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The Boston Red Sox have begun to add to their spring training roster, naming seven non-roster invitees. While most names on the list are of no surprise, it also doesn’t close the book on other players being added as a non-roster invitee the closer we get to the team reporting to Fort Myers. The group of seven are made up of catcher Jason Delay, infielder Vinny Capra, right-handed pitchers Osvaldo Berrios, Hobie Harris, and Devin Sweet and left-handed pitchers Alec Gamboa and T.J. Sikkema. Among the seven players announced, six of them signed minor-league deals with the Red Sox across the offseason while the seventh (Harris) re-signed with the Red Sox on a minor-league contract back at the end of September. While non-roster invitees may not seem all too exciting, they help create competition in camp for the final few roster spots, along with exciting storylines. And, sometimes, they may even break camp with the team. Last season, the team saw non-roster invitees Kristian Campbell and Sean Newcomb make the team, while the likes of Trayce Thompson, Matt Moore, and Adam Ottavino created discussion pertaining to the back end of the roster. Overall, the group is comprised of veterans who have either limited experience in the majors or have spent several seasons in the minors as they attempt to showcase why they should be in the major leagues. Of the seven, four have some time spent on a major-league roster. Sikkema, a left-handed pitcher, signed with the Red Sox shortly before the announcement. Now 27 years old, he was a former first-round pick by the Yankees back in 2019 (39th overall). Last season, he split time in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization as he played for both Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. View the full article

Even though Opening Day 2026 is 80 days away, with the flip of the calendar, the temptation to start sketching out what the Milwaukee Brewers will look like in late March has begun to build. Just over a month ago, we published the first version of our projection of the Brewers' Opening Day roster. Here is an update of that projection for the team that takes the field on March 26 against the Chicago White Sox, at Uecker Field. PITCHERS Starting Rotation (5) Freddy Peralta Brandon Woodruff Chad Patrick Jacob Misiorowski Quinn Priester Ideally, of course, each member of this group would stay healthy and perform well enough to make 30 starts. Reality is the antidote for such delusions, though, and the Brewers have realities both behind and before them that figure to shake up the rotation at some point. Peralta is high on the pundits' list of stars most likely to be traded, but he is still in the Brewers fold. Woodruff returned from a year and a half on the shelf in dominant fashion, but landed on the injured list again with a lat strain in September. Presumably, he's back in full health right now, but next season will be a new test of the staying power of his shoulder. Patrick made 23 starts and pitched well enough to earn down-ballot NL Rookie of the Year votes. Misiorowski looked like the Rookie of the Year candidate at one stretch, and has the highest upside of any Brewers pitcher. Priester and his revamped arsenal slot solidly back into the rotation for 2026, after he staked a sturdy claim there in 2025. If one or more of these five falter, the Brewers have exceptional depth to buttress the rotation. Tobias Myers is the most experienced in that group. Logan Henderson dazzled in his brief opportunities with the parent club, and if he's healthy, he could be every bit as good as Patrick or Priester. Robert Gasser made two starts but spent a lot of time on the injured list. In his return from Tommy John surgery, Coleman Crow made 12 starts at two levels, striking out batters at a rate of 32%, though he didn't find his way to the 40-man roster until the end of the season. All of their key starter prospects have minor-league options remaining, so if neither transactions nor injuries blow a hole in the side of the ship, this group can wait at Triple-A Nashville for a while. Only Myers and Crow are candidates to do much work in relief for the team. V 2.0 changes: NONE. Bullpen (8) Grant Anderson Aaron Ashby D.L. Hall Jared Koenig Trevor Megill Abner Uribe Rob Zastryzny Ángel Zerpa On December 14, the Brewers traded Isaac Collins and Nick Mears to the Kansas City Royals for the left-handed Zerpa. In theory, Zerpa replaces Mears in the bullpen, but the Brewers have mentioned that Zerpa could be a candidate for the starting rotation. We will have to see how that shakes out. The group listed (except newcomer Zerpa) pitched about two-thirds of the 634 2/3 innings Brewers relievers spent on the mound last year; expect to see more of the same. With five lefties and three righties in the pen, manager Pat Murphy has the flexibility to match up with opposing batters. Only Koenig and Uribe stayed healthy all year, and each of them wore down as the season progressed. As is true with the starters, the organization boasts good depth in the upper levels of the minors. There's another bullpen's worth of credible big-league hurlers beyond the group above. Craig Yoho, Easton McGee, and Sammy Peralta would be the frontrunners in that group. V 2.0 changes: Mears out, Zerpa in. CATCHERS (2) William Contreras Jeferson Quero Quero will probably get his first shot in the big leagues, as the backup to the workhorse and lineup centerpiece that is Contreras. When Contreras is your starter behind the plate, the backup matters less than it does on most teams. Marco Dinges is probably the next-best backstop in the organization not named Contreras or Quero, but he is about two years away. V 2.0 changes: NONE. INFIELDERS (6) Andrew Vaughn (1B) Brice Turang (2B) Caleb Durbin (3B) Joey Ortiz (SS) Jake Bauers (1B-OF) Andruw Monasterio (INF) Tyler Black and Anthony Seigler are both on the 40-man roster, but neither will make the Opening Day roster, barring something unforeseen. Vaughn and Bauers figure to hold down first base, while Turang, Ortiz and Durbin are entrenched (for now) at the other positions on the dirt. Monasterio's role will be filling in for and backing up all three, unless and until more moves come. V 2.0 changes: NONE. OUTFIELDERS (5) Sal Frelick Jackson Chourio Christian Yelich Blake Perkins Garrett Mitchell Brandon Lockridge, Steward Berroa, and free-agent signee Akil Baddoo are all on the 40-man, but this quintet has the inside track. Lockridge and Berroa might be waived at some point to free up roster spots. Mitchell could be in his make-or-break season; injuries have derailed his last three campaigns. Frelick has played in center and in right, and the phenom Chourio played every outfield spot last year. The question about the team's superstar-in-training is where he's best suited to play. Our Jack Stern wonders if center field might be the spot for Chourio. Yelich can play left in a pinch, but his best defensive days are behind him. Perkins and Mitchell will battle for playing time in center, and if Mitchell is healthy, Chourio could be back in left field almost full-time. V 2.0 changes: Collins out, Baddoo in. A lot can happen over the next two months. The Brewers could add or subtract more players through free agency or trade. This version of the projected Opening Day roster could very well change, but it doesn't need to. Even this version of the roster is a clear favorite to win the NL Central next season. What do you think about this 26-man group? Am I missing anybody? Who is on your projected card? Feel free to start a conversation in the comments section. View the full article

The calendar has flipped. We're barely six weeks from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. There are a few top-of-the-market free agents still unsigned, but the cupboard is becoming more bare almost every day. The Chicago Cubs have been frustratingly quiet. They are yet to add a frontline pitcher, and the offense still has the hole left by Kyle Tucker's departure. Cubs fans are sitting here with burning questions: What is the offseason plan? Is there a plan? Is the inactivity part of the plan? The only thing we have confirmed is that the plan for the bullpen is to hope for the same magic as last season, with veteran arms on cheap deals. We just saw Japanese starter Tatsuya Imai sign a shorter-than-expected deal with the Astros, which stings, because the Cubs were seen as a great fit. Maybe Jed Hoyer prefers to explore the trade market again, as they have a few big league-ready players without a clear path to playing time. Let's look at some of the options left on the free-agent market, as well as some trade candidates that could save the Cubs’ offseason. Free Agents: Framber Valdez Ranger Suárez Zac Gallen The Cubs rotation has some depth, and Justin Steele should return at some point in 2026, so they just need one more top-of-the-rotation arm to make that group an area of strength again. All three of these players come with red flags, but when they’re right, they're solidly above-average starters. The Cubs have also been linked to all three (at one point or another) this offseason. Valdez is probably the only one who can be considered a true ace. He earned Cy Young and MVP votes each year from 2022-2024, but was not himself in 2025. His ERA of 3.66 was high, by his standards, but he still made over 30 starts. It's easy to compare him to Jon Lester and use the six-year deal as a baseline, but many are predicting Valdez to sign for just four or five years. Valdez comes with some postseason concerns, though, largely due to his volatility. He was electric in the playoffs in 2020 and 2022, where he pitched to a sub-2.00 ERA. In 2021, 2023 and 2024, however, he had an average ERA of 7.67. To worry about the playoffs, one must get to the playoffs, and Valdez would likely bolster the team's odds to do that most. Unlike Lester, though, he's not an asset in the clubhouse; it's closer to the opposite. Lester, too, had something much closer to an ace-caliber October track record. Suárez likely isn’t on any team’s radar as an ace; he profiles best as the second or third hurler in a good rotation. The 2024 All-Star is coming off the best full season of his career as a full-time starter. He finished the season with a 3.20 ERA paired with an impressive 3.21 FIP, suggesting that he wasn’t the beneficiary of a ton of luck. The issues with Suárez are his health and his declining fastball. He has made at least 22 starts per year since 2022, but has spent time on the injured list with back problems in three of the last four seasons. He was never a power pitcher, but his average fastball in 2025 was 91.3 miles per hour, the lowest in his career. These issues will likely scare teams away from a longer-term pact, but a three- or four-year deal would make sense. Before 2023, the Cubs signed Jameson Taillon to a four-year deal worth $68 million. Suárez will probably get more, but not all that much more. Gallen probably fits the Cubs' predilections best. Picking up Cy Young votes in 2020, 2022 and 2023, Gallen showed about as much upside as Valdez, but will cost less after a considerably worse 2025 campaign. He's coming off a rough year, wherein he had a 4.83 ERA, but he was still durable, throwing 192 innings. That ability to eat innings would make a huge impact in the Cubs’ rotation for 2026. Steele will be coming off Tommy John surgery, Matthew Boyd just threw the most innings he has in a single season since 2019, and leaning on sophomore Cade Horton for 200 innings sounds unduly optimistic. The front-line upside from Gallen is what separates him from other innings-eaters available, like Lucas Giolito or Miles Mikolas. Trade Candidates The Brewers won't trade Freddy Peralta to the Cubs, for obvious reasons, and it looks unlikely that Tarik Skubal will be traded at all. It's unlikely that the Marlins will trade Sandy Alcantara at the kind of price with which the Cubs will be comfortable. Three names that make sense for Chicago on the trade market are MacKenzie Gore, Edward Cabrera, and Nick Pivetta. The Cubs were linked to Gore at the 2025 trade deadline, but reportedly were not able to come to an agreement because they would not include Cade Horton and Matt Shaw in the trade package. The current asking price should have come down a bit, as Gore did not pitch nearly as well in the second half and ended up finishing the year with a 4.17 ERA, after entering the All Star break with a 3.02 ERA. Many think Gore’s best days are still ahead of him, as he has shown an ability to miss bats at an elite rate throughout his career. He can give up hard contact at times, and also walk more hitters than a true ace should, but this is a former top prospect who has taken strides forward every season since his debut in 2022. Gore will be 27 on Opening Day and is under control via arbitration through 2027, meaning the rebuilding Nationals will likely benefit from moving him sooner, rather than later. Horton and top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins should be off the table, but the team's young, non-established hitters are very much in play. The Marlins are more likely to move Cabrera than Alcantara this offseason, and he is another arm to whom the Cubs have been linked. Per FanGraphs, Cabrera's average velocities on his four-seam fastball and sinker were 97 mph and 96.8 mph, respectively, with a changeup touching 95 mph and a slider that can scrape 90 mph. He also comes with major issues with the free pass and durability. Last year was a step in the right direction, as he topped 100 innings for the first time in his career, but he'll need to keep that up in order to make any real impact for a competing club. The Yankess are in advanced talks with Miami about Cabrera, so time is short, but if they're willing to part with their top offensive prospects, Chicago could still storm in with a late bid. The Cubs have Moisés Ballesteros and Kevin Alcántara hanging on the edges of the big-league roster, without a clear path to playing time in 2026. The Marlins have a few quality young catchers, in Agustín Ramírez and prospect Joe Mack, but Ballesteros could fit there at first base. Pivetta is the oldest player on this list. He will be 33 on Opening Day, but he is coming off a season wherein he generated Cy Young buzz in the first half. Overall, he had a 2.87 ERA in 181 2/3 innings, while striking out 190. All of those marks are career bests. Under the hood, there are some reasons to be concerned. He had a 45% hard-hit rate in 2025. This was also the first season of his career in which he finished with an ERA under 4.00. Though the Padres are still trying to compete, they've made it known they’re willing to sell high on Pivetta in order to add some MLB-ready talent. He does have an opt-out after this season, so if he pitches well again, this will likely turn into a rental deal. The best case for the Cubs would be a situation where Pivetta remains an ace-level pitcher for this season, helps them make a deep playoff run, and opts out, leaving the Cubs free of paying $32 million over the last two years of the deal. One problem is that the Padres would likely want a young pitcher they can expect to contribute in 2026, along with an outfielder. Wiggins is the only Cubs pitching prospect that might catch the attention of GM A.J. Preller, but that will be a non-starter for the Cubs. The other problem, as illustrated by the team's unwillingness to grant opt-outs after 2026 in their offers to both Imai and fellow righty starter Michael King earlier this winter, is that the team is set to lose Taillon, Boyd, Imanaga and a bevy of position players to free agency next offseason, so bringing in anyone else who will similarly depart after 2026 is an undesirable outcome for Hoyer. As we discussed earlier this week, the odds of the Cubs adding a top-flight starter have dwindled in recent weeks. It's still possible, but it's certainly not a given. If they do still want to make it happen, though, these are the key names to watch. View the full article

Earlier this winter, Jays Centre contributor Bob Ritchie estimated that the Blue Jays made $36.9 million in revenue from their share of the gate receipts from the 2025 postseason. Of course, as Bob acknowledged, there were several more sources of revenue related to the postseason that he did not have enough information consider, including the TV and radio broadcasts. On Monday, a new report from the Financial Post offered more clarity as to just how much money the Jays brought in from their run to the World Series. An estimate from a National Bank of Canada analyst suggests “the MLB playoff run was worth over $100 million” in revenue for Blue Jays ownership. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s still a conservative number. After all, there are so many ways a playoff run can indirectly increase a team's revenue. For example, I wonder if that $100 million estimate includes the ad revenue Rogers brought in from all the extra traffic the Sportsnet website and YouTube channel were surely getting last October. Not to mention, the monetary benefits of a deep postseason run don’t go away when the postseason ends. In addition to all the extra tickets and TV/streaming packages the Blue Jays/Rogers will be able to sell, consider how much more the Jays can charge their advertisers in 2026. That $100 million is really just a jumping-off point. With that in mind, it’s hardly surprising that Toronto has already committed more than $300 million to free agents this winter. And with a projected payroll that’s still only $21 million higher than it was last season (per RosterResource), it really is believable that this team is still in the market for top free agents Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette. Can the Blue Jays become the Dodgers of the north? I say, why the heck not? Featured image courtesy of Nick Turchiaro, Imagn Images. View the full article

Every season brings a handful of players who rewrite their own narratives. Sometimes it's health. Sometimes it's timing. Sometimes it's simply baseball being baseball. For the Minnesota Twins, 2026 sets up as a year where several familiar names could remind the league why the expectations were so high in the first place. Matt Wallner, Royce Lewis, and Brooks Lee all entered 2025 with hype and finished it in a cloud of disappointment. That combination makes them ideal candidates to surprise in the season ahead. Matt Wallner Wallner entered 2025 as one of the few hitters coming off a legitimately strong 2024 campaign. He was expected to be a middle-of-the-order force and a stabilizing presence, alongside the veteran bats. Instead, his season never quite found a rhythm. An oblique strain and back spasms limited his availability and consistency, and while a 110 OPS+ is nothing to scoff at, it paled in comparison to the 143 OPS+ he averaged across 2023 and 2024. When Wallner was healthy, the impact still flashed, but it came in shorter bursts than the Twins needed. Looking ahead to 2026, the underlying traits remain extremely enticing. Wallner’s 76.6-mph bat speed is among the best in the league, and his 11.8% walk rate shows a hitter who understands the strike zone. Those two skills tend to age well, and offer a sturdy foundation even when things are not clicking perfectly. With better health and a full season of at-bats, Wallner has a clear path back to being a difference maker in the heart of the lineup. Royce Lewis Trying to define Lewis’s next step feels like trying to hit a moving target. On paper, 2025 looked like progress. He appeared in a career-high 106 games and showed tangible defensive improvement at third base. Offensively, however, the offensive results were jarring. His 83 OPS+ was not what anyone envisioned, especially for a player once viewed as a franchise cornerstone. A hamstring injury in spring training cost him Opening Day, and the same issue resurfaced later in the summer, interrupting any momentum. The Twins are betting that a healthy runway changes everything. This winter, the organization has been vocal in its support of Lewis, which feels intentional. Confidence has always been part of his profile, and the flashes are still there. Last June offered a glimpse, when he went 11-for-28 (.393 BA) with three extra base hits. Once the hamstring acted up again, that stretch became a footnote, instead of a turning point. As a right-handed hitter on a roster heavy with left-side bats, Lewis brings lineup balance that Minnesota sorely needs. If his body cooperates, the impact could be immediate. Brooks Lee From the moment the Twins selected Lee in the first round of the 2022 draft, his calling card was simple: He hit. That profile carried him through the minors, where he posted a .289 batting average with an .836 OPS across parts of four seasons. The transition to the majors has been far less kind. Over his first two big-league seasons, Lee owns a .636 OPS and a 75 OPS+, numbers that fall well short of expectations. What makes Lee intriguing is that many of the building blocks remain intact. He continues to square the ball up at a strong rate (28.6% of the time, as a percentage of all swings), and his 17.5% strikeout rate suggests a hitter who is not overmatched. In 2026, Lee is set to take over as the primary shortstop, a role that comes with both opportunity and pressure. In the minors, his power was more pronounced from the right side of the plate. So far in the majors, his production has been more evenly split, with just 33 points of OPS separating his two sides. If that right-sided power shows up consistently, Lee’s offensive profile could take a meaningful step forward. What It Means If They All Click Individually, each of these players has a chance for a major rebound. Collectively, the impact could be enormous. A productive Wallner lengthens the lineup and protects the middle order. A healthy and confident Lewis adds right-handed thump and positional stability at third base. A more comfortable Lee at shortstop provides on-base skills and contact ability. Suddenly, the Twins' lineup looks deeper, more balanced, and far less dependent on a small group of veterans carrying the load. Baseball seasons often hinge on these types of internal surprises. If even two of these three take a step forward, Minnesota benefits. If all three find their stride in the same season, the Twins could field one of their most complete lineups in years. Of course, that's a big collection of 'if's. Which of these three players do you believe is most likely to surprise the league in 2026, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox and right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford have come to an agreement on a one-year deal for the 2026 season. The contract, which allows both sides to avoid heading to an arbitration hearing, is worth $2.75 million, which is the same amount Crawford made in 2025. Crawford, who missed the entire 2025 season due to various injuries, has been part of the Red Sox's pitching staff since making a spot start in 2021. The right-hander has bounced between the bullpen and rotation, but in 2024 was a key member of the rotation as he made 33 starts and tossed 183 2/3 innings. While home runs were an issue for Crawford in 2024, he provided the rotation with an arm that could provide innings every fifth day. It's uncertain what Crawford's role will be in 2026, but he should be one of the top candidates for the final job in the rotation behind Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Brayan Bello, and Johan Oviedo. The Red Sox have four arbitration-eligible players yet to agree to a deal. The team has until Thursday to come to an agreement with Triston Casas, Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo, and Romy González. View the full article

The new international signing period opens on January 15. As a smaller-market team, the Twins are one of a handful of organizations with an upper-echelon bonus pool. They, along with seven other teams, have $7,357,100 to spend, the second-highest annual allotment in the tiered setup under the current CBA. This year, the Twins class is headlined by Enmanuel Merlo, a Venezuelan shortstop who turned 17 in November. Merlo is slated to receive the 29th-largest bonus of any international prospect, per Baseball America. His signing bonus is expected to be about $1.5 million. Merlo is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the 34th-best prospect in the 2026 class. Listed at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Merlo is a switch-hitter with a wiry frame. He's currently better from the left side and has a well-rounded offensive profile. Merlo consistently produced above-average exit velocities relative to his peers, while also being praised for controlling the strike zone effectively and taking free passes when available. Despite being an average runner, Merlo is aggressive on the base paths, and his running may become an asset in his game as he develops his reads. He has an above-average arm and a smooth first step at shortstop. While he may not stick there permanently, he certainly has the requisite skills to stick in the dirt as a professional. We'll have more details on the Twins' forthcoming international crop at Twins Daily in the coming weeks. For now, Merlo leads the way, but (as is true of virtually all such signings) don't expect imminent impact from him. Ordinarily, players like this don't even come to the United States for a year or two after they sign, though given the state of affairs in Venezuela, Merlo could relocate either to the Twins' academy in the Dominican Republic or to their complex in Florida sooner than is typical. View the full article

With Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto agreeing to a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, choices are suddenly limited for the San Diego Padres to round out their infield group. Specifically, it's the first base position that still lingers as one of the team's most pressing questions a mere six weeks out from the beginning of training camp. What the team could do to fill their first base vacancy loomed as one of the top questions heading into the offseason. With each of Luis Arráez and Ryan O'Hearn reaching free agency, it represented the most obvious pathway toward bolstering the offensive production of the roster. Okamoto was a corner infielder who could've served such a purpose. Willson Contreras could've been another prior to his trade to the Boston Red Sox. With those two now off the board, O'Hearn signing in Pittsburgh, and A.J. Preller unlikely to traverse the Cody Bellinger waters, the problem of what shape first base will take for San Diego persists. Not that the team is entirely without options. There is certainly an in-house path toward addressing the position. Gavin Sheets is coming off something of a breakout and has first base experience. He could form something of a platoon with out-of-options backup catcher Luis Campusano, if Craig Stammen & co. were so inclined. Jake Cronenworth could also slide back over from the keystone upon the arrival of former KBO star Sung Mun Song, even if the former's offensive profile doesn't necessarily fit the spot. Should the team look outside the present roster, though, could they turn to a familiar face? Luis Arraez remains a free agent. He's coming off a career-best 3.5 K%, which represented the lowest full-season strikeout rate since Tony Gwynn's 1995 campaign. However, he also sat in the first percentile in hard-hit rate (16.7 percent) and barrel rate (1.1 percent), both of which were at least partially wrought by a bat speed figure that has consistently dropped in the last three years; his 62.6 MPH average bat speed was the lowest of his career. But even as a contact-only bat, he's not entirely without value to a lineup. Consider that his .289 batting average on balls in play represented a 35-point drop from the previous season. He still posted a line that included a .292 average and a technically-above-average 104 wRC+. Even his isolated skill set does provide value, especially within the context of a Padres lineup that, on paper, could use him as an effective supplement. In a lesser lineup, his one tool might get lost. In a San Diego lineup that employs Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, should see a bounce back year from Jackson Merrill, and features the likes of Ramón Laureano and Song, there's an argument to be made that he's still a worthy fit with this group. In such a scenario where the Padres were to re-sign Arráez, it takes some of the pressure off to settle first base specifically. You could roll out Sheets and/or Campusano or Cronenworth from a defensive standpoint. while Arráez serves primarily as a designated hitter to compensate for his below-average defense at the cold corner. It solidifies the lineup at what would likely be a lower price point for a cash-strapped team, too. Which brings us to the specific circumstances under which such a return would be logical. The first is that the contract would have to make sense. Arráez has just the one notable tool. With a glut of long-term contracts on the books, Preller can hardly afford to overpay on a multi-year deal, even if Arráez is still only 28. The other is that Stammen would have to avoid the tendency of hitting him near the top of the lineup in the way that Mike Shildt did. His on-base percentage isn't in good enough shape for such an integral role. If you can get him on a team-friendly, short-term deal in a way that still allows for an addition(s) on the pitching side, all while having him serve a role further down the lineup where his contact skills would get the OBP guys at the top moving around the bases, then you have a case. A few months ago, such a move would've seemed outlandish. But as the winter and the personnel options begin to dwindle, one could make the argument that this is precisely the type of short-term move Preller should explore before pivoting back to the much larger need that continues to live on the mound. View the full article

Of the players on the Chicago Cubs who helped the squad come to within a game of the National League Championship Series in 2025, few were more instrumental than second baseman Nico Hoerner. And yet, as the city's North Side baseball team wades through an underwhelming and perplexing offseason, the Northern California native's name has become the focal point of swirling trade talks. It's clear why another club would want to trade for Hoerner: At just 28 years old, Hoerner has two Gold Gloves to his name and just produced a season worth 14 outs above average (OAA). Not only did he get on base frequently in 2025 with a .345 OBP, but he also made things happen once he got on, stealing 29 bases. More than this, the star infielder was one of the only players in Craig Counsell's lineup to consistently hit for contact, tallying 40 extra-base hits among his total of 178. Is that kind of production easily replaceable? No. Why, then, do the Cubs have designs on bringing Bo Bichette to Wrigleyville? Now, it's worth mentioning that since Bichette's ball club made it to Game 7 of the World Series, he has more numerous and more recent failures at the plate than his counterpart in Chicago. But Bichette still finished the 2025 season with a .311 batting average. Over the course of the regular season in 2025, Bichette had fewer hits (in fewer at-bats) than Hoerner. Defensively, Bichette is inferior to Hoerner, with a Baseball Savant page featuring more blue than a postcard from the Caribbean. What Toronto's star infielder does have, however, is hype. Since entering the league with his equally-famous teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bichette was announced as being one of the game's new young superstars, carrying the weight of the league's rising popularity on his shoulders. Despite falling short of his lofty expectations thus far, Bichette remains one of the more prominent and recognizable players in professional baseball. When examining this specific aspect, Bichette's profile, the Cubs' pursuit of him makes sense. This is an organization that likes to maintain a certain level of name-brand players — guys that fill seats at Wrigley. Think Cody Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, and Yu Darvish. Given that fact, it's likely that Tom Ricketts, Jed Hoyer, and the rest of the brass wouldn't mind welcoming Bichette to Chicago, with designs on hiding his defensive shortcomings next to the exemplary Dansby Swanson. Playing at second should mask a great many of his range concerns, and it wouldn't be hard for Bichette to improve at least a little on that side of the ball. Still, he'd be a far cry from what Hoerner offers at the keystone, and signing Bichette to a long-term deal almost certainly comes with the caveat that the incumbent second baseman will be dealt away. If and when a package is assembled to make this theoretical trade a reality, Chicago would still earn an incomplete grade for this offseason as we sit just one calendar month away from the start of spring training and the 2026 season. The North Siders still need an ace to lead their pitching rotation, and not only have they not acquired one, but also seem content in allowing other challengers to exhaust all the best available options on the market. So, the question remains: What is the Cubs' play here? For this club to expand upon its triumphs from last season, it needs consistency. That's something that Nico Hoerner has a proven track record of providing. Can Bichette, in a new city, with a new ballpark, pick up where Hoerner left off? As the great Ellie Goulding once said: Anything could happen. View the full article

Sweet Lou and Ol' Gregg team up to set some resolutions for coaches, players, and ancillary characters with your Minnesota Twins. There's a gripe and a blind lineup as well. And won't someone think of Bill Pohlad! Listen using Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-twins-off-daily-podcast/id1741266056 Listen using Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4tb78XlurcPTYYSsARdbD7 Listen using iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-twins-off-daily-podcas-167548600/ Listen using Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/nvclbt0w \Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twinsdaily View the full article

It’s hard to believe we’re closer to the first pitch of 2026 spring training than the end of the 2025 World Series. Thankfully for Blue Jays fans, it means it’s officially time to focus on the future instead of the past, because I’m not sure many of us have had a very easy time coming to grips with the painful end of that series against the Dodgers. That Game 7 loss brought the most exciting run of Blue Jays baseball in 30 years to a screeching halt on the one-yard line. It was devastating for a fanbase that wants nothing more than to celebrate its team. But if those same fans have been keeping up with the offseason that Ross Atkins is putting together, their excitement will only be greater in 2026. The Jays seem to be determined to get over that one-yard line and burst into the endzone in 2026, because they’ve outspent the circuit this winter. They’ve committed $337 million worth of salary, and of the 15 players that have signed for at least $30 million, four of them have done so with the Jays. The offseason started with the Jays addressing the starting rotation by bringing in Dylan Cease on a seven-year deal and Cody Ponce on a three-year contract. Next in the order of operations was bringing in some bullpen help. Tyler Rogers is bringing his funky delivery to Toronto on a three-year deal. Most recently, the Blue Jays dipped their toes in the position player market, bringing Kazuma Okamoto over from Japan on a four-year deal. It’s hard to deny that the roster is ready to start the season as-is, and the offseason has already been a success. The craziest thing is, there still seems to be a real chance that the Jays sign the top free agent on the market, Kyle Tucker, or bring back Bo Bichette. There will almost certainly be changes to the roster between now and Opening Day on March 27, but if the offseason ended today, here are the 26 I’d expect the Jays to bring north from Dunedin. Editor's Note: In December, Jays Centre's Sam Charles took a stab at predicting Toronto's Opening Day roster for 2026. Just over a month later, things already look quite different. Today, Owen Hill makes his best guess as to what the 26-man roster will look like on March 27 in version 2.0 of our roster projection series. PITCHERS STARTING ROTATION (5) Kevin Gausman Dylan Cease Shane Beiber Trey Yesavage Cody Ponce Should the Jays get a clean bill of health, this will be one of the best rotations in baseball in 2026. On the outside looking in here is José Berríos, who’s been a mainstay of the rotation since the 2021 trade deadline. It’s really hard to know what kind of role the Jays have in mind for him, because the five listed above are all projected to have better seasons than Berríos, but it’s also extremely hard to envision him pitching out of the bullpen. There’s no such thing as too much pitching depth, but is a trade imminent? Some other depth options will include Eric Lauer, Bowden Francis, Adam Macko and potentially Ricky Tiedemann. BULLPEN (8) We know that bullpens are always volatile, and one guy not showing up to spring training healthy or underperforming in spring training can throw this whole prediction out of whack. Assuming health, this is the bullpen I expect to see on Opening Day: Jeff Hoffman Yimi García Louis Varland Tyler Rogers Brendon Little Tommy Nance Mason Fluharty Eric Lauer If you thought the starting rotation had a logjam of talent, feast your eyes on the bullpen. Between Hoffman, García, Varland and Rogers, the back-end is more than solid, even if it lacks the star closer the Jays were rumoured to be chasing at the start of the winter. Little and Fluharty both had very solid seasons, especially against opposing teams’ lefties. Nance probably slips under the radar in this group, but he was awesome in his 31.2 big league innings last year, is out of options, and has too much arm talent to let go. Lauer slides in as the long man. If this is the bullpen that opens the season, Berríos will have either been traded, placed on the injured list, or sent to start the season in Triple A (it's unlikely but possible). This scenario also would mean both Angel Bastardo and Spencer Miles – Rule 5 picks from each of the last two seasons – would be sent back to their previous teams. It’s very feasible that one of them wins a job, but it’s tough to see who they'd beat out for that roster spot right now. Lastly, this group doesn’t include Braydon Fisher, who was great for the Jays across 50 innings in ‘25, and will certainly see a lot of time in the big leagues again in ‘26. He simply falls victim to the asset management game: Fisher has options, whereas not many other guys in the ‘pen do. HITTERS CATCHERS (2): Alejandro Kirk Tyler Heineman Cal Raleigh is a safe bet to be the most valuable catcher in baseball, but Kirk is a solid bet to be second or third. If Heineman can recreate some of the magic (pun intended) that helped him to put up a 120 wRC+ and 2.1 fWAR in 2025, the Jays should have one of the best catching tandems in baseball. INFIELDERS (3): Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B) Ernie Clement (2B, 3B, SS) Andrés Giménez (SS) If a Bichette reunion isn’t in the cards, the infield is in safe hands, anchored by Vladdy at first and Giménez at short. Clement will play elite defense at any of the three positions he’s listed at, but he'll likely open the season as the everyday second baseman. If Bichette re-signs, he’ll more than likely be the second baseman. Clement would shift into a utility role and probably get the bulk of his playing time against lefties. UTILITY (3): Addison Barger (3B, Corner OF) Kazuma Okamoto (3B, 1B, Corner OF) Davis Schneider (LF, 2B) The addition of Okamoto likely means Barger gets a heavier dose of his playing time in the outfield, but he should still see some time at third. Okamoto is listed as a utility player here because there have been some whispers that he may see some time in left field, but the starting third base job is likely his to lose. Schneider will get at-bats against lefties, either in left field or at second base, although Okamoto definitely steps on the toes of his role. OUTFIELDERS (5): George Springer (DH, Corner OF) Anthony Santander (Corner OF, DH) Daulton Varsho (CF) Nathan Lukes (Corner OF) Myles Straw (CF) After posting a career year in his age-35 season playing primarily out of the DH spot, Springer will be the regular DH again in ‘26. Santander is likely to fill in when Springer gets a day off and spend the rest of his time in left or right field. Varsho will look to put together a healthy contract season and continue to display his elite centre field defense, with Straw backing him up. Lukes’ role will likely shrink, despite a very productive 2025 and playoff run. Right now, he’s slated to come off the bench but will have a role against right-handed pitchers. A Tucker signing is still on the table, but it’s hard to see where he would fit without one of these other outfielders being sent away. In that scenario, I’d suspect that that guy is Santander, but it could also be Lukes, who would have at least some value in a potential trade. OPENING DAY LINEUP Just for fun, here’s how I’d line up the current roster on Opening Day: George Springer (DH) Addison Barger (RF) Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B) Anthony Santander (LF) Alejandro Kirk (C) Daulton Varsho (CF) Kazuma Okamoto (3B) Andrés Giménez (SS) Ernie Clement (2B) SP. Kevin Gausman It’s still early January, so this is all subject to change, and hopefully, soon, we’re in for a Bichette or Tucker signing that will make v. 3.0 of this roster look unbeatable. Still, as constructed, this team should be a favourite to repeat as AL East and American League champs. View the full article

In their latest offseason heist, the Toronto Blue Jays signed Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year contract. Frustrating though it may be to see a division rival continue to scoop up premier talents, this move likely takes them out of the Alex Bregman sweepstakes since Okamoto should slot into their starting third base role. The Jays have money to spend and are hungry to return to the World Series, so you can’t count them out on any free agent. However, with their eye on Kyle Tucker and Okamoto now signed, it seems that the Jays are preparing to move on from Bo Bichette in free agency. If that’s the case, the Red Sox have a choice to make between the two star infielders. Is it really even a choice, though? Technically, Bichette is a shortstop but he has told interested teams that he’s willing to change positions for the right situation. He would move to second if signed by the Red Sox, allowing Trevor Story to continue to man shortstop for the next two seasons while shifting Marcelo Mayer to third base. Mayer handled the hot corner well in a small sample size after he was called up when Bregman went down with a significant quad injury. He handeld 39 games at third, 28 of those as starts, and only committed one throwing error. An infield of Mayer, Story, Bichette, and Willson Contreras would be formidable on both sides of the ball. Moving Bichette to second would help him overcome his defensive woes at shortstop. In 2025, he posted a -13 Outs Above Average and was in the 36th percentile in arm strength. He committed 12 errors at short, six throwing and six fielding. Moving him to second would put him on the opposite side of double plays and closer to first base. Both things should help cut down on his total errors. His range leaves something to be desired, but moving him from shortstop to second base at least removes some of the onus on him to captain the infield defense. Perhaps less responsibilities would prove a boon for his glove. What he really brings to the table though, is an offensive player tailor-made for the Red Sox. Bichette has led the league in hits twice in his career. He’s not your typical slugger, but he gets on base at an incredible clip; his .357 OBP was good for tenth in the American League last year, and he has the potential to crack the 30-homer mark for the first time in his career if he’s taking aim at the Green Monster for half of the season. He’s not a pure pull hitter, but even a gap-to-gap threat can rack up lots of extra-base hits at Fenway. With someone who gets on base as much as Bichette does, it puts the guys behind him in the lineup in prime positions to drive him in. Bichette can hit anywhere in the first five spots in the order, so not only is he able to put himself in scoring position, he can drive in guys in front of him, too. Offensively, he’s exactly what the Red Sox need. Unlike Bregman, Bo Bichette allows the Red Sox to further embrace the youth movement currently going on in Boston. He adds a much-needed offensive star into the lineup and would be in Beantown for at least the next half-decade on whatever mega-contract he signs. He’s not a perfect player, and his detractors raise some valid points, but his presence would make it easy to dream on the next New England dynasty. View the full article

Opening Day is 77 days away. That feels close (typically anything under 100 days does), which means that Royals fans are thinking about what the roster will look like when they travel to Atlanta for their Opening Series. The Royals have certainly made their fair share of moves this offseason in an effort to get better and improve upon their 82-80 record from a season ago. They upgraded the outfield via free agency and trades and also got better by adding a high-leverage lefty reliever who can shut things down in the late innings. That said, it doesn't feel like Kansas City is quite done, and it wouldn't be surprising to see them make another big move or two before pitchers and catchers report in mid-February. While the club will continue to change over the next month, maybe two, let's take a look at what the Royals' Opening Day roster would look like if their opener against the Braves were tomorrow. Pitchers Starting Rotation Cole Ragans Michael Wacha Kris Bubic Seth Lugo Noah Cameron Ragans was mentioned in trade rumors early in the offseason, but it seems like the Royals are committed to him at least in 2025. Even though he posted a 4.67 ERA, he still posted a 2.1 fWAR and had a 14.30 K/9 in 61.2 IP. He should continue to be the "ace" of this rotation if healthy. Wacha and Lugo are the veterans of the staff, having signed extensions in the past calendar year. Wacha was solid again for the Royals, posting a 3.86 ERA and 3.6 fWAR in 172.2 IP, which led all Royals starters last year. He should continue to be the No. 2 starter in the rotation in 2026. As for Lugo, he took a step back after his Cy Young runner-up campaign in 2024. He posted a 4.15 ERA and 0.5 fWAR in 145.1 IP. However, he could be due for a bounce-back in 2026 if fully healthy. Bubic is a question mark for this rotation as his name has been frequently mentioned in trade talks this winter. He will be a free agent after 2026, and it doesn't seem likely that the Royals will sign him to an extension like Wacha, Lugo, or even Ragans. Thus, it's expected that Bubic won't be on this roster in our next rendition of these Opening Day roster projections. The last spot in the rotation will likely go to Cameron, who earned Royals Pitcher of the Year honors after posting a 2.99 ERA and 1.8 fWAR in 138.1 IP. However, there could be some competition for that fifth spot if Cameron struggles in Spring Training or if Bubic is traded away. Trade-Deadline acquisitions Ryan Bergert posted a 3.66 ERA in 76.1 IP with the Padres and Royals last year, and Stephen Kolek also sported a 3.51 ERA in 112.2 IP with San Diego and Kansas City. They could be in play for a rotation spot in 2026 if something opens up this offseason. Relievers Carlos Estevez Lucas Erceg Matt Strahm John Schreiber Nick Mears Alex Lange Daniel Lynch IV Bailey Falter After saving 42 games and posting a 2.45 ERA in 66 IP with the Royals last year, Estevez is pretty much guaranteed the closer role again in 2026. Erceg should also be solidified as the Royals' primary setup man, especially after posting a 2.64 ERA in 61.1 IP. That said, both could do a better job of generating strikeouts in 2026 as both sported K/9 marks under eight last year. That isn't an issue with Strahm, who posted a 10.11 K/9 and 2.74 ERA in 62.1 IP. He should be the Royals' primary left-handed high-leverage reliever and could see closing opportunities when Estevez or Erceg aren't available. Now that Strahm is on board, that should put Schreiber in fewer high-leverage opportunities, which may suit him better. Mears and Langre are new middle-innings options who should provide some chase and velocity that was missing from the bullpen last season. Lynch IV and Falter should round out the bullpen as long-relief/spot starter options. Lynch has pitched some middle-innings relief before, so he could see more action than Falter, who's primarily been a starter in his career. Falter is out of Minor League options, but the Royals opted to tender him a contract, which makes it seem like they are going to give him a serious shot to show that he can rebound in 2026 after a poor showing with the Royals in 2025 (11.25 ERA in 12 IP). If Falter continues to struggle in Spring Training, the Royals have a plethora of options on the 40-man roster who could replace him. The Royals said they still plan on developing Luinder Avila as a starter, which likely means he begins the year in Omaha again. However, he posted a 1.29 ERA in 14 IP with the Royals as a reliever last year, and he could thrive in that role again in 2026. Mason Black is an option from the Giants who could thrive in a hybrid role, though his stuff could use some refinement. Steven Cruz gave the Royals some quality innings with a 3.74 ERA in 45.2 IP. However, he needs to show he can generate more strikeouts with his velocity. Lastly, James McArthur, who closed games for the Royals in 2023 and 2024, should return to the mound in 2026. Since he has a Minor League option, the Royals will likely take it slow with him and let him develop a bit in Omaha. Position Players Catchers Salvador Perez Carter Jensen Perez and Jensen are two no-brainers for this roster on Opening Day (barring injury). The Royals captain signed a two-year extension and is coming off a 30-HR season. Jensen had a sensational rookie debut, posting a 159 wRC+ in 69 plate appearances. The top Royals prospect in the system still has some work to do behind the plate, but he should help give Perez some days off. That should keep the 35-year-old Royals legend's bat fresher over a full 162-game season, as he can play first base and designated hitter when Jensen is behind the dish. Jorge Alfaro was recently signed to a Minor League deal on Monday, and he could be an emergency option for the Royals, like Aaron Nola two seasons ago and Luke Maile last year. However, he likely will begin the year in Omaha. First Base Vinnie Pasquantino The "Pasquatch" led the Royals in home runs (32) and RBI (113). His 116 wRC+ was also the third-best mark of any Royals player with 100 or more plate appearances last season. Pasquantino still has some work to do defensively, which explains his 1.5 fWAR last year despite his gaudy offensive numbers. That said, he has proven that he can handle regular 1B duties for the Royals, with the ability to DH when Salvy needs to play in that spot. Second Base Jonathan India Michael Massey Nick Loftin Second base was a weak spot for the Royals last year. Newcomer India struggled in his debut season in Kansas City, posting an 89 wRC+ and -0.3 fWAR in 567 plate appearances. Massey wasn't much better, as he struggled in an injury-plagued campaign. He had a 57 wRC+ and -0.4 fWAR in 277 plate appearances. India provides more offensive upside, and he should be due for some positive regression after a nightmarish 2025. Conversely, Massey is a better defensive player and can play left field if needed (unlike India, who struggled in his short stints at third and left last season). I listed Loftin here at second base, though he is more of a utility player with the ability to play third, left field, and first base. Loftin has a disciplined plate approach, as he put up a 0.52 BB/K ratio last year and a 0.79 BB/K ratio in 2024. Unfortunately, he's pretty punchless with the bat, only sporting a 73 wRC+. It wouldn't be surprising to see Adam Frazier replace Loftin's spot on the roster if the Royals decide to bring back the veteran this offseason. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. The two-time All-Star, Gold-Glove winner, and Silver Slugger should be the Opening Day shortstop in Kansas City unless he gets hurt in Spring Training. Fans should expect another big season from Witt, with the hope that he can capture his first AL MVP award in 2026 after finishing second in 2024 and fourth in 2025. Third Base Maikel Garcia After not starting on Opening Day in 2025 (which was primarily due to a Pasquantino injury that required Cavan Biggio to play first base), Garcia ended up being the best Royals player not named Witt. The 25-year-old Venezuelan hit a career-high 16 home runs, posted a 121 wRC+, and accumulated a 5.6 fWAR in 666 plate appearances and earned his first All-Star appearance and Gold Glove last season. The Royals rewarded him with a multi-year extension this offseason, thus keeping him and Witt in Kansas City until at least 2030. Outfielders Isaac Collins Kyle Isbel Jac Caglianone Lane Thomas Tyler Tolbert The starting outfield would likely consist of Collins in left field, Isbel in center field, and Caglianone in right field if Opening Day were tomorrow. Collins posted a 122 wRC+ last year with the Brewers, and his disciplined plate approach would be welcomed in the middle of the lineup. Isbel is mostly out there for defense, but he proved serviceable in the nine-hole last year. Lastly, Caglianone struggled in his rookie year, posting a 46 wRC+ and -1.6 fWAR in 232 plate appearances. That said, the projections remain pretty optimistic about Caglianone's 2026 outlook, and his exit velocity and barrel metrics last year were solid despite his struggles. Thomas most likely would start as a fourth outfielder, but he could move into a starting role if he can partially channel his 2023 self. It is unlikely that he will hit 28 home runs, steal 20 bases, post a 109 wRC+, and accumulate 2.6 fWAR with the Royals as he did with the Nationals that season. However, he has some proven history at the plate that Isbel doesn't. If Thomas is healthy and recovered, he could be the Royals' starting centerfielder by mid-season. Tolbert likely will serve as the Royals' "speed weapon" off the bench in 2026, which makes sense considering he stole 21 bases in only 57 plate appearances. He hit .280 and can play multiple positions in the infield and outfield, making him a flexible weapon who can be subbed in key spots in the late innings. Dairon Blanco, who injured his Achilles last year and never looked the same after it, could serve in that "speed weapon" role if Tolbert struggles. Blanco stole 31 bases in 88 games in 2024. Some outfield options who could sneak their way on the Opening Day roster include John Rave and Kameron Misner. Rave made his MLB debut last season and showed spurts of effectiveness at times, but he only posted a 65 wRC+ in 175 plate appearances last year. He has some defensive versatility, able to play all three outfield positions effectively. That could make him a bench option if Tolbert or Blanco aren't effective. As for Misner, he's hit 46 home runs in Triple-A the past three seasons, but he failed to put that together with the Rays. In 232 career plate appearances, he has a 62 wRC+ and 0.1 fWAR. He struggles with strikeouts, as evidenced by his 34.1% career K rate at the MLB level. Still, he could be a sleeper option if the Royals' hitting coaches can help tap into his potential this spring. View the full article

Here at the start of 2026, we're taking stock of talent in the Twins organization by ranking their top 20 player assets. You can read the ground rules in our introductory post from Monday, but the short version is this: We're trying to answer the question, "Which current players in the organization are most indispensable to fulfilling the vision of building a champion?" You can catch up on my picks for #16 through #20 in that post, but here's a quick glance at the list so far: 20. Marek Houston, SS 19. Ryan Jeffers, C 18. Brooks Lee, SS 17. Bailey Ober, RHP 16. Connor Prielipp, LHP Now let's keep the countdown moving as we break down the next five in my rankings The Top 20 Twins Player Assets of 2026: 11-15 15. David Festa, RHP Age: 25 Controlled through: 2030 2025 Ranking: 9 In 2024, Festa channeled his rapid minor-league ascent into an encouraging major-league debut, posting a 3.76 FIP with 77 strikeouts in 64 innings. But coming out of 2025, question marks loom large for the right-hander, causing a moderate drop in these rankings even as his ability and upside keep him firmly on the list of potential difference-makers. Festa battled on-and-off shoulder issues throughout the season before ultimately being diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome. While that's a scary phrase for any pitcher, there's a healthy optimism around the outlook for Festa, who didn't require surgery. It sounds like he's feeling better after resting up and is expected to be at full strength for spring training. Even while taking a step back in 2025, Festa showed the qualities of a standout, limiting opponents to a .240 batting average while averaging a strikeout per inning. Given the injury hiccups and the makeup of Minnesota's pitching personnel, I wouldn't be surprised if Festa transitions to the bullpen sooner than later, but there's a little question he could be a dominant force in the late innings. 14. Eduardo Tait, C Age: 19 Controlled through: 2031+ 2025 Ranking: NR It's tough to rank a player like this. Tait is still a teenager and hasn't played above Single-A. He has a long way to go and the flameout rate on this player type is high. But when the Twins made Tait a central part of their Jhoan Duran trade, they were investing in him as their future at catcher, and with valid reason. Tait was widely viewed as a top-100 prospect entering 2025. He more than held his own at 18 and 19 against advanced Single-A pitching and his catching skills are considered legit. Tait is still probably several years away from being an MLB regular if all goes well, but he's on the right track and if he emerges as a quality backstop in the big leagues this move will be a big win for the Twins. 13. Royce Lewis, 3B Age: 26 Controlled through: 2028 2025 Ranking: 2 In terms of what he can be, Lewis remains one of the very top players in the Twins organization. But we have to rank him based on what he is. And unfortunately the 2025 season only reinforced the third baseman's fade from upper-echelon stardom into mediocrity. He slumped frequently on the way to a career-worst .671 OPS, lamenting a swing that felt "horrible" while futilely grasping for answers. On the bright side, it was also the healthiest season of his career, in terms of both games played and how he looked visually down the stretch, stealing bases aggressively and making spritely plays at third. That seems to bode well as Lewis enters a pivotal 2026 season. The Twins are doing everything they can to remove his barriers (real or perceived) and set him up for success. I started putting these rankings together in 2018, the year after Lewis was drafted number one overall. In the eight annual lists I've compiled, he has never been outside of the top five, until now. Hopefully it'll prove to be an outlier in the larger story of his career, but it's hard to justify putting him any higher at this moment in time, especially as his salary starts ticking up in arbitration. Then again, knowing what he's capable of and what his resurgence would mean for this franchise, how could I rank him any lower? 12. Matt Wallner, OF Age: 28 Controlled through: 2029 2025 Ranking: 8 The 2025 season was Wallner's worst as a major-leaguer, but it was still ... pretty solid. That's the kind of floor you're working with when you've got power and patience like his. He posted a 110 OPS+ and ranked sixth among Twins position players in fWAR at 1.4. If it's a bump in the road, no problem, but if it's Wallner's new norm, he's not going to be a terribly valuable player going forward. There are some troubling signs — pitchers increasingly blowing him away up in the zone as his defense trends downward — but Wallner's core strengths should not be overlooked or downplayed. There are very few players who hit the ball as hard, and few hitters who've been more productive in general since he arrived in the majors. 11. Zebby Matthews, RHP Age: 25 Controlled through: 2030 2025 Ranking: 13 Good young starting pitchers with team control are inherently among of the most valuable assets in baseball, treasured by teams across the league. There's a reason why the Twins front office has focused so heavily on developing this particular type of player, and why they targeted several in their sell-off a the trade deadline. Matthews is shaping up as one of their biggest success stories, though he's yet to fully turn the corner. A spectacular run in the minors has led to a rocky introduction at the big-league level, where Matthews has a 5.92 ERA in 117 innings with too many home runs allowed. But he's also got a 131-to-35 K/BB ratio powered by a mid-90s fastball and sharp secondaries. Matthews needs to prove his shoulder can hold up and needs to unlock consistency in his performance on the mound, but if he can pull it together in 2026 he'll likely vault into the top five on these rankings. If that doesn't click in, a reliever transition could be in the cards sooner than later. What are your thoughts on the rankings so far? Which of these players do you think will be most important to the team's outlook? Should any of these five have cracked the top 10? Let us know in the comments, and check back in tomorrow when we count down 10 through six. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals rarely shop in the same free-agent aisles as the sport’s biggest spenders. Their blueprint has always leaned more farm-to-table than fine dining, and when the big-league roster takes a step forward, it’s usually because someone arrived from Omaha or Northwest Arkansas rather than via a nine-figure contract. With that in mind, the 2026 Royals won’t be shaped solely by offseason headlines. They’ll be influenced by a group of prospects who are close enough to matter and talented enough to force decisions. Carter Jensen is the obvious name and doesn’t need repeating here. Instead, this group of prospects features four arms and one athletic outfielder who could all play real roles next season. Carson Roccaforte Brings Energy To The Outfield If the Royals are looking for a spark plug type, Carson Roccaforte fits the mold. Ranked 20th in the system by MLB Pipeline, the 23-year-old outfielder put together a breakout 2025, slashing .258/.373/.470 with 18 home runs and 43 stolen bases across High-A and Double-A. There are swing-and-miss concerns, as shown by his 29.4 strikeout rate, but the production outweighs the blemishes. A 138 wRC+ across two levels, including a 141 wRC+ in 212 Double-A plate appearances, paints the picture of a hitter who can impact games in multiple ways. Add in strong defense in center field, and Roccaforte starts to look like the kind of player who forces his way into the conversation sooner than expected. He’s not a finished product, but the power-speed combination, patience at the plate, and defensive value give him multiple paths to usefulness. Strikeouts will come, but so will damage. Ben Kudrna’s Future May Hinge On Role Ben Kudrna’s stat line from 2025 doesn’t jump off the page. A 5.30 ERA over 105 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A isn’t exactly a calling card. Still, the Royals valued him enough to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft by adding him to the 40-man roster, which says more than the ERA ever could. The 22-year-old left-hander doesn’t overpower hitters, but he understands sequencing and pitch usage. In Double-A Arkansas, he logged a 4.21 ERA across 20 appearances, 19 of them starts, backed by a more encouraging 3.53 FIP. Triple-A was a different story, as he was hit hard in limited action, suggesting his development curve still has some bends. A bullpen transition could simplify things and allow his stuff to play up, but even if the Royals keep him stretched out, 2026 feels like a realistic window for him to contribute. Luinder Avila’s Arm Does The Talking Luinder Avila is the only name here with major league innings already logged. His brief 2025 MLB stint totaled 14 innings, and while small samples can mislead, a 1.29 ERA tends to grab attention regardless of context. The Royals’ 14th-ranked prospect spent most of last year in Triple-A, working as a swingman and posting a 5.23 ERA over 53 1/3 innings while striking out 61. It wasn’t a flawless performance, but the raw materials are hard to ignore. His fastball climbs into the high 90s, and the organization has been openly excited about how his stuff translates against big-league hitters. Whether Avila settles into the rotation or becomes a high-leverage reliever is still up in the air. Spring training in 2026 should offer clarity, but either way, his right arm looks ready to factor into the Royals’ plans. Steven Zobac Wins With Precision Steven Zobac doesn’t scream upside in the traditional sense, but his profile makes a lot of sense for a team that values command and reliability. The 25-year-old right-hander was protected from the Rule 5 Draft alongside Kudrna, a notable move given his age and injury-shortened season. Zobac made just 14 starts in 2025, three in the Complex League and 11 in Double-A, where he posted a 7.68 ERA in 36 1/3 innings. Those numbers are rough, but the Royals are betting on the underlying traits rather than the surface results. His walk rates have historically been low, and his pitchability gives him a higher floor than most. His four-seamer typically sits in the low 90s but can reach 96 or 97 on a good day. A mid-80s slider serves as his primary secondary pitch, complemented by a usable changeup. He’s not flashy, but pitchers like Zobac often stick around longer than expected. Hunter Owen’s Size & Versatility Stand Out Hunter Owen looks the part the moment he steps on the mound. At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, the left-hander brings a physical presence that hitters can’t ignore. Ranked 27th in the system according to MLB Pipeline, Owen represented the Royals in the 2025 Arizona Fall League and continues to trend upward. His arsenal is deep, featuring a low-90s fastball with carry, a hard slider-cutter hybrid, a slow curveball around 75 mph, and a mid-80s changeup. It’s a mix that keeps hitters guessing and allows him to adjust mid-game. Owen delivered a solid 2025 in Double-A, finishing with a 3.80 ERA and 107 strikeouts over 94 2/3 innings. Kansas City has every reason to keep him in the rotation mix for now, and if all goes well, his debut could come sometime in the middle or late stages of the 2026 season. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox are no strangers to finding players who manage to overcome expectations and turn into top prospects. Roman Anthony comes to mind as an example of that based on his time with the then Salem Red Sox. For Anthony, his first 42 games in 2023 with Low-A Salem made some people question why he was promoted — the then-19-year-old hit just hit .228/.376/.316 in 42 games. Yet, the Red Sox pushed him to High-A Greenville as his underlying metrics and data were far more bullish on his potential. Anthony had a keen understanding of the strike zone and wasn’t overmatched as he put the ball in play quite often. He was just exhibiting bad luck when it came to balls in play. The organization also felt that once he got out of Salem and played at Fluor Field with the Greenville Drive, his numbers would improve thanks in part to it being more of a hitter-friendly park than Carilion Clinic Field. By taking a deeper dive into a player’s abilities and how they’re looking on the diamond, there’s a chance the Red Sox could have another young, breakout prospect in their system right now. And ironically, his first experience of baseball in the United States is playing out very similar to how Anthony’s first taste of professional baseball did. Keep an eye on 18-year-old Enddy Azocar, who is beginning to make a name for himself as a prospect. He has the potential to break out in a huge way. Signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela, Azocar played in 31 games for the Red Sox Dominican Summer League team in 2024, where, as a 17-year-old, he put up a slash line of .266/.397/.309. However, he lacked power, producing two doubles and a triple to go along with 11 RBIs. Still, that was more than enough for the Red Sox to justify bringing him stateside for the 2025 season, where he began in the Florida Complex League for just 14 games. Limited though the sample was, he proved that he was more than ready for tougher competition as he slashed .385/.448/.558 with seven doubles and a triple along with five RBIs despite being roughly a year and a half younger than the competition. The Red Sox decided to give him a shot for most of the 2025 season with Salem, where, as an 18-year-old, he was one of the youngest players in Low-A. It showed, at least if you looked at just his stats. Azocar’s hot start in the Complex League tailed off with Salem, appearing in 71 games for the team where he hit just .202/.273/.314 with nine doubles, a triple, six home runs and 26 RBIs. He also struck out 67 times to just 21 walks. However, when you take a deeper look at Azocar’s season, you'll begin to grow impressed. Azocar saw his 90th percentile exit velocity raise by seven mph, going from 98 mph in 2024 to 105.4 mph. Now, unlike regular exit velocity, the 90th percentile is the exit velocity that is pulled from the sample of the player's hardest hit balls. This is done to help measure a batter’s peak power potential along with their raw strength/ By using the 90th percentile over regular exit velocity, teams are able to project a player’s potential and ability to consistently hit for more extra-base hits as they grow older and mature into their frames. For someone playing in the majors, the average 90th percentile exit velocity tends to hover around 104 mph, while those above 105 mph help separate a player with elite power. Azocar had the largest gain in the system in 90th percentile despite being only 18 years old, makes his 105.4 mph mark rather impressive. To compare to Anthony, the young outfielder had a 90th percentile of 108.5 mph for the 2024 season while splitting time in more hitter-friendly parks. Azocar's max exit velocity was also impressive, his hardest hit baseball of the 2025 season being 110.6 mph. A number that ranked near the top for his age bracket. And while the strikeouts increased for Azocar during his time with Salem, the young outfielder showcased an ability to make solid contact, as his whiff rate for pitches in the strike zone sat at a low 18%. Despite making consistent contact and not chasing at an alarming rate, his lack of recognizing secondary pitches hurts, though at his age, the ability to differentiate between a fastball and an off-speed pitch or breaking ball will come with time and reps. Defensively, Azocar played all three outfield positions but saw the majority of his time come in center field upon his promotion to Salem. He has solid range, and thanks to his above-average speed, he can get to balls easily. However, he doesn’t seem likely to stick in center field in the long run as he continues to fill out and add strength to his game, with a move to one of the corner outfield positions seeming likely. Azocar’s power seems to be the real deal, but whether he can successfully utilize it will determine the kind of player he becomes. Right now, he needs to work on his launch angle and his attack angle at the plate. In 2025, he had a 44% groundball rate, a number too high for someone producing an elite 90th percentile exit velocity. Azocar will need to elevate the ball more to reach his full potential and truly break out in 2026. Growing pains are a natural part of the game, and development is rarely linear in baseball. Should Azocar show signs of improvement from his 2025 performance in Salem, though, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in Greenville at the age of 19. While predicting a player’s future can be tough, one thing is for certain: the Red Sox have a very intriguing prospect in their organization. He might be a few years away from realizing this potential, but Enddy Azocar has all the tools to become a top prospect in the team's farm system. View the full article

The Miami Marlins are expected to trade Edward Cabrera before the Major League Baseball season begins. The rationale behind this stance is simple: Cabrera's market value has soared following his successful 2025 campaign and the club doesn't fully trust him to replicate that production. But what if they're wrong? Would the benefits of retaining Cabrera for a bit longer outweigh those provided by a package of presumably younger, more controllable players? His stuff looks better than ever. He just set a new career-high for average four-seam fastball velocity (97.0 mph) and his curveball has become a nasty complement to his signature changeup. Last season, the 27-year-old demonstrated a newfound willingness to fill up the strike zone, particularly early in counts, culminating in by far his lowest walk rate as a big leaguer. Working from a lower, more comfortable arm slot and once again collaborating with pitching coach Daniel Moskos, what's stopping him from continuing that? By any measure, Marlins starting pitchers were mediocre in 2025 even with Cabrera—the unit ranked tied for 18th in MLB in FIP, 24th in innings pitched and 26th in ERA. Why is it seemingly so widely assumed that the rotation will be fine without him? The eventual call-ups of top pitching prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling could help, but look no further than Cabrera himself for a reminder that we shouldn't set expectations on players during their debut year (5.81 ERA and 6.63 FIP in 2021). Cabrera is still three full years away from free agency. What combination of assets could the Marlins realistically receive in exchange that would translate to more wins than Cabrera is projected to provide over that span? The most lopsided trades in recent memory that favored the team parting with its controllable starter—Rays trading Chris Archer, White Sox trading José Quintana—were consummated midseason when wannabe contenders had to throw caution to the wind. You can't manufacture that sense of urgency in January. All things considered, I actually do believe now is the appropriate time to trade Cabby! As the previous few paragraphs expressed, though, let's not lose sight of the fact that this is a risky and multi-layered decision. Marlins Opening Day is only 80 days away. 🔹 Right-hander Jack Ralston is the sixth confirmed Marlins minor league free agent signing of the offseason. He will have to be improve his control to earn a call-up from Triple-A Jacksonville. 🔹 Kevin Barral helmed our latest Fish On First Opening Day roster projection with the additions of Pete Fairbanks and Esteury Ruiz. 🔹 According to Ben Badler of Baseball America, international free agent infielders Ronny Muñoz and Santiago Solarte are expected to receive the 34th-largest and 45th-largest bonuses of the 2026 signing period, respectively. Both bonuses should land in the $1-2 million range. Badler is particularly bullish on Solarte, a "remarkably coordinated" shortstop with the potential for plus-plus raw power once he fills out his 6'6" frame. 🔹 Also from BA, Walter Villa spoke to Kevin Defrank about his background and pursuit of greatness. The 17-year-old could ultimately reach 6'7", doctors have told him. Defrank will experience his first stateside spring training beginning next month, and he's bringing his mother with him from the Dominican Republic. 🔹 dym explained why Kyle Stowers, Joe Mack, Josh White, Sandy Alcantara and Graham Pauley are particularly critical to the fate of the 2026 Marlins. 🔹 For those who couldn't attend the NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot park, South Florida Sports Historian captured the venue's transformation from all angles. 🔹 Agustín Ramírez returned to his hometown in the Dominican Republic. He and his mother reflected on how far they've come. 🔹 Congratulations to Deyvison De Los Santos and Edili Jiménez, who got engaged last weekend. 🔹Elsewhere around baseball, the Kansas City Royals signed manager Matt Quatraro to a three-year contract extension. The Philadelphia Phillies hired Don Mattingly as their new bench coach. Mattingly held the same position with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2023-2025. In other former Fish news, Joey Wiemer was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals and George Soriano was designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles. View the full article

The Blue Jays will introduce Kazuma Okamoto at a press conference today at 1:00 pm ET. Joining Toronto's new free agent signing will be his agent, Scott Boras, and Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins. One topic that's likely to come up at the presser is Okamoto's position. He was primarily a third baseman in NPB but also has experience at first base and in the outfield. Opinions about his skills at the hot corner range, with some evaluators believing he'll be just fine at the position in MLB and others suggesting he really belongs at the cold corner instead. As for his outfield defense, one source told The Athletic's Will Sammon that Okamoto "could be helpful in the outfield, given the right situation with limited ground to cover." On Monday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote about Okamoto and the Blue Jays. He mentioned that the Jays "still want to add another power hitter" and that they "remain fully engaged in talks" with top free agents Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, and Alex Bregman. That lines up with additional reporting that suggests the Blue Jays aren't necessarily done making moves. Nightengale also threw in an interesting new nugget. "Their preference," he writes. "Is to make Okamoto a superutility player." It makes sense that the Blue Jays wouldn't want to lock Okamoto into one position. After all, they have two other capable third basemen, Addison Barger and Ernie Clement; a full-time first baseman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.; and several options for the corner outfield, including Barger, Anthony Santander, Nathan Lukes, and George Springer. Being ready to play numerous positions will help Okamoto get as many at-bats as possible, and more lineup flexibility is never a bad thing from a team perspective, either. The question, however, is whether or not Okamoto is a strong enough defender to be able to handle such a role. Evidently, the Blue Jays think so. Either that, or they liked his bat (and his price) too much to pass up on him, and they're going to find a way to make things work defensively. Featured image courtesy of Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images. View the full article

According to his Twitter profile, the Twins have hired Ozney Guillen as a minor-league hitting coach. On his LinkedIn page, Guillen wrote, "I'm excited and grateful to share that I've accepted a position as a Minor League Hitting Coach with the Minnesota Twins organization. Thankful for the opportunity and for everyone who has supported and believed in me along the way. I'm looking forward to continuing to learn, grow, and help develop players at the next level. Ready to get to work." La Vida Baseball. That includes the administrators, the coordinators, and of course, the minor-league coaching and managing assignments. We don't know what level Guillen will be coaching, but Ozney's track record is pretty impressive. But let's go back a little bit. Ozney Guillen is the youngest of White Sox legend Ozzie Guillen's three sons. He just turned 34 years old this week. Most Twins fans remember Ozzie Guillen as the White Sox manager from 2004 through 2011. Over that stretch, he had a record of 678-617 (.524). His club finished second in the division twice, and they won the AL Central in 2005 and 2008. That 2005 team went 11-1 in the playoffs and became World Series champions. He led the White Sox to two 90-win seasons, but to four 88+ win seasons. And, of course, there was the time in 2006 when Ozzie Guillen said of the Twins, "All those piranhas - blooper here, blooper here, beat out a ground ball, hit a home run, they're up by four. They get up by four with that bullpen? See you at the national anthem tomorrow. When I sit down and look at the lineup, give me the New York Yankees. Give me those guys because they've got holes. You can pitch around them, you can pitch to them. These little guys? (Luis) Casillo and all of them? People worry about the catcher, what's his name, Mauer? Fine, yeah, a good hitter, but worry about the little guys, they're on base all the time." And at that time, there truly was a rivalry between the Twins and the White Sox. During that same stretch between 2004 and 2011, Ron Gardenhire led the Twins to four division titles and finished second one other time. He had a record of 682-616 (.525), and that's counting a 99-loss 2011 season. There were moments such as Torii Hunter slamming into Jamie Burke, a move that Guillen praised later that night. In Game 163 of the 2008 season, White Sox slugger Jim Thome homered in the 7th inning of what turned into a 1-0 ballgame that sent the White Sox to the playoffs. Then, while only an August walk-off, Twins slugger Jim Thome hit a monster home run off his former teammates to add to the Twins division lead. The Guillen-Gardenhire years were so fun. That was a true rivalry, but it was a rivalry based on respect. Guillen wasn't bashing the Twins hitters for being 'wimpy.' Instead, he was praising the team for battling every pitch, putting the ball in play, hustling on everything. Guys like Luis Castillo, Jason Bartlett, Nick Punto and Jason Tyner were unsung heroes on the 2006 team in which Justin Morneau won the MVP, Joe Mauer won his first batting title, Torii Hunter's 31 homers were second to Morneau's, and Michael Cuddyer's 109 RBI was behind only the Canadian MVP. Both teams usually had strong hitters, good overall hitters, strong starting pitching, and dominant bullpens. Both managers were fiery, and in the days before replay, they were guys whose players knew they had their backs. Those were the days! Then again, Guillen referred to the 99-loss 2011 Twins hitters as "sardines", and in 2021, he called the Twins "guppies." By the way, some of us that are my age and older are also likely to remember him as a really solid big-league shortstop over his 16-season career. He broke into the big leagues as a 21-year-old in 1985 and was named Rookie of the Year. He was a three-time All-Star and won a Gold Glove. He spent 13 seasons with the White Sox and then played with the Orioles, Braves and Rays over the final three seasons of his playing career (2000). Alright, let's get back to the Twins new player development hire, Ozney Guillen. Eldest son, Ozzie Jr., hosted a radio show in Chicago for four-plus seasons during his dad's managerial tenure. He also worked as a translator for the White Sox and was the team's Spanish Radio Broadcaster. He fulfilled the same role with the Chicago Bulls for a year. He has worked in the public sector for about the past 15 years. Middle son, Oney, has worked for a few companies since he finished college a dozen years ago. He spent some time playing baseball. He was the White Sox 36th round pick in 2007 out of North Park University in Chicago. He played that summer and in 2008. He played 17 games in Class A ball and actually got one game in for the Sox Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte. He went 1-for-3 with a double in the one game he played. Ozzie Jr and Oney had a baseball podcast/show called Being Guillen, or La Vida Baseball. Ozney is the son that, at least to this point, has made a career in baseball. He played his high school baseball at Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Miami Gardens, Florida, where he was a teammate of former Twins pitcher (and minor league outfielder too) Dereck Rodriguez. Ozney was the 22nd round pick of the White Sox in 2010. Instead of signing, he went to Miami-Dade College where he would have played with the likes of former Twins pitcher Jharel Cotton, long-time big-league catcher Victor Caratini, After his college eligibility ended, he took a tour around various independent baseball leagues. He spent 2014 and 2015 in the Frontier League. In 2016, he played for Sioux Falls in the American Association. In 2017 and 2018, he played in the Atlantic League. He also played briefly in the Canadian-American Association. He spent three winters playing in Venezuela for Tiburones de La Guaira. He spent a lot of time working with their Baseball Operations department, player development and even signing players. He returned to school, now at St. Thomas University in Miami where he earned his Bachelor of Business. Administration and Sports Administration. All the while, he has worked in a variety of roles and jobs in baseball. Since he stopped playing, he has been a minor-league manager, a hitting instructor, worked for a sports management agency, earned a degree, was an assistant coach in college, has been a manager and general manager in Colombia. Since last June, he has taken on new roles for the team in Colombia, joined Tigres de Aragua as a third base coach and Quality Control Coach. And, last month, he joined the Twins organization full time. He has a really solid resume, but he's also got relationships around the game, in affiliated ball, in independent leagues, and throughout central and South America. He is bilingual which is clearly helpful. It will be fun to see how the Twins utilize him within the organization since he's got such a variety of experiences in and around the game. View the full article

On Monday, Aram Leighton of Just Baseball reported that the Royals agreed to a Minor League deal with catching veteran Jorge Alfaro. The 32-year-old catcher started in the Phillies organization, but has played with the Marlins, Padres, Rockies, Red Sox, and Nationals. In 14 games in D.C. last season, he posted a 54 wRC+ and -0.3 fWAR in 39 plate appearances. According to his Statcast summary via TJ Stats, Alfaro showed some ability to launch the ball and hit the ball with some above-average exit velocity. That said, the rest of his metrics were paltry, especially in the plate discipline areas. Alfaro hasn't been exceptional defensively over his career. He has a -19 DRS, -2.1 FRM, and -17 FRV in 3,481 career innings behind the plate. Thus, even if Alfaro makes the Majors, it is likely that he wouldn't be a long-term option for the Royals. Though it isn't official, the Royals will likely invite Alfaro to Spring Training for catching depth. He will also likely begin the year in Omaha, serving as an emergency catcher who can be promoted and serve as a backup catcher if anything happens to Salvador Perez or top prospect Carter Jensen. Luke Maile served in this role last year and posted a 99 wRC+ and 0.3 fWAR. Like Alfaro, he was inconsistent with his plate discipline, but Maile was more patient at the plate (86th percentile walk rate) and showed more upside with his batted-ball metrics with the Royals a season ago. Maile is still a free agent, so it's possible that the Royals could still bring him back on a Minor League deal. Regardless, the Royals likely want some depth in Omaha, since top catching prospects Blake Mitchell and Ramon Ramirez are still a couple of years away from debuting in the show (at the earliest). Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images View the full article

Ryan Daniels, the Twins 11th round pick in 2025 out of UConn, has decided to retire from the game of baseball. As @Jamie Cameron wrote at Limestone Pipeline, Daniels has a history of hip injuries and surgeries. Before joining the Huskies, Daniels was a four-year letterwinner in baseball at St. Paul Catholic in Bristol, Connecticut. He was twice named an All-State player. Upon graduation, he made a 44-mile drive from Bristol to Storrs. He made 25 starts and played in 42 games as a freshman in 2023. He hit .273/.401/.409 (.810) with eight doubles, two triples and a home run. He also had 16 steals in 17 attempts. In 2024, he was limited to just 20 games (18 starts) because he had season-ending hip surgery. He came back at full strength in 2025 and had an incredible season. He started 53 of the 54 games he played. He hit .365/.476/.744 (1.220) with 15 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs and 75 RBI. He was named the BIG EAST Player of the Year, first-team all-conference, and was named second-team All American by a few outlets. The Twins made him their 11th-round pick in July and signed him with a $150,000. Unfortunately, he played in two games for the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels and went on the Injured List with a hip injury. In mid-December, he made the decision to retire from baseball. Best wishes, Ryan, in whatever is next for you! View the full article

Now that the calendar has officially flipped, we can look forward to what the minor league prospects for 2026 will look like. With spring training just about six weeks away and a roster still undergoing some tweaks before pitchers and catchers report, let's move our attention to the future of what could be. The national media narrative that the Padres' farm system has been gutted is false. This article will provide a flipped script to such a narrative. Is it as good as it was at last year's trade deadline? No, it isn't. That doesn't mean it still doesn't possess some very interesting upside, however. We have heard the system has been in such a state almost every year for the past three or four years, yet every year with International signings and shrewd drafts, president of baseball operations and General Manager A.J. Preller has been able to rebuild it on the fly. Why else has he been able to trade for players such as Dylan Cease, Luis Arraez, Tanner Scott, Jason Adam, Ramon Laureano, Ryan O'Hearn, Freddy Fermin, and Mason Miller? It's because he's been able to sign the best players during international signing periods and has had some very good draft classes. Considering the hot stove season is still very much in full effect, we'll more than likely see some of the names listed on this prospect list traded away soon. It's what he does and what he's good at. With that being said, this list will consist of players who have the most upside, their minor league performance taken into account, and their proximity to making an impact at the major league level. Prospect lists are opinion pieces more than anything. We all have our own mindset of who we believe belongs on such a list. This will not be any different. We will provide a brief synopsis of each player in the top ten. It will also list the year and status of how the players were acquired for all players. It will be listed in reverse order, counting down from number 30. Let's begin, Friar Faithful. The back half: 30-21 #30) Cardell Thibodeaux, OF Drafted in Round 16-2025 #29) Dylan Grego, INF Drafted in Round 13-2025 #28) George Bilecki, OF Drafted in Round 12-2025 #27) Truitt Madonna, C Drafted in Round 11-2025 #26) Kerrington Cross, INF Drafted in Round 7-2025 #25) Ty Harvey, C Drafted in Round 5-2025 #24) Ryan Wideman, OF Drafted in Round 3-2025 #23) Yimy Tovar, INF Signed as an Amateur International Free Agent-2023 #22) Alex McCoy, OF Signed as an Undrafted Free Agent-2024 #21) Lamar King Jr., C Drafted in Round 4-2022 Level 2: 20-11 #20) Braedon Karpathios, OF Signed as an Undrafted Free Agent-2022 #19) Harry Gustin, RP Drafted in Round 18-2023 #18) Eric Yost, SP Drafted in Round 17-2023 #17) Luis Gutierrez, SP Signed as an Amateur International Free Agent-2019 #16) Romeo Sanabria, 1B Drafted in Round 18-2022 #15) Daison Acosta, RP Signed as a Minor League Free Agent-2026 #14) Marcos Castanon, INF Drafted in Round 12-2021 #13) Clay Dungan, INF Drafted as a Rule-5 minor leaguer-2023 #12 Manuel Castro, RP Signed as an Amateur International Free Agent-2021 #11) Rodolfo Duran, C Signed as a Minor League Free Agent-2025 Top Ten: 10-1 #10) Jagger Haynes, SP Drafted in the 5th round in the shortened Covid-19 draft of 2020. Haynes has slowly built himself into a top ten prospect in the organization after sitting out the 2021 and 2022 seasons following Tommy John surgery. He has progressed the last three years, moving from Low-A in 2023 to Double-A last season, Will more than likely be a part of the rotation options in Triple-A El Paso this year. Perhaps even getting a taste of the big leagues sometime this season. #9) Garrett Hawkins, RP Hawkins was initially a starter after being drafted in the 9th round in 2021. He has also missed an entire season due to surgery. Missing the 2024 season altogether. Coming back as a full-time reliever last season, he advanced from High-A ball to Double-A San Antonio, having a dominant comeback season in both stops. He was added to the 40-man roster earlier this offseason to be protected from the Rule-5 draft. Had a sub 2.00 ERA and averaged better than a strikeout per inning. #8) Nick Schnell, OF New to the organization after signing a minor league deal for the 2026 season. Schnell possesses some big-time power in his bat. Something the organization is in desperate need of. Originally drafted as a 1st round supplemental pick, 32nd overall by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, he comes to the Padres after having put up some serious Home Run production last year in the minors with the Washington Nationals. He'll provide outfield depth for Triple-A El Paso to begin his Friar tenure. #7) Tirso Ornelas, OF One of the longest tenured players in the entire organization. Ornelas was signed as part of the Padres' infamous 2016-17 International signing period. He and Adrian Morejon are the only two players left from that spending spree. After going through some growing pains, Ornelas has become one of the better prospects during that time. Having finally reached the big leagues last year with a cameo appearance. He could be the first outfielder called up if an injury occurs. #6) Kruz Schoolcraft, SP The Padres' 1st Round draft pick last season and #25 overall. Schoolcraft surprisingly saw action in his draft year. It's not something the Padres have usually done when drafting High school arms in the first round. They typically have them start their professional careers the following season in Low-A ball. Already a consensus top-100 prospect, #95 overall on MLB.com, he could be one of the faster-moving players in the entire organization in '26. #5) Kash Mayfield, SP Just like Schoolcraft last year. Mayfield was also drafted #25 overall in the first round of the previous draft in 2024. Unlike his predecessor, however, he started his career last year with the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm. Not yet cracking the top 100 list on any national prospect publications, it should just be a matter of time before doing so. Especially if he remains on his current trajectory. He had a very good first year, averaging more than a strikeout per inning while sporting a sub-3.00 ERA. #4) Ethan Salas, C Signed as the top international free agent during the 2023 period. Salas has had an up-and-down career. He's a top-100 overall prospect on MLB.com, currently sitting at #78. His stock has fallen due to injuries and a very fast progression through the Padres organization. He missed almost the entire season last year for the Double-A San Antonio Missions with a stress reaction in his lower back. Now cleared with a clean bill of health, this could be a make-or-break year for the talented backstop. #3) Miguel Mendez, SP Mendez was originally signed as an International Free Agent during the 2022 period. Not on any Padres top 30 prospect lists to begin last season. He quickly rose through the system, dominating with the High-A Fort Wayne Tin Caps with a crazy sub-2.00 ERA and striking out better than a batter per inning. He finished the year at Double-A, not having the same success, however. He was also added to the 40-man roster earlier this offseason to avoid the Rule-5 draft. #2) Sung Mun Song, INF An International free agent signing. Song doesn't fit the normal circumstances for such a player. He comes with plenty of professional experience playing in the Korean Baseball Organization. It's hard to tell what his ceiling and floor are at this point. He's been compared to fellow countrymen and former Padre Ha-Seong Kim, perhaps with not as much upside. He did have two back-to-back seasons of excellence, however. Gaining player of the year honors in that league last season. Song probably projects as a utility player in 2026. #1) Bradgley Rodriguez, RP Perhaps not a typical number-one prospect for a top-30 list. Rodriguez came to the organization during the 2021 international signing period. He has been nothing short of excellent the past two years, moving up the hierarchy at a fast pace. Having reached the big leagues this past season after dominance at the minor league level. Rodriguez had a sub-2.00 ERA, albeit in a short cup of coffee with the Padres late in the season. Has every chance to crack the Opening Day roster and will more than likely make the biggest impact of any prospect on this list. There you have it, Friar Faithful. My Padres Pre-Season Top 30 Prospects for 2026. This was one of the harder lists to put together. As mentioned earlier, there is still a lot of upside in the minor league system. Please let us know in the comments what your Padres' top 30 Prospect list would look like! View the full article

Steamer is one of the more widely used projection systems in baseball. They use a formula that weights recent seasons, along with attempts to predict regression for players based on several factors. Looking ahead to 2026, Steamer has a few interesting predictions for the Twins roster. Luke Keaschall Takes A Step Back... Offensively Luke Keaschall was one of the few bright spots in 2025, slashing .302/.382/.445 across 207 plate appearances, good for 34% better than league average. Not many players are capable of earning a projection anywhere near that performance, but Steamer predicts a step back across the board. Keaschall is projected for a .267/.350/.400 line. Steamer predicts a steep decline in batted-ball luck and power for him They still count on a solid 2.6 Wins Above Replacement, but interestingly enough, this is accounting for above-average defense from him. Anything is possible, but the defensive value is questionable, if Keaschall remains at second base. The Twins will be relying on Keaschall to repeat as a legitimately great player in 2026, and Steamer doesn’t quite see that happening. He did show some signs of regression, and it may be worth baking in a step back from his elite performance in 2025, given the small sample. Bailey Ober Is The #3 Starter, But Just Barely Joe Ryan and Pablo López project as the Twins' top two starting pitchers for 2026, and Bailey Ober still comes in third. After Ober, the rest of the rotation feels like a toss-up, with candidates such as Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, Zebby Matthews, David Festa, and Simeon Woods Richardson. Despite Ober having an ostensibly undisputed spot in the rotation, assuming he’s still on the team, his projected value is almost exactly the same as many of these other names competing for spots. Ober comes in at 2.0 WAR, with Bradley right behind at 1.9. Matthews and Woods Richardson project for 1.8 WAR. Ober’s lead on this group likely comes from the weight of his strong 2023 and 2024 seasons; his 2025 has only dragged his projections down. This will be a big season for Ober, after physical concerns and a lack of velocity plagued him in 2025. With so many options to replace him if he continues to struggle, his hold on a rotation spot is as weak as it has been since 2023. With the Twins in need of all the help they can get, they’ll need vintage Bailey Ober, or to be quick to move off of him if he looks like his 2025 self. The Bullpen is in Dire Straits It should be no surprise that the Twins' bullpen projects as a real problem, but Steamer outlines just how big a hole it is. With Cole Sands and Kody Funderburk tied with projections of 0.4 WAR apiece, the 2025 Twins’ roster included seven relievers who were more valuable. That included Sands himself and Justin Topa, who will both return, but the state of the bullpen is bleak. Steamer can only project based on the current roster, meaning the Twins can still drastically improve their outlook before the offseason is over by adding pieces. It’s also uncommon for Steamer to project potential relievers like John Klein, Marco Raya, Conner Prielipp, etc., for strong relief performances when they’ve been starters throughout the minor leagues and haven’t debuted yet. Nor should we ignore the possibility that one of Bradley, Matthews or Abel will move to the pen and have success. The Twins have talked internally about rebuilding the relief corps. That's one avenue they can use to beat their projections. That being said, given their starting point in the bullpen, it’s hard to imagine a respectable performance from the current group. They will likely still need several successful external additions (as well as many of these up-and-coming arms) to hit their 90th-percentile outcomes to come anywhere close to 2025’s bullpen. It’s worth noting that projection systems have been wrong about the Twins for several seasons now, typically predicting much more success than the team has actually achieved. Still, with some filling out of the roster still on the way, it’s interesting to look ahead and see what Steamer predicts for the Twins' 2026 roster. View the full article

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the Toronto Blue Jays are still seen as the frontrunners to sign top free agent Kyle Tucker, even after signing Kazuma Okamoto. "Toronto remains the favorite to land Tucker," explains Feinsand, relaying information from sources. However, he adds that "the Mets can't be counted out." As for the Yankees, Feinsand believes Bellinger is their preferred target, presuming they're "prepared to spend big" at all. Adding fuel to this fire, FanSided's MLB insider Robert Murray also believes the Blue Jays remain a suitor for Tucker: "He is one of the options that they're considering, and they're one of the teams that he's considering as well." On the flip side, Sportnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith suggests that, while the Jays aren't likely to rule anything out, they no longer look like the very best candidate to give Tucker the long-term deal he's looking for. "Now I would say that's the Mets," he adds. Having said that, Nicholson-Smith does speculate that Tucker and the Blue Jays could be more likely to strike a deal if he's willing to sign a shorter contract with a high average annual value. What do Blue Jays fans think about the team going all-in to sign Kyle Tucker? Would you only do it on a shorter-term deal? Or would you rather the Jays forget Tucker and prioritize Bo Bichette? Chime in with your thoughts below. Featured image courtesy of David Banks, Imagn Images. View the full article

The Brewers announced their coaching staff under Pat Murphy for the 2026 season on Monday morning, including significant shakeups from last year's group. Four existing coaches have assumed new roles, a few others have taken jobs elsewhere in the organization, and four have joined the big-league staff. The first notable takeaway is that several coaches who have been heavily involved in game planning have been promoted to roles centered on those duties. Jason Lane has been elevated from third-base coach to offense and strategy coordinator; Jim Henderson from assistant pitching coach to pitching coordinator; and Daniel de Mondesert from assistant coach to game preparation specialist. To fill the vacancies left by those changes, Matt Erickson will become the third-base coach, while continuing to coach infielders, and Juan Sandoval will be the new assistant pitching coach. The promotion continues Sandoval's quick rise through the organization's coaching ranks. He started as a pitching coach in the Dominican Republic in 2022, before becoming assistant coordinator of minor-league pitching, a role in which he roamed throughout the farm system. The most notable shakeups may be to the hitting and baserunning staffs. The Brewers announced that former lead hitting coach Al LeBeouf and first base coach Julio Borbón will transition to front-office roles with an emphasis on player development and scouting. Eric Theisen has been promoted from assistant hitting coach to lead hitting coach, where he'll be flanked by new hires Daniel Vogelbach and former Toronto Blue Jays hitting coach Guillermo Martinez. Former director of player development Spencer Allen will be the new first-base coach. Vogelbach may be the most interesting hire. He's the youngest of the bunch, and his emphasis on swing decisions as a player could gel nicely with how the Brewers coach plate discipline. He swung at just 47.7% of in-zone pitches during his career, preferring to offer only at those in his wheelhouse. Milwaukee hitters have baseball's lowest in-zone swing rate over the past two seasons (62.1%), with Murphy saying that his young players must know which strikes not to swing at based on their bat paths. Allen, who was previously the organization's outfield and baserunning instructor, will look to lead a bounce-back at stealing bases. Coincidentally or not, the Brewers took a significant step back in that department last year, when Borbón replaced baserunning guru Quintin Berry. Murphy attributed it to more hesitant reads and jumps against opposing pitchers. Perhaps a new voice at first base will get them back to their more aggressive ways. Pitching coach Chris Hook, bullpen coach Charlie Greene, and field coordinator Nestor Corredor will all return for 2026 in their existing roles. The other notable members of the 2025 staff were Conor Dawson, who left for a hitting coach job with the Royals, and Rickie Weeks, who also moves back to a front-office role after two years as Murphy's lieutenant in the dugout. View the full article