DiamondCentric

The Cubs' trade acquisition of Edward Cabrera begs the golden question: Why give up much for this guy? In this video, you'll learn about Cabrera's lethal five-pitch mix, his devastating changeup, and what led to a career year in 2025. Can he sustain this success, or will some of his pitfalls, also mentioned in this video, come back to bite Chicago's front office? Let us know what you think about this trade! View the full article

In recent weeks, MLB Pipeline has been rolling out results from a poll of executives across baseball, asking them to weigh in on a wide range of prospect-related questions. One of the more interesting categories focused on which farm systems are the most underrated. Minnesota finished tied for fifth in that poll, trailing only the Pirates, Marlins, Cubs, and Reds. At first glance, that placement might surprise fans who have watched Minnesota’s system in recent years. But when you dig into how the Twins have found talent, developed arms, and restocked through trades, it becomes easier to see why decision-makers around the league view Minnesota as a sneakily strong organization for prospects. Finding and Developing Sleepers The Twins picked up several down-ballot votes in the underrated category, and much of that credit stems from their ability to identify pitchers who outperform their draft position. Minnesota has made a habit of finding college arms outside the early rounds and turning them into legitimate big-league contributors. Bailey Ober is the most obvious example. Drafted in the 12th round in 2017, Ober lacked eye-popping velocity but showed elite command and a deceptive release. The Twins leaned into those traits, helped him add strength, and trusted his ability to miss bats at the top of the zone. The result has been a durable and effective starter who looks nothing like a late-round flier. David Festa followed a similar path. Taken in the 13th round in 2021, Festa arrived with solid stuff but little fanfare. Minnesota worked on refining his fastball shape and sharpening his breaking pitches, and he quickly turned into one of the system’s fastest risers. Festa now profiles as a legitimate rotation option with strikeout upside, another example of development trumping draft pedigree. Zebby Matthews may be the most impressive case study yet, as an 8th-round pick in 2022. A college pitcher with strong analytical markers but limited exposure, Matthews exploded once he entered the Twins system. Velocity gains, improved pitch design, and a clearer developmental plan turned him into one of the more intriguing pitching prospects in the organization. That kind of jump does not happen by accident, and it reinforces why the Twins are viewed as a team that finds value where others might not. These three examples are all pitchers, so the Twins must start finding and developing sleepers on the position player side. Best at Developing Pitchers Minnesota likely believes this is one of its strengths, even if the on-field results have not always matched the internal confidence. Pitcher development is complicated and rarely linear, but the Twins have consistently shown the ability to add velocity to college arms once they enter the system. Ober, Festa, and Matthews are prime examples, but they are not alone. The organization has leaned heavily into modern training methods, biomechanics, and pitch design to help arms reach new ceilings. The Twins also deserve credit for what they have done with pitchers acquired from outside the organization. Joe Ryan arrived from Tampa Bay with a strong fastball and feel for pitching, but Minnesota helped him optimize his arsenal and sequencing. Pablo López took a similar step forward after coming over from Miami, adding new wrinkles to his pitch mix and elevating his overall performance. Development does not stop once a player reaches the majors, and the Twins have shown they can still add value at that stage. Best at Acquiring Prospects in Trades Another area where Minnesota quietly earned recognition is in acquiring prospects through trades. Last season’s trade deadline sell-off brought in a wave of young talent, though the verdict on those deals remains years away. Players like Eduardo Tait, Mick Abel, and Kendry Rojas now sit at various points along the development curve. How well the Twins nurture that group and (eventually) translate it into big-league production will determine whether this reputation holds. The raw materials are there, but prospect capital only matters if it turns into wins at the highest level. There is also a looming fork in the road ahead. If the Twins continue their teardown at the 2026 trade deadline, veterans like López, Ryan, and Ryan Jeffers could bring back another haul of young talent. By next winter, Minnesota could look very different in this category, depending on how aggressively they move and how effectively they maximize returns. For now, executives seem to believe the Twins deserve more credit than they receive. Minnesota may not always dominate the headlines with top-ranked systems. Still, the combination of sleeper finds, pitcher development, and opportunistic trading explains why the organization continues to be viewed as one of baseball’s most underrated farms. How do you feel the Twins rate in the categories mentioned above? Are the Twins one of baseball’s most underrated farm systems? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Thousands at Soldier Field on Saturday night gathered and cheered to celebrate the biggest news in Chicago sports: the Cubs signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal. I have since discovered that there was also something else going on at the time that resulted in that celebration at Soldier Field, but hey, I am sure this was a nice cherry on top for some. This marks what could be a huge turning point for the Cubs and their front office. For one, Bregman just received the largest average annual value on a contract in team history. Second, a Jed Hoyer-led front office went out and outbid other teams for a guy that they wanted. Finally, they flexed some financial might. It’s not just the use of financial resources that is encouraging, either. Per Mark Feinsand, the Cubs are deferring $70 million of the contract, which will bring the average annual value for luxury tax purposes down slightly. This could help the Cubs stay below the competitive balance tax for this coming season, and finally signals a willingness from the club to take advantage of a modern, club-friendly free agency tactic in deferrals. What makes Bregman the guy that the Cubs were finally willing to do all of this for? It was reported by Patrick Mooney of The Athletic that “although he will be 32 in March, Bregman still lit up the front office’s projection systems as a Gold Glove defender and an elite right-handed hitter.” There are reasons to think that the third-baseman has the type of profile that could age well. Clearly, the Cubs’ would agree. For starters, plate discipline is one of Bregman’s premier skills, and this is a skill that a player typically retains as they age. Perhaps more importantly, a recent blog post at Driveline Baseball concluded that pull-air percentage is one of the skills that ages the best in an offensive player. Pulling the ball in the air has long been a hallmark of the former Astro's game, including a 24.4 percent pull-air percentage just last year, which ranked 37th in baseball, per Baseball Savant. If Bregman can continue doing that, you have to feel pretty good about this contract. On the flip side, swing speed and exit velocity, two skills that don’t typically age well, have never been highlight skills for Bregman. As noted by Davy Andrews at FanGraphs, he has never hit a ball 110 mph, which 308 MLB players did last season. One could look at that and conclude that the veteran is walking a thin line. If he loses even any bat speed, he’s toast. You could also argue that he already knows how to succeed without bat speed, or that he has no bat speed to lose. Clearly, and as reported above, we know where the Cubs’ projection systems stand on that debate. As for the validity of the Cubs’ projection systems, well, let me go ahead and defend those. In the offseason after the 2022 season, the Cubs needed a shortstop, and all four of Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner, and Xander Bogaerts were available. The Cubs, of course, signed Swanson. He received the least amount of total money amongst the four shortstops by a good bit. He’s also been worth 2.5 more FanGraphs WAR than Bogaerts since that offseason, and 3.8 more fWAR than Correa. Trea Turner is the only one that has outperformed him since the Great Winter of the Shortstop™. Tying Bregman to Swanson brings me to the second thing the Cubs likely identified with Bregman: leadership and intangibles. According to Jen McCaffrey at The Athletic, last offseason, Bregman was heavily invested in the Red Sox winning, and went on to become a major leader in the clubhouse. “A year ago, Bregman grilled the Red Sox front office with a 16-page document filled with questions on the direction of the organization, the development plan for the club’s top prospects and how Boston planned to invest and spend to bring the organization back to the postseason.” McCaffrey went on to write that “Bregman took a strong interest in mentoring the club’s top prospects like [Roman] Anthony and [Marcelo] Mayer, but he also offered insight to veteran hitters going through slumps and even to pitchers, suggesting how he’d attack them as an opponent to help them better game plan.” Sound familiar? When Dansby Swanson signed with the Cubs, Jed Hoyer reported a similar concern with the direction of the club. “The thing that really stood out to me was that it felt like he was interviewing us. How are you guys gonna win? What’s your plan? What’s your philosophy? What players are you going to surround me with? Who are the prospects that are coming? It was very clear winning was the priority.” After Swanson officially left the Braves and signed with the Cubs, Jeff Schultz of The Athletic noted that “Swanson exerted a lot of influence in the clubhouse, especially with younger players like [Vaughn] Grissom and Michael Harris II.” It’s clear that the Cubs heavily value the leadership qualities that they see in Swanson and Bregman. They also, most likely, project him to age quite gracefully. Age aside, this is still a guy that posted 3.5 fWAR in only 114 games last season. He had a 125 wRC+, meaning he was a 25 percent above the league-average hitter. This is a productive player now. Whether or not you agree with the Cubs’ rationale, whether or not you agree with the importance of Bregman’s apparent leadership abilities, and whether or not you think the contract will age well, the Cubs spent money to make the team better for this season. They identified a guy that they wanted and were willing to outbid others for him. That is not something they have done particularly often under Jed Hoyer, and I think we can all commend them for that. View the full article

L.A.A.B. - Life After Alex Bregman. That's where the Red Sox are in their offseason after losing out on the superstar third baseman to the Chicago Cubs. While many expect the club to shift its sights to Bo Bichette, Eugenio Suarez, or another impact bat, Rob Bradford of WEEI suggests a different approach. In a recent tweet, Bradford suggested that the Red Sox "re-engage with higher-end pitching while still looking to acquire a lower-tier bat." Of course, Bichette and Suarez would not fit in the "lower-tier" category, so Bradford is merely suggesting to bolster the pitching staff's ability to prevent runs rather than the offense's ability to produce runs. After acquiring Sonny Gray earlier this offseason, the Red Sox's rotation is the strength of their team. Even with Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck on the shelf for most of 2025, pitchers three through five of the rotation are among the strongest in all of baseball. Additionally, the bullpen will look to continue to be good after a successful 2025 campaign. That really begs the question...just how big of a pitcher do they need to land for it really to make an impact on the outlook of the club? Would adding a #2 starter that bumps Patrick Sandoval out of the rotation really be better than adding a middle-of-the-order bat? Would adding another high-leverage arm that bumps a low-leverage arm like Jovani Moran off the roster or at least to Triple-A Wincester really be better than Bo Bichette? These are all things that the Red Sox need to weigh as they look to get back into the good graces of a fan base left in despair after Bregman bolted for the Windy City. Do you think the Red Sox should add pitching or hitting? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Not surprisingly, the Minnesota Twins have had a fairly quiet offseason when it comes to player personnel. While they've made headlines in the coaching and ownership departments, the only notable addition to their roster to this point is first baseman Josh Bell. However, since the public update on ownership, it's also been reported that the club is looking to rebuild its bullpen and could add players via free agency. We have a little more clarity on that report. Darren Wolfson of KSTP is reporting that the Minnesota Twins "briefly inquired" about reliever Seranthony Dominguez last month. While talks are not currently taking place, both Wolfson and our own Cody Pirkl suggested that Dominguez would be an intriguing fit for the club. Dominguez, 31, is most known for his time with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he started his career. However, he most recently spent time in the AL East with the Baltimore Orioles for a season and a half, followed by the Toronto Blue Jays, who acquired him at last season's trade deadline. In 2025, he appeared in 67 games, pitching 62 2/3 innings. He posted an impressive 3.16 ERA, though a 3.47 FIP suggests the potential for slight negative regression. Despite walks always being an issue, including last year (13.8% walk rate), he produced a very good 26.5% K-BB rate. Aside from walks, the biggest question is whether the Twins should be targeting a groundball pitcher with the state of their infield. Do you think the Twins should pursue Dominguez? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Over three months into the offseason, the Minnesota Twins have been mildly active on the position player front, trading for Alex Jackson to succeed Christian Vázquez as backup catcher; signing switch-hitting veteran Josh Bell to become the primary first baseman and/or DH; and acquiring Ryan Kreidler, Eric Wagaman, and Orlando Arcia to provide depth on the margins. Adding these five depth pieces to the core of Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis, Luke Keaschall, Ryan Jeffers, Matt Wallner, Brooks Lee, and others, Minnesota is nearly done rounding out its 13-person major-league position player collective. They have depth options likely to be ticketed for Triple-A St. Paul, where they can await injuries or other opportunities. That said, the club would be wise to add one more versatile bench bat to round out the group—preferably someone who could fill a super utility role in the infield and outfield. Sound familiar? Signed to a minor-league contract before the 2023 season, struggling major-league veteran Willi Castro underwent a career renaissance with Minnesota, generating a combined 107 wRC+ over 1,388 plate appearances and spending meaningful time at six different defensive positions (including multiple relief appearances). Traded to the Chicago Cubs at last season’s trade deadline, the 28-year-old struggled, hitting .170/.245/.240 with a 40 wRC+ over 110 plate appearances. The former Twin provided a similar level of defensive versatility for Chicago, but his offensive ineptitude kept him off the club’s playoff rosters, signaling an unceremonious end to his tenure with the Cubs. Before struggling in Chicago, Castro was expected to net a multi-year contract this offseason, potentially earning more than $10 million annually. He is now projected to net a one-year deal worth between $3 million and $5 million. That being the case, the former fan favorite should be within the salary-restricted Twins' price range, while possessing a skillset that would patch the remaining holes on the club’s roster. As mentioned earlier, Castro started at six positions for the Twins in 2025, primarily playing second base, right field, left field, and third base. Minnesota has adequate corner outfield depth in Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Austin Martin, Alan Roden, James Outman, and top prospects Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez will begin the season at St. Paul. Still, given Castro’s matchup utility as a balanced switch-hitter, he could find time in left or right field as a right-handed platoon option. He could also function as Royce Lewis’s backup at third base and mix in at second base alongside Keaschall and Kody Clemens. Castro’s days as a shortstop and center fielder are behind him. Still, he could function as Brooks Lee’s emergency backup at shortstop, operating as a superior offensive option to Kreidler or Arcia and rendering it unnecessary to roster them unless and until Lee gets hurt. Despite rumors swirling around Castro mixing in at first base last season, he didn’t play a single inning at the position. In 2026, Minnesota could be more incentivized to provide him an opportunity there, given that Bell is defensively deficient and Clemens and Wagaman are fringy pieces. Again, Castro is no longer the super utility player who unexpectedly earned an All-Star nod in 2024. Those who follow the Twins shouldn’t expect him to be that guy. Still, with Kreidler, Arcia and Wagaman (all below-average hitters) around as depth alternatives, team decision-makers would be wise to add a stronger option. Affordable and well-liked in the clubhouse, Castro is a good candidate to be that guy. View the full article

In the modern game, teams work hard to build not only strong offenses, but ones with a wide array of strengths and weaknesses. Just as it's become popular to assemble a bullpen featuring pitchers with different arm slots and pitch shapes, as well as handedness, teams are trying to build lineups with varied skill sets—including swing paths. Platoon balance is a familiar need, and clubs have always craved a mix of power and speed, but the new hotness is loading up with players who can neutralize the constellation of looks pitching staffs will throw at you within a given game or series. The Cubs have had a good mix of left- and right-handed offense over the last three seasons. They've employed sluggers and speedsters. They've had guys who specialize in drawing walks and those who emphasize avoiding strikeouts. Last season, though, they had one glaring deficiency in lineup diversity: swing path. There are three key variables in a player's swing, just as there are with a pitcher's throw. For pitches, those vsriables are velocity, horizontal movement and vertical movement, though as we now know, there are other key characteristics, too: spin rate, arm angle and extension toward the plate at release. For hitters, the main variables are bat speed, swing tilt, and contact point. Again, there are secondary traits that also matter (attack angle and direction, depth in the batter's box, and swing decisions), but those are controlled by the primary traits. To visualize the way Cubs hitters map on this basis, I've charted swing tilt and contact point (relative to the batter's center of mass) for 2025. The points in this scatter plot are colored by the player's average exit velocity, as a proxy (admittedly, an imperfect one) for swing speed. This includes all the team's regulars last season, plus a few selected players for comparison. As you can see, the Cubs strongly favor steeper swings. The average swing tilt for big-league hitters is around 32°. Last year, the only frequent contributors to the team who were on the flatter side of that midpoint were Matt Shaw and Seiya Suzuki, and for Suzuki, it wasn't by much. They also leaned toward catching the ball farther out in front of themselves than most hitters do. The two exceptions to the latter rule were Kyle Tucker and Nico Hoerner, but Tucker then hit free agency. Earlier this month, we discussed the possibility that the team would pursue Bo Bichette, who catches the ball as deep as just about any hitter in baseball—but as you can see, he also would have been another of the team's steep swingers. This move goes the other way. The team traded Christopher Morel (an exceptionally flat swinger) for Isaac Paredes in 2024, but then shipped Paredes to the Astros as part of the deal for Tucker in December of that year. Paredes's extreme go-get-the-ball contact point contributes to his reliance on pulling the ball right down the line. The fact that Bregman lets the ball travel much longer explains his ability to hit for power to left-center field, where Wrigley Field will be much friendlier to him. Indeed, Bregman hit 13 balls over the last two seasons that were not home runs at the parks where he was playing, but which would leave Wrigley by clearing the wall at the shallow part of the left-center power alley. Shaw was the different swing the team needed to balance out the rest of their crew, but only when he was going well. For most of the season, he was a mess at the plate, with a disorganized approach and little feel for barreling the ball. Bregman doesn't swing as fast as Shaw, but he makes hard contact more often, because he has what Shaw is missing: an extremely polished plan at the plate and plus-plus feel for contact. Bregman and Moisés Ballesteros now give the Cubs the flat swings their lineup lacked last season. Mixing Bregman, Ballesteros, Busch, Happ, Suzuki, Crow-Armstrong and Hoerner into the top seven spots in the batting order each day will give the Cubs two true speed threats; as many as four 25-homer hitters; three lefties, three righties and a switch-hitter. Now, they also have a greater diversity of swing shapes, which leaves fewer pitchers able to pick their way through the lineup without hitting a buzzsaw. Bregman is a risky signing, entering his mid-30s and a bit light on power, but he boosts both the depth and the versatility of what the team hopes is a championship-caliber offense. Consider this glimpse at the swings of four Cubs hitters: Bregman, Busch, Hoerner and Suzuki. The difference in swing plane between Bregman and both Hoerner and Busch is visible to the naked eye, as well as in the measurement at the bottom right corner. Harder to pick up at a glance (but just as important) is the fact that Bregman hits by getting his hips and shoulders more open by the contact point than the others. That ensures that, despite his flatter swing, he's working uphill at contact more than Hoerner or Suzuki are. Finally, look at his hands; that's where his offensive genius lies. Whereas any of the other three would be on the point of breaking their wrists and rolling over by the time they get to the same point in the arc of the swing, Bregman is capable of cutting smoothly through the ball throughout a wide timing window. Compare his right wrist to Suzuki's, at the same point. In Suzuki's swing, his wrist is already at full extension by then, and there's no way to resist rolling them if he's a hair early. For Bregman, there's still flexion in the wrist of that top hand, and the bottom hand operates brilliantly, too. Because of the flatness of his swing, Bregman doesn't have to turn his left wrist over until very late, either. That's where the signature finish on his swing comes from, and it's why he makes contact at an elite rate even while averaging such a high attack angle and a high launch angle on his batted balls. All of that makes it hard to manipulate Bregman, and explains why he's a perennially tough out. He's struggled against sinkers (a little) and sweepers (sometimes a lot), but he consistently has positive run values against four-seam fastballs, changeups, curveballs, sliders and cutters, because his swing is so adaptable. Given his superb plate discipline, he's a terrific fit for Chicago's lineup, on multiple levels. In a vacuum, Bichette would have been a more desirable signing, because he's younger, more athletic and more likely to have peak seasons in front of him. However, the team needed a swing just like Bregman's to mix into their everyday lineup. View the full article

Derek Shelton continues to put his own touch on the Minnesota Twins' coaching staff. Since he's taken the role of manager, Shelton has named a new hitting coach, bench coach, bullpen coach, first base coach, and field coordinator. Recently, he made another addition to the coaching staff by bringing in someone who recently played for the club. Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that the Minnesota Twins are hiring Michael A. Taylor as the team's Outfield Instructor. Michael A. Taylor retired following the 2025 season after a 12-year career with five different clubs, most recently with the Chicago White Sox. For what Taylor lacked in offense (a career 79+ OPS), he made up for in his outfield defense. Throughout his career, Taylor was known as an elite glove-first center fielder, which is evident by being a three-time Rawlings Gold Glove finalist and the award in 2021. It's likely he would have received recognition (and hardware) if his bat had allowed him to stay in the lineup more regularly. Regardless, Taylor will shift from patrolling the outfield to patrolling the outfielders with the Twins in 2025. A role that he seems perfectly suited for, given the 62 Outs Above Average (OAA) he accrued in the Statcast era. Do you think Taylor can help strengthen the outfield defense, particularly when it comes to Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Despite re-signing Michael King, the San Diego Padres are still looking to fill the void left by Dylan Cease, who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason. Earlier in the offseason, it was rumored that general manager AJ Preller was considering transitioning one of his relievers from the bullpen to the starting rotation. At the time, he had given himself about two weeks to make that decision and seemingly opted not to go that route. However, that doesn't mean Padres fans won't see changes in the bullpen before Opening Day. AJ Cassavell of MLB.com is reporting that the San Diego Padres are looking to add starting pitching and could deal a reliever to make that happen. The report doesn't indicate exactly which reliever(s) may be subject to trade talks, but Cassavell does mention that a high-leverage reliever, Mason Miller, is unlikely to be dealt. That said, he doesn't go too much further down the pecking order before bringing up names like Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, and David Morgan as potential candidates. He also mentions Jason Adam as an unlikely candidate to be traded. Recently, it was also suggested that the Padres may need to deal Nick Pivetta to make room for another start from a cost standpoint. Do you think the Padres should trade one of their high-end relievers for a starting pitcher? Let us know what you think of the comments. View the full article

The Royals have been active this offseason, addressing needs in the trade and free agent markets. The Royals have also secured their manager for the long term by signing Matt Quatraro to a three-year contract extension. The Royals have boosted their bullpen by adding Alex Lange as a free agent and acquiring Matt Strahm and Nick Mears in trades. The outfield has also gotten needed help with the signing of free agent Lane Thomas and the trade for Isaac Collins. After these additions, the Royals are still in the market for a left-handed reliever and an impact bat for the lineup. The Royals have also had notable departures. Angel Zerpa and Jonathan Bowlan left via trade. Key players departed in free agency, including Hunter Harvey, Adam Frazier, Mike Yastrzemski, Luke Maile, Michael Lorenzen, Randal Grichuk, Sam Long, Kyle Wright, MJ Melendez, and Taylor Clarke. Other teams in the Royals’ division have also been active this offseason. Let’s take a look at the rest of the AL Central to see where their rosters stand at this point in the offseason. Chicago White Sox The White Sox have been very active, and their offseason is headlined by the surprising signing of Munetaka Murakami from Japan. Murakami initially had many teams interested in signing him, but interest cooled when they looked at his swing-and-miss rates in Japan. Additions Purchased 3B/1B Munetaka Murakami to a two-year deal. 2025: Played in Japan (Yakult Swallows) Signed LHP Sean Newcomb to a one-year contract. 2025 WAR: 1.6 Signed LHP Anthony Kay to a two-year contract. 2025: Played in Japan (Yokohama Bay Stars) Traded for LHP Chris Murphy (Boston). 2025 WAR: 0.5 Traded for OF Everson Pereira (Tampa). 2025 WAR: -0.3 Traded for OF Tristan Peters (Tampa). 2025 WAR: -0.4 Traded for IF/OF Tanner Murray. 2025: Minors Selected RHP Alexander Alberto in the Rule 5 Draft (Tampa Bay). 2025: Minors Selected RHP Jedixson Paez in the Rule 5 Draft (Boston). 2025: Minors Subtractions RHP Steven Wilson (traded to Tampa Bay). 2025 WAR: 1.2 LHP Fraser Ellard (retired). 2025 WAR: 0.0 RHP Yoendrys Gomez (traded to Tampa Bay). 2025 WAR: 0.0 LHP Tyler Alexander (free agent to Texas). 2025 WAR: -0.5 Still Out There OF Mike Tauchman. 2025 WAR: 1.9 LHP Martin Perez. 2025 WAR: 1.2 OF Michael A. Taylor. 2025 WAR: 0.1 RHP Miguel Castro. 2025 WAR: -0.1 LHP Cam Booser. 2025 WAR: -0.5 While the White Sox are still in a rebuild, they may look to trade Luis Robert Jr. and maybe even Murakami if he has a strong start in Chicago. Cleveland Guardians The Guardians have had a pretty quiet offseason, with the only notable movements being in their bullpen. They will also look to fill the void in the pitching staff following the indictments of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz for charges linked to illegal sports betting. Additions Signed RHP Shawn Armstrong to a one-year contract. 2025 WAR: 1.5 Signed RHP Connor Brogdon to a one-year contract. 2025 WAR: -0.2 Signed C Austin Hedges to a one-year contract. 2025 WAR: -0.5 Signed RHP Colin Holderman to a one-year contract. 2025 WAR: -0.8 Selected RHP Peyton Pallette in the Rule 5 Draft (White Sox). 2025: Minors Subtractions RHP Zak Kent (free agent to St. Louis). 2025 WAR: 0.1 LHP Matt Krook (free agent to the Athletics). 2025 WAR: 0.0 OF/1B Jhonkensy Noel (signed off waivers to Baltimore). 2025 WAR: -1.4 LHP Sam Hentges (free agent to San Francisco). 2025: Injured RHP Emmanuel Clase (indicted on sports betting charges). 2025 WAR: 0.7 RHP Luis Ortiz (indicted on sports betting charges). 2025 WAR: 0.6 Still Out There LHP Kolby Allard. 2025 WAR: 1.3 RHP Nic Enright. 2025 WAR: 1.0 RHP Ben Lively. 2025 WAR: 0.9 OF Will Brennan. 2025 WAR: -0.2 IF Will Wilson. 2025 WAR: -0.6 While the Guardians have had recent success making the playoffs, they might need additions to become true postseason contenders. Detroit Tigers Most notably, the Tigers retained Gleyber Torres with their qualifying offer and signed Kenley Jansen to boost the back of the bullpen. Right now, the Tigers look to be running it back with most of last year’s team returning. Additions Re-signed 2B Gleyber Torres to a one-year qualifying offer. 2025 WAR: 2.9 Signed P Kenley Jansen to a one-year contract. 2025 WAR: 2.4 Re-signed RHP Kyle Finnegan to a two-year contract. 2025 WAR: 1.0 Claimed RHP Dugan Darnell off waivers (Pittsburgh). 2025 WAR: 0.3 Claimed RHP Jack Little off waivers (Pittsburgh). 2025 WAR: 0.0 Signed RHP Drew Anderson to a one-year contract. 2025: Played in Korea (SSG Landers) Traded for LHP Johan Simon (Toronto). 2025: Minors Subtractions RHP Chase Lee (free agent to Toronto). 2025 WAR: 0.2 RHP Randy Dobnak (free agent to Seattle). 2025 WAR: 0.1 RHP Alex Lange (free agent to Kansas City). 2025 WAR: 0.0 OF Justyn-Henry Malloy (traded to Tampa Bay). 2025 WAR: -0.2 Still Out There IF Andy Ibáñez. 2025 WAR: 0.6 RHP Chris Paddack. 2025 WAR: 0.3 RHP Jose Urquidy. 2025 WAR: -0.1 RHP Paul Sewald. 2025 WAR: -0.1 RHP Rafael Montero. 2025 WAR: -0.2 RHP Tommy Kahnle. 2025 WAR: -0.2 The big question remaining is what to do about two-time reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. Reports indicate that the Tigers and Skubal have the largest arbitration gap in MLB history. If Skubal wins his arbitration hearing, are the Tigers more likely to trade him, and if they win, are they more likely to be aggressive and try to win in what is likely to be Skubal’s last year in Detroit? Minnesota Twins The Twins have been rather quiet this offseason, with small additions and no major departures. Additions Traded for RHP Eric Orze (Tampa Bay). 2025 WAR: 0.6 Traded for C Alex Jackson (Baltimore). 2025 WAR: 0.6 Signed 1B/DH Josh Bell to a one-year contract. 2025 WAR: 0.4 Traded for UT Eric Wagaman (Miami). 2025 WAR: -0.4 Subtractions RHP Cody Laweryson (waivers to the Angels). 2025 WAR: 0.3 OF DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (free agent to Atlanta). 2025 WAR: -1.2 Still Out There C Christian Vazquez. 2025 WAR: 0.6 RHP Michael Tonkin. 2025 WAR: 0.2 LHP Anthony Misiewicz. 2025 WAR: -0.1 RHP Thomas Hatch. 2025 WAR: -0.2 OF Carson McCusker. 2025 WAR: -0.6 LHP Genesis Cabrera. 2025 WAR: -0.8 While there were a lot of departures at the trade deadline last year, the Twins have been reluctant to let go of key players Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, and Byron Buxton. Maybe there are other additions on the horizon if they do intend to keep their stars and compete in 2026? While the perennial division-contending Guardians and Tigers don't have the same glaring weaknesses as the Royals do, Kansas City may have been the most aggressive team in the AL Central in actively upgrading its roster in 2026. The Royals still probably need one more impact bat to improve their offense. The front office has signaled a willingness to use their rotation depth to make a move to strengthen the offense, but until they do, they will not be considered true contenders in the division or even for an AL Wild Card spot. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs' signing of Alex Bregman represented a significant deviation from the norm, on a couple different levels. Given the team's unwillingness to dabble in the deep end of free agent waters in recent years, it was surprising in the simplest way: they made the splash this time. They also made some unusual concessions. Not only did they hand out the largest average annual value in the franchise's history (even after accounting for deferrals), but they agreed to deferrals to structure the deal the way Bregman and agent Scott Boras preferred it. As it relates to the 2026 club, though, the most eye-opening change of direction might be the way it alters the future of third base—and the future of the team's incumbent at that spot. When the Cubs were attached to Bregman in the winter of 2024-25, part of the thinking was that signing him would give top prospect Matt Shaw a safety net. Perhaps he would eventually come up in response to an injury or supplement the lineup in a utility capacity, but Chicago wouldn't have to force him into the lineup if either phase of the game wasn't quite ready for the top level. After Bregman signed with Boston instead, Shaw assumed starting duties at the hot corner. The results were uneven. Shaw checked in with a .226/.295/.394 line at the end of 2025, wrapping up the year with a wRC+ of 93 and a fWAR of 1.5. His second half was better than his first; he posted a 130 wRC+ against a mark of 60 in the first half. The power also manifested more frequently, with a .258 ISO in the second half coming after a paltry .082 figure in the first. Even within that, though, there was cause for concern. After recording a 127 wRC+ and .307 ISO in August, Shaw's September figures were 95 and .153 in the two metrics, respectively. His 27.7% September strikeout rate was his highest in an individual month, and he notched only two hits in 23 postseason plate appearances. The flashes, in conjunction with the team's aforementioned hesitation of big contracts, left at least a feeling that it'd once again be Shaw's job to lose. Instead, the youngster's future is now very much in question. The wide assumption is that he'll remain on the major-league roster, but in more of a utility capacity. Defensively, Shaw was quite good for the better part of last year. Even if the metrics may not have loved him over a full season, the eye test revealed a player capable of soft hands at a quick-twitch position. Originally drafted as a shortstop, Shaw had experience at each of second base, short, and third across his time in the farm system. Considering the growth on that side of his game, it stands to reason that he could be deployed at any of the three spots on a given day. That's the most likely route, on paper. Have your three veterans entrenched around the horn and insert Shaw for off days or to rotate someone in as the designated hitter. You then have him as a rotation piece in the event of an injury to one of the other starters. Considering the offensive upside and evident defensive development, it's a way to deepen the bench in a way that the team did not see from the hodgepodge of reserve players last season. There is a contractual component at play, as well. Shaw still has another six years of team control while second baseman Nico Hoerner is set to hit free agency after the 2026 campaign. Considering each of their situations, keeping Shaw as the backup infielder in a market bereft of other options makes sense—but it's not the only option. Trading an infielder from the current roster could also help them round out the roster. It's a harder world to envision following the Edward Cabrera trade, but a surplus of viable infielders ignites the trade rumor instincts all the same. Hoerner has been the more oft-discussed trade chip. His impending free agency and the fact that his name has surfaced before ensure that. That doesn't mean Shaw could be completely immune, however. In his discussion of the Cubs' deal with Bregman, The Athletic's Keith Law noted the following (paid subscription required): We have no way of knowing what the inner workings of the team's clubhouse might look like, last year or in the upcoming season. When you add resistance to coaching, though, you run into some issues that a front office may be more unwilling to tolerate. A Shaw trade is more likely than a Hoerner one. Ultimately, though, the most likely outcome remains the one directly in front of them: Bregman takes over at third, Hoerner plays out his final year of his contract, and Shaw spends the interim bouncing around the infield. Perhaps he gets a stint in Iowa at some point just to work on his offense in a full-time capacity, but a secondary benefit of the Bregman deal was its lengthening of the bench. Keeping Shaw does that in the lowest-friction way possible. View the full article

If you're a Minnesota Twins fan, January has a way of feeling quiet. The holidays are gone, the roster is mostly settled (whether you like it or not), and spring training is still far enough away to feel theoretical. Yet, every year, the same emotional journey unfolds between the first offseason quotes and the first pitch that actually counts. It is not linear. It is not healthy. But it is predictable. These are the five stages of Twins fandom between January 1 and Opening Day. Stage One: Rational Acceptance This stage usually hits right after the calendar flips. The big free agents are gone. The Twins have not made the splash some fans hoped for, but you've talked yourself into understanding it. You read the payroll context. You understand the TV situation. You remind yourself that last year's plan didn't work, anyway. You tell yourself that internal improvements are real and that smart teams don't always need to make noise. You nod along when someone says flexibility. You say things like 'value' and 'depth' unironically. You convince yourself that this offseason was fine, actually. It is calm here. Briefly. Stage Two: Prospect Inflation Season By late January, rationality gives way to hope via proximity. You start rereading minor-league stat lines. You remember that player development exists. Every prospect is now one adjustment away. The flaws are fixable. The timelines are aggressive, but fair. You begin saying phrases like, "If everything clicks." You mentally pencil two prospects into the Opening Day roster, even though you know better. You talk yourself into believing that this farm system has more answers than questions, because it needs to. You start waking up reluctantly after dreaming of a Walker Jenkins walk-off home run. This is when you say things like, "The floor is higher than people think." Stage Three: Every Player Is in the Best Shape of Their Lives Spring training arrives, and suddenly, the most critical development of the offseason is conditioning. Everyone looks stronger. Everyone looks leaner. Everyone had a great winter. A player you've watched struggle with durability for three seasons is now moving better than ever. A pitcher added muscle. A hitter cleaned up his swing path. The word accountability appears. You tell yourself that health changes everything. You believe that this roster just needed a typical offseason. You ignore the fact that this stage happens every year and means exactly the same thing every time. Still, it feels good. It always does. Stage Four: Lineup Construction Obsession March is for decisions. You begin building lineups in your head that feel balanced and deep. There are matchups. There is versatility. Some platoons finally make sense. You convince yourself that there are more good players than spots. You imagine a rotation that just needs health. You start using the word 'sneaky'. This is the peak of belief. You can see the path. You can explain it to others. You begin to think the Twins might actually be better than last year. You schedule your Opening Day plans. Stage Five: Opening Day Amnesia By the time the season starts, everything before it disappears. The concerns fade. The context resets. The Twins are 0-0. This year is its own thing. You remember why you do this in the first place. No matter how it goes from there, you have arrived. The journey resets next January. And when it does, you will be ready to rationalize it all over again. View the full article

At the outset of the offseason, there was perhaps no more need more urgent for any team in Major League Baseball than that of the San Diego Padres needing to add to their starting rotation. A group that already didn't run deep saw Dylan Cease depart in free agency, will be without Yu Darvish for the entirety of 2026, and made the early choice to keep each of Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon in relief, leaving a fairly dire situation with which to contend. Nick Pivetta was the only sure-thing starter on the 40-man roster when the winter began. A.J. Preller has since taken measures to address it. Michael King is back on a new three-year deal. Kyle Hart was brought back on a one-year deal as a swingman, while he, minor league signing Triston McKenzie, and holdovers JP Sears, Matt Waldron, and Randy Vásquez will likely fight it out this spring for a role in the latter portion of the rotation. With a Joe Musgrove return on the horizon as well, the starting side of things looks, at least, a bit better than it did back in November. The work isn't done, however. San Diego has a largely fortified roster. While they still need to add to their lineup to address either first base or designated hitter, the positional group is sorted and set for 2026. The bullpen, even with the departure of Robert Suárez, remains one of the more notable individual strengths of any team in the league. It's a group that, on paper, should be able to make a run toward October for the third consecutive season... if Preller can make at least one more addition to the rotation. As of right now, FanGraphs' depth charts have Pivetta leading the way in start share (21 percent), followed by King (19 percent), and Musgrove (17 percent). While the percentages are different, Baseball Prospectus projects Pivetta (18 percent), Musgrove (17 percent), and King (15 percent) as the top trio, as well. Nothing surprising there. And while the remaining spots are also the same — with Vásquez assuming the fourth spot and Sears the fifth on both sites — between the two, Baseball Prospectus actually presents less time for each and more time for Waldron in a starting role. FanGraphs, though, likes Hart more for the sixth spot as the first man up. Where the two sites differ is as strong an indicator as any that work remains in the rotation. But at this stage of the offseason, it remains to be seen from where further reinforcements could emerge. Widely-known organizational context tells you that the Padres are running thin on money to spend. This leaves the likes of Zac Gallen, Framber Valdez, and Ranger Suárez out of the team's reach. They also lack the resources in the minor leagues to make a trade for a notable arm, especially the Tarik Skubal's or Hunter Greene's or Freddy Peralta's of the world. So, where does Preller go from here? It's important to consider, in asking that question, that the Padres don't need a frontline starter. With King in place and Musgrove's return on the horizon, they'll combine with Pivetta to create a steady and solid top three in their starting corps. More often than not, they'll get the team into the middle innings before the bullpen can take over. What the Padres need is innings. History indicates that the other names to fill out the back end are more prone to short outings. That could put a lot of extra stress on long relief and, more importantly, the top-tier leverage arms. It's not about Skubal or even Gallen, but rather about finding stability for at least one of those final two spots. From a free agent standpoint, someone like Lucas Giolito could make sense. He carries a certain level of health risk, but he's averaged 5.8 innings per start when he's been in the mix. He's also likely to get a short-term deal. Old friend Nick Martinez served a swingman role in Cincinnati late in the year, but averaged 5.7 as a starter with the Reds (even if his performance took a step back from "good" to more "average" between 2024 and 2025). Those two would at least present the Padres with a certain level of short-term stability that they need. The options, though, get less inspiring the further you search. The trade market is less clear. We know about the top arms available, but less about those who could be moved at a cost the Padres can actually afford. Perhaps someone like Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller makes sense there. Is there a framework around Keller and Jake Cronenworth? We've also previously discussed Kodai Senga as a target, though he's not without plenty of risk. Ultimately, a majority of teams head into the offseason without their rotation completely solidified. No. 5 spots, in particular, often remain in flux. With King signed, the Padres aren't in as much peril as they once were this winter. However, they're clearly a team in need of adding at least one more starter to the mix in order to feel better about their group heading into the spring exhibition slate. View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers are "moving toward a deal" that would send starting pitcher Freddy Peralta out of town for the final year of his team-friendly contract, according to a source familiar with the team's talks. Multiple teams remain involved, but the Yankees have emerged as the most likely fit, with 2024 American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil as the headliner in that potential package. Gil is just two years younger than Peralta and only comes with three years of team control, but he and the Yankees agreed on a one-year deal worth $2.1625 million for 2026 last week, so he would give the team both extra control years and some cost savings. That Gil is at the center of the discussions between Milwaukee and New York indicates what the Brewers are prioritizing as they entertain offers for their erstwhile ace. In talks with the Diamondbacks, they have discussed starter Ryne Nelson, who also comes with three years of control and modest cost savings, a source said. Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone and Justin Wrobleski were discussed when the Dodgers checked in on Peralta. In short, if Milwaukee is to move Peralta coming off his strongest overall season in the majors, they'll require that the package include a player (ideally another starter) whom they can keep around for at least three years and who makes up some of the short-term value they will lose by dealing him. Any trade would also include a high-caliber prospect and/or a valuable draft pick. Both the Diamondbacks and the Orioles have picks in Competitive Balance Round A this July, and the Brewers have discussed packages that would involve them receiving that pick from either team. Unsurprisingly, Milwaukee asked about infielder Jordan Lawlar, still struggling to establish himself in Arizona but with abundant talent and time on his side. Milwaukee's willingness to trade Peralta is not news, but they have gotten materially closer to doing so over the past two weeks, according to sources familiar with their plans. As uncertainty about any broadcasting revenue for 2026 increases, the chances that the team will trade Peralta have ticked up, too. By getting back a player like Gil or Nelson, they would save at least $5 million while backfilling the spot in their projected rotation vacated by Peralta. Therefore, they would be able to turn around and sign another player to round out their roster in the endgame of the offseason (perhaps as late as mid-February) without pushing their projected payroll beyond its current range of $115 million. Typically, teams do best in trades like this when they focus solely on maximizing overall value. The Brewers have experience, however, in striking the right balance between filling needs and accumulating talent. With a Peralta trade, they've made clear to the many suitors (Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, both New York teams, the Giants, the Padres, the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks and the Astros have all shown interest at different points this winter) that a return must take the right shape. If their price isn't met, they'll retain Peralta, and make do with whatever else they can afford to supplement the three-time defending NL Central champions. It looks more likely, though, that one of the final few interested parties will give them what they're looking for. View the full article

Less than a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, the Miami Marlins pitching staff isn't any stronger than it was when the 2025 season ended. Yes, they made a big investment in closer Pete Fairbanks, but they also found out that Ronny Henriquez would miss all of 2026 due to injury. Then they traded Edward Cabrera for a package that included only position players. Improvement is still very possible as a wave of talented pitching prospects headlined by Thomas White and Robby Snelling gets ready to graduate to the big leagues. However, it's risky to rely too much on rookies. Using Cabrera himself as an example, the former Top 100 MLB prospect was ineffective in his debut season—he didn't really put it all together until his fifth season with the Marlins. A source told Fish On First that although the Marlins would be content with their starting pitching depth, signing a veteran innings eater to a short-term deal has not been ruled out. Also, there has yet to be anything done to address the club's left-handed reliever shortage. With that in mind, the following free agents could be important, cost-effective pick-ups. RHP Zack Littell Littell, 30, was acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays as a waiver claim in 2023 when Peter Bendix was their general manager. Littell's previous teams had been using him out of the bullpen, but the Rays converted him to a starter. The experiment paid off as the right-hander made 65 starts in parts of three seasons in Tampa Bay, posting a 3.68 ERA in a total of 376 ⅔ innings pitched. Last season, Littell split his time between the Rays and the Cincinnati Reds. He handled by far the heaviest workload of his career (186.2 IP), posting a 3.81 ERA, 4.88 FIP, 6.27 K/9 and 1.54 BB/9. His walk rate ranked in the 98th percentile of MLB pitchers, per Baseball Savant. Littell's four-seam fastball has below-average velocity (92.1 mph). He also throws a slider, split-finger, sinker and sweeper. He pitches to contact, but ranked only in the 43rd percentile in ground ball rate. It is a weird but successful profile—he's been worth 5.0 fWAR since the Rays helped turn his career around. Littell allowed 36 home runs in his 32 starts last season. His ERA would probably rise in 2026 if that happens again, but the Marlins can offer him a more pitcher-friendly environment compared to his previous homes (Steinbrenner Field and Great American Ball Park). In Miami, Littell would be the fourth or fifth starter in the rotation. Our own Louis Addeo-Weiss explained why Lucas Giolito is another potential option to fill that role. LHP Martin Pérez In 2025, Pérez pitched with the Chicago White Sox, making 10 starts (11 appearances), posting a 3.54 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 7.07 K/9, 3.54 BB/9 through 56 innings pitched. It was unusual for the southpaw to spend that much time on the injured list—he threw more innings in each of the 10 previous seasons. Pérez's sinker continues to be his best pitch, with a run value of plus-seven. He throws his changeup to both lefties and righties and still misses bats with it at age 34. Having finished the season on the IL with a shoulder strain, perhaps Pérez would be available to the Marlins on a minor league deal. He would be the oldest player in camp. LHP Jalen Beeks On the reliever side of things, Jalen Beeks also crossed paths with Bendix while both were with the Rays. About two-thirds of Beeks' career innings have come with that organization. In 2025 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Beeks had a 3.77 ERA, 4.01 FIP, 7.38 K/9 and 3.14 BB/9 in 61 appearances. He had a 46.3% ground ball rate this past season, the second-highest of his career. His changeup is his best pitch, generating a 35.2 whiff% and a dominant .110 wOBA against it. His arsenal also includes a four-seam fastball and cutter. A one-year deal in the $5 million range should be enough to bring in Beeks as much-needed lefty bullpen help. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs made big waves in the baseball world (during the Chicago Bears' comeback, nonetheless), signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman on a five-year, $175 million deal. The Bregman deal could spark a slew of free-agent moves, especially with pitchers and catchers less than a month away from reporting to their Spring Training sites. The Royals have certainly gotten better this offseason with various free-agent signings (Lane Thomas and Alex Lange) and trades (Isaac Collins, Nick Mears, and Matt Strahm). However, for them to truly feel better about improving on their 82-80 record a season ago, they likely will need to make another move or two, especially in regard to their outfield. One free agent option that could make some sense is Starling Marte, who previously played for the New York Mets. Marte is an older player at 37. However, he has a career 35.9 fWAR in 1,530 games, and he was a Kansas City trade target a season ago. Now, Royals fans certainly have loftier expectations when it comes to a possible free-agent or trade acquisition at this time. There's still hope the Royals could acquire Boston's Jarren Duran, St. Louis' Brendan Donovan, or perhaps New York's Jasson Dominguez via trade (or Bo Bichette, though his market has heated up with Philadelphia emerging as the favorite to acquire him). However, if the window for those options passes, could Marte fit the Royals' needs in the outfield in 2026? Let's take a look at what Marte would bring to Kansas City, and what it would take for the Royals to sign him. Marte Brings Veteran Approach to Lineup After putting up a 5.2 fWAR in 2022 with Miami and Oakland, and a 3.5 fWAR in his first season with the Mets in 2023, it's been a tough stretch for Marte in terms of production. The Dominican-born outfielder hasn't hit the century mark in games played in a season since 2022, and his combined fWAR over the past three years is 1.0 in 278 games. He also had nine home runs, seven stolen bases, scored 37 runs, and collected 34 RBI with the Mets a year ago. Last season with the Mets, he played in 98 games and posted a .326 wOBA and 112 wRC+ across 329 plate appearances. However, he had only a 0.7 fWAR, primarily because he was 7.5 runs below average according to Fangraphs' Def. Conversely, his DRS (+2) and FRV (+1) are much better, though he only played 65 innings in the outfield this past season. Thus, he could see a higher fWAR in 2026 if he can be healthy enough to play more innings in the field. When it comes to his batted-ball skills and plate discipline, his walk rate of 6.7% is relatively low, as is his 0.32 BB/K ratio. He also saw a decline in average exit velocity, from 89.8 MPH in 2024 to 87.6 MPH in 2025. The same was true with his hard-hit rate, which went from 42.9% in 2024 to 40.4% in 2025. That said, his hard-hit rate was 4.4% higher than the Royals outfielders' average hard-hit rate last season (they ranked 27th in hard-hit rate last year, via Fangraphs). Marte's Statcast summary via TJ Stats isn't eye-popping by any means. He was typically average or slightly below average across many batted-ball and plate discipline categories in 2025. That said, the Royals desperately need some consistency in the lineup, especially from an outfielder who may split time in the corner outfielder positions with Jac Caglianone and/or Isaac Collins. If the Royals acquire Marte, it wouldn't be as an everyday outfielder. Rather, it would be as someone who can rotate in and out of the lineup, depending on the matchup. Surprisingly, Marte has reverse splits over his career, with a 116 wRC+ against righties and 112 wRC+ against lefties, according to Fangraphs. He doesn't need to solely hit against lefties to be productive over the course of a 162-game season, which is a plus in his favor. The Concerns With Marte When he's been on the field, Marte has been serviceable, if not slightly more. Unfortunately, his health has been an issue, especially over the past two seasons. Last year, knee issues put him on the IL, limiting him to just 98 games and 65 innings in the field. Most of his at-bats came at DH last season (he appeared 77 times at designated hitter last year), but his profile isn't exactly "ideal" for that position. His .140 ISO was 16 points lower than the league average in that category. Then again, manager Matt Quatraro likes to be creative with the designated hitter spot, so Marte could find a lot of at-bats in that spot if he makes his way to Kansas City. That said, the Royals also want to keep that spot open for Salvador Perez, whose bat is key to the Royals' lineup. While Perez is Kansas City's primary catcher, he's been able to remain productive in the later years of his career due to his ability to get at-bats at DH and innings at first base when he needs a break from behind the plate. Thus, those injury concerns could prevent the Royals from pursuing Marte seriously, or at least initially. After all, the Royals were hurt significantly by injury last season, especially in terms of pitching. Taking a flier on a guy who hasn't proven to be durable over the past three seasons would be a significant risk by JJ Picollo and the Royals front office, especially with other options available on the free agent market at this time. Should the Royals Pursue Marte? If the Royals do offer a contract to Marte, it probably needs to come late in the offseason and/or for a deal barely above a Minor League deal. It's likely that with his hitting effectiveness last year, Marte will still get an MLB deal. That said, Spotrac currently lists his market value at around $7.78 million. It seems unlikely that he will get a contract in that range, unless a team becomes really desperate this offseason. There are pluses that Marte would bring to the Royals roster next season. He brings a decent hitting profile, a veteran approach, and can play the corner outfield positions as necessary. He has also been part of successful teams that have value that can't always be measured by individual advanced metrics. Adam Frazier brought this impact to the Royals in 2024 and 2025, his intangibles affecting a clubhouse that was 56-106 in 2023, prior to his arrival. That said, would Marte bring that same value in 2026 that Frazier would? And if that's what the Royals want, why not just bring back Frazier, who has more defensive value and versatility than Marte? The only difference is that Frazier is a left-handed bat, which they don't really need right now, while Marte hits right-handed. The 37-year-old former Met is an intriguing idea for sure, especially on a one-year deal, with the hope that he could be due for a breakout if he can stay healthy. Unfortunately, at Marte's age, players tend not to trend in the right direction injury-wise, especially when they barely play the field in the previous season. My guess is that Picollo knows that, which is why we're not hearing more about Marte this year compared to last offseason, when it seemed like a deal for Marte involving Hunter Harvey was close to fruition. The Royals have plenty of time this offseason to make the splash they need to boost their postseason chances even further. However, if it's the beginning of March, the Royals outfield remains as is, and Marte is available? Well, let's just say it wouldn't be the worst idea in the world, especially on a $5-6 million flier for one season. View the full article

Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs might've taken a long time to get it done — with rumors that go back to the 2025 trade deadline depending on who you ask — but they were, finally, able to acquire a cost-controlled starting pitcher with top-of-the-rotation upside in Miami's Edward Cabrera. He and his changeup/curveball-driven arsenal will slot in near the top of the team's rotation alongside the likes of Cade Horton and, eventually, Justin Steele. What Cabrera brings to the Cubs has been well-documented here by each of Matt Trueblood & Jason Ross. He's a still-evolving pitcher who broke out in 2025 and adds the type of swing-and-miss that the Cubs were lacking in their starting five outside of Horton. It's obviously a worthwhile deal for the Cubs given their need for such a presence in the starting mix, and it represents a long-awaited impact move for the franchise this winter. That doesn't mean it's without risk, however. Whenever a trade of above-average magnitude is made, one automatically shifts focus to the players that were given up in the deal. It was an immediate realization upon the departures of Hayden Wesneski, Cam Smith, and Isaac Paredes in last offseason's deal to bring Kyle Tucker to Chicago. Of course, the context here differs dramatically both in terms of positional value, team control, and the immediate impact from an organizational standpoint. Unlike the trio sent to Houston in December 2024, Owen Caissie was the only one of the three players sent to Miami sent to contribute this year. Caissie's departure leaves the Cubs with even less power than they had in the mix following Tucker's own goodbye in free agency. But it also clears up what was sort of a murky picture between right field and designated hitter, with space now free for Seiya Suzuki and Moisés Ballesteros to operate in those two positions, respectively, and room for Kevin Alcántara to supplement them either way. The power component, though, is where the risk starts to manifest. The team lost Tucker's .218 first half ISO from 2025; now, they've let Caissie's .265 figure from Iowa head down to sunny Florida. Those are two very abstract concepts in one sentence. Tucker struggled down the stretch (primarily due to health), and we don't know for sure how Caissie's power would've translated to full-time big-league work. This is also a team that saw a more than 20-point drop on the ISO side in the second half of the season. Between the second departure of what could have been a reliable power bat and the trends with which we left 2025, there's a lot of uncertainty in terms of power-related impact in the team's lineup. Caissie's involvement in the trade only enhances it. There's always the possibility that one or both of Cristian Hernández or Edgardo De Leon turn into legitimate players at the major-league level, too. Those timelines, however, are much further down the road due to the fact that the former's bat still has a ways to go and the latter is only 18 years old. If the Cubs regret moving either player, we probably won't know for a handful of seasons. So, in terms of the risk on the Cubs' end, as far as outgoing players, it's all about the power potential they lost in Caissie and may or may not replace this winter. The much larger risk component here lies within the player they acquired himself. The knock against Edward Cabrera is that he's coming off one year of established success largely due to his inability to stay on the mound. Cabrera has been on the injured list eight times(!) since 2022, primarily due to elbow and shoulder issues. In 2025, he started the year late due to a blister, left a start in July after experiencing elbow discomfort, and landed on the IL to start September following a right elbow sprain. His 137 2/3 innings covered last season were the most in his career by a wide margin. Can the Cubs reasonably expect him to throw much more than that considering the history? There's a performance factor here, too. As good as Cabrera's stuff can be, there's also a quality-of-contact issue. He sat in the 45th percentile in barrel rate (8.8 percent) and the eighth percentile in hard-hit rate against (46.4 percent). His walk rate was only in the 43rd percentile (8.3 percent). So, while he may generate plenty on the whiff and strikeout side of things, performance concerns still abound given some of the outcomes we saw in his breakout year. It may be somewhat paradoxical to clamor for Jed Hoyer and the team's front office to make a substantial move and then voice concerns when it finally happens. That isn't what's happening here, however. These are, objectively, concerning things. A high-velocity pitcher — even utilizing it less than he once did — with a history of shoulder and elbow trouble is a worrisome addition. On the other side, one hopes the team's pitching infrastructure can, at least, help him to get some of the contact issues in order. Perhaps the most important thing to note is that while this move is an actual risk, it's a worthwhile one for the Cubs. Yes, they dealt their No. 1 prospect and some additional upside to get him. But he's also an arm that presents as much upside in his own right as anyone on this staff not named Cade Horton. To say nothing of the three years the team will get to have him inside the organization, at minimum. It's a whole lot of abstract things to tangle with, both in terms of prospects and the health of the player they acquired. At the end of the day, though, we're really not looking at a situation that would be all that different had they taken the same path to acquire the McKenzie Gore's or Kris Bubic's of the baseball world. View the full article

Last week, I gradually rolled out my ranking of the top 20 player assets in the Twins organization heading into the new year. The purpose of this annual exercise is to try and blend the big-picture view with the the short term. Accounting for the team's present and future, viewing players as pieces of a strategic vision, which players matter most? If interested, you can read the blurbs and explanations for each ranking in Part 1 (16-20), Part 2 (11-15), Part 3 (6-10) and Part 4 (1-5). But here's a recap of the list, along with each player's original method of acquisition: Walker Jenkins, OF (Draft - 1st Rd) Luke Keaschall, 2B (Draft - 2nd Rd) Joe Ryan, RHP (Trade) Pablo Lopez, RHP (Trade) Kaelen Culpepper, SS (Draft - 1st Rd) Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP (Trade) Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF (Int'l Signing) Byron Buxton, OF (Draft - 1st Rd) Mick Abel, RHP (Trade) Taj Bradley, RHP (Trade) Zebby Matthews, RHP (Draft - 8th Rd) Matt Wallner, OF (Draft - 1st Rd) Royce Lewis, 3B (Draft - 1st Rd) Eduardo Tait, C (Trade) David Festa, RHP (Draft - 13th Rd) Connor Prielipp, LHP (Draft - 2nd Rd) Bailey Ober, RHP (Draft - 12th Rd) Brooks Lee, SS (Draft - 1st Rd) Ryan Jeffers, C (Draft - 2nd Rd) Marek Houston, SS (Draft - 1st Rd) Today I'm going to riff on this list a little bit, using it as an opportunity to dig deeper into the system's strengths and weaknesses, the next layer of talent, and the tightrope of a timeline that the Minnesota Twins are trying to walk. Future Meets Present Reading through the top five is admittedly a bit jarring: two veteran frontline starters sandwiched by a couple of prospects who've yet to debut, and Keaschall with his whole 50 games of MLB experience. That's the challenge that I enjoy about compiling these rankings — zooming out for a multi-year view, and trying to construct the sweet-spot vision for a winning window. The Twins are very much attempting to thread the needle of present and future. They're holding their veteran stars and passing up the opportunity to go all-in on a rebuild. To an extent I admire that, and agree with it. Ryan, Lopez and Buxton are three of the biggest success stories in modern franchise history, fully realized. You cannot take for granted that you're going to have a proven foundation this strong again anytime soon. But there's a ton of work to do around those three. It's telling that they are the only proven veteran performers in the top 10, aside from Woods Richardson who's sort of crossing over that threshold. Everyone else ranked 10 or higher is unproven youth. But it's MLB-ready youth: they've all debuted in the majors or on the verge of it. Can this wave collectively make an impact fast enough to accomplish something while Lopez and Ryan are still here? That's the story of the Twins for the next two years. Top Talent Isn't Bought (But Can Be Traded For) Looking at the origins of the 20 players on this list, not one came aboard as a free agent. The Twins have amassed most of their top talent through the draft, and usually in the first couple rounds. Only one player on the list (Rodriguez) was an international signing, which reflects a glaring weakness in Minnesota's development engine. Five of the organization's top 10 assets were acquired via trade. If the Twins were to bring in any other player this offseason who'd have a chance at cracking this top 20 and significantly shaking up the high-end talent pool, I have no doubt it would be via trade. Of course, that also requires giving to get. There is one abundant player type on my list and it's right-handed pitchers, who occupy eight of the 20 spots. Trading from this pool would make a lot of sense if the Twins are aiming to acquire, say, an impact bat. Woods Richardson and Ober are names that stand out as possibilities, if indeed the front office is shutting down requests for Ryan and Lopez. You could also seemingly live with trading one guy from the closely-bunched Matthews/Bradley/Abel group, for the right return. Rethinking the 2025 Trade Deadline When the Twins front office did what they did at the deadline, I was furious. I certainly understood the decision to sell, but taking it to such an extreme — dumping Carlos Correa's salary for nothing, trading the entire bullpen away — left me feeling extremely sour. As I factor the new additions into the rankings and consider these moves as asset exchanges, I start to feel ... a little better. Last year I had Griffin Jax ranked 10th, and this year I have Taj Bradley ranked 10th. An even swap in that regard, made palatable by the starter-reliever value gap (for now) and the two extra years of team control. The Jhoan Duran trade was one of the few moves from the deadline that I actually really liked, and this year's ranking illustrates why: Duran was ranked 11th on my list in 2025, and the Twins flipped him for a distinguished, high-upside catcher (ranking 14th on my list) and an MLB-ready pitching prospect with tons of team control (ranking 9th). You can easily see the logic in that trade. The Louie Varland trade, maybe not so much. Varland wasn't in my top 20 last year but he definitely would've been this year following a bullpen breakthrough. The Twins traded him for Alan Roden and Kendry Rojas, both of whom are on the fringe of these rankings but couldn't make the cut following rough debuts in the system. I really hope the front office is right about at least one of those guys because that decision continues to bother me. The Natural Target for Championship Contention: 2027 Do the Twins have realistic hopes to contend for a World Series this year? I would say no. The best-case scenario, and what I surmise they are aspiring for, is a .500-ish season — one good enough to rejuvenate some fan interest, and justify (in their minds) a more significant investment the following year. Because that's when it's got to happen, if it's going to. By that time, most of the top prospects featured in these rankings will have arrived. Ryan and Lopez will be in their final years under contract. Buxton will be in his second-to-last, and another year into his 30s. Hopefully a bullpen will have taken shape through the experimentation that takes place in 2026. Now, there are two hitches in this plan. First of all, there might not be a 2027 MLB season, or at least not a normal one, with the CBA expiring at the end of 2026 and many anticipating a lockout. But even taking that out of the equation, the Twins have to reach 2027 in a state where they are still intact, and willing to further invest. '“I don’t think that as the landscape, what I see right now, that we should put a significant investment into the team of (an additional) $50 (million) or $60 million,” Tom Pohlad said in a recent presser when he took over the ownership mantle. “But I don’t think we’re far off from that." Well, he and the Twins need to be convinced of it within one year. And honestly that feels like a stretch. Minnesota was the worst team in baseball in the second half of 2025 and the roster has barely changed. It's reasonable to hope that they can right the ship gradually, but in the first half of 2026, the going will be tough. It just will. They have no bullpen, and a grim defensive outlook. The prospects aren't quite here yet. They're facing some serious challenges on offense. If the front office gets to the upcoming trade deadline and they're 10 games under .500, plagued by many of the same issues of the past two years, are they really going to say, "Let's stay the course and hope everything comes together next year"? Or are they going to do what's probably prudent: trade Ryan and Lopez, and Buxton too if he wants out. Load up on more controllable young assets. Commit fully to the rebuild. I find no joy in reaching this conclusion but I think it's the undeniable reality the Twins face. The decision to hold onto Ryan, Lopez and Buxton seems more motivated by preserving a semblance of fan favor as opposed to a baseball decision. Pohlad has in fact been fairly open about that. But at some point, baseball decision-making needs to take control, and the Twins are walking a very fine line in trying to guide this current multi-generational core to championship contention within a tight one-year window. It's a notion that could fizzle out quickly with another stumble out of the gates. View the full article

It’s an honor just to be included on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. To be eligible for election by the BBWAA, an individual “shall have ceased to be an active player in the major leagues at least five (5) calendar years preceding the election” (per the Hall of Fame’s official website). For the current election cycle, that means a player must have spent his final days on an active roster during the 2020 season. According to Baseball Almanac, 148 MLB players retired in 2020, from Adeiny Hechavarría to Zac Grotz. Only 12 of them were added to the ballot this year – that’s less than 10%. In 2019, there were 229 players who played their final game. Only 14 of them (6.1%) made the ballot for last year’s election. In 2021, a whopping 318 MLBers suited up for the last time. Chances are, less than 5% of them will appear on next winter’s ballot. So, when Mark Buehrle first appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot six years ago, it was a whole lot more than a participation trophy. It was a reflection of his tenure with the Chicago White Sox. Over 12 seasons on the South Side, Buehrle made 365 starts (390 games) with a 3.83 ERA. He made four All-Star teams, won three Gold Gloves, and helped the Sox to three division titles and an AL pennant. That’s why he’s on the ballot. But it’s not enough to make up a legitimate Hall of Fame case. One could argue that Buehrle’s overall body of work – those 12 years with the White Sox, as well as one with the Marlins and three with the Blue Jays – was not enough to make him a Hall of Famer. Most would agree. Yet, 45 members of the BBWAA checked the box next to Buehrle’s name last year, and 33 have already done so for 2026. That’s not going to get him in the hall, but it’s no small number either. I can’t speak to what all of those voters were thinking. But as far as I see it, any case to be made for Buehrle has everything to do with what he accomplished in Toronto. Mark Buehrle was never a superstar. He only earned Cy Young votes once, when he received five of 30 third-place votes and finished fifth in 2005. His defining trait was durability, not dominance. In 2001, his first full season, he led the AL in WHIP. Over the next 14 years, the only other categories he ever paced the league in were durability-related: starts (2004, ‘08), innings pitched (‘04, ‘05), batters faced (‘04, ‘05), and complete games (2015). Thus, to make a Hall of Fame case for Buehrle, one must be able to argue that he was uniquely durable. And it was during his time in Toronto that his durability went from impressive to exceptional. Most Hall of Fame conversations revolve around one of two words: peak or longevity. Some Hall of Famers earned their place with a tremendous performance over their best handful of seasons. Others did so by sticking around long enough to rack up high counting stats. Why do I say that most conversations revolve around only one or the other? Well, if a player had both a great peak and impressive longevity, there’s not much of a conversation to be had – he’s getting in. Buehrle, however, is a bit of an unusual case. He didn’t have an outstanding peak, but he also didn’t hang around that long. He debuted halfway through 2000 as a reliever, then played 15 seasons as a starter from 2001 to '15. I don’t mean to say that 16 seasons in the majors isn’t an accomplishment, but we’re talking about the Hall of Fame here. According to Stathead Baseball, 260 pitchers in major league history have appeared in 16 or more seasons. It's not that special. Buehrle was never an exceptional pitcher, nor did he pitch for an exceptionally long time. Yet, he was a good pitcher for a long time in a way that does still stand out as highly unusual and, arguably, (here's that word again) exceptional. The article on Wins Above Replacement (i.e., WAR) from the FanGraphs glossary features this useful little chart: Scrub 0-1 WAR Role Player 1-2 WAR Solid Starter 2-3 WAR Good Player 3-4 WAR All-Star 4-5 WAR Superstar 5-6 WAR MVP 6+ WAR According to FanGraphs, Buehrle only had one season with more than 5.0 WAR (a.k.a. the “superstar” range). Baseball Reference’s version of the metric likes Buehrle a little more; he had four seasons with at least 5.0 bWAR in his career. That's still not a ton. However, Buehrle surpassed the “good player” threshold in 11 different seasons, according to both those versions of WAR. He’s one of only 33 pitchers in MLB history to have done so. Of those 33… 25 are Hall of Famers Three are sure-thing future Hall of Famers Two would be Hall of Famers based on performance alone Two deserved far more Hall of Fame consideration than they ever received One is Mark Buehrle Pitcher Hall of Fame? Bert Blyleven Yes Bob Gibson Yes Christy Mathewson Yes Cy Young Yes Don Drysdale Yes Don Sutton Yes Eddie Plank Yes Gaylord Perry Yes Greg Maddux Yes Grover Alexander Yes Jim Bunning Yes John Smoltz Yes Kid Nichols Yes Lefty Grove Yes Mike Mussina Yes Nolan Ryan Yes Pedro Martínez Yes Phil Niekro Yes Randy Johnson Yes Robin Roberts Yes Steve Carlton Yes Tom Glavine Yes Tom Seaver Yes Walter Johnson Yes Warren Spahn Yes Clayton Kershaw Future Justin Verlander Future Max Scherzer Future Curt Schilling No but... Roger Clemens No but... Kevin Brown No Rick Reuschel No Mark Buehrle Pending Buehrle is also one of just 15 pitchers in MLB history to have made at least 30 starts in 15 or more seasons. Of the 14 others, 12 are already in the Hall of Fame (and one is Clemens). Pitcher 30-Start Seasons Hall of Fame? Don Sutton 20 Yes Greg Maddux 19 Yes Cy Young 19 Yes Phil Niekro 18 Yes Warren Spahn 18 Yes Tom Glavine 17 Yes Steve Carlton 17 Yes Gaylord Perry 17 Yes Roger Clemens 16 No Frank Tanana 16 No Nolan Ryan 16 Yes Bert Blyleven 16 Yes Tom Seaver 16 Yes Mark Buehrle 15 Pending Walter Johnson 15 Yes Even more impressive, Buehrle joins a trio of Hall of Famers – Cy Young, Warren Spahn, and Gaylord Perry – as the only pitchers to have made 30 or more starts in at least 15 consecutive seasons. Now, to be fair, some of the other pitchers on the list above had their careers interrupted by strikes and war, but that shouldn't take away from the rarity of what Buehrle accomplished. Only four pitchers have ever done it. Three of them are indisputably among the best to ever do it. The other is Buehrle. Do with that what you will. At risk of sounding like a broken record, I’m not arguing Buehrle belongs in the Hall of Fame. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. That's not the point I'm here to make. What I’m saying is that if he has a case, it’s that he was consistently above-average for so many years in a way few other pitchers have ever been. In other words, if Buehrle has a Hall of Fame case, it’s because of how his career ended. It’s because he was still a good pitcher and still a workhorse at an age when most others start to slip. In his final three seasons, from ages 34 to 36, Buehrle made at least 32 starts each year. He averaged more than 200 innings per season. His ERA over those three years was 3.78, almost identical to his 3.81 career mark. At 35 years old, he pitched his 11th and final three-win season. At 36 years old, he tied for the MLB lead with four complete games. He did all that while wearing Blue Jays blue. It’s not that Buehrle was spectacular for Toronto, but that’s the whole point. Buehrle doesn’t have a Hall of Fame case because he was ever spectacular. He has a Hall of Fame case because he kept on keeping on. And he did that with the Toronto Blue Jays. View the full article

Another domino in the Rafael Devers saga has fallen. Alex Bregman has signed with the Cubs for five years and $175 million, with a full no-trade clause to boot. What an unmitigated disaster. Now, this incident on its own is not the problem. Alex Bregman is on the older side, and $35 million per year is a steep price to pay for a player with production that will inevitably decline at a continually steeper rate. Yes, I have said previously that the Red Sox need to reconsider their approach to free agency, and I stand by that. Their unwillingness to go the extra mile is not the issue, but it is certainly the onset of the problem spreading throughout the organization. Patient zero was Mookie Betts. After Roman Anthony's extension, I was convinced that the Sox were headed in the right direction. They had extended Garrett Crochet and Kristian Campbell; they also made a legitimate financial commitment to Alex Bregman in February, and it felt like they were trending upwards. The league echoed that, too. I would always hear something along the line of: The Red Sox have money to spend and prospect capital to boot, a position other front offices are jealous of. And to Craig Breslow's credit, he has made legitimately shrewd moves via trade. Acquiring Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and others filled needs. The issue with trades is that now the farm system has lost some key depth, whereas spending money allows them to keep those prospects in-house. Knowing what we do now, I can say confidently that the Red Sox would have been better off never signing Bregman at all. There's absurdity laden in that statement, and it's particularly remarkable considering he and Rafael Devers are two of the league's premier hitting talents. But I'll ask you to stick with me for a little while longer — this is a botch-job that rivals the Betts catastrophe. Wrong. In an absolute disaster class from Breslow, he managed to alienate Devers and lose Bregman. We learned on Sunday that the Red Sox would not offer a no-trade clause to Bregman, and based on the final number the Red Sox offered compared to the Cubs (roughly $3 million per year less), it's quite clear that this was the piece that tipped the scales. After he witnessed what occurred with Devers just two years into a 10-year contract, why the heck would he not demand a no-trade clause? He's been in the league for nine years and has earned his right to ask for some security, especially knowing how the Red Sox treat their superstars. He has a wife and two kids; stability needs to be a certainty, especially considering this is likely the last major deal he will ever sign. Let's turn our attention back to Breslow. He guaranteed Devers he wouldn't move off third base, or at the very least, gave no indication that Bregman would create a problem in that area. Rightfully so, Devers was upset, and somehow the situation snowballed into Devers being traded. At that exact moment, there can't be a scenario in which Bregman is not on the Red Sox until he retires. As soon as you make that choice, you must commit to it completely. It's a trade that signifies a commitment to Bregman at third over Raffy. The problem is, one guy is a homegrown talent making his organizational debut at age 17, signing a 10-year commitment to the organization. The other is on a glorified one-year, $40 million deal. So, if you choose the latter over the former, he'd better be around for a long time, no matter what the cost is. You'd better be willing to get uncomfortable. The $165M was uncomfortable for Breslow and co., but bending over backwards isn't the same as contorting your body in newfound ways. Instead, we're out a third basemen entirely, stuck with Jordan Hicks, and the "best" piece in the return, Kyle Harrison, is perpetually stuck in AAA behind a loaded up rotation with plenty of depth. Not to mention, we also traded one of the prospects we received in the package, James Tibbs, for Dustin May. I try to maintain a glass-half-full view regarding sports. It makes the viewing experience and general consumption markedly better. Yet, even I must acknowledge that there are zero positives regarding this entire situation. The team's improvement had everything to do with Anthony's debut, the front-end of the rotation getting hot, and a career season from Chapman. It had little to do with the "feelings" that Devers may have hurt in two months. They made the playoffs despite the deal, not because of it. They sorely lacked a middle-of-the-order bat in October, and with Bregman gone, they're out another one. Too often, I have seen that the Red Sox feel they have made an aggressive offer, only to be outbid in a measure that is not obscene to have gone to. It feels like a culture problem that goes deeper than just Craig Breslow. What a massive gut punch on the same day as Fenway Fest. There is hope of a turnaround with Bo Bichette being available, but if he is not the infield acquisition that is made, it will be hard to take them seriously as an AL East title contender. Yes, this is likely still a playoff team with or without another infielder. The aforementioned trades have improved the roster, but spending $0 in free agency and the lack of an additional impact bat are glaring weaknesses. Spring training begins in just over a month, and time is incredibly short. Breslow better be ready to get extremely uncomfortable, otherwise this roster he's so delicately built may find itself missing one key piece when October comes roaring back around. View the full article

As first reported by Mike Rodriguez (and later confirmed by ESPN's Alden González), the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a minor league contract with Eloy Jiménez that includes an invitation to big league spring training. The outfielder/DH spent the final month of the 2025 season in the Blue Jays organization. Jiménez, 29, did not play in the majors last season. He spent most of the year with the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, before he was released in July and subsequently signed a minor league pact with the Blue Jays. He didn't hit very well in Durham, slashing .278/.335/.397 for a 93 wRC+, but he really struggled with the Buffalo Bisons, going just 3-for-18 with a 48 wRC+. Despite his recent issues, Jiménez still comes with upside. At his best, he was a fearsome right-handed slugger, and he owns a career .780 OPS and 112 wRC+ in the big leagues. Not yet 30, it's more than possible he could rediscover the power that made him such a talented hitter earlier in his career. This is a no-risk signing for the Blue Jays, and the rewards could be plentiful if they help Jiménez get back on track. Featured image courtesy of Jonathan Dyer, Imagn Images. View the full article

For long weeks that froze over and became months, Cubs fans waited for their own personal hot stove to spark. Suddenly, in a week becoming their annual moment of truth and on an auspicious night for all Chicago sports supporters, it came together. The franchise's future came much more clearly into view. While Bears fans watched their team make a heroic playoff comeback against the Green Bay Packers, their phones lit up, delivering the news that Alex Bregman had agreed to a five-year deal with the team. Along with the trade that brought young right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera to the North Side just over 72 hours earlier, that signing announced the team's earnest intention to return to title contention in the National League. If you want to dive deeper into the story about either of the new ball players Craig Counsell's team just acquired, please check out our comprehensive coverage here at North Side Baseball. Here, suffice it to say that in making these moves, Jed Hoyer's front office showed an urgency not seen here since the days of Theo Epstein. Hoyer and his staff will probably never admit to having a perception problem, but their recent actions suggest they're aware of its existence. The Cubs are a big-market team that has enough funds to go toe-to-toe with any other club in baseball when it comes to talent acquisition. This is a 90-win club that has watched its rivals in Milwaukee seize three straight division titles and five of the last eight, while the Cubs only limped to one—in the shortened, meaningless COVID season of 2020. The North Siders finally made it back to the postseason in 2025, but that shouldn't be their measuring stick for success or failure. They should plan to win the division every year, or go down swinging in the effort. These moves show that they agree with that, even if ownership is reluctant to spend what it would take to establish that standard. A new era of Chicago Cubs baseball is about to start, and since recent events have given this club a clear direction, the season can't come soon enough. Real change feels possible. The Cubs signed Shota Imanaga on Jan. 11, 2024. They were, in a way, right on schedule this year, making their big splashes in that same sweet spot of the offseason where talent is still available but freezer burn hasn't set in. Now, we all just have to wait and see what other changes come before spring training—and how these moves pay off come Opening Day. View the full article

Tyler Black, a Milwaukee Brewers prospect yet to establish himself in MLB, has garnered a spot on Canada's World Baseball Classic roster. That came as a result of Los Angeles Dodgers superstar first baseman Freddie Freeman withdrawing from a third appearance with Canada in the WBC due to personal reasons. Black, a first and third baseman who has also played a little left field, ranks 24th among Brewers prospects. While having a solid .270/.399/.442 slash line with 42 homers and 222 RBIs across five minor-league seasons, Black has only seen 23 games of action at the MLB level with the Brewers, with a .211/.357/.263 slash line. Canada has never advanced out of pool play in its five WBC appearances. View the full article

According to Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the San Diego Padres would like to add another starting pitcher this offseason, though it comes with the caveat that the Padres may need to trade Nick Pivetta to clear salary space. Free-agent starters still on the board include Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Zac Gallen, Nick Martinez, Chris Bassitt, Zack Littell, Patrick Corbin, Erick Fedde, Justin Verlander, Miles Mikolas, Nestor Cortes, Lucas Giolito, Jose Quintana, Aaron Civale, Marcus Stroman, Jordan Montgomery, John Means, Alex Cobb, and Walker Buehler. With the Padres still wrestling with budget concerns and expressing an interest in trading Pivetta, it will be difficult to find a net improvement in the rotation. View the full article

Jason Ross and Brock Beauchamp analyze the five-year contract the Cubs gave to third baseman Alex Bregman just days after trading for Edward Cabrera. What does this mean for the Cubs' infield in 2026 and beyond, particularly Matt Shaw and Nico Hoerner? Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-north-side-baseball-podcast/id1798599313 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75wMGhBwlrDDYPt3kaF453 Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-north-side-baseball-po-268998437/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/eey7h6ih Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@northsidebaseball View the full article