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NOTE: This is a work of satire. Nothing "reported" here is factual, other than what is linked. Please enjoy. Savannah, GA — Ahead of the Banana Ball Championship League's inaugural 60-game season in 2026, the first-ever Banana Ball Player Draft was held earlier this week. As most industry experts and Banana Peelers (i.e., MLB insiders but for the BBCL) expected, the Indianapolis Clowns selected World Series champion and former Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. first overall. Despite being a shoo-in for the top draft spot, sources say that the Clowns' pick wasn't without some internal controversy. The Red Sox, seeking an eighth MLB-caliber outfielder to complete their "double-logjam", apparently were willing to go to extreme lengths to bring Bradley back to Fenway Park. "I won't go into the specifics, but we were close," Red Sox's president of baseball operations Craig Breslow said about his trade negotiations with the Clowns' front office. "They drove a hard bargain. Contrary to what their name says, negotiating with that team is no joke." Of course, in Major League Baseball, draft picks beyond those awarded in Competitive Balance Rounds cannot be traded. However, according to a Generative AI program trained exclusively on Keeping Up with the Kardashians episodes, that same stipulation doesn't apply to MLB teams trying to trade with Banana Ball teams. "Sure, whatever. I didn't punish the Astros after they cheated in 2017. You think I'm going to stop Brez from trading Roman Anthony for [2024 Banana Ball MVP] DR Meadows?" MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said when asked about the legality of the attempted blockbuster. As far as Bradley is concerned, he's happy the Clowns held onto the pick and drafted him, making him the first-ever former MLB player to join the league full time. He originally made a cameo appearance in the league for the Savannah Bananas, alongside fellow Red sox alumnus Johnny Damon, back in July. "I feel like this was another opportunity to not only the league, but to be able to help the people behind me to ... hopefully, catapult other African American ballplayers to want to play the game," Bradley told ESPN. Originally an exhibition team in the Negro Leagues, the Clowns have a rich history that includes employing Hank Aaron and various professional women ballplayers, such as Toni Stone and Connie Morgan. They went defunct in 1989 after an initial 64-year run, but, with the blessing of Bob Kendrick (president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum), they will return to the diamond once more in 2026 as part of the Banana Ball Championship League's first full-fledged season. Bradley, of course, is a Boston icon. He was an All-Star in 2016 and a Gold Glove winner in 2018, the latter season proving to be the high-water mark for his tenure in Beantown. That year, the team won the World Series, and Bradley played postseason hero in the ALCS. At the time of publishing, the veracity of reports detailing the trade packages offered for the first overall pick cannot be confirmed. However, Talk Sox can exclusively report that the Red Sox were willing to include Payton Tolle and the rights to Steve Pearce's World Series MVP Award in various offers. View the full article

On Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the Royals were one of the interested teams in utility player Brendan Donovan. Donovan has proven to be a solid player for the Cardinals in his four seasons in the Majors. In 492 games, he has a career slash of .282/.361/.411 with a .772 OPS. In 2025, he slashed .283/.353/.422 with a .775 OPS. Donovan also hit 10 home runs, scored 64 runs, and collected 50 RBI. Even though he produced a -1 OAA and -1 FRV last year in terms of defensive metrics, according to Savant, the 28-year-old primarily played left field and second base, two positions that need improvement in 2026. Donovan doesn't flash big-time home run power, but he squares up the ball well and demonstrates strong plate discipline, according to Statcast data via TJ Stats. The Cardinals likely would be interested in acquiring starting pitching from Kansas City in exchange for Donovan. Last year, St. Louis ranked 25th in starting pitcher ERA, 22nd in SP WHIP, and 29th in SP K/9. They also don't have much proven pitching in the rotation beyond Sonny Gray, though Matthew Liberatore showed some improvement in 2025 (4.21 ERA in 151.2 IP). It's been reported that multiple teams are interested in Kris Bubic, who missed most of the second half due to a rotator cuff injury but should be ready for Opening Day in 2026. The Cardinals could be one of those teams, and they may be interested in signing Bubic long-term if acquired. It's unlikely Bubic alone would net Donovan. However, the Royals could also throw in prospects from positions of depth, which include pitching and catching. Ben Kudrna pitched in Triple-A and has a better chance to break into the Cardinals' rotation this spring than the Royals'. Blake Mitchell is coming off a strong finish in the Arizona Fall League and could be expendable after a breakout season by Carter Jensen, who was called up when rosters expanded in September. If the Royals aren't willing to move Mitchell, they could offer Ramon Ramirez, a slugging catching prospect who primarily played in Low-A Columbia in 2025. Photo Credit: © Eakin Howard-Imagn Images View the full article

Royce Lewis showed signs of his old self in the second half of 2025. He still has a ways to go to be back to where he was in 2023, but he's at least turning in the right direction. How can he maintain the progression to be one of the Twins' most reliable bats in the lineup? View the full article

Assuming the Twins have their eyes set on competing in 2026, they're probably four or five relievers away from having a shot. It's a peculiar place for this regime to be, as their budget is likely limited and they've rarely invested in bullpen arms. The front office will be looking for affordable upside. Though they may not be shopping at the top of the free agent pile, plenty of names stand out as potential targets. Jordan Romano Romano is two seasons removed from being an effective reliever, but he's shown enough to earn another bounce-back opportunity in 2026. There's no sugarcoating his 6+ ERA in just under 60 innings pitched since 2023, but the Twins may be able to squint and see a path to Romano returning to his dominant ways. Romano's slider remains a dominant offering, and the pitch helped him maintain respectable strikeout and whiff rates. His fastball has been the problem: he's lost a tick of velocity, and his heater has been crushed. Being a two-pitch pitcher, Romano will either have to get that velocity back at age 33 or make a fundamental change in how he throws his fastball. The Twins could help him with this, and the two parties can match up on a mutually beneficial bounce-back deal. If it pays off, Romano may earn himself another contract, and the Twins can get a high-end reliever at a bargain price. Taylor Rogers A Taylor Rogers reunion makes too much sense. The Twins could use an experienced left-handed reliever, and Rogers could benefit from a return to his roots. Rogers has been solid since leaving Minnesota, but has lost some of the dominance we were accustomed to. He's lost two miles per hour in fastball velocity, which may cap his ceiling. The reliance on his sinker to combat this loss of velocity has led to fewer swings and misses, but Rogers has continued to get outs and avoid the longball. He’s thrown 226 innings since the Twins dealt him in 2022, posting a 3.61 ERA and supporting peripherals. At the right price, anything resembling those numbers would provide a massive boost. While the Twins need high-end relief help, Rogers doesn't necessarily need to fill that need in 2026. Adding him to fill the primary left-handed relief role would be valuable and likely affordable. He's still a plenty effective relief arm, and his experience and leadership may bring plenty of intangible value to a Twins bullpen that will likely require all the help they can get. Ryne Stanek The ship may have sailed on the 34-year-old Stanek making a much-needed adjustment to his pitch mix, but the Twins could give it a shot for minimal risk. His fastball still averaged 98.5 mph in 2025, but he appeared to have leaned on it too much, and that, paired with an ugly walk rate, led to an ERA over 5 with the Mets last season. Stanek has a dominant slider and an effective splitter in his repertoire, and it's worth wondering whether these secondary pitches should be his bread and butter, despite the velocity of his fastball. His pitch mix lends itself well to being able to retire hitters on both sides of the plate, and his raw stuff could be worth gambling on even after years of failing to break out fully. At the very least, it's easy to see a path to a secondary setup man role, which he's filled at times throughout his career. The names may not be exciting, but the Twins will likely have to shop in this tier of free agency to fill the many needs in their bullpen. Are there any under-the-radar relievers you'd like to see them target in free agency? Let us know below! View the full article

One year ago, the Twins made David Popkins their sacrificial lamb, hoping that a new voice of leadership for the hitting group could help reverse and offensive collapse that sank their 2024 season. It didn't work. Popkins went on to Toronto and enjoyed remarkable success with the AL Champion Blue Jays, while the Twins brought in Matt Borgschulte and watched basically all of their negative trends in the lineup worsen. One year later, Borgschulte is out and the Twins have brought in a new hitting coach. Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune reported on Thursday that the Twins are hiring Keith Beauregard to take over the head role, with assistants Trevor Amicone and Rayden Sierra remaining in place. Unlike Borgschulte and Shelton, not to mention apparent bench-coach frontrunner James Rowson, Beauregard is a true organizational outsider rather than a retread. But one trait shared by all of these names is a background and specialization in hitting instruction, signifying the front office's effort to fundamentally reshape this aspect of their club. Here's a deeper look at the journey that brought Beauregard to this point, and what he brings to the table as Minnesota's new head hitting coach. Keith Beauregard's History in Baseball Born on May 15th, 1983, Beauregard was a successful college baseball player at Saint Anselm in New Hampshire. He spent a few years playing independent ball, dabbled in real estate for a bit, and then was drawn back to the game, joining the staff at University of Massachusetts-Lowell as a hitting coach in 2011. In two seasons, he distinguished himself to gain the notice of Santa Clara University, which hired him to their staff as an assistant in 2012. “Keith Beauregard will be missed,” said UMass Lowell head coach Ken Harring at the time. “He has a knowledge, passion and energy for the game of baseball that you can't teach. His goal of becoming a full time coach came true and it is well deserved.” In 2019, Beauregard took another step forward, reaching the pro baseball ranks by joining the Los Angeles Dodgers system as a hitting coach in the low minors. His role in the Dodgers organization grew until he was hired by the Detroit Tigers as an assistant hitting coach in 2022. After the 2025 season, the Tigers parted ways with Beauregard, making him available for the Twins. Parallels to David Popkins You don't have to squint to see the shades of Popkins in this hire. Both were total outsiders with no previous connection to the Twins organization, and both got their start as professional coaches in the Dodgers farm system (where they "worked alongside" one another). Both of these guys were, and are, considered emergent instructional talents. There are also some less-positive parallels, which may offer insight. Popkins was fired by the Twins in 2024 after a second-half collapse that saw Minnesota spiral out of playoff contention behind an anemic offense. Beauregard just departed from Detroit under starkly similar circumstances; although the Tigers made the playoff this year, they fumbled a surefire division title with a 28-37 post-break record, as their team OPS dropped by 50 points from the first half. "Not a big surprise that someone would have to take some heat for the Tigers hitting performance in the second half of the season," wrote Brandon Day on the Tigers blog Bless You Boys. "Beauregard probably just drew the short straw in that regard." We've seen with Popkins the kind of success a scapegoated, previously ascendant coaching talent can immediately experience with a change of scenery, and the Twins are hoping for the exact same outcome here. Notable Success Stories for Keith Beauregard It's difficult if not impossible to quantify or specifically measure the impact of coach, particularly an assistant hitting coach, on a player's success. But Beauregard does have his name attached to some notable development wins, including a familiar name. In 2023, as James Outman embarked on what would prove to be an excellent rookie season for the Dodgers, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times wrote about the ingredients in his rise from a unheralded seventh-round draft pick to a major-leaguer. Beauregard was part of the minor-league development staff that helped rebuild his "Caveman-like" swing, introducing an unorthodox method. "[Outman] added a front leg kick to hone his timing and flattened what had been a strikeout-prone bat path — common staples of many Dodgers swing-change plans," Harris wrote. "He also trained his front side to remain more stable and closed off. And he even embraced some unusual tactics from former minor league hitting instructor Keith Beauregard (now the hitting coach of the Detroit Tigers) to improve his coordination with his weaker left hand — a crucial component of his left-handed swing." The unusual tactic in question? Coloring books. "Keith was saying, you got to learn to develop special skills with your left hand,” said Dodgers hitting consultant Craig Wallenbrock. “So he bought him a bunch of coloring books and crayons, and told him to start coloring in between the lines, keep it fine tuned.” Outman is a pertinent example since he's likely to be on the Twins roster next year, albeit not a crucial piece. Beauregard's tenure in Detroit might be more meaningful in terms of his desired impact here in Minnesota. His offseason work with Tigers hitters is credited with helping lineup cornerstones like Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter break through. I don't know what it will take to get key Twins hitters like Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee and Matt Wallner on track. But I hope Beauregard will have some fresh ideas. If not coloring books, at least he brings a blank slate. View the full article

We're looking for contributors to write Royals content over the offseason! First, feel free to reach out via email at brock.beauchamp@royalskeep.com or reply to this article. Writing Articles If you’ve ever wanted an audience for your Royals takes, this is the perfect place. While we generally lean into analytics and analysis, we also take a “come as you are” approach to baseball and give writers a lot of leeway to write about the game in a way that interests them. That could manifest in historical pieces, previews, or regular series. It’s a matter of finding your niche in the fandom and carving out a space for it. Making Videos We're also looking for videographers! Most of our content is on the shorter side (3-7 minutes), though we have space for plenty of different formats and ideas. Like the writing side of the site, we usually lean into analytics, but it's not the only path we're open to exploring. It is also noteworthy that we pay our content creators. It’s certainly not enough to quit your day job. So don’t do that. However, it might be enough to show that we value your time, talent, and effort. If you know someone who might be interested in creating Royals content as a side job, please share this with them! View the full article

With Luis Arraez set to depart in free agency, the San Diego Padres will need a new first baseman in 2026. The first base market this offseason should be very active, so there will be plenty of opportunities to replace light-hitting Arraez. Here are the five best fits. 1. Cody Bellinger Obviously, Bellinger would cost a lot of money, and it's still not clear exactly how much the Padres are going to be willing to spend this year. However, a player like Bellinger makes too much sense for San Diego. He's a high-risk, high-reward type of player with all kinds of talent—exactly the type of player AJ Preller likes to target. Bellinger is versatile. He played mostly in the outfield for the Yankees last year, but he can play first base at a solid level as well, and in this case, that's where the Padres would need him more. The trouble with Bellinger is that the Padres, essentially, would have to buy high on the 30-year-old, which is probably a mistake given the peaks and valleys of his career. On the other hand, Bellinger has not had a legitimately bad season since leaving the Dodgers after 2022. He's been worth 12 bWAR from 2023-25, with a 125 OPS+ and good defense (12 Defensive Runs Saved this past season). There's a floor worth believing in, especially if his ceiling remains anywhere near his MVP level in 2019. 2. Pete Alonso Alonso might be even more far-fetched of an idea than Bellinger simply because of how much he'd cost, but you can't convince me that Alonso would not be the best option from a pure skill perspective. The Padres need more power in their lineup. They were below average in 2024 and got even worse at hitting for power in 2025. Enter Alonso, who has arguably been the game's most consistent power hitter that doesn't own multiple MVPs. Bringing him in would immediately inject 35+ home runs into the San Diego lineup. For what it's worth, Alonso has actually been very consistent on a year-to-year basis. While he does occasionally enter slumps that lower his numbers, the Polar Bear has never seen his OPS+ dip below 122. That is impressive for a guy who has played seven years in the big leagues. Why would the Padres not want to sign a guy like Alonso, who has been consistent and is elite at the one thing the Padres have been missing in their lineup for the past few years? Likely, they'd be deterred by the length Alonso is looking for. It was reported that Alonso is looking for a long-term deal around seven years in length. That would pay Alonso through his age-37 season. San Diego simply can not afford to get hooked on another long-term contract. It already looks like Xander Bogaerts is a bust, and Manny Machado is going to slow down at some point. The juice may just not be worth the squeeze here. 3. Josh Naylor Naylor is sort of the antithesis to Arraez; where the latter has shortcomings and is more of a one-dimensional player, Naylor is much more of a complete hitter. Naylor, for example, is (much) better at hitting for power. Naylor is better at baserunning and base stealing. He's a better defender, and he has better plate discipline. The only thing that Arraez does better than Naylor is his insane ability to make contact on nearly every ball thrown to him. A good trait, but Naylor is the better overall player, and Naylor absolutely shone in the postseason with the Mariners. Naylor also makes more sense financially than either Alonso or Bellinger. He's likely going to end up with a three-to-five-year deal at around $15 million per season, which is affordable for San Diego. My favorite Josh Naylor stat is that he stole 30 bases in 2025 despite being in the third percentile for sprint speed. Sometimes, Josh Naylor does not make sense. Sometimes, baseball does not make sense. 4. Munetaka Murakami Murakami is listed as a third baseman, but it sounds like his third base defense leaves a lot to be desired. That means he has future first baseman written all over him. Again, this probably depends on where his market lands. How much are the Dodgers willing to pay? How much would a team like Seattle be willing to pay, as they are set to lose both their first baseman and third baseman to free agency? Murakami might be one of the hottest commodities on the market this offseason. Or, he might not. Perhaps the Dodgers decide they are okay with Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman at the infield corners. Perhaps the Mariners pivot to internal options at third base while re-signing Naylor to play first base. Maybe Murakami's poor defense weighs down his market, and suddenly, he is a relatively cheap option for San Diego. Or maybe I'm just hoping for what can never be. Murakami was an excellent player in the NPB, with a .951 OPS across eight seasons there. And he won't even turn 26 until February. Murakami has the potential to be the next great Asian-born player to come to the United States and absolutely tear the league up. However, there is probably also a scenario where the game catches up to him in the States, and he never reaches the same dominant peak that he has reached in Japan. The risk here is high, but the reward could be astronomical. 5. Ryan O'Hearn O'Hearn could definitely be slated for a return to the Padres. After trading for him at the deadline in 2025, O'Hearn did slump a bit, but he finished the season strong. He is coming off a 2.4 bWAR season in '25, and a 2.0 bWAR season '24. The last time his OPS+ was below 100 was in 2022. Simply put, O'Hearn has been a good hitter for a while now. At the same time, he should be considered more of a platoon bat than a full-time starter. O'Hearn struggles against left-handed pitching, so much so that the Orioles did not trust him to start against southpaws. That means having to carry a second first baseman on the roster, which might not be ideal. At the same time, O'Hearn is a good player, and he might fly under the radar this offseason with so many other big names at first base and DH. He's already been in San Diego, and he likely would not cost all that much to bring back. It's certainly more of a Plan B than any of the Plan A's above, but there is sense to keeping tabs on O'Hearn's market this winter. View the full article

Considering some of the visible shortcomings on offense and defense, A.J. Preller and the San Diego Padres should be fairly busy fortifying their roster this winter. However, there is no area of the organization more in need at present than that of the starting pitching group. Heading into the offseason, it was an objective truth that the team would need to address the front end of their starting five. With Dylan Cease set to hit free agency and Michael King following suit via his declining of a mutual option, that left a void in the available upside in the rotation. The news that Yu Darvish would miss all of 2026 after undergoing elbow surgery only further exacerbated the need to add on that front. As of this writing, the Padres have only five starters on their 40-man roster (Darvish notwithstanding): Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove, JP Sears, Matt Waldron, and Randy Vásquez. Of that quintet of arms, only Pivetta appears to be a reliable entity ahead of the 2026 campaign. Musgrove may return early but is also coming back from Tommy John surgery, leaving not only his effectiveness but his volume in some question until he settles back into a usual groove. Each of Sears and Waldron struggled in a small sample for the Padres in '25, while Vásquez's issues with walks limit his upside to a No. 5 starter. It's not a terribly inspiring group and becomes even less so when you consider that Pivetta is due for at least some regression after a career season. With that, we know the Padres will be active in attempting to add to their rotation. But while it's difficult, if not entirely impossible, to overestimate someone with the aggression of A.J. Preller, the path toward making impactful addition seems rather difficult, even if the volume of options is abundant, On the free-agent market, you'll find names like Cease, King, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, and Brandon Woodruff, among others. Those that have been mentioned as trade candidates (to varying degrees) include Tarik Skubal, Hunter Greene, Freddy Peralta, and now Kodai Senga. In short, there are a number of roads down which Preller and the Padres could travel in order to bolster the front portion of their rotation. But how feasible is each? The Padres will have money to spend given the impending offseason departures of Cease, King, Robert Suárez, and Luis Arráez. They're coming off a season in which they ran a roughly $211 million payroll, about $40 million more than they carried the previous year. Sans additions and arbitration raises, they're at about $190 million as a projected payroll figure for '26. So, there's some flexibility there considering where they've run payroll in previous seasons. But, when one considers the effort to get that payroll down in the first place, is ownership going to feel compelled to add one of the names on the free-agent market given the associated cost? The cheapest projected deal of the free agents listed above is Woodruff, at a three-year, $66 million contract. That's still a sizable addition to the payroll, and that's for a veteran pitcher with a laundry list of injury issues who is tied to the qualifying offer. It remains to be seen how willing ownership would be to invest too heavily in such a contact, even with some of the freed up cash from imminent departures. One has to imagine, though, that an impact addition remains more likely via that route than a trade. While there are some super intriguing names floating out in the rumor mill ether, we have to remember that the Padres are sporting a fairly barren farm system in comparison to practically all other teams. The last MLB Pipeline farm system rankings stuck the Padres dead last among the 30 teams, which is hardly a surprise given Preller's continued aggression. But with so many of the prospects even in their top 30 still at the lower levels of the minors, it's very much a system that lacks the juice to execute a move for the needed upside in this rotation. Starting pitching comes at a premium cost, after all. Even Preller might find it difficult to move on someone he wants considering the other teams in need of rotation help. With that in mind, it's hard to see a clear path toward such an acquisition this winter. Obviously, if ownership is willing to put forth the money to be active in free agency, then some optimism can begin to manifest. In the meantime, though, a more likely route looks to be a volume approach in which they pursue more mid-tier arms and hope Ruben Niebla can work his magic. Again, we can't underestimate the Preller factor in all of this. But confronting the size of the need, which is massive, with the on-paper likelihood of effectively addressing said need... it just isn't a terribly rosy prospect in San Diego at the moment. View the full article

The Arizona Fall League has concluded, and the Toronto Blue Jays had several representatives who participated in the campaign. The league has six teams, and every MLB team sends at least seven top prospects to its affiliated club. The Blue Jays' prospects played for the Glendale Desert Dogs, who finished 11-16 and were eliminated during the play-in round of the playoffs. The AFL is, unofficially, the culmination of the minor league season, allowing teams to assess how their prospects perform against high-level competition. Thirty-three of the 80 players in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game once played in the AFL, with 10 of the 20 players in the starting lineups among them. Here's how the Blue Jays' prospects performed this year. *All prospect rankings from Jays Centre and MLB Pipeline Josh Kasevich - SS (JC No. 11, MLB Pipeline No. 12 prospect) Kasevich finished the 2024 season in Triple-A Buffalo, hitting .325/.382/.433 with a .815 OPS in 173 plate appearances for the affiliate. He likely held hopes of an MLB in 2025, but he aggravated a preexisting lower back injury, causing him to miss a majority of the season. His rehab stints in the rookie and Single-A affiliates were successful, as he hit a combined .368/.478/.395 with an .873 OPS. Yet, after being activated from the 60-day injury list on August 15, Kasevich struggled in his Triple-A Buffalo return, slashing .173/.272/.184 with a .456 OPS in 114 plate appearances. The Jays Centre No. 11 prospect performed slightly better in the AFL, where he hit .255/.419/.255 with a .674 OPS and drew 17 walks compared to 11 strikeouts in 74 plate appearances. His .327 weighted on-base average (wOBA), an advanced metric that measures a hitter's total offensive value, ranked in the 36th percentile among all hitters in the AFL, meaning it was lower than that of most players in the league. Despite a 92.4 mph average exit velocity — ranked in the 80th percentile, indicating above-average power off the bat — his strength and discipline at the plate have not yet translated to home run power. Kasevich is eligible for this winter's Rule 5 draft, which means that to protect him, the Blue Jays would need to add him to the 40-man roster. His injury likely complicates that decision and will presumably keep him off the roster. Even though his in-game power production is low, his on-base and defensive skills at a prime position could increase his chances of being selected by another team. That said, if he doesn't get selected and the Blue Jays don't re-sign Bo Bichette this offseason, Kasevich may have a shot at making his MLB debut in 2026. Cutter Coffey - 3B (MLB Pipeline No. 27 prospect) Coffey came over in the trade package that sent Danny Jansen to the Boston Red Sox at the 2024 trade deadline. He struggled with High-A Vancouver after the trade, hitting .185/.309/.272 with a .581 OPS. He spent this season still in High-A, but had far more success (.273/.359/.427 with .786 OPS). His 11 home runs, 68 runs, and 62 knocked in over 440 plate appearances earned him the Canadians' Offensive Player of the Year Award. Coffey has drawn comparisons to a right-handed Addison Barger from within the organization. The 21-year-old was one of the top performers in the AFL. He slashed .354/.447/.462 with a .909 OPS and a .404 wOBA. This wOBA placed him in the 77th percentile among AFL players (meaning he performed better than 77% of them). However, his .108 isolated power (ISO, a measure of raw power) was slightly below average, at the 43rd percentile, and his 86.5 mph average exit velocity (23rd percentile) was among the lowest in the AFL. He's not eligible for the Rule 5 draft until the 2026 offseason, which means he will continue to develop his skills in the minors. He doesn't need to be added to the 40-man roster until next winter. With his success this season in High A, Coffey may start next season with Double-A New Hampshire. Edward Duran - C (MLB Pipeline No. 13 prospect) Duran came over at the 2022 trade deadline in a package that also included Anthony Bass and Zach Pop, which the Blue Jays received in exchange for sending Jordan Groshans to the Miami Marlins. His skill set is described as that of a defense-first catcher and a contact hitter. Over his five minor league seasons, he has never hit more than eight home runs, which he achieved this season across a combined 431 plate appearances in Single and High A. Duran struggled in the AFL, hitting .152/.263/.394 with a .657 OPS over 38 plate appearances. His .242 isolated power (ISO) ranked in the 87th percentile among AFL hitters, higher than that of any of his fellow Blue Jays prospects. However, the catcher's .286 wOBA (26th percentile) and his 83.5 mph average exit velocity (20th percentile) ranked among the lowest in the league, underscoring his offensive struggles compared to his peers. Duran is Rule 5 eligible this winter, but it's unlikely that he will be protected (by being added to the 40-man roster) or selected in the draft. Alex Amalfi - RHP Amalfi spent his first three seasons in the minor leagues in Single-A and High-A affiliates, where he started five of the 64 games he pitched in. He continued in the bullpen this season with Double-A New Hampshire before getting moved to the starting rotation in August. He posted a combined 4.41 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 100:47 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 87 2/3 innings, but he was slightly more successful as a starter, posting a 3.86 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 11 starts. The right-hander was likely sent to the AFL to get more starts against tougher competition, but he struggled in his five AFL outings, posting a 9.95 ERA, 2.37 WHIP, and allowing batters to hit .321 off of him. His 8.8 percent strikeout percentage, which ranked in the fifth percentile, and 19.1 percent walk percentage (27th percentile) ranked among the worst marks in the league, indicating below-average strikeout ability and worse-than-average control compared to his peers. Amalfi is Rule 5 eligible this winter, but his lack of recent success will likely keep him from being selected. Angel Bastardo - RHP (MLB Pipeline No. 29 prospect) Bastardo, a Rule 5 draft pick by the Blue Jays in 2024, missed 2025 after Tommy John surgery. Before his injury, he posted a 4.76 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and a 357:145 strikeout-to-walk ratio over five minor league seasons. Though added to the AFL roster to get some work this year, he did not pitch. Due to his Rule 5 status and time on the injured list, he must be active for the Jays for at least 90 days in 2026 or be offered back to the Red Sox. Kai Peterson - LHP Peterson has only played two minor league seasons, but he excelled this year. In High A, he had a 2.74 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 42 23/3 innings in relief. He earned a promotion to Double A on August 14. However, his success didn't translate. He only threw 7 2/3 innings, but had a 4.70 ERA and 2.09 WHIP. His addition to the AFL roster was likely to provide him with more experience against tougher competition. The 23-year-old continued to struggle in the AFL. He threw 7 1/3 innings, posting a 7.59 ERA and 2.18 WHIP, allowing batters to hit .276 off of him. Peterson struggled with control, walking eight batters. He is considered an off-speed pitcher, primarily throwing a changeup, slider, and sinker; however, his maximum velocity of 93.3 mph (14th percentile) was one of the slowest in the AFL. He becomes Rule 5 eligible after the 2026 season, so the Blue Jays have another season to evaluate their young lefty. Yondrei Rojas - RHP Rojas struggled from 2022 through 2024 at the rookie level and in Single A. He never posted an ERA under 4.30. However, he flipped a switch this season and was outstanding. He had his best season as a minor leaguer in 2025 while in High A and Double A. The righty posted a 1.43 ERA combined between the two levels across 37 2/3 innings with a 0.88 WHIP, a 47:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a .167 opponents’ batting average. Rojas became one of the Blue Jays' more notable pitching prospects during the season. However, in his first time facing tougher competition in the AFL, Rojas struggled. He pitched 2 1/3 innings, posting a 30.86 ERA with a 2:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 3.00 WHIP, allowing hitters to bat .385 off him. The righty is Rule 5 eligible and would have likely been added to the 40-man roster to be protected if it weren’t for his poor AFL performance. His dominant minor league stats may still appeal to teams, but his AFL struggles provide essential context for his (lack of) readiness. Chay Yeager - RHP Yeager thrived in High A this season, posting a 1.77 ERA with a 43:13 strikeout-to-walk ratio while holding batters to a .126 average against him over 35 2/3 innings. His promotion to Double A was less successful, as he posted a 4.50 ERA and was hit harder, allowing a .269 batting average against him. However, he still maintained an impressive 21:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His struggles carried over to the AFL, where he has posted a 9.00 ERA over nine innings. His control was an issue, as shown by his 7:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and he allowed three home runs. His strikeout rate (22nd percentile) and walk rate (45th percentile, about league average) were on the lower end of the league ranks. However, his 98.1 mph max velocity ranked among the fastest in the AFL. He becomes Rule 5 eligible after the 2026 season. View the full article

Ian Happ is so much more than just the longest-tenured member of the Chicago Cubs. He's now a four-time reigning Gold Glover in left field, a remarkable achievement considering the team had no idea where to put him for the first five seasons of his career. He's also got a career 116 wRC+ and 20.6 fWAR to his name, not to mention a few clutch postseason hits that span across the last relevant Cubs core and this one. In a vacuum, Happ is one of the most consistent players in the sport. He's been above average at the plate without fail, posting a wRC+ figure between 106 and 132 in every season of his career. Narrow the scope to just the last four seasons, and that margin becomes impossibly thin; Happ's wRC+ hasn't fluctuated more than six points since the start of 2022, sitting between 116 and 122. He's also been worth a reliable amount of WAR in that span, contributing between 2.8fWAR and 3.7fWAR to the cause every season. On the surface, he's as dependable as it gets. He plays 150-plus games per campaign—a mark he hasn't fallen below since 2021, when he played in 148 contests. He walks a ton, working a 13.2% free pass rate since 2023. He plays quality defense in left field. He's no superstar, but he's the kind of franchise "glue guy" that puts in the work and gets the job done on an annual basis, no questions asked. Except, if you know anything about Happ, you know he's really one of the streakiest hitters in the sport. On just a month-to-month basis in 2025, his performance looks like what the main character would achieve in a C-student's high school interpretation of Jekyll and Hyde on a baseball diamond: March/April: .722 OPS, 108 wRC+ May: .684 OPS, 98 wRC+ June: .779 OPS, 115 wRC+ July: .638 OPS, 86 wRC+ August: .835 OPS, 134 wRC+ September: .892 OPS, 148 wRC+ October (Postseason): .490 OPS, 31 wRC+ If you were to get even more granular and take a look back at his individual games and series, the contrast would be even more stark and unnerving. Seriously, go and look through North Side Baseball's repository of Happ-related articles—it won't take long before you find two diametrically-opposed pieces using equally-valid evidence to support extreme hypotheses about Happ. Here's one from Aug. 10 reassuring Cubs fans that everything would be all right after a disastrous July, and here's one literally two weeks later vouching for Happ to be benched for top prospect Owen Caissie. Over the course of a 162-game season, you can live with peaks and valleys if the end result is reliable and predictable. In the one-mistake-and-you're-out environment of the playoffs, though, it's harder to swallow that pill. Happ may have hit two (seemingly, at the time) crucial home runs against the Brewers in the NLDS, but he also struck out in 39.4% of his plate appearances in October. That just won't fly. However, that's not necessarily the reason the Cubs should consider trading Happ this winter. Nor is the fact that top prospects Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara (who is out of minor league options) are banging on the door and in need of playing time in a crowded outfield picture. This is purely an argument about long-term planning, which the Cubs haven't done the best job of in recent years. As things stand, the only guaranteed money on the books after the 2026 season is the remaining $81 million on Dansby Swanson's contract. Yes, there are various options and players bound to earn millions of dollars via arbitration, but the only payout the Cubs will be forced to make in 2027 as of this moment is for Swanson. That obviously means that there's plenty of room for a long-term contract or two or three to be added to the payroll this offseason, but it also means the Cubs aren't taking any risks when it comes to the impending 2027 lockout. They've structured the roster in a way to ensure that, no matter what happens in next year's CBA negotiations, they won't be caught off guard. In a pragmatic sense, what that amounts to is the fact that a vast majority of the veterans on this roster are due to become free agents in a year's time. Right now, that list includes: C Carson Kelly (mutual option) C Reese McGuire 2B Nico Hoerner LF Ian Happ RF Seiya Suzuki SP Jameson Taillon SP Matthew Boyd (mutual option) SP/RP Colin Rea (club option) That's a comical amount of talent to lose in one offseason, and you can be sure the team will at least broach the extension conversation with a number of those players. But, seeing as everyone on that list besides Hoerner is already at least 30 years old, it might be time to start consolidating the roster. The Milwaukee Brewers have been pulling this trick for ages -- they've traded Corbin Burnes, Yovani Gallardo, Devin Williams, and now potentially Freddy Peralta when they were one year out from free agency -- and have made it out unscathed every time. And each of those players were dominant pitchers in their prime, a decidedly more valuable asset than Happ is right now with his one year of control remaining at a $19 million salary. It doesn't have to be Happ of course. I maintain my belief that trading Jameson Taillon while the iron is hot after his second-half performance could yield long-term dividends, Hoerner is probably too valuable to move thanks to his defense and contact skills, but Suzuki could bring in a nice return from a team in need of power if the Cubs don't mind purging all of the Japanese talent from their roster in the same offseason. And this doesn't have to be the path the team takes. They can commit to this roster for 2026 and go all-in on their last year of certainty before the CBA expires. But, that would require a level of commitment that this team hasn't been accustomed to in quite some time—it'd be several steps further than how they treated 2025 with the Kyle Tucker trade. Given his inconsistencies and the team's directionless path forward, trading Happ may be a necessary evil. The Cubs wouldn't need him to bring back top prospects in a deal (they'd certainly prefer major-league-ready talent, especially on the pitching side), and his excellent defense, switch-hitting prowess and season-long reliability would tempt a lot of other teams in trade talks, especially given how barren the outfield market is in free agency after Tucker and Cody Bellinger. It feels wrong to suggest given his importance to Chicago as the last remaining piece from 2017 and before, but Ian Happ might be better suited as a trade chip than a Cub this offseason. View the full article

The Seidler Family was the latest baseball ownership group to announce that they intend to put their team, the San Diego Padres, up for sale, as the 2025-2026 offseason is in its infancy. The Seidler Family has had majority ownership of the Padres since 2012, with the late Peter Seidler operating as the team’s control person from 2020 until his death on November 14, 2023. Since Peter Seidler’s death, there have been numerous legal battles over who should have a controlling interest in the team, as his widow, Sheel Seidler, sued his brothers Matt and Bob Seidler after their brother John was appointed as acting chairman of the Padres while the appointment was still pending league approval earlier this year. On top of the legal battles between the Seidler brothers and Sheel Seidler, the Padres had also taken out a $50 million loan to help cover payroll during the 2023 season, as reported by Evan Drellich, Ken Rosenthal, and Dennis Lin of The Athletic in November of 2023. With debt accumulated and an ongoing lawsuit that has not been settled in or out of court, the sale of the Padres could take much longer than folks anticipate. The announcement that the Seidlers are putting the Padres up for sale comes just a few months after the last baseball ownership family, the Pohlads, decided to take their team, the Minnesota Twins, off the market after a 10-month process in which no sale took place. The Pohlads did not have any legal action surrounding their ownership of the Twins that was attached to their exploration of selling the team; however, they had accumulated nearly $500 million in debt and were asking for a selling price of no less than $1.7 billion, which was around the price tag the Angelos family sold the Baltimore Orioles for to their current owner, David Rubenstein. Reports indicated the Pohlads were unwilling to go any lower on a sale price of $1.7 billion after their initial deal with Chicago White Sox minority owner Justin Ishbia fell through in spring training this year. The Pohlads had received offers as high as $1.5 billion for the Twins, but interested parties were unwilling to assume a significant portion of the team's debt, which they hoped a potential buyer would take on. It’s unclear whether the Seidlers have paid off their $50 million loan and interest at this time, or whether they have any additional outstanding debt associated with the Padres. But given the issues the Pohlads had with the Twins trying to attach their debt to the sale to a new owner, any debt attached to the Padres will be an issue for a potential buyer as well. With the lawsuit between Peter Seidler’s widow and his brothers still ongoing, it’s fair to assume the announcement of a new owner of the Padres will not come any sooner than Opening Day at the earliest. The best-case scenario for the Padres to move the sale along quickly is an Opening Day announcement, but given what is tied to this ownership group, both on and off the field, and the Twins' sale process track record, it’s a safer bet that the Padres' sale process could take a minimum of six months and up to a year before a new ownership group is announced and then approved by MLB. But with an impending lockout looming a year from now, it might speed up the pace of the sale process so MLB can have a new ownership group in place before the lockout begins next offseason. There’s no telling how long this sale process will take, but assuming it will take less than six months is a fool's errand. The saga surrounding the sale process of the Twins is just the latest track record to set the precedent ahead for the Padres, and that is what Padres fans should expect to follow as their sale process begins next week. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs sit on the precipice of their most important offseason in a decade, though their commitment to the short-term window remains a genuine question.View the full article

The Twins are likely to non-tender Trevor Larnach in the coming weeks, but there is a case to be made for him to be one of the Twins' top trade candidates. Larnach will not net the highest return in any trade on his own, but he could at least alleviate his salary while getting a new reliever in a wide-open bullpen. View the full article

Major League Baseball’s annual General Manager Meetings mark the kickoff of the hot stove season, when trade and acquisition rumors first start percolating before coming to a boil at December’s Winter Meetings. The 2025 edition is this week in Las Vegas, and the Minnesota Twins came in with a plan. “We sent [Twins president] Derek Falvey to Vegas with two things: An open mind and a Ziploc bag full of pennies,” said a source close to the Pohlad family, who’ve owned the Twins since 1982. While the former makes sense for a team that may be continuing a major roster teardown, why the pennies? “There are some great joints off-Strip or in north Vegas where the penny slots are loose as heck,” said the source. “If Derek wants a platoon outfielder or a bullpen arm, here’s one way of getting there.” The meetings themselves were held at The Cosmopolitan, right in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. “Yeah, you’re not getting any bargain action at a place like that,” said the source. “That’s where the Dodgers stay. No thanks. Derek likes to get creative, anyway.” Multiple media sources covering the meetings told Twins Daily that Falvey was spotted lugging the coin bag into multiple off-strip locations, including a combination Pizza Hut/Taco Bell by Nellis Air Force Base; the Cowabunga Bay Waterslide Experience; and what local authorities and community leaders say is the deadliest strip mall in Henderson. At press time, there was no indication that Falvey had won big or that the Twins had made any roster moves. Still, the source was confident that it would pay off in the long run. “The Pohlads had their faithful manservants clean out all the coins from their fleet of Land Rovers and Bentleys,” said the source. “We didn’t even touch the Rolls (Royces) or Porsches. There are at least the beginnings of a utility infielder in there.” View the full article

The Boston Red Sox are gearing up for a lucrative offseason, though they must decide whether to make their blockbuster moves via free agency or trade. Will they re-sign Alex Bregman, and will they pursue Munetaka Murakami?View the full article

Fueled by his friendship with Seiya Suzuki and his eye-catching fashion choices, Pete Crow-Armstrong became an international star when the Cubs went to Japan to open the 2025 regular season. Next March, he won't have to endure as long a flight to experience the same global spotlight. He has accepted an offer to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, starting with pool play in Houston in March, he announced Thursday night. Any list of center fielders on the wish list for American manager Mark DeRosa was going to include Crow-Armstrong, and since Byron Buxton (arguably the only other center fielder from the U.S. better than Crow-Armstrong in 2025) will probably elect to avoid the injury risk of playing high-stakes games three weeks before Opening Day, the Cubs' young star has a clear path to playing time for his country. He won't be the Cubs' only representative in the tournament, but Crow-Armstrong is the one who could enjoy a further star turn by playing well there. That doesn't come with direct benefits for the Cubs. In fact, in addition to the slight risk of injury and the significant disruption of the preparation process that is spring training, this is likely to put extra time pressure on any attempts to sign him to a long-term deal. The two sides can't talk as easily with Crow-Armstrong in Houston. As Crow-Armstrong's profile continues to grow, he's also in an increasingly comfortable negotiating position. If the Cubs want to lock him up beyond 2030, they might already need to shift their focus from trying to capture value on a team-friendly extension toward paying the market rate for his services. Contracts signed by similarly famous and talented players (Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodríguez, Fernando Tatis Jr.) have worked that way, even when the player didn't appear to have the short-term earning power or proximity to free agency to extract that kind of payday. Those players are all better than Crow-Armstrong, whose second-half struggles at the plate exposed very real weaknesses. However, his freakish athleticism and the upside he flashed with a calendar year (from August 2024 through July 2025) during which he batted .271/.312/.524 in 687 plate appearances make him just as dynamic as they are—and he's becoming that caliber of celebrity, too. The Tokyo Series to open 2025, his showcase at the All-Star Game and the Cubs making a two-round push into the postseason put Crow-Armstrong very much on the global map this year. Next year, he'll get to continue carving out a niche. He might even prove himself to be the best defender in baseball, anywhere in the world. The World Baseball Classic is wonderful because of players just like Crow-Armstrong; the endlessly charismatic Randy Arozarena was one of the biggest stars of the last one. Next spring's event continues to fill up with big names, and that's what Crow-Armstrong has already become. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins enter the offseason with more questions than answers. Ownership appears poised to reduce payroll, but the front office still hopes to be competitive in a winnable AL Central. That balancing act could push Derek Falvey and company to explore creative ways to improve the roster without adding significant salary. One of the clearest paths to doing that might be to deal from their outfield depth, an area where the organization has plenty of talent and intrigue. At this week's GM Meetings in Las Vegas, Jon Morosi reported that the demand for starting-caliber outfielders is high. That's a bit obvious, and the report is short on details or newsworthy nuggets, but it might turn out to signal something real about the outfield market this winter. For the Minnesota Twins, that could not come at a better time. The organization boasts a deep group of major-league and near-ready outfielders, giving the front office an opportunity to get creative. Byron Buxton: Unlikely though it seemed a few months ago, Buxton might waive his no-trade clause to join a contending club—particularly if the Twins continue to move veteran players this winter. He's coming off one of the best offensive stretches of his career and remains a highly athletic center fielder. His contract is team-friendly, and with several clubs looking for star-level outfielders, his value is at an all-time high. Trading Buxton would be a seismic move for the franchise, but it is one the front office might entertain if ownership prioritizes trimming costs. Matt Wallner: Wallner experienced ups and downs last season but still managed to post a 110 OPS+, making him one of the more productive hitters in the Twins’ lineup. His combination of raw power and patience makes him an intriguing trade piece for teams looking for a controllable corner outfielder with upside. Minnesota could decide to hold onto Wallner and hope for another step forward in his development, but if the front office wants to shake up the core, he could be one of the first players moved. Trevor Larnach: Larnach’s future with the Twins appears uncertain. He is projected to make $4.7 million through arbitration, too high a salary for a player without a clear path to everyday playing time. He had a 116 OPS+ in 2024, but that dipped below average in 2025 (99 OPS+). Minnesota could explore trading him before the non-tender deadline, but his market value might be limited. While his raw tools still stand out, most teams view Larnach as a depth piece, rather than a lineup cornerstone. Austin Martin: Martin quietly finished the season strong and flashed the all-around game that once made him a top prospect. In 50 games, he produced a .740 OPS with 11 steals and a solid 31-to-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His ability to play multiple positions adds value, but another team could view him as an emerging regular after a promising finish. Trading Martin could address another area of need, though they may prefer to see if he can take another step forward next spring. Minnesota’s outfield picture becomes even more crowded when factoring in recent trade deadline acquisitions. James Outman and Alan Roden both project to step into more consistent playing time if the Twins move one or more of their current outfielders. Top prospects Emmanuel Rodriguez and Walker Jenkins both finished last season at Triple-A St. Paul and should arrive in the majors as early as 2026, giving the organization even more reason to consider dealing from its depth. The Twins are in a rare position: they can trade from strength without compromising their long-term outlook. If the rest of the league’s demand for outfielders remains high, Minnesota may find that its deepest position could also be its best source of value this winter. Whom should the Twins consider trading from the list above? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

After spending nearly a month with the Brewers as a member of their taxi squad from late September through their postseason run to the NLCS, Jeferson Quero has returned to game action in winter ball. In the hitter-friendly Venezuelan Winter League, he has slashed .269/.356/.558 with four home runs. "He's a great kid, and he's a good player, and we're seeing it in winter ball right now," Brewers president of baseball operations and general manager Matt Arnold said earlier this week at MLB's annual GM Meetings in Las Vegas. "He's doing great. I feel like I get a new highlight emailed or texted to me every [day]. 'Hey, he hit another homer.' It's cool." With veterans Eric Haase and Danny Jansen no longer in the organization, Quero is the only full-time catcher on the 40-man roster, other than William Contreras. (Anthony Seigler is there, too, but has been predominantly an infielder for the last three seasons.) The Brewers could add a veteran to the mix this offseason to bolster their depth, but barring such an acquisition, Quero is in line to make his major-league debut next year as Contreras's backup. "We're always looking for depth, and competition is a good thing," Arnold said of Milwaukee's catching mix. "But I think Jeferson is a really special kid." A couple of years ago, it seemed Quero's moment would come much sooner. He breezed through three levels in his first two years of full-season ball, despite being nearly four years younger than his average peer at High A and Double A. His strong bat-to-ball skills played just fine against older pitching, and the hope was that he could translate more of his raw power into games down the line. Defensively, his elite throwing arm and mature handling of pitching staffs turned heads. Entering his age-21 season, Quero looked like the complete package and appeared on the cusp of reaching the majors. The Brewers selected his contract in November 2023 to protect him from that winter's Rule 5 draft, and he began the following season in Triple-A Nashville. Unfortunately, a pair of injury-marred seasons slowed what had been a quick ascent. Quero's first regular-season plate appearance of 2024 would be his last, as he suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder on a dive back into first base and underwent season-ending surgery. A hamstring injury delayed his return to play until June 2025, after which the Brewers frequently utilized him as a DH to ease him back into the rigors of catching. When he did catch, Quero was not his usual self behind the plate. Most notably, his dominance over opposing running games (quantified by Baseball Prospectus as Swipe Runs) cratered. Season Framing Runs Blocking Runs Swipe Runs CS% CDA 2022 5.4 1.5 4.3 31% 12.3 2023 7.0 -0.5 4.5 35% 10.7 2025 -0.3 -0.2 -1.1 19% -1.6 In Quero's defense, that framing number should be taken with a grain of salt in a small sample of 34 games, and many of the successful steal attempts against him occurred on poorly-located pitches that put him in a suboptimal throwing position. Even so, it was clear that his formerly 70-grade arm was much closer to good than elite after major surgery. After he posted a subpar 29.7% hard-hit rate with an unremarkable 90th-percentile exit velocity of 102.8 mph, Quero's power surge in winter ball could be a sign that he's finally closing in on full strength after two trying years. His outlook in 2026 hinges heavily on his throwing and receiving trending toward their previous levels, along with improving his plate discipline to maximize his contact skills. While his walk rate was in line with the Triple-A average, his 36.8% chase rate ranked in the 11th percentile of hitters. Quero could still benefit from more minor-league seasoning, but the Brewers could instead work on those swing decisions at the big-league level, especially if he's only playing in a part-time capacity. They may also be more patient with the flaws in his game, because they hold his intangibles in such high regard. Quero's demeanor in spring training impressed Pat Murphy, who dubbed him "maybe my favorite prospect that's ever been with the Brewers." He's also an excellent game caller, and he showed an impressive knack for reading swings and sequencing pitches while catching live at-bats during the team's five-day bye before the NLDS. Those positive first impressions (coupled with a sparse free-agent catching market) could make the backup role Quero's to lose come spring training. "Whether that's on Opening Day or a couple years from now, I'm very excited about his future," Arnold said. DiamondCentric's John Bonnes contributed reporting to this story. View the full article

Major League Baseball introduced a brand-new award last night and bestowed the inaugural prize on Toronto Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Vladdy is MLB's very first Entertainer of the Year. It's a well-deserved honour for one of the most delightful personalities in the sport, both on the field and off. Guerrero was not present at the awards show on Thursday, so his godfather, Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez, accepted on his behalf. In other Blue Jays awards news, Guerrero was also named to the All-MLB First Team, winning over Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz. In even more of a surprise, Bo Bichette earned Second Team honours, beating out shortstops like Geraldo Perdomo, Trea Turner, Francisco Lindor, and Jeremy Peña. Featured image courtesy of Nick Turchiaro, Imagn Images. View the full article

During his November 6 media availability, a reporter asked Ross Atkins about Jeff Hoffman’s role as Toronto’s closer. “The great thing about Jeff is he’s not married to that,” Atkins said. “I think he would be open to anything that makes us better.” In the same media event, Atkins indicated that Toronto was open to improving the team through any means. So, if Toronto is open to adding a bona fide closer in the free-agent market, who are some closers worth considering? Hoffman had a disappointing 2025. On the positive side, among all pitchers, his Whiff% and K% were both in the 83rd percentile. However, his xERA, BB% and Barrel% percentile rankings were 57th, 26th and 1st, respectively. Furthermore, surrendering home runs was an issue, not only in Game 7 of the World Series but also during the regular season. Hoffman’s 2025 regular-season HR/9 was 1.99, tied for the second-highest among 144 relievers with at least 50 innings pitched. Therefore, although I am confident that Hoffman will be better next year, one can understand why Toronto would consider adding a closer to its 2026 bullpen. I identified four free-agent closers as options for the Blue Jays: Edwin Díaz, Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez, and Devin Williams. These relievers were the first four closers listed on MLB Trade Rumors' (“MLBTR”) list of the top 50 free agents. Before I delve into the 2025 results of these closers, let’s review how they performed in the three seasons before. Consider Table 1. The listed relievers had impressive resumes before the 2025 campaign. All of them posted 89th percentile or higher wOBA marks, and Díaz, Iglesias and Williams generated xwOBA scores in the 95th percentile or higher. Also, one can see why Toronto was interested in Hoffman, given his percentile rankings in K%, K-BB%, wOBA, xwOBA, and Whiff%. Hoffman, although not elite during the 2022-2024 seasons, was particularly good. Now to the most recent season! Table 2 shows some 2025 pitching metrics for the noted pitchers. Except for BB%, Díaz was elite in 2025. His xERA/xwOBA was 99th percentile, as were his K-BB% and Whiff%. Furthermore, Díaz's Barrel/PA% was at the 96th percentile. In other words, his opponents swung and missed at an elevated rate. However, when they connected, those batters barreled the ball at an exceptionally low rate. Iglesias, although not elite like Díaz, was very good in 2025. Other than his barrel rate, Iglesias was much better than the median reliever last season. His xERA/xwOBA, K-BB%, and Whiff% were in the 78th percentile or better. However, he did record a high Barrel%. Suarez has had an interesting journey to MLB. The Venezuelan-born player pitched in Nippon Professional Baseball from 2018 to 2021. He made his MLB debut with the Padres in 2022 in his age-31 season and posted a 3.27 xERA and a 3.22 FIP. Fast forward to 2025, wherein Suarez posted some impressive and some concerning numbers. His wOBA was 96th percentile. However, his xERA/xwOBA was 57th. Also, batters barreled up his pitches at a high rate (Barrel% in the 29th percentile), and they did not swing and miss at a high rate, given his 33rd percentile Whiff%. Williams had a noteworthy 2025 for the Yankees. From a headline perspective, he posted a 4.79 ERA and lost his job as closer. However, under the hood, he performed well last season. Williams generated an xERA/xwOBA in the 80th percentile, and his Whiff%, K% and K-BB% were 94th percentile or better. However, his BB% was high (32nd percentile), and his Barrel/BBE% was 25th percentile. Table 3 has more 2025 numbers to consider. The highlights are as follows: Except for Hoffman, the listed closers posted particularly good to excellent FIP numbers. Of the 144 relievers with at least 50 innings, Díaz's 3.73 WPA was fourth highest, and Suarez’s 3.16 WPA tied for sixth best. For Iglesias, Williams, and Hoffman, their WPA scores ranked 53rd, 105th and 117th, respectively. Regarding Save%, even elite closers (Díaz and Suarez) blow saves. Hoffman, who had some notable blown save opportunities, posted an average Save%. Furthermore, in terms of xwOBA splits by batter handedness, all four closers had better numbers against right-handed hitters than left-handed batters. Still, none had xwOBA stats that exceeded the MLB average when facing left-handed batters. In summary, these free-agent closers are worthy candidates for a role as Toronto’s closer for the 2026 season. Let’s talk contracts! Concerning contract estimates, I will put my calculator aside and rely on MLBTR and FanGraphs. Behold Table 4! The first matter to note is that Díaz is the only closer to receive a qualifying offer from his previous team. Second, Toronto is a competitive balance taxpayer. Accordingly, if the Blue Jays signed Díaz to a contract, they would “lose their second- and fifth-highest selections, as well as $1 million from their international bonus pool for the upcoming signing period” (per MLB.com). Another issue to note is that, except for Williams, the MLBTR and FanGraphs contract estimates are similar. Apparently, MLBTR believes the market will look past Williams' high 2025 ERA, demotion from the closer role, and the non-receipt of a qualifying offer. On the other hand, FanGraphs appears to think the market for Williams’ services will be more muted than MLBTR does. A word or two on risk. First, relievers can exhibit significant performance volatility from one season to another due to small sample sizes, injuries, and other factors. For example, in 2022, the relievers in the top three in saves were Emmanuel Clase, Kenley Jansen and Liam Hendriks. After 2022, Clase and Jansen posted xERA figures that were at least 0.87 runs higher than their 2022 marks. Unfortunately, Hendriks pitched only 18 innings after 2022. Also, although it is not a reliever risk per se, Clase is currently under indictment in a gambling scandal that may end his MLB career. Accordingly, projecting a reliever’s future performance level is not an easy task. The second point concerning risk is age. These four free-agent closers are in their 30s. Hence, the impact of aging is an issue. Accordingly, I present Table 5. For information regarding Stuff+ and Pitching+, please take a look at the FanGraphs website. Based on the Pitching+ numbers, unlike Díaz and Iglesias, Williams and Suarez have not displayed a worrying deterioration in their respective pitching process. Lastly, courtesy of Spotrac, a history of recent injuries for the closers: Díaz underwent knee surgery and did not play during the 2023 season. Also, he had a shoulder impingement in 2024 and was on the IL (May 29 to June 13). Atlanta placed Iglesias on the IL in 2023 (March 30 to May 5) with a shoulder strain. In 2022, Suarez had a stint on the IL (June 7 to August 6) with a knee ailment. During the following season, the Padres placed him on the IL (March 30 to July 20) with elbow inflammation. Williams landed on the IL in 2024 (March 28 to July 28) due to stress fractures in his back. The Last Word If I had to sign one of these closers, I would opt for Williams. He is the youngest of the group, his Pitching+ history does not suggest a near-term performance decline, and his 2025 showing was not as poor as his 4.79 ERA suggests. If MLBTR has overstated his market value, there may be a worthwhile opportunity to sign him to a shorter, less expensive deal. Díaz has been elite. However, a four-year, $82 million contract is too rich (and risky) given signs of performance decline (Stuff+ and Pitching+). Also, the loss of draft picks and international pool money is a sizeable additional cost. Iglesias would be a nice add as a set-up reliever, but he does not appear to be a noticeable upgrade over Hoffman. Suarez is tempting, but a three-year deal will take him to his age-37 season, which is very risky. Also, his elevated 2025 xERA gives me pause. If Toronto considers adding a closer for the 2026 season, Díaz, Iglesias, Suarez, and Williams are worthy free agent candidates. There are, of course, other options available to Toronto, including other free agents and the trade market. Let the articles flow! View the full article

“Each year, it’s been a development of pitches, and it’s been what’s allowing me to have the success I’ve been having this past season,” Dalton Rogers told me as he spoke about his time with the Boston Red Sox. The left-hander finished the 2025 season in Double-A Portland, going 4-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 18 games with the Sea Dogs. More than anything, he showcased his development with a whopping 101 strikeouts in just 84 1/3 innings. Before making his Double-A debut, the pitcher had spent some time in Greenville, originally getting called up from Salem in 2023. “The pitching coach there, Bob Kipper, was like, 'You’re showing some really good changeups,'” Rogers reminisced about his time in Greenville. Rogers, who was drafted in the third round of the 2022 draft, has experienced quite the road to professional baseball as he lost his first season of college ball due to injury. He also changed his style of pitching once he got into professional baseball; Rogers was mainly a fastball pitcher in college, but has since undergone a drastic change in his pitch usage upon joining the Red Sox organization. “In college I was 80% fastball,” Rogers explained. “Obviously, being in pro ball, you can’t throw fastballs every time.” His changeup is viewed by members of the organization as possessing great potential, partly due to his similar arm release height and extension between his fastball and the off-speed offering. He spent his first full season focusing on developing his changeup, and upon entering his second full season in the pros, the focus shifted to a new pitch to compliment the two in his arsenal. “We worked on a slider. To help compliment a changeup that goes arm side and a fastball that carries, a slider that goes glove side [is key],” Rogers said, discussing his three main pitches. A key takeaway as mentioned by Rogers is that he now had three quadrants of the zone covered thanks his primary offerings. While working on them, he also began to improve a curveball that he had previously used. The pitch becoming more of a focus in 2025 as he continued to improve his three main ones. Rogers' development has not been with an eye on relief. Having pitched out of the bullpen his final season in college, Rogers saw a return to the rotation in his first season with the Red Sox. Across his first two full seasons, he appeared in 44 games making 42 starts. The 2025 campaign saw that plan change slightly, especially while with Greenville. To open the season Rogers appeared in five games at High-A, starting just one. “The Red Sox incorporated a piggyback. It allowed guys to have set days. Instead of a five-man rotation, you could have an eight-man with two starters throwing together,” Rogers explained. “How we do it is, we have pitch counts. To start the year, we were at about 60 pitches, and so Payton Tolle would start and I would come in behind him, We would have communications. He’s at about 50 pitches, I would get ready. I would treat it like I was starting. His last inning was my pre-game bullpen.” With the offseason in full swing now, Rogers is preparing for 2026 after taking some time off from having his wisdom teeth removed. The left-handed pitcher will look to continue his great pitching from 2025 into next year, where it is likely that he'll make it to Triple-A Worcester at some point. Taking everything that he’s worked on since being drafted, Rogers continues to put the pieces together as one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in the farm system. View the full article

On Thursday in fall/winter ball, Fenwick Trimble went 0-for-3 with a walk. Jack Sellinger pitched two scoreless innings. Holt Jones allowed a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The Mesa Solar Sox lost, 4-3, and were eliminated from the Arizona Fall League playoffs. I'll have a detailed summary this weekend of how all Miami Marlins players fared in the AFL. Deyvison De Los Santos (Dominican Republic) went 1-for-4. Jared Serna (Mexico) went 0-for-3 with a walk. Only 132 days away from Marlins Opening Day. 🔷 I detailed why Joe Mack is a lock and Josh White is a near-lock to be selected to Miami's 40-roster on Tuesday. 🔷 Thursday was the first day of the inaugural MLB Open, a golf tournament featuring pairs of current/former players representing each franchise. Jakob Marsee and Gary Sheffield are competing on the Marlins' behalf. The tournament concludes today. 🔷 For the second straight year, members of the latest Marlins MLB Draft class have traveled to the Dominican Republic to take part in a first-year player camp where they will train alongside the organization's Latin American players. 🔷 Just Baseball's updated Top 100 prospects list includes Thomas White (18th), Joe Mack (26th), Robby Snelling (30th) and Aiva Arquette (55th). White is now universally ranked among MLB's top 25 prospects, becoming the first Marlin since Eury Pérez to be so highly regarded. 🔷 Continuing their series of World Baseball Classic-inspired national team rosters, Son Los Marlins constructed the best possible Dominican and Puerto Rican teams comprised of former Fish. Finding adequate pitching with PR roots proved difficult. 🔷 Congratulations to former Marlins radio broadcaster Glenn Geffner, who will be teaching at the University of Florida during the Spring 2026 semester (h/t Isaac Edelman). After several years as an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University, Geffner is bringing his experience to UF for a course on sports play-by-play. 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Aaron Judge (AL) and Shohei Ohtani (NL) won their respective league's MVP awards. Tarik Skubal (AL) and Paul Skenes (NL) won their respective league's Cy Young awards. Nick Kurtz (AL) and Drake Baldwin (NL) won their respective league's Rookie of the Year awards. Stephen Vogt (AL) and Pat Murphy (NL) won their respective league's Manager of the Year awards. Cal Raleigh, Corbin Carroll and Pete Crow-Armstrong were all announced as members of Team USA for the 2026 WBC. San Diego Padres ownership announced that they are exploring a potential sale of the franchise. View the full article

On Thursday night, the Minnesota Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale announced that the Minnesota Twins will be hiring their third lead hitting coach in the past three seasons. Keith Beauregard, who has been with the Detroit Tigers hitting coach staff the past four seasons, will head to the Twins. Beauregard has been with the Tigers since 2022, but it was announced that he decided not to return to Motown for the 2026 season. He worked with the likes of All-Star Riley Greene and Matt Carpenter. He oversaw the turn around seasons of Javy Baez and Spencer Torkelson. He worked with James Rowson on the Tigers 2023 staff. Matt Borgschulte returned to the Twins organization to become their lead hitting coach in 2024. He will not be returning to the Twins for 2025. "Borgs" replaced David Popkins who was the team's lead hitting coach in 2022 and 2023. Shortly after the Twins let him go last offseason, he was hired by the Blue Jays and led the best offense in the league to the World Series. Nightengale also noted that Trevor Amicone and Rayden Sierra will return as the team's assistant coaches in 2026. Catching up on the Twins coaching situation: Manager: Derek Shelton (replaces Rocco Baldelli) Bench Coach: Open (replacing Jayce Tinger) Asst Bench Coach: Open: (replacing Hank Conger) Pitching Coach: Pete Maki (returns) Asst Pitching Coach: Luis Ramirez (returns) Bullpen Coach: LaTroy Hawkins (replaces Colby Suggs, who is with the Rangers now) Hitting Coach: Keith Beauregard (replaces Matt Borgschulte) Asst Hitting Coach: Trevor Amicone (returns) Asst Hitting Coach: Rayden Sierra (returns) 1B Coach/Outfield/Baserunner: Grady Sizemore (replacing Tommy Watkins, now with the Braves) 3B Coach/Infield Coach: Ramon Borrego (shift from 1B coach to 3B coach) Quality Control Coach: Open (replacing Nate Dahmann) View the full article

On Thursday afternoon, Will Sammon, a senior MLB writer at The Athletic, reported that Kris Bubic is generating trade interest from multiple teams, according to sources. He broke the report on social media. Bubic made his MLB debut in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, despite not pitching above High-A ball. After posting a 4.32 ERA in 50 IP in 2020 and a 4.43 ERA in 130 IP in 2021, he struggled in 2022. In manager Mike Matheny's final season in Kansas City, he went 3-13 and posted a 5.58 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in 129 IP, all career-worsts. The former Stanford product only pitched three games in 2023 due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. However, he returned to the mound in 2024 as a reliever and absolutely thrived as a late-inning reliever for a Royals team that went 86-76 and made it to the ALDS. In 30.1 IP, he posted a 2.67 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a K rate of 32.2%. The Royals moved Bubic back to the rotation in 2025, and he looked phenomenal at first. In 18 games before the All-Star Break, he posted a 2.48 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and struck out 113 batters and only walked 34 in 108.2 IP. That performance helped him earn his first All-Star appearance. However, Bubic didn't look the same after the All-Star Break, as he posted a 3.52 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in two starts and 7.2 IP. He actually had more walks (five) than strikeouts (three). The Royals had him checked out, and it was revealed that he had a left rotator cuff strain. As a result, Kansas City shut him down for the remainder of the season. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Bubic has been cleared to resume throwing, a good sign that he will be ready for Spring Training. Thus, it makes sense why many teams would be interested in Bubic, as he seemed to be an AL Cy Young candidate last year before being shut down for the remainder of the season due to injury. The Royals have Bubic under team control for one more year, but his projected arbitration salary will be high at $6 million, and he will be a free agent after next season. In an interview with John Bonnes of Diamondcentric yesterday at the MLB GM meetings, JJ Picollo mentioned Bubic as an extension candidate. Still, he didn't share any details on that progress (or if it was on the horizon). Kansas City may be able to trade Bubic to a team that is more willing to sign him to an extension after acquiring him, despite his injury history. Jon Morosi of MLB Network recently reported that the Royals are interested in acquiring an outfielder via trade this offseason. Thus, trading Bubic could help them achieve that goal. Jarren Duran has been floated as a trade target for the Royals, but it's hard to tell what kind of return he would require. If the Royals pursue that path, it likely will include Bubic as a starting point, at a minimum. Photo Credit: © Denny Medley-Imagn Images View the full article

Ryan Jeffers has one last season of arbitration left with the Twins, making him a likely trade candidate this offseason. While he'll be in trade talks, the Twins have a greater need to keep him around for any decent chance to win next season. View the full article