DiamondCentric

While we still await the first player transactions of this Miami Marlins offseason, changes are already being made to the coaching staff. The Chicago White Sox have hired Marlins assistant hitting coach Derek Shomon to be their lead hitting coach. In Shomon's place, Miami will have two assistant hitting coaches in 2026: Chris Hess and Corbin Day. Hess, 30, is a former infielder who was drafted in the 17th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. He made it to High-A, and after a short stint in independent ball, Hess retired and went back to his alma mater, the University of Rhode Island, to become the team's assistant coach. Hess began his professional coaching career in 2021 with the Boston Red Sox organization. Hess was the Double-A Portland hitting coach for the past two seasons. In 2024, his Sea Dogs led the Eastern League in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. That team featured top prospects Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel, all of whom are now in the big leagues. Portland's roster wasn't as talented in 2025 and the results reflected that, with a 106-point drop-off in OPS (from .753 to .647). As for Day, 28, he played two years of college ball at Mount Mercy before going into coaching. He spent three years as an assistant coach at Kirkwood Community College and notched his first pro ball job as the hitting coach for High-A Cedar Rapids (Minnesota Twins affiliate). In 2024, he was moved up to become the hitting coach at AA-Wichita. His most recent role before joining the Marlins was in advance scouting for the Twins at the big league level. Shomon's departure comes after only one season in Miami. It's unsurprising that he is getting a promotion from the White Sox considering how he helped an inexperienced Marlins roster exceed expectations in 2025. He'll turn 36 in February. It does seem as if Pedro Guerrero will return as Marlins hitting coach, but nothing has been formerly announced by the club. View the full article

The Twins' bullpen was once a reliable force. Between 2022 and 2024, Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax anchored the late innings, while role players like Caleb Thielbar, Cole Sands, and Brock Stewart provided valuable depth. But after the 2025 trade deadline, that group is mostly gone. Minnesota dealt several relievers with years of team control to retool the farm system, leaving the bullpen thin and uncertain heading into 2026. Still, there is a path to rebuilding an effective unit without breaking the bank. The Twins have internal arms with upside, a few conversion candidates who could thrive in shorter stints, and affordable veterans on the open market who can provide stability. This is how they can build a bullpen capable of competing next season. Returning Pieces Justin Topa: The Twins traded for Topa before the 2024 season, hoping to bolster their late-inning depth, and when healthy, he showed flashes of being that dependable arm. His sinker-slider combo generates weak contact, and he has experience in high-leverage spots, which was one of the reasons the Twins targeted him in the Jorge Polanco trade. In 2025, he ranked in the 88th percentile for Barrel rate and the 72nd percentile or better in both walk and ground-ball rate. If he can avoid the injuries that limited his usage, Topa could easily slide into a setup or closer role. Cole Sands: Sands quietly became one of the most reliable relievers in the organization in 2024. However, he took a step back in the first half of 2025, before a better performance following the trade deadline. His Offspeed Run Value ranked in the 95th percentile, led by a splitter that was worth seven runs and held batters to a .184 SLG. The Twins will need late-inning options early in the year as roles solidify, and Sands’s versatility fits that need perfectly. Kody Funderburk: Funderburk’s deceptive delivery and sweeping slider make him a tough matchup for left-handed hitters. Last season, he held lefties to a .292 SLG, which was nearly 130 points lower than what righties posted. While command can waver, his ability to miss bats from the left side gives the bullpen valuable balance. His barrel and ground-ball rates would have ranked among the league’s best, had he had enough innings to qualify. With more consistency, he could take on a larger role as a sixth- or seventh-inning option in 2026. Starters Turned Relievers Zebby Matthews – The Next Griffin Jax? Like Jax before him, Zebby Matthews may find his long-term fit in the bullpen. He has the command and competitive edge to attack hitters aggressively, and his fastball could tick up in shorter outings (96.3 mph in 2025). He is arguably a two-pitch pitcher, with his fastball and slider being his best weapons. If he cuts out the other pitches in his repertoire, he may be more effective out of the bullpen. Matthews has spent his developmental years as a starter, but a move to relief could accelerate his path to the majors while helping Minnesota fill a significant need. Connor Prielipp – The Next Jhoan Duran? Duran was considered a starter throughout his minor-league career, before injuries forced the Twins to make a shift. The Twins have waited patiently for Prielipp to recover and rediscover the form that made him a top draft pick. His electric slider and mid-90s fastball can be devastating weapons when unleashed in one- or two-inning bursts. Last season, he made 24 appearances (23 starts) and posted a 4.03 ERA with a 27.0% strikeout rate. Much like Duran, Prielipp’s path might not be linear, but if he embraces a relief role, he could emerge as a dominant late-inning force by midseason. Travis Adams – A Max Effort Option Adams has spent most of his professional career as a control-oriented starter, but the Twins moved him to a different role last season, with him pitching every four days. A switch to relief could unlock a different version of his arsenal. Instead of pacing himself through multiple innings, Adams could focus on emptying the tank in one frame. His slider had a 32% whiff rate in his first taste of the majors, and his fastball had a 26% whiff rate with an average velocity of 94.8 mph. A sharper slider and increased velocity could turn him into a valuable multi-use arm who can handle leverage or mop-up duties as needed. Free Agents Caleb Thielbar – A Familiar Face Returns If the Twins want a veteran presence who knows the organization and thrives in big spots, Thielbar would be a natural reunion. Even as he nears 40, his ability to command his breaking ball and neutralize left-handed hitters makes him a steadying force. Bringing Thielbar back could also provide leadership for younger pitchers adjusting to life in the bullpen. The Twins could also turn to other veteran free agent lefties like Taylor Rogers or Danny Coulombe. Minor-League Flyer – A Smart Gamble Every year, teams find undervalued arms who turn into reliable contributors. Think of this as finding the next Brock Stewart. Minnesota could take a low-risk chance on someone like Stewart, who has shown flashes of potential when healthy. A minor-league deal with an invite to spring training could uncover the next breakout bullpen piece without straining payroll flexibility. Multiple players who fit this mold will likely be in camp with the Twins. The Blueprint for 2026 The Twins do not need to recreate the Duran-Jax pairing overnight. What they need is functionality, flexibility, and a plan that blends experience with upside. Topa and Sands can handle leverage early. Funderburk and Adams provide innings stability. Matthews and Prielipp represent the next wave of internal talent, while a veteran like Thielbar and a flyer addition round out the mix. The 2026 bullpen might not grab national headlines in April. Still, with patience and development, it could once again evolve into one of the American League’s more reliable groups by season’s end. Minnesota has rebuilt a bullpen before, and it can do it again. Can the group outlined above compete in the AL Central? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Brewers fans can finally stop their hand-wringing about the hand of William Contreras, which caused frustration and worry at many points during his slightly underwhelming 2025 season. Contreras was slowed, especially early in the season, by a fracture in the middle finger on his left hand, which didn't heal well because of the daily beating of catching. He wanted badly to be out there, and the Brewers were better for having him, but the gap between how he played and how he's capable of playing caused distress for many onlookers. The initial report, via MLB.com Brewers beat writer Adam McCalvy, suggests Contreras will be barred from baseball activities for 5-6 weeks, but that he should be a full go for spring training. There is a difference, though, between being ready to put on the uniform and get to work come mid-February and being ready for high-level competition by early March. It sounds like Contreras will meet both thresholds, but how well could determine whether he's a part of Team Venezuela at next spring's World Baseball Classic. In 2023, Contreras had only partially announced himself as a good big-league catcher. He didn't crack the roster for his native nation in that year's WBC. Salvador Perez, Omar Narváez and Robinson Chirinos split the time at catcher for that edition of the Venezuelan side, and Miguel Cabrera and Gleyber Torres divided the time at designated hitter. Three years later, though, Contreras has emerged as a legitimate star. Perez is very much still around, but he's gotten old between then and now. Narváez and Chirinos are no longer considerations for the team, which will have ambitions of winning the tournament after finishing fifth in 2023. Though clearly one of the four biggest baseball powerhouses in the world (along with the United States, the Dominican Republic, and Japan), Venezuela has never finished higher than fourth in the tournament, and they only placed that well in 2009. There are other young catchers who will vie for playing time on next year's version of the team. Omar's cousin, the Red Sox's Carlos Narváez, had a strong rookie season in 2025. Freddy Fermin emerged from Perez's shadow in Kansas City and was traded to the Padres in July, where he burnished his reputation as an elite defender and a clutch hitter on a bigger stage. Pedro Pagés of the Cardinals is very good behind the plate, but not nearly as good a hitter as Narváez or (especially) Contreras. If the Brewers' backstop is healthy and willing, he'll be the team's first choice to play catcher for them as they try to announce themselves more forcefully on the international landscape. The scope of that opportunity for Contreras, personally, is not to be underestimated. The last two WBCs have been star-making events, and any player offered the chance to play is likely to be interested in doing so. Contreras and Jackson Chourio could see their celebrity magnified if they lead an always-loaded Team Venezuela deeper into the tournament than they've gotten in the past, and the Brewers are unlikely to bar them from participating. If Contreras recovers as well as expected from the operation he underwent, he could be spending a good chunk of spring training somewhere other than Maryvale—and that would probably be a good thing. View the full article

As the Twins head into the offseason, the catcher position is one of the biggest glaring needs. In Ryan Jeffers, they have a strong top option, but there's little else in the upper levels of the organization that inspires much hope. Mickey Gasper and Jhonny Pereda each stumbled in their month-long auditions at the end of this season, and the catchers at the higher levels of the minor leagues don’t seem to be knocking on the door. Jeffers could represent a good starting point as a bulk catcher, with Christian Vázquez hitting free agency (and the team giving away his jersey number to new skipper Derek Shelton). The Twins could look to complement Jeffers with another veteran option, likely on a cheap one-year deal. It could also behoove them to look into multi-year options, in the event that Jeffers is traded or leaves in free agency next year—but that feels unlikely at best, and might even be a better path to explore on the trade market. With that said, here are four free-agent options that could be in the Twins’ wheelhouse, based on the resources they have available and the fit on the depth chart. Victor Caratini The veteran backstop is coming off two solid years with the Houston Astros, wherein he hit a combined .263/.329/.406 and accrued 2.7 fWAR. Caratini’s bat was roughly eight percent better than league average, which is nearly identical to Jeffers’s production over the last two seasons. He’d fit as a solid option to split time with the incumbent, and he could certainly handle full-time duties in the event of an injury. Caratini is also a switch-hitter with relatively neutral splits against righties and lefties, making his fit as a platoon option with Jeffers even more enticing. The 32-year-old has had mixed results over the last few seasons when it comes to his defense, but he was a pretty strong blocker last year. He came up short when it came to pitch framing, though that may be less essential in 2026 with the automated strike zone coming into play. Caratini’s next contract could be the X-factor here. He just wrapped up a two-year deal with the Astros that paid him just over $12 million. But he’s also two years older now, and teams remain hesitant when it comes to giving out multi-year deals to backstops in their mid-30s. Could a one-year, incentive-laden contract with an option for a second season make sense for the Twins? Would Caratini accept it to come to a team that is coming off a 90-loss campaign? James McCann He’s been a popular target for the Twins over the last few years, and McCann once again finds himself on a list of free-agent targets for the club. He was limited to just 137 plate appearances at the big-league level in 2025, but held his own in those 42 games, with a .755 OPS and average defense for the Arizona Diamondbacks. McCann is a career .242/.294/.383 hitter who hasn’t been a starting-caliber catcher since 2020. Understandably, that isn’t going to excite Twins fans. But this list isn’t “which free agent catcher has the best chance to take the Twins to the next level”—as much as we all wish it would be. McCann makes the list as a target for the Twins due to his minimal contract requirement, as he squeezes the last bit of juice out of his nearly 11-year career. He would be a clear backup to Jeffers in this scenario, and that might be the appeal at this point. Look for the 35-year-old to get a contract worth $1 million or so over one year, whether it’s from the Twins or any other team looking for a backup catcher to start 35% of the team’s games. Danny Jansen The 30-year-old Jansen was coming off a lackluster 2024 campaign when he signed a one-year, $8.5-million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. He went on to hit a respectable (if unexciting) .204/.314/.389 across 73 games, before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers at the deadline. Jansen then went on to have a .779 OPS with the Brew Crew, catching 23 games down the stretch for the eventual NL Central Champions. His bat was 18 percent better than league average in that time, which could give him a boost as he explores free agency for the second consecutive year. Jansen is likely to seek a similar deal to the one he ended up signing last year, though he may try to hold out for a multiyear pact this time around. Who knows what the market will dictate for a soon-to-be 31-year-old veteran catcher with a high floor, but limited ceiling? His initial asking price, while still likely to be modest, might cause the Twins to move on as they pursue backup options. But there’s always the possibility that the club will try to sell somewhat high on Jeffers in a trade, meaning they’d have room and payroll capacity for a new primary option behind the dish. If the price tag is similar between the two, the Twins would most likely choose to stick with the guy they know. If his market doesn’t materialize as Jansen hopes, though, he could fall into the Twins preferred price range: a short-term deal for less than what they paid Vázquez. If the right trade opportunity arises for Jeffers, meanwhile, the team will have to seriously consider it. There are a few other interesting free agent names that many fans would love to see in a Twins uniform next year, but who will not be in the cards for the hometown nine. J.T. Realmuto is the cream of the crop, but his price tag will almost certainly be more than what the Twins could stomach. Old friend Mitch Garver once again finds himself exploring free agency, but he may prefer to stay away from his former club after they “picked their guy” in Jeffers and traded him to the Texas Rangers after the 2021 season. His performance has also cratered in the last two seasons with the Seattle Mariners. And as for Willians Astudillo? Well, let’s hope he’s having fun wherever he is, but it will not be with the Minnesota Twins in 2026. What do you think? Do these three do anything for you on relatively inexpensive deals? Who else makes sense for the Twins to pursue this offseason? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section, and as always, stay sweet. View the full article

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran is sure to be one of the most discussed players this offseason as beat writers, reporters, and contributors stoke the hot stove. Despite avoiding arbitration and agreeing to a one-year deal yesterday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network speculated that Boston Duran could be traded to the Detroit Tigers this offseason. On an episode of Hot Stove, Morosi predicted Duran "would be a great fit with the Detroit Tigers … Do not be surprised if Jarren Duran is wearing the old English D by opening day." It's important to re-emphasize that this is just speculation and not anything supported by sources from within either organization. Duran, who is controllable through 2028, has been a polarizing figure throughout his career. From multiple controversial comments to up-and-down performances, the 29-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors in the past, and those rumors may continue this offseason. In 2025, he carried an OPS of .774 with 16 home runs and 24 stolen bases across 696 plate appearances. Do you think the Red Sox should move Duran before Opening Day 2025? Join the conversation in the comments! View the full article