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On Friday, the Washington Nationals claimed right-handed pitcher Paxton Schultz off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. The 28-year-old will compete for their role in Washington's Opening Day bullpen. The Blue Jays designated Schultz for assignment last weekend to open a spot for Kazuma Okamoto on their 40-man roster. After four seasons in Toronto's minor league system, the righty made his MLB debut for the Jays in 2025. He threw 24.2 innings with a 4.38 ERA. If Schultz had passed through waivers unclaimed, the Blue Jays could have sent him outright to the minors, thereby keeping him in the organization as depth for 2026. Instead, he will now get a better chance to establish himself in the majors with a much less competitive club. Featured image courtesy of Dan Hamilton, Imagn Images. View the full article

On Friday afternoon, Major League Baseball announced that former Twins and Phillies outfielder Max Kepler has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for Epitrenbolone, a performance-enhancing substance. It is an item that violates MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Max Kepler will turn 33 years old in a little more than a month. He is currently a free agent looking for his next home. After signing with the Twins in 2009 out of Germany, he spent parts of the 2015-2024 seasons in a Twins uniform. Over those 10 seasons, he was worth 20.5 bWAR. In 1,072 games, he hit .237/.318/.429 (.746) with 205 doubles, 161 homers and 508 RBI. His best season came in 2019 when he hit .252/.336/.519 (.855) with 32 doubles and he led the Bomba Squad with 36 home runs. He was never able to replicate those numbers. He became a free agent for the first time last offseason. He signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Phillies. In 127 games, he hit .216/.300/.391 (.691) with 19 doubles and 18 home runs. Free agency just became more difficult for Kepler. Some team will sign him and not have to pay him for the first half of the season. He can come back for the final 82 games of the season, but because of the suspension, he will be unable to play in the playoffs should the team make it. Share your thoughts. View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers were one of nine MLB teams to cancel their contract with Main Street Sports Group, which produces games for TV under the moniker of FanDuel Sports Network. Main Street Sports Group is the former Diamond Sports Group, which filed for bankruptcy a couple of years ago and threw the local TV rights for many MLB, NBA, and NHL teams into a murky situation. Main Street has recently missed payments to a handful of teams, which led to this latest action by the nine teams that remain with Main Street. The other teams that joined the Brewers in severing ties for Main Street, at least for the moment, are Atlanta, the Cincinnati Reds, the Detroit Tigers, the Kansas City Royals, the Los Angeles Angels, the Miami Marlins, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Tampa Bay Rays. So what does that mean for Brewers fans? Let me try and help you out. Will Brewers games still be on TV this season? Yes. And it will be with all the familiar faces in Brian Anderson, Bill Schroeder, Sophia Minnaert, Jeff Levering, Vinny Rottino, and Tim Dillard calling the action, barring any changes to that cast. The studio show, typically hosted by Craig Coshun, will stay, too. The difference will be that the games, at this point, will be produced through MLB. The only difference is that Brewers games might appear on a different channel on your cable provider and will likely be branded as Brewers.TV. There is also a possibility that a local station could pick up a handful of games, with the majority appearing on Brewers.TV. Will I be able to stream games? Yes. While it is too early in the process for any announcements by the Brewers or MLB, the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks have been streaming through MLB for a couple of years now, with the Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, and Seattle Mariners joining the fray last season. Those teams offer fans in the local market a team-specific package of $19.99 per month or $99.99 for the entire season. Games can be watched through MLB.tv, but a Brewers package would be in addition to the typical MLB.tv offerings. MLB.tv is typically offered at $149.99. Who is to blame for this? Main Street Sports Group, mostly. Despite filing for bankruptcy a few years ago when it was known as the Diamond Sports Group, Main Street Sports Group appeared to have righted the ship for 2025 after emerging from that process, which was overseen by a judge. Cable companies seek premium fees to carry regional sports networks like FanDuel Sports Network. Main Street recently missed payments to all of its NBA teams, as well as MLB's Cardinals. The Athletic reported that Main Street lost $200 million in 2025 from 29 MLB, NBA, and NHL teams. MainStreet has been in talks with DAZN, another sports streamer, to sell a majority stake in the company, according to The Athletic. What does this mean for the Brewers? Unfortunately, it means less revenue. In each of the last two years, the Brewers received $35 million to have their games carried on FanDuel Sports Network. At the moment, that money is gone for 2026, although a renegotiated deal with Main Street is possible, and that would likely mean a lower fee for the Brewers. Even if there is a sale to DAZN, that does not guarantee the Brewers a similar $35 million annual fee. The Brewers also will not receive any money from MLB. There was an MLB program that ran in 2024 to help out the teams affected, but it was discontinued after that season as more teams started losing their TV home, according to The Athletic. View the full article

Depth is something every organization tries to create, whether through the draft, international free agency, or even minor league free agency. Let’s take a look at how the Twins’ system stacks up at various positions. I decided to start with catchers and work my way around the diamond. Below is a look at the catchers in the Twins system not named Ryan Jeffers or Alex Jackson . I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level they played this past season. Mickey Gasper Acquired: Trade, Boston Red Sox, December 2024 Highest Level in 2025: MLB The Twins acquired Gasper in a minor trade with the Boston Red Sox in December 2024 for left-handed relief pitcher Jovan Moran. Gasper split time between Triple-A St. Paul and the Twins in 2025. While he is listed as a catcher, he can also play first base, second base, and has even dabbled in left field. The upside is limited, as he hit .158/.257/.232 over 110 plate appearances with the Twins. Ricardo Olivar Acquired: International Free Agency, 2019 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Olivar has slowly worked his way up the minor league ladder since signing in 2019. Playing the 2025 season with Double-A Wichita, Olivar appeared in 93 games, catching in 38 of them while playing left field and designated hitter in the others. He has been a bat-first catcher, posting a career .832 OPS over five minor league seasons. His future may be more likely as a designated hitter if he cannot stick behind the plate. If that happens, his path to a role on the major league roster will hinge on his bat. Noah Cardenas Acquired: 2021 Draft, 8th round Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A After signing for a $200,000 bonus as an eighth-round pick in 2021, Cardenas has steadily worked his way toward the major leagues, spending the 2025 season between Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul. His .245/.387/.438 slash line in 2025 is passable for a backup catcher. He does not strike out at an unreasonable rate at 19.9 percent and his walk rate is higher than average at 16.4 percent. If he continues to develop, Cardenas could carve out a role for the Twins over the next few years. Patrick Winkel Acquired: 2021 Draft, 9th round Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A Drafted one round after Cardenas, Winkel also reached Triple-A this past season, though with a very different profile. In 2025, he posted a 32.8 percent strikeout rate and a 7.2 percent walk rate over 47 games and 180 plate appearances. Winkel will look to continue improving both in the field and at the plate. At this point, he is serving as organizational depth in the upper minors, and it remains to be seen whether he can break through and carve out a role in the Twins’ future plans. Nate Baez Acquired: 2022 Draft, 12th round Highest Level in 2025: Double-A You’ll notice a trend of mid-round picks making their way into the upper minors. Prior to 2025, Baez was an above-average hitter at every level. He started the season in High-A Cedar Rapids, continued to hit, and earned a promotion to Double-A. Double-A marked the first extended stop in his minor league career where he posted an OPS below .700. Assuming he makes the necessary adjustments, Baez’s bat could move him closer to the majors this year. He also began playing more first base in 2025, raising some questions about whether he can stick at catcher defensively. Even if he does not, the hope is that his bat continues to develop. Andrew Cossetti Acquired: 2022 Draft, 11th round Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Another mid-round pick, Cossetti was drafted out of St. Joseph’s University, where he posted a 1.016 OPS over four seasons. He has spent the last two years with Double-A Wichita and has shown some power, hitting 22 home runs over 604 plate appearances. In 2025, he recorded a .374 wOBA with a .798 OPS, good for a 123 wRC+. He has also played some first base, and if he continues to hit, he could begin climbing prospect lists in the future. Poncho Ruiz Acquired: Non-Drafted Free Agency, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Ruiz signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, which can happen for a variety of reasons, especially with fewer draft rounds than in the past. He began 2025 in Single-A and was promoted to High-A after 31 games. At 23 years old, he held his own between the two levels, posting a .723 OPS. He has shown a good eye at the plate throughout his minor league career and walked at a 15.8 percent rate in 2025. While not a highly touted prospect, Ruiz can make a name for himself if he continues to grow both at the plate and in the field. Eduardo Tait (#3 Twins Daily Prospect) Acquired: Trade, Philadelphia Phillies, July 2025 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Tait was one of two players, along with right-hander Mick Abel, acquired from the Phillies in exchange for closer Jhoan Duran at the 2025 trade deadline. He signed for $90,000 out of Panama in January 2023 and hit at every level in the Phillies’ system. Like many young catchers, Tait’s defense is still a work in progress. He has a plus arm, and the Twins are hoping he can become at least average as a receiver. Still just 19 years old, he is likely a couple of years away from his major league debut. Tait projects as a future starting catcher and is someone many Twins fans will be watching closely in 2026. Khadim Diaw (#20 Twins Daily Prospect) Acquired: 2024 Draft, 3rd round Highest Level in 2025: High-A Diaw was the highest-drafted catcher by the Twins since Ryan Jeffers went in the second round in 2018. He played his age-21 season in 2025, spending the year at High-A Cedar Rapids. A good athlete, Diaw also saw time in center field and right field. He has a reputation as an aggressive hitter who makes a lot of contact, which showed up in his .429 wOBA this past season. He is likely a few years away, but if catcher does not work out, his athleticism could allow a move to the outfield. Enrique Jimenez Acquired: Trade, Detroit Tigers, July 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Another pre-deadline acquisition, Jimenez will play his age-20 season this coming year. In 2025, he spent about two-thirds of his time behind the plate and reached Single-A. He showed some power, hitting 12 home runs with a .846 OPS between the Tigers’ and Twins’ systems. While not a high-end prospect, he provides a solid floor and could eventually serve as a backup to Tait, though he is still a long way from that point. Daniel Pena Acquired: International Free Agency, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Pena signed out of Venezuela in 2022 and played with Single-A Fort Myers in 2025. He has not hit much since reaching that level, posting a .567 OPS over 55 games this past season. Still just 20 years old, he remains a developmental player to check in on periodically. Ricardo Pena Acquired: International Free Agency, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Pena appeared in a combined 22 games between the Complex League and Single-A Fort Myers, so he remains early in his development. He has also seen some time at first base, and a position change could be in the cards, though that decision does not need to be made anytime soon. Pablo Castillo Acquired: International Free Agency, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Dominican Summer League A 2025 international free agent out of Venezuela, Castillo showed promise in his first 28 games in the Dominican Summer League. At 17 years old, he posted an .885 OPS. While it is a small sample, it provides a strong starting point for a young prospect heading into his next stage of development. Miguel Caraballo Acquired: Trade, San Francisco Giants, December 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Dominican Summer League Caraballo came over from the Giants in the trade that sent Rule 5 selection Daniel Susac to San Francisco. He is not currently a strong defender, but he has shown both power and on-base skills. At 16 years old, he hit five home runs and posted a .874 OPS over 41 games in the DSL. He is a long way from making an impact, but will be a name Twins fans check in on from time to time, especially if Susac makes an impact in San Francisco. Irvin Nunez Acquired: International Free Agency, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: Complex League Nunez signed with the Twins as part of the 2023 international free agent class and played in 43 games in the Florida Complex League in 2025. He also saw time at first base and a handful of games at third base, so he could end up with some positional versatility depending on how he develops over the next few years. Overall, the Twins’ catching depth is a mix of near-ready upper-minors options, mid-level organizational pieces, and longer-term developmental bets in the lower minors and international pipeline. While there is no shortage of names in the system, the group reflects the reality of building depth through many avenues, with some players closer to contributing in Minneapolis and others still several years away. As with most organizations, only a handful will ultimately impact the big league roster, but this collection gives the Twins flexibility, insulation against injuries, and multiple paths to address the position as they continue to build out the system from top to bottom. View the full article

The Twins lost a depth piece on Monday as the Dodgers claimed infielder Ryan Fitzgerald off waivers, according to ESPN’s Alden González. Minnesota designated Fitzgerald for assignment last week to make room on the 40-man roster after acquiring Eric Wagaman from the Marlins, a move that quietly set off a chain reaction between three clubs. Los Angeles had the roster flexibility to make the claim after trading outfielder Esteury Ruiz to Miami late last month. That deal sent Ruiz to the Marlins in exchange for minor league pitcher Adriano Marrero and opened a 40-man spot for the Dodgers. Miami then designated Wagaman for assignment, flipped him to the Twins for minor league pitcher Kade Bragg, and in turn pushed Fitzgerald off Minnesota’s roster. A couple of weeks later, Fitzgerald landed with the Dodgers, turning a series of unrelated transactions into something resembling an accidental three-team trade. Fitzgerald had openly expressed interest on social media in playing professionally in Asia. Still, the Twins blocked that path, likely hoping he would clear waivers and remain in the organization as upper-level depth. Instead, another club with roster space and a reputation for maximizing role players scooped him up. Fitzgerald’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. Now 31, he spent the early part of his career in independent ball, where he played well enough to earn a minor league deal with the Red Sox in 2018. Five years later, he was selected by the Royals in the minor league phase of the 2023 Rule 5 draft, the same draft that saw Wagaman head to the Angels. Fitzgerald never cracked the Royals’ big league roster and opted for free agency after the 2024 season. That decision led him to Minnesota on a minor league contract and, finally, to the majors. Just shy of his 31st birthday, Fitzgerald made his MLB debut in 2025. His first stint lasted less than a week, but he earned another call-up in August after the Twins shifted into sell mode at the trade deadline and remained with the club for the rest of the season. The production was solid at every stop. Fitzgerald posted an .837 OPS and a 119 wRC+ in 59 games at Triple-A and followed that up with a .758 OPS and a 110 wRC+ across 24 major league games. He also provided defensive versatility, appearing at all four infield positions. Still, with Minnesota prioritizing roster flexibility and younger options heading into 2026, that combination was not enough to secure his spot. For the Dodgers, Fitzgerald represents a low-risk depth addition with real versatility, the kind of player they have turned into meaningful contributors before. For the Twins, it is another reminder of how thin the margin can be for fringe roster players, especially in an offseason filled with 40-man juggling. The ending is bittersweet. Fitzgerald’s path to the majors was long and winding, and his time in Minnesota was brief but productive. Now, he heads to Los Angeles with a chance to stick on one of baseball’s deepest rosters. Even if the Twins could not keep him, something is fitting about a late bloomer getting his opportunity with the defending World Series champions. View the full article

The Marlins have been active this offseason in the free agent and trade markets. Peter Bendix got his whale in fireballing closer Pete Fairbanks. He also dealt from starting pitching depth while maximizing return value on Miami’s biggest trade asset, Edward Cabrera, who is coming off a career year after he managed to stay healthy. The acquisitions of Esteury Ruiz and Christopher Morel bolstered the club's position player depth. These moves, along with the fact that top prospects including the likes of Thomas White, Robby Snelling, and Joe Mack are on the verge of their big league debuts, have given brightened their 2026 outlook. However, the Marlins shouldn’t be content yet. As winter wears on and we push closer to pitchers and catchers reporting back to Jupiter, there is still more that can and should be done. The Marlins spent much of last season with a hole at first base. Following the losses of Troy Johnston (claimed by Rockies) and Eric Wagaman (traded to Twins), that hole is even more glaring. Currently, three players on their 40-man roster have played first base in the big leagues: Liam Hicks, Graham Pauley and Javier Sanoja. Each of them are far more experienced and effective at other positions, though. In the minor leagues, the closest thing the Marlins have to an MLB-ready first baseman is Deyvison De Los Santos. While the last baseball we saw DDLS play this winter overseas was encouraging, he struggled in hitter-friendly Jacksonville this past season. There were also concerns about him off the field as well. The power-only bat will require more seasoning in Triple-A. If only there existed an experienced first baseman who could hold down the position in the short term and help mentor parts of Miami’s young core as a great teammate. Enter Tyler Lawrence France. A very late-round pick in 2015, France has proven to be a very productive major leaguer for five different organizations. In five of his six MLB seasons, he’s posted a positive WAR. Originally a second/third baseman, France began playing first base for the Mariners in 2021. He hasn’t spent much time at any other position since, giving him over 5,400 career innings at the position. With the glove, France has been among MLB’s best at the position, including this past season. For the second time in his career, the 31-year-old led his league in fielding percentage at a near-perfect .996. He also turned in a 10 OAA and his fielding run value was plus-7, marks which ranked first and second among 1Bs. irqhn2.mp4 Offensively, France can be a pesky hitter. He has never struck out much, but he also does not take many walks. In 2025, he posted a 16.9% K rate and 4.5% walk rate, making him one of the most inconsistent free passes in all of baseball. His propensity for getting hit by pitches keeps his on-base percentage in good condition (he has twice led MLB in that category). Historically, France has been able to square up enough to reach double-digit home runs, but he has limited bat speed and even more limited foot speed. Overall, he is mostly a singles-hitting, for-average bat who is best off the bench and can be slotted in at the bottom of a lineup where he attempts to find a hole and turn it over. France’s struggles on both sides of the ball in 2024 allowed the Twins to garner his services for an even $1 million. He didn’t live out the full season with Minnesota as he was dealt to the Blue Jays as part of a deadline deal. With Toronto, France made it to the World Series for the first time in his career, but he wasn’t much of a contributor. Ultimately, he was not offered a new contract and has not been offered one since the start of free agency. Headed into his age-31 season, France would not cost much and there is a likelihood he may even accept a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Absent any outside additions, Christopher Morel, Griffin Conine and Heriberto Hernández are leading candidates to see time at first base. The Marlins may ultimately move Agustín Ramírez off the catcher position—especially as Joe Mack nears a big league call-up—but Bendix has remained adamant that he is confident in Ramírez’s ability to stick at backstop. All of these individuals are neophytes at the defensive aspects of manning first. A potential France signing would not be flashy. It would not garner many ooh’s and ahh’s from Marlins fans, much less the national baseball world. However, it would provide Miami with a short-term fix to their most obvious problem, first base defense, in the most obvious way. As a bonus, he can also play other positions. There is a potential added bonus if the pop in his bat returns. All we are saying is give France a chance. With low-risk/high-reward potential, the Marlins can’t go wrong. View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers have a bit of a conundrum at shortstop. The incumbent, Joey Ortiz, is the epitome of good-field, no-hit, to the point where Milwaukee may be better off moving him. Over the long term, talent like Jesus Made, Luis Pena, Juan Baez, Brady Ebel, and Filippo di Turi could also stake a claim to the position. A short-term solution could be to move Brice Turang there, but that would necessitate filling the resulting hole at second base by sliding Caleb Durbin to the keystone. So where does that leave Cooper Pratt, who is slated for a Milwaukee debut of his own sometime in 2026? The answer may be a move a little further to the left side of the infield, a move that could benefit both him and the Brewers over the long haul. Third base might seem to be already in good shape, with Durbin proving to be a solid starter at the hot corner, while the Brewers have multiple options (Brock Wilken, Luke Adams, Andrew Fischer, and Mike Boeve) in High-A or higher. However, Pratt may be a better long-term solution than Durbin. Pratt’s offensive profile fits the approach used by manager Pat Murphy almost perfectly. As the number three prospect in the Brewer Fanatic Top 20, he’s the type of player who should be a franchise cornerstone. In Biloxi, he walked 67 times in 437 at-bats, striking out only 80 times, which should alleviate some concerns about his bat-to-ball and plate discipline from his brief stint in Advanced-A Wisconsin in 2024. His defense has drawn raves, and he has a minor-league Gold Glove. Pratt’s current offensive profile in some aspects is similar to that of Wade Boggs in the 1990s, a solid performer who hit for a .300 average and got on base to the tune of a 112+ OPS. In addition, the 1990s version of Boggs delivered very good defense (Boggs won a pair of Gold Gloves during that timeframe). Pratt, though, has shown he is a very capable threat on the basepaths, notching 58 steals in 66 attempts. So, why the hot corner for Pratt, and why 2026? The fact is, Jesus Made is on a Jackson Chourio-esque rocket up the minor-league ladder. Assuming he splits between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville in 2026, he’s likely to be Milwaukee’s Opening Day 2027 shortstop. So, moving Pratt to third would help him get accustomed to what could be a long-term home. As for bringing Pratt up in 2026, much of that can be laid at the feet of Joey Ortiz, whose offensive production plummeted in 2025. The 2024 version of Ortiz would be pretty good for most teams, but Pratt’s offensive floor is higher than what Ortiz provided in 2025, and his ceiling – especially if he taps into his power potential – could propel him to be among the franchise’s best at that position. Turang could handle shortstop for 2026 and shift back to second base when Made makes his Milwaukee debut, allowing the Brewers to flank the switch-hitting with two Gold Glove-caliber defenders in the infield – proving some outstanding run-prevention over the next few years, especially if they can work out an extension with Turang. This also allows the Brewers to use 2023 first-round pick Brock Wilken as a potential trade asset to help nail down a position of need in 2026 – or beyond. The Brewers have been seeking some hot corner stability since trading Aramis Ramirez. Cooper Pratt may well be the solution to that hot problem. Do you think Cooper Pratt should handle the hot corner in Milwaukee? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Major League Baseball’s arbitration-deadline day falls on an otherwise sleepy Thursday in early January, but it’s one of the busiest transaction days in the sport. Arbitration-eligible players and their teams had until 8:00 pm ET to agree to a one-year contract. I go into a little more detail about baseball’s arbitration process here, but here’s a quick TL;DR: If players and their organizations didn’t agree to contracts by the deadline, they’re required to file numbers and potentially present their arguments. Per the collective bargaining agreement, this is referred to as the exchange date, which falls the day after the deadline. However, both parties can settle before their hearing. Last year, you might recall the Chicago Cubs and Kyle Tucker filed $15 million and $17.5 million, respectively. Six days after the exchange date, the Cubs and Kyle Tucker agreed to a one-year, $16.5 million deal. This year, the Cubs avoided a kerfuffle, coming to agreements with their three arbitration-eligible players on Thursday. Early in the afternoon, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported that Cubs southpaw Justin Steele agreed to a one-year, $6.775 million contract. For a professional baseball player, Steele’s salary is a modest raise. He earned $6.55 million in 2025, although he only pitched in four games due to a “revision repair” of his left ulnar collateral ligament. Steele posted a 4.76 ERA, 17.6% K-BB%, 4.94 FIP, and 0.0 WAR across 22 2/3 innings in 2025. When healthy, Steele is a dominant pitcher. In 2023, he went 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA (6th), 19.6% K-BB%, 3.02 FIP (5th), and 4.8 fWAR (9th), finishing fifth in National League Cy Young Award voting. Entering his age-30 season, Steele's return time and role in the rotation are up in the air. Skipper Craig Counsell anticipates the Cubs will have a better idea of his return date come spring training: “I really don’t want to speculate until we get to spring training… I think we'll know in spring training, kind of a target area or date.” Steele has one remaining year of arbitration before entering free agency in 2028. Thursday evening, Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported that the Cubs and Edward Cabrera agreed to a $4.45 million contract, an increase from his $1.95 million salary in 2025. Preceding his first year of arbitration, Cabrera had a breakout season. He went 8-7, posting a 3.53 ERA, 17.6% K-BB%, 3.83 FIP, and 2.0 fWAR, a career high across 137.2 innings pitched. Though he has an extensive injury history, his underlying metrics indicate he has the potential to be a front-of-the-rotation starter with further development. Cabrera turns 28 in April and has three remaining years of team control. While I was unwinding before bed, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times broke that the Cubs and Javier Assad agreed to a $1.8 million contract. Assad was eligible for arbitration for the first time this year. He holds a career 18-12 record with a 3.43 ERA, 9.6% K-BB%, 4.46 FIP, and 2.7 fWAR across 331.0 innings pitched. An oblique injury limited him to just eight games in 2025. Nonetheless, his performance was solid, posting a 3.65 ERA. As @Brandon Glick noted, Assad doesn’t have the flashiest stuff, but still manages to outperform his expected stats. Following these agreements, the Cubs' 2026 40-man CBT payroll sits at $211.55 million, which is $32.44 million under the first CBT threshold. Looking to upgrade their lineup, they remain in the mix for Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette. View the full article

The Padres have a few holes left to plug before pitchers and catchers report next month to begin the 2026 season. For the Friar Faithful, those spots are noticeable. At least one more starting pitcher, a first baseman, and a catcher or bench piece that hopefully can be a right-handed compliment at DH against left-handed pitching. Those first two are definitive holes. The others mentioned are up for debate. This article will provide three names that could be perfect fits to help fill those needs. It could end up being a free agency or trade route. We'll take a shot at both: two trade possibilities and one free agent signing. The first alternative is the starting pitching route. As mentioned above, they could sign a free agent. Players such as Chris Bassitt or Lucas Giolito, both of whom have been linked to the team in recent write-ups, could be alternatives. With the team possibly having budget constraints, however, that makes it obviously less likely. Here are three criteria for why a player is on the list. His age. How much will he cost in payroll obligations? The years of team control he'll provide. Initially, Edward Cabrera was listed as the original choice for the best fit. He would have made the most sense and would have fit all of our chosen criteria. His age, three years of team control, and estimated payroll hit of $3.5 million would have been perfect. With him being traded to the Cubs, the next candidate was bumped to the top of the list. Mitch Keller was also considered. He offers multiple years of team control and would be a reliable 4th or 5th starter that would eat innings; however, he wouldn't be much of an upgrade over current in-house options like Randy Vasquez or JP Sears. He also comes at a price tag that would be too high for what the team would be willing to pay for a back-end starter. With that being said, the next option is Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers. His age and salary certainly fit into this possibility. His lack of team control and becoming a free agent after this season does not. The cost in a trade would be steep enough that it's just not worth giving up the capital for a one-year rental. Even if it is a pitcher of his caliber, though, it would be dreamy to see him fronting the rotation. Putting him at the top would be a real game-changer. It's just not feasible at that cost, though. Our next option may be just as good as Peralta. He also fits all three listed criteria. That player is MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals. It would be a fun story for him to come full circle back to the team that originally drafted him with the third overall pick in the 2017 draft, too. Not to mention it would be nice to have a left-hander in the rotation to split things up a bit. He might not be quite as good as Peralta, but he does have two years of team control and is projected to make less money as well. Peralta is estimated to make $8 million, compared to $6.5 million for Gore. That's why we'll roll with him. Padres receive: MacKenzie Gore Nationals receive: Kruz Schoolcraft, SP Kash Mayfield, SP Jorge Quintana, SS Next up, first base choices. On the free agent front, the pickings are slim to say the least. With the Padres missing out on Kazuma Okamoto to the Blue Jays, there isn't really an upgrade that meets their need of a power bat. The best player available is probably former Padre Luis Arraez. Other options include Rhys Hoskins, Paul Goldschmidt, and Carlos Santana, none of which stand out as difference-makers. Arraez coming back is still a possibility, but if the Padres insist on finding more power, they'll have to look to the trade market. These four players present better options. Triston Casas of the Boston Red Sox, Mark Vientos of the New York Mets, Yandy Diaz of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Christian Walker of the Houston Astros make much better fits for the team's needs. Players like Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo of the Baltimore Orioles also theoretically fit into this trade category. Still, theyy don't have the same appeal as the players we've mentioned above.. Though Casas and Vientos offer intrigue due to their low-cost salaries and years of team control, not to mention their power potential, they just don't have the same experience or upside in comparison to Diaz and Walker. Those two have multiple years of proven results. There's a scenario in which they could choose any of the four, depending on how much money they're willing to take on or how much trade capital they're willing to part with, which could also be said of Mountcastle and Mayo. However, when you consider the contention window the team is currently in, it makes the most sense to go after who fits their needs the most. We could seriously make a case that Diaz might be the best overall hitter and that his contract is more reasonable, but he'd probably cost the most in prospect capital. Not to mention, he is a poorly rated fielder and is only controlled through this season, albeit via a reasonably priced option for next year. Who's the player that provides the most upside and fits those needs the most, you'd ask? That would be Walker. While his salary might be the highest of the players mentioned ($20 million AAV), he is under contract for the next two years. His track record also speaks for itself. Even if his batting average (.238) and on-base percentage (.298) weren't ideal last season, he was still able to swat over twenty-five long balls (27) and knock in over eighty-five (88) runs. That's the middle of the order production they're looking for. He provides the most consistent thump of the four mentioned, too. He's also the best defender of the group, having won three Gold Gloves. If the Friars were able to get the Astros to throw in some money to offset Walker's salary, it makes him the frontrunner. They also have less leverage than the Rays in trade negotiations because of the logjam the Astros possess at the position. Padres receive: Christian Walker, 1B $10 million in cash considerations Astros receive: Miguel Mendez, SP Jagger Haynes, SP Tirso Ornelas, OF Now that the two positions of need are taken care of, the Padres still need a catcher and/or a bench piece. It's no secret that the team would like an experienced catcher to serve as the backup to starter Freddy Fermin, replacing Luis Campusano. His defensive deficiencies are well chronicled. His bat, on the other hand, could be of some use. Although Campusano didn't precisely set the world on fire with the chances he received last year (albeit in limited opportunities) at the major league level, he did crush Triple-A pitching. Even if it was in an extremely hitter-friendly environment in the Pacific Coast League, it also showed he doesn't have anything left to prove in the minors. That hit tool could fit a platoon role at DH. Campusano is also out of minor league options. Which segways us right into the final transaction. The Padres sign free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto. Signing Realmuto would give the Padres one of the better catching tandems in the game. It also presents a late-inning strategy of keeping three catchers on the roster. He might not be the player he was a few years ago, but with Fermin and Realmuto in the fold, they could split the catching duties fairly evenly. Other options were considered for this final spot, such as keeping Campusano as the backup catcher and going with a more traditional DH option, such as Marcell Ozuna, who doesn't offer much positional versatility and would be strictly a DH. A part-time one, at that. Not to mention, he's likely out of the team's price range. It still doesn't mean they couldn't still sign him and use him in that situation. Especially if the Padres don't see Campusano making the Opening Day roster. So what do you think, Friar Faithful? Are these reasonable options to finish off the Hot Stove season? Or would you go in another direction with some of the other names mentioned? Please let us know what your best options are for upgrading the team in the comments below. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox avoided arbitration hearings with their seven arbitration-eligible players this offseason. On Thursday, Triston Casas, Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo, and Romy González each signed a one-year contract covering the 2026 season. @Alex Mayes and @Nick John previously wrote about Jarren Duran and Kutter Crawford’s deals, two of the team’s other arbitration-eligible players. Connor Wong also reached a $1.375 million agreement in November. body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background-color: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; background-color: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } thead { background-color: #0d2b56; color: white; } th { padding: 14px 16px; text-align: center; font-weight: 600; font-size: 14px; } th:first-child { text-align: left; } td { padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; } td:first-child { text-align: left; font-weight: 500; } tbody tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tbody tr:hover { background-color: #f8f9fa; } Player Position Service Time (Years) Salary Tanner Houck SP 4.100 $4.15 million Johan Oviedo SP 4.078 $1.55 million Romy González UTIL 3.083 $1.60 million Triston Casas 1B 3.031 $1.61 million I’m not too shocked at any of these numbers. Tanner Houck and Johan Oviedo are in their second year of arbitration. Houck’s salary increased from $3.95 million in 2025 to $4.15 million in 2026, though he’s unlikely to see playing time as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Depending on how Johan Oviedo fares with the Red Sox, his contract could end up looking like a bargain. Romy González is a competent bench piece with positional versatility. Triston Casas, who was injured for much of 2025, is expected to return at some point during the 2026 season. You often hear claims online that players don’t want to sign with the Red Sox because their front office treats players poorly. It’s a gray area for the team, which has traded away franchise cornerstones like Mookie Betts and Rafael Devers. But judging solely by the arbitration process, the Red Sox have treated players fairly by consistently avoiding hearings in recent years. The last time the organization went to a hearing was six years ago, when Eduardo Rodríguez sought $8.675 million in salary, but lost his case and was awarded $8.3 million. Before that, Mookie Betts beat the team in 2018, earning $10.5 million, the highest salary the Red Sox have awarded through an arbitration hearing. Betts holds records for the highest salaries for a player in their second ($20 million in 2019) and third year of arbitration ($27 million in 2020), both of which were settled without a hearing. With these four salaries settled, the Red Sox are roughly $4 million under the first CBT threshold of $244 million. Should free agent third baseman Alex Bregman accept the team’s reportedly aggressive offer, it would push the team well beyond it. View the full article

Had it not been for the 2024 brilliance of Paul Skenes in Pittsburgh, we may very well have had to stipulate "former National League Rookie of the Year" when discussing Jackson Merrill. As it were, Skenes took home the hardware while Merrill had to "settle" for a nine-year extension ahead of Year 2 in Major League Baseball. Indeed, such a contract was well-earned on the part of Merrill and not even remotely questioned for a San Diego Padres team that has faced plenty of them for handing out hefty multi-year pacts. His 2024 season featured a a .292/.326/.500 line across 156 games, as well as a 130 wRC+ and 5.3 fWAR. Just 13 qualifying position players finished ahead of Merrill in that fWAR figure, and only three of them were of the outfielder variety. One can understand why the Padres were so eager to lock him up long-term. His percentile distribution was indicative of a player standing on the cusp of elite status, as well: While there might have been a desire to see Merrill reign in the discipline a bit, it didn't cost him in his ability to avoid strikeouts or generate quality contact. Despite the aggression inherent in his approach, each of those rates remained respectable. His 7.5 ft swing length average allowed for zone coverage, with enough bat speed to help him compensate to the tune of the 16th-best Contact% among position players that year (81.0). He also scored high marks defensively, where his 12 Outs Above Average checked in in the 97th percentile. Unfortunately for Merrill, many of the positives from his rookie campaign regressed mightily in 2025. His line fell to one that went .264/.317/.457, with a wRC+ that dropped 14 points from the prior year (116). His 3.0 fWAR was a notable step back. It was still a strong year by any individual standard, but still rung as disappointing for a player that looked like a budding superstar after Year 1. Of course, there were perfectly good and obvious reasons for that. By the time we reached the end of August last year, Merrill was set to head to the injured list for the third time in 2025. He strained his hamstring in April and was the victim of a hard tag to the head while sliding into second base in June. The third stint was due to a rolled ankle that resulted in a sprain and bone bruise. Enduring such a rollercoaster on the health side resulted in Merrill appearing in just 115 games and even some of those were not played at 100 percent health. The result of such health woes were a percentile chart that doesn't look nearly as appealing as the first year: Merrill wasn't able to generate the same type of contact and saw roughly a five percent increase in strikeouts. What's striking is that he maintained an upper-tier barrel rate within all of that. It leads to a natural conclusion that some effects lingered as Merrill worked his way back from injury, only to face another a short while later. That doesn't mean it's all negative, though. The approach, in particular, saw some improvement. While Merrill did whiff and, subsequently, struck out more throughout the 2025 season, he also walked more. He saw a slight decrease in his swing rate and chase rate with two strikes specifically, indicating that there could be some growth on the horizon in that regard. A combination of an improving approach and an offseason clear of myriad injuries should each bode well, to say nothing of how Merrill finished the year. The following is Merrill's monthly wOBA throughout last season: There is a significant drop following the hamstring injury that held him out for exactly a month. It continued to drop following the concussion in June. Once he was clear of that second IL trip, the numbers started to rise sharply. Even following the ankle injury, he continued to ascend back toward his 2024 levels of performance. Aside from April, where he had come out scorching at the plate, September was Merrill's best individual month of the year. He returned from the ankle injury on September 1 and turned in a month that included a .352 ISO and 160 wRC+. His 53.8 percent hard-hit rate was his highest in an individual month. That continued into the postseason, as Merrill reached base in four of 12 plate appearances and was one of the team's only hitters to contribute much of anything in a short series against the Chicago Cubs. It is ultimately those trends that have the arrow pointing back up for Merrill in 2026... with one caveat. September was more aggression than patience at the plate, as his swing and strikeout rates each went up and the walk rate went down. But even if Merrill is unable to sustain growth in his approach, it's surely a tradeoff the Padres are willing to accept if the outcomes look like that. Regardless of the nuance presented in his plate appearances, it's clear that the healthy version of Jackson Merrill that we saw mere glimpses of in 2025 is closer to the true version we saw full-time in 2024. If the Padres are going to bank on a rebound from any of their hitters, he's likely the one. View the full article

Spencer and Joseph Zarr touch on Frank Cairone's car crash and situation, then discuss the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' season and their tiers of position players and pitchers. A lot of Jesus Made and Luis Pena talk. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2Td iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/ Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627 Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays came into the offseason with seven players eligible for arbitration. Four of them were locks to be tendered a contract: Daulton Varsho, Ernie Clement, Eric Lauer, and Tyler Heineman. The others were Nick Sandlin, Ryan Burr, and Dillon Tate. The team DFA’d and outrighted those three pitchers in November, and each elected free agency. This past Thursday at 1:00 pm ET was the deadline for teams to come to terms with their arbitration-eligible players before they must schedule an arbitration hearing. The deadline for each side to submit salary figures was later in the evening, at 8:00 pm ET. Teams and players can still avoid arbitration after exchanging figures, although some organizations prefer to take what’s known as a “file-and-trial” approach. In other words, once they have filed for arbitration, they will refrain from negotiating. The Blue Jays are often considered a file-and-trial club. When teams and players are unable to agree on a contract and avoid arbitration, they go to a hearing (usually sometime in February) and make their cases for the salary figures they filed to a panel of arbitrators. The panel will pick one of the two salary figures for the player. For example, when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was entering his third arbitration-eligible season (out of four), he and the Blue Jays were unable to come to terms on a deal prior to the deadline. He and his agents filed for a $19.9 million salary, while the team countered with $18.05 million. Guerrero won at the hearing and received $19.9 million for the 2024 season. That remains the highest salary ever awarded in an arbitration hearing. The following year, the Jays were able to avoid arbitration with their superstar, agreeing to a $28.5 million contract exactly one year ago today. This year, the Blue Jays agreed to terms with three of their four arbitration-eligible players on deadline day: Varsho, Clement, and Heineman. Here are the pertinent details. Daulton Varsho MLB Trade Rumors projected a $9.7 million salary for Varsho in his final season of arbitration. The Gold Glove center fielder ended up signing a one-year, $10.75 million contract to avoid arbitration, just over $1 million more than his projection (per the New York Post’s Joel Sherman). Ernie Clement Clement was projected to earn $4.3 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility. He and the Blue Jays avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.6 million deal (per The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon). Tyler Heineman Heineman was projected to earn $1 million in his long-awaited first season of arbitration. He and the Blue Jays agreed to a one-year deal worth $1,237,500 (per Nicholson-Smith). Eric Lauer Lauer was projected to earn $4.4 million in his last year as an arbitration-eligible player. The Blue Jays filed at exactly that number, while Lauer and his agents filed at $5.75 million. According to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, the two sides are likely to go to an arbitration hearing. To learn more about how the arbitration process works and why it exists, check out this article by DiamondCentric’s Maddie Landis. View the full article

Sources close to your dad have confirmed that the lifelong Minnesota Twins fan and current season ticket holder will spend most of the upcoming season calling free agent signing Orlando Arcia “Oswaldo.” Oswaldo Arcia, Orlando’s brother, played for the Twins from 2013-16. Even though your dad probably knows this, “the snowball is already rolling downhill,” per your mom. “Your father was skimming that (local chicken fried rice expert/journalist Aaron) Gleeman fellow’s Athletic column on his iPad and said, ‘Hey looks like we got Oswaldo back,’ or something to that effect. Your brother tried to correct him, but he already took his readers off to go see if the recycling truck had been here.” The younger Arcia, who was an All-Star in 2023 but has slumped mightily since, signed a minor-league deal and is in the mix for a team that is in desperate need of depth at shortstop. Oswaldo last played major league baseball in 2016. “I always liked Oswaldo,” your dad is reported to have said. “Wasn’t he one of The Piranhas? God those guys hustled.” Sources say that even when he finds out he’s mistaken, he’ll likely still use the incorrect brother’s name 75-80% of the time. “Remember when Teddy Bridgewater was the Vikings quarterback, and dad kept calling him Timmy,” your brother said. “We tried so hard to correct him, but then he’d just say ‘Sounds like Timmy’s having a great offseason’ before looking out the window to see if that car was still parked across the street.” Orlando played for both Atlanta and Colorado in 2024. After the Braves released him in June, the Rockies signed him and used him at multiple infield positions. “Wonder if ol’ Oswaldo has anything left in the tank,” speculated your dad, before pulling up another YouTube video about the interstate highway system. Image license here. View the full article

Red Sox shortstop prospect Franklin Arias is a dynamic, multi-faceted talent in Boston's farm system. What are his strengths, weaknesses, and MLB comparison? We walk you through it all in this short video! View the full article

It's hardly top-of-mind within what had been a stagnant Chicago Cubs offseason prior to Wednesday afternoon, but filling out the bench still remains a part of Jed Hoyer's to-do list this winter. There was enough turnover within the reserve group last year that one imagines leadership would want to solidify that corps a bit more ahead of the 2026 campaign. In general, the Cubs have their starting lineup in place. This week's trade of Owen Caissie and prospects to the Miami Marlins in exchange for starting pitcher Edward Cabrera likely settled the awkward setup between right field and designated hitter spot. What could have been a logjam of Caissie, Seiya Suzuki, Moisés Ballesteros, and even Kevin Alcántara for two spots now figures to feature Suzuki on the grass, Ballesteros as the designated hitter, and Alcántara providing support either way. But between Matt Shaw's 2025 inconsistency and injuries that will inevitably manifest, the team will have to do better than last season's collection of Jon Berti, Gage Workman, Vidal Bruján, Nicky Lopez, Willi Castro, and Carlos Santana. Thus, with little room remaining with which to operate on the backup side of things, the team will want to get their moves correct. We know, at present, what shape the majority of the bench will take. The automatic call is that the team will have one of Carson Kelly or Miguel Amaya holding down a spot as the No. 2 catcher. For the purpose of this discussion, we'll assume Kelly gets the edge in playing time over Amaya. Tyler Austin signing a major-league deal with the team indicates he'll slot into the Justin Turner role as a supplement to Michael Busch at first base and work in as a designated hitter and pinch hitter. Perhaps some corner outfield time is in the cards for him, as well. Assuming the Cubs run with a four-man bench, that's already half the group sorted. And potentially a third player already in the mix in the form of a young outfielder. Following the Caissie-for-Cabrera trade, it's now difficult to visualize a world in which Kevin Alcántara isn't on the team's bench to start the year. While Ballesteros would likely only be on the roster as a regular designated hitter as opposed to a pure bench bat, Alcántara would offer coverage for the outfield while allowing Suzuki to rotate into that spot in the event that Ballesteros is not holding it down regularly. In terms of a pure bench role, Alcántara's ability to play center field should also leave him well-suited to provide the occasional breather for Pete Crow-Armstrong. Regardless of those logistics, he should get the first crack at a gig as the fourth outfielder. From there, things start to get dicey in terms of players actually in the organization. While a bench featuring each of Caissie and Alcántara was possible prior to the trade, it also wouldn't have been ideal. This presents an opportunity to pursue an upgrade to the infield depth. It's not complete necessity given how consistent Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson have been over a 162-game season, but considering Shaw's history and the natural aim of maximizing flexibility, you'd like someone adept at handling infield work in a reserve role. The issue is that the Cubs don't employ such a player at present, save for minor-league signing Scott Kingery. While versatile, Kingery hasn't hit in nearly a half-decade. You'd be looking at a continuation of the hellish Workman-Berti-Bruján-Lopez cycle in that case. It's not out of the realm of possibility, but it would also assume that the Cubs don't seek to add at least competition for him in that spot or outright sign someone to a big league deal to handle the job. If they prefer to stay in house, the Cubs will have to determine if James Triantos is worthy of a big-league spot and are comfortable with him on the bench the majority of the time. Either scenario might force the Cubs to bring in another outside addition on some level. Thus, the current shape of the bench can go a couple of (wildly) different routes. The first scenario is simple. You have the assumed trio of Amaya, Austin, and Alcántara to supplement the starters and roll out one of Kingery — who would have to win the job and be added to the 40-man during spring training — or Triantos as the fourth guy. Triantos would be the wild card in this first scenario. He didn't hit at all last year (76 wRC+ in Iowa), but was added to the 40-man this offseason all the same. He has a bit of positional versatility in the tank, too, which could help the Cubs if they're reluctant to add another contract to the books for what would amount to a depth player on the infield. It's certainly the path of least resistance. Of course, another iteration of the Kingery minor-league deal could also present itself and further complicate the picture at a low price point. Scenario No. 2 would be the much more significant of the two. We know the team has been linked to free agent infielders Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette to varying degrees over the past few weeks. Should the team succeed in signing one of the two, we can assume that it would kick Shaw to the bench to serve a utility role in support of the signee, Swanson, and Hoerner. It allows Craig Counsell to play matchups for his young hitter while providing a breather for the heavy game load of the other three and opens up the ability to more comfortably rotate one of them into the DH role for a spell, should he choose to do so. There is, technically, an additional leg to that scenario to be opened up by the second one where a signing takes place, Hoerner is traded, and Shaw is moved over to the keystone. In which case the Cubs would have to circle back to the Kingery-Triantos quandary as the reserve infielder. Now that the team has their coveted cost-controlled starter, though, it's harder to imagine they move a top contact hitter with baserunning prowess. They'd likely let him play out the final year of his contract before flipping Shaw over the second base in 2027. These would appear, at least broadly, to be the two most likely scenarios. The first is the simplest from a logistical standpoint, wherein you create competition for the last bench spot and let it play out amongst non-guaranteed contracts and the prospect. The second requires quite a bit more legwork in relation to the payroll. Ultimately, as structurally sound as the positional side of the Cubs roster has been all offseason (on paper), the bench situation remains a muddled one. There are 40-man spots and player development considerations involved. Perhaps the remaining time this winter will present some answers on this front. If not, the spring exhibition season will lend itself to solutions on its own. But there still remains plenty of uncertainty as to how this picture could find a bit of lucidity by March and April. View the full article

While some of MLB’s future superstars progress through the minors in an uninterrupted and consistently dominant upward trajectory, that is the exception and not the rule. Most MiLB players who eventually make it to “The Show” encounter roadblocks, detours, and delays along the way. Injuries, personal issues, new pitches or pitch grips, batting stance changes, and other tweaks and changes often result in nonlinear development. In other words, just because a player has a poor season doesn’t mean they’ll never become a useful major leaguer. With that in mind, let’s look at five candidates coming off disappointing seasons who possess the raw talent to get back on track in 2026. Blake Mitchell, C The Royals selected Mitchell eighth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft as a high-upside prep catcher with plus power and defensive skills. He performed well in his 2024 full-season debut at Single-A Columbia, earning the organization's George Brett Hitter of the Year award and establishing himself as a top 100 prospect. However, a broken hamate bone in spring training that required surgery derailed his 2025 season. Hamate bone injuries are well known to sap a returning player’s power, and Mitchell was no exception. After slugging 18 homers with a .238/.376/.439 slash line at Single-A in 2024, Mitchell’s output plunged to just two home runs and a .207/.372/.296 line at High-A Quad Cities in 2025 over 49 games and 216 plate appearances. While plate discipline remained a strong suit, his slugging percentage dropped dramatically, and his elevated K% remains a concern. Mitchell was able to reclaim some of his top 100 prospect status with his performance in the Arizona Fall League, which included a home run with an impressive exit velocity of 116.5 mph. He was selected for the AFL Fall Stars Game and led Surprise in the semi-finals, going 2-3 with a double, two walks, and a walk-off single to send his team to the championship. There, he was a key contributor in defeating Peoria with a sac fly, single, and game-tying run scored. With the anticipation of Carter Jensen moving into a starting role in Kansas City, and significant additional organizational depth at the catcher position, a monster season from Mitchell would be huge for the Royals and solidify his status as one of the most valuable trade chips in the organization. Javi Vaz , 2B/OF Vaz, a versatile left-handed hitter known for elite contact skills and on-base ability, posted strong numbers in 2024 at Double-A Northwest Arkansas (.263/.375/.379, and more walks than strikeouts). His disciplined plate approach and defensive flexibility at second base and outfield had positioned him for a potential 2025 MLB debut. A fractured hand in spring training delayed his start and disrupted his season. At age 25 entering the 2026 season, Vaz's high floor as a contact-oriented, defensively versatile, and speedy contributor makes him a candidate to bounce back at Triple-A Omaha, potentially earning him a big-league roster spot as a utility player. Gavin Cross, OF Cross, the ninth overall pick in 2022, debuted in impressive fashion that same year in Single-A Columbia with a slash of .293/.423/.596. However, 2023 turned into an absolute nightmare for Cross after being stricken with Lyme disease. He rebounded impressively in 2024 at Double-A (.261/.342/.428, 15 HR, 30 SB), earning Naturals Player of the Year honors and restoring his prospect stock. Unfortunately, that momentum didn’t carry into 2025. Chronic back issues resurfaced, causing multiple IL stints, and a performance drop. Cross endured an abysmal start to the season with an anemic slash line of .166/.206/.289 in April and May combined. He did turn things around with strong finish to the season (.291/.345/.496 June-September). Cross enters the 2026 season at age 25 and having not yet progressed beyond Double-A. Given his up-and-down history, it is a make-or-break season for him. Strong athletic tools, above-average pop, and a good defensive skillset make Cross a bounce-back candidate and potentially still an MLB contributor. Alternatively, another poor season would push him into non-prospect status. Steven Zobac, RHP Zobac, a former two-way college player, broke out in 2024 (3.64 ERA across High-A/Double-A, 123 K in 126 IP), earning the organization's Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year and a 40-man roster spot for Rule 5 protection. Knee tendinitis and other injuries limited him to just 36 1/3 innings pitched at Double-A in 2025. Zobac’s mid-90s fastball and sharp slider, along with strong command and above-average swing and miss stuff (23.8 K%, 5.6% BB%- 2024), are encouraging for potential development. Zobac possesses a ceiling as a mid-rotation starter and a floor as a reliever, where his stuff may play up even more. 2026 will be critical in determining which of those outcomes is more likely. Blake Wolters, RHP Wolters, a highly regarded second-round pick in 2023 as a high schooler, features a mid-90s fastball (touching 99-100) with riding life and a plus slider. His 2024 Low-A debut was solid (4.20 ERA, manageable WHIP). A shoulder issue slowed him in 2025, reducing velocity and impacting command. Still just 21 entering 2026, Wolters has significant projection remaining. A full season at High-A could see him develop his stuff, regain velocity, and rocket him up organizational rankings. With the Royals' improving player development results, 2026 could feature multiple player bounce-backs, providing additional significant future MLB depth and immediate trade value. View the full article

He may not have received much love during baseball’s awards season, but Chad Patrick’s rookie season was among the most productive in baseball. The right-hander filled in admirably for an injury-ravaged Milwaukee rotation during the first half and posted a 3.53 ERA and 3.90 SIERA in 119 ⅔ innings. His 2.6 fWAR tied for second among National League rookies. Despite that value, the shape of Patrick’s season left him somewhat overlooked. After the Brewers got healthier, he bounced on and off the roster throughout the second half. Even though his fWAR matched those of Caleb Durbin and Isaac Collins, who finished third and fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting, respectively, Patrick finished seventh. After serving as an unsung hero during the regular season, Patrick vaulted himself into the national spotlight when he moved to the bullpen for the postseason. His average fastball velocity climbed to nearly 96 mph in shorter spurts, and he allowed just three hits in nine innings, with a 35% strikeout rate. The Brewers will likely stretch Patrick back out in spring training, and he might be the most intriguing of last season's returning starters. He was second in Stuff+ among regular Brewers starters, trailing only Jacob Misiorowski and finishing ahead of Milwaukee ace (and popular trade target) Freddy Peralta. Jacob Misiorowski (119 Stuff+) Chad Patrick (105) Freddy Peralta (102) Quinn Priester (97) Brandon Woodruff (96) Given his perceived shortcomings, seeing Patrick as the runner-up on that list may initially be surprising. For most of the season, the narrative was that his limited arsenal was effective early in games but made him vulnerable as a true starter. When the Brewers optioned him back to Nashville on July 6, 87% of his pitches thrown had been some kind of fastball. Without reliable secondary pitches, he got hit hard as the game progressed. Opponents had a .398 wOBA the third time through the order against Patrick. Left-handed hitters posted an overall .341 wOBA against him. When the Brewers recalled Patrick for a spot start on August 19, he returned with a new breaking ball that had greater movement separation from his signature cutter. Statcast classifies it as a slurve, but Patrick usually calls it a curveball. The new pitch worked wonders for him. Including the postseason, opponents managed just three singles in 16 at-bats while whiffing on 45% of swings. During that time, he limited left-handers to a .268 wOBA. The curveball’s 117 Stuff+ was well above average. There had always been a tradeoff with Patrick’s arsenal: his three distinct fastball shapes made it challenging for hitters to identify which kind of heater they were seeing, but they could almost always gear up for something between 87 and 95 mph, without much drop. According to Baseball Prospectus, his movement and velocity spreads both ranked in the 7th percentile of qualified pitchers. Averaging nearly 86 mph, Patrick’s curveball didn’t significantly expand his poor velocity spread, but it did fix his movement spread problem. Each of his fastballs averaged at least 11.1 inches of induced vertical break, but the curveball averaged -4.3 inches. Hitters could no longer eliminate a pitch with true downward bite and now had a wider range of movement and location to cover. Patrick also masked the pitch incredibly well. According to Baseball Prospectus’s tunneling metrics, hitters had only a 12% chance of correctly identifying it as a curveball by the time they needed to decide whether to swing. That was the sixth-lowest probability among pitches thrown at least 25 times during the regular season. Instead, they were 47% likely to misidentify it as a cutter. Even if those probabilities become less extreme as Patrick throws more curveballs over a larger sample, the pitch should still be plenty deceptive. Given how well the cutter and curveball tunnel off one another, it should come as no surprise that he leaned more on that pairing during his dominant postseason. While that October excellence generated the most buzz surrounding Patrick’s future, his potential is not tied to the bullpen. His new breaking ball will play in any role, and while those shorter outings gave his velocity an extra nudge, his average four-seamer and two-seamer were already climbing toward 95 mph as a starter. Patrick isn’t the youngest arm in a deep stable of potential Brewers starters; nor does his arsenal look the flashiest at first glance. But he revealed more upside late last year than he did earlier in the season. His new breaking ball can keep hitters off-balance deeper into games and make him less vulnerable against lefties. Other Brewers might garner more popularity as breakout picks, but Patrick appears as close as any of them to putting it all together. It's time to stop overlooking him. View the full article

The international market has always been a necessary avenue for the Minnesota Twins. They operate without the financial muscle of some of their American League rivals, so they need to excel in areas like Latin America, a segment of the talent market wherein costs are much lower. It is also one where the returns have been frustratingly limited. Looking back at the international classes from 2019 through 2022 provides both promise and persistent questions about development, patience, and ceiling. 2019 International Class The clear success story from this group is Emmanuel Rodriguez, currently ranked as a consensus top-100 prospect. At the time, he was MLB Pipeline’s 12th overall prospect in his international class. At the time of his signing, MLB Pipeline wrote, “Athletic with a strong body and medium frame, Rodriguez has shown a solid hitting approach and advanced knowledge of the strike zone for a player his age. He has an efficient swing that creates lots of backspin and generates power to all fields.” Rodriguez has become one of the most intriguing players in the system, with most prospect rankings slotting him just behind Walker Jenkins. Injuries have slowed his rise, but the underlying profile remains rare. A walk rate north of 20% paired with a strikeout rate above 30% is unusual, but Rodriguez still produced a 135 wRC+ in 2025 thanks to his power and elite strike zone awareness. He played the entire season at Triple-A St. Paul, putting him on track for a 2026 debut. Rodriguez represents the best version of what the Twins hope to find internationally. Advanced plate discipline, projection, and a carrying tool that can survive modern pitching environments make him a potential star, even if approach adjustments will be required. 2021 International Class There was no 2020 signing period, as MLB combined two international classes because of the pandemic. Danny De Andrade has quietly built one of the more stable offensive resumes in the system. At the time of his signing, MLB Pipeline ranked him the 14th-best prospect in his class. “De Andrade has the ingredients to develop into an impact hitter," Pipeline's report read. "He shows off excellent bat speed from the right side of the plate and can drive the ball to all fields.” Last season, De Andrade repeated High A and posted a wRC+ above 100 for the fourth straight season. His .317 OBP and .387 slugging percentage do not jump off the page, but a career-best .158 ISO hints at gradual strength gains. Defensively, De Andrade has moved off shortstop, splitting time between second and third base, which puts more pressure on the bat. Fredy Michel shows the other side of the international equation. Once ranked 27th in his signing class, Michel never found consistency at the plate. Across parts of three seasons, he hit no higher than .163 and averaged a 77 wRC+. Despite early speed and double-digit steal totals, his bat stalled, and he has not appeared in affiliated ball since 2023. 2022 International Class Yasser Mercedes entered 2025 looking like a potential breakout. After a strong 2024, he struggled in Fort Myers, slashing .199/.309/.331 with an 87 wRC+. The speed remains loud, with 36 steals, and he continues to log most of his innings in center field. The offensive inconsistency underscores how thin the margin can be for toolsy international prospects. “The 17-year-old Mercedes had some of the best raw tools in this international class," MLB Pipeline wrote at the time of his signing. "He has the chance to drive the ball from the right side of the plate and could end up having better than average power as he fills out that frame and physically matures.” Yilber Herrera might be the most extreme example of modern plate discipline without contact. In 49 games between the Complex League and Low-A, he posted a .361 wOBA and a 114 wRC+ despite hitting below .160. A 25.9% walk rate carried the profile, but the lack of contact will be tested quickly as he climbs. Defensively, he has begun to see less time at shortstop. “The teen has a good feel for hitting and can spray the ball across the outfield," his scouting report said when he first signed. "He’s a smart baserunner when he gets on base. Herrera has a chance to stay at shortstop because of his above-average defensive actions and plus arm potential.” Bryan Acuna brings pedigree and projection, as both his brothers played in the big leagues last season (Ronald Acuna Jr. and Luisangel Acuna). Ranked just inside MLB Pipeline’s top 40 in his class, he reached Low-A Fort Myers in 2025 and posted a 96 wRC+ in 78 games. Strikeouts remain an issue, and power production has been minimal so far. The feel for the game is evident, but the bat needs to translate that feel into results. At the time, MLB Pipeline said, “Bryan grew up around the game, and it shows. He’s been praised for his plus makeup and feel for hitting. He’s aggressive and a playmaker. What he lacks in now tools, he makes up for with his baseball IQ, feel for the game and overall awareness.” Across these four classes, a pattern emerges. The Twins have found players with strong plate discipline, athleticism, and makeup, but turning those traits into consistent impact has been difficult. Rodriguez stands as the exception, not the rule. For a mid-market team, falling behind internationally is not an option. These signings show flashes of a coherent philosophy, but the next step is to translate that promise into big-league production. Which of these international prospects do you believe still has the best chance to break through, and what changes would you like to see from the Twins in their approach to the international market? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

A little more movement on the fastball, a little more break on the slider, and Jeff Hoffman’s 2025 season would have been very different. Instead of uncertainty and frustration, there would be a fair share of joy and anticipation heading into 2026. While the organization and, in particular, John Schneider and Ross Atkins have voiced confidence in Hoffman, he isn’t locked into the closer role as we approach pitchers and catchers reporting to Dunedin for spring training. Few roles in professional sports carry as much symbolic weight as baseball's closer. The ninth inning is both a stage and a psychological test, and in 2025, Hoffman became the embodiment of that stress for a team that reached Game 7 of the World Series, only to see the outcome turn with one pitch. Heading into 2026, Hoffman's status straddles high-leverage trust and the on-field inconsistency that is forcing the Jays to keep their options open. Atkins and his front office have publicly hedged their bets. They’ve been praising Hoffman’s team-first flexibility while making clear he is not “married” to the closer role. That nuanced approach highlights modern bullpen philosophies. Every team, not just the Jays, focuses on matchups, redundancy, and contingency when it comes to its bullpen. Similarly to why we don’t see as many complete games in modern-day baseball, dominant closers don’t rack up more than 50 saves in a season like they used to. The all-time, single-season record for saves is 62, set by Francisco Rodríguez in 2008 while pitching for the Los Angeles Angels. In 2025, Carlos Estévez led the majors with 42 saves for the Royals. By comparison, Hoffman had 33. Hoffman has two years remaining on his three-year, $33 million deal with the Jays. His contract was both a reunion and a bet on a late-career reinvention. Drafted ninth overall by Toronto in 2014, traded to the Rockies in 2015, and then rebuilt as a high-leverage reliever with the Phillies from 2023–24, Hoffman arrived back in Toronto to close. For two years in Philadelphia, his numbers were elite. His ERA, strikeout rate and control earned him his first All-Star nod in 2024. His arrival in Toronto wasn’t without a bit of controversy. There were reports that he had agreed to a three-year, $40 million contract with Baltimore. However, the Orioles apparently backed out after the physical. Throughout his career, Hoffman has been known for his stuff. His splitter, slider and fastball, when on-time and well-located, miss bats at a high clip. That sort of arsenal is precisely what teams look for when they crown a closer. Hoffman’s 2025 season was a roller coaster. The highlight was his 33 saves, but his 4.37 ERA across 68 innings with a 1.19 WHIP indicated some potential cracks in the armour. He gave up 15 home runs, second-most among all MLB relievers and the most among closers of similar save volume. He blew seven saves, tied for fourth-most in MLB, underscoring a season marked by peaks and valleys rather than steady state performance. When things worked, they worked well. Hoffman carried a respectable strikeouts per nine innings of 11.12. That number was consistent with what he’d done with the Phillies, but the relinquished home run numbers last year were closing in on some of the challenges he’d had in that department when he played for the Rockies. In the thin air of Denver in 2019, Hoffman gave up 2.70 home runs every nine innings and only managed 8.74 strikeouts per nine. Across baseball, it is hard to find primary closers with more than 30 saves who allow double-digital homers, let alone 15. Observers thought maybe Hoffman's shoulder was giving him trouble as the season wore on, but then came the playoffs, where he was lights out. He appeared in 10 games, picked up two saves, struck out 18 batters and had an ERA of 1.46. Yet, one really bad pitch to Miguel Rojas basically wiped out that playoff dominance. As Hoffman put it himself, “I cost everybody in here a World Series ring.” One pitch can change a career. There was another closer who gave up a big home run in a pivotal game that took place in Toronto. Phillies’ closer Mitch Williams gave up Joe Carter’s clinching home run in the 1993 World Series. Williams didn’t fade right away – he pitched for the Astros (1994), Angels ('95), and Royals ('97) – but he was never able to regain his All-Star form. To suggest the Jays aren’t mulling over their options when it comes to their 2026 closer is simply not realistic. Internal and external options are on the table. Louis Varland took the ball in every situation possible during the playoffs (he pitched an MLB-record 15 times in one postseason), and there is no question that the coaching staff trusts him. He might be the team’s plan B option for the closer role. This offseason has seen the Jays focus on bullpen redundancy. By signing Tyler Rogers to a multi-year deal, Toronto acquired an ultra-durable, submarine right-hander whose profile of groundball dominance, walk suppression, and late-inning inning-eating makes him a stabilizer in leverage. Rogers projects as the top setup option and might be another possible closer if Hoffman’s home run problem persists. Before Edwin Díaz signed with the Dodgers, there had been rumours that the Jays were interested in signing him. They had also been in discussions for the services of Ryan Helsley, Pete Fairbanks and Robert Suarez. Unless a trade occurs prior to spring training, one would assume that Hoffman is the closer. However, he’ll have a short leash if he isn’t able to regain his command and cut down on the home runs. A closer has a swagger and confidence that is often on full display. While Hoffman’s accountability was admirable following Game 7, it is crucial that he reestablishes himself heading into 2026; otherwise, he won’t be the closer for long. The Jays have a short list of fill-ins should he falter. Schneider and Pete Walker will no doubt consider load management for Hoffman during the season to try to keep his arm as fresh as possible with the possibility of another long run in the playoffs ahead. The 2026 season offers Hoffman a chance to recalibrate. It offers an opportunity to turn the memory of a poorly delivered pitch into the preface of a redemption arc built on precise command, smarter usage, and resilient psychology. The closer title may rest with Hoffman on Opening Day, but the true story will be the collective late-inning machine the Blue Jays have engineered around him. If he can cut the home run rate, lean into pitch-mix unpredictability and sustain playoff-level velocity and execution throughout the season, Hoffman’s 2026 could be a story of redemption. Either way, Jeff Hoffman’s 2026 will be one of Major League Baseball’s most closely watched bullpen stories. View the full article

Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray are locks to toe the rubber in the first two games of the Boston Red Sox's season, barring injury or a subsequent addition. And, barring a trade involving Brayan Bello, the young right-hander should be a shoo-in to handle the final game of the opening series against the Cincinnati Reds. That's three of the five spots in Alex Cora's starting rotation accounted for, and if you're like me and a strong believer in the Red Sox's faith in Johan Oviedo after dealing Jhostynxon Garcia (and more) for the hulking starter, you're just about ready to hand him the fourth spot. With the amount of depth the front office has accumulated over the past few years, that should create a fierce competition for the No. 5 starter gig in spring training. I've already gone on the record to suggest that Kutter Crawford is my personal pick as the most-likely candidate to emerge victorious in that competition, at least for the first few months of the season. What he lacks in upside he makes up for in pitch-ability and durability, so long as he can overcome the wrist and knee injuries that held him out from participating in the 2025 campaign. Even if he doesn't strike your fancy, though, there's no shortage of options to choose from. Patrick Sandoval, who also missed all of last year with an elbow injury, brings a career 4.01 ERA and deep six-pitch arsenal to the mix. Connelly Early was impressive enough in his first big-league cup of coffee that he earned the nod in Game 3 of the Wild Card Round. Kyle Harrison, a fellow southpaw who arrived via the ill-advised Rafael Devers trade, has top-prospect pedigree and flashed in his limited exposure in Boston last year. Prospects David Sandlin and Tyler Uberstine are both knocking on the major-league door and already own places on the 40-man roster. That's a ridiculous amount of depth, which is a testament to what Craig Breslow and company have been building. You'll notice, though, that I didn't include Payton Tolle among that loaded crop of contenders, despite the fact that he made his MLB debut at the end of last season and flashed his immense upside in a few impressive appearances. The reason for that is simply: Tolle isn't ready to handle a full-time role in the big-league rotation yet. Now, that's not meant to be a slight against the 23-year-old southpaw. What he brings to the table — a 6'6" frame, elite extension, and a high-90s fastball — can't be taught. There's a reason he was fast-tracked from High-A to MLB in his first professional season, but that also means that he's thrown all of 58 1/3 innings above A-ball in his career. His four-seamer was simply too dominant for minor-league batters to stand a chance, but against the best of the best, one pitch won't cut it as a starter. Let's start there, then. His fastball is great, and the raw numbers (96.7 mph average velocity, 28.3% whiff rate, 23.3% put-away rate) are tantalizing. But he also used the pitch 64% of the time in his brief major-league stint, hence why hitters were still able to tag it for a .565 slugging percentage and .402 wOBA despite its elite shape and relatively solid command up in the zone. That's the product of a five-pitch arsenal that featured no other pitch more than 13% of the time. His cutter and slider both hold very similar shapes and movement profiles, and his changeup is disastrously flat. Tolle only mustered the courage to throw that latter pitch 21 times in the big leagues (all against righties), and it was hammered to the tune of a .711 wOBA. When your primary off-speed offering to opposite-handed batters gets hit that hard and has a pitch map that looks like this, you're going to run into serious trouble. *Chart courtesy of Baseball Savant This is simply the case of a very talented pitcher needing more seasoning; had the Red Sox not promoted Tolle so aggressively in 2025, he wouldn't even be a part of this discussion right now. A second offering against both righties and lefties are works in progress, as is the young lefty learning how to pitch around his fastball. There are a lot of nuances to being a pitcher that Tolle will only learn through experience — better to let him get those reps against Triple-A batters rather than in games that actually matter. With the proper amount of time to develop his other offerings and feel for the course of navigating a lineup multiple times, the young southpaw should eventually emerge as the frontline pitcher so many of us were dreaming about during his MLB debut. But patience is needed here; rushing Tolle any further only stands to damage his long-term upside. View the full article

The case of Edward Cabrera was, for a while, one of unrealized talent. Cabrera epitomized the "if he could just put it all together" player archetype. He posted a 4.32 ERA through his first four big league seasons with an average of just 73.5 innings pitched, which set up last year's age-27 season to be one of the make-or-break variety. Fortunately, for both Cabrera and the Marlins, the pieces began to fall into place. He shone in a career-high 26 starts and 137 ⅔ innings pitched, finishing with a 3.53 ERA. He was the most impactful arm in their rotation. The Marlins capitalized on that breakout by consummating a trade on Wednesday with the Chicago Cubs to send the hard-throwing right-hander to the North Side. The Marlins received a package of three players, headlined by outfielder Owen Caissie, who was arguably the Cubs' top prospect. Infielders Cristian Hernández and Edgardo De Leon rounded out the return. What will trading Cabrera mean for the rest of the Marlins' offseason? Which outfielder becomes expendable? After cashing in such a valuable trade chip to acquire Caissie, the assumption is that the Marlins envision him being the long-term answer in one of the two corner outfield spots. With Stowers occupying the opposite corner and Jakob Marsee in between them, there's now a surplus of viable outfielders. Heriberto Hernández, a minor league signing before last season, impressed with a 116 OPS+ across 294 plate appearances. Platooning with the aforementioned trio to various extents seems to be the plan. Fellow right-handed bat Esteury Ruiz was just acquired last week. President of baseball operations Peter Bendix described Ruiz as a "really helpful, complementary piece," but his inconsistent track record could leave him on the outside looking in should Caissie break camp with the club. Then, there's the Griffin Conine of it all. Sporting a modest .755 OPS in the majors and flashing plus defense at left and right in a limited 54-game sample, Conine presented a compelling case for regular playing time in 2026. Manager Clayton McCullough previously shared that the Marlins want to evaluate him at first base during spring training. But if that transition isn't a smooth one, where would the 28-year-old fit in moving forward? Meanwhile, Victor Mesa Jr. has no clear path to playing time. Mesa was arguably the top outfielder in the Marlins farm system when Bendix arrived. Now, he's buried on the depth chart with only one minor league option remaining. Will the team add a veteran starter? The trading of Cabrera leaves a vacancy in the Marlins rotation. Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez and Ryan Weathers are certain to open the season with starting jobs (health permitting). Janson Junk made a compelling case to retain his spot, though his track record prior to 2025 was spotty, to say the least. We haven't seen an effective outing from Max Meyer since Memorial Day. While the Marlins also have Braxton Garrett on the mend from elbow surgery and an underrated farm system, the free agent market presents them with potential Cabrera replacements. Nick Martinez, Chris Bassitt and Zac Gallen are among the unsigned options. The Marlins, too, could replace Cabrera's mind-bending changeup with another if they were to add, say, Lucas Giolito. Shoveling a similar workload as Cabrera in his 145 innings pitched, Giolito finished with a 3.41 ERA across his 26 starts. Should owner Bruce Sherman insist on fiscal conservatism, their second-ranked pitching prospect, Robby Snelling boasted a dazzling 2.51 ERA across 136 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. His arrival at the major league level need not be delayed any further if the Marlins believe his much-improved fastball quality can be sustained in 2026. What happens with Connor Norby? In 36 games to end 2024, Connor Norby hit .247/.315/.445/.760, with signs that this was just the beginning on a long tenure in Miami. The subsequent year was a frustrating one, as Norby dealt with oblique and quad strains, and a broken hamate bone. Even when he was healthy, Norby looked largely overmatched, posting a .689 OPS while also being unable to bolster the reputation regarding his defense at third base. Last month, we opined that Norby's skillset would be best suited in the outfield, but the addition of Caissie complicates that. Do the Marlins give him another chance to get acclimated at third? A down year in 2026 would leave him with marginal value. The club could go in several different directions with the 25-year-old and they'd all be justifiable. View the full article

Less than 24 hours after the Edward Cabrera trade was announced, Ely Sussman, Alex Carver, Isaac Azout, Kevin Barral and Sean McCormack discuss the timing of the deal and the three-player package that the Miami Marlins received in return. They also cover the club's negotiations with arbitration-eligible players in advance of Thursday's salary figure exchange deadline (all of them reached settlements except for Calvin Faucher) and the end of Miami's partnership with FanDuel Sports Network Florida. You can find Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. Our audio programming also includes The Offishial Show, Fish Unfiltered, Swimming Upstream and more. President of baseball operations Peter Bendix elaborated on each of the players involved in the Cabrera deal during a virtual media availability. Anthony Bender ($2.81M salary), Braxton Garrett ($1.53M), Ryan Weathers ($1.35M), Max Meyer and Andrew Nardi each reached settlements with the Marlins on one-year deals, avoiding arbitration. After filing at $2.05M and $1.8M, respectively, Faucher is expected to take the club to a hearing, where an independent panel will determine his salary for the 2026 season. The nine MLB teams who still had affiliations with Main Street Sports Group have terminated those contracts. The most likely outcome for the Marlins is utilizing the league's in-house production and distribution system moving forward, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. Follow Ely (@RealEly), Alex (@marlinsminors), Isaac (@IsaacAzout), Kevin (@kevin_barral), Sean (@heeysean8) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Join the Marlins Discord server! Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. View the full article

The Royals' future with FanDuel Sports Network is in doubt for the 2026 season. On Thursday, Evan Drellich of The Athletic reported that Kansas City and eight other teams (Braves, Tigers, Reds, Angels, Marlins, Brewers, Rays, and Cardinals) terminated their agreements with Main Street Sports Group, the parent company of FanDuel Sports Network. Main Street Sports Group had been in a questionable financial position for a while, as many teams reported missing scheduled payments. The parent company of the Fanduel Sports Network hoped that a deal with DAZN, a London-based sports streaming network, would solve its financial issues. Unfortunately, Main Street and DAZN were reportedly unable to reach an agreement, according to Tom Friend of The Sports Business Journal. Here's what Friend said in his article regarding the DAZN and Main Street negotiations. Friend reported that Fubo may be in negotiations to acquire Main Street, but it's hard to tell how far along and legitimate those talks are. According to the SBJ report, some sources have denied Fubo's involvement with Main Street, and Fubo spokespeople have denied comment. A deal for Main Street is needed for Fanduel Sports Network to remain operational after the conclusion of the NBA and NHL seasons. However, without such a deal, it's likely that Main Street would declare bankruptcy. Thus, it makes sense that the Royals and eight other clubs would decide to terminate their deal now to figure out a broadcasting plan by Spring Training. Clubs can renegotiate with Main Street if the media company's situation changes. That said, if nothing comes to fruition on Main Street's end, then it's possible that the nine teams could give their broadcast rights to Major League Baseball. Currently, MLB owns and distributes the broadcast rights for the Padres, Rockies, Guardians, Twins, Diamondbacks, and Mariners. Local fans of those teams can watch their club via a team-specific MLB.TV subscription. Whether the Royals will do that or go with another broadcasting option is yet to be determined. Photo Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images View the full article

There is nothing like arbitration day to get you thinking that spring training is just around the corner. Thursday marked the deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to come to terms on a contract for 2026. The San Diego Padres reached deals with all seven arbitration-eligible players, meaning they won't have any hearings this year. In fact, the Friars, under president of baseball operations A.J. Preller, have not had an arbitration hearing since 2014. The seven players are right-handed reliever Jason Adam, first baseman-outfielder Gavin Sheets, left-handed starter JP Sears, closer Mason Miller, catcher Luis Campusano, reliever Adrian Morejon, and catcher Freddy Fermin. All of the projected salaries below come via MLB Trade Rumors. For more on how other teams did, check out this MLBTR page. Four players reached new deals, although there was no report of their contract figures. Adam, who made $4.8 million last year, was projected to make $6.8 million in 2026, his final year of team control. Sears made $770,000 in 2025 and was projected to get a raise of up to $3.5 million in his first year of arbitration. Miller was paid $775,000 last year and was projected to make $3.4 million. Fermin earned $781,750 in 2025 and was projected to go up to $1.8 million in his first year in arbitration. Sheets will earn $4.5 million in 2026 after being projected to make $4.3 million. The first baseman-outfielder made $1.6 million in 2025 and has one more year of arbitration left before becoming a free agent. In his first year with the Friars, Sheets had a .252/.317/.429 slash line with career highs of 19 homers and 71 RBIs. Sheets signed just before last year's spring training after being nontendered by the Chicago White Sox, who had a historically awful 2024. Morejon is set to make $3.9 million in 2026 after being projected to make $3.6 million. He made $2 million in 2025 and is set to become a free agent after this season. A very valuable left-handed reliever, Morejon had the best of his seven seasons with the Friars in 2025. Morejon had a career-best 2.28 FIP in a career-high 75 games. He has been a key element of the Padres' bullpen the past two seasons. Campusano reached a deal to be paid $900,000 for 2026 at the nontender deadline in November after being projected for $1 million. That is a slight reduction in his 2025 salary of $1 million. Campusano enters 2026 as the Padres' backup catcher after spending most of 2025 at Triple-A El Paso. He only played in 10 MLB games. Once thought to be the Padres' catcher of the future, Campusano has fallen out of favor due to defensive shortcomings and an inconsistent bat. View the full article