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Remember the 2024 Blue Jays season? Most fans would rather forget about it. Toronto finished last in the AL East amid disappointing offensive seasons from George Springer and Bo Bichette, and with a pitching staff that lacked consistency from top to bottom. By Baseball Reference WAR, Bowden Francis was the Blue Jays' second-best pitcher, which is a reflection of how thin the roster became. By the trade deadline, the team was in sell mode, and the season was effectively over. The real culprit for why that season was so bad was the bullpen. All in all, it was a 4.82 bullpen ERA, and a dreadful -2.1 FanGraphs WAR number. That fWAR was by far the worst in the majors and the worst in franchise history. It’s not hard to see how it happened. Yimi García and Jordan Romano both got hurt, Tim Mayza was DFA’d mid-season, Erik Swanson had been demoted, and the best reliever the Blue Jays had was Ryan Yarbrough, who was brought in from the Dodgers at the trade deadline. Almost a year to the day, I wrote a piece about what history says about bullpen units coming off historically poor seasons, concluding that a bounce back in 2025 was likely. Long story short, it was. The Blue Jays' reliever fWAR jumped to 3.2 in 2025 (which is the exact number ZiPS projected coming into the season), a jump of over five wins from the year prior, ranking them 18th in all of baseball. Of course, the turnaround wasn't simply the result of positive regression; the Blue Jays did a massive overhaul of the bullpen from one season to the next. Jeff Hoffman was brought in to anchor the ninth inning, Yariel Rodríguez shifted to the bullpen full-time, and Louis Varland and Seranthony Domínguez were added at the trade deadline. At the same time, several pitchers already in the organization took meaningful steps forward in 2025. The result was a bullpen that not only looked different on paper but also performed significantly better on the field. The difference is most obvious when comparing individual contributions year over year. Blue Jays Bullpen bWAR Comparison - 2024 Contributors vs. 2025 Contributors 2024 Reliever bWAR (2024) 2025 Reliever bWAR (2025) Chad Green 0.7 Yariel Rodríguez 1.4 Brendon Little 0.1 Braydon Fisher 1.4 Genesis Cabrera -0.1 Brendon Little 1.1 Erik Swanson -0.3 Eric Lauer 0.9* Trevor Richards -0.5 Tommy Nance 0.6 Nate Pearson -0.7 Jeff Hoffman 0.5 Zach Pop -1.4 Mason Fluharty 0.1 *Numbers as a reliever only, and are an estimate, as Baseball Reference does not differentiate between SP and RP WAR. In a season that required all 162 games to clinch the AL East, the impact of strong bullpen performances was impossible to ignore. Mason Fluharty’s escape act against the Dodgers and Braydon Fisher's stranding of the zombie runner twice late in the season in Tampa are two instances that directly swung wins in the Blue Jays' favour. Ultimately, those small moments were key in deciding who won the AL East. Getting better pitchers is half the battle; the Blue Jays' bullpen was also better as a group in several other categories: Metric 2024 2025 K-BB% 11.3% 15.1% SwStr% 10.3% 12.8% Strand Rate 69.0% 71.9% HR/9 1.46 1.04 FB Velo (mph) 94.0 95.1 Barrel Rate 8.7% 9.1% As a whole, the unit improved in several areas. Yes, the barrel rate rose by 0.4%, but league-wide the barrel rate rose by 0.7%, so that's still an improvement for the Blue Jays. On top of that, they were able to strike out more batters, throw harder, and leave fewer men on base, while, most importantly, limiting the number of home runs allowed. For as much as the Blue Jays' bullpen had home run issues at times, the total number they gave up dropped from 92 in 2024 to 69 in 2025, an improvement of 23 total home runs. Looking forward to 2026, all eyes are going to be on the bullpen yet again. The addition of Tyler Rogers is certainly going to help, especially when it comes to home runs. A return to health for Yimi García will also be beneficial, as will a full season of Louis Varland. In addition, the bullpen has more depth than in recent years. Yariel Rodríguez, who was a key part of the bullpen this past season, has been outrighted off the roster and will have to work his way back into the picture. The Blue Jays have two Rule 5-eligible players (Spencer Miles, Angel Bastardo) that may factor into this bullpen. Ricky Tiedemann, Chase Lee, and several other names with or without big league experience may also factor into the bullpen if need be. For what it's worth, the ZiPS projections for the Blue Jays just released earlier this month, and that system has the Blue Jays bullpen taking yet another leap, to the 3.9 WAR mark. That number would have them in 13th place in MLB based on last season's numbers. Now, as spring training grows closer, the Blue Jays could benefit from another bullpen arm. Both the starting rotation and the lineup seem to be set in stone, but the bullpen could be the easiest way the Blue Jays could raise their ceiling. Free agent Seranthony Domínguez could be an option to return, and there are always relievers that may be available via trade. Entering 2026, the Blue Jays have reason to believe their bullpen can once again be a strength. Improved depth, better health, and favourable projections point towards continued progress, but the margin for error in the AL East remains razor-thin. The 2024 season served as a reminder of just how quickly things can unravel when the bullpen becomes a liability. For Toronto, sustaining this progress may be the clearest path to the Fall Classic and avoiding another season where things unravel just as quickly. View the full article

The Twins have agreed to a two-year, $14 million deal with Victor Caratini. What does that mean for the catcher position? How will the Twins open up a spot on their 40-man roster for him? Also discussed in this video are the additions of Eric Wagaman, Vidal Bruján, and Orlando Arcia. The final topic is regarding the Twins fighting with Joe Ryan over $500K and how that might impact their relationship. View the full article

It's been fairly quiet for the San Diego Padres ever since they re-signed starting pitcher Michael King and signed infielder Sung Mun Song. However, the pilot light on the hot stove turned into a medium-low flame on Monday. Jon Heyman of the NY Post is reporting that the San Diego Padres are one of many teams interested in utility man Miguel Andujar. At 31 years old, Andujar is coming off his best season with a .822 OPS (125 wRC+) and 10 home runs. Though his quantity of contact is a plus, his quality of contact leaves more to be desired. While he finished in the upper 80th percentiles in whiff and strikeout rates, he finished in the teens when it came to barrel and hard hit rates. With the Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds, he played a little bit at each of the corner infield and corner outfield spots. While his versatility is a plus, he's not particularly strong defensively, as he accrued negative Outs Above Average at each position in 2025 (except first, where he only played 13 innings). Regardless, he would undoubtedly be an upgrade over Will Wagner, Bryce Johnson, and Mason McCoy. Do you think the Padres should sign Andujar? Let us know in the comments. View the full article

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The Boston Red Sox have fortified their rotation, but still have needs on the offensive side of the ball. While their primary need is for a third base, a recent report suggests they are also looking to improve elsewhere. Sean McAdam of MassLive is reporting that the Boston Red Sox "Remain Active" in the catcher market. They previously had been tied to J.T. Realmuto and Victor Caratini, but they have signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins, respectively. Had they landed Realmuto, then incumbent backstop Carlos Narvaez likely would have moved to a backup role. On the other hand, a Caratini signing likely would have kept him in a starting role. With both guys off the market, the remaining catchers in free agency are not overly attractive options. Turning our sights to the trade market, there haven't been reports of available catchers; however, there is a lot of speculation that the Twins may shop Ryan Jeffers. Jeffers, 29, is in his final year of arbitration and will be a free agent following the 2026 season. He's a bat-first catcher who has a career .740 OPS (108 wRC+) and 68 home runs across 515 games. In 2025, he shifted his approach at the plate, sacrificing power for plate discipline and contact. Behind the dish, three years of mentorship from Cristian Vazquez didn't seem to impact his defensive acumen. He's a well below-average defensive catcher. If they do look to trade for a catcher (or a third baseman), Ed Hand of Beyond the Monster is reporting that Connelly Early and Payton Tolle would not be made available unless "the return is something truly elite." That leaves the logjam in the outfield or a big league starter like Brayan Bello as potential routes to acquiring a backstop to pair with Narvaez. Who do you think the Red Sox should target? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

While a team in need of depth virtually across the board, the catcher spot could represent an area worth addressing for the San Diego Padres. A spot that was something of a mess last year remains concerningly uncertain ahead of 2026. The early 2025 iteration of the Padres relied on a combination of Elías Díaz and Martín Maldonado on any given day. Neither was particularly successful, with offensive oblivion present and defensive regression manifesting heavily in regard to the latter. Supporting an upper-tier pitching staff was a challenge, and neither was able to supplement the offense, even relative to the lower expectations of the position itself. Maldonado would eventually lose his spot in the regular season's second half upon the team's acquisition of Freddy Fermin. And it's Fermin who remains entrenched behind the plate to start 2026. Fermin wasn't particularly strong down the stretch, but the fact that his 64 wRC+ still represented an upgrade over either of his two predecessors speaks to how minimal their production was. With a career mark of a 90 wRC+ at the plate, it stands to reason that he'll fare better in a full season with the Padres. And even if he doesn't, he provides enough defensively as a blocker with an 88th percentile pop time that should compensate well enough. Behind him, though, is where things start to get a little bit messy. As of now, Luis Campusano is projected as the No. 2 catcher behind Fermin. A longtime prospect of the organization, Campusano has yet to get a genuinely extended run as an opportunity to be a full-time catcher. He caught two very brief stints at the top level last year and has regressed massively with the glove over time. Some upside still exists with the bat, but even if the team was inclined to give him an opportunity, could they still look to upgrade their catching duo and let his bat instead serve as an option at first base or designated hitter? If they were to choose such a route, there's at least one intriguing option that could be, theoretically, available in the Chicago Cubs' Carson Kelly. Kelly is coming off something of a career year with the Cubs, posting an offensive output that was at or near his career high just about everywhere you look. He parlayed a strong approach on breaking and off-speed pitches with improved contact skills to post a .179 ISO and 115 wRC+, the former of which was his best since 2019 and the latter serving as easily the highest of his time in the big leagues. Among the 34 catchers with at least 300 plate appearances to their name last year, Kelly's wRC+ ranked ninth. His ISO sat 14th, as did his total value reflected in fWAR (2.6). That latter number was also the highest of Kelly's career. Which makes sense when you start to factor in his defense, which is fairly similar to Fermin's. Kelly doesn't possess the pop time of Fermin (51st percentile), but he was still in the 90th in caught stealing above average and in the 91st in blocks above average. His framing was in the same neighborhood as the Padres' current backstop, but it's rare that you get a catcher that excels in each facet of the position. Having two catchers who are adept at blocking and controlling the run game while being at least within striking distance of "average" on the framing side would greatly support a pitching staff that will need every bit of it. Of course, Kelly being a viable target assumes that the Cubs would even be willing to move him. He's in something of a timeshare with Miguel Amaya, who looked to be on the come up in each of 2024 and 2025 before the latter was derailed by injuries. Even if the two split duties, the assumption is that Kelly's 2025 — from both a health and performance standpoint — would be a springboard toward the majority of duties in the upcoming year. That doesn't mean he's not available, though. A free agent after the year, Kelly's contract carries an AAV of $5.75 million. With the Cubs now up against the luxury tax threshold following the addition of Alex Bregman, could they deal from an area of stability in order to give themselves a little bit of breathing room against that marker? It's a bit tough to envision given the lack of options behind Kelly and Amaya and their apparent reluctance to allow top hitting prospect Moisés Ballesteros to get in work at the position. Nevertheless, the fact that they have two starting-caliber options, on paper, could allow them to feel more comfortable in such an endeavor. The Padres' side of it is easy. They don't feel comfortable allowing Luis Campusano to serve as a full-time backup. They'd rather him work in as a bench bat, first baseman, or designated hitter before doing so as a catcher. They get a solid option to partner with Freddy Fermin who offers more offensive upside and a similar skill set behind the plate. It's a way to fortify the position while deploying Campusano's best asset (his bat) in areas where it's not a detriment. It's a relatively murky picture to really make clear given the absence of an indication that Kelly is truly available. But with so few intriguing options on the free-agent market and the same lack of clarity permeating throughout the rest of the trade winds (to say nothing of the fact that the Jed Hoyer and the Cubs have awoken from what was a mid-winter slumber), it's an option that could be on the table if A.J. Preller gets aggressive enough. View the full article

Andrew Morris is the next man up in the Twins farm system to likely be added to the Twins rotation when called upon in 2026. A listener of Destination: The Show wants to know if he can be a dependable arm or end up in a similar role to Travis Adams and Pierson Ohl in 2025. View the full article

Outfield prospect Brendan Jones discusses the bittersweet process of getting traded from the Yankees to the Marlins and why he's optimistic that it will be a smooth transition to his new organization. View the full article

Sweet Lou, Comrade Cody, and Ol' Gregg give offseason grades for the Twins pitchers and hitters. Is it an F or an F-? Lou attempts to provide structure as Gregg complains about folk music and Cody names his favorite world leaders. Royce says the Darnedest Things, and so does Aaron Gleeman. Listen using Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-twins-off-daily-podcast/id1741266056 Listen using Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4tb78XlurcPTYYSsARdbD7 Listen using iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-twins-off-daily-podcas-167548600/ Listen using Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/nvclbt0w Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twinsdaily View the full article

As Twins Daily's Winter Meltdown has grown in the public consciousness, it's also grown in the number of guests. Today, we're thrilled to announce LaTroy Hawkins will be joining our party, where he'll be interviewed by Aaron Gleeman and John Bonnes, participate in some activities, and stick around to meet our caretakers and their friends. (Sorry, absolutely no autographs.) Plus, we'll reveal our second guest tomorrow! "Hawk" spent over two decades in Major League Baseball, but the core of his career came with the Minnesota Twins. Drafted by the team in 1991, Hawkins worked his way through the organization and made his major league debut in 1995. The Twins used him in a wide range of roles: starter, long reliever, setup man, and eventually closer. That flexibility made him a regular presence on the pitching staff throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, a period when Minnesota was moving from one contending generation to another. Hawkins’ best-known seasons came during his time in the bullpen. Hawkins was a key contributor in the 2002 and 2003 division-winning teams, frequently asked to pitch in high-leverage situations late in games. Hawkins ended up pitching in 366 Twins games over nine years, finishing his Minnesota tenure as one of the team’s all-time leaders in relief appearances and innings pitched by a reliever. He developed from a do-anything contributor to an overpowering reliever who showed up consistently and handled whatever role was assigned to him. After leaving Minnesota, Hawkins went on to pitch for ten(!) more major league teams over the next 12 years, extending his career into his early forties and becoming one of the most widely traveled pitchers in MLB history. Still, his longest stay and most recognizable stretch came with the Twins, where he established himself as a dependable arm and team leader for an organization rediscovering its mojo. After his playing career, he rejoined the franchise, joining the organization as a special assistant in 2016, and will be the team’s bullpen coach this upcoming year under new manager Derek Shelton. We would love for you to get to know him better. 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 apiece. 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. And join us tomorrow when we announce our final guest! He’ll be a “first” for Twins Daily’s Winter Meltdown! View the full article

Last season, the Kansas City Royals’ pitching staff was one of the better groups of arms in all of Major League Baseball, finishing sixth in earned run average while allowing the 12th fewest hits and eighth fewest home runs in the league. The Royals return a large portion of the arms in 2026. Here is a look at starting rotation options for the Royals for the upcoming 2026 season. Cole Ragans The Royals' ace was limited to only 13 starts in 2025 after dealing with two separate stints on the injured list. The left-hander missed just under three weeks with a left groin strain before returning for one start on June 5th, in which Ragans would last only three innings before leaving with shoulder discomfort. The former first-round pick was diagnosed with a left shoulder strain, holding Ragans out of action until Sept. 17. Even when healthy, Ragans struggled to find the form the all-star from 2024 showcased, pitching to a 3-3 record, 4.67 ERA, and 1.18 WHIP over 61 2/3 innings. The area where Ragans was still elite was the strikeout category, fanning 98 batters over those 62 1/3 innings. The 14.3 K/9 innings led all Royals starters. If Ragans can stay healthy and return to the 2024 season form, where Ragans went 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, he gives the Royals a dominant force at the top of the team’s rotation. In 2024, Ragans held opposing hitters to a .213 average as opposed to .228 in 2025. In 2024, Ragans finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting. Seth Lugo Lugo was extended in July of 2025, to remain with the Royals on a two-year $46 million contract through the 2027 season. Through 26 starts, Lugo went 8-7 with a 4.15 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. Lugo, like Ragans, spent two separate trips on the injured list in 2025, missing two weeks with a right finger strain in May, then heading to the IL again on Sept. 4, with a lower back strain, a move that would end the right-hander’s season. The now 36-year-old finished runner-up to Tarik Skubal in AL Cy Young voting in 2024, a season that saw Lugo go 16-9, post a 3.00 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. During the 2024 campaign, Lugo made 33 starts, tied for the most in MLB. A healthy Ragans and Lugo give the Royals two different looks at the top of the team’s rotation, while providing them with a chance to win on any given day. Michael Wacha Signed to a three-year extension in November of 2024, Wacha has been durable over the right-handers’ first two seasons with the Royals. Wacha has made 29 and 31 starts, accumulating 166 2/3 and 172 2/3 innings for the team. Over 31 starts last year, Wacha pitched to a 10-13 record, 3.86 ERA, and 1.22 WHIP, similar to 2024, where the now 34-year-old went 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. In year one with the Royals, Wacha allowed 17 home runs, followed by 15 last season. Wacha led the Royals rotation in 2025 with 13 quality starts. If Wacha can continue to provide around 30 starts, an ERA under 4.00, and a WHIP close to 1.20, that will give the Royals many quality innings through the middle of the rotation. Noah Cameron Cameron put together a very strong rookie year for the Royals, pitching in 24 games, posting a 9-7 record, 2.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP over 138 1/3 innings, while holding opposing batters to a .214 batting average against. For his efforts during the 2025 season, Cameron finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting, trailing only Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, and Roman Anthony. The 26-year-old comes into 2026 with a spot in the rotation and higher expectations as the former Royals seventh-round selection in 2021 looks to build on what was an incredible rookie season. Over the 24 starts, Cameron posted 10 quality starts, so continuing to work deeper into games will be on the watch in year two for the left-hander starter. Kris Bubic 2025 was a breakout year for Bubic, posting a record of 8-7, 2.55 ERA, and 1.18 WHIP over 20 starts after spending 2024 as a reliever. Unfortunately for Bubic, the season ended in July after suffering a left rotator cuff strain, which would ultimately require surgery, ending the left-hander’s season. Bubic is expected to be ready for the 2026 season after beginning a throwing program late in 2025. Bubic only appeared in three games in 2023 after recovering from Tommy John surgery, so this is a pitcher who has struggled to remain healthy throughout his six-year career. In Bubic’s 20 starts in 2025, 11 of them were quality starts, while also posting nine strikeouts per nine innings, giving the Royals strong swing and miss ability when healthy last season. Ryan Bergert Acquired in July from the San Diego Padres as part of the return for Freddy Fermin, Bergert gives the Royals a strong depth arm in case of injury. In 19 appearances last season, Bergert pitched to a 2-2 record, 3.66 ERA, and 1.26 WHIP over 76 1/3 innings. After the trade, Bergert made eight starts for the Royals, totalling 40 2/3 innings, a 1-2 record, 4.43 ERA, and 1.33 WHIP. The 25-year-old will look to build off what was a nice rookie year in 2025. Stephen Kolek Also acquired from the Padres in July, Kolek turned in his best numbers when the former 11th-round selection in 2018 became a Royal. In five starts, Kolek went 1-2, with a 1.91 ERA and 0.68 WHIP over 33 innings. All five of Kolek’s starts were of the quality variety, and the 28-year-old held opposing hitters to a .168 average after the trade. For the year, Kolek pitched to a 5-7 record, 3.51 ERA, and 1.14 WHIP. In today’s day and age of baseball, having these quality depth rotation options is huge for a Royals team looking to return to the postseason. View the full article

Last season, the Kansas City Royals’ pitching staff was one of the better groups of arms in all of Major League Baseball, finishing sixth in earned run average while allowing the 12th fewest hits and eighth fewest home runs in the league. The Royals return a large portion of the arms in 2026. Here is a look at starting rotation options for the Royals for the upcoming 2026 season. Cole Ragans The Royals' ace was limited to only 13 starts in 2025 after dealing with two separate stints on the injured list. The left-hander missed just under three weeks with a left groin strain before returning for one start on June 5th, in which Ragans would last only three innings before leaving with shoulder discomfort. The former first-round pick was diagnosed with a left shoulder strain, holding Ragans out of action until Sept. 17. Even when healthy, Ragans struggled to find the form the all-star from 2024 showcased, pitching to a 3-3 record, 4.67 ERA, and 1.18 WHIP over 61 2/3 innings. The area where Ragans was still elite was the strikeout category, fanning 98 batters over those 62 1/3 innings. The 14.3 K/9 innings led all Royals starters. If Ragans can stay healthy and return to the 2024 season form, where Ragans went 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, he gives the Royals a dominant force at the top of the team’s rotation. In 2024, Ragans held opposing hitters to a .213 average as opposed to .228 in 2025. In 2024, Ragans finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting. Seth Lugo Lugo was extended in July of 2025, to remain with the Royals on a two-year $46 million contract through the 2027 season. Through 26 starts, Lugo went 8-7 with a 4.15 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. Lugo, like Ragans, spent two separate trips on the injured list in 2025, missing two weeks with a right finger strain in May, then heading to the IL again on Sept. 4, with a lower back strain, a move that would end the right-hander’s season. The now 36-year-old finished runner-up to Tarik Skubal in AL Cy Young voting in 2024, a season that saw Lugo go 16-9, post a 3.00 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. During the 2024 campaign, Lugo made 33 starts, tied for the most in MLB. A healthy Ragans and Lugo give the Royals two different looks at the top of the team’s rotation, while providing them with a chance to win on any given day. Michael Wacha Signed to a three-year extension in November of 2024, Wacha has been durable over the right-handers’ first two seasons with the Royals. Wacha has made 29 and 31 starts, accumulating 166 2/3 and 172 2/3 innings for the team. Over 31 starts last year, Wacha pitched to a 10-13 record, 3.86 ERA, and 1.22 WHIP, similar to 2024, where the now 34-year-old went 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. In year one with the Royals, Wacha allowed 17 home runs, followed by 15 last season. Wacha led the Royals rotation in 2025 with 13 quality starts. If Wacha can continue to provide around 30 starts, an ERA under 4.00, and a WHIP close to 1.20, that will give the Royals many quality innings through the middle of the rotation. Noah Cameron Cameron put together a very strong rookie year for the Royals, pitching in 24 games, posting a 9-7 record, 2.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP over 138 1/3 innings, while holding opposing batters to a .214 batting average against. For his efforts during the 2025 season, Cameron finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting, trailing only Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, and Roman Anthony. The 26-year-old comes into 2026 with a spot in the rotation and higher expectations as the former Royals seventh-round selection in 2021 looks to build on what was an incredible rookie season. Over the 24 starts, Cameron posted 10 quality starts, so continuing to work deeper into games will be on the watch in year two for the left-hander starter. Kris Bubic 2025 was a breakout year for Bubic, posting a record of 8-7, 2.55 ERA, and 1.18 WHIP over 20 starts after spending 2024 as a reliever. Unfortunately for Bubic, the season ended in July after suffering a left rotator cuff strain, which would ultimately require surgery, ending the left-hander’s season. Bubic is expected to be ready for the 2026 season after beginning a throwing program late in 2025. Bubic only appeared in three games in 2023 after recovering from Tommy John surgery, so this is a pitcher who has struggled to remain healthy throughout his six-year career. In Bubic’s 20 starts in 2025, 11 of them were quality starts, while also posting nine strikeouts per nine innings, giving the Royals strong swing and miss ability when healthy last season. Ryan Bergert Acquired in July from the San Diego Padres as part of the return for Freddy Fermin, Bergert gives the Royals a strong depth arm in case of injury. In 19 appearances last season, Bergert pitched to a 2-2 record, 3.66 ERA, and 1.26 WHIP over 76 1/3 innings. After the trade, Bergert made eight starts for the Royals, totalling 40 2/3 innings, a 1-2 record, 4.43 ERA, and 1.33 WHIP. The 25-year-old will look to build off what was a nice rookie year in 2025. Stephen Kolek Also acquired from the Padres in July, Kolek turned in his best numbers when the former 11th-round selection in 2018 became a Royal. In five starts, Kolek went 1-2, with a 1.91 ERA and 0.68 WHIP over 33 innings. All five of Kolek’s starts were of the quality variety, and the 28-year-old held opposing hitters to a .168 average after the trade. For the year, Kolek pitched to a 5-7 record, 3.51 ERA, and 1.14 WHIP. In today’s day and age of baseball, having these quality depth rotation options is huge for a Royals team looking to return to the postseason. View the full article

Tomorrow, the results of the BBWAA Hall of Fame election will be announced on MLB Network. Carlos Beltrán will be a Hall of Famer. Andruw Jones is likely to join him. Meanwhile, most of this year’s newcomers to the process will officially fall off the ballot and out of consideration. That includes former Blue Jays All-Star Edwin Encarnación. Of course, next year will bring a whole new crop of first-timers to the ballot. So, I set out to find which of them, if any, suited up for our Toronto Blue Jays. Limiting my search to those who actually played an MLB game for the Blue Jays, I found three names that could appear on the next BBWAA ballot. If all three of them make the ballot, they’ll join Mark Buehrle and Omar Vizquel as the former Jays under consideration for the Hall of Fame class of 2027. Before I tell you who they are, I’ll make things clear: None of them is going to be inducted into the Hall. I doubt any of them will stick on the ballot for more than one year. Yet, as I laid out in a piece about Buehrle last week, just appearing on the ballot is an honour. Without further ado, those three players are Joakim Soria, J.A. Happ, and John Axford – listed in order of likelihood to appear on the ballot, at least in my opinion. If I were ranking in terms of their impact on the Blue Jays, there’s no doubt Happ would be first. I couldn’t blame you if you forgot Soria and Axford played for the Jays at all. Soria, one of the greatest Rule 5 draft success stories, played for nine teams over 14 MLB seasons and recorded saves for seven of them. His 229 career saves put him in the top 50 all-time (44th), while his 20.82 Win Probability Added (per FanGraphs) places him among the top 20 relief pitchers dating back to 1974. His 15.4 fWAR and 18.6 bWAR both rank 10th among 21st century relievers. His time with the Jays was brief and forgettable; Toronto acquired him at the trade deadline in 2021, and he pitched to a 7.88 ERA in 10 appearances down the stretch. He announced his retirement after the season. Happ finished as the runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year in 2009, earned a handful of down-ballot votes for the AL Cy Young in 2016, and finally made his first All-Star team in 2018. From his first full season until his last in 2021, he ranked eighth in the majors in starts and 10th in wins. All told, the lefty pitched in 354 games (328 starts) for eight different teams, but he spent far longer in Toronto than anywhere else. First acquired in a mid-season 10-player trade with the Astros in 2012, Happ pitched for the Blue Jays through the 2014 season. They traded him to the Mariners for Michael Saunders the following offseason but re-signed him a year later. He then suited up for Toronto until the deadline in 2018, when the Jays sent him to the Yankees. In 135 total games with the Blue Jays, Happ collected 59 wins and 691 strikeouts, pitching to a 3.88 ERA. Last is Axford. The Brewers saw something in the Ontario native that no one else did. They signed him off the trash heap in 2008, and two years later, he was a star closer. In 2010, Axford succeeded the great Trevor Hoffman as Milwaukee’s ninth-inning arm, and in 2011, he led the Senior Circuit with 46 saves. He was named the NL’s Rolaids Relief Man and also earned down-ballot Cy Young and MVP votes. Axford finished his career with an ERA under 4.00 and 144 saves in 544 appearances. Yet, he really only had those two great seasons. He recorded almost half his career saves from 2010-11; over the next eight years, he pitched to a 4.50 ERA with a neutral WAR and a negative WPA. His time with the Blue Jays was almost as brief as Soria’s. He gave the club 45 outings with a 4.41 ERA in 2018, collecting four wins and six holds before he was traded to the Dodgers at the deadline. In the table below, I’ve listed each of Soria, Happ, and Axford's career Wins Above Replacement (per Baseball Reference) as well as their scores in three Hall of Fame metrics: JAWS, Hall of Fame Monitor (HOFm), and Hall of Fame Standards (HOFs). Then, for comparison, I’ve listed the lowest score in each of those metrics by a player to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot in each of the last 10 years. For instance, Rick Porcello has the lowest bWAR (18.8) and JAWS (18.6) on this year’s ballot, while Howie Kendrick has the lowest HOFm (12) and Alex Gordon has the lowest HOFs (14). You’ll see each of those numbers listed in the “2026” row. The final row lists the average of the lowest bWAR, JAWS, HOFm, and HOFs scores on the ballot for the last decade. Player bWAR JAWS HOFm HOFs Joakim Soria 18.6 17.4 47 16 J.A. Happ 21.1 20.8 23 18 John Axford 4.0 4.9 17 7 Year bWAR JAWS HOFm HOFs 2026 18.8 18.6 12 14 2025 7.5 7.9 22 7 2024 24.2 20.9 28 16 2023 14.5 13.3 15 11 2022 14.5 16.9 52 17 2021 17.8 16.6 14 4 2020 7.1 8.0 18 11 2019 5.5 6.0 0 5 2018 7.9 10.0 21 7 2017 14.1 13.5 6 11 Average 13.2 13.2 18.8 10.3 From these numbers, Soria and Happ both look like realistic contenders to make the ballot, while Axford is more of a long shot. That said, it’s not always easy to predict the Hall of Fame ballot. The number of players on the ballot changes every year, but for what it’s worth, 14 players are likely to exit after this year: Beltrán and Jones are on track for induction, Manny Ramirez will fall off after his 10th year of consideration, and 11 of the 12 newcomers (all except Cole Hamels) are unlikely to receive enough support to earn another year in the conversation. So again, that’s 14 spots opening up. Baseball Reference lists 31 contenders for a slot on the potential ballot for 2027. The BBWAA could choose more than 14 of them, but they certainly aren’t picking all 31. Only one of next year’s newbies has a legitimate Hall of Fame case, Buster Posey, though several more are locks for a spot on the ballot, including Jon Lester, Ryan Zimmerman, and Brett Gardner. I think Kyle Seager, Ervin Santana, Jake Arrieta, Jay Bruce, Asdrúbal Cabrera, and Pablo Sandoval are safe bets too. After those 10, I’d say Soria and Happ have as good a case as anyone. Here’s where all three former Jays rank among newcomer candidates in the stats I listed above: Player bWAR JAWS HOFm HOFs Joakim Soria 18th 19th 3rd 14th J.A. Happ 13th 13th 11th 11th John Axford 31st 31st 16th 26th Once more, Soria and Happ strike me as likely ballot candidates but not locks. Then again, I might be too low on Soria, considering he was a closer. If guys like Fernando Rodney, Huston Street, Heath Bell, and former Blue Jay LaTroy Hawkins appeared on the ballot in recent years, Soria should have a spot. And if Axford even has a case, maybe Soria is a lock after all. Two years from now, we’ll see David Price on the ballot. In three years, Josh Donaldson will have his turn. But before then, it could be Soria, Happ, and possibly Axford representing the Blue Jays on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot. While they won't ever be Hall of Famers, it will be nice to remember and celebrate their MLB careers. View the full article

In their first free-agent signing of the offseason, the Boston Red Sox have picked up southpaw Ranger Suarez on a 5-year, $130 million contract. As we’ve already noted here on Talk Sox, this breaks the free-agent curse hanging over the Red Sox this offseason and starts to paint a clearer picture of the team in a post-Alex Bregman world. While I think I can speak for the vast majority of fans when I say that we’re relieved that Craig Breslow and company have done something now, the signing of Suárez signals that the team may be gearing up to move on from some established pitching depth, with far more players than spots available. There’s one name that, unfortunately, makes the most sense out of all of them. Brayan Bello, it feels like your time with the Red Sox is quickly drawing to a close. I’ve talked at length about my love for Bello while also highlighting the fact that he is quite likely the most underrated trade chip the team currently possess. I won’t rehash that entire article, but he’s young, controllable, and has a high floor with a high-ceiling upside. When he’s on, he’s one of the best groundball pitchers in the game and it seemed that he learned to control his emotions on the mound far better in 2025 than he had in previous seasons. As the rotation is currently constructed, he’s the fourth-best pitcher on the team at best and could easily be passed up by either Connelly Early or Payton Tolle at some point during the 2026 season. While all of that is incredibly positive and reason enough for him to stick around Boston, it’s the exact reason the team can sell high on him and target their biggest need at the moment, an infielder to play either second or third. Bello, thanks to his existing team control, might be enough on his own to bring back a quality infielder. Building a package around him and some members of the farm system could net the Red Sox an even bigger name on the trade market, and certainly one better than any free agent still currently available. I floated Bello as a potential name in a deal for Ketel Marte on a recent episode of the Talk Sox Podcast, but if GM Mike Hazen is to be believed, he’s no longer an option to be traded at this point in the offseason. It’s no secret that Craig Breslow likes to work the trade market and can get creative for the right return package. If a team is looking to upgrade their rotation, and maybe outfield at the same time, they could do a lot worse than calling and asking about Bello alongside one of the multitude of outfielders the Red Sox employ. There’s an argument to be made that trading away someone like Tolle or Early would net the Red Sox a bigger returning player than a deal centered around Bello, but from everything that has come out of Fenway Fest, it seems like the team is incredibly high on both young lefties and would need to be absolutely blown away by a return to consider moving them. Bello and Suárez fill similar niches as shorter, groundball-heavy pitchers, and their recent commitment to the latter makes it easier to move on from their commitment to the former. There’s still work to be done for Craig Breslow, but don’t be shocked to start seeing Bello’s name popping up in more and more rumors as we get closer to spring training. The front office knows there’s a lot of negativity being directed at the club right now, and Ranger Suarez goes a long way to proving the team is serious about making significant improvements, but unless they are going to pony up for Bo Bichette to play up the middle, the team is going to have to turn back to the trade market to find anything close to a suitable replacement for Bregman. Brayan Bello is a homegrown pitcher with an established floor of a mid-rotation starter, but that's a valuable profile on the trade market as well. With Suárez signed up, it may be time to field some offers for the newfound pitching surplus in Boston. View the full article

This Miami Marlins farm system is now unquestionably among the best in baseball. On Swimming Upstream, Alex Carver and Kevin Barral analyze all of the talent that the Marlins have recently acquired via trade and international free agency. Then, they sit down for an exclusive interview with one of those new prospects, outfielder Brendan Jones. You can find Swimming Upstream on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. Our audio programming also includes The Offishial Show, Fish Unfiltered, Fish On First LIVE and more. Jones, who's entering his age-24 season, was part of a five-player trade last week that sent left-hander Ryan Weathers to the New York Yankees. The Marlins also acquired prospect Dillon Lewis, Juan Matheus and Dylan Jasso in the deal. The Nashville, Tennessee, native was a low-profile prospect coming out of the 2024 MLB Draft. However, Jones has quickly made a name for himself in pro ball with a polished plate approach and plus-plus speed. Used primarily in center field last season, he led all Yankees farmhands in stolen bases (51) and ranked third in runs scored (89). The trade reunites Jones with some familiar faces from the Yankees organization, including director of hitting Joe Migliaccio and MiLB hitting coach Tom DeAngelis. "That should hopefully make for a smooth transition," he says. Jones tells Swimming Upstream that he will be a non-roster invitee at Marlins spring training next month. He's likely to open up the 2026 season at the Double-A level, batting near the top of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos lineup. Health permitting, his major league debut should come in 2027. Follow Brendan (@BrendanTJones), Alex (@marlinsminors), Kevin (@kevin_barral) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Join the Marlins Discord server! Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. View the full article

This multi-part series talks about how the Brewers got to the World Series and offers a timeline of the 1982 campaign, including player profiles, game recaps, and other events that affected the season. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 relives the first two games of the 1982 ALCS—ones that made us Brewer fans think the season would soon end. Bring on the Angels and the ALCS While the Brewers battled down to the last game of the season to claim the AL East title, the California Angels had it a little easier in the AL West, winning the division by three games over Kansas City. In the Brewers locker room after the victory over Baltimore on Sunday, owner Bud Selig was repeatedly doused with champagne by the players. As he walked around drinking bubbly and celebrating, the players linked arms and sang. ‘California, Here I Come.’ California vs. Milwaukee: Tale of the Tape The Angels and Brewers were a lot alike: all power and little speed. Both teams had set lineups with few changes; each team had five players who appeared in 150 or more games. The Angels had four more players who played in at least 130 games, while the Brewers had three. Milwaukee used the exact same nine-player lineup 24 times, which is almost unthinkable today. It went: Paul Molitor Robin Yount Cecil Cooper Ted Simmons Ben Oglivie Gorman Thomas Roy Howell Charlie Moore Jim Gantner Molitor (158 starts), Yount (138) and Cooper (155) were virtually fixtures in the first three spots in the order. The Brewers would collect more individual hardware than the Angels, with Robin Yount winning the AL Most Valuable Player award and Pete Vuckovich the AL Cy Young award. Yount would also win a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award. Cecil Cooper also garnered a Silver Slugger. For California, catcher Bob Boone won a Gold Glove, while third sacker Doug DeCinces and right fielder Reggie Jackson each earned Silver Slugger accolades. Jackson tied for the major-league lead in home runs with 39, along with Gorman Thomas. The Brewers led the AL with 891 runs scored, followed by the Angels, with 814. California led the AL with the fewest runs allowed (670), while the Brewers were tied for ninth (717). The Brewers' 216 homers led the AL, trailed by the Angels with 186. Neither team stole many bases, as the Brewers were eighth in the AL with 84, while California was 11th with only 55. Vuckovich, Mike Caldwell, Moose Haas, and Don Sutton were the key starters for Milwaukee. Pete ‘Big Foot’ Ladd and Jim Slaton would take over for Rollie Fingers. Manager Harvey Kuenn had Fingers on the playoff roster, but would prove hesitant to use him. The ‘Hammerin’ Halos,’ as the Angels were known, had veterans Tommy John, Bruce Kison, and Geoff Zahn as their top starters. The Angels also had a bullpen gallimaufry, as five players had at least three saves, led by Doug Corbett’s eight. Game 1: Baylor Bashes Brewers Led by designated hitter Don Baylor’s five RBIs, the Angels came back from an early 3-1 deficit to defeat the Brewers 8-3 in Game 1 at Anaheim Stadium on October 5. Baylor had a sacrifice fly in the first, but Milwaukee scored a pair in the second on Thomas’s two-run homer. Cooper knocked in Paul Molitor with an RBI groundout in the third to increase the lead to 3-1. Caldwell gave up four runs in the third to give back the lead, though, highlighted by Baylor’s two-run triple that evaded centerfielder Thomas when it took a bad carom off the right-center field fence. Slaton replaced Caldwell in the fourth after Boone’s base hit. With one out and the bases loaded, Baylor struck again, this time with a two-run single to left to make the tally 7-3. Fred Lynn led off the fifth with a home run to right to give California a five-run lead. Slaton, Ladd, and Dwight Bernard shut down the Angels the rest of the way on one hit, but the damage had been done. Crafty veteran Tommy John gave up the early runs but coasted the rest of the way, earning the complete game win on seven hits and one walk while striking out five. The Brewers did not help themselves defensively, as Molitor committed an error on a possible double play ball in the fourth and Caldwell had a throwing error and a wild pitch in the first inning. “We have to win tomorrow, or we’re going to make things real tough on ourselves,” Charlie Moore said after the game. Game 2: Kison Handcuffs Milwaukee The Brewers went down two games to none after Bruce Kison went the distance, giving up five hits and two runs as the Angels took a 4-2 win. Kison only needed 90 pitches, as he struck out eight and did not give the Crew a free pass. Vuckovich went the distance for Milwaukee, giving up six hits, four runs, and four walks in taking the loss. With the bases loaded and one out in the second, Tim Foli singled to left to score Lynn for the 1-0 lead. One batter later, with the sacks still jammed, Boone dropped a perfect suicide squeeze to make it 2-0. In the third, Jackson hit a homer to deep right to extend California's lead to three runs. “Four-seamer over the plate. Bye-bye. Gone,” Vuckovich said of the mistake, after the game. In the fourth, Boone got another RBI with a sac fly that scored DeCinces, widening the gap to 4-0. The Brewers finally got on the board in the fifth. Moore singled and moved to second on a groundout. Molitor lined a ball to center that Lynn inexplicably dove for, the ball getting past him and going all the way to the wall. The ‘Ignitor’ motored around the bases with a stand-up, inside-the-park homer to cut the lead in half. “I thought it got us up because it gave us some hope,” Molitor explained after the game. “But nothing happened.” Kison set down the last 13 batters, as neither team was able to score. Vuckovich was nearly as good, allowing only three walks over the final four frames, but it was too little, too late for Milwaukee. Molitor and Moore led Milwaukee with two hits each, while Lynn also banged out a pair of knocks. “You can’t ask for a tougher task than we have,” Molitor said. “California has a lot of room for error now. And we have none.” October 7: Off Day A disconsolate band of Brewers returned to Milwaukee after a pair of tough losses at the ‘Big A.’ Including the end-of-season series in Baltimore, the Brew Crew lost five of six games in a ‘do-or-die’ week. They weren't quite dead, but they certainly hadn't done what they hoped to do. “The last 10 days on the road were pretty tough on everybody,” Moore said. “It was tough for us to play after the emotional series in Baltimore, and then having to fly out to California and start the playoffs.” The scheduled starter for Game 3 was Don Sutton. When asked if he felt pressure, he scoffed. “What pressure? Maybe my attitude leads some people to think I should be psychoanalyzed, but I love this situation," said the eventual Hall of Famer. "It’s center stage.” Brewers fans could breathe easy, knowing that the man who won a clutch victory by pitching eight effective innings the previous weekend in Baltimore would be on the mound in a must-win game. View the full article

In October, Twins Daily’s Matthew Trueblood published a piece on Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews’s proclivity to surrendering a high number of singles over the first two seasons of his career, evidenced by the 25-year-old allowing a .361 batting average on balls in play over 117 innings pitched. In his article, Trueblood notes that Matthews’s ailments aren’t simply due to him being unlucky, citing that the hard-throwing righty gives up too many batted balls that have a strong chance of becoming hits. Defensive improvement from Minnesota (particularly from the infielders) could lead to more sustained success for Matthews in 2026. However, the former top prospect could also take steps to mend his shortcomings by refining his arsenal. Last season, Matthews threw the following pitches (usage rates included): Four-seam fastball - 41% Slider - 25% Cutter - 13% Change - 11% Curve - 6% Sinker - 4% The righty’s most used pitch was his four-seam fastball, which was also the case in 2024. Those following the Twins should expect him to continue throwing the pitch at a similar rate next season. However, his best pitch is his slider, which he used only 25% of the time in 2025. He also used his change, curve, and sinker a combined 21% of the time, primarily utilizing his change against left-handed hitters in an effort to generate swings and misses below the zone. Matthews would be wise to continue throwing these pitches in 2026 to change the pace of at-bats. However, he would be wise to scrap his cutter entirely, opting to fortify his slider and use it at a rate similar to his fastball (both of which are superior pitches). MTZxRGdfWGw0TUFRPT1fQVFCUkFGVlFVd1VBWFZWVVZBQUhCZ1JlQUFNRFdsa0FWQVJYVmxkVEF3RlFVZ0JW.mp4 Matthews primarily threw his cutter against left-handed hitters last year, with the intention of getting hitters to jam themselves on the pitch cutting in on them. Unfortunately, left-handed hitters generated a .760 slugging average against his cutter last season. Matthews’s cutter is slightly above-average in terms of Stuff. However, he locates it poorly, throwing it lower in the zone against left-handed hitters rather than attacking them high. Because he is unable to effectively throw his cutter high in the zone against left-handed hitters, the pitch is unintentionally being used like a slider. However, given that his cutter doesn’t have the same movement profile as his plus slider, the pitch isn’t reaching the back foot of left-handed hitters. That being the case, lefties have been able to take advantage of the pitch due to it catching too much of the plate at a lower velocity than his four-seam fastball. This isn't a problem unique to Matthews. In fact, it's almost universal. In October 2024 (a year before the piece about Matthews's singles), Trueblood wrote about a league-wide trend toward trouble for pitchers going after opposite-handed batters with slider-like cutters, for Baseball Prospectus. As mentioned earlier, Matthews would be wise to instead throw true sliders to left-handed hitters, a pitch that provides more depth and better location than his cutter. With a quick look at where the two pitches landed against lefties for him last year, it's easy to see how the slider is more successful than the cutter. He could also throw his plus four-seamer high in the zone to lefties, creating a more formidable one-two punch, instead of relying on his cutter to play the role of fastball and slider. He should also throw his change more against lefties, increasing his usage rate to around 20%. If Matthews were to ditch his cutter, increase his slider usage, and further utilize his change, he could limit balls put in play against him (particularly against lefties) and potentially earn his first taste of sustained success at the major-league level in 2026. View the full article

To paraphrase legendary Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo's remarks at Cubs Convention this weekend in downtown Chicago: this team should be a contender every year. Well, as luck would have it, recent additions to an already stout roster could make that true for the foreseeable future. That doesn't mean that all is well in Wrigleyville, however, as continued trade rumors involving the vital and beloved infielder Nico Hoerner haven't ceased. If things break right, this season possesses the potential to be a truly special one. When you're a squad at or near the top, though, improvements—let alone ones large enough to push you the next rung up the ladder—come harder and at higher costs. As the organization and its fans celebrated the 2016 World Series champions this weekend, everyone had a chance to reflect on how that magic happened. Bold moves and painful rebuilding years paved the way to sustained success. What resonates most, however, is how galvanized that team was, and how each member of that clubhouse wanted to be there. Here in 2026, standout newcomer Alex Bregman and his embrace of his team and the city have conjured up similar feelings. If and when Nico Hoerner takes the field for the first time this spring at Sloan Park, it will elicit a cathartic sigh of relief for Cubs fans—and some of the players. This current North Side baseball team is built on character, chemistry, and results. Hoerner is part of that fabric. While some pundits have gotten swept up in discussions regarding the inconsistent Matt Shaw, Hoerner has been one of the most steady players in professional baseball. He pelts fastballs, doesn't strike out, and is one of the best defensive second basemen in the big leagues. If that weren't enough, both his profile and commitment to his club harmoniously align with the directive of this team in 2026 and beyond. It took quite some time for this organization to get back to a place of perennial contention, so in my opinion, no one is expendable in this clubhouse—even if, at times, it feels like Shaw could be. If Shaw stays, the Cubs will benefit on both sides of the ball, as long as Craig Counsell can find places to play him without disrupting the rhythm of his starting infielders. On the other side of that coin, if he is dealt, his new club will no doubt greatly benefit from his presence. The Cubs would have to get such a trade right, to ensure that they improve in both the short term and the long term. Hoerner and Shaw are both Cubs as the Convention draws to a close. This weekend, though, both Jed Hoyer and Crane Kenney indicated the team will still make more moves before the offseason is over. What those moves add (and perhaps what they cost) for the 2026 team will heavily influence the fan base's mood come the middle of next month, when pitchers and catchers report to spring training. View the full article

The Sung Mun Song era with the San Diego Padres is off to an inauspicious beginning. The South Korean infielder, who signed a four-year, $15 million contract with the Padres last month, sustained an oblique injury and is expected to need about four weeks to recover. Song was injured during a batting practice session as he prepared to make the jump from the Korean Baseball Organization to MLB this year. It is not known when exactly Song was injured. The report revealing the injury said Song traveled to Yokohama, Japan, to be evaluated ahead of heading to Peoria, Arizona, for spring training. While injuries are never good, the timing is. Song is expected to be back in action early in spring training, which opens in just a few weeks. The Friars will surely make sure Song is 100% before having him partake in daily drills. Based on the timeline, there is a possibility he will be ready for the Cactus League opener Feb. 20 vs. the Seattle Mariners. Barring any setbacks or if the injury is more severe than reported, he will be on the Opening Day roster. The injury rules Song out of participating in the World Baseball Classic with South Korea. Rosters for the WBC must be set by Feb. 3, just over two weeks from now. Song is expected to play a key role in the Padres' infield this season. While he doesn't have a starting position at the moment, the natural third baseman is expected to occasionally spell Manny Machado at the hot corner, while also seeing time at second base and first base. Currently, Jake Croenenworth and Gavin Sheets are the respective starters at those positions, so platooning is definitely an option. There is also a good chance he sees time in the outfield. View the full article

As the hot stove continues to burn, nothing has been won yet by any big-league club, but the Chicago Cubs have certainly passed the vibe check. Alex Bregman, the newest North Sider, beamed from ear to ear as he greeted the media at his introductory press conference. Craig Counsell's squad feels like a complete team, and everyone from Red Line riders to Round Lake suburbanites have noticed. The Cubs head into the 2026 campaign with an air of confidence that has been missing in recent years. Droves of fungible players like Alfonso Rivas suited up in blue pinstripes not that long ago, at the end of an era of North Side baseball tarnished by penny-pinching and poor player development. Those dark clouds have been carried off by westerly winds, out onto Lake Michigan. This club is showing its teeth, and in doing so, showing its fans there's good reason to believe. The Cubs' culture is taking a definite, winning shape, and their two new acquisitions have a winning pedigree. The manner in which Bregman and Cabrera arrived on the North Side suggests that the two stars are much more focused on their performances than their pockets. Both have settled into their new place of residence nicely and seem genuinely happy to be wearing the iconic Cubs logo on their chests. Juxtaposed with the Cubs tenure of the recently departed Kyle Tucker, a man who seemed like he'd rather be anywhere else, they make a refreshing change. The character of the players on this team is an extension of president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer's focus on building a sense of shared purpose, as well as a roster that can achieve that purpose. When Hoyer made the stunning move to hire Craig Counsell as the 56th manager of the club, I knew this team had just embarked on a journey. At the time, the destination was shrouded by those lingering clouds, rather than being clear and apparently reachable. In 2026, the club will have a clear view toward the horizon. With a map in hand, the Cubs have set a course for their desired destination, with the right navigators to get them there. View the full article

Some prospects move because an organization believes it is time, while others move because the player leaves them little choice. Kaelen Culpepper spent his first full professional season doing everything possible to fall into the latter category, and the Twins are more than happy to let him keep applying that pressure. “It was Kaelen’s first full season, and he had an awesome year,” Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll told FanGraphs of the 23-year-old shortstop, whom the Twins drafted 21st overall in 2024 out of Kansas State University. “He was between High-A and Double-A, and we couldn’t have asked for it go much better. We’re really pleased. He had the opportunity to go to the Futures Game.” Culpepper’s 2025 season reads like the blueprint for a breakout. Between Cedar Rapids and Wichita, he slashed .289/.375/.469 (.844) with 20 home runs, 25 steals, and a 133 wRC+ across 517 plate appearances. He was named the Twins’ minor league player of the year, emerged as a consensus top-100 prospect, and finished the season as one of the most productive hitters in the system. Even more impressive, he did it while making the jump to Double-A, a level that has a reputation for exposing weaknesses. Culpepper never blinked. “I don’t really look at it as there being a big jump,” Culpepper told MLB's Matthew Leach late in the season, after his promotion. “I mean, there is the age gap and stuff like that. The competition here is pristine. Guys are more polished, more mature. But when it comes to the skill gap, it’s pretty similar. It’s still baseball. Baseball is hard. It’s not meant to be easy. If it was, everybody would do it. But I just look at it as two leagues, big leagues and the Minor Leagues.” That mindset shows up every time he steps in the box. Culpepper has hit at every stop, from college to wood-bat leagues to his first taste of pro ball. In 2025, the power that some evaluators questioned before the draft arrived in force, even as he maintained his ability to hit for average and control the strike zone. He walked 50 times and struck out just 90 times, a better ratio than many expected, especially given his aggressive approach. There is still refinement ahead. Culpepper can be prone to chasing off-speed pitches out of the zone, and his groundball rate was the third highest in the system. Yet reaching the 20-homer mark while keeping the ball on the ground that often hints at more power to come if he can elevate with more consistency. That is the kind of problem teams love to have. Following his professional debut in 2024, Culpepper made a conscious effort to get better. He worked to add bat speed, and according to a club official, he did just that, boosting his swing speed by about 3 miles per hour and maintaining it throughout the season. “He’s confident in his abilities and also willing to work hard, and I think those are two traits that are going to take guys a long way,” said Bryce Berg, the organization’s minor league hitting coordinator, in Leach's article. The offensive performance alone would be enough to push a player up the ladder, but Culpepper has also given the Twins plenty to think about defensively. He has primarily played shortstop, where reviews of his range, instincts, and arm have been encouraging. At the same time, the organization has begun expanding his versatility. “He’s primarily playing shortstop, but he’s also getting some early work at second base and third base, as well as a little bit of game exposure at both spots,” Zoll told FanGraphs. “We’ll continue to let that play out as we get through spring training and into the season. We’ll figure it out exactly in terms of placement and proximity. We always kind of let the player dictate that with his performance, but he’s put just about as much pressure on us in terms of us wanting to keep moving him, and keeping him challenged.” That flexibility only raises Culpepper’s value. His arm would play comfortably at third base, and his instincts and hands give him a chance to remain at shortstop longer than some initially believed. Wherever he ultimately lands, the bat profiles as an above-average regular with legitimate All-Star upside. For 2026, the question is less about whether Culpepper is ready for a challenge and more about how quickly the Twins choose to escalate it. He has yet to face Triple-A pitching and has played just 139 minor league games, but if he keeps hitting the way he has, a big league debut at some point this season is far from unrealistic. Culpepper understands there is still work to do, especially when it comes to pitch selection. “Hitters hit, you know what I mean?” Culpepper told MLB.com. “I consider myself a hitter. A very good hitter. So I’m always going to want to hit pitches a little off the plate, so I’m going to chase a little bit. It’s OK to chase as long as you’re not chasing too much. Sometimes I find myself chasing a little too much, and I’ve got to get back to being patient, seeing the ball deep, trusting my hands.” The Twins are confident that balance will come. “It’s a special combination of confidence, and I think that comes from a level of preparedness, and then openness to feedback and improving,” said Twins director of player development Drew MacPhail. “That’s a rare combo, that I think he has both in an incredibly healthy amount.” Ultimately, Culpepper’s path will be determined the same way it has been so far. He will keep hitting, keep adjusting, and keep forcing the organization to respond. If 2025 was any indication, the pressure will only increase in 2026. What should the Twins expect from Culpepper this season? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

In 2025, Jakob Marsee emerged as one of the top all-around prospects in the Miami Marlins system, earning himself a midseason call-up to the big leagues. The lefty outfielder hit the ground running and won the National League Rookie of the Month award in August. Even with less production in September, Marsee was the most impactful position player on the club during that two-month span with a slash line of .292/.363/.478, a .363 wOBA and a 133 wRC+ while playing strong center field defense. However, it would not be a fair expectation to count on Marsee maintaining those numbers throughout his upcoming sophomore season. Each of the projection models featured on FanGraphs believe his profile is much closer to that of an average regular than a star. Marsee did a lot of damage at the plate despite a lack of raw power. His bat speed last season was 70.5 mph, nearly 1 mph slower than the MLB average. He posted a shockingly low 3.9% fast swing rate (average was 23.6%). He prioritized making consistent contact over trying to crush the ball. So far, he has enjoyed the best of both worlds and slugged at an impressive level, but moving forward, that approach will likely cost him some extra-base hits. There was a 17-point difference between Marsee's wOBA and xwOBA. These models don't trust that to continue. Marsee is hindered by an ideal attack angle rate of 43.3%, far below the league average of nearly 51%. Barring dramatic changes, Marsee's luck on balls in play is due to regress. He was helped by a .357 BABIP in 2025, but he's universally projected to settle below the .300 mark in 2026. It will be important for Marsee to continue his trend of pulling the ball often. That gives him the highest likelihood of once again outperforming his damage data. WERPNVhfWGw0TUFRPT1fQlFkVkFWWlZBQUlBV1ZaVFZRQUhCUVlBQUZnR1dsSUFVUVlBQXdVQkNRcGNDRlFE.mp4 The 24-year-old offers a high floor regardless. He has an excellent ability to discern balls from strikes and will regularly draw walks as a result. A speedy and instinctual fielder, Marsee was on a full-season pace to produce 12 defensive runs saved. Impacting games positively in that way makes it easy for the Marlins to give him playing time even when struggles inevitably occur at the plate. QXdhcUtfWGw0TUFRPT1fVUZBQVVsVUNBZ0VBQUFkVUFBQUhCZ05WQUZoV1ZWWUFBMU5RQWxKUkJBRURVMVJl.mp4 I do believe Marsee should sacrifice some contact for bat speed. He cannot count on being rewarded for mediocre exit velocities as often moving forward, so seek opportunities to sell out for hard hits, especially when his patience gets him into favorable counts. With all due respect to the any fancy projection models, I foresee Marsee faring slightly better than they do in 2026. Assuming no underlying injuries that degrade his tools, he could finish around a 107 wRC+ with 2.8-3.2 fWAR. View the full article

With the Twins' only real major league deals this off-season being their signing of Josh Bell to a one-year deal and Victor Caratini to a two-year pact, it begs the question if the Twins are making all these waiver wire claims simply to have place holders on the 40-man until Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, or C.J. Culpepper are ready for their call ups to the majors. View the full article

Thursday marked the opening of the 2026 International Signing Period, and it looks like the Twins have a potential for celebration if all things go their way. This is the day that young athletes from Central and South America have the opportunity to sign with a major-league team, continue to work out and grow with the team. Baseball America says that the Twins 2025 class was one of the best classes in the Dominican Republic and produced a solid prospect turnout. This year is about the same and shows that the Twins are certainly using all their technology and scouting potential. The Twins pool is $7,357,100 this year, tied for the third-highest allotment, and it sounds like they have plenty of places to spend it. The Twins officially announced their 2026 international signing class, featuring 20 players. Here's the full rundown, with an in-depth look at some of the highlights. Enmanuel Merlo (SS, Venezuela) - 29th-highest signing bonus in this class. Twins Daily writer Jamie Cameron covered Merlo in an article going over some of the 2026 class. Merlo is set to make an impact at 6’1”, another switch hitter with top notch offensive skills. He is a little more advanced than his peers with exit velo, ability to be patient at the plate, and take a walk if he can. Fast on the plates and the infield - short stop may end up being home for him with his agility and speed. (Signing Bonus: $1.5 million) Abel Sosa (OF, Venezuela) - Sosa is one of the more intriguing bats in the 2026 international class. The Venezuelan outfielder won’t turn 17 until June, yet already stands 6-foot-3, 185 pounds with broad shoulders and plenty of physical upside. Baseball America has noted his impressive raw power for his age, and there’s reason to believe that power could become plus as he continues to mature. Sosa plays with an aggressive approach and will expand the zone at times, but he’s made real progress over the past year improving his contact against live pitching, allowing his power to show up more consistently in games. He’s a plus runner with a strong arm, giving him a legitimate chance to begin his career in center field, though long-term he could profile well in right if he outgrows the position. (Signing Bonus: $800,000) Juan Diego Holmann (SS/OF, Nicaragua) - One of the top prospects from Nicaragua in 2026. In an interview with 8 Deportivo during a workout, Holman told the reporter that he is excited to have the opportunity to sign with the Twins. Touted as an average runner by Baseball America, the shortstop will more than likely find his home between second and third base, and the outfield. His bat will take some honing, but he has a great read on the ball and a gap hitter, which is something the organization definitely needs. Holmann's father played very briefly in the Dodgers organization. His uncle Mario Holmann spent five seasons in the Yankees organization, topping out at Triple-A. He has participated in events in Europe and speaks fluent German. (Signing Bonus: $500,000) Jendy Martinez (SS, Dominican Republic) - The switch-hitter is one of the shortest prospects on the list, Reports say that he hits the ball with authority, especially given his size. Martinez has plus speed, and could be an asset as a utility player, but there is going to be some work to be done to capitalize on his physical strength to match his bat. (Signing Bonus: $500,000) Misael Rodriguez (OF, Dominican Republic) - An athletic center fielder, Rodriguez, according to Baseball America, has plus speed and has a good chance to stick in center field. He’s not very big, at just 5-10. He will work on making more consistent contact and driving the ball to all fields. (Signing Bonus: $500,000) Frederick Hiciano (RHP, Dominican Republic) - Eligible to sign in 2025, he decided to wait a year. He’s 6-2 and 175 pounds and will likely fill out his frame, according to Baseball America. His fastball has reached 95 mph and sits in the low-90s. Like many young prospects, his off-speed pitches are a work in progress but have potential to complement the fastball. His fastball is in the 99th percentile in his class. (Signing Bonus: Unknown) Sebastian Echavarria (RHP, Dominican Republic) - Echavarria throws his fastball in the low 90s, but has the potential to add speed, like many young prospects. He also has a breaking ball and changeup. From the Dominican Republic, Echavarria is 6 foot 3 inches, and will likely continue to fill out. (Signing Bonus: Unknown) Additionally, the Twins announced these players among their 2026 international signing class: Daiyer Barboza (IF, Venezuela, $130,000) - Juan Germosen (RHP, Dominican Republic) - Yael Retituyo (RHP, Dominican Republic) - Adrián Martinez (RHP, Colombia, $100,000) - Jeremy Jimenez (RHP, Dominican Republic) - Jhon Gonzalez (OF, Dominican Republic, $375,000) - Anibal Beltré (OF, Dominican Republic, $500,000) - Juan Collado (RHP, Dominican Republic) - Luis Duarte (C, Venezuela) - Known more for his defense in his youth, he does have potential offensively due to his strength. Fabián Ulloa (SS, Venezuela) - Luis Suárez (OF, Venezuela, $140,000) - Ashwar Sprok (OF, Aruba) - Jeferson Abreu (C, Dominican Republic $45,000 - Rosmel Silva (LHP, Venezuela, $20,000) - We will keep an eye on these prospects as they begin their professional career. These players, and likely more players added between now and the end of the year, will play in the Dominican Summer League. 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The Chicago Cubs see themselves as contenders in 2026. After the offseason they've had, that is a completely justifiable viewpoint to have. In fact, a recent report suggests that they are willing to do what it takes to topple the modern-day "evil empire known" as the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jesse Rogers of ESPN reports that Chicago Cubs general manager Cody Hawkins has said paying the luxury tax in 2026 is "less of a consideration." He added that the team will remain active in the free-agent and trade markets if something presents itself. Although not off the table, realistically, this likely indicates the Cubs' willingness to add payroll via trade. Cody Bellinger and Framber Valdez represent the two biggest names left on the free agent market, and the Chicago Cubs have not been tied to either player. However, the Alex Bregman signing created an opportunity to shop Matt Shaw and/or Nico Hoerner to two teams in need of versatile infield help. It would be in those trade talks, which have reportedly already been presented, where the Cubs would be willing to add a high-impact player to their roster regardless of what it would mean for their payroll and luxury tax situation. If the Cubs were to pay the luxury tax, which player(s) currently available would be worth it? Let us know in the comments! View the full article