling a certain way about his travails at the plate, and about his health. Of course, Lewis has also made a number of comments that look outwards rather than introspect. Over the span of roughly a year, Lewis has made not-so-subtle digs at established veterans on the team, telling Bobby Nightingale of the Star Tribune during a rough patch of play, "It kind of falls on, obviously, the players. But I didn't realize it was just on us. Now I know that we're going to carry a lot of the load, especially the young guys - the cheap guys is the best way to put it". This was shortly after Carlos Correa made comments about younger players needing to put in the work to perform. There are hints that there was some ongoing friction between the two. Of his struggles at the plate, Lewis griped about the MLB arbitration system, telling Dan Hayes, "It's also hard to make a full in-season adjustment because you can try that, and those 30 games or at-bats of trial go toward your stats. Do you really want to sacrifice that?” He added, “Being under contract probably helps because he knows what he's making that year and the year after. For someone like me, I'm fighting (to take] care of myself and my family. I don't want to put any of those stats in jeopardy." Of course, this also reflects a communication gap between Lewis and the coaching staff. He further hinted at frustration with the coaching staff when he told Dan Hayes "I've become more results-oriented because of how we run things here. I’ve prided myself on understanding that (good process is) OK. But this year it seems like if I don't - or anybody in general - (they're) quick to pull the trigger on you. I'm trying to do my best to get some balls to fall, and when that doesn't happen, you're just like SOL.” In any light, these comments aren’t great. Worse, while he was saying those things, dating back to August 13th of 2024, Lewis has a .619 OPS, good for a wRC+ of just 71, or nearly 30% worse than an average hitter. Some of this was just plain bad luck; he had long stretches where he was BABIP’d, similar to what fans saw from Griffin Jax when things weren’t going quite right. But, beyond that, he just looked lost, and frustrated. Okay. So, putting all this together, he was frustrated with Baldelli, who is now gone. Remember that frustration with Matt Borgshulte’s coaching approach? He’s also gone. The highly paid veteran who wasn’t performing to his contract value but calling out the young guys? Now playing in Houston, and doing a bit better. The arbitration system hasn’t changed, but hey, there will be a new CBA in just over a year (if we are lucky). Anything is possible. Now, it’s entirely possible that Lewis was projecting some frustration he feels about his contributions and inability to rediscover the hitter he was for his first full season or so towards others around him. That would be a very human thing to do. Anyone with his promise, and skill should be immensely frustrated after seven IL stints in four seasons limit them to just 132 career games. Who wouldn’t be annoyed when they feel like no matter what they try at the plate, nothing works? When a budding superstar identifies that they may not be on that path any longer, a certain amount of irritation should be a given. And to his credit, down the stretch in the 2025 season, as he was hitting a bit better and running with abandon on the bases, he seemed more like himself — the high-energy, bubbly, charismatic presence we all saw in the beginning. This hints that just maybe, if Lewis can find a stretch of success at the plate and feel set up for success and valued at the same time, it could be a game changer for him. So, is this in the cards? Well, maybe. Fast forward a bit, and Dan Hayes reported that Lewis was blown away by Derek Shelton’s approach in his brief time in role. Lewis said: “We started off building a really good relationship. He told me I was important to him and our organization. I told him at points last year I didn’t feel like that. It was really important to me to feel that kind of confidence. I told him that part of me is a little bit of a wide receiver mentality, to where I need to be talked to and just told what’s going on, what the plan is for myself, for the organization, and to be involved just a little bit.”. That’s a start. Maybe, possibly, some of these changes in personnel will be exactly what Lewis needs to be the best version of himself. Perhaps feeling more connected to his manager will help him minimize emotion-based slumps. Maybe having strategy and approach explained in a slightly different way will connect with him, and he will feel more comfortable making tweaks and trusting they will work for him. Hopefully, we will all see a return to form in 2026, and Lewis will be a happy warrior at the plate, hitting endless grand slams, and carrying the offense for stretches of time. If so, the upcoming season just might have some real promise. On the other hand, unfortunately, if these things don’t cause a shift, or if that shift doesn’t sustain…well, then, his time as a part of this core is likely coming to an end as the next wave of top prospects approaches the majors. It seems that Lewis is aware of this as well. Hopefully 2026 brings Royce Lewis joy, and a return to the path he was on just 15 months ago. View the full article

Before the trade deadline, one of the most glaring holes on the San Diego Padres' roster was the catching position and the No. 9 slot in the batting order. Elias Díaz and Martín Maldonado contributed 0.4 and a -0.8 fWAR, respectively, and were grading out poorly on defense. There was a shakeup that needed to happen to help the Padres push toward the playoffs. On July 31, that shakeup mercifully came. The Padres traded for Freddy Fermin from the Kansas City Royals, giving up both Ryan Berget and Stephen Kolek for a strong defensive catcher. Originally drafted in the by the Royals in 2015, Freddy Fermin came in and immediately took over everyday catching duties for the Friars: 42 Games 139 Plate Appearances .244 BA 2 HR 14 RBI’s .339 SLG .278 OBP 0.5 fWAR Looking at his entire season, his numbers look consistent, meaning you can expect what you are going to get from him at the plate; not much power, but consistent contact: 109 Games 347 Plate Appearances .251 BA 5 HR 26 RBI’s .339 SLG .297 OBP 1.0 fWAR Fermin, 30, is entering his first arbitration-eligible season in 2026, and is projected to make around $1.8 million. Given the volatility of catcher production, the Padres must decide whether to treat him strictly as a veteran or catching optin, or explore a multi-year arrangement that provides cost certainty through his arbitration window. In the playoffs against the Chicago Cubs, Fermin proved to be one of the more effective hitters that the Padres had during that series: 3 Games 11 Plate Appearances 4 Hits (2 Singles and 2 Doubles) .364 BA However, getting Fermin wasn’t necessarily about getting his bat, even though it was an upgrade from what the Padres previously had. He brought something that the Padres didn’t have before, which was quality defense from behind the plate. This was an area that the Padres needed to address, and should still address for next season. The trade that seemed more skewed toward favoring the Royals can be seen in a different light when you focus what Freddy Fermin’s best skill is: 4 Blocks Above Average (tied for 8th amongst all catchers) 1.90 Pop Time (11th amongst all catches, only 0.04 behind the league leader) 2 Catchers Caught Stealing Above Average (tied for 8th amongst all catchers) 11/44 Caught Stealing, 25% (tied for 11th amongst all catchers) These stats all look good, but they look even better when you see what the Padres had before he came over at the trade deadline. Elias Díaz wasn’t bad scoring, a Blocks Above Average of 2, but he was sharing the catching duties with Martín Maldonado, who had a -9 figure, which was the third worst in the league. Combined, they only caught 10 people stealing while they had 78 attempts between the two of them. While the obvious way to win a baseball game is to score runs, stopping the other team from scoring runs wins just as many games. The 2025 Padres were 30-23 in games decided by a single run, and they were 7-7 after the All-Star break. If those seven wins go the other way, the Padres would have been battling for the last Wild Card playoff spot instead of comfortably clinching it six days prior to the end of the season (after a walk-off hit by none other than Freddy Fermin). The Padres' previous catchers were allowing additional runs to be scored because of their inability to contain the basepaths; Fermin helped change that. Of course, not all is perfect in San Diego. Freddy Fermin had a Catcher Framing Runs stat of -1, while Elias Díaz and Martín Maldonado were at 2 and 0, respectively. This isn’t a huge issue in terms of everything else that he brings to the table, but it is something that the Padres will want to see an improvement in, especially with the ABS challenge system making its way to the big leagues in 2026. Freddy Fermin may not headline arbitration discussion, but his combination of defensive reliability, and affordable control make him an important structural piece of the Padres roster. If he maintains his currency trajectory, he could quietly deliver above-average value for a fraction of the cost typically associated with stable major-league catching. View the full article

Kristian Campbell broke came with the Boston Red Sox and was the starting second baseman on Opening Day. For the first month of the season, he lit the league on fire, winning AL Rookie of the Month honors. Then, the floor fell out from underneath him and he struggled to find his footing again with the big-league club. He was preparing to play first base in the wake of the injury to Triston Casas, but that never came to fruition. Soon after that report leaked, he went sent down to Triple-A Worcester, where he remained for the rest of the season. With the WooSox, Campbell bounced from position to position. He registered 59 games at second base, seven in center field, and two in left field. At the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, President of Baseball Operations Craig Breslow said that the team was seeking ‘stability and certainty’ with Campbell as the calendar marches toward the 2026 season. The team has acknowledged, at least privately, that left field is likely the best fit for Campbell as he grows into a big-league hitter. While that stability in a position will like boost his performance on both sides of the ball, forcing him into an already crowded outfield isn’t the path forward here. Sure, it adds another layer of depth to the group in the instance of one or more starters being traded, but this feels needlessly complicated. The biggest defensive need for the Red Sox is at first base, and that is where Campbell should be preparing to play as long as he’s in the Red Sox’s system. By shifting him to a full-time outfield role, and one who profiles as a left fielder specifically, the team is putting themselves in a position that could hamstring them before spring training even gets started. We can take Roman Anthony out of this equation; he’s guaranteed a starting outfield spot for 2026. If we look at the other three outfielders though, we see three proven, MLB-quality starters. Would you take Campbell over Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, or Wilyer Abreu? Absolutely not, at least at this point in time. Rafaela and Abreu are coming off Gold Glove-winning seasons and Duran is only one season removed from an outstanding 2024. Why replace a known entity with something that is a total unknown in the middle of a contention window? It just doesn’t make sense. Campbell should turn into a solid major leaguer at some point soon, but forcing him to find his footing within the Red Sox’s outfield seems shortsighted. Unless, of course, the front office is planning to trade two outfielders this offseason in an attempt to add another top of the rotation starter to slot in behind Garrett Crochet. On the surface, it makes sense. The team has more outfielders than spots available, especially if they are serious about Campbell making the switch to the outfield. That doesn’t even consider the distinct possibility that the team brings back veteran clubhouse leader Rob Refsnyder. And don’t forget, Masataka Yoshida is technically a left fielder, too. This team is ripe with outfield talent, and adding Campbell to that group would make it an even deeper positional depth chart. But even then, in the instance of the team planning on trading two current outfielders, you’d want them to be in the market for either Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger to fill one of those holes. Not an unproven second-year player. I’m not here to bash Campbell in any way. I think he can be a valuable member of the Red Sox -- he was a top prospect as of this time a year ago -- but this move makes zero sense as the roster is currently constructed. He’s bulked up, according to Breslow, and has already been spending time in Fort Myers with the hitting coaches to hopefully allow him to tap into the offensive production we saw when he first broke onto the scene. He’s best suited to do that from first base, though. If he’s adding weight and can hit for power, he’s the prototypical first baseman that the Red Sox have been missing for years. Bulky outfielders can work, but the Red Sox need no help in that department. If the team trots Campbell out to left field to begin spring training, that should mean that some combination of Duran, Rafaela, and Abreu have been traded. That, to me, would be cutting off their nose to spite their face. Campbell can be a special player on both sides of the ball, but shoehorning him into an already-crowded situation likely sets him up for failure more than it pushes him to be the best version of himself. View the full article

Miami Marlins fans are excited to see what the team does in free agency this offseason, but keep in mind that it's possible to add quality depth without getting big names on guaranteed contracts. Last year, for example, the Marlins signed Janson Junk and Heriberto Hernández to minor league deals. They both went on to spend the majority of the 2025 season in the big leagues and produced well enough to put themselves in strong position to crack the 2026 Opening Day roster. The minor league free agent market is once again filled with hundreds of names. Fish On First has identified 10 of them who should be particularly attractive to the Marlins as either bounce-back candidates or diamonds in the rough. If signed, they would report to spring training as non-roster invitees. The first three players highlighted below actually have some MLB experience, while the rest are career-long minor leaguers looking for their opportunity to prove themselves at the highest level. RHP Matt Manning 2025 organizations: Detroit Tigers (AAA) and Philadelphia Phillies (AA) Once a top prospect in the Tigers organization, Manning got called up multiple times, but never really found any consistency and hasn't surpassed 100 innings pitched in any individual MLB season. The former starter mainly worked out of the bullpen in the minors in 2025 and control was a huge issue for him (44 BB in 55.2 IP). Manning's sweeper continues to be a plus pitch for him, generating a lot of whiffs. His fastball velocity peaks at 98 mph. The Marlins like to tinker with pitch arsenals and that could benefit Manning moving forward. The former first-round draft pick is entering his age-28 season. RHP Elvis Peguero 2025 organizations: Milwaukee Brewers (AAA/MLB) and Chicago White Sox (AAA/MLB) Peguero is not far removed from having an important bullpen role for a postseason-bound team. In 2024, he posted a 2.98 ERA through 51 ⅓ innings pitched, but did have a 4.04 FIP, showing some signs of being lucky. The following season, Peguero struggled to stay up with the big league team and also finished 2025 with a right elbow strain. Peguero is an uncomfortable pitcher to face because of how his sinker moves and how much extension there is in his delivery. If healthy, the Marlins should bring him in during spring training and see what he's got. RHP Shawn Dubin 2025 organizations: Houston Astros (AAA/MLB) and Baltimore Orioles (MLB) More potential bullpen help for the Fish. Dubin has had MLB stints with the Astros and Orioles since making his debut in 2023. In 2025, he posted a 5.08 ERA and 4.95 FIP through 33 ⅔ innings in the majors. Most of the damage inflicted on him this season came during a rough patch in mid-August. Dubin throws six pitches with good command, limits barrels, and generates ground balls. Wng0V1dfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0J3RUZCUVpYWHdzQUQxUUNYd0FIVjFjQ0FBTldVd01BVjFBSFZsVlhDRkZVVkFjSA==.mp4 Dubin's past as a starter and deep pitch mix give him a shot to contribute in a variety of roles moving forward. 1B/3B Malcom Nuñez 2025 organization: Pittsburgh Pirates (AAA) Once lauded as a top prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, Nuñez is the youngest player we'll be covering (he turns 25 in March). Splitting time between first base and third base in AAA, he slashed .283/.335/.428/.763 with two home runs and 22 RBI. Injuries kept him out for the whole second half of the season. His age, physical build and right-handed bat give Nuñez some things in common with Heriberto Hernández. His path to joining the Marlins active roster is clear considering the club's mediocre production at the corner infield spots. 1B Jake Holton 2025 organizations: Detroit Tigers (AA) and Gigantes del Cibao (LIDOM) Holton just got through with his third consecutive season at the Double-A level. He slashed .257/.349/.479/.828 with 19 home runs, 66 RBI and a 142 wRC+. He also struck out 25.4% of the time, but walked 11.6% of the time, proving to be someone with nice plate discipline. Defensively, he has spent the majority of his career at first base, but does have some limited experience in the outfield. An added plus: Holton is currently tearing it up in the Dominican Winter League, slashing .419/.510/.674/1.184 with two home runs and eight RBI through 13 games thus far. Bringing both Nuñez and Holton to camp would suggest that the Marlins couldn't find the right match with a veteran first baseman and decided to spend their real money to address other positions. LHP Mitchell Tyranski 2025 organization: Chicago Cubs (AA) Tyranski is on the older side of this MiLB FA list at 28 years old. During the 2025 season, he posted a 2.37 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 9.32 K/9 and 5.53 BB/9 in 47 relief appearances. The Marlins need more lefty bullpen depth. Tyranski's low-90s fastball won't overpower anybody, but he may still be able to generate enough soft contact to be effective. OF Nick Schnell 2025 organization: Washington Nationals (AA/AAA) Schnell was also a free agent last winter when he made the move from the Rays to the Nationals. In 2025 with the Rochester Red Wings, he slashed .244/.322/.490 in 92 games. The 25-year-old has shown legitimate MLB power—a 14.1% barrel%, 41.8% hard-hit%, and 113.2 max exit velocity. Schnell's poor contact rates and plate approach have culminated in a strikeout rate over 30% and held him back from cracking the major leagues. The former first-rounder may be attractive to the Marlins because there is so much to gain if they can find a way to enhance his swing decisions. RHP Justin Yeager 2025 organization: Milwaukee Brewers (AA/AAA) A 2019 33rd-round draft pick, Justin Yeager began his minor league journey with the Atlanta Braves org. Three years ago, Yeager was included in the blockbuster trade that sent Sean Murphy to the Braves and William Contreras to the Brewers. Now 27 years old, Yeager has seen a sharp decrease in strikeouts since entering the Brewers org with a slight decrease in walks. In his 21 ⅔ innings pitched with Triple-A Nashville in 2025, he put up a 0.84 ERA, heavily aided by a low batting average on balls in play (his xFIP was 5.47). Yeager throws a fastball, cutter, and slider, each of which had a sub-.300 xSLG. Good individual pitch characteristics may make him an interesting pickup regardless of his lackluster advanced metrics. RHP Houston Roth 2025 organization: Baltimore Orioles (AA/AAA) Another 2019 draft pick, Roth was selected in the 29th round by the Orioles. Across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, he posted a 2.96 ERA, 4.25 FIP, and 13.5 K-BB%. Those stats are skewed somewhat by Roth's very last appearance of the season in which he set season-highs with five earned runs and three walks allowed. Roth throws a four-seamer, sweeper, cutter, and splitter. His four-seam has 19 inches of induced vertical break, but it's thrown at a below-average velo of 92.3 mph. During his 40 ⅔ innings in Triple-A, Roth's sweeper recorded a 36.7 whiff%, .210 xwOBA, and .154 xBA. That was outdone by his dominant splitter, which got hitters to whiff 63.2% of the time, with a .085 xwOBA, and .050 xBA. Video game numbers from Roth, with breaking pitches like that, any team that can unlock more velo out of Roth could lead him to being a mainstay in any MLB bullpen. OF Yonathan Perlaza 2025 organizations: San Diego Padres (AAA) and Águilas del Zulia (LVBP) After a 2024 season in the KBO, Perlaza came back stateside to play for the Padres, spending the whole season in Triple-A. He slashed .307/.391/.510 with a .397 wOBA and 115 wRC+ and won the organization's Minor League Player of the Year award. Perlaza is continuing to get everyday reps in the Venezuelan Winter League. As was the case during the regular season, right field is his primary position. A switch-hitter, Perlaza brings loud pop to the plate with a max exit velo of 113.7 mph and a 46.1 hard-hit%. What has held Perlaza back is iffy contact rates, trouble with offspeed, and lackluster outfield defense. Perlaza has enjoyed success everywhere he's been over the last two years. Why not give him a shot to translate that to MLB competition? View the full article

After a disappointing finish to the 2025 campaign, the Minnesota Twins enter 2026 hoping to get back into the playoff mix. Several players took significant steps forward last season, which helped keep the club semi-competitive despite a transition-heavy year. However, not everyone who excelled in 2025 is a sure bet to maintain that level of production. Regression is a natural part of baseball, and the following four players could see their numbers dip as the Twins try to reestablish themselves as contenders. OF Byron Buxton Buxton is coming off arguably the best season of his career, one in which he rediscovered his elite form and reminded everyone how dynamic he can be when healthy. Yet as he enters his age-32 season, it is fair to question how much longer he can maintain that level of explosiveness. Father Time remains undefeated, and Buxton’s speed and defensive range may begin to wane. The Twins could soon face a difficult conversation about whether to keep him in center field or shift him to a corner spot to preserve his health and extend his production window. 2026 Outlook: The Twins will continue to rely on Buxton as a key lineup piece and clubhouse leader, but his role could evolve. If he can stay on the field for 120-plus games and maintain league-average defense, he remains a valuable everyday player. A transition to left or right field could allow his bat to stay in the lineup more often while easing the physical demands that have limited his availability in past seasons. RHP Joe Ryan Ryan has been a dependable presence in Minnesota’s rotation, but his second-half numbers from last year provide some warning signs. He allowed a .790 OPS in the second half compared to a .591 mark in the first half, a pattern that has appeared in previous seasons. Injuries and inconsistency tend to creep in as workloads build, and that could again impact his overall performance. Ryan should remain a valuable playoff-caliber starter, but his final 2026 line may not match the highs he posted early last year. 2026 Outlook: Ryan enters 2026 as one of the most important arms in the rotation, particularly with several younger pitchers still developing. His ability to adjust midseason and maintain his fastball effectiveness will determine whether he can stabilize his year-to-year numbers. Even with some regression, a durable 180-inning season with solid strikeout totals would provide the consistency the Twins need. INF Kody Clemens Clemens became one of the more pleasant surprises of 2025 after the Twins gave him his first extended big-league opportunity. He responded with 19 home runs and a 96 OPS+, helping stabilize first base in a season of transition. However, those numbers might represent his ceiling rather than his new baseline. First base is traditionally a power-driven position, and Clemens’s overall offensive profile may not hold up if his power production dips even slightly. The Twins are betting on him to replicate his success, but that could prove difficult over a full season. 2026 Outlook: Clemens enters spring training with an opportunity to earn regular at-bats, but the team may also look to add competition at first base or designated hitter. If he can sustain his contact quality and improve his on-base skills, he could carve out a role as a versatile left-handed bat. However, if his slugging numbers regress, he might find himself in a platoon or bench role by midseason. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson Woods Richardson gets lost in the shuffle of the Twins’ young starting pitchers, but he has proven his worth over the last two seasons. He posted a 4.04 ERA and a 106 ERA+, becoming a steady presence behind the team’s top starters. Yet his underlying metrics raise some concerns about potential regression. His walk rate increased from 8.4% to 9.8%, and his hard-hit rate jumped by more than five percentage points. While his strikeout rate improved, his .265 BABIP suggests he benefited from some batted-ball luck that may not hold. The Twins still view him as part of their long-term rotation, but fans should temper expectations heading into 2026. 2026 Outlook: Woods Richardson will likely open the season as the team’s fourth or fifth starter, and his continued development will be key for the rotation’s depth. If he can keep his walk rate in check and induce more weak contact, he could solidify himself as a reliable mid-rotation arm. However, if his command wavers and hard contact remains an issue, regression could lead to a move to long relief or Triple-A for a reset. Minnesota’s path back to contention depends on balancing breakout performances with stability from its veterans. If these players can stave off regression, the Twins could make a serious push in 2026. But if their numbers slide, the front office may be forced to look elsewhere for answers. Do you agree that these players are headed for regression? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Matt Wallner had one of the most bizarre seasons for a power hitter in recent memory. What changes will he be making this off-season to improve upon his swing and hit pitches faster than 95 MPH? View the full article

With a bevy of relief pitchers on the 40-man roster, the Toronto Blue Jays have effectively non-tendered one who was in his arbitration years. According to the Blue Jays' official transaction log, pitcher Nick Sandlin has been outrighted by the team. MLB Trade Rumors projected the righty to earn $2 million via arbitration. The Jays now have 37 players on their 40-man roster. Sandlin, acquired via trade about a year ago, made 19 appearances, throwing 16 1/3 innings in 2025. Injuries limited his availability and likely his productivity. So, do you think he'll choose free agency or accept his assignment to the minor leagues? Let us know what you think in the comments! Featured image courtesy of Eric Canha, Imagn Images. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals' farm system has made tremendous strides in the past couple of seasons under new scouting director Brian Bridges, who took over in September of 2023. While rankings of the farm system remain a bit mixed among experts, it has come a long way in two seasons under Bridges, who has done an excellent job of drafting and signing international talent. The Royals tend to be more aggressive in promoting prospects. According to Roster Resource, 20 of the Royals' players on the 40-man roster are homegrown. That includes Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Salvador Perez, and Kris Bubic, who all have made the All-Star team in the past couple of years. They have also moved aggressively with prospects such as Jac Caglianone, Carter Jensen, and Noah Cameron, who all contributed to the Royals in 2025 as rookies. The approach has resulted in prospects moving on and off prospect lists more quickly than in some teams that tend to keep prospects longer. That has affected their overall team rankings, probably deflating them a bit since prospects are graduating so rapidly. Even though this isn't an elite system, it's better than average and definitely deserves more respect among baseball fans and prospect experts. In this series, I am going to look at the Top 20 prospects in the Royals system, starting with the 20th to 16th-best prospects. The prospects in this group include a couple of prep arms whose prospect stocks have deflated a bit, a promising teenage international signing, a recently drafted college arm, and an outfielder who's coming off a solid Arizona Fall League campaign in Surprise. 20th: Frank Mozzicato, LHP (Highest Level: Double-A) The former seventh overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Mozzicato has struggled to meet the expectations of being a former Top-10 pick. On the one hand, Mozzicato showed some promise in 2025. He made the Futures Game roster (with Jensen) and posted a 1.24 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and a 25.3% K rate in seven starts and 36.1 IP with High-A Quad Cities River Bandits. His curveball remains his premier offering, with many scouts remarking that it is "MLB-ready". However, his promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas was much more underwhelming. In 24 appearances (20 starts) and 93 IP with the Naturals, the 22-year-old lefty posted a 7.46 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, and 17.6% K rate. He walked more batters than he struck out (-1.8% K-BB%) and also saw a significant uptick in home runs allowed (0.50 HR/9 in High-A to 1.59 in Double-A). Thus, even though Mozzicato is Rule 5 eligible, it seems likely that the Royals will not add him to the 40-man roster this offseason. The reason Mozzicato is No. 20 is that a move to the bullpen could perhaps do wonders for his stuff and development. At this point, it's evident that Mozzicato is not going to be a starter at the MLB level. However, with a plus pitch in his arsenal and less mileage on his arm, it's possible that the Connecticut native could thrive and contribute to an MLB bullpen at the end of 2026 or on Opening Day in 2027. 19th: Warren Calcaño, SS (Highest Level: DSL) Calcaño was one of the Royals' top signings of a heralded international class last season. The Dominican-born infielder signed for $2.5 million and was ranked as a Top-50 player in his class by Baseball America. He only played in nine games in the DSL due to injury, but Calcaño certainly made his mark in his limited sample. In 35 plate appearances, the 17-year-old shortstop slashed .346/.514/.538 with a 1.053 OPS. He also hit a home run, collected two RBI, scored seven runs, and stole seven bases on eight attempts. Despite a diminutive frame, Calcaño showcases surprising power. There is still a long way to go in his prospect development, and Royals fans have seen prospects do well in the DSL only to burn out once they reach the Complex League or Low-A ball. That said, Calcaño is a talented infielder who could be a future leadoff hitter if he develops properly, especially at the plate. 18th: Michael Lombardi, RHP/OF (Highest Level: College) The Royals drafted the two-way player out of Tulane in the second round of last year's draft, and he's an intriguing prospect who likely will be a pitcher at the professional level. The Green Wave primarily utilized him as a reliever last season, and in 23 outings and 42 IP, he posted a 2.14 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and a 43.5% K rate. The Royals moved slowly with Lombardi after he was drafted, as he did not pitch or play at all in affiliated ball. However, the upside is certainly there, and he could be a guy who could move quickly in the Royals' farm system, mainly if he sticks as a reliever. Here's what MLB Pipeline said about Lombardi in their latest scouting report. Lombardi is definitely one to watch in High-A, where he is likely to debut in 2026. If he thrives there, he could be in Double-A or even Triple-A by the end of the season. 17th: Blake Wolters, RHP (Highest Level: Low-A) Wolters was drafted in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft as an overslot second-rounder (he signed for $2.8 million out of high school). However, he has only shown incremental progress in two seasons in Low-A Columbia. After posting a 4.20 ERA in 14 starts and 55.2 IP, the 21-year-old righty posted a 3.99 ERA in 12 starts and 47.1 IP. His K rate improved from 18.6% to 19.3% between 2024 and 2025. However, his walk rate also increased from 10.1% to 19.3% over that time span. Wolters missed considerable time due to injury, as he didn't pitch from May 31st until August 29th, according to Fangraphs' game logs. When he returned, he particularly struggled with walks, as he walked nine batters and only struck out six in 6.2 IP over those two outings. Even though the results haven't quite been there for Wolters, the stuff is intriguing, and the upside remains pretty high. That said, improving the shape and command of his pitch repertoire will be crucial going forward. He struggles to put away batters, which explains his average K rates and mediocre walk rates. If the Royals' pitching development can help him refine his pitch mix and quality, then it's possible that Wolters could be a middle-of-the-rotation starter in the future. 16th: Carson Roccaforte, OF (Highest Level: Double-A) Roccaforte was disappointing in his first full Minor League season in 2024. A compensation round pick (66th overall) in 2023, he slashed .208/.293/.342 with a .635 OPS in 471 plate appearances. Granted, he showed some pop (10 home runs), excellent speed on the basepaths (34 stolen bases), and strong defense in the outfield. That said, it was hard to take him seriously as a prospect due to his contact issues at the time. The former Louisiana-Lafayette prospect showed progress in 2025 in High-A and Double-A ball. In 551 plate appearances at those two levels combined, he slashed .258/.373/.470 with an .842 OPS. He also hit 18 home runs, stole 43 bases, and was named the Minor League defensive player of the year by the Royals. It was also a solid Arizona Fall League campaign for Roccaforte. Not only did he lead the Saguaros to an AFL title, but he also hit two home runs and slashed .269/.386/.463 with an .848 OPS in 83 plate appearances. Unfortunately, the issue with Roccaforte in the AFL was similar to his problem in High-A and Double-A: strikeouts. He struck out nearly 30% of the time last season and 33.7% in the AFL. He also showcased some contact issues, as seen in his Statcast data from the AFL via TJ Stats. Based on his results, Roccaforte should be a higher-ranked prospect in the Royals system. He should be able to matriculate to the MLB level in 2026 or 2027, as long as he stays healthy. Unfortunately, it's hard to think too loftily about his Major League outlook with such evident contact and strikeout concerns. View the full article

The San Diego Padres need to rebuild their rotation for 2026. Though they have qualifying offers out to Michael King and Dylan Cease, it's expected that both pitchers will decline the one-year, $22 million pact. Though that doesn't completely write off the potential for a reunion, Padres president of baseball operations and general manager AJ Preller identified the starting rotation as a "top need." In a column for MLB.com, AJ Cassavell suggests the Friars could turn to their bullpen to bolster their rotation, specifically naming Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon as candidates to move. The decision on whether to move either arm into the rotation could happen soon, as Preller was quoted as saying, "if there’s a role change for anybody, that’s something that’s going to be important for us over the next 10-15 days..." Miller, acquired from the Athletics midseason, finished the season with a 2.63 ERA (2.23 FIP), 32.5% K-BB rate, and 32 holds + saves. Though he was one of baseball's premier closers before being dealt, he was mostly utilized as a setup man to Robert Suarez. Miller earned an extra year of arbitration for being eligible for super-2 status. Morejon, entering his fourth final year of arbitration, pitched 73 2/3 innings for the Friars in 2025. He posted a 2.08 ERA (2.28 FIP) with an 18.6% K-BB rate. With an fWAR of 2,2, he was the best bullpen arm for the team. Do you think either pitcher should convert to a starter? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

The Minnesota Twins' direction this offseason has been unclear to this point. From Derek Falvey's quote suggesting the team wants to build around its nucleus to rumors suggesting the Twins could continue their trade-deadline fire sale this offseason, it has left fans wondering about the organization's direction. In a recent column in the NY Post from Joel Sherman, the offseason got a little murkier. Though he didn't say the Twins are actively shopping either pitcher, he suggested the Twins are "more likely" to move Pablo Lopez than Joe Ryan. Lopez, who is owed more than $43 million through 2027, only made 14 starts in 2025. In 75 2/3 innings, the righty sported a solid 3.19 FIP and mediocre 17% K-BB rate. While he had been one of the game's more durable pitchers before last season, his tenure with the Twins has been very up and down. While trading the 30-year-old at some point seems likely, Lopez's value right now is lower than it's ever been. While the Twins are more concerned with the bottom line than maximizing value, they would be remiss to deal the righty now instead of waiting until the 2026 trade deadline. Do you think now is the time to move on from Lopez? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Following Minnesota outrighting veteran relievers Michael Tonkin, Thomas Hatch, Génesis Cabrera, and Anthony Misiewicz off the 40-man roster, declining Justin Topa’s $2 million team option, and losing Cody Laweryson off waivers to the Los Angeles Angels last week, only two relievers can be penciled in as anticipated members of the club’s Opening Day bullpen: Cole Sands and Kody Funderburk. Topa remains in the organization and could still be a member of Minnesota’s bullpen at a more team-friendly rate, which MLB Trade Rumors projects to settle at $1.7 million. Young arms like Travis Adams, Pierson Ohl, Marco Raya, and Connor Prielipp could quickly become high-leverage relievers early next season. Still, the unit is entering the offseason with little depth or experience. Minnesota’s front office will need to acquire multiple veterans to fill out the eight-pitcher unit. Yet, given that the front office is expected to operate under significant spending restrictions, they might be unable to sign any sought-after veterans on the free-agent market. That being the case, team decision-makers could scour the minor-league free agent market for relievers this winter. Which arms should they pursue? Let’s take a look. Justin Yeager Drafted in the no-longer-existent 33rd round of the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, Yeager spent his first three seasons of affiliated ball in the Atlanta Braves minor league system before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers alongside All-Star catcher William Contreras and reliever Joel Payamps in December 2022. The righty excelled with Milwaukee's Double- and Triple-A team, generating a combined 2.85 ERA, 3.33 FIP, and 108-to-47 strikeout to walk ratio over 110 ⅔ innings pitched. However, the Brewers never rewarded the now-27-year-old with a 40-man roster spot, leading him to elect minor-league free agency this offseason. Yeager worked exclusively as a reliever in Milwaukee’s minor league system, sporting two fastball variations (four-seam and cutter) that top out at 94 MPH and a plus sweeper. If Minnesota signed Yeager, he would mix in with the collective of Adams, Ohl, Raya, and Prielipp as young arms competing for bullpen spots. The SIU-Carbondale product excels at suppressing hard contact and missing barrels, a skillset the front office would be wise to seek out when pursuing bullpen acquisitions. Given his success in the highly respected Brewers minor league system, Minnesota would be wise to pursue the 27-year-old right-handed reliever. Ryder Ryan Drafted by the Cleveland Baseball Club in the now-extinct 30th round of the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft, Ryan has been a minor-league journeyman over the course of his nine-season career, jumping between Cleveland, New York (Mets), Texas, Seattle, and Pittsburgh minor league systems. The now 30-year-old has also made major league appearances for the Mariners and Pirates, netting a 5.40 ERA and 4.71 FIP over 21 ⅓ innings pitched. Ryan has operated exclusively as a reliever in the minors and majors, primarily using a slider and two fastball variations (four-seam and sinker) over the course of his career. The right-handed arm altered his slider into more of a sweeper last season, resulting in the pitch developing more effective horizontal movement. Given Minnesota’s proclivity for pursuing relievers who possess Ryan’s arsenal, there is reason to believe team decision-makers could sign him to a minor-league deal this winter, with an opportunity for the veteran to make his first Opening Day 26-man roster. Ryan Borucki The next pitcher on this list comes in the form of another former Pirate. Borucki, 31, is entering his ninth major league season, having previously pitched for the Blue Jays, Mariners, and the aforementioned Pirates. Despite Jon Heyman incorrectly reporting Borucki had signed a one-year deal with the Twins late last January, the soft-tossing lefty began last season with Pittsburgh, netting a 5.28 ERA and 4.34 FIP over 30 ⅔ innings pitched for the Pirates. Pittsburgh released the southpaw in mid-August. However, he quickly signed a minor-league deal with Toronto one week later, generating 0.00 ERA and 3.60 FIP over 4 ⅓ innings pitched for the AL East-winning Blue Jays. The veteran was later released by Toronto, entering free agency for the second consecutive offseason. Primarily throwing a slider and sinker, Borucki’s arsenal is similar to Funderburk’s. Still, Minnesota would be smart to round out its bullpen with veteran arms, with Borucki being one of the more realistic options. Collin Snider Like Borucki, Snider has multiple seasons of major league experience, and also pitched for Seattle. Yet, like Borucki, he is not expected to net a major league deal this winter, after posting a lackluster 5.47 ERA and 3.70 FIP over 26 ⅓ innings for the Mariners in 2025. Leaning heavily on a sweeper/fastball mix (again, a pitch combination Minnesota’s front office adores), the right-handed reliever broke out with Seattle in 2024, generating a 1.94 ERA, 3.94 FIP, and a 47-to-13 strikeout to walk ratio over 41 2/3 innings pitched. Pitching like one of the most effective relievers in baseball, Snider made the Mariners' 2025 Opening Day 26-man roster. Unfortunately, his production quickly diminished, resulting in him being designated for assignment on July 30 after posting a 5.70 ERA and 3.70 FIP over 26 1/3 innings pitched. Snider remained in the Mariners organization for the rest of the season. However, after struggling mightily in Triple-A (8.06 ERA and 8.21 FIP over 25 2/3 innings pitched) and not being part of the club's magical postseason run, the now 30-year-old has entered minor-league free agency, hoping to return to the majors with a different organization. A possible explanation for the stark season-over-season contrast in Snider's performance could be that he suffered a right forearm flexor strain in early June, sidelining him for over a month. That said, his 2024 campaign could be an outlier, given that he also struggled in 2022 and 2023 with Kansas City. Still, the former Mariner is an interesting buy-low veteran candidate that Twins decision-makers could take a flier on, with intentions of guiding him back to being the above-average reliever he was with Seattle in 2024. Parker Mushinski Mushinski, 29, pitched in part of three seasons for the Houston Astros from 2022 to 2024, generating a 4.05 ERA and 4.31 FIP over 33 innings pitched. The soft-tossing lefty was unable to find a solidified role in Houston's bullpen, resulting in him electing minor-league free agency after the 2024 season and signing with the Cleveland Guardians last offseason. Unfortunately, the Texas Tech product didn't reach the majors last season. However, he performed exceptionally well in Triple-A Columbus, netting a 3.78 ERA, 3.42 FIP, and a 40-to-19 strikeout to walk ratio over 50 innings pitched. Sporting a four-seam fastball that hovers around 93 MPH, an above-average curve, and an adequate cutter and sweeper, Mushinski possesses the diverse arsenal and plus stuff necessary to succeed in a major league bullpen in 2026. Again, Minnesota already has its number one left-handed relief option on its 26-man roster in Funderburk. Yet, given that Mushinski prefers to attack hitters vertically (as opposed to Funderburk operating east-to-west with his sinker and cutter), the 29-year-old would function as a viable complementary southpaw to Funderburk, unlike Borucki and his previously redundant skillset. Arsenal aside, Muchinski also possesses the skill necessary to usurp Funderburk on the organizational depth chart, based on results alone. Do any of these names do anything for you? Are there any overlooked relievers on the market this offseason who strike your fancy? Sound off in the comments section. View the full article

The San Diego Padres will be in need of a full-time designated hitter in 2026. The lineup has struggled to hit for power for the past two seasons, and something is going to have to change if San Diego wants to truly be in contention in 2026. What better way to add some of that much-needed pop to the lineup than signing a veteran free-agent to focus all their time on hitting? Here are five players who could fill that role in San Diego. 1. Kyle Schwarber Schwarber is clearly the prize of the offseason when it comes to designated hitters, and for good reason. He's been one of the most consistent power hitters in the league for the past five years. Since 2021, he has a 136 OPS+, a .514 SLG, and 219 home runs (averaging 43 bombs per season)! In 2025, he finished with red all over his Baseball Savant page, including a 100th percentile finish in Hard-Hit%. He also cracked the 99th percentile in batting run value, xSLG, and Barrel %, while ranking in the 98th percentile xwOBA, average exit velocity, and bat speed. He also had a great eye, finishing in the 97th percentile in walk rate. Obviously, there are two massive holes in his game that prevent him from being an MVP: he strikes out too much and does not play defense. But, for a lineup like San Diego, which already prominently features contact bats, Schwarber might actually be a breath of fresh air. He's a three-true-outcomes guy, which makes his at-bats as fun as they can be frustrating. After two years of employing contact king Luis Arraez, perhaps it's time San Diego tries going all-in on power. 2. Marcell Ozuna Ozuna from the Braves had a down year in 2025, but there is still plenty of evidence to suggest he is capable of bouncing back. Remember, it was not that long ago that Ozuna was receiving MVP votes and was challenging Shohei Ohtani for the title of best DH in baseball. Ozuna's .400 slugging percentage was significantly lower than his xSLG of .437, and his analytics look solid. He finished in the 83rd percentile in xwOBA, and the 85th percentile in chase rate. Best of all, he was still drawing walks at an elite rate. Ozuna was in the 98th percentile in walk rate, a big reason why is OBP (.355) was over 120 points higher than his AVG (.232). Because of his age (35) and because he had a down year last year, Ozuna will probably be significantly cheaper than Schwarber. There's an inherent risk here, and the Padres don't want to hitch their wagon to another old, declining veteran. However, if Ozuna can get even halfway to where he was in 2024, he would be in contention once again as the second-best DH in the National League. 3. Andrew McCutchen This is where the DH class suddenly becomes very weak. There is a real argument that McCutchen, entering his age-39 season, is the third-best DH available. This is not a drag on McCutchen. He's been fine in his last three years in Pittsburgh, with a combined 104 OPS+ over 1,315 at-bats. The problem is he has no upside and a lot of risk. His age is a risk in and of itself, and he's also had a bad tendency to get hurt throughout his career. Like Schwarber and Ozuna, McCutchen is at least good for one thing: he walks a lot. His 12.2% walk rate placed him the 88th percentile in the league, and his chase rate also stayed very low, at just 20.7%. Still, it feels like whoever signs McCutchen (if it's not Pittsburgh) would be settling. McCutchen is the compensation prize, not the reward. 4. Justin Turner At this point, the veteran infielder is more of a DH than anything else. Once again, Turner would be a bounce-back candidate, and it's hard to predict how much he'll be able to bounce back at 41 years old. After 13 straight seasons with an OPS+ above 100, Turner's OPS+ fell all the way to 75 last year with the Cubs. He was worth -0.1 bWAR, his least valuable season since 2010. Signing Turner to be their DH would feel similar to the Jason Heyward signing last offseason, and we all know how that one turned out for San Diego. He'd bring a great presence to the clubhouse, but he's hardly a lock to upgrade the offense. 5. Starling Marte The former Mets and Pirates star could be in the mix to play outfield as well, but at this point, he is more of a DH at 37 years old. He actually had a fine year in 2025, putting up an OPS+ of 111 and a bWAR of 1.0. However, that came after a very rough 2023-24, when he was worth -0.1 bWAR and had an 89 OPS+ in 180 games. Again, Marte should be considered a last resort for the Padres' need. He'd make sense as a tertiary addition to the lineup, not the primary one. View the full article

Brooks Lee is all but set to be the 2026 Opening Day shortstop, but his biggest issue was his chase rate in 2025. How can he cut down on the bad swings at the plate and improve upon his strike zone judgement to keep playing every day next year View the full article

If we follow the rumor trail, it seems as though the Chicago Cubs are going to be big players in free agency this offseason. They currently have a qualifying offer out to Shota Imanaga worth more than $22 million, though it's believed he will decline it. Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma are reporting the Cubs' interest in additional big names. They're reporting that the Cubs want to "build more pitching depth, both at the top of the rotation and throughout the organization," and specifically go on to name Michael King and Dylan Cease as potential targets. King had a bit of a lost season in 2025 due to injury. However, in 2024, he threw 173 1/3 innings in his first full year as a starter. In that season, he posted an impressive 3.33 FIP and a 19.0% K-BB rate. That's why MLBTR predicts he'll earn a four-year, $80 million contract in free agency this year. It will be up to King if he wants the extra couple of million over long-term security he'll receive by becoming a free agent. Cease, who is a free agent, has been a modern-day iron man, making 32 starts in five consecutive seasons. His productivity has alternated each season he's been with the club, receiving Cy Young votes in 2022 and 2024 while sporting ERAs north of 4.00 in 2023 and 2025. About to enter his age-30 season, MLBTR predicts Cease will get a seven-year, $189 million contract via free agency. Given the security and an extra $5 million in 2026, it's hard to imagine Cease will accept the qualifying offer. As a reminder, a team receives compensatory draft picks if its free agent rejects the qualifying offer and signs with a new club. Conversely, the team making the signing must forfeit draft picks, with the exact picks exchanged depending on the financial status of both organizations (e.g., whether they pay the Competitive Balance Tax or receive revenue sharing). Which pitcher should the Cubs prioritize? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Earlier this week, the Toronto Blues were reported to be in "every market" and specifically to be interested in landing a high-end reliever. Reporters from the Athletic previously named Pete Fairbanks, Devin Williams, Phil Maton, and "other similar relievers" as possibilities. Now, we have another name to add to the list. Francys Romero is reporting that the Toronto Blue Jays have "emerged as a strong suitor" for Raisel Iglesias. The 36-year-old has been among the game's best for nearly a decade and hasn't shown signs of slowing down. Iglesias appeared in 70 games for the Atlanta Braves during the 2025 season, throwing 67 1/3 innings in relief. The right-hander recorded a FIP of 3.31 and produced a 21.4% K-BB%. Converting 29 of 34 saves, Iglesias generated a Win Probability Added (WPA) of 1.04 in 2025. Given his age, MLBTR anticipates a short-term deal, netting $32 million over two seasons. Of the names mentioned, which would you prefer the Jays to add? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

The Rule 5 Draft is on December 10th, but the deadline to protect players from the draft is November 18th. Unlike recent offseasons, there are no surefire additions for the Brewers, and there may not even be any coin-flip options. There are three pitchers and one position player who can at least make a case, though. The four players with cases are among the 31 eligible players to be selected this year. The complete list is available in our forums, along with a more detailed explanation of what makes a player eligible for selection in the draft. Brewers fans are well aware of the dangers of leaving a player unprotected, as they witnessed one of their prospects become the number one selection in last year's draft, and proceeded to watch the previously mentioned Shane Smith pitch his way to an All-Star appearance, or at least a "White Sox need an All-Star" appearance, in his debut season. Following the addition of Coleman Crow to the 40-man roster last week, keeping him from minor league free agency, the Brewers currently have 38 of the 40 spots filled. Thus, they could add two players to the roster without any additional moves, but the question is whether they will feel the need to do so with any of the 31 eligible players. None of these four players has as strong a case as Smith or Chad Patrick had in 2024, but they do all have a case. Pitchers: LHP Brian Fitzpatrick The Brewers used their tenth-round selection on Brian Fitzpatrick in 2022, drafting him out of Rutgers. Having spent time in a starter's role and a relief role in the past, all of Fitzpatrick's appearances in 2025 were out of the bullpen, though many were of the multi-inning variety. After returning to High-A to begin the season, Fitzpatrick was quickly pushed to Double-A in 2025. In 34 ⅔ innings, he posted an impressive 1.82 ERA, to go along with a 2.99 FIP. He struck out 28.6% of batters in Biloxi, and only walked 7.5% of them. He was promoted again to Triple-A, where his first outing was a significant struggle, as he allowed six earned runs in one inning. However, in the final 17 ⅔ innings of his season that followed, he had a 4.08 ERA and a 3.78 FIP. His numbers aren't what land him on this list, though. It's his repertoire and his build that are most intriguing. A true five-pitch pitcher, Fitzpatrick can keep hitters on their toes, especially in shorter stints. He throws a two-seam fastball and a four-seam fastball in the 92-94 MPH range, reaching back for 95 at times. This was a velocity jump for him from having sat 90-92 in the past. He also mixes in a short slider in the mid-80s and a bigger sweeper in the upper-70s. His best pitch is his 82-84 MPH changeup, which he averages around 17 inches of run on. Standing 6'7" and generating about the same amount of extension from the left side, Fitzpatrick has qualities that are likely to be intriguing to big league organizations. Will it be enough to protect him? Likely not, but there is enough here not to rule it out. Likelihood of protection: 15% RHP Will Childers Childers is a legacy of the Brewers, as his father, Matt, was a Brewers draft pick in 1997 and debuted for the Brewers in 2002. Will was an undrafted signing after the 2022 draft after attending the University of Georgia, where he spent the majority of his time injured after a strong freshman season. He didn't appear in his first professional games until June of 2023 as he continued to rehab. After 38 ⅔ innings of 2.33 ERA and 3.08 FIP pitching in Double-A, Childers didn't see the same success in Triple-A. His 4.50 ERA looks respectable, but the 6.07 FIP tells a different story. You don't have to look much further than three of the more important stats to see why FIP is low on him. His strikeout rate went from 30.9% in Biloxi to 18.4% in Nashville. His walk rate went up from an already high 11.2% to 15.8% after the promotion. Beyond that, he also allowed an unsavory 1.38 home runs per nine innings, nearly double the 0.70 number he had posted in Biloxi. Like Fitzpatrick, Childers has a deep repertoire for a reliever, and like Fitzpatrick, it's not his results that warrant him a look. His main fastball is a four-seam, which tends toward the "cut/carry" profile, thrown in the 95-97 MPH range and reaching 99. His sinker is a dead-zone shape thrown in a similar velocity band, though the movement appears to be late, helping the pitch play better than the overall shape would suggest. He throws a cutter in the upper 80s, but it can blend into a shorter slider at times. It's a pitch that could use some sharpening, but it shows signs of being above average. Childers also throws a curveball in the 82-84 MPH range, with sharp, downward bite. Based on his struggles in Triple-A and his injury history, he seems unlikely to be protected, but his pure stuff and the impressive showing in Double-A do give him a fighter's chance. Likelihood of protection: 10% RHP Blake Holub Holub was acquired from the Tigers for Mark Canha following the 2023 season. There are similarities to Childers with Holub. His walk rate in Triple-A was 16.8%, and he has a cut/carry fastball, though Holub's has a lot more true cut, and is even classified as a cutter. Holub struggled in his first taste of Triple-A in 2024 as well. His overall numbers in 2025 were strong. He had a 3.70 ERA and a 3.54 FIP, brought along by a 29.1 whiff-rate and striking out 28.6% of batters faced. The walk rate was a problem for him, but the contact quality was weak, which, when combined with his ability to generate swing and miss, helped him limit runs. Along with his interesting cutter, which he throws in the 93-95 MPH range and can reach 97 with, Holub throws his slider around 43% of the time. Sitting around 85 MPH, the slider generates a lot of ground balls and has good depth to it. He rounds out his repertoire with a very rare splitter. Holub is already 27 years old, and he is a relief-only pitcher at this point. The Brewers are unlikely to protect a player like Holub, but he is someone that a team could view as an option to fill a relief role right away, with a little upside if they can help him limit the walks a bit more, and perhaps are willing to let him lean on the splitter a bit more often. Likelihood of protection: 10% Position Players Catcher: Matt Wood -- FanGraphs #43 prospect A fourth-round pick out of Penn State in 2022, Wood got off to a solid, if unspectacular, start in High-A this season. He was promoted to Double-A in late May, and that's when he began to really make his case. His wRC+ improved from 103 in 116 plate appearances (as well as 100 in 379 plate appearances in 2024) to an impressive 134 with Biloxi in 245 plate appearances. He hit a career-high six home runs as well. However, the biggest reason he now has an outside chance at protection was the strides he made behind the plate. According to Baseball Prospectus, Wood went from -2.3 Catching Defense Added in 2023 to an improved 2.7 in 2024, but he jumped all the way up to 6.5 in 2025. After throwing out 20.4% of stolen base attempts in parts of three seasons in High-A, Wood threw out 27.2% of runners in Double-A. He also showed improvement in blocking and receiving. Position players are naturally less likely to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft, as they are a bit harder to hide in the big leagues for a full season, but a team that is looking for a backup catcher could see Wood as a player on the upswing that would be worth a flier. Likelihood of protection: 10% Other Names of Note RHP Yerlin Rodriguez Rodriguez is not going to be protected; his walk rate has been over 20% each of the last two seasons in High-A, but his stuff warrants mention. He has been up to 101 MPH in his minor league career, and his slider can be a wipeout pitch for him at times. If a team is willing to take a shot on his stuff, the Brewers will likely let them take that chance. RHP Nick Merkel Merkel has shown a wide repertoire out of the bullpen. Mixing six pitches with all three fastball variations, two breaking balls, and a changeup. He combines that with seven feet of extension and decent command. His velocity is only in the low-90s, but a FIP of 2.94 and a bunch of average or better pitches will garner some interest. Of the players in this category, he may be the most likely to be selected, but given that he never got the call to Triple-A in 2025, he seems unlikely to be protected. UTIL Ethan Murray Murray is the lone position player in this section, mainly due to his Double-A performance. The former fifth-round pick posted a very strong 146 wRC+ with Biloxi, but his performance did not carry over to Triple-A, where his wRC+ was 44 in 114 plate appearances. While his average exit velocity of 89.7 MPH was above average, he lacked top-end power. Outside of making decent swing decisions, the rest of the peripheral stats were all well below average. He's a serviceable shortstop defensively and above-average at second base, capable of helping at third and in left field as well. He's unlikely to be selected and almost certainly won't be protected. It would have to be considered an upset if anyone is protected by the Brewers this season, barring an outside acquisition, along the lines of the Oliver Dunn trade two offseasons ago. If they do protect anyone, they have to come from this group. Is there anyone we missed? Should anyone be protected from this group? Let us know! View the full article

Rumors surrounded Edward Cabrera leading up to the 2025 MLB trade deadline. After finishing his career year in good health, there are sure to be many suitors trying to acquire him from the Miami Marlins again this offseason. Cabrera posted a 3.53 ERA and 3.83 FIP with a career-high 137 ⅔ innings and surprisingly consistent strike-throwing. His fastball velocity sits at 97 mph and his curveball has joined his changeup as a reliable putaway pitch. He's still under club control for three more seasons via arbitration. While the iron is hot and they're focused on making offensive upgrades, the Marlins may part with their homegrown starter. In this mock trade proposal, the Athletics—whose window of contention is similar to Miami's—look to nab Cabrera in exchange for one of their own breakout players. Marlins acquire: 1B/OF Tyler Soderstrom and OF Henry Bolte Athletics acquire: RHP Edward Cabrera and RHP Calvin Faucher Tyler Soderstrom in 2025 posted a .276/.346/.474 slash line and 25 home runs with a .354 wOBA and 125 wRC+, finishing the year with 3.4 fWAR. A left-handed hitter, he held his own against fellow lefties (103 wRC+), allowing him to accrue 624 plate appearances. 7b25b74b-17f56bb9-84e9150a-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Soderstrom began this season at first base, but moved to left field once Nick Kurtz arrived in the big leagues. Although he performed well with the glove at his new position, many still believe his defensive home moving forward should be first base or DH. That's how the Marlins would utilize him in this scenario. With only two years of MLB service time, Soderstrom is not even eligible for arbitration yet and he won't hit free agency until after the 2029 season. An affordable power bat who can anchor the Marlins lineup with loud pop, he'd fit in perfectly. Henry Bolte is the fifth-ranked prospect in the Athletics farm system, according to MLB Pipeline. The 2022 second-round draft pick was signed out of high school for an overslot deal of $2 million. In 2025 at Double-A and Triple-A, Bolte slashed .284/.385/.427 with a .377 wOBA and 121 wRC+. He flashes encouraging hard-hit rates and a max exit velo of 111.6 mph. 82zih7.mp4 Bolte plays a good outfield, but may be relegated to a corner spot long term. Speed may be his best tool with a 99th-percentile Sprint Speed in AAA. The 22-year-old shows promise and could be valuable depth for the Marlins ever-crowded outfield. Under the hood, there are areas of concern that may lead to the A's being willing to move Bolte. He has struck out in nearly one-third of his plate appearances throughout his minor league career. In AAA, he was particularly vulnerable against offspeed and breaking pitches (35 whiff% or higher vs. curveballs, sweepers, sliders, and changeups). The Marlins player development group may be able to fix his plate approach. Also, Bolte had a shockingly low pulled-air rate—remove him from the hitter-friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League and his actual slugging percentage of .433 may settle in much closer to his .295 xSLG. Bolte is not Rule 5-eligible until 2026, which would allow the Marlins to keep him off their 40-man roster next season until he's fully ready to contribute. In addition to Cabrera, the A's also get a high-leverage reliever in Faucher who has posted respectable numbers for the Fish the past two seasons. He is under club control through 2029. By including Faucher in this trade, I am assuming the Marlins will make a separate offseason move to reinforce their bullpen, ideally bringing in somebody who misses even more bats. View the full article

At the GM Meetings in Las Vegas this week, Derek Falvey insisted that his hope is to build around what he currently has, rather than further subtracting pieces, in an earnest effort at competitiveness in 2026. This is a semi-plausible notion in theory, with the team possessing enough rotation depth and intriguing hitters make themselves a threat. The glaring flaw in this vision, of course, is the bullpen. You can't compete without at least a decent one, as we've seen, and the Twins are starting nearly from scratch after selling off the entire unit in July. No reliever who auditioned in the latter part of the season looked very good, so the Twins are going to need to rapidly identify and activate arms to fill these roles. External additions will be part of the picture, for sure. But from the moment they shipped off four future-controlled relievers at the trade deadline, Minnesota's intention was clear: draw from the abundance of decent-to-great pitching prospects in their system — a pool that expanded from all their trades — to develop the next wave of outstanding homegrown relievers. In some ways, this approach is hard to argue against. After all, it's the same formula used to forge the relief corps that was in such high demand at the deadline. Falvey noted as much when speaking to reporters, including Twins Daily's John Bonnes, in Las Vegas. "When you look across the game at good bullpens that emerge from within, a lot of them are starters that transitioned," Falvey said. "We ourselves had multiple of those, whether it's Griffin Jax or Jhoan Duran or others that came through our system as starters. I wouldn't expect that to be any different." This is valid. But one factor that must be considered with this approach is the player's preference and receptiveness. Generally speaking, professional pitchers want to pursue a path to starting first, and exhaust the possibility before they submit to a bullpen role. There is, quite simply, a lot more money to be made and more stability to be had in a rotation spot. Duran and Jax are interesting examples to cite. In each case, you could see why the team would envision a well-suited relief role. But in each case, you could also why the player would be amenable to the plan when it was implemented. Duran had long struggled with arm injuries, and missed nearly the entire 2021 season with a forearm issue before stepping into the Twins bullpen in 2022 and immediately thriving. Jax had been bashed into submission with a 6.37 ERA as a 26-year-old rookie in 2021 before making his own successful role pivot in 2022. Ultimately, the team and coaches make calls about player usage, but forcing players down paths they aren't necessarily aligned to can create friction. In this sense, it's worth noting the two prospective candidates that Falvey specifically called out in his answer: "I am kind of excited about some of the arms we have at Triple-A and Double-A over the last couple of years that while they haven't always hit their stride as starters, they might have an ability to impact us in different ways. I'd hate to put too much pressure on any of them, but you see Connor Prielipp throw the way he can at times, you see Marco Raya throw the way he has." Similar to Jax and Duran, one can see the appeal on both sides for reliever transitions in these cases. Prielipp has been besieged by injuries since he was in college, and has thrown barely 100 innings in three years since being drafted. The idea of building up a starter workload is all but impractical at this point. Raya is coming off a brutal season at Triple-A that now has him questioning if he'll reach the majors rather than when. Both these guys are probably open to immediate bullpen transitions, with the promise of an MLB fast-track, and I'm guessing it's already been broached with them if Falvey is discussing it openly. But at best, that leaves several other vacancies needing to be filled, and while there are certainly a number of pitchers in Minnesota's mix with the makings of quality relievers, they make for tougher decisions and conversations. David Festa, Zebby Matthews, Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, Simeon Woods Richardson, Kendry Rojas, Andrew Morris. Some of these pitchers are going to end up in the bullpen. But who? And how do you get them on board with it when, by circumstantial necessity, it's got to happen now? The Twins don't have the luxury of waiting around for some of their higher-upside relief candidates to fully fizzle out as starters if the team has any hopes of shocking the world with a good bullpen in 2026. I find myself wondering if this was a big part of the motivation for hiring LaTroy Hawkins as bullpen coach, while keeping Pete Maki in place to lead the staff. There's value in familiarity and trust when navigating these kinds of tricky situations. Hawkins, specifically, can be a voice of experience and validation in this journey. He's the perfect real-world example: a promising young pitcher who came up, didn't take as a starter, transitioned into bullpen role in his mid-20s, and then enjoyed a tremendously long and fruitful career. Can he sell some of the current young Twins pitchers on a similar path, and a relief transition before they've really had their fair shake at starting? That's one of the biggest questions facing the team as they look ahead to a high-stakes bullpen experiment in 2026. View the full article

I love Bo Bichette. Honestly, how could you not? It's hard to have been a Blue Jays fan over the past five-plus seasons and not appreciate everything he has done on the field. Just a quick look at his Baseball Reference page will tell you all you need to know. Since his debut in 2019, Bichette has been a two-time All-Star, accumulated 21 bWAR, and twice has led the league in hits. He’s top ten in Win Probability Added and Offensive WAR. Off the field, Bo has been just as valuable. He’s used his status and platform to help fund a new baseball stadium, provide equipment and gear, and cover other costs for youth baseball in Florida, and in February 2023, he brought teammates to his hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida, to support the “Play Ball” program to bring baseball to underserved communities. Bichette has always been soft-spoken, a man of few words, and usually tends to avoid the spotlight, but no matter how much he tries, the spotlight is going to find him this winter. He enters free agency as a 28-year-old with a lot of big league success already, and is certainly set up for a massive payday. Whether or not that payday comes from the Blue Jays will be a different story. Bo has expressed interest in returning to Toronto, and Ross Atkins has mentioned the Jays will be in Bichette’s market, but, as with anything in sports, especially baseball, there are no guarantees. Until he’s signed his name on the dotted line, the Blue Jays need to think about a backup plan, just in case their star shortstop signs elsewhere. Now, let’s be clear, I want Bo Bichette back in Toronto. There is something incredibly poetic about a star who is drafted by, developed by and performs for one team throughout their entire career, and while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is on pace to be the first player to do that as a Blue Jay, the plan was always for Bo and Vlad to do it together, to lead Toronto to World Series glory. That was something we all hoped for in the summer of 2018, when we were checking in on New Hampshire Fisher Cats box scores to see what our young future superstars were doing. But should that poem not be written, and Bichette does leave Toronto, here are five options the Blue Jays have when it comes to replacing him on the roster. 1 - Add a New Shortstop Let's be clear, if the Blue Jays go this route, there isn’t an option available that is as attractive as Bo Bichette at the shortstop position. Based on the 2026 Steamer WAR projections, the next best options are Ha-Seong Kim, Willi Castro, and Miguel Rojas. Kim makes the most sense out of the three, as he’s a plus defender and already has a 4+ WAR season under his belt, but the bat isn’t on the same level as Bichette’s, so the Jays would need to add another bat elsewhere. On the trade market, it's hard to find a match. Most teams that have star shortstops don't seem likely to trade them. Only J.P. Crawford and, to a lesser extent, Gavin Lux are shortstops of note who have one year remaining on their contract. Maybe it's worth a check in on the Nationals to see what’s happening with CJ Abrams or the Marlins with Xavier Edwards, but none of these moves seems likely, and odds are this won't be the route the Blue Jays go if/when they have to replace Bichette. 2 - Add a Second Baseman and Move Giménez to Shortstop Full-Time Even if the Blue Jays do sign Bichette, this seems like a realistic maneuver for the Blue Jays anyway. Bichette was willing to play second in the World Series, and Andrés Giménez is stellar at the shortstop position. If Bichette and Giménez both agree to it, it seems like it could work. In terms of other players to fill the second base void, the top free agents at the position are Gleyber Torres, Jorge Polanco, and Luis Arraez. Arraez is a bat-to-ball master, but the defence is atrocious (-35 outs above average, -27 fielding run value in his career at second), so as much as the Jays value contact, this may not be a fit. The other two could make sense if the Jays go this route. 3 - Add a Third Baseman and Use Clement at 2B, Giménez at SS This seems like the most likely move out of the three so far. After Bichette’s injury in September, Ernie Clement played 2B in 13 of the 19 remaining games, as well as six more in the ALDS and ALCS, and although his Gold Glove-calibre defence is valuable anywhere, having him up the middle certainly will help. Davis Schneider could also stand in at second if needed as well. This would open up the option for the Blue Jays to add an impact bat at the third base spot, and the options here become much more attractive, Alex Bregman could reunite with his old teammate George Springer and play at the hot corner here, while Eugenio Suarez just hit 49 home runs across two teams last year. Maybe a trade offer for the Twins’ Royce Lewis might make some sense as he enters his final year of team control. Replacing Bichette’s bat won't be easy, but this would give the Jays a fighting chance at doing so. 4 - Add an Outfielder and Use Clement/Barger/Giménez at 2B/3B/SS This is where the Blue Jays' flexibility comes in handy, as they really have too many players for not enough spots. Addison Barger has shown that he can play third base, which is important as right field/DH will likely be filled by Springer and Anthony Santander. Getting Barger's bat into the lineup at third base instantly makes the team better. But the Jays are always looking to add talent, and they could choose to improve on the Davis Schneider/Nathan Lukes platoon they used last season. Earlier this week, we took a look at some of the top free agent outfield options and whether they would fit in Toronto. And yes, Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, or Kyle Schwarber would instantly make the team better. In fact, those three players were the only position player free agents who had a higher fWAR than Bichette in 2025, so don't be surprised if the Blue Jays look this way if Bichette does not return. 5 - Stick With the Internal Position Player Options and Go Hard on Pitching Instead If the Blue Jays were to report to camp tomorrow with the players currently on the roster, they’d honestly be okay. Yes, losing Bichette would hurt, but aside from him, Ty France, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the Blue Jays are bringing most of the lineup back, and they don’t necessarily have to add another bat. In this scenario, the Blue Jays can do what they’ve been really good at over the last few winters, and that's sign free agent pitchers. Right now, The rotation has Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, and Shane Bieber as locks, but Yesavage just had a massive increase in innings pitched, Bieber is still on his way back from Tommy John surgery, and both Gausman and Berríos have a ton of career innings under their belts and are on the wrong side of 30. This could be the perfect time to go “all-in” on pitching, by throwing some money at Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, or Ranger Suárez. They could also check in with the Marlins on Sandy Alcantara, the Twins on Joe Ryan, the Brewers on Freddy Peralta, or the Nationals on MacKenzie Gore. And maybe they call the Tigers about Tarik Skubal, just in case. There are quite a few free agent relievers available on the market (Edwin Díaz, Robert Suarez, Pete Fairbanks, Devin Williams, and others). The Jays could sign one or two of those arms and try to go all in on run prevention. It's a recipe that has worked in the past, and if pitching and defence wins championships, then the Blue Jays will be well on their way. Ultimately, I hope this isn’t a path the Blue Jays have to explore. If everything goes well this offseason, Bo Bichette will be back in Toronto, and hopefully, some reinforcements will come along with him. But just in case things don’t work out in our favour, the sky is not falling, and the Blue Jays have plenty of alternative options as they try to get back to the Fall Classic and, this time, be on the right side of history. View the full article