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On December 14, the Royals traded for outfielder Isaac Collins, along with relief pitcher Nick Mears, from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for relief pitcher Angel Zerpa. His acquisition was aimed at improving the Royals’ lackluster outfield production. Unless the Royals add another bat to the mix, which is seeming less likely according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Collins is slated to be the starting left fielder in Kansas City. What can the Royals expect from Collins offensively? Below is a percentile summary of Isaac Collins, courtesy of TJStats. Last season, Collins graded close to league average in expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA) and expected batting average (xBA) while being below average in key slugging metrics such as expected slugging percentage (xSLG) and barrel percentage. None of these metrics looks particularly eye-catching, but if the Royals were able to have a league-average hitter in the outfield, they would have had an easier time generating runs on offense. Despite his league-average expected metrics, Collins overachieved in 2025 with all of those key offensive metrics finishing above expectation. This is reflected in Collins’s wRC+ of 122 last season. But this may also explain his bearish 2026 projections on FanGraphs, which all predict a regression in wRC+ toward league average. As discussed in an article earlier this week, Collins is not particularly skilled against left-handed pitchers with a near-league-average wRC+ of 106. If he can keep this up, he will still improve the Royals’ outfield offensive production. A deeper look into Collins’s pitch-tracking data shows that he does his most damage against breaking balls, with 6 of his 9 home runs last year coming off them. Despite his increase in power against breaking balls, he is particularly more likely to swing and miss against breaking balls from left-handed pitchers, with his whiff rate at 38% compared to his season average (and better than league average) whiff rate of 22.5%. If Collins can increase his batted ball rates against breaking balls from lefties, that could go a long way in improving his overall production. While Collins is not an exceptional power hitter, he makes up for it with plate discipline. His chase rate was in the 98th percentile in 2025, along with being in the 90th percentile in walks. As mentioned earlier, his whiff rate is better than average at the 63rd percentile, and his strikeout rate is right at league average. His on-base ability and plate discipline will be much valued for getting through the lineup more quickly, forcing longer at-bats versus pitchers, and getting to the bullpen earlier in games. Another aspect of Collins that stands out in his Statcast data is that last season He was noticeably above league average in pulling fly balls into the air. With Kauffman Stadium announcing that it will be shortening the fences to left and right fields by 10 feet, this could have a positive impact on Collins' power output in Kauffman. Below are his spray charts against left-handed pitching (left) and right-handed pitching (right). And his fly ball success rate is much better (particularly against lefties) when pulling the ball. With closer walls, Collins could see a slight uptick in his home run production at Kauffman. Overall, it will be interesting to see how Collins’s second season in the major leagues will pan out. While there are signs that his production may have been lucky last season, there are signs that he can still provide positive value for this Royals offense moving into 2026. View the full article

Welcome to part six of North Side Baseball’s offseason series covering the 1918 Chicago Cubs. You can find the first five parts here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 In part six, we’ll examine how the Cubs performed in the month of July, including a wild, 21-inning affair. Another Showdown with the Giants The Cubs started July by taking five of seven from St. Louis to set up another series with the second-place New York Giants, this time a five-game set. With the Giants having started the month 2-4, the North Siders had a nice four-game cushion over New York in the National League standings. The Cubs took the first game 1-0, entirely thanks to Hippo Vaughn. The left-handed hurler threw 12 shutout innings and then drove in the walk-off run in the bottom of the 12th with a single. Shohei who? The second game was a 6-1 rout in favor of Chicago, with Phil Douglas throwing nine innings of one-run baseball and two hits and two RBIs from second-baseman Rollie Zeider. This put the Cubs six games up on the second-place Giants. The six-game lead would be short-lived. After splitting a double header the next day, the Giants came back from down 6-0 to win in 10 innings on a home run from Jim Thorpe. Yes, the very same Jim Thorpe that won two gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon in the 1912 Olympics. Despite the couple of losses to finish the series, the Cubs, at 50-23, were still five games up on the Giants and firmly in control of the National League. They proceeded to take four of five games from the Boston Braves, and then dropped two of the first three games in a four-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies. Game four of that series would pit Lefty Tyler against Milt Watson. A Historical Pitching Performance July 17, 1918 started as a normal baseball game. After the Phillies went three up, three down in the top half of the first inning, the Cubs jumped out to a lead in the bottom half. Max Flack walked, Charlie Hollocher singled him over to third, and Flack came around to score on a ground out from Les Mann. The Phillies tied things up in the fourth. An error from Hollocher put Cy Williams on base to start the inning, and he was plated after singles by Fred Luderus and Gavy Cravath. That next run wouldn’t be scored for 16 more innings. The Cubs managed to get runners into scoring position in the fifth, sixth, seventh, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, and 19th innings; however, every time, they failed to get even one run across. The Phillies, on the other hand, went without a baserunner in eight of the 17 innings following the fourth inning. Both Tyler and Watson were absolutely dealing. The game was going so long that, according to the Society for American Baseball Research, the umpires informed the teams that the game would be called at 7 P.M. so the Phillies could catch their 8 P.M. train. As the 21st inning got underway, the Cubs got a leadoff single from the seldom-used Turner Barber, who had pinch hit for Zeider. After Bill Killefer got hit by a pitch, the Cubs called on another pinch hitter, this time Bill McCabe, who would notch just 51 plate appearances for the Cubs that season. McCabe laid down a bunt that ended up going for a hit, which set up Flack with the bases loaded, who ended the game after 21 brutal innings. Per SABR, the game lasted approximately four hours. Both Lefty Tyler and Milt Watson pitched the whole thing. Tyler gave up 13 hits and one walk in his 21 innings pitched, allowing just one unearned run. Watson gave up 19 hits and four walks in his 20 innings pitched. Perhaps exhausted from a 21-inning marathon, the Cubs would go on to lose seven of 11 games to close the month. Despite a small rough patch, the team still stood at 60-32 as the calendar flipped to August. They were 3.5 games up on the second-place Giants, and with only two months left in the season, they had to feel good about their chances of playing in the World Series, which, back then, simply pitted the best team in the American League against the best team in the National League. Unfortunately, World War I loomed. Work or Fight At the start of July, Secretary of War Newton Baker issued a “work or fight” order. According to the Baseball Hall of Fame, this meant that all draft-eligible men must sign up for war-related work, or they risked being drafted to fight in the war. The New York Times wrote on July 20 that “both leagues will make an attempt to play out their schedules this season and many of the teams hope that they will be able to get some of their players exempted until the season ends because of the heavy contracts under which they are playing. However, baseball officials believe that under the ruling of Secretary Baker, no time exemption will be granted to any of the players.” The Times followed that up with more reporting on July 31. “While President John K. Turner of the National League is not in favor of playing a [World Series] with the American League this season, he is willing to abide by the decision of the clubs owners of the organization, and has called a meeting in [New York] on next Saturday at 10 o’clock.” With the fate of many of the league’s players up in the air, the National League was considering simply ending its season, with a meeting to happen in early August to discuss how to move forward. While still a far cry from the worldwide issues happening at the time, this was surely a devastating possibility for a Cubs team that currently sat in first place. View the full article

One of the most familiar feelings for Twins fans each winter is watching the calendar flip to January (and be there for a couple of weeks) while the roster still looks unfinished. Other teams make splashy moves in December. The Twins, under Derek Falvey, tend to wait. That patience can feel maddening in the moment, especially after a quiet Winter Meetings, but recent history shows there is at least some method behind the madness. Looking back at the past few offseasons is a helpful reminder that impactful additions do not always come early, and that value can still be found after the initial free-agent rush has passed. 2024-25 Offseason Last winter might be the cleanest example of how this approach can work. None of the Twins' three notable free-agent signings arrived until February. Harrison Bader, Danny Coulombe, and Ty France all came aboard late, and all three ended up providing real value. Bader could not have worked out much better. Expectations were modest, but he delivered more production at the plate than anticipated (113 OPS+) while continuing to play elite defense. His move from center field to a corner outfield role helped the defense. Coulombe was a low-cost addition at $3 million, but he gave the bullpen a veteran left-handed presence and bridged the gap to the late innings. France was below average offensively (87 OPS+), but his steady defense at first base was outstanding, culminating in a Gold Glove award. Waiting did not hurt the Twins last winter. In several ways, it helped. 2023-24 Offseason The 2023=2024 offseason followed a similar timeline, though with more mixed results. The Twins technically got started in late December, by signing reliever Josh Staumont. Still, the offseason did not truly take shape until the end of January, when Jorge Polanco was traded to the Seattle Mariners. That deal is still being evaluated through the long-term lens of Gabriel Gonzalez’s development. At the same time, Justin Topa could still play an essential role in the bullpen, especially if the Twins don’t make other additions this season. February brought Carlos Santana and Jay Jackson. Staumont and Jackson struggled and provided little value, but Santana eventually found his footing. His bat took time to warm up, but he finished the season as a productive contributor (109 OPS+). Defensively, he had one of the best seasons in team history, earning a Gold Glove. The late timing of these signings did not guarantee success across the board, but it did allow the Twins to address needs without overcommitting early. 2022-23 Offseason The outlier in this pattern came during the 2022-2023 offseason. That winter, the Twins moved quickly. Christian Vázquez (3-year deal) and Joey Gallo (1-year deal) signed in December. Then an unexpected opportunity arose in early January, when Carlos Correa became available again after failing physicals with two other clubs. The Twins pounced, reshaping their roster well before spring training. Even during a more aggressive winter, the front office still made a late addition, signing Donovan Solano near the end of February. In hindsight, that aggressive approach did not produce better results. Gallo was unplayable by the end of the season, with a .686 OPS in the second half. Vázquez provided defensive value behind the plate but saw his offense collapse during his time in Minnesota (60 OPS+). Correa’s contract has since been unloaded, leaving the Twins paying $10 million per year for him to play for the Astros over the next three seasons. Acting early did not insulate the team from risk or disappointment. So, what does all of this mean for the rest of the current Twins offseason? It means that silence in even the early part of January does not automatically signal failure. The front office has repeatedly shown a willingness to wait out the market, target specific fits, and strike when prices and roles make sense. That approach has frustrated fans plenty of times, but it has often led to solid outcomes. Patience does not guarantee success, and it does not remove the need for meaningful additions. However, history suggests that the Twins are comfortable letting the board come to them. As February approaches, the lesson from recent winters is simple. The offseason is not over yet, even if it feels like it has been dragging on forever. Will the Twins make any meaningful additions in the coming weeks? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Carlos Beltran is headed to Cooperstown! After receiving 358 votes (84.2%), the switch-hitting outfielder joins Andruw Jones as a member of the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame class. Beltran, drafted in the 2nd round of the 1995 MLB Amateur Draft, played his first seven of 20 seasons with the Kansas City Royals. The 18-year-old from Puerto Rico needed just a little over three seasons in the minor leagues to debut on September 14th, 1998. He made the 1999 Opening Day roster and never looked back, slashing .293/.337/.454 with 22 home runs and 27 stolen bases on his way to winning American League Rookie of the Year. He'd make his first All-Star Game in 2004, weeks after being traded to the Houston Astros. Across 795 games with the Royals, Beltran slashed .280/.369/.500 with 149 home runs and 100 stolen bases accuring 24.8 bWAR. Despite establishing himself as one of the premier center fielders in baseball, donning the Royals' royal blue, it wouldn't be until he joined the New York Mets that his production and talents were truly recognized. In all, he'd go on to finish his career with three Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, nine All-Star appearances, and a 2017 World Series champion. What hat will be featured on Beltran's bust? Let us know what you think in the comments. View the full article

As a lefty, it’s easy to spot other left-handers in the wild. We wear watches on our right wrist and typically have ink/pencil smudges on the outside of our left hand. In baseball, the tell is a bit more obvious — you just need to look at a player’s throwing arm. Following the acquisition of Ranger Suárez, the Boston Red Sox have a plethora of left-handed starters on their roster: Garrett Crochet Ranger Suárez Payton Tolle Connelly Early Patrick Sandoval Kyle Harrison That’s six lefties, before factoring in right-handers Sonny Gray, Brayan Bello, and Kutter Crawford. Crochet, Suárez, Gray, and Bello are guaranteed rotation spots (barring a potential Bello trade). It begs the question: how rare are lefty-heavy rotations? To avoid repeating myself, a lefty-heavy rotation is defined as one with three or more left-handed starters who have started at least 20 games. Data spans from 2010 to 2025. Since 2010, only 26 teams have featured lefty-heavy rotations. The White Sox ran one over four consecutive seasons (2013-2016), the longest streak in the dataset. The Red Sox followed with three straight from 2017 to 2019. Season Left-Handed Starters Lefty fWAR Rotation Rank 2017 Chris Sale, Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez 12.5 4th 2018 Chris Sale, David Price, Eduardo Rodriguez 10.6 8th 2019 Chris Sale, David Price, Eduardo Rodriguez 9.6 13th *David Price (1.1 fWAR) was part of the 2017 rotation, but injuries limited him to just 11 starts. Do southpaw-heavy rotations actually perform better? From our sample, such rotations do have a small edge. They average 2.5 more fWAR and a 55.3% win rate compared to 52.1% for the rest of the league. The average rotation has just 1.1 lefty starters with 20+ starts. Fielding three is almost triple the norm. The primary advantage lies in pitching depth, not pitcher handedness. Having three quality starters is rare. The Dodgers, Red Sox, and White Sox didn't just wake up one day with them. Their rotations were already headlined by Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw in their primes. Group Teams Avg fWAR Avg Win % 0-2 Lefties 423 9.0 51.9% 3+ Lefties 26 11.5 55.3% Duke Wheeler, a former reliever who briefly pitched for the Pirates in 2008, emphasized, "If everybody is effective and everybody is a little different, it can work out. If you have five quality starters, it really doesn't matter if it's right-handed or left-handed." The 2011 Phillies' rotation proves Wheeler's point. Their fabled Four Aces (and Joe Blanton) accumulated the highest fWAR in history (27.0) with just two lefties, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee, alongside righties Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Blanton. Rotations with four lefties are even rarer. There have only been four rotations in MLB history that featured four left-handed pitchers with at least 20 starts. body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; max-width: 900px; background: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } th { background: #1a1a2e; color: white; padding: 12px 16px; text-align: left; font-weight: 600; } td { padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; } tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tr:hover { background: #f8f9fa; } .season { font-weight: 600; } .team { font-weight: 600; color: #2563eb; } .war { text-align: center; font-weight: 600; color: #059669; } .record { text-align: center; } .names { font-size: 0.9em; color: #555; } Season Team Record Left-Handed Starters 1954 WSH 41-44 Mickey McDermott, Johnny Schmitz, Chuck Stobbs, Dean Stone 2013 CHW 28-42 José Quintana, Chris Sale, Héctor Santiago, John Danks 2015 CHW 38-42 José Quintana, Chris Sale, John Danks, Carlos Rodón 2017 LAD 50-24 Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Alex Wood, Hyun Jin Ryu Lefty-heavy rotation outcomes vary. Teams need a well-rounded roster to make a deep run in the postseason. The White Sox appear in the top 10 three times (2014, 2015, and 2016), but finished towards the bottom of the American League Central each year. The other seven teams played in October, but their performance varied due to roster construction. The 2011 Rangers had power hitters Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, and Ian Kinsler slug the team to the World Series. The Red Sox’s exit in the 2017 American League Division Series highlighted that they needed a power bat. The next season, J.D. Martinez and Steve Pearce provided thump to their lineup, and the team came out on top with a World Series title. Righty Nathan Eovaldi was also a key contributor on the mound. Then, there’s the 2025 Phillies. Their pitching was strong, but their offense ultimately came up short in a gut-wrenching National League Division Series loss. The 2026 Red Sox are hoping to avoid a similar fate. body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; width: auto; background: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } th, td { padding: 14px 16px; text-align: left; } th { background: #1a1a2e; color: white; font-weight: 600; } td { border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; } tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tr:hover { background: #f8f9fa; } .season { width: 60px; } td.season { font-weight: 600; } .team { width: 50px; } .rank { text-align: center; width: 80px; } .count { text-align: center; width: 55px; } .war { text-align: center; width: 65px; } th.war { text-align: center; } .names { font-size: 0.95em; } td.team { } td.war { text-align: center; } td.names { color: #000; } Top 10 Lefty-Heavy Rotations (2010-2025) Season Team Rotation Rank Lefties Lefty fWAR Pitchers 2025 PHI 1st 3 15.8 Jesús Luzardo, Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez 2015 CHW 8th 4 13.0 José Quintana, Chris Sale, John Danks, Carlos Rodón 2016 CHW 9th 3 12.9 Chris Sale, José Quintana, Carlos Rodón 2017 BOS 4th 3 12.5 Chris Sale, Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez 2011 TEX 3rd 3 12.2 C.J. Wilson, Derek Holland, Matt Harrison 2013 LAD 2nd 3 12.1 Clayton Kershaw, Hyun Jin Ryu, Chris Capuano 2022 LAD 5th 3 10.9 Julio Urías, Tyler Anderson, Clayton Kershaw 2018 BOS 8th 3 10.6 David Price, Chris Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez 2014 CHW 17th 3 10.5 John Danks, José Quintana, Chris Sale 2017 LAD 5th 4 10.1 Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Alex Wood, Hyun Jin Ryu With Suárez in the fold, FanGraphs projects the Red Sox to have the best starting rotation in baseball. Garrett Crochet and Suárez anchor the top of the rotation. Payton Tolle and Connelly Early will likely start the season in Triple-A Worcester. When an inevitable injury hits, one of them will be called up. If either reaches 20 starts, the Red Sox could field its first lefty-heavy rotation in six years. Pitching depth alone doesn’t win titles. At the plate, the Red Sox rank 21st in FanGraphs projected batting WAR (21.8), and they must strengthen their infield before Opening Day. However, it's clear that this team has built up an inherent advantage by accruing so many arms from the left side — now they need to capitalize upon it. body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; width: auto; background: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } th, td { padding: 14px 18px; text-align: left; } th { background: #1a1a2e; color: white; font-weight: 600; } td { border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; } tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tr:hover { background: #f8f9fa; } .season { font-weight: 600; } .num { text-align: center; } .names { font-size: 0.95em; color: #444; } body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; width: auto; background: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } th, td { padding: 14px 16px; text-align: left; } th { background: #1a1a2e; color: white; font-weight: 600; } td { border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; } tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tr:hover { background: #f8f9fa; } .season { width: 60px; } td.season { font-weight: 600; } .team { width: 50px; } .rank { text-align: center; width: 80px; } .count { text-align: center; width: 55px; } .war { text-align: center; width: 65px; } th.war { text-align: center; } .names { font-size: 0.95em; } td.team { } td.war { text-align: center; } td.names { color: #000; } body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; width: auto; background: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } th, td { padding: 14px 18px; text-align: left; } th { background: #1a1a2e; color: white; font-weight: 600; } td { border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; } tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tr:hover { background: #f8f9fa; } .group { font-weight: 600; } .num { text-align: center; } View the full article

As rumours swirl about what the Jays will do after missing out on Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, one name that could really make a difference isn’t Cody Bellinger. The Jays outfield is already full enough; what the team needs is a left-handed hitting utility player who can play anywhere on the diamond. They need a player who has some pop in his bat and provides flexibility with club control. The remaining players on the free agent market don’t meet those characteristics. Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals is that player. Donovan is not a household superstar. He does not hit 35 home runs a year, nor does he carry the marketing weight of a franchise cornerstone. He is the type of player winning teams covet: a left‑handed, high‑contact, high‑OBP, multi‑positional grinder whose presence elevates the players around him. He is the modern Ben Zobrist archetype. Zobrist, best remembered for his time with the Rays and Cubs, is still talked about for how his value was greater than the sum of his parts. Donovan is the type of player that can slide into the lead-off or second spot and make an immediate impact on the offence. He represents an opportunity to reshape the Jays' identity without sacrificing their long‑term flexibility. And for the Cardinals, whose position player surplus and pitching deficiencies have created an imbalance, Donovan represents a chance to address organizational needs through a strategic trade. Without Bichette or Tucker, the Jays' lineup is still strong, but it lacks balance, power and aggression. A bounce-back season by Anthony Santander would surely help, but placing all their eggs in that one basket doesn’t bode well. What the team needs is a dependable left-handed bat that can help them build upon their strong offensive output last season, when they scored the fourth-most runs in MLB and had the third-highest OPS, with the best contact numbers in baseball. No team can cash in every opportunity with runners on base, but finding hitters who make consistent contact is key. A trade for Donovan won’t come cheap. He is a strong contact hitter who is disciplined, offers a low chase rate and consistent contact. He is similar to a left-handed version of Ernie Clement with more patience at the plate. The Jays have long sought a player of this profile. They pursued Michael Brantley twice. They have cycled through internal options like Cavan Biggio. They have tried to manufacture balance through platoons and role players. None have provided the stability Donovan offers. Donovan boasts high contact rates, low strikeout rates (13% in 2025) and excellent on-base skills, making him a perfect table-setter for a contender. He is the type of hitter who extends innings and forces pitchers to work. He is the type of hitter who makes stars better by getting on base ahead of them. He is the type of hitter who raises the floor of an offense. He is the type of hitter that matches the offensive philosophy of the Toronto Blue Jays. Beyond his bat, he has played every position except catcher and centre field. More importantly, he plays them well enough to start. Donovan won the inaugural Rawlings National League Utility Gold Glove Award in 2022. That in itself makes a trade seem more realistic, as he could fill the void of Bichette, Isiah Kiner‑Falefa or Ty France. Not only that, but Donovan would help the team move players around without weakening the lineup, protect against injuries, optimize matchups, keep veterans fresh and avoid forcing prospects into roles prematurely. There are so many positives in Donovan’s favour, and he is also under club control through 2027. If they can acquire him, he would provide cost-controlled stability, allowing for the front office to think about 2027 and beyond. The big question is, what is a trade like this going to take? Like all trades, it will come down to what the Jays have to offer. A busy offseason has built up an overflowing roster, with some pieces that might be appealing to the Cardinals. St. Louis is in the midst of a fire sale. They have already traded veterans Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado, and it doesn’t sound like they are done. The Jays haven’t been linked to Donovan in talks yet. Instead, the Mariners, Giants, Red Sox, Royals and Astros have been suitors for the coveted second baseman. The Cardinals have said they’d like to have a deal done prior to spring training. No deal yet means the price must be hefty. The Cardinals need pitching, and they want power. Their rotation has been a problem for years. They have tried bargain veterans, pitch‑to‑contact arms, and reclamation projects. None have provided the stability or upside they need. One scenario could see the Jays offer Bowden Francis and Davis Schneider for Donovan. The Cardinals get a player who could slide into their starting rotation and an affordable utility player with control. Francis seems to be one of the odd men out within a packed Blue Jays starting rotation and bullpen, given the additions of Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Chase Lee and Tyler Rogers. More likely, the Cardinals will be looking for a legitimate prospect like Ricky Tiedemann (JC No. 5) or Adam Macko in the deal. Tiedemann is reported to be close to breaking through with the Jays, so he would be the more obvious attraction for St. Louis. The Jays have some pitching depth and a log-jam in the outfield, so such a trade could be win-win for both the Jays and Cardinals. Brendan Donovan is the type of player who changes a team’s identity without dominating headlines. He offers contact, versatility, leadership, and two years of control. Whether the deal involves prospects or mid‑tier pitching, the logic remains the same: Donovan is a perfect fit for Toronto, and Toronto has the assets to acquire him. Missing out on Tucker and Bichette put a damper on what was looking like one of the strongest offseasons in the team’s history. The Jays just need one more move to complement their transactions thus far, and a trade for Donovan could do just that. The resulting balanced, patient and powerful lineup, not to mention the added positional flexibility, would strengthen an already strong 2026 Blue Jays team. 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The internal debates were especially heated this time around, which bodes well for the long-term outlook of the Miami Marlins organization. Miami's farm system is deep. At Fish On First, we rank only 30 prospects at a time—there are dozens of others worth monitoring closely who could realistically grow into major league roles in the future. Each player's previous ranking—as of October 3—is shown in parentheses. Click the hyperlink in a player's name to visit their prospect profile. FOF Top 30 as of January 21, 2026 LHP Thomas White C Joe Mack LHP Robby Snelling OF Owen Caissie OF Dillon Lewis RHP Kevin Defrank INF Aiva Arquette SS Starlyn Caba OF Dillon Head OF Kemp Alderman INF/OF Andrew Salas OF Luis Cova RHP Karson Milbrandt OF Cam Cannarella INF Maximo Acosta OF Andrés Valor OF Brendan Jones RHP Eliazar Dishmey OF Fenwick Trimble INF Santiago Solarte LHP Keyner Benitez RHP Noble Meyer INF Cristian Hernández OF Esmil Valencia RHP Josh White OF PJ Morlando RHP Josh Ekness 1B Deyvison De Los Santos OF Brandon Compton INF Juan Matheus Removed since the previous update: INF Jared Serna (#24), RHP Nigel Belgrave (#25), INF Luis Arana (#26), RHP Liomar Martínez (#27), INF Drew Faurot (#28), C Ryan Ignoffo (#29) and OF Matthew Etzel (#30) are no longer ranked. Honorable mentions: OF José Castro, OF Brandon Compton and INF Ronny Muñoz. The next detailed update to the FOF Top 30 will be coming in March during spring training. View the full article

Several times throughout the year, in response to new information, recent on-field performances and player movement, the Fish On First staff revises our ranking of Miami Marlins top prospects. The table below illustrates how each player's position on the FOF Top 30 has changed from one update to the next. Any prospect who appeared on a Top 30 list over the last 12 months is included in the table, which is sorted in alphabetical order. "UR" means the player was in the Marlins organization at the time, but not a Top 30 prospect "N/A" means the player was either not with the organization or has graduated from prospect eligibility. Name January 2025 March 2025 May 2025 August 2025 October 2025 January 2026 Anthony Abreu UR UR UR 25 UR UR Maximo Acosta 25 15 14 11 12 15 Kemp Alderman UR UR 23 16 8 10 Aiva Arquette N/A N/A N/A 3 4 7 Nigel Belgrave UR UR 30 28 25 UR Keyner Benitez 27 18 17 15 17 21 Starlyn Caba 3 2 5 8 9 8 Owen Caissie N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 4 Cam Cannarella N/A N/A N/A 17 14 14 Brandon Compton N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 29 Luis Cova 19 21 20 13 10 12 Juan De La Cruz 20 22 UR UR UR UR Deyvison De Los Santos 5 7 9 18 23 28 Kevin Defrank 14 16 15 6 5 6 Eliazar Dishmey 29 28 UR 21 15 18 Josh Ekness UR 30 26 24 22 27 Drew Faurot N/A N/A N/A UR 28 UR Dax Fulton 17 14 13 27 UR UR Dillon Head 12 9 7 9 8 10 Cristian Hernández N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 23 Ryan Ignoffo UR UR UR UR 29 UR Chase Jaworsky N/A N/A N/A 23 UR UR Carter Johnson 9 12 16 30 UR UR Brendan Jones N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 17 Luis León 28 UR UR UR UR UR Dillon Lewis N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 5 Joe Mack 11 8 3 2 2 2 Jakob Marsee 22 24 24 7 N/A N/A Liomar Martínez UR UR 28 UR 27 UR Juan Matheus N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 30 Aiden May 26 27 29 UR UR UR Adam Mazur 10 11 8 10 N/A N/A Victor Mesa Jr. 13 17 19 UR UR UR Noble Meyer 7 5 10 14 18 22 Karson Milbrandt 21 23 21 20 13 13 Jacob Miller 24 26 22 UR UR UR PJ Morlando 16 19 18 19 16 26 Andrew Pintar 23 25 25 UR UR UR Agustín Ramírez 4 3 2 N/A N/A N/A Andrew Salas 2 4 4 5 6 11 Javier Sanoja 18 20 N/A N/A N/A N/A Jared Serna 8 10 11 22 24 UR Grant Shepardson UR UR 27 29 UR UR Robby Snelling 6 6 6 4 3 3 Santiago Solarte N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 20 Fenwick Trimble UR UR 30 UR 20 19 Esmil Valencia N/A N/A N/A 26 19 24 Andrés Valor 15 13 12 12 11 16 Echedry Vargas 30 29 UR UR UR UR Josh White UR UR UR UR 21 25 Thomas White 1 1 1 1 1 1 View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers have found common ground with the San Diego Padres multiple times during the tenure of Padres executive A.J. Preller. The extremely aggressive Preller is budget-constrained, but not in the same ways the Brewers are, and the two teams share enough overlap in the way they evaluate players to match up on deals when their specific needs don't compete with each other too much to allow it. In late 2019, the Crew swapped Trent Grisham and Zach Davies to San Diego, landing Luis Urías and Eric Lauer. In early 2022, they filled their emergent need for catching depth by acquiring Victor Caratini from San Diego, and that summer, they dealt Josh Hader to the Padres for four players. Last July, Milwaukee shipped Nestor Cortes and Jorge Quintana for Brandon Lockridge. It's hardly surprising, therefore, that the Padres have become a dark horse in the race for Freddy Peralta, whom the Brewers continue to shop as spring training draws near. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported their interest this week, which affirms reporting we brought to you here in mid-December. In this case, though, no perfect fit exists for the two teams. San Diego's farm system has been hollowed out by trades and aggressive promotions, and their roster is loaded with talented but expensive players. The Padres' only prospects with substantial appeal are at least a year away from helping in the majors, which the Brewers rightfully consider disqualifying in Peralta negotiations. The only solid big-leaguers San Diego is willing to move are those beyond the Brewers' means, in terms of short- and medium-term payroll. There's just no way for the clubs to align on a deal by themselves. That doesn't mean Peralta couldn't end up on the Padres. It just means that any trade sending him there would have to include three teams. Given the situation San Diego finds itself in, there are two ways that could happen. Scenario 1: One In, One Out Along with rumors of their hope to add a starter before spring training, the Padres have expressed at least a willingness to consider subtracting one, according to two league sources. Starter Nick Pivetta had a sparkling first season in San Diego, with a 2.87 ERA in 182 innings, but he's owed $19 million for 2026. He can opt out of his deal after either 2026 or 2027, but is guaranteed $14 million and $18 million, respectively, if he elects to stick around. Though Peralta would be a one-year rental, that's effectively the situation with Pivetta, as well, and Peralta comes at a much lower price tag, with a better long-term track record. Unlike Pivetta, Peralta would also be eligible to receive a qualifying offer in November, as long as a deal gets done before Opening Day. Thus, one version of this potential trade would send Peralta to the Padres and Pivetta to a contending team looking to finish building their rotation. Unlike some other deals structured the way it is, Pivetta's is eminently tradable. He made just $3 million in 2025, so the competitive-balance tax salary number for him is $13.75 million per year. That's very affordable for a pitcher of his skills, and whereas similar deals for other pitchers have left would-be suitors worried about holding the bag if the hurler got hurt, this one contains conditional options for either 2027 or 2029, should Pivetta suffer a major injury and spend a prolonged period on the injured list. Those options give the team the chance either to retain him on the cheap or (even if he won't be available for much of the season in question) to further deflate the tax hit of the deal. The team from suburban Atlanta would be interested in Pivetta. So would the Orioles, the Yankees or the Mets. It might require the Padres sending one of their prospects who remains far from the majors to Milwaukee to complement a lower-ceiling but MLB-ready piece from Pivetta's new club, but that's one way this framework could play out. If the Padres and Peralta agreed to an extension as a condition of a deal, it could further goose the return for Milwaukee. Scenario 2: Finding a Talent Sink The big obstacle in matching up the Padres and the Brewers is less the quality of the former's top prospects than their inability to help Milwaukee defend its run of three straight NL Central titles or push forward toward their next World Series appearance. In another variation on this deal, then, the two teams would seek out a team who isn't ready to compete in 2026, but who has one or more controllable players who can help a contender this year and beyond. That team would ship a young, valuable player to the Brewers, getting multiple good but far-off prospects from the Padres, while Peralta would join San Diego. After a leadership change last year, the Nationals are taking a step back to prepare for contention in the long term. MacKenzie Gore has just one more year of team control than Peralta, but he'd certainly let the Crew stay in the fight for the Central. Infielder CJ Abrams has three years of team control left and a dynamic offensive profile. That's one high-profile example of a team in the right competitive spot, but not the only one. The Rays have signaled a willingness to move backward this season and surge forward thereafter. The Athletics are trying to get the timing right on a return to contention, as they plot their move to a permanent home in Las Vegas. The Rockies, Angels, Marlins and Cardinals all clearly fall into this bucket of teams; the Twins might be drawn into it for the right deal. Because there are fewer complications surrounding their pursuits, the Mets, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Giants are more likely landing spots for Peralta than the Padres. Still, a deal between the Brewers and San Diego is possible, because when Preller wants a player badly enough, he often finds the dexterity to thread the needle and sew up the transaction. View the full article

Another day, another Boston Red Sox trade talks rumor. This time it involves the Houston Astros, who've they've previously discussed a trade with around third baseman Isaac Paredes. Well, he is still the primary target for the Red Sox; it appears the initial talks of Houston receiving a starting pitcher have shifted to an outfielder. Matt Couture of the Raise the Banner podcast is reporting that "talks continue" between the two teams and adds that outfielder Jarren Duran is the focal point for the Astros. Couture previously said to "keep an eye out" for a deal involving starting pitcher Brayan Bello. Separately, Chandler Rome, who covers the Astros for The Athletic, said that there is "nothing close at this time" and that "Wilyer Abreu intrigues them maybe a little bit more than Duran." You might recall the Astros traded Abreu to the Red Sox at the 2022 trade deadline for catcher Christian Vazquez. Drop your hypothetical trade packages in the comments! View the full article

Entering the 2026 MLB regular season, four of the Minnesota Twins’ five rotation spots are filled, headlined by co-aces Pablo López and Joe Ryan, popular bounce-back candidate Bailey Ober, and an experienced but still developing Simeon Woods Richardson. Zebby Matthews, Taj Bradley, David Festa, and Mick Abel will compete for the club’s fifth spot during spring That eight-pitcher collection is one of the most accomplished, talented, and deep groups that president of baseball operations Derek Falvey has constructed, with the 2023 septet of López, Ryan, Ober, Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda, Tyler Mahle, and Louis Varland being the only close competition. Again, López and Ryan are the two best arms among the eight pitchers listed. Understandably so, many who follow the Twins would be quick to list Ober as the third most talented arm in the collective. Since 2023 (when López joined Minnesota), Ober has been Minnesota’s third-most effective starting pitcher according to wins above replacement at FanGraphs (fWAR), netting 6.6 during that three-season stretch, trailing Ryan’s 8.6 and López’s 9.6. Yet, after a career-worst performance last season (5.10 ERA and 4.90 FIP over 146 1/3 innings pitched), Ober might no longer be the club’s third-best starter, with Woods Richardson potentially surpassing him. Despite being demoted to Triple-A St. Paul from mid-May to early June, Woods Richardson improved in his second season as a full-time starter, posting a 4.04 ERA, 4.52 FIP, and a 107-to-46 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 111 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old stood out after the trade deadline, generating a 3.52 ERA, 3.95 FIP, and an elite 31.1% strikeout rate over 30 2/3 innings pitched. Given Ryan’s second-half struggles and López’s extended absence, the young righty operated as Minnesota’s best starting pitcher over the final two months. Meanwhile, Ober sputtered, posting a 4.80 ERA and a 4.32 FIP, with his average four-seam fastball velocity sitting below 90 miles per hour. Woods Richardson vastly outperformed Ober late last season, and that trend could continue in 2026. The primary reason Woods Richardson has plausibly usurped Ober as Minnesota’s third-most effective starting pitcher is the continued refinement and improvement of his arsenal. The young righty’s average four-seam fastball velocity has steadily increased over his first four seasons in the majors, settling at 93.2 MPH in 2025. His slider and splitter each flashed above-average. Ober, on the other hand, has undergone a meaningful decrease in average four-seam velo, with the pitch dropping from 91.7 MPH in 2024 (his best season) to sitting at 90.3 MPH last season. Despite still possessing a plus changeup, he's gone backward, with the velocity just one culprit. His slider also went off the rails last year. Obviously, much of Minnesota’s rotation success will be contingent on López and Ryan performing on par with or better than their career norms while remaining healthy. Still, Ober and Woods Richardson will play substantial roles in the club’s efforts to field a plus rotation. As noted earlier, Ober’s struggles could have been the product of him pitching through injury. Still, if he continues to pitch poorly early next season and Woods Richardson continues to progress, the latter could solidify himself as Minnesota’s newest frontline arm. If more than one of those young hurlers forces the issue, it could be Ober whose job is in jeopardy, rather than Woods Richardson's. View the full article

The Cubs were standing on the edge of the diving board for most of the MLB free-agent pool this offseason, waiting to jump in. Then, they decided to cannonball into the deep end. Chicago's five-year, $175 million agreement with third baseman Alex Bregman creates an enormous splash that will produce many ripples. One of the biggest resulting questions is Matt Shaw's future with the team. Is he a trade chip? Is he a utility player? Is he the new second baseman, with Nico Hoerner being shipped out? Another is whether the club will jump back into the market in the next month, and, if so, what will they target. That's what we'll dive into here. Jed Hoyer and company might have some money to make more moves this offseason. They can thank the structure of Bregman's contract for that. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported last week that $70 million of the deal will be deferred, lowering the average annual value (AAV) for competitive-balance tax (CBT) purposes to around $30.9 million. Cot's Contracts projects the Cubs' 2026 competitive-balance tax number to be $240.6 million, just below the first tax threshold of $244 million. Roster Resource has made a similar calculation, at $243.5 million. How could the Cubs add major-league free agents if they're up against the ceiling? First, The club stayed under the CBT in 2025, so it would pay the lowest penalties for going over it this year. They got permission to exceed the first threshold this year, in order to sign Bregman. Besides, there's plenty of time to subtract salary before the postseason calculations are made, like moving Hoerner's $12 million or Jameson Taillon’s $18 million. So, where could the club's possible payroll flexibility be directed? Let's go group by group. Rotation: The Cubs don't have a pressing need for an arm after acquiring Edward Cabrera in a trade with the Marlins. They can continue to shop for discounts, but it seems very unlikely that they’ll allocate any more money to this department of the roster. Bullpen: The Cubs have already done a lot in the pen this offseason. They've re-signed Caleb Thielbar, added major-league free agents Hunter Harvey, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner and Jacob Webb, and signed a handful of free agents to minor-league deals. The club will keep shopping in this market, but with limited roster flexibility, it probably won't sign a higher-dollar veteran such as Seranthony Dominguez. Instead, they'll likely add depth relievers who have minor-league options, through lower-priced signings, trades and/or waiver claims. Lineup: No Cody Bellinger reunion is forthcoming. All nine position player spots are accounted for, with Shaw or Hoerner manning second base. Manager Craig Counsell can employ a rotation at DH, with Bregman, Seiya Suzuki, Moisés Ballesteros and Tyler Austin as the primary options. Bench: This is the other area where the Cubs can and should add. An outfield bat feels like the play, since prospect Kevin Alcántara is the lone backup on the 40-man roster. Harrison Bader has become too expensive after his 2025 season, but Austin Hays is still on the market. So are Miguel Andujar (to whom Chicago has been connected recently), Randal Grichuk, Tommy Pham and old friend Mike Tauchman. If Shaw or Hoerner are dealt, however, the need will shift to the infield. It’s unlikely the team will be comfortable handing an important backup role to either James Triantos or Pedro Ramírez, the incumbent options on the 40-man. Signing Bregman was a splashy move that made the Cubs objectively better, but it didn’t solve all of their roster problems. They still need to get better on the margins. They must add a veteran hitter to supplement Ballesteros and Alcántara, or to improve on Austin, who hasn’t played in the majors in seven years. More pitching is a must, too. The Brewers aren’t going away, and both the Reds and Pirates are lurking in the division. The Cubs need to prepare for that fight now. View the full article

We all know the San Diego Padres are in need of another arm (or two) for the starting rotation, and with the way the free-agent market is moving, there are still plenty of fish in the sea. But according to a report Tuesday by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Friars president of baseball operations A.J. Preller is willing to do what he did last offseason — wait out the market and save some cash. That strategy for the rotation worked very well a year ago as the Padres brought in right-hander Nick Pivetta on a backloaded four-year, $55 million contract with opt-outs after 2026 and 2027. Pivetta was paid just $2.5 million in 2025 and jumps to $20.5 million this year. Of course, Pivetta emerged with the best season of his nine-year career. Pivetta went 13-7 with a 3.49 FIP, 2.87 ERA, and 149 ERA+ in a career-high 181⅔ innings. Pivetta also remains a hot trade target, which would create an issue for the Padres unless an MLB-ready arm is part of the return. Pivetta is likely to be the Opening Day starter this year, with Michael King, Joe Musgrove, Randy Vasquez, and JP Sears likely filling out the rotation. Musgrove is coming back from Tommy John surgery. View the full article

Over the weekend, Chicago Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins suggested that the franchise is willing to surpass the competitive balance tax threshold and pay luxury tax in the 2026 season, given the team's status as a contender. While it was initially thought that it would impact a potential return in a Matt Shaw or Nico Hoerner deal, recent reports suggest that the Cubs may not be done in free agency. While on 670 The Score, Bruce Levine reported that talks between the Cubs and Zac Gallen are (still) "ongoing". It was erroneously reported over a month ago that the two sides had agreed to a deal. Additionally, Jon Heyman of the NY Post is reporting that the Cubs are one of many teams interested in utility man Miguel Andujar. For a dive into Gallen, be sure to check out our own Matthew Trueblood's analysis from early December. We at Diamond Centric predict that Gallen will sign a four-year, $74 million deal. On the other hand, Andujar is a new name in the fold. At 31 years old, Andujar is coming off his best season with a .822 OPS (125 wRC+) and 10 home runs. With the Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds, he played a little bit in each of the corner infield and corner outfield spots. The need for Andujar is questionable as the team is flush with versatile depth after acquiring Alex Bregman, Tyler Austin, and Justin Dean this offseason. However, Andujar would represent an upgrade over the latter two names. Do you think the Cubs should sign either or both players? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

The Miami Marlins swung a trade with the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday morning for right-handed starting pitcher Bradley Blalock, as first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN. The Rockies are receiving minor league arm Jake Brooks in exchange, according to Francys Romero. Neither team has officially announced the move yet. Blalock, 25, posted a 9.36 ERA in Denver a season ago throughout 14 appearances, 12 of which were starts. The 32nd-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft made his debut in Milwaukee in 2024 before being shipped to the Mile High City in late July. In terms of a reclamation project, the Loganville, GA, native has appeal. Blalock boasts a five-pitch arsenal—four-seam, slider, splitter, curveball, cutter—and one of the highest arm angles in all of MLB at 62 degrees. With Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers off to the North Side of Chicago and the Bronx, respectively, Blalock will be an interesting follow in spring training. Daniel Moskos and Co. are tasked with tapping into what they did a year ago with low-profile pitching acquisitions like Tyler Phillips, Janson Junk, etc. Blalock has one minor league option remaining. The Marlins will have to make a corresponding 40-man roster move to finalize this acquisition. Departing the organization is Brooks, who despite being around six months younger than Blalock, just arrived at the Double-A level in 2025. Selected in the 11th round of the 2023 draft, the former UCLA Bruin was stellar to begin his pro career in Low-A Jupiter, assuming the role as the team's ace while boasting for a 2.28 ERA on the season. A bump in competition to High-A Beloit and AA Pensacola was unfriendly to Brooks, as evidenced by a ERA spike and opponents batting .274 between both levels, though he continues to show great command of his sinker/slider/changeup mix. View the full article

When conversations turn to Minnesota Twins franchise favorites, it is easy to focus on the bats that carried October runs or the defenders who made iconic plays. Just as often, however, the foundation of Twins baseball has been the men on the mound. From Hall of Fame starters to lockdown closers, the organization has consistently produced pitchers who defined eras and gave fans confidence every fifth day or in the ninth inning. MLB Network has been creating lists of the franchise favorites for the lineup and pitching staff. Last week, I attempted to create the Franchise Favorite Lineup; it led to plenty of discussion. Minnesota’s best players can be debated, and that adds to the intrigue of the exercise. Here are five starters and relievers, with some honorable mentions at both spots. SP: Johan Santana (36.1 rWAR, 10th in franchise history) Santana stands at the top of any Twins pitching discussion. At his peak, Santana was not just the best pitcher in franchise history, but one of the most dominant arms in baseball. His two Cy Young Awards and ability to control games made him appointment viewing. For a stretch in the mid-2000s, the Twins felt they had the best pitcher in the sport, and that advantage shaped the entire organization. SP: Bert Blyleven (48.9 rWAR, 5th in franchise history) Blyleven represents both longevity and excellence. His curveball became legendary, and his statistical résumé places him among the game's greats. While some of his best years came elsewhere, Blyleven’s time with the Twins included critical contributions to championship teams. His Hall of Fame plaque connects Minnesota to baseball history in a tangible way. SP: Brad Radke (45.3 rWAR, 6th in franchise history) Radke may not have the same national recognition as others on this list, but his importance to the Twins cannot be overstated. Radke was reliability personified, taking the ball year after year and giving the team a chance to win even when the rest of the roster floundered around him. In an era defined by efficiency and control, Radke embodied what the Twins valued in a frontline starter. SP: Jim Kaat (35.6 rWAR, 11th in franchise history) Kaat bridged generations of Twins baseball. His durability and competitive edge anchored the early years of the franchise, and his success helped establish credibility for a young organization. Kaat’s career longevity and eventual Hall of Fame induction underscore his importance both in Minnesota and beyond. SP: Jack Morris (2.1 rWAR) Morris brings big-game gravity. While his time with the Twins was brief, his impact was unforgettable. Morris’s performance in the 1991 World Series remains one of the most iconic pitching efforts in baseball history, and that single season cemented his place in Twins lore. He might be the most debatable name on the list, but his place in franchise history is hard to ignore. RP: Joe Nathan (18.4 rWAR) Out of the bullpen, Nathan is the standard, with a borderline Hall of Fame career. He transformed the closer role in Minnesota, combining dominance with consistency. He ended his career with 377 saves, and 260 of those came in a Twins uniform. Ninth innings felt shorter when Nathan was on the mound, and his run as one of baseball’s elite closers gave the Twins a level of certainty that few teams enjoyed. RP: Rick Aguilera (15.5 rWAR) Aguilera served as the Twins’ primary closer for nearly a decade, finishing his Minnesota career with 254 saves, the most in franchise history until Nathan arrived. Beyond the numbers, Aguilera was trusted in the most significant moments, anchoring the bullpen during the 1991 championship season. His ability to execute in October solidified his place among the most essential pitchers the Twins have ever had. RP: Glen Perkins (9.0 rWAR) Perkins represents the modern Twins reliever who also carried emotional weight with the fan base. A Minnesota native who became a three-time All-Star closer, Perkins brought both performance and connection. His peak seasons reminded fans that bullpen dominance could still be homegrown. RP: Eddie Guardado (9.5 rWAR) Guardado thrived in chaos. Nicknamed “Everyday Eddie” for a reason, he took the ball whenever needed and delivered in countless high-leverage moments. His versatility and fearlessness made him one of the most trusted arms of his era. RP: Jhoan Duran (7.3 rWAR) Duran is the newest name on the list, but his inclusion already feels justified. With triple-digit velocity and a devastating breaking ball, Duran has redefined what is possible out of the Twins' bullpen. His trade last year was disappointing, because he could have been one of the top relievers in team history had he stayed in Minnesota. Though it will be a footnote instead of a headline in team history due to his early exit, the electricity of Duran's signature entrances is one of the brightest spots in an often dark recent stretch of team lore. The honorable mentions highlight the depth of Minnesota's pitching history. Starters like Camilo Pascual, Dave Goltz, Frank Viola, and Jim Perry each had stretches where they carried the rotation and left a lasting imprint. In the bullpen, Taylor Rogers, Griffin Jax, Juan Rincon, Al Worthington, and LaTroy Hawkins all played key roles in stabilizing late innings across different eras. Leaving any of them off a favorites list is less an indictment than a reminder of how many meaningful arms have passed through the organization. Together, this group tells the story of the Twins through pitching. It is a history built on reliability, timely dominance, and moments that still linger in the memory of anyone who has followed the team long enough. Who would you add to the list? Who should be taken off? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

During their recent run of success, the Brewers have been famous for some late signings that ended up paying off big-time. For instance, Jose Quintana became a rotation mainstay in 2025, helping the team power through early injuries. Could they find similar magic again in 2026? Milwaukee currently boasts a deep starting rotation, featuring Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, Jacob Misiorowski, Quinn Priester, Chad Patrick, Logan Henderson, Robert Gasser, Carlos Rodriguez, and Tobias Myers as candidates to fill slots. That doesn’t include current relief options Ángel Zerpa, DL Hall, and Aaron Ashby. So, why consider adding a free agent or two? Firstly, Woodruff, Henderson, Gasser, and Myers all spent time on the injured list in 2025. So did Hall and Ashby. That’s half of the rotation candidates. Top depth starter Cameron Crow also has an injury history, and Peralta could very well be traded. You really can’t have too many starting pitchers. Here are four names the team could still pluck from free agency for help, in the event of a trade or injuries. Jordan Montgomery Montgomery will still be recovering from his second Tommy John surgery in the early part of 2026, likely not being available until the All-Star Break. The Brewers could consider signing him to a Woodruff-esque deal ($3 million in 2026, $7 million in 2027, and a $15 million mutual option with a $2.5 million buyout for 2028). It would be like getting a solid starter as a mid-season acquisition, without paying the price in terms of prospects. The Brewers acquired Montgomery along with Shelby Miller this July, in exchange for a player to be named later. By taking on the money remaining on Montgomery's deal with the Diamondbacks, the Crew avoided having to give up any meaningful prospect to get Miller, but they also bought some time to work with Montgomery and oversee his rehab process in the wake of surgery. The deal didn’t quite work; Miller was lost for the season due to injury. Bringing Montgomery back could make some good come out of it, after all. Nestor Cortes The Brewers hoped Cortes would be a solid piece of the rotation in 2025, when he was acquired in the Devin Williams trade. Instead, he was injured early in the season and eventually traded to the Padres (with shortstop Jorge Quintana) for Brandon Lockridge. Before 2025, Cortes had been a solid starting pitcher, including being a top-10 Cy Young vote recipient in 2022. Milwaukee’s brought pitchers back from the brink before, and Cortes could be the latest in that line. Besides, if Cortes has a dominant year, the Brewers could issue the qualifying offer and get a compensatory draft pick. A one-year, $3-million deal for 2026 with a $10-million mutual option for 2027 (and a $2-million buyout) could bring Cortes back, if no stronger an offer materializes for him. Jose Quintana Quintana was such a late signing that Milwaukee had to option him to the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Brewers and couldn’t bring him up until two weeks into the regular season. Thereafter, though, he was a solid presence in the rotation who ate innings and gave the bullpen much-needed breaks when he was on the mound. Quintana took $4 million to come to Milwaukee in 2025, but made another $4.65 million in incentives based on innings and starts. This year, Milwaukee could offer him $5 million on a one-year deal, and then a mutual option for $10 million in 2027, with a $2.5 million buyout. Patrick Corbin At his best, Patrick Corbin was an All-Star and received votes for the Cy Young Award. From 2022 to 2024, though, he had a rough stretch in Washington, wherein he was arguably the worst full-time starter in baseball. He rebounded somewhat with the Rangers in 2025. Over the last five years, Corbin has pitched an average of 167 innings a season, making him a reliable workhorse. Corbin also has a World Series ring, won with the Nationals in 2019. Milwaukee’s track record of maximizing pitchers’ stuff (as they did for Quintana in 2025) might be appealing to Corbin, as well. Corbin’s strikeout rates have been better than Quintana’s over the last two years. As a similarly cheap echo of Quintana's signing, Corbin could be the veteran presence and high-volume arm Milwaukee needs. Which of these lefties do you think the Brewers should take a chance on? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Here are five fast facts about Royals' top prospect Carter Jensen. The Kansas City native impressed in his brief big league stint last year. With Salvador Perez hitting age-35 and his contract expiring in 2027, Jensen has made sizable progress towards becoming the Royals' backstop of the future. Learn all about his strong attributes, what he needs to work on, and the likelihood that he shares reps at the position with fellow pipeline talent Blake Mitchell. View the full article

Dave Gasper breaks down the pros and cons of the Brewers potentially trading Freddy Peralta this offseason as the rumors continue to heat up about a possible move. Is this a move that Matt Arnold should make? Will Peralta end up like Brewers pitchers of the past? Or will he be held until free agency like Willy Adames? View the full article

Jeremy, Jamie, and Theo provide their favorite prospects they anticipate becoming the new cult hero prospect in the Twins farm system in 2026. View the full article

There are 24 days remaining before Twins pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers, FL, on February 12th to signify the official commencement of spring training. Here are 24 questions they'll need to answer as they steer toward the start of a 2026 season brimming with uncertainty. 1. Who's closing games? If the Twins were to carry a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning on Opening Day in Baltimore, who would get the ball to pitch the ninth? Is that pitcher currently on the roster, or still yet to be acquired? The former would be rather uninspiring, barring a big spring breakthrough from someone like Connor Prielipp. 2. Who's pitching the other high-leverage relief innings? Beyond the closer role, there are going to be a lot of important innings to be doled out to Twins relievers. They are presently short on compelling options for the setup and fireman roles. You hope newcomer Eric Orze can build on his solid rookie campaign and Cole Sands can rebound from a disappointing year. That would be a start. Much work to do. 3. How will the catching unit take shape? They're not going to carry three catchers on the 26-man roster ... are they? With Ryan Jeffers and now Victor Caratini topping the depth chart ahead of Alex Jackson — who's out of options and owed $1.35 million via arbitration — that's how things are currently laid out. Something seemingly has got to give. 4. How will Twins catchers handle the new ABS challenge system? This is a question faced by every team, with the implementation of Automated Ball-Strike challenges bringing a new twist for major-league batteries (and batters). For the Twins, who are currently getting familiar with a pair of new catchers in Caratini and Jackson, there's an added element of learning and discovery in play. 5. Was Royce Lewis's healthy finish a trend or mirage? The second half of the 2025 season saw Lewis look as healthy as he has in years, even though it didn't necessarily translate into outstanding production. Hopefully the positive physical signs carry over into this new season, helping him unlock his previous form. We'll likely know pretty quickly; Lewis got injured in spring training last year, and on Opening Day in 2024. 6. What will Josh Bell's split between 1B/DH look like? This matter because it will have an impact on the value Bell can provide — will a hitting-only role accentuate the benefits of his bat, or will too much time in the field prove detrimental? Of course, the answer to this question also has implications on who else can get playing time at these spots. There's no question the switch-hitting Bell will be playing every day if healthy. 7. Can Bailey Ober bounce back or is this his new norm? Ober has a history of showing up to camp with a few extra ticks on his fastball, igniting the imaginations of fans who wonder what a consistent mid-90s fastball could do for his repertoire. This year, following a major drop-off, a spring stuff boost for Ober feels like more of a requisite than a luxury. If he's throwing 89 MPH again in mid-March, what do they do? Anything? 8. Will Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez really still be here? The Twins have been insistent that they don't intend to trade either, and the rumor mill has gone quiet on both fronts. I still wonder. If a late push emerges among suitors, and the Twins take a realistic look at their contention chances over the next couple years, will they really turn down an aggressive make-sense offer for either or both? 9. Who will emerge among the second tier of starters? Assuming the top three veterans do all remain in place, there are only two rotation spots available. Simeon Woods Richardson has to be penciled in as fourth starter. That leaves one remaining spot for a group that includes Zebby Matthews, David Festa, Taj Bradley and Mick Abel. It sets up a competitive spring battle. Are the Twins really planning to send three of these clearly MLB-ready guys to Triple-A? Another "something's gotta give" situation, which is why I'm skeptical on question #8. 10. Which young starters will transition to relief, and how quickly? This is one of thing that might give. Moving, say, Matthews and Festa into relief roles would alleviate the starting logjam and help address the bullpen shortage. It would also be a fairly tough sell for two guys who still have rotation upside. Whatever the decision, the Twins likely need to make some firm calls early on so these pitchers can acclimate to their roles in spring training. 11. Will Trevor Larnach stick around? Maybe the biggest looming roster question at this point. There's little question the Twins would be very open to unloading his $4.5 million salary and removing some redundancy to their roster mix, if the right offer came along. But they don't want to lose a talented former first-round hitter for nothing — thus the reason they tendered him a contract in arbitration. 12. Other than Brooks Lee, who gets shortstop reps in spring training? The departure of Carlos Correa leaves the Twins without much in the way of proven major-league shortstops. Lee is the closest thing, having played the position regularly following the Correa trade last year. He's a question mark, and everything behind him even more so. Ryan Kreidler, Orlando Arcia and Vidal Brujan figure to try and make their cases in exhibition play. The divvying of opportunities among them will be interesting. 13. Is growth or regression ahead for Luke Keaschall? Keaschall was a spark of energy that catalyzed the Twins when he was on the field as a rookie. He's one of the biggest causes for excitement among fans this season. But all too often we've seen a promising young Twins hitter break through and follow up by taking a major step backward rather than forward. Can he avoid the pervasive regression bug? 14. How committed are the Twins to Kody Clemens? His trajectory toward making the team isn't in much doubt, based on comments from team officials. And that's fair enough, given some of the flashes he showed last year. But if he struggles for a prolonged period, reverting to his pre-Twins form (career 70 OPS+), are we really going to have to watch the team stand firm on its thinly-supported belief? Is there a level of play this spring that could push him out of the Opening Day plans, given the presence of Bell, Caratini and Wagaman? 15. Are the Twins really going to carry James Outman on the roster? He's out of options so they will be compelled to do so. But Outman looked really rough during his 60 games with the Twins after being acquired last year, both offensively and defensively. If he doesn't hit or show more in the outfield during spring training they've got to just let him go. Right? Outman turns 29 in May. Not impossible he passes through waivers. 16. Can any of the low-tier hitters they've added show anything with the bat? Needing to improve their offense, the Twins have brought in a lot of position players with very poor track records for hitting. Can guys like Kreidler, Jackson, Arcia, Brudal or even a theoretical bat-first player like Eric Wagaman shake off their woeful recent runs of production? It's going to be hard to score runs with bottom-of-the-barrel performers getting a bunch of collective plate appearances. 17. How open is the door for MLB-ready prospects? When the alternative is giving innings to fringe 30-year-old journeymen, or veteran hitters who have struggled over sizable samples, I'd just as soon give the reins to young prospects who could surprise, or at least benefit from taking their lumps. I'm curious to see if players like Connor Prielipp, Marco Raya and Gabriel Gonzalez might be given an opportunity to compete for roster spots. 18. Where will Alan Roden start the season? A particularly interesting case. The Twins acquired Roden in the Louis Varland trade because they viewed him as MLB-ready. He joined the team immediately, didn't hit, and then suffered a season-ending injury. The jury is out on his major-league viability, but Roden has a little to prove at Triple-A (.917 OPS) and he's 26. In a way it would feel strange for a semi-rebuilding team to send him to St. Paul, but I don't see how he fits on the roster alongside both Larnach and Matt Wallner — especially if Outman is there. 19. Where will Austin Martin start the season? He'll turn 27 in March, and like Roden there's not much left for him to accomplish in Triple-A, where Martin has 500+ plate appearances and an .816 OPS. He too is trending to be the victim of a roster crunch, however. His lack of a standout bat, or viability at SS/CF, work against his fit on a short four-man bench. 20. What will Derek Shelton do differently than Rocco Baldelli? With relatively little changing on the roster makeup front, the Twins are leaning hard on their coaching staff overhaul to shake up the dismal status quo from 2025. On the surface, Shelton doesn't seem to represent a significant change from Baldelli, who was dismissed following last season. But starting in spring training, we'll get a chance to see first-hand how he approaches and talks about the game ... and how the team responds. 21. Can voices of respected former players make a difference? In addition to Shelton and a handful of new coaches (including former players like LaTroy Hawkins and Grady Sizemore), the Twins are bringing a couple of recently retired, familiar faces: Michael A. Taylor to help the outfielders, and Ryan Pressly to help the relievers. It's an interesting tactic and I'll be curious to see how much these seasoned voices can resonate with some of the young big-leaguers finding their way. 22. What would it take for Eduardo Julien to avoid waivers? As things stand, he'll be coming to spring training to compete for a roster spot. And he'll need to win one, because Julien is out of options, so he'll hit waivers if the Twins want to send him to the minors. It's really hard to find a role that Julien could fill, even with a big spring, unless there are multiple injuries in the 1B/DH mix. 23. How serious are the Twins about leaning into stylistic changes? After the trade deadline sell-off in 2025, Baldelli and the Twins embraced a much more aggressive style of play, stealing and taking extra bases with abandon. There have been comments suggesting the team wants to keep leaning into this scrappy bygone identity, but you have to play to your roster strengths and this still isn't a team boasting much speed. 24. Will some of the team's best young players FINALLY stay healthy? The biggest reason to believe in the future of the Twins is the presence of near-ready potential stars in the likes of Keaschall, Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez. But these guys have been constantly besieged and derailed by injuries. If that continues to happen, everything else almost feels moot. Minnesota needs its top young talents to stay healthy in camp and carry it over into the regular season. Did I miss anything? What are your biggest burning questions as you look ahead to spring training and then Twins season, which are suddenly not too far off in the distance? View the full article

As we reported at Brewer Fanatic earlier this month, the Brewers are focused on landing controllable starting pitching in return for Freddy Peralta. The impending free agent has attracted a vast number of suitors, due to his paltry $8-million salary in 2026 and off the back of his third straight 200-strikeout season. Last year, he recorded a 2.70 ERA and 5.5 bWAR. Peralta's consistency—his on-field performance and his off-field leadership—mean that the price will be high, but who are the names being thrown around by his most commonly linked suitors? Brandon Sproat - RHP, New York Mets, #87 Just Baseball Prospect Perhaps the most commonly linked name from the Mets system, Sproat was a helium prospect entering 2025. He endured some struggles before finding his groove at the end of the year in Triple A, but eventually got a cup of coffee in the majors. Sproat had a 4.79 ERA in just over 20 innings for the parent club, but that came with a FIP of just 2.80, showing solid potential to miss barrels. Coming out of a low three-quarters slot, Sproat's high-velocity four-seam fastball ran into problems with poor shape, and he's since morphed into a sinker-dominant, ground-ball pitcher. His best offering is his 85-mph slider, using seam-shifted wake. His low arm angle compensates for some struggles with spinning the baseball, and his results ticked up in the second half of the season. His main issue is the lack of fastball whiffs, but a solid array of pitches behind the sinker—all of which performed well in Triple A—forms a deceptive mix, blending the slider, sweeper, changeup and a curveball to create an arsenal that's tough to pick up and tough to square up. He might not rack up strikeouts at a high level, and as a ground ball-oriented pitcher, his ceiling would therefore be lower than Peralta's. However, he's controllable through at least 2031, and the Brewers can make the most of that profile with their infield defense. Jonah Tong - RHP, New York Mets, #37 Just Baseball Prospect Jonah Tong is another high-profile arm in the Mets system, with a uniquely intense delivery and arsenal. Tong would, by consensus, be preferred across most outlets to Sproat, with a higher ceiling and better command of his arsenal despite larger struggles once he reached the Mets rotation. Tong had a 7.71 ERA in 18 2/3 innings, but he did show a far better whiff rate, and his unique profile is certainly fascinating to a Brewers rotation without a lot of quality off-speed pitches to boast. Tong's arsenal grades out exceptionally well from a deception and stuff perspective. His release point is almost identical for each of his pitches, as you can see from the icon in the top left, while his whiff rates in a short sample at Triple A were impressive on both the fastball and changeup. His delivery, meanwhile, evokes Tim Lincecum. NXkyMTBfWGw0TUFRPT1fQkFSVlhWVUFWQW9BQVZFQkJRQUhCMUFEQUZsWFZRY0FWQVlEQUFVRkNWWldCZ29I.mp4 Tong only throws one fastball, but it is of a far higher quality than Sproat's, and his changeup increases its effectiveness even further as the two pitches blend well before separating late. As with Brewers prospect Logan Henderson, Tong's slider and curveball could use some refining, but if he can develop a true third pitch—especially a genuine out pitch to right-handers, to whom the slider proved ineffective in the early returns—the sky is the limit for Tong. Over-the-top deliveries can make it difficult to generate lateral movement, and the Brewers might be wary of Tong's effectiveness against same-handed hitters, unless Chris Hook sees something with which he can work. If the Brewers landed Tong instead of Sproat, any supplemental pieces would likely be lower-level. Peyton Tolle - LHP, Boston Red Sox, #33 Just Baseball Prospect Perhaps the best prospect on this list, Tolle ticks a lot of boxes for the Milwaukee Brewers. He averages just under 96 mph from the left side, combining a low arm slot with above-average induced vertical break and almost 7.5 feet of extension, meaning his fastball plays extremely well. Tolle also possesses a 90-mph cutter that he uses to keep hitters off his fastball, and almost 70% of his pitches are one of those two offerings. When he wants to switch things up, Tolle has a slider, a curveball and a changeup, all of which look solid from a Stuff+ standpoint—although the release points aren't identical. Tolle has almost 10° of arm angle difference between his cutter/changeup combo and the fastball/curveball combination, and that might have implications down the line Another exceptional part of Tolle's game is his command. He walked just 3.4% of hitters in his short time in Triple A, despite the tighter strike zone from the ABS challenge system. He has plus stuff and plus command. If he can link the arsenal together a little further, Tolle could be a star. As such, the Red Sox will be in no hurry to trade him away. JR Ritchie - RHP, Atlanta Braves, Just Baseball #94 Prospect Ritchie is probably the least exciting of the names listed here. His fastballs don't grade out particularly strongly, especially when the full arsenal is categorized correctly. (As with many pitchers with large arsenals, Statcast can struggle to decipher which pitch is which.) Throwing a four-seamer, sinker and cutter, Ritchie is an effective kitchen-sink operator on the mound. In his slider and curveball, he boasts two solid breaking pitches to which to turn to prevent hitters from sitting on his heater. He has a low arm slot, with consistent release points that really allow it to play up. The four-seamer, especially, can get whiffs at the top of the zone, but it can also find the barrel if he misses his spots. Ritchie pitched 140 innings in 2025, with a combined 2.64 ERA, including a 3.02 ERA at Triple A. However, his peripherals don't stack up quite so nicely, with a 4.15 FIP at the highest level of the minor leagues and a double-digit walk rate creeping in at both Double A and Triple A. This certainly creates some concern for the profile without the gaudy strikeout numbers to offset those walks, and a 14-percentage point difference between his strikeout and walk rates is nothing to shout about. Ritchie may have tired as the season went on, having thrown just 49 innings in 2024 and really stretching himself in 2025. He's a high-floor arm more likely to fit the back end than the front end of a rotation, but he does have good feel to spin the ball and has developed a strong arsenal of pitches moving in a variety of different directions. The further he got from Tommy John surgery, the better his stuff got. Emmet Sheehan - RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers - Not prospect eligible I'm sure many would throw up at the thought of the Dodgers becoming even more of a behemoth in 2026, but it's futile to ignore the suitability of their controllable MLB arms. River Ryan has a high-velocity fastball (with poor shape) but failed to get much swing-and-miss at the major-league level, albeit with excellent secondaries. Gavin Stone used the kitchen-sink approach to limit barrels well in 2024, before injury struck. However, if the Brewers really wanted to push the Dodgers, they could demand a one-for-one trade of Emmett Sheehan for Peralta. Sheehan had an electric 2025, but in a fully healthy rotation, it's difficult to see him finding an everyday position among the Dodgers' big-money signings. From a low three-quarters slot, Sheehan has phenomenal riding life on his fastball, with high induced vertical break for his release point and one of the flattest vertical approach angles in baseball. Averaging almost 96 mph, it may be one of the most underrated pitches in the game, while his tight gyro slider, two-plane curveball and changeup are all plus pitches. The Brewers are loath to do one-for-one deals, and prefer to spread their risk more in any return. If the opportunity of a challenge trade opened up in this case, however, they would have to seriously consider what they could manage with five more years of control of a potentially elite arm. So, Which Pitcher Should Get You Most Excited? Of the listed top-100 prospects and major league-ready arms the Brewers might be able to chase down, Tolle would be the most exciting. His command of the strike zone and above-average stuff are exciting and there is further development to dream on. Would any of these pitchers pique your interest in a Peralta deal? Which would you trade for, if all were on the table? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below! View the full article

Baseball truly is a global game, with 265 players from outside the United States at the start of last season. However, the country of Brazil has only produced eight big league players, with lackluster degrees of success. The most successful of the bunch is former All-Star catcher Yan Gomes, who put up very good numbers during his 13-year career. However, we’re here to talk about the second best. That player is Paulo Orlando. Paulo Roberto Orlando was born in São Paulo, Brazil, on November 1st, 1985. Paulo didn’t discover baseball until he was 12, when his mother’s physician told him to try it. Baseball is an obscure sport in Brazil, played mostly by Japanese Brazilians, and Paulo was one of the very few players who weren’t of Japanese descent. Orlando only played baseball on the weekends, as there are very few baseball fields in Brazil; he played other sports like track and soccer. He quit track at 20 and decided to pursue baseball full-time, moving to the Dominican Republic and eventually to Venezuela. There, he was quickly discovered by a Cuban scout for the White Sox and signed to the organization shortly after. What separated Orlando from the rest was his speed, despite his running form looking a bit off. He was named the fastest base runner in the White Sox system during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, as well as the best defensive outfielder in 2007. But then something happened to Orlando that altered the course of his career. On August 9, 2008, Orlando was traded to the Royals for pitcher Horacio Ramirez. Orlando would make an immediate impact in Single-A, leading the league in triples that season. Two years later, now with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, he hit .305 with 13 homers, 64 RBI, and 25 steals to earn Texas League All-Star honors. In 2011, he became just the third Brazilian-born player, and the first non-pitcher, to make it to Triple-A when he was promoted to Omaha. He would spend time between Double-A and Triple-A over the next three seasons until finally breaking through to the big leagues in 2015 after he played 1,017 minor league games. Orlando would make the Opening Day roster and made his debut on April 9, becoming the third Brazilian-born player in MLB history. His first big league hit was a triple off John Danks, which was the first hit by a born-and-raised Brazilian player. Three days later, he would hit two more triples, becoming the first player in MLB history to record three triples for his first three hits. He would hit five triples in his first seven games, creating a new record for the fewest games to hit five triples to open a career. Orlando would only play 86 games in 2015 before being optioned to Omaha to make room for Ben Zobrist, but he made an impact during those games. He would rejoin the Royals for the playoffs, where he would become not only the first Brazilian-born player to win a World Series but also the latest person to win a World Series on their birthday. 2016 would be a breakout year for Orlando as he spent the season as the starting right fielder. He would play 105 games, putting up a .302 batting average with 5 home runs, 43 RBIs, and a bWAR of 2.0. The success wouldn’t last long as injuries and inconsistencies would plague his 2017 season as he hit .198 in only 39 games. He would play only 25 games in 2018 before getting demoted to Omaha. He would not play in the bigs again. Orlando would elect free agency and sign a minor league deal with the Dodgers. He hit .211 with two home runs, seven RBIs, and one stolen base in 24 games for the Oklahoma City Dodgers. He was flipped to the White Sox and played only 69 games with the Charlotte Knights before being released. He would then play a couple of seasons in the Mexican League for the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos and El Águila de Veracruz before returning to Kansas City to play for the Monarchs. He would help lead the team to the 2021 American Association championship, but would return to the Mexican League in 2022. He would get injured during spring training and has not played in the Mexican League since. He would play one more time for his country in the 2023 Pan-American Games, where he led Brazil to a silver medal. He will now serve as the baserunning coach for the Brazilian national baseball team in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Paulo had a short yet memorable Royals tenure, forever marking his name in Royals lore. Sure, he won’t be a Royals Hall of Famer, but his impact with the Royals will forever be remembered. The country of Brazil has not produced a lot of successful players, but Orlando certainly produced some of the most memorable moments in recent Royals history. View the full article

By now, you know our first Winter Meltdown guest for 2026 is LaTroy Hawkins. Today, we’re excited to reveal the second featured interview taking the stage at this year’s Twins Daily Winter Meltdown: Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton. Shelton was named the new manager of the Twins in late 2025, marking a return to an organization that already knows him well. He previously served as Minnesota’s bench coach during the club’s recent run of division titles, making this a homecoming as much as a new chapter. Shelton takes over the role from Rocco Baldelli and brings with him a steady, experienced voice shaped by years of leadership at the major-league level. Before returning to Minnesota, Shelton spent five seasons as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, leading a team in the midst of a rebuild and earning respect for his steady leadership, strong relationships with players, and forward-thinking approach. His résumé spans nearly every corner of a major-league staff, from player development to hitting coach to bench coach, giving him a broad, practical perspective that connects equally well with established veterans and emerging talent. At the Winter Meltdown this weekend, fans will get a rare opportunity to hear directly from Shelton early in his tenure as Twins manager. Expect insight into his return to Minnesota, his vision for the team, and reflections on the journey that brought him back to the Twin Cities – all in the relaxed, fan-first atmosphere that has become a Meltdown tradition. Pairing Shelton with LaTroy Hawkins creates a must-see lineup: a former fan-favorite Twin alongside the franchise’s new on-field leader. Add in live interviews hosted by Aaron Gleeman and John Bonnes, and the 2026 Winter Meltdown is shaping up to be another unforgettable night for Twins fans. Tickets are limited, and if past Meltdowns are any indication, this is one interview you won’t want to miss. Tickets It's not too late to get tickets, but you can't just buy them. We hoped to sell some for $60, but we're limited to just 250 tickets, and we need to prioritize our Caretakers, so we can't release them to the general public. But you can become a Caretaker for as little as $4/month, and that gets you a free ticket, AND you can bring up to three more guests for just $20 each. Become a Caretaker here! If you are already a Caretaker, THANK YOU. But please do not delay in buying your ticket. We will likely sell out, even limiting them to Caretakers and their friends. So grab them now. Each ticket includes: Two complimentary craft beers An exclusive Winter Meltdown 2026 pint glass Automatic entry into door prize raffles Five hours of premium Hot Stove hangouts with your people Live on-stage interviews hosted by Aaron Gleeman & John Bonnes Face time with special guests who mingle with the Twins Daily community Event Details Date: Saturday, January 24 Time: 4:00 – 9:00 PM Location: Smorgie’s, 508 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis With the Winter Meltdown falling on the same weekend as TwinsFest, the day will be a full, perfectly sequenced celebration of baseball. Spend the afternoon at Target Field soaking in TwinsFest, then make the easy trip over to Smorgie’s to keep the energy rolling – the ideal way to transition from daytime fan fest to an evening surrounded by fellow diehards, cold drinks, and great conversation. View the full article

Let me tell you a story. Not long ago, a solid journeyman relief pitcher got hurt. He tore his Achilles tendon, in fact, which is a major bummer of an injury. Before being felled, he'd been an unspectacular but valuable reliever for two and a half years. Since the start of 2023, indeed, he's appeared in 131 games in the majors and put up a 3.58 ERA. Most of that work came for the Mariners, who still had control of him for 2026 if they wanted it. Instead, though, they non-tendered him in late November. Guys who tear their Achilles in July rarely make it back to the mound before the following June, and the reliever wasn't good enough to wait on that way. Not even two months after being cut, he has a job again. The Cubs signed Trent Thornton to a minor-league deal after watching his pro day at Tread Athletics this month, and he'll get an invitation to big-league spring training, a source confirmed. Thornton, 32, is already touching 92.5 miles per hour on the gun, and he threw six different offerings in a 23-pitch bullpen session before scouts at the facility in North Carolina. He's making an impressively fast recovery from the injury, and sure looks like he'll be at full strength by Opening Day. I have a little conspiracy theory to share with you, though. It has nothing to do with his injury; there'd be little incentive for anyone involved to lie about or obfuscate his real health status. Rather, I want you to consider this chart, showing Thornton's pitch types and shapes for 2025, according to Statcast: Now, here's a clip of his session at Tread's Pro Day and the data on his pitches, served up by the coach who worked with him directly at the facility. The key to good detective work is seeing what's missing from a picture, so spot what's missing from that Pro Day outing by Thornton. He didn't throw the changeup or splitter at all. In fairness, he only threw those two pitches a combined 24 times in 2025 and 29 times in 2024. The tweet in which Tread announced that he was signing with the Cubs called him a "super supinator," which is true. Supinators are pitchers whose mechanical preference is for the inward turn of the palm required to throw a breaking ball; they're the ones who can produce elite spin rates on those pitches. Thornton is famous for having one of the highest-spin curveballs in the league, averaging over 3,000 revolutions per minute. Those guys tend not to throw many changeups, which generally require pronation (the outward turn of the palm through pushing the thumb down), instead. Ah, but it's possible the 'generally' in that last sentence is doing important work. The famous not-quite-new pitch of 2025 was the kick-change, whereby a pitcher who favors supination creates a changeup that works for them by using a spiked grip that "kicks" the spin axis of the pitch toward the arm side as they release the ball. Instead of having to pronate to create arm-side movement, the grip does the work for them. Jameson Taillon had a good season thanks to unlocking this very secret. Thornton is an exceptional candidate for a kick-change, and Tread is one of the top proponents of that pitch in the independent pitching development sphere. They've tweeted that term 11 times since early August, alone. The last two such tweets were celebrations of the progress made by two of the facility's pupils in November, centered on their kick-changes. The coach overseeing each of those guys was Turner Givens—the same one who has worked with Thornton there. If you wanted to take Thornton to the next level as a reliever, you'd give him a kick-change. It looks like he even tinkered with that pitch a bit in 2025, throwing a different flavor of changeup than he had in the past about 10 times before getting hurt. It's unfathomable that, in a couple months of work with Givens at Tread, Thornton hasn't been developing a kick-change. But he didn't throw it at his Pro Day. That might be purely because it's not ready yet. Thornton's extension at release was very, very low in this outing, because that's one way pitchers modulate effort and because that major injury to his landing leg is still healing. Extension is key to executing a good changeup, so the pitch might not be ready for prime time. However, there's another hypothesis worth our consideration. This is the conspiracy theory portion of the program. Cubs vice president of pitching Tyler Zombro joined the organization after a few months as a coach akin to Givens, at Tread—and he didn't stop working for Tread when he joined Chicago. Even after a big promotion to that VP role for Chicago in the fall, he maintains a role at Tread. Zombro is the Cubs' new secret weapon of pitching development, and because of his work at Tread, almost any pitcher who passes through that facility will come into his orbit. Thornton is the third pitcher signed by the Cubs coming out of Tread's Pro Day, joining righthander Tyler Ras and southpaw Charlie Barnes. That's probably organic, in that Tread's philosophy of pitching both informed Zombro's and now reflects it. A pitcher who works at Tread for a while will be molded to suit that philosophy, and Zombro can hardly fail to notice when they respond well to it. Tread isn't quite an extension of the Cubs, but it's sure become a likely place to find pitchers the Cubs will like. That doesn't amount to a conspiracy. If Zombro and the Cubs knew they'd have interest in Thornton, though, might Zombro have encouraged Givens and Thornton to keep the kick-change in the holster for Pro Day? That probably wouldn't have been a tough sell, for the reasons we mentioned earlier. It certainly could help the Cubs keep Thornton below the radar, though. This is a guy with 235 appearances and 401 innings in his big-league career. Getting him on a minor-league deal might not have been possible, if another team or two had seen the pitch that's likely to round out his arsenal and help him get lefties out. Opposing lefty batters hit .271/.327/.442 against Thornton in 2024 and 2025, combined. Fix that, and he becomes a candidate for high-leverage relief work. The kick-change can do that. With that pitch established, he would merit a big-league deal with an immediate 40-man roster spot. Instead, the righty will come to spring training with a chance to win a job, but the team will have roster flexibility to add higher-end talent for the balance of the winter—and he'll cost them virtually nothing if he doesn't pan out. Did Zombro help hide the most promising development happening for Thornton behind the scenes, to more easily steer one of Tread's most accomplished auditioners to the team he works for? It's unlikely, but not impossible. This is why many within the game are uncomfortable with arrangements like the one between Zombro, the Cubs and Tread—which is hardly unprecedented. It won't matter unless Thornton really has a dazzling spring, but if he fights for and wins a spot in the pen and turns out to be a key arm, credit Zombro with (at least) being the relational conduit who helped the team snare him. View the full article