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While much of Canada’s sporting attention is focused on the Winter Olympics, the World Baseball Classic is quickly approaching, bringing together much of the game’s best talent on the international stage. On Thursday evening, Baseball Canada announced its official 30-man roster for the 2026 WBC, revealing that Canada is bringing some of its best and brightest talents to the world stage. The strength of the team is going to be its young position player core. All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor will provide some middle-of-the-order thump, coming off a 20-homer, 30-steal season with the Diamondbacks and Mariners in 2025. Joining him will be another power threat in Tyler O’Neill, who has eclipsed 30 home runs twice and has a pair of Gold Glove Awards to his name. It will be the third straight WBC appearance for O’Neill. Team Canada has a chance to exceed expectations, as there are more young players full of high-end potential on the roster that could provide elite production. Owen Caissie is a former top-100 prospect who has already reached the big leagues, Denzel Clarke is already one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball, and Edouard Julien, who is entering his fourth big league season, went 7-for-13 with four extra-base hits in the 2023 tournament. Beyond the headliners, the rest of the lineup is filled with major league contributors. Josh Naylor's brother Bo will be behind the plate, Otto Lopez just put together a 3.5 bWAR season with the Marlins, and Liam Hicks, Tyler Black, Abraham Toro, and Jared Young all spent some part of the 2025 season in the major leagues. Canada’s pitching staff leans heavily on experience, blending proven major league veterans with depth arms capable of soaking up innings in a short tournament. The rotation will be led by 2019 All-Star Michael Soroka, who has a career 3.85 ERA and will be making his WBC debut in 2026. Jameson Taillon has over 1,200 major league innings under his belt and will provide some quality innings for the team, as will Cal Quantrill, a veteran of seven MLB seasons. Canadian baseball fans will recognize some other names on the roster, most notably James Paxton (a.k.a. the Big Maple), who will be coming out of retirement to pitch for the team. Logan Allen, who has five years of big league experience, will join Team Canada after throwing 173 innings in the KBO in 2025. Rob Zastryzny, Jordan Balazovic, and Phillippe Aumont all have previous major league experience as well. The Canadian coaching staff can't be overlooked either. Ernie Whitt will manage the team for a record sixth straight WBC, and joining him will be former AL MVP Justin Morneau as hitting coach, former All-Star and Blue Jay Russell Martin as the first base coach, Paul Quantrill, Cal Quantrill’s father, as the pitching coach, and Stubby Clapp, who was a key part of the 2006 WBC team, rounds out the staff as the third base coach. For as good as Team Canada looks, some notable names were eligible but won't be playing. Former MVP and nine-time All-Star Freddie Freeman wanted to participate but withdrew due to “personal reasons” back in January. Kingston, Ontario native and Seattle Mariners flamethrower Matt Brash was a late withdrawal, while fellow major leaguers Nick Pivetta, Cade Smith, Erik Sabrowski, Jordan Romano, Jonah Tong, and pitching prospect Mitch Bratt were all left off the roster. With the roster finalized, attention now turns to pool play, and for the first time since the tournament began, Team Canada won't have to deal with Team USA in their pool. Canada is in Pool A, with games being played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico. Joining Team Canada in the pool will be Cuba, Panama, Colombia, and the hosts, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico will likely be the favourite, and while all five rosters feature major league talent, Canada has a clear path to success. If the Canadians can finish in the top two in their pool, it would mark the team's first trip to the knockout round in tournament history, and this roster has the talent to make that dream a reality. Team Canada will have a chance to tune up when they play against the Blue Jays in an exhibition game on March 3 in Dunedin, Florida. They'll play another the next day against the Phillies in Clearwater. The tournament gets underway on March 5, with Canada’s first game taking place on March 7 against Colombia. The full roster for Team Canada in the 2026 World Baseball Classic can be found here: Pitchers LHP Logan Allen, West Palm Beach, Florida LHP Micah Ashman, Salt Lake City, Utah RHP Phillippe Aumont, Gatineau, Quebec RHP Jordan Balazovic, Mississauga, Ontario RHP Eric Cerantola, Montreal, Quebec RHP Indigo Diaz, North Vancouver, British Columbia LHP Antoine Jean, Montreal, Quebec RHP Carter Loewen, Abbotsford, British Columbia LHP Adam Macko, Bratislava, Slovakia LHP James Paxton, Lander, British Columbia RHP Cal Quantrill, Port Hope, Ontario RHP Noah Skirrow, Cambridge, Ontario RHP Michael Soroka, Calgary, Alberta RHP Jameson Taillon, Lakeland, Florida LHP Matt Wilkinson, Vancouver, British Columbia LHP Rob Zastryzny, Edmonton, Alberta Catchers C Liam Hicks, Toronto, Ontario C Bo Naylor, Mississauga, Ontario Infielders 1B/DH Tyler Black, Toronto, Ontario 3B/DH Matt Davidson, Yucaipa, California 2B/SS Adam Hall, London, Ontario 2B Edouard Julien, Quebec City, Quebec 2B/SS Otto Lopez, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 1B Josh Naylor, Mississauga, Ontario 2B/3B Abraham Toro, Longueuil, Québec 1B/DH Jared Young, Prince George, British Columbia Outfielders OF Owen Caissie, Burlington, Ontario OF Denzel Clarke, Toronto, Ontario OF Tyler O’Neill, Burnaby, British Columbia OF Jacob Robson, London, Ontario Coaching Staff Manager: Ernie Whitt, Detroit, Michigan Hitting Coach: Justin Morneau, New Westminster, British Columbia Pitching Coach: Paul Quantrill, London, Ontario First Base Coach: Russell Martin, East York, Ontario Third Base Coach: Stubby Clapp, Windsor, Ontario View the full article

The Boston Red Sox continue to add to their infield depth, as they signed Brendan Rodgers to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training as first reported by MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. Rodgers is the second veteran infielder that Craig Breslow has brought into the organization in the past 24 hours, previously signing Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a one-year contract. Rodgers, who won a Gold Glove in 2022, will compete for a roster spot in spring training. The veteran infielder spent most of his career for the Colorado Rockies where he played in 452 games from 2019 until 2024. In that time, he hit .266/.316/.409 with 92 doubles, eight triples, 45 home runs and 197 RBIs. Rogers spent the 2025 season with Houston where he appeared in 43 games and struggled offensively. Overall, he slashed .191/.266/.278 with four doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs. Offensively, Rodgers has a lot of swing and miss in his game and doesn’t walk enough to make up for it. In his short run with the Astros, Rodgers put up career highs in both walk percentage and strikeout rate at 8.6% and 35.9%, respectively. In 2025, his approach changed slightly as he began to pull the ball more in the air than he previously did in his career. The Red Sox are no strangers to bringing in veteran players on minor-league deals and getting production out of them. Amidst a gaggle of veterans competing for time at second base, Rodgers could emerge as a key contributor in 2026. View the full article

The San Diego Padres finally added a right-handed bench bat, signing Miguel Andujar to a one-year deal. Will he purely platoon for the Friars, or are the bigger plans to get him into the starting lineup on a nightly basis? View the full article

Perhaps the biggest question mark for the Twins this offseason has been what they would do to restock their bullpen, which was decimated at last year’s trade deadline. With the exception of welcoming back Taylor Rogers, the Twins have left the cupboard bare, and there are simply no solutions left on the free agent market. Do they plan to convert starters to relievers? Make a trade with one of their many left-handed corner outfielders or Ryan Jeffers? Rely on unproven minor leaguers? Sources say the current thinking rejects all the above paths and focuses on an unproven method: Napping. “Let’s face it, it’s going to be tough sledding,” said a source familiar with the front office’s thinking. “We didn’t really sign anyone, there’s no money for anything, and [Derek] Falvey just split two weeks before spring training. The best thing, going forward, is to go into the next room, take a snooze under a big pile of coats and blankets, and hope it all works out in the end.” This approach, while unorthodox, has gained steam within the organization since Falvey’s surprise departure last week. “You know how, during natural disasters, neighbors just sort of figure things out because no one is coming to save them,” said another source. “I think the Minnesota Twins are in the same boat. If leadership isn’t around to offer guidance, the coaches and pitchers will piece it all together. We’ll wake up, and bingo bango, our problems are solved.” Outside the organization, this plan is being met with skepticism. “That’s literally part of the plot in the Simpsons episode where Homer goes to college,” said Jayson Stark, senior baseball writer for The Athletic. “It’s a great episode, mind you, written by Conan O’Brien. But it doesn’t seem applicable to building a major-league bullpen. Are you sure this is real?” Although neither Tom Pohlad nor newly elevated baseball chief Jeremy Zoll would go on the record, multiple sources with knowledge of the plan, nicknamed Operation Sleepy Little Guys, confirm its existence to Twins Daily. “Here’s the deal: when we wake up, there’s gonna be a bullpen,” said the first source. “Someone literally has to do it if we’re not there. That’s the beauty of Operation Sleepy Little Guys. Sleep smarter, not harder. Although, let me tell you, we’re going to be out like a light.” Image license here. View the full article

The San Diego Padres' biggest offseason question was how to plug the holes in the rotation. The club lost Dylan Cease to free agency and Yu Darvish to injury. Because A.J. Preller is in charge, visions of a Tarik Skubal or Freddy Peralta trade or a Framber Valdez signing danced in people's heads. However, Preller has just re-signed Michael King to a player-friendly contract. As the players arrive in Arizona for spring training, three of the five starting spots are spoken for: King, Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove. The incumbent options for spots Nos. 4 and 5 -- Randy Vasquez, J.P. Sears, Kyle Hart and Matt Waldron -- do not inspire much hope. That leaves the door open for non-roster invitees Triston McKenzie and Marco Gonzales. Padres Mission is taking an analytical look at all the contestants for Opening Day rotation spots. This piece will focus on what Gonzales might bring to the club and whether he should break camp with San Diego or report to Triple-A El Paso as an insurance policy/reclamation project. Previous Entries: Randy Vasquez's Arsenal Marco Gonzales' Stuff Gonzales fits the profile of a "crafty lefty" who "knows how to pitch." His velocity is distinctly below average, but he throws strikes, moves the ball around and expands the zone. He has produced excellent chase, exit velo, hard-hit and walk rates in his career. He also knows how to pitch to the dimensions of his home park. After working in St. Louis' Busch Stadium, Seattle's T-Mobile Park and Pittsburgh's PNC Park, his career home ERA is 0.62 runs lower than his road ERA in almost the same number of innings (3.85 to 4.47), and his home run percentage is six-tenths of a point better (3.0 to 3.6). Obviously, he'd go 4-for-4 if he adds Petco Park to the list. Those numbers help to explain why he has been able to pitch for a decade in the majors despite a career 90 Stuff+ and 104 Location+, per Fangraphs. The biggest unknown with Gonzales is his health. He has undergone two forearm surgeries in recent years --- the first one in August 2023 to repair a nerve issue, the second in September 2024 to repair a flexor tendon injury. He missed the 2025 season as he recovered from the latter procedure. How much command will he have when he returns to the mound? Marco Gonzales' Pitch Arsenal Saying Gonzales does not overpower hitters is a massive understatement. His fastball velocity ranked in the fourth percentile or lower every year from 2019 through 2024. In fact, his sinker --- which he threw nine percent of the time --- was his fastest pitch in 2024, averaging 90.1 mph, per Baseball Savant. His four-seamer averaged 89.7 mph and his cutter averaged 85.7 mph. All three speeds were well below the league average for left-handers. Gonzales also features a changeup and a curveball. The change is the primary off-speed pitch (80.2 mph), and its movement compares quite favorably to changes thrown by pitchers who have similar arm angles and extensions. The four-seamer, which tends to ride up in the zone, also stacks up well. (Gonzales enjoys the benefits of above-average extension.) With the Pirates in '24, he used the change about as often as the cutter, but both were thrown less frequently than the four-seamer. He threw those three pitches almost equally to right-handed batters, though he leaned more heavily on his four-seamer against left-handers (43 percent). The curveball lost its bite in 2024. Gonzales responded by throwing it 10 percent of the time, below his career norm. Of note, Gonzales' average arm angle has been dropping steadily over the years, from a high of 48 degrees in 2021 to a low of 37 degrees in 2024. The lowest individual angle is for the changeup, which was thrown at an average of 30.7 degrees two years ago. What Should Marco Gonzales' Role Be in 2026? Gonzales has been exclusively a starter since 2018. The Padres need rotation help. It seems clear what the role should be. But he needs to show enough in spring training to make a team, any team, and that might be too difficult after a year off. What does he have left after his latest surgery? Can he build up to around 80 pitches by Opening Day so he can get through five innings? Will he be afforded a longer ramp-up period while serving as Triple-A insurance? So many questions to answer, but it's clear that this is a veteran who could be serviceable if he's healthy. View the full article

As impressive as it was to see Eduardo Tait make it to High-A at just 18 years old in 2025, he will have his first big test starting in 2026 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, as he will be playing in consistently cold weather for the first time in his young career. Even if he sees some regression in April, the true test will be if he can resurge to his 2025 numbers once the weather warms. View the full article

Though he shouldn't start at second base, Isiah Kiner-Falefa brings more versatility, speed, and defense to a Boston Red Sox bench brimming with quality depth. View the full article

Twins baseball is back on the air—or, at least, it will be. On Thursday, the team released its complete broadcast schedule for spring training action, which is set to begin on Friday, Feb. 20, with an exhibition tilt against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Grapefruit League play will begin the following day, with the Twins facing their crosstown rivals, the Boston Red Sox. In conjunction with Major League Baseball, 830 WCCO (WCCO-AM) and 102.9 The Wolf (KMNB-FM), along with the Treasure Island Baseball Network (TIBN), the Twins announced a comprehensive radio broadcast schedule, which will give fans free access to 25 games via a combination of over-the-air and streamable broadcasts through the Audacy and MLB.TV apps. (Notably, nine of these games will be exclusive to the Audacy app.) The team also confirmed that 22 games will be available for fans to watch live via their direct-to-consumer Twins.TV platform. Anyone can register for a free account that will feature these spring training games, and regular-season MLB.TV subscribers will also have access through their account. Linear subscribers will also be able to access these games through their cable, satellite and multichannel video providers. Subscription packages for Twins.TV, as well as league-wide packages, will be available for fans to purchase or renew starting on February 10. Two games will also be featured for free on FOX 9 (KMSP-TV). Their Saturday, March 14 tilt against the Tampa Bay Rays and a Friday, March 20 matchup with the reigning American League champion Toronto Blue Jays will kick off the second year of limited free over-the-air broadcasts, with a handful of regular-season games following throughout the year. Seven other spring training games will be aired on FOX 9+. Of these 22 streamable games, 15 will be Twins-produced broadcasts. A dozen of these will be simulcast with radio productions. Familiar faces and voices will be featured on these various broadcasts, including Twins.TV’s Cory Provus, radio play-by-play voice Kris Atteberry, Twins Hall of Famer Dan Gladden and National Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor. Highlights of this spring schedule include a matchup with Team Puerto Rico on March 4 before they head to the World Baseball Classic, and an all-prospect face-off between the Twins’ top youngsters and those of the Philadelphia Phillies on March 19. Here's the full schedule, with game times, ways to watch and broadcasters scheduled to handle the contests. Happy viewing. Date Opponent Time CT TV Radio/Stream Talent Fri., 2/20 Univ. of Minnesota 5:05 PM Twins.TV/ Gray Media TIBN/830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf /Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Sat., 2/21 Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV/ Gray Media TIBN/830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf /Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Tue., 2/24 Baltimore 12:05 PM TIBN/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Wed., 2/25 Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Thu., 2/26 @ Pittsburgh 12:05 PM Twins.TV (via SNP) Fri., 2/27 NY Yankees 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Sat., 2/28 @ Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV (via NESN) Sun., 3/1 Atlanta 12:05 PM Twins.TV/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Tue., 3/3 Tampa Bay 12:05 PM TIBN/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Wed., 3/4 Puerto Rico (WBC) 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Thu., 3/5 @ NY Yankees 12:05 PM Twins.TV (via YES) Fri., 3/6 Atlanta 5:05 PM Twins.TV/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Sun., 3/8 Philadelphia 12:05 PM Twins.TV/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Wed., 3/11 Detroit 12:05 PM TIBN/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Thu., 3/12 Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Fri., 3/13 @ Toronto 12:07 PM Twins.TV (via SN) Sat., 3/14 Tampa Bay 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App Dan Gladden / Paul Molitor Sun., 3/15 @ Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV (via NESN) Mon., 3/16 Pittsburgh 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/Audacy App Cory Provus / Paul Molitor Tue., 3/17 @ Philadelphia 12:05 PM Twins.TV (via NBCSP) Thu., 3/19 Philadelphia (Spring Breakout) 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/Audacy App Cory Provus / Paul Molitor Fri., 3/20 Toronto 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App TV: Cory Provus / Glen Perkins TIBN: Kris Atteberry / Paul Molitor Sun., 3/22 Atlanta 12:05 PM Twins.TV/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App TV: Cory Provus / Glen Perkins TIBN: Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Mon., 3/23 @ Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV (via NESN) Tue., 3/24 Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/Audacy App TV: Cory Provus / Glen Perkins TIBN: Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden View the full article

With MLB The Show 26 soon to be released, they're releasing hype videos to hook convince consumers to purchase the latest version of the game. In one of those trailers, it seems they have leaked a new uniform for the Minnesota Twins 2026 season. Though not official, MLB The Show is an officially licensed product by Major League Baseball. It stands to reason that any uniform seen in their gameplay, content, trailers, etc. is likely something that you could see in a really MLB game. Additionally, we don't know which uniform could be replaced however it's fair to think that they replace the navy blue jerseys shown in the cover image of this post due to their similarities. See the jersey highlighted in the MLB The Show trailer below. The two notable diffferences are "Twins" replacing "Minnesota" across the chest and a Minnesota patch on the right sleeve instead of a "TC" patch. In other images circulating around social media, you can also see the "Securian" advertisement patch on the left sleeve. Its not unusual for teams to release new uniforms without going through a major rebrand as the Twins did ahead of the 2023 season. What do you think about the uniforms? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Reports repeatedly connected the Chicago Cubs to designated hitter/outfielder Miguel Andujar in the last fortnight, but Andujar signed with the San Diego Padres this week, for $4 million. That contract is proof that the Cubs didn't have a particularly serious interest in Andujar. San Diego offered a path to more playing time than the Cubs could, so if Andujar had his long-term earning potential in the front of his mind, he might have demanded considerably more from the Cubs than the Padres paid. In truth, though, the North Siders' interest was always contingent on the possibility of a second move, which didn't materialize. Andujar is a right-handed batter who mashes lefty pitching. That's a valuable complementary piece, even with little defensive value added thereto, but it's less valuable to the Cubs than to most other teams. Chicago wanted Andujar only in a scenario in which they moved Matt Shaw and opened a spot to add a left-hitting infielder to their bench. That hasn't happened, and looks increasingly unlikely, so Andujar didn't end up being a fit for the team. At catcher, the Cubs have two right-handed hitters. Among their six infielders (counting Tyler Austin, who'll back up and platoon with Michael Busch), they have five righty batters, in Shaw, Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Austin. Busch is the only lefty batter out of those eight roster spots, so the Cubs need lots of left-handed at-bats from their outfield and DH spots. They'll get them, of course. Ian Happ is a switch-hitter, and Pete Crow-Armstrong bats left-handed. Moisés Ballesteros, in whom the team demonstrated their great faith by trading Owen Caissie earlier this winter, will soak up plenty of playing time at DH. Seiya Suzuki is locked in for at least 550 plate appearances, though, and bats right-handed. The team will choose from among Justin Dean, Kevin Alcántara, Chas McCormick and Dylan Carlson for the fourth outfielder job, and all four of those guys are de facto right-handed bats. (Carlson, technically, is a switch-hitter, but he's a disaster from the left side and would only find a real role as a backup and partial platoon partner for Crow-Armstrong.) We've accounted for all 13 position-player spots on the roster, but we haven't really accounted for all the available playing time. There are likely to be between 300 and 450 plate appearances available in that outfield and DH mix, accounting for injuries, the possibility of failure by Ballesteros, and the times when they won't need to carry any of the backup center field candidates. Those plate appearances should be given to a strong lefty batter, to make up for the right-leaning infield group and the fact that a team faces more righty pitchers than lefties. A few good trade candidates stand out. The team could try to pry underachieving but intriguing corner outfielder Trevor Larnach away from the Twins. (In fact, the Twins have several lefty bats who are short on positional or defensive value but can hit a bit.) They could pursue Lars Nootbaar, of the rebuilding Cardinals, or late-blooming former top pick Mickey Moniak from the Rockies. However, the easiest path forward is a simple, warm-feeling one: Re-sign ex-Cub Mike Tauchman. Tauchman, 35, doesn't come with worries about clubhouse fit or swing retooling. He doesn't need to play with a next contract in mind, like Andujar. He's a player with clear flaws whom everyone knows to be in decline, and he absolutely can't be placed in center field anymore. However, since the start of 2023, he's averaged almost exactly the number of plate appearances the Cubs need to fill, at the very positions where they need to fill them. He's batted .255/.359/.381, and his rates with the White Sox in 2025 weren't a step down from that. Tauchman still gets on base, and he can play a competent corner outfield spot. He'll also be exceptionally cheap. He's not likely to stay healthy all year or to be an impact player even while he's on the roster. As a complementary option in the outfield, though, Tauchman would give the Cubs lineup extra length. Because he spent two fruitful years reviving his career at Wrigley Field, he's a known commodity in the clubhouse. This is a simple solution to a simple problem. Unless something bigger comes together very, very soon, the Cubs should bring back the Palatine, Ill. native for a fourth consecutive hometown summer. View the full article

Perhaps flying a bit under the radar, left-hander Robert Gasser might be the most interesting starting pitcher to watch in Milwaukee Brewers spring training this year. Gasser came to the Crew with much fanfare, part of the package that came from the San Diego Padres in the Josh Hader trade at the 2022 trade deadline. Gasser had been a second-round pick of the Padres in 2021 out of the University of Houston and was the Padres' No. 7 prospect (MLB Pipeline) at the time. He was the biggest piece of the deal in terms of what he meant for the future. After having been at High A with the Padres at the time of the deal, Gasser went up to Double-A with the Crew and made four starts before getting another promotion to Triple-A Nashville. He spent all of 2023 in Nashville, posting a 3.79 ERA, then started 2024 at Triple-A. He made three starts before getting the call to make his MLB debut as the Crew's No. 4 prospect. When he did debut, he did not disappoint. In five starts, Gasser had a 3.38 FIP (2.57 ERA) with a microscopic 0.9% walk rate and a 14% strikeout rate (one walk, 16 strikeouts in 28 innings). But in that final start, he went five innings and gave up three runs, including his first two homers allowed, not looking as sharp as he had in the other four outings. It ended up being his final start of 2024 as he eventually chose Tommy John surgery, which would sideline him until the end of the 2025 season. He came back to make two late-season starts and was included on the postseason roster. Thus bringing us to where we are today and Gasser's candidacy for Milwaukee's Opening Day rotation. With two open spots behind right-handers Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester, and Jacob Misiorowski, Gasser has the advantage as the only left-hander among the other contenders (Chad Patrick, Logan Henderson, Brandon Sproat). Sure, Aaron Ashby could be in the mix, but it would be hard to see him being removed from his key role as the top lefty out of the bullpen. DL Hall is another lefty who might get a shot, but he seemed comfortable in a relief role in 2025. Robert Gasser's Stuff Due to Gasser's limited time in the majors, a total of seven games and 33⅔ innings over 2024 and 2025, the data is fairly incomplete. The 26-year-old isn't a high-velocity guy, ranking in the 28th percentile with a 93.2 mph four-seam fastball. He does have an advantage with 6.8 inches of extension, which is in the 79th percentile. His four-seamer was on pace with where it was in 2024 before surgery, when it was at 93.3 mph. All of his other pitches were above their 2024 velocities, which is a positive now that he will have had a normal offseason to get ready for 2026. In 2025, his four-seamer, sinker, and cutter were within solid margins of MLB averages for lefty pitchers, but his sweeper had 4.1 inches less drop, and his changeup had 2.6 inches more tail and 3 inches more drop, not good things when it comes to controlling the pitch. Again, this came in a very small sample of two abbreviated starts. Robert Gasser's Pitch Arsenal Gasser has a very traditional five-pitch mix: four-seamer, sweeper, sinker, cutter, and changeup. As a lefty, Gasser relied on his 82 mph sweeper in his 5⅔ innings in 2025 the most, throwing it 33.3% of the time. In 2024, the sweeper was at 80.6 mph and 32.1%. His 93.2 mph four-seamer and 92.9 mph sinker were each used 26.5% of the time, both up from 2024, when his 92.5 mph sinker was used 24.3% and 93.3 mph four-seamer 20.1%. His changeup averaged 88.9 mph and was used 10.8% of the time, compared to 87.9 mph and 14.3% usage, while his 89.4 mph cutter was used a mere 2.9% of the time, as opposed to 2024, when it was 88.4 mph and 9.3%. Year Pitch Type # # RHB # LHB % MPH PA AB H 1B 2B 3B HR SO BBE BA XBA SLG XSLG WOBA XWOBA EV LA Spin Ext. Whiff% PutAway% 2025 Sweeper 34 17 17 33.3 82.0 10 8 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 .000 .078 .000 .087 .138 .197 86.1 14 2416 6.7 40.0 18.2 2025 Four Seamer 27 22 5 26.5 93.2 6 6 1 1 0 0 0 2 4 .167 .093 .167 .123 .147 .093 90.2 52 2247 6.8 27.3 22.2 2025 Sinker 27 8 19 26.5 92.9 9 6 2 2 0 0 0 1 5 .333 .277 .333 .455 .430 .442 85.2 32 2040 6.7 10.0 20.0 2025 Changeup 11 11 0 10.8 88.9 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 .500 .448 1.000 .633 .626 .456 98.1 5 1891 6.8 0.0 0.0 2025 Cutter 3 3 0 2.9 89.4 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1.000 .889 4.000 3.536 1.380 1.257 107.1 29 2393 6.7 0.0 0.0 2024 Sweeper 128 95 33 32.1 80.6 25 21 4 3 0 0 1 8 15 .190 .135 .333 .232 .245 .190 86.0 21 2497 6.7 34.5 19.0 2024 Sinker 97 79 18 24.3 92.5 27 27 6 6 0 0 0 2 25 .222 .268 .222 .318 .196 .262 87.1 6 2043 6.7 17.6 11.8 2024 Four Seamer 80 70 10 20.1 93.3 35 33 7 7 0 0 0 4 29 .212 .250 .212 .298 .217 .268 83.1 20 2183 6.7 14.6 10.8 2024 Changeup 57 56 1 14.3 87.9 16 15 5 4 1 0 0 1 15 .333 .299 .400 .419 .319 .321 82.2 2 1985 6.7 17.2 20.0 2024 Cutter 37 32 5 9.3 88.4 11 10 6 5 0 0 0 1 10 .600 .379 .900 .607 .587 .411 93.3 17 2430 6.7 20.0 11.1 What Should Robert Gasser's Role Be In 2026? Of all the candidates mentioned above, Gasser has the inside track to the No. 4 or 5 spot due to his pedigree and performance thus far, especially considering he is really the only lefty in the primary mix. While he still has three minor-league options remaining, Gasser should have a spot on the Opening Day roster one way or the other. If Hall, another lefty, surprises this spring in a starter's role and lands a spot, Gasser could go to the bullpen. Of course, both could grab the last two spots, although that is unlikely. Brewers fans should be looking forward to a full year of Gasser in the rotation. View the full article

In my last post, I took a look at five pitching prospects in the Royals system who are not in the Royals Keep Top-20 Prospects rankings. The pitchers were a mix of ones who may have had down seasons in 2025 or showed progress, but are just on the outside when it comes to being classified as a Top-20 prospect. The same will be true for the five position player prospects that I will profile in this piece. The Royals are looking to improve their farm system hitters further in 2026. While the Royals made the news with the hirings of new assistant hitting coaches Connor Dawson and Marcus Thames, they also restructured the Minor League hitting development coaching staff. Gone is Drew Saylor, and in his place is a two-headed team with Nic Jackson handling hitters in the upper levels and Abrahan Nunez overseeing lower-level hitters. Hopefully, Jackson and Nunez can have an impact on the Royals' position player prospects. The five I am going to profile are prime candidates to have underrated impacts this season with the right tweaks and adjustments. As in my previous post, I will be using TJ Stats for graphics and images for each player. Spencer Nivens, OF (Projected Starting Level: Double-A) There were some high hopes last season for Nivens, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Missouri State in Springfield. In 99 games and 412 plate appearances in High-A Quad Cities in 2024, he hit 20 home runs, posted a .369 wOBA, and 130 wRC+. He had a slightly high strikeout rate at 26.9%, and his 0.44 BB/K ratio was good, not great. Furthermore, he only hit .243, though his .290 BABIP did him no favors in the Midwest League. That said, the power was enticing, and there was some hope that Nivens could be a 20+ HR and 15-20 SB threat at the MLB level in 2027 or 2028. Unfortunately, Nivens' power dipped significantly in 2025 in Double-A Northwest Arkansas. His home run total went from 20 to 6 despite having 103 more plate appearances with the Naturals. Furthermore, his ISO went from .232 in High-A to .096 ISO in Double-A. As a result, his wOBA dipped to .329 and wRC+ to 97, and his prospect stock fell as well this offseason. However, there were some encouraging signs from Nivens last season, despite the dip in power. His batting average (.250), BB/K ratio (0.64), and contact% (75.2%) all improved with the Naturals last season. He also overcame a slow start in 2025, as he saw a tremendous spike in wOBA by his 400th plate appearance. By the end of the year, he was posting a wOBA in the .400 range, which is excellent and closer to what he did in 2024 in Quad Cities. The walk rate dipped by his 400th plate appearance, but so did his K%, so it was a fair trade-off. Nivens seems to be a hitter who takes some time to adjust to a level. He had a slow start in High-A in 2024 and then ended up mashing 18 of his 20 home runs after July 1st. The power didn't translate in Double-A, but the strong finish overall did. Thus, it wouldn't be surprising for Nivens to get off to a hot start in a repeat in Northwest Arkansas and quickly matriculate to Triple-A Omaha. Sam Kulasingam, 2B (Projected Starting Level: Double-A) Kulasingam has often gone under the radar as a prospect in his career, stemming back to college. He excelled as a player at the Air Force Academy, but that's not a school that's going to turn heads or capture the attention of prospect analysts like LSU, Texas, or Oregon State. As a result, he was drafted in the 13th round, though he did manage a respectable $150,000 signing bonus. The 24-year-old second baseman was seen as a polished prospect with strong intangibles and leadership potential, and he showed exactly that in High-A Quad Cities last season. In 123 games and 547 plate appearances, he hit .291 with a .366 wOBA and 122 wRC+. He didn't hit for a lot of power (2 home runs; .103 ISO), but he stole 22 bases and had a strong eye at the plate (0.73 BB/K ratio). This profile, along with solid defense and intangibles, helped him earn the Alex Gordon Heart and Hustle Award. Kulasingam doesn't appear to be a high-ceiling prospect, and his swing, while polished, will have a tough time gaining power as he moves up the Royals system, unless changes are made. He did tail a bit toward the end of the year, as he saw a sharp decline in wOBA around the 400th plate appearance. On a positive note, he did rebound around the 500th plate appearance, helping him finish the season on a good note. The Royals' system is full of polished middle-infield prospects, especially ones who can play second base (Peyton Wilson, Javi Vaz, and Dustin Dickerson are a few others). However, Kulasingam's polished profile and strong makeup should help him continue to succeed in Double-A in 2026. Continued progress in the Texas League, especially in the power department, could help him be a candidate for a 40-man roster spot in 2027. Austin Charles, 3B/SS (Projected Starting Level: High-A) Charles has always been seen as a high-ceiling, low-floor prospect since being drafted in the 20th round in the 2022 MLB Draft. The 22-year-old has intriguing size (6'5, 215 pounds) and strong athletic potential. He also performed well in his first full Minor League stint in Low-A Columbia in 2024, hitting 10 home runs, stealing 36 bases, and posting a 117 wRC+ in 481 plate appearances. Unfortunately, he took a step back in High-A Quad Cities in 2025. Limited to only 59 games with the River Bandits due to various nagging injuries, Charles hit .205, had two home runs, and posted a .264 wOBA and 57 wRC+. He did steal 11 bases, but his ISO went from .130 with the Fireflies to .093 with the River Bandits. As illustrated in his TJ Stats card above, whiffs have been an issue for Charles, both in High-A and even Low-A ball (25.8% K% with the Fireflies). With the River Bandits, he struck out 25.9% of the time and also whiffed 33.8% of the time, both below-average marks. His walk rate wasn't good overall at 8.3%, but he saw considerable progress later in the year, as it rose to nearly 15% after his 200th plate appearance. In fact, Charles was just a whole lot better by the end of the year. According to his rolling wOBA chart, he was close to league-average in wOBA after his 200th plate appearance. I think there was some pressure that Charles was feeling after being seen as a "breakout" prospect in 2025 after a strong 2024 campaign in the Carolina League. He pressed, he got hurt, and negative results followed. When he got healthy and stepped back into the spotlight, Charles seemed more like his 2024 self. It will be a key year for Charles in 2026, especially with him eligible for the Rule 5 Draft in December of this year. If he can get off to a hot start in High-A ball and matriculate to Northwest Arkansas and hold his own, he could be someone the Royals add to the 40-man roster next offseason. There is still considerable upside with Charles, and at 22, he has some development left in him, especially in his frame and athleticism. That said, he can't have another season like 2025. Henry Ramos, OF (Projected Starting Level: Low-A) Ramos, one of the Royals' top international signings in 2022, is an interesting prospect because the surface-level metrics aren't eye-popping from the past two seasons. In his first taste of Stateside competition in the Complex League last year, Ramos hit .260 with a .319 wOBA and 70 wRC+ in 140 plate appearances. He also had one home run and nine stolen bases in 37 games as a 19-year-old. As a 20-year-old in Low-A Columbia, he hit .220 with a .313 wOBA and 83 wRC+ in 277 plate appearances. While he did steal 18 bases, the power was lacking. He only hit one home run and posted a .073 ISO with the Fireflies. That said, there's a lot to like when one looks at his scouting report and swing metrics. Baseball America highlighted Ramos as one of its "breakout prospects" in a December 17th piece. Ramos showed strong contact, with a 84.4% Z-Contact% and a 24.8% whiff rate, both above average. He also posted a 0.57 BB/K ratio, amplified by a 12.1% BB%. The latter is impressive to see for a 20-year-old in the Carolina League. Furthermore, his walk rate significantly improved after his 200th plate appearance. According to his rolling charts, he was producing a near 20% BB% by the end of the season, and his K% was below 20%. He slumped a bit in the middle of the year, according to his rolling wOBA chart, but he got off to a strong start and finish with the Fireflies. That shows that Ramos has resiliency and the ability to adjust to professional pitching. With budding batted-ball and power skills, the Dominican-born outfielder could see some legitimate progress in a repeat of Low-A ball, which could help him earn a call-up to High-A Quad Cities by midseason, at the latest. Jose Cerice, 1B/3B (Projected Starting Level: High-A) Not many prospect experts are talking about the Cuban-born corner infielder, a 2024 International signee. However, he should be one that Royals fans pay attention to closely in the Minors this season. As a 20-year-old, Cerice performed well in both the Complex and Carolina League last season. In 28 games and 109 plate appearances in Arizona, he hit .354, posted a .429 wOBA, and 140 wRC+. That solid performance in the Complex League earned him a call-up to Columbia, and he once again held his own in Low-A full-season ball. In 34 games and 126 plate appearances, he hit .302 with a .355 wOBA and 109 wRC+. Much like his time in the Complex, Cerice hits, but doesn't provide much else beyond that. He had only one home run in Columbia, which was just one fewer than in Arizona. He also had only six stolen bases combined between Arizona and Columbia. It's not like he's a bad athlete by any means, but his tools, especially power and baserunning, don't really "pop" like other prospects in the Royals system. That said, another former prospect in the lower Minors didn't have impressive power or athleticism initially but showed a strong ability to hit. That contact tool eventually carried him, and he became more valuable as his body filled out. That Royals prospect? None other than Maikel Garcia. Now, am I saying Cerice is going to be Garcia 2.0? Not at all. However, Garcia is an example of why Royals fans should not overlook strong-hitting prospects at lower levels just because they don't initially flash big-time power or speed. Cerice could be another success story for the Royals, especially as he continues to grow into his frame and makes the likely move to High-A ball in Quad Cities this season. View the full article

With a plethora of young starters set to compete for rotation spots in spring training—most of them already on the 40-man roster—minor-league signee Gerson Garabito probably won’t be in the running for the Brewers’ Opening Day roster. Still, Garabito will be among the pitchers reporting to big-league camp in the coming days, where he’ll get an opportunity to make an impression for later in the season. Andruw Monasterio, Jared Koenig, Anthony Seigler, and Easton McGee are among the recent non-roster invitees to find their way to Milwaukee in the middle of a season after being further down the depth chart in spring. For a club that has gone through plenty of arms throughout the last few seasons, Garabito could be next. The 30-year-old Dominican made his debut in 2024 for the Texas Rangers, for whom he pitched to a 5.77 ERA and 4.96 FIP over 34 ⅓ innings across parts of two seasons. They released him last June to sign with the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), where he posted a 2.64 ERA and 3.94 FIP in 15 starts. Stuff models are not enamored with Garabito’s arsenal. He had a 92 Stuff+ and 0.1 StuffPro (where 0 is average and lower is better) in his eight big-league innings in 2025. However, he throws five pitches, with a few interesting shapes. Most notably, his sinker had 3.5 more inches of sink than expected from his three-quarters arm slot, while his four-seamer had an extra inch of carry. That heavy sinker figures to become the foundation of his pitch mix in the Brewers organization, which has been among the top five teams in sinker usage over the past two seasons. One of their greatest development successes last year was Quinn Priester, who throws a similar bowling-ball two-seamer. In fact, Garabito’s velocity, pitch shapes, and arm angle are eerily similar to Priester’s before his 2025 breakout. There are a few key differences between the two pitchers. Garabito’s four-seamer has more spin and carry than Priester’s did, and his curveball has more of a sweeping slider shape. That’s because Priester throws his curveball from a higher slot than the rest of his pitches to get more traditional 1-to-7 movement, but Garabito uses a lower slot to give his hook more lateral break. That means Garabito may not make all of the same changes as Priester, who refashioned his four-seamer into a cutter last year and threw his curveball less. His four-seamer has a better shape, and his slider has more backspin, leaving him with less room to switch to a cutter. Because his curveball plays more like a bigger slider, it’s been his go-to breaking ball against righties, whereas Priester typically threw his to lefties. The primary focus, though, could be similar. While the Brewers brought along Priester’s other pitches as the season progressed, their initial tweaks simplified things by letting his sinker play in the heart of the strike zone. Identifying that sinker as his best pitch, they upped its usage from 30% to 42%, eliminated his changeup, and moved him to the middle of the rubber to get him in the zone more often. Each of those adjustments could benefit Garabito. Between the big leagues and Triple A, his sinker produced a monstrous 72% ground ball rate. Like Priester, his changeup had very similar spin-induced movement. Pitching from the extreme third-base side of the rubber, he’s struggled with walks throughout his career, including 12.2% and 11.3% walk rates in Triple A and in the KBO last year, respectively. The Brewers’ plan for Garabito’s arsenal will soon become apparent. It could look familiar, and it might have him soaking up big-league innings later in the summer. View the full article

In a major change to the organization’s leadership structure, the Twins announced last week that they had “mutually agreed to part ways” with Derek Falvey, ending a tenure that spanned nearly a decade and reshaped the franchise in ways both celebrated and criticized. Falvey, who had overseen baseball operations since 2016 and was promoted last March to run both the baseball and business sides, was suddenly gone. Jeremy Zoll will continue to run baseball operations, while new principal owner Tom Pohlad assumes interim oversight of the business side as the Twins begin a search for new leadership. It was a stunning development, not because Falvey had been universally beloved, but because of how central he was to everything the modern Twins became. From the depths of the worst season in franchise history to division titles, blockbuster free agent signings, and eventually a jarring teardown, Falvey’s tenure covered nearly every possible outcome for a front office. Which leads to the unavoidable question, now that it is over. Was Derek Falvey a good president of baseball operations for the Minnesota Twins? The way his tenure ended makes that question harder to answer emotionally than it should be analytically. Falvey’s final years were defined by shrinking payrolls, roster stagnation, and ultimately a fire sale that left the organization hollowed out. Offseasons became quiet, often limited to low-impact signings and internal optimism that rarely held up to the test of the team taking the field. Trade deadlines passed without meaningful action, even when the roster’s flaws were obvious and opportunities existed to reshape a core that had clearly run its course. Over time, Falvey’s reputation shifted from aggressor to bystander. Players like Edouard Julien, Brooks Lee, Max Kepler, and others held trade value at various points, but the Twins repeatedly opted for continuity. Budget constraints from ownership were real, but they increasingly felt like a reason to stand still, rather than a challenge to navigate creatively. That frustration reached its peak at the 2025 trade deadline, when the Twins abruptly pivoted from inactivity to a full-scale fire sale, trading away 10 major-league players and gutting any realistic hopes of near-term contention. Ownership influence was significant, but Falvey was the one making the moves, and the returns did little to inspire confidence. Those low points matter, but they should not erase what came before them. When Falvey took over following the 2016 season, the Twins were in disarray. They were coming off a 59-103 campaign, the worst record in franchise history, and had lost 90 or more games in six of the previous seven seasons. The roster lacked impact talent, the farm system needed a reset, and fan engagement was fading. Turning that situation around quickly was far from guaranteed. Instead, Falvey engineered one of the most impressive turnarounds the organization has ever seen. In just three seasons, the Twins built a 2019 roster that won 101 games, the second-most in franchise history, and captured the division for the first time since 2010. That team was built through a series of smart, assertive decisions. Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco signed extensions that paid immediate dividends. Nelson Cruz was brought in as a culture-altering free agent who became the heartbeat of the lineup. Complementary additions like C.J. Cron and Jonathan Schoop filled critical roles. While the postseason ended quickly, the regular season dominance reinvigorated the fan base and fundamentally changed the perception of the franchise. Falvey’s willingness to push payroll was a defining feature of his success. Unlike previous regimes that took pride in underspending, he consistently pressed ownership to the limits of what was allowed. That approach resulted in some of the largest contracts in team history, including those given to Josh Donaldson and Carlos Correa. For the first time, the Twins operated as a team willing to play in the upper tiers of free agency. Even though that approach faded as ownership priorities shifted, Falvey proved that Minnesota could compete in that space and benefit from it. He brought that same selective aggressiveness to the trade market. Not every swing connected, and trades for players like Sam Dyson and Tyler Mahle ultimately cost the organization. But acquisitions like Sonny Gray and Pablo López were franchise-shaping moves that raised the ceiling of the roster. The team became a superb scavenger in the endgame of the offseason, not only signing players whose markets didn't materialize but trading for good players whose former teams needed to move on—most notably, Jake Odorizzi and Kenta Maeda. Falvey was willing to take risks, and that mindset alone marked a meaningful shift from what Twins fans had grown accustomed to. Those moves culminated in the defining achievement of his tenure. The 2023 Twins won the division, snapped the playoff losing streak, and captured the franchise’s first postseason series win since 2002. It was a long-awaited release for a fan base burdened by decades of October frustration. That moment does not happen without Falvey’s smartest and boldest decisions, and it should stand as a central part of his legacy. Upon weighing the totality of Falvey’s time in Minnesota, my view is that it was a success. His best years showed what this organization could be when leadership was aligned, ownership was willing to invest, and aggressiveness was encouraged. The lowlights were real and damaging, but many of them were the results of an ownership environment that no longer supported the very approach that had produced success. With an ownership group that consistently cared about winning and empowered its baseball operations department, those late-stage failures likely never would have occurred. The Falvey era was imperfect and frustrating at times, but it also delivered one of the best regular-season teams in franchise history and one of the most meaningful postseason moments Twins fans have experienced in decades. That matters. It should not be overshadowed by how things ended. As the Twins move forward yet again, I hope Derek Falvey is remembered not for the collapse, but for the progress, the ambition, and the moments that made fans believe again. View the full article

Under Derek Falvey, the Twins front office developed a penchant for making moves — including some of their biggest moves — in the very late stages of the offseason. This was best exemplified by the Taylor Rogers trade, which took place on the eve of Opening Day in 2022, but there were plenty of others. It's possible that Falvey's successor, Jeremy Zoll, will eventually differentiate himself from this tendency. But by virtue of stepping into the lead role so late in the offseason, for a team with an unfinished and imbalanced roster, he almost has no choice but to pick up the mantle with some February or March moves. Given the team's circumstances, I wouldn't rule out one or more transactions of some significance. Here are five signings, trades and extensions I could pretty easily envision taking place before Opening Day. Not all would make the team better, but they'd at least provide a further sense of direction and long-term vision. Trading Joe Ryan or Pablo Lopez Yeah, the Twins have said they don't plan to trade either of their frontline starters. But the time for rallying season-ticket sales has mostly passed, and by now reality has to be setting in that this team is not equipped to contend in the AL Central, especially after Detroit's bold move to add Framber Valdez alongside Tarik Skubal top their rotation. Tom Pohlad might not like the business optics, but the baseball wisdom of trading one of these two premier starters is undeniable. It means opening up more innings for the young arms Minnesota needs to audition, while bringing back a haul to bolster the team's post-2026 outlook. The Twins acquired Ryan while he was competing in the Olympics. Could they trade him away while he competes in the World Baseball Classic? Trading Ryan Jeffers After acquiring Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson this offseason, the Twins now have three catchers. None have minor-league options. Conventional wisdom says they'll go with the two best ones, Jeffers and Caratini, while seeking a low-scale trade for Jackson or trying to sneak him through waivers at the end of camp. That puts them at risk of losing Jackson for nothing, and while the team didn't invest a ton to acquire him (Payton Eeles), it was something. Clearly they like him to some extent. The bigger risk for the Twins in this scenario is that they lose Jeffers for nothing after this season, when he's due for free agency. An opportunistic gambit would be to trade him now and roll with a catching duo of Caratini and Jackson. That'd be a clubhouse leader and quality player out the door, but again, if the Twins aren't contending, it doesn't matter. Jackson is under control for two more seasons so he'd provide some continuity at least alongside Caratini, who signed a two-year deal. Trading Trevor Larnach It would almost be more surprising if this doesn't happen. The Twins have to move Larnach or someone else in the lefty-swinging 1B/DH/COF mix, because currently the pieces simply don't fit together. He continues to be the most likely candidate, though he hardly offers clear surplus value at $4.5 million. You'd like to think the Twins can flip him for at least a decent middle reliever, which they could sorely use. But if such a deal were available, wouldn't they have already made it? Maybe spring developments will create new opportunities but it seems the front office is struggling to find takers for its superfluous lefty corner bat — not exactly a first for them. Signing Michael Kopech Finally, an additive move! The Twins made a play for Framber Valdez, so clearly they've been given the green-light to pursue a somewhat sizable investment as Pohlad pushes for an energy boost. There aren't many places left to spend, as the free-agent market has been picked over, but there's one clear standout atop the relief market. Kopech is hardly a big splash, but he's the last remaining reliever from The Athletic's top-50 big board (he was #50) and really the last chance for Minnesota to make a remotely emphatic addition to its needy bullpen. He's been oft-injured and rarely good, but the 29-year-old righty offers undeniable upside with his bigtime fastball. This is the team's last chance to truly bolster the relief pitching outlook via free agency. Long-term contract for Luke Keaschall or Walker Jenkins This wouldn't really impact the 2026 season, but it would generate some much-needed positive headlines for a Twins team that needs them. Extending young players and even yet-to-debut players on long-term deals has become in-vogue for MLB teams, and tends to be a win/win for both sides. The player secures generational wealth, guaranteed. The club gets price breaks down the line if things to plan, with modest risk on their side. The Twins say they're serious about building from within and getting behind the talent they draft and develop. A move like this would be a statement to back that up. And while it might not make much difference this year, gaining cost control over Keaschall or Jenkins — whom I recently ranked as the two most valuable player assets in the organization — could make greatly improve the front office's ability to add around them in their primes. View the full article

The roster construction of the past few iterations of the Toronto Blue Jays has introduced fans to the reality that the standard of offensive production for position players varies widely based on how useful they are in the field. Beginning in 2023, the front office and coaching staff placed a strong emphasis on team defense, a priority that's still evident throughout today's roster. Daulton Varsho, and Ernie Clement are examples of guys who have been slam-dunk elite defenders every year, so for them to be considered positive contributors, their hitting doesn't have to be as effective as everyone else in the lineup. The state of affairs was problematic a couple of years ago because players like Varsho and Matt Chapman had very little offensive support around them, leading to the failing of an elite pitching staff and a playoff run that was (and long felt) over before it started. Nowadays, it's more practical to have someone like Clement assuming an everyday role because of the offensive firepower up and down the lineup. Any delightful revelations from those who have less pressure on them to deliver at the plate, such as Clement breaking the all-time single-postseason hits record and Varsho clubbing 20 homers in 71 games in 2025, are merely added bonuses. Few players in baseball illustrate this concept better than Andrés Giménez. With virtually no indication that it was coming, the Blue Jays traded for him last offseason, knowing he was a glove-first guy. From 2022-24, only Dansby Swanson was a more valuable defensive infielder than Giménez, according to Statcast. Someone that integral to run prevention at a premium position doesn't need to be an above-average hitter to be considered a good player. Case in point: In 2023, Giménez posted a 96 wRC+ with the Guardians, just a smidge below league-average offensive production. According to Fangraphs, he was still worth 3.8 WAR, enough to make him a top-eight second baseman in the game. Baseball Reference had him at 5.0 WAR. A below-average hitter who was still worth five wins! All else equal, Giménez probably only needs to maintain a wRC+ of 80 or greater to retain the status of a solid contributor at shortstop. There are usually only three to five position players every year who are that unproductive yet take enough at-bats to qualify for all major awards. Here's the bad news: He couldn't even manage to clear that line in his first season with Toronto. Amidst a handful of injury troubles, Giménez registered a 70 wRC+ in 2025. He was more than fine on defense, finishing with 1.0 fWAR in 101 games, but it was still a career-worst offensive season by almost every metric. I don't think Giménez should aim for a wRC+ of 80. That would be selling him a little short. Sure, he's probably the 10th-best hitter on the team as it is, but he also makes a lot of money: $15.6 million this year, and $23.6 million every year from 2027-29 before the Blue Jays get to decide whether they want to exercise a $23 million club option for 2030. His career wRC+ is 98, and he'll likely be here a while. He's not supposed to be a good hitter every year, but can he be just good enough that, inclusive of his defense, he rejoins the conversation of MLB's elite middle infielders? For those who need a refresher on Giménez's career path, it's been a rather peculiar journey for the focal point of the package Cleveland got from the Mets for Francisco Lindor. His first full season at age 23 was a 141 wRC+, 6.0-fWAR masterclass. Again, his defense has remained every bit as good as it was then, but the ensuing years saw him go from an elite hitter to about average to decidedly below-average to the guy we saw last year. His batting average on balls in play (BABIP) trend over that timespan is a whiplash-inducing roller coaster: Andrés Giménez Hitting, 2022-25 Year wRC+ BABIP lg BABIP 2022 141 .353 .290 2023 96 .289 .297 2024 83 .286 .291 2025 70 .239 .291 Giménez got paid after a 2022 season that, especially in hindsight, was a mirage in some ways. Right off the bat, a .353 BABIP for a guy with a low-80s zone contact rate and a barely-above-average line drive rate is a pretty serious red flag. His wOBA exceeded his xwOBA by 32 points that year, while his batting average cleared his xBA by 38. That's enough top-level evidence to suggest regression lies ahead, and it did: His BABIP returned to league norms for the next two seasons, taking his production to about the same level. In 2025, though, the baseball gods decided to curse him with a polar reversal of the BABIP luck he accrued three years before. Giménez doesn't swing fast or hit the ball hard or lay off bad pitches, and his contact ability is mediocre. He'll likely never be someone who can finagle his way to consistent overperformance on balls in play based on his skill set, but a .239 BABIP is far enough in the other direction that we can assume misfortune is at play at first glance. Let's look at some of the underlying numbers to verify that: Andrés Giménez Advanced Hitting, 2022-25 Year Zone Swing% Chase% Zone Contact% Out-of-Zone Contact% LD% PU% Barrel% EV90 Bat Speed 90 2022 70.9% 38.4% 81.2% 61.0% 24.4% 8.0% 6.2% 102.8 2023 71.0% 40.0% 81.6% 63.5% 21.9% 9.3% 5.5% 102.3 73.8 2024 74.6% 37.4% 84.3% 62.4% 24.0% 6.5% 2.8% 101.0 73.7 2025 67.2% 34.6% 81.6% 64.6% 26.2% 5.6% 3.0% 100.8 74.2 The most immediately concerning patterns here are a slow decline in top-end exit velocity and a barrel rate that has yet to match 2022, but as a whole, I don't see anything warranting a ~50-point drop in BABIP from 2024 to 2025. Sure, he made a little less contact on hittable pitches, but he slightly dialed back his free-swinging ways, hit more line drives, and hit fewer popups. Although his profile remains that of a below-average hitter, he didn't deserve the fate that befell him last year. Another quirk about Giménez that my editor, Leo Morgenstern, astutely pointed out in the early stages of preparing this piece: During his first two years in the league, he was basically a platoon-neutral lefty hitter, if not slightly reverse-platoon. Since then, he has suddenly forgotten how to hit lefty pitching: Year wRC+ vs LHP wRC+ vs RHP xwOBA vs LHP xwOBA vs RHP 2022 159 136 .320 .335 2023 100 95 .301 .296 2024 64 90 .268 .313 2025 39 80 .274 .318 His quality of contact (in tandem with his K/BB rate) has notably declined against same-handed pitching throughout the sample, which mostly boils down to increasingly poor swing decisions and suboptimal launch angles of hard-hit balls. Once again, though, the BABIP monster is the driving force. Observe Giménez's BABIP vs LHP from 2022-25: .386, .300, .277, .213. Such a violent shift across both ends of the spectrum figures to even out in some way. One thing that falls under the radar about Giménez's offensive value: He's a machine on the bases. He stole 20 bases during that magical 2022 campaign before stealing 30 each in 2023 and 2024 once the pitch clock came into the picture. I'm not sure we'll see 30 in 2026 because the quad and ankle injuries he suffered brought him down to 65th-percentile sprint speed (as opposed to 94th-percentile in 2022), but I'm sure the Blue Jays would gladly take 20. For all the things their offense did well in 2025, baserunning was not one of them. They were 12th in the AL in baserunning run value per Statcast, and 14th in stolen bases, ahead of only the Tigers. Giménez has what it takes to move them away from the bottom of the pile. The level of offense the Toronto Blue Jays received from Bo Bichette for most of the past half-decade was nothing short of a luxury at the shortstop position. Andrés Giménez won't hit like that, but he's probably going to be better than 2025 would indicate. Some upward regression to the mean appears to be in order based on the trajectory of his career to this point, and that might be all he needs. Between his baserunning and his world-class defense, a below-average offensive output is just fine. A wRC+ around 80 is likely enough to make him a positive contributor overall, and if he gets into the 90s, he'll approach four-win territory if healthy. That would make him a top-10 shortstop in the game, one with a very similar overall impact to Bichette, albeit with a drastically different style of play. FanGraphs' projection systems seem to agree with this outlook: Giménez's average wRC+ forecast for 2026 between their six distinct models is 90. So, then, let us root for a 10%-below-average performance from Giménez at the plate this year. It'll make his wizardry with the glove that much sweeter. View the full article

Relative to other Major League Baseball franchises, the Miami Marlins have a brief and frustrating history. Even so, fans would rather celebrate it than hide from it, and the Marlins have taken steps recently to give the people what they want. That includes the opening of the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame at loanDepot park in 2025. The Marlins use a vague criteria to select their Hall of Famers. As described on the HOF landing page of the team's website, "legends who played a major role in béisbol history" are elected. "Each year, we’ll celebrate former players, coaches, managers, and staff members for their contributions to not just the Marlins organization, but also our South Florida communities," the page continues. The inaugural class of inductees—Luis Castillo, Jeff Conine, Jim Leyland and Jack McKeon—are described as "players and coaches who shaped Marlins history over the years with their memorable plays, legendary leadership, and lasting impact on the game." Fish On First SuperSub @Casey Marika developed his own criteria for discerning which players did enough to distinguish themselves. Focused only on the Marlins portion of each player's career, his "Team Hall of Fame Index" incorporates the following factors: Wins above replacement Longevity & franchise legends All-Star Game appearances Major awards & honors Postseason impact Franchise leaderboards Single-game achievements Peak dominance The index ranks Castillo fourth, with an overall score that places him in the highest tier ("inner-circle Marlins HOF"). Conine is ranked 10th in the "borderline/ballot debate" tier, though that is without accounting for his extensive philanthropic work and contributions to the franchise since retiring as a player. Giancarlo Stanton presumably won't be considered until he hangs up his cleats and Sandy Alcantara is still adding to his Marlins legacy. That leaves Hanley Ramírez, Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, Josh Johnson and Mike Lowell as the index's most deserving individuals. Amusingly, Casey also shared an expanded list of the index's top 150 players. If the Marlins induct two new players every single year through the end of the 21st century, that's the total they would reach. If this franchise is still around in 2099, we can reasonably assume that plenty of new impact players emerged in the interim, supplanting the likes of Wei-Yin Chen, Caleb Smith and José Ureña. Seven active Fish crack the top 150. Any last-minute predictions for who will comprise the class of 2026? View the full article

Upon trading David Sandlin to the Chicago White Sox as part of the Jordan Hicks salary dump, Craig Breslow and the Boston Red Sox effectively wiped their hands clean of all of their vaunted pitching depth in the span of about three months. What was once a 40-man roster littered with pitching prospects scratching and clawing to even get some time in Triple-A is now whittled down to a clear-cut starting five and some limited (but impressive) depth, including Patrick Sandoval, Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, and Kyle Harrison. Alongside Sandlin, the Red Sox have sent the following young arms away in trades this winter: Richard Fitts, Hunter Dobbins, Brandon Clarke, Luis Perales, Blake Aita, and Yhoiker Fajardo. If you can believe it, that's not even an exhaustive list. And, really, this all makes sense when you consider Breslow's background. A 12-year MLB pitcher who won the 2013 World Series with the Red Sox, the current Brezident of baseball operations [I have never been less sorry for a pun] took his first front office role with the Chicago Cubs and Theo Epstein as their Director of Strategic Initiatives for Baseball Operations. That long and unwieldy title meant a lot of things, but chief among his responsibilities was to "support the organization's pitching infrastructure in Player Development and the major leagues." He was soon promoted to the position of Director of Pitching and Special Assistant to the President and General Manager. In other words, he basically took over the Cubs' entire minor league pitching infrastructure. And less than a year later, he was promoted again to Assistant General Manager/Vice President, Pitching. So, yeah, this guy knows a thing or two about pitchers because he's seen a thing or two with pitchers. He's brought that knowledge along with him to Boston, and it's why the team had so many major-league ready or major-league caliber pitchers to deal from. And between Payton Tolle and Connelly Early, they were able to hold onto their best pitching prospects throughout such an extensive period of wheeling-and-dealing. This phenomenon won't be a one-off, either. The Red Sox continue to prioritize pitchers in drafts, including their 2025 class which featured eight hurlers taken within the team's first ten picks. Young, controllable pitchers are the most valuable commodity in baseball, and if Breslow believes he can identify the right talent for the franchise's pitching lab to develop, there will be no shortage of tradeable assets in the future. Perhaps the most telling thing about all of this, though, is that for all their pitching depth and scouting prowess, the Red Sox haven't given their prospects a chance to shine in the majors. They've instead favored established MLB arms, trading for Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, and Johan Oviedo and signing Ranger Suárez in free agency in about a 13-month span. The only homegrown member of the rotation, Brayan Bello, was signed back in 2017 under Dave Dombrowski. Once pitchers like Tolle, Early, and even Kyson Witherspoon establish their big-league bona fides in Boston, that narrative will quiet down. But this strategy of drafting, developing, and trading young pitchers for established MLB talent is an interesting one, lying at the crossroads of Breslow's analytical background and the Sox's big-market tendencies. There's no telling how sustainable it might be, but if it leads to another successful run (or runs) in the postseason, that strategy may just become the standard. View the full article

On Thursday afternoon, the Royals announced that they would be bringing back catcher Luke Maile on a Minor League deal. That also includes an invitation to Spring Training. Maile played in 25 games and had 54 plate appearances with the Royals last year, primarily filling in as the backup catcher after Freddy Fermin was traded to San Diego at the Trade Deadline. The 34-year-old journeyman catcher hit .244 with the Royals and also posted a .316 wOBA, 99 wRC+, and 0.3 fWAR. He was primarily known for his defense with the Royals, especially in the framing department. He was two runs above average in terms of framing runs and sported a +1 FRV in 143 innings behind the plate. On the offensive side, he swung and missed a lot, but he made up for it with a strong walk rate, hard-hit rate, and sweet-spot percentage. That is evident in his TJ Stats summary below. The Royals will have eight catchers in Spring Training camp, which is important given that pitchers and catchers report in five days. It is likely that the Royals will begin the year with Carter Jensen as the backup to Salvador Perez, who will likely be the regular catcher in 2026 after signing a two-year extension this offseason. That said, Maile will provide a veteran presence in Arizona while Perez plays for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. Additionally, Maile could also help Jensen in his adjustment to catching at the Major League level in Perez's absence. Once the season starts, the Royals could promote Maile to the Majors if Perez or Jensen gets hurt (or if Jensen struggles out of the gate and needs time in Omaha to reset). Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images View the full article

The San Diego Padres have signed Miguel Andujar to a one-year, $4 million deal. The once-everyday starter for the New York Yankees no longer has that role, but he still brings a level of hit-ability, arm strength, and grittiness at the plate that San Diego could use as a shot in the arm in certain scenarios. Batting well over .300 for the 2025 season, Andujar will likely fill in as the team's DH or as a top pinch-hitting option. This video breaks down his strengths, weaknesses, and projected role on the team going forward. View the full article

As unveiled on Thursday night, rosters for the 2026 World Baseball Classic include 11 players from the Miami Marlins organization, representing seven different countries. In alphabetical order: Sandy Alcantara (Dominican Republic, second career WBC) Owen Caissie (Canada, second) Yiddi Cappe (Cuba, first) Liam Hicks (Canada, first) Ian Lewis (Great Britain, first) Otto Lopez (Canada, second) Jakob Marsee (Italy, first) Michael Petersen (Great Britain, second) Agustín Ramírez (Dominican Republic, first) Javier Sanoja (Venezuela, first) Jared Serna (Mexico, first) Alcantara is the only Marlins starting pitcher participating this time. He made the Dominican Republic's first start of the tournament in 2023, went 3 ⅔ innings, allowing three runs on five hits, three walks and two strikeouts. The Dominican Republic did not make it past pool play. Ramírez was seemingly on the bubble for the D.R. as they finalized the roster. Although earning a spot on such a talented team at 24 years old is a great accomplishment, he is unlikely to see significant playing time as long as fellow catchers Austin Wells and Yainer Diaz stay healthy. Lopez and Caissie were Canadian teammates in 2023. In their WBC debuts, Lopez slashed .294/.333/.588/.921 with one home run and six RBI in four games. Caissie slashed .231/.286/.462/.748 with one home run and four RBI in three games of action. Canada did not advance in the tournament. Hicks, who was a Rule 5 draft pick last offseason, spent the entire 2025 season on the Marlins major league roster and slashed .247/.346/.346/.693 with six home runs, 45 RBI and a 98 wRC+. Freddie Freeman's decision to withdraw from the tournament made Hicks a easier fit on Canada's roster. He could play a combination of catcher, first base and designated hitter. Cappe, who is 23 years old, played in 62 games last season between High-A Beloit and Double-A Pensacola. He slashed .278/.328/.392/.722 with six home runs, 32 RBI, 29 stolen bases and a 107 wRC+. The Marlins view him mainly as a second baseman, but he does have significant minor league experience at shortstop and third base as well. Marsee in his rookie campaign slashed .292/.363/.478/.842 with five home runs, 33 RBI, 14 stolen bases and a 133 wRC+. He will slot in as the Marlins Opening Day center fielder. Petersen is the only active big leaguer who was born in the United Kingdom. He made one scoreless relief appearance during the 2023 WBC. ZW5MWjZfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0F3TlRVVjFYQlFRQVdscFVVQUFBQmxWUUFBTUVVQVFBQXdaUlV3SUJBUVVHQlFjRg==.mp4 Bahamians like Lewis are eligible for Great Britain as well. The speedy switch-hitter slashed .278/.357/.431/.788 in 73 MiLB games last season. The very versatile Sanoja finished the 2025 season slashing .243/.287/.396/.683 with six home runs, 38 RBI and an 86 wRC+. His second half of 2025 was encouraging, posting a .777 OPS. Five of his six home runs came in the second half, including a two-homer performance against the New York Yankees. Serna is coming off a very disappointing regular season, but dominated in his native Mexico over the winter. Because their countries are in Pool D, Alcantara, Ramírez and Sanoja won't have to travel far during the WBC—all of their games will be at loanDepot park. View the full article

The World Baseball Classic is upon us once again! The last WBC made the event a true global sensation among fans, with some really epic moments (Mike Trout vs. Shohei Ohtani, anyone?) and some introductions to future stars to come to Major League Baseball (like Shota Imanaga and Munataki Murakami). As the nations gear up for the beginning of the sixth iteration of the Classic, we're here to break down how to watch it, and who from the Chicago Cubs will take part in the event. How to watch: If you're interested in solely the games played by the United States team, you'll be in luck (provided you have access), as all games featuring the team will be played on FOX. Not only will FOX host all of the Pool B games involving Team USA, but they will also be the home of the quarterfinals and the championship game, regardless of who's playing in those games. If you'd like to experience the entire tournament, you'll be bouncing around a little more. Between FOX Sports, FS1 and even Tubi, the WBC has many different streaming homes for individual games. You can get a full breakdown on MLB.com by using this link. Which Cubs are set to play in the World Baseball Classic? Matthew Boyd, SP - USA What a cool honor for Matthew Boyd, who has to be riding quite high. Signed to what seemed like an underwhelming two-year pact last offseason, the left-handed pitcher has seen quite the career rebirth over the last 365 days: making the All-Star team in 2025, pitching like the Cubs' rock in the playoffs, and now being selected to wear the red, white and blue. Whether Boyd gets a start or is used as a multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen (as the Cleveland Guardians used the hurler in the 2024 season at times) will have to be seen, but he's going to pitch a few important innings. It's a testament to how hard he's worked and a reminder of how many injuries he's had to endure to get here. Alex Bregman, 3B - USA It's very likely that Alex Bregman will start multiple games for Team USA in the tournament and be a key contributor in the lineup. While it's a bit of a bummer that our first look at the team's new star third baseman will be in a pinestripe-less version of red-white-and-blue, this is a good sneak peak as to what we can expect. It's going to be fun to see one of the best players on the roster be a member of the Cubs over the next half-decade. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF - USA I wonder if Pete Crow-Armstrong is going to be a starter, or simply a weapon off the bench to best utilize his glove and speed. Regardless, he's going to bring an air of excitement when he gets into any game. Sure, the young outfielder may strike out, but he's capable of creating pure electricity on the baseball field. While it's unlikely that he's going to carry the team in any capacity, it wouldn't be surprising if he ended up being a memorable and vital member of the roster. Seiya Suzuki, OF - Japan Seiya Suzuki won't be the most notable Japanese hitter on the roster, with the looming shadow of Ohtani looming over every moment Samurai Japan is on the field, but he should provide important protection for the Japanese superstar. Whether he's hitting just in front of or just behind him, Suzuki should be a mainstay in the Japanese lineup. With Japan offering one of the deepest rosters as well as being the defending champions, there's a good chance that Suzuki will meet his teammates in the quarterfinals or the championship game, setting up a pretty fun competition between them. Unlike in 2023, though, the Cubs' outfielder will not be joined by Shota Imanaga on the roster, who instead will stick with the Cubs in Arizona. (Suzuki himself missed out last time, due to an oblique strain. He's surely excited to get to participate this time around.) Jameson Taillon, SP - Canada Jameson Taillon has dual citizenship due to his parents, and while he likely wasn't going to crack a stacked American roster, he will be one of the best pitchers on the Canadian roster. Taillon has been a steady player for the Cubs, and getting a chance to shine on the world stage like this will be great for him entering the final year of his current deal with the North Siders. It's likely Team Canada will feature a few former Cubs as well, with Owen Caissie and Michael Soroka both having Canadian citizenship. That makes the Canadians a fun secondary watch for Cubs fans. Daniel Palencia, RP - Venezuela Daniel Palencia started the year in Triple-A Iowa, but finished the season as the Cubs' de facto fireman in the playoffs, being tasked with coming in to get the most important parts of the lineup (especially in the three-game-set with San Diego during the Wild Card series). He has used a great 2025 season to spingboard to being the favorite for saves in Chicago, and an important part of the Venezuelan bullpen. This will be a deep team, with other MLB stars such as Salvador Perez, Ronald Acuña Jr, and Maikel García all set to join Palencia. It wouldn't be that crazy if Venezuela ended up winning the whole thing, and it may just be the Cubs' relief ace recording the final outs. Historically, Team Venezuela has underachieved in the tournament, and they're desperate to change that this time. BJ Murray Jr., INF - Great Britain While BJ Murray Jr. isn't the biggest of names on this list, the Cubs farmhand will represent Team Great Britain during the Classic. Born in the Bahamas, Murray holds British citizenship. The British lineup isn't very deep, so even though Murray hasn't been on the upswing in the minor leagues, he should feature some for the team. Maybe a good showing will lead into a breakout season for the once-promising late-round pick. (Here's hoping the Brits also make a good showing, by outfitting the team with better uniforms this time.) Other players who may play: Not all rosters have been announced yet, but it's likely that Javier Assad will make Team México (also known as Novena Méxicana (the Mexican Nine)). Assad pitched for his native country in 2023, which boosted his career with the Cubs as the pitcher showed increased velocity in an impressive run. While Assad missed much of 2025, a good step to getting back to his previous form would be having a nice start (or two) during the WBC. Do you think these players are good selections to their respective rosters? Is someone missing? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

The Seidler family will begin to accept initial bids for a sale of the San Diego Padres by the end of February, according to a report on Feb. 5 by The Athletic. This comes on the heels of a settlement in a legal battle between the widow of late owner Peter Seidler and two of his brothers. Peter Seidler died in November 2023. Among the top candidates mentioned in the report is Joe Lacob, owner of the NBA's Golden State Warriors and WNBA's Golden State Valkyries. Lacob has previously pursued purchasing the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels and the A's when they were in Oakland. Sportico reported Wednesday that two owners of English Premier League soccer teams have shown interest in the Padres. Dan Friedkin has ownership of Everton and AS Roma through his Pursuit Sports and Jose E. Feliciano is part of the Chelsea group through Clearlake Capital. The Athletic said the Padres, who were valued last year at $1.9 billion, were seeking a sale price of close to $3 billion, which would surpass the MLB record of $2.42 billion set when Steve Cohen purchased the New York Mets in 2020. View the full article

The Brewers have had a litany of pitching talent for a while, and 2026 is going to be no exception. In this video, we break down the prospect profiles of Brandon Sproat, Logan Henderson, Bishop Letson, JD Thompson, and 19-year-old Bryce Meccage, who breaks into the top five rankings. Who will be up soon, and what strengths do each of these farmhands have? We dive into it all on Brewer Fanatic. View the full article

Emmanuel Rodriguez has had plenty of bad luck over the years with his injury history, but if he remains healthy for most of 2026, then he will be the most important prospect for this upcoming season. His strike zone judgement surpasses anyone else in the organization, and if that is added into the Twins lineup this season, then it can change the Twins' course within the AL Central. View the full article