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On January 18, 2025, Cubs owner Tom Ricketts appeared on 670 The Score saying that the Cubs do not have the funds to spend like the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets. This was in response to the growing frustration among Cubs fans as they watched other large-market franchises sign All-Star-caliber players to improve their rosters. At the same time, the Cubs’ most significant move last season was a trade for Kyle Tucker (OF), which cost them one of their top prospects, Cam Smith (3B/OF). Many assumed that the Cubs would use the $27.5 million that they freed up by trading Cody Bellinger (OF) to the Yankees to extend Tucker this offseason. It is yet to be seen if the Cubs will make a serious offer to Tucker in an attempt to retain him. Ricketts defended the team’s spending (or lack thereof) by saying that the Cubs are just trying to “break even” in terms of revenue vs spending. According to a report from Forbes Payroll Data via Spotrac, Ricketts's comments paint a much different picture than the team's actual financial situation. In 2024, the Cubs' Revenue was roughly $584 million, the third-highest in baseball, behind only the Dodgers ($752 million) and the Yankees ($728 million). This puts their earnings higher than those of all the remaining franchises, including the Mets ($444 million) and the Phillies ($519 million), which have been significantly more aggressive in spending in recent years, among others. Maybe the most discouraging statistic in this report is the percentage of revenue used to build players' rosters and to pay the luxury tax (penalty fees for exceeding a set payroll threshold). Make no mistake, ownership sets the limits on the budget allowance to put the best possible lineup out on the field. The allocation of funds towards roster creation can lead to a competitive advantage in ways different from those of other professional leagues with salary caps that maintain a level of competitive balance. In 2025, the Cubs used 36.4% of their revenue ($213 million) to build their 26-man roster. What makes this percentage so alarming to Cubs fans is that it ranks 26th out of the 30 MLB organizations. Teams such as the Milwaukee Brewers (40.8%), Washington Nationals (42.3%), and Athletics (43.4%) are spending a greater percentage of their revenue on their players. The comparisons to other large-market teams are even more staggering. The Los Angeles Dodgers spent 73.0% ($549 million) of their revenue, the New York Yankees spent 49.7% ($362 million) of their revenue, and the New York Mets spent an eye-popping 90.0% ($400 million) of their revenue in 2025 to build their rosters. With all of that said, Cubs fans want to know whether this trend will continue. That remains to be seen. Many talented free agents will garner large contracts, including Kyle Tucker. Last season did not end how anyone in the organization had hoped, when the Cubs were eliminated from the postseason by the rival Milwaukee Brewers in the Division Series. If the Cubs (and the Ricketts) want different results and are serious about building a sustained winning organization capable of making a deep postseason run, they can start by increasing their willingness to allocate more of their annual revenue to player acquisition and retention. A lot of factors play into winning the World Series, but a loyal fanbase in a large market deserves to be rewarded with an owner who is willing to spend with the other top-revenue teams, because that is within their control. Let Jed Hoyer and his team go to work with the necessary budget to legitimately pursue players such as Tucker (OF), Alex Bregman (3B/DH), Eugenio Suarez (3B), and Framber Valdez (LHP). Cubs fans will consistently fill Wrigley Field and purchase team merchandise, which was on full display even during a 108-year championship drought. Tom Ricketts can reward this loyalty by allowing the front office to add a few pieces that can take the Cubs from a good team with talent to a serious contender. There is still time and resources available to achieve that this offseason. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox are no strangers to breakout prospects. In 2023, the team saw Roman Anthony burst onto the stage and emerge as one of the best prospects in the sport, while 2024 saw the same happen with Kristian Campbell, as the young player made his way from High-A Greenville all the way up to Triple-A Worcester. Even just this past season, the team saw Payton Tolle become their latest breakout prospect alongside fellow left-handed pitcher Connelly Early as the duo both made their way to the majors to help the Red Sox with their push for the postseason. Now, with the Red Sox's farm system having graduated most of its top prospects, the question becomes: Who is set to emerge as the next big-name breakout in the organization? There are a few potential candidates, so let's analyze four under-the-radar prospects who could emerge as top-shelf stars. 3 Red Sox prospects with breakout potential in 2026 Henry Godbout – Second Base Godbout, who was drafted in the second round of the 2025 MLB Draft, made his professional debut for High-A Greenville this past season, appearing in 13 games. While a small sample, the infielder did not disappoint as he put up a stat line of .341/.473/.477 to go along with six doubles and five RBIs. What makes Godbout a potential breakout prospect for the 2026 season is his contact ability. While he chases at a high rate, Godbout has a short swing that is direct to the ball that goes well with his strong hand-eye coordination and his feel for the nose of the bat. Along with that, Godbout has showcased an increase in his bat speed since being drafted, a skill the Red Sox have honed in on under Craig Breslow. Should Godbout’s power increase without sacrificing his elite hit tool, he could become a top prospect in the organization. The projection is due to the fact that Godbout fits the same mold of college bats the Red Sox have targeted in past drafts and is a strong candidate for their bat speed program. And despite his tendency to chase, Godbout is difficult to strike out thanks to his contact skills. Blake Wehunt – Pitcher Wehunt was drafted in the ninth round of the 2023 draft while Chaim Bloom was in charge. but has ended up checking off a lot of boxes that Craig Breslow looks for in pitching prospects. Standing at 6-foot-7 and have plus extension, Wehunt generates a lot of downhill force toward the plate. Currently sitting 93-96 mph, his fastball has shown life at the top of the zone and can also sink at the bottom, allowing Wehunt to change a batter's eye level with just one pitch. While his cutter, sweeper and splitter aren’t as good as his fastball, he is comfortable throwing the cutter and splitter for strikes. The 2025 campaign was a rough season for Wehunt if you look at just his numbers: 2-8 record, 5.68 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. But when you look deeper, you can see the improvements he's made. Wehunt had a 10.80 strikeout per nine innings, good for a strikeout rate of 27%. On the season, he had bad luck at times, as a .341 batting average on balls in play led to opponents hitting .258 against him and his FIP being 4.10 instead of his expected FIP of 3.61. His ERA of 5.68 was also inflated due to one bad start where he allowed seven earned runs in just 2/3 of an inning. Wehunt also missed over a month of the season due to a lat strain, possibly playing a role in his performance upon his return where he allowed 18 earned runs across 10 2/3 innings. A healthy 2026, along with continued development of secondary pitches, could see Wehunt become the next big pitching prospect to shoot up the rankings. Or, at worst, he could become a dominant reliever who either helps the big-league club eventually or is traded for major-league talent. Luke Heyman – Catcher Heyman was acquired at the 2025 Rule 5 roster protection deadline and honestly feels a bit early to be picked as a breakout candidate. He hasn’t played a single game in professional baseball yet. Still, he's got all the tools to thrive immediately in the Red Sox's sytem. Heyman was comfortable hitting fastballs in college but will need to show he can handle secondary pitches, especially against professional pitching. However, with plus power that goes with high exit velocities and good batted ball angles, he's going to hit the ball hard. His collegiate career proved that he could hit for power, and his final season, he also showed an improved ability to put the ball in play cutting back from 69 strikeouts his sophomore season to just 38 in his junior year (though he played in 15 less games). His ability to hit velocity was thanks in part to solid bat speed and his ability to stay balanced during his swing. Defensively, there's no clear position that stands out as a perfect home. However, his arm is the real deal. It currently is rated as being above average and helped him throw out quite a few runners in college. If he is at least close to being average when it comes to blocking pitches behind the plate, his arm could be the difference in whether he remains a catcher or moves elsewhere. Heyman’s potential for a breakout season will all depend on his health and how much playing time he gets due to the influx of catching talent in the lower levels of the Red Sox's minor league system this offseason. What do you think? Do you agree with these prospects as being potential breakout players, or do you feel there's someone else that should have been included? Leave your thoughts down below in the comments! View the full article

Gleeman was dead, to begin with. Well, maybe he wasn’t dead, but he had officially decided to fully buy in to the “never leaves his home” hermit bit, and to end his involvement in his longstanding and ever-popular Twins podcast, Gleeman and the Geek. So effectively, we’ll say he was pretty much dead to us. His longtime podcast partner, Ebenezer John Bonnes, had plans in the works to continue the show with a fully automated artificial intelligence partner, but he hadn’t disclosed this to his adoring fans, or even to his loyal employees with Twins Daily. He had dabbled with the digital dark arts in the past, but this would be a full sell out to the generative demons that have begun to plague our society. Bonnes made his way through the streets of downtown Minneapolis on Christmas Eve, Raycon earbuds plugged into each ear, fully detached from the bustling winter wonderland that surrounded him. “Look, isn’t that Ebenezer John Bonnes? I had heard he skipped town for Costa Rica after his show ended, never to return to Twins Territory again!” cried one of the many Cody-named peasants to another in the street. “Merry Christmas, master Bonnes! May you have a blessed off-season. We miss you dearly!” Bonnes turned to look at the Codies. He scowled and huffed with disgust. “Bah. Hotdog!” the old man shouted to them before shuffling into his posh downtown condo building. “Go bug someone else for once.” As he approached the front door of the lobby, he was startled by the cold, dead, scruffy and disapproving face of his old partner, Aaron Gleeman, staring back at him through the front window. Bonnes fell backward to the ground. He stood up and rubbed his eyes in terror, as he couldn’t believe what he had seen. When he looked back up into the window, the face had disappeared, leaving only his own reflection. “Okay, no more French pilsner tonight.” Bonnes said to himself before scurrying inside. As nightfall crept over the solemn skyline outside of his penthouse apartment, Bonnes lit a fire and sat in his easy chair for his nightly dinner provided by Factor meal delivery service, the sponsor of this holiday parable (use code SPIRIT at checkout for 50% off of your next order of roast goose). His phone buzzed with a notification from the Twins Daily Slack channel, letting him know that one of his annoying stooges, Sweet Lou Cratchit, had submitted an article regarding the Twins recent free agent transaction, one that he had poured hours of hard work into, and it was awaiting approval for the site. “Bah. Hotdog!” Bonnes huffed, yet again. “ChatGPT can do the work of this oaf for a fraction of the price.” He ignored the message and fell into a deep slumber in the fire's warm glow. He was awakened in the middle of the night by the unmistakable smell of Dior cologne and the clicking of metal baseball cleats on the porcelain floors of his hallway. “Ebenezer John Bonnes. . .” a trembling voice howled from the hallway. “I am the ghost of free agency past, and I am here to show you the error of your ways.” A spirit slowly approached through a cloudy haze. Bonnes couldn’t believe his eyes. It was former Twin Carlos Correa. “It can’t be!” Bonnes yelled. “The Twins traded you! You should be in Houston!” The spirit grabbed the old man by the hand and the two soared through time to the year 2022, when Correa originally signed with the Twins. “It was at this moment when you first used artificial intelligence to gather some general talking points for your episode to discuss my signing. It seemed innocent enough, but little did you know that it would start you down a treacherous path of over-reliance on these programs.” Bonnes looked at a younger version of himself, sitting at a pub in Ireland and inputting a prompt and awaiting automated bullet points with notes so that he wouldn’t have to do extensive research on his own. “I hardly remember this,” Bonnes said in confusion. “Honestly, I barely remember any part of that trip after the tour of the Guinness factory.” He was then transported back to the Twin Cities, where he saw Gleeman realizing his partner had sold out, even if just for a moment. A single tear streaked down his cheek, as he was overcome with immense disapproval and disappointment toward his dear partner. “I guess I didn’t realize he knew of my shortcut,” Bonnes reflected. “I guess he did start to seem rather distant from that point on, but I thought maybe he just had gas or something.” Spirit Correa then clapped, creating a thunderous boom that awoke Bonnes, now back in his easy chair in the present day. “Was it but a dream?” the old man questioned, before hearing the doorknob of his front door jiggle. The door swung open, revealing another spirit, but this one was considerably bigger than the last. “Josh Bell?” Bonnes questioned while jumping to his feet. “What on earth are you doing here?” The massive ghost approached and took him by the hand. “I am the ghost of free agency present, and I have come to continue showing you the error of your reliance on AI.” The two soared through the sky now, landing outside of a humble home in St. Paul. They looked through the window and saw a family sitting at the dining room table. “Why, that’s Sweet Lou Cratchit. He’s on my staff at Twins Daily. And that must be his lovely wife and their 6’10’’ adult son, Tiny Gregg.” The lowly peasants sit gathered around a single can of Hamm’s to share between the three of them. Sweet Lou cracks it open and pours it into three small jars and passes one to his wife and son. He raises his own jar. “A toast; to my boss, Ebenezer John Bonnes, who we have to thank for this year’s bounty,” he says with a grateful smile. “It may not be much, but it’s enough for us after a meager year for ad revenue.” They each clink their glasses and take a swig of their paltry feast. Tiny Gregg lets out a wet cough, as he has grown ill in recent weeks without any hope of Sweet Lou being able to afford the medicine for his bout with Kreidler fever. It’s getting worse with each passing day. Bonnes can’t help but feel rotten after seeing the consequences of his decision to opt for AI content rather than paying his staff. “Oh, ghost Bell, I fear that I’ve gone too far with ChatGPT. Surely, it’s not too late for me to change my ways, right?” Bonnes asks the hulking ghost. The ghost claps just as his predecessor did, waking Bonnes yet again. Only this time, he isn’t in his easy chair, but in the middle of a cemetery. He sees a cloaked figure approach. “You must be the ghost of free agency yet to come,” he says. “Who could that be?” The ghost keeps himself concealed, but he’ll probably be a reliever in his late-30s that costs somewhere around $3 million on a one-year contract. Probably a lefty, if I had to guess. I don’t know. The figure nods and points Bonnes toward a couple of headstones at the top of a hill. It’s dark and raining steadily. As the old man approaches the first memorial, he starts to make out the words chiseled in the stone. Tiny Gregg Masterson Beloved Son, Delivery Driver of the Month November 2022 “Should the Twins sign Miguel Sano??” Bonnes hanged his head in shame. He didn’t much care for Tiny Gregg when push came to shove, but he still regretted that his reliance on generative AI led to the young fool’s demise. But his attention quickly shifted to the other tombstone, which was far bigger and more polished than Tiny Gregg’s. “Oh, spirit. Please tell me this isn’t what I think it’s going to be,” he cries before wiping the mud off of the headstone. Twins Daily Once a shining beacon of independent Minnesota Twins coverage. Ultimately replaced in full by artificial intelligence. Bonnes falls to his knees and buries his face in his hands. He can’t believe that the site he helped build from the ground up would perish due to his own cost-saving decisions. His grief is suffocating, and he’s sick to his stomach, worse than the time he tried to do the 9x9x9 challenge on a whim. The ghost of free agency yet to come claps his hands, and Bonnes wakes up back in his easy chair in his home. It’s morning now, and he rushes to his balcony. He sees Cody Schoenmann waiting for a bus. “You down there,” Bonnes shouts down. “What day is it?” “Why it’s Christmas day, of course,” Cody says. “And while I have your attention, I think I’m going to write an article highlighting the top remaining free agents who were born on a Saturday and like long walks on the beach. Would that be alright with you, boss?” Bonnes rolls his eyes. “Yes, yes, that would be fine, son. But before you do that, I need you to run to the nearest bottle store and buy the most fruit-forward Blackstack hazy IPA that you can find, and bring it to Sweet Lou Cratchit and his family,” Bonnes said, tossing a sack of gold coins to the young man. “Then you can go write whatever drivel you have planned.” Bonnes heads back inside and reads the piece that Sweet Lou had submitted the night before. It’s downright awful, and riddles with typos, but he approves it for publishing and leaves his apartment. He walks to the Cratchit house and peers in the front window. He sees Sweet Lou and his wife with happy tears streaming down their cheeks. Sweet Lou hands a beer to Tiny Gregg and kisses him tenderly on the forehead. The behemoth stands up and raises his can. “God bless us, everyone.” View the full article

It is always interesting to see how Minnesota Twins fans react to Minnesotans who play for the Twins. The best example of this just might be Joe Mauer. He was such a great athlete at Cretin-Derham Hall. He was named Mr. Baseball and Mr. Football as a senior. He was all-state in basketball. He signed to play quarterback at Florida State, but then his hometown Minnesota Twins made him the #1 overall pick in the 2001 MLB Draft. He signed, debuted in less than three years and embarked on a career that made him a first-ballot Hall of Fame catcher. Along the way, and with the advent of social media (specifically Twitter), there was a vocal minority who seemed to believe he could do no right. The Twins signed St. Paul native Dave Winfield late in his career, and he notched his 3,000th career hit in a Twins uniform. Paul Molitor, also from St. Paul, came to the Twins and spent the final three seasons of his big-league career as the team's Designated Hitter. Minnesotans of a certain age will never forget Game 7 of the 1991 World Series and the job that St. Paul's Jack Morris did in shutting out the Atlanta Braves for 10 innings. Each spent time late in their Hall of Fame careers with their hometown team. Twins fans also loved when they brought back New Ulm native Terry Steinbach. Another former Gopher and Twins first-round pick is Glen Perkins, a native of Stillwater. Caleb Thielbar went from a tremendous human-interest story when the Randolph native signed and then debuted with the Twins and became a reliable southpaw in the bullpen. Then, he became an even more interesting story when he was called out of retirement by the Twins to come back in 2020. He made the team and remained with the Twins through the 2024 season. The final example I'll mention is Louis Varland. Born in St. Paul, he went from North High school to Concordia University, in St. Paul. Three years later, the Twins drafted him in the 15th round in 2019. He was fantastic in the lower levels of the minor leagues in 2021, and in the upper levels in 2022. After getting time as a starter, Varland moved to the bullpen full time in 2025. He was hitting 100 mph, and becoming a reliable, high-leverage option for Rocco Baldelli. But then at the trade deadline, with four more years of team control, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. He set a record for most appearances in a single playoff run. Twins fans were understandably irate about the trade, and not just because of the remaining service time and a great reliever being lost. Even with getting a couple of players with solid potential, Minnesota fans hurt for Varland who wasn't afraid to tell people how much he loved getting to play in his own backyard. Maybe to appease the Minnesota fans of Minnesotans, the Twins added right-hander John Klein to their 40-man roster. He graduated from Osseo High School in 2020, went to Iowa Central Community College and then signed with the Twins in August of 2022. He ended the 2025 season with the Saints and will head to Fort Myers for big league spring training in February. There are several pitchers who grew up in Minnesota that I would be excited for if the Twins brought them in on a minor-league deal. How about lefty reliever Lucas Gilbreath, a former Gopher. How about Minnesota State-Mankato alumni RHP Dalton Roach and LHP Brody Rodning. The southpaw played with Simeon Woods Richardson and Austin Martin in the Blue Jays organization. In any case, if the player discussed below signed and reached the big leagues with the Twins, it would be a great story. And there's never anything wrong with a good story. However, I also feel like there could be a role for him on a big-league roster at some point in 2026. RHP Sam Carlson The Burnsville native was a heavily discussed name here at Twins Daily throughout the spring of 2017. Reports early in the year had him being selected sometime in the late first round or in the second round. We posted several Q&As and interviews with him during his high school senior. When the draft came in June, he was not taken in the first round. However, reports told us that he and his representatives began getting calls from teams late in the first round. Carlson made it known that he was looking for a certain signing bonus to keep him from going to college. Did the Twins call him and try to get him to sign for maybe $1.5 million? We may never know for certain, but I believe they did, or they should have. Either way, he didn't settle and signed for $2 million with the Mariners after they made him their second-round pick. That summer, Carlson pitched in two games for the Mariners Arizona League team. He threw 21 pitches and looked good. He was the Mariners #3 prospect at that time. Unfortunately, he didn't pitch in 2018. Instead, he had Tommy John surgery. The recovery was rough, and he missed the entire 2019 season as well. Like other minor leaguers, Covid meant that he didn't pitch in games in 2020 either. He returned to the mound in 2021 at Low A Modesto. He made 19 starts and reached 100 innings. He was 6-4 with a 4.77 ERA, but he impressively had 112 strikeouts. He stayed in Modesto in 2022. He made 11 starts and five relief appearances. He had 60 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings. He moved up to High-A Everett in 2023 and made the transition to the bullpen. He pitched in 39 games and made just one start. In 48 innings, he had 60 strikeouts. At season's end, he became a six-year minor league free agent. Early in the offseason, he signed a minor-league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. They had him pitch at Double-A Biloxi. In 44 games and 48 1/3 innings, he posted a 4.25 ERA and had 51 strikeouts. He again became a free agent. Last offseason, he quickly was signed to a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers and spent the season in the Triple-A Oklahoma City bullpen. He worked in a career-high 45 games and posted a 4.22. He had 78 strikeouts (11.8 K/9), but he also walked 36 batters (5.4 BB/9). It was uncharacteristic as Carlson had never walked more than 4.0 batters per nine innings. Carlson is no longer a top prospect. He will spend the full 2026 season at 27 years old. He typically throws four pitches, a four-seam fastball, a sinker, a cutter, and a slider. In 2025, he threw his cutter about 45% of the time. He threw his sjnker about 30% of the time. It was an average of 93.3%, and it appears to that he topped out at 95 mph. He threw a slider that averaged about 80 mph. He threw just six percent four-seam fastballs. So what role could Carlson play in the Twins organization? Carlson is intriguing as a one-inning guy (at least primarily). After years of injury, Carlson has remained healthy the past three years. First and foremost, he can be a veteran pitcher in the Saints bullpen. While he doesn't have the big velocity, I am intrigued by his pitch mix, and I'd love to see him work with Pete Maki, Jonas Lovin, Nat Ballenberg, and the rest of Twins pitcher development staff to see what they can do with him. If the Twins were to sign Sam Carlson to a minor-league contract, there will be that segment of Twins fandom that will mock the moves, sarcastically regurgitating phrases like, "Cheep Polands," or "We're going to the 'ship!" However, both pitchers can certainly fill a role with the Saints in 2026, and there could potentially be a big-league role that each could fill. And that's the goal with most minor league signings. Depth for the big-league club waiting 10-miles away in St. Paul. And hey, it's Christmas... There's nothing wrong with a feel-good story! View the full article

Every kid is familiar with the feeling of waking up on Christmas morning and seeing their presents wrapped neatly under the tree, complete with ribbons and bows. The big, exciting presents tend to be wrapped in boxes under the tree. But what about the stockings? Those are usually filled with "stocking-stuffers"; smaller, more practical gifts that are not necessarily exciting, but sometimes tend to be more useful. As a kid, my stockings were usually stocked with fruit, soap, flossers, a CD, and plenty of other random goodies that I actually got quite a bit of use from. They weren't the flashiest presents, but they mattered, and they had a real impact on my life. You're probably thinking, what does this have to do with baseball? The truth is, every offseason, while there are a handful of flashy, big-name acquisitions, the majority of the moves every winter are depth pieces. Minor leaguers, prospects, seasoned veterans, relievers, utility men, bench-pieces, and fifth starters tend to be the guys moving around the most. And while those players aren't as exciting, the right ones can have just as much impact on the season. Here are five "stocking-stuffer' type depth players that could reshape the San Diego Padres' roster in a good way in 2026. Five Under-appreciated Players Padres Should Sign This Offseason 1. Gary Sanchez, C Backup catchers are the ultimate stocking-stuffers. Nobody gets too excited about them, but they are much more important than anyone realizes. Obviously, every backup catcher is one injury away from becoming the starting catcher, and catchers tend to get hurt often, due to the wear and tear the position can have on their bodies. The backup catcher is also responsible for starting at least one game every week to lighten the load on the starter. Thus, the backup catcher tends to be much more essential than we realize. And Gary Sanchez would be the perfect man to back up Freddy Fermin in San Diego. Sanchez was a league-average bat last year in Baltimore, with a 100 OPS+ and five home runs in 29 games. Before that, he had a solid 2024 with the Brewers, hitting 11 home runs in 89 games, finishing with 0.2 bWAR and a 94 OPS+. That's not the reason the Padres should sign him, though. Sanchez was brilliant in 2023 as part of the Friars. He was worth 2.3 bWAR in just 72 games, crushing 19 home runs and finishing with a 113 OPS+. He might never hit 19 home runs in a season again, but his offensive prowess would still be a huge upgrade to the bench. He'll be 33 next year, but it feels like the veteran should still be worth one more good season as a backup backstop. 2. Ty France, 1B The Padres still don't have a clear first baseman next year. It could be Sung-Mun Song or Jake Cronenworth, or possibly Jose Miranda. You could throw Gavin Sheets into the mix as well. Cronenworth is currently listed as the starter on the depth chart, but he's also listed as the starting second baseman. What about taking a flyer on a former All-Star in Seattle, Ty France? He was once a part of the Padres system, until he was traded to Seattle in 2020 as part of the Austin Nola trade. France peaked in 2022, when he was named to the AL All-Star team, and helped lead Seattle to their first playoff appearance in 21 years. Since then, he's been a mostly average player. Between 2023-2025, he's played for four teams (Seattle, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and Toronto), with 1.3 bWAR in 436 games. He has owned a 94 OPS+ since the beginning of 2023, with 32 home runs and 81 doubles. France is no longer a guy who will start 150 games at first base in a season, but he could be a valuable depth add on the bench in San Diego. He could play second or third base in a pinch (he was a third baseman in the Padres' system), and the Blue Jays thought he was valuable enough to keep him on their playoff roster (he was 1-for-4 with an RBI in the World Series). He won't change the complexion of the team, but he could augment what's already in place. 3. Dylan Moore, UTL Another former Mariner, Dylan Moore was the AL's Gold Glove utility man in 2024. Throughout his career, he has been one of the top utility players in the league, and while he's no Tommy Edman, he's the type of guy most teams could use on the bench. Moore was worth 2.2 bWAR in 2024, posting a 103 OPS+. He is capable of playing every position besides catcher, with appearances at all four infield positions and all three outfield positions. He also has tremendous speed, with 32 stolen bases in 2024 and 118 steals in his career. The righty is more of a platoon bat, having had most of his success against left-handed pitching, but that's something the Padres could work with. He could platoon with a guy like Gavin Sheets or Jake Cronenworth, playing second base or left field against left-handed pitchers, and coming off the bench as a pinch-runner in crucial late-game situations. His versatility also makes him the perfect guy to have in case injuries occur. He'd be a better option than Will Wagner or Mason McCoy as a utility infielder, and if someone like Manny Machado or Cronenworth were to get hurt, Moore would fit perfectly as a platoon partner for the left-handed Sung-mun Song. 4. Tyler Anderson, SP Anderson has been one of the most up-and-down players in the league over the past few seasons. He was an All-Star for the Dodgers in 2022 and again for the Angels in 2024, but was bad in 2023 and average in 2025. Still, for a team that is currently slated to have JP Sears as its fifth starter and Kyle Hart as their best depth piece, Anderson would not be a bad player to sign. He has accumulated 9.1 bWAR since 2022, with a 4.54 FIP and a 3.98 ERA (106 ERA+). Those are solid marks, and he's also proven to be durable, starting at least 26 games every season since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He'll be 36 next year, but we've seen veterans his age put together solid seasons as back-end starters. If Anderson bounces back and continues his trend of making the All-Star team every other year, he could quickly become one of the most underrated signings of the year. Even if he doesn't return to All-Star form, though, he'd be a worthwhile flier as a No. 5 starter. Plus, he should come cheap. 5. Andrew Chafin, RP The Padres already have one of the best bullpens in the league, but why not add another solid reliever to the mix? The team did lose Robert Suarez, so it would make sense to add at least one more veteran to the 'pen. What about Andrew Chafin, the longtime Diamondback who has bounced around the league over the past few seasons? He posted a 2.41 ERA and 3.46 FIP last year, appearing in 42 games between Washington and Los Angeles. In 2024, pitching for the Tigers and Rangers, he finished with a 3.51 ERA and 3.54 FIP in 62 appearances. And in 2022, he was elite for the Tigers, appearing in 64 games and finishing with a 2.83 ERA and 3.06 FIP. He'll be 36 next year, and would be a cheap veteran to insert into the San Diego bullpen behind Mason Miller, Jason Adam, and Adrian Morejon. Chafin could definitely be a leverage reliever if necessary, but would also be a steady presence in the middle of the relief corps, alongside guys like Wandy Peralta and David Morgan. His addition is more about want than necessity, but sometimes, such is the spirit of the holidays. View the full article

The 2025 Blue Jays had a magical season that brought them within an inch or two of a World Series title. Teams around the league absolutely took notice, and while Toronto didn’t do it with the lightest payroll, they still came in about $100 million back of the winning Dodgers. The other Los Angeles team (of Anaheim), the Angels, had the league's 11th-ranked payroll but were “only” $60 million behind the Jays, and so it makes sense that we’re the team they are looking to emulate. In fact, they might be ahead of the curve, having started their plan already. The Angels' GM, Perry Minasian, has been in that role since November 2020. He came in with a four-year contract, and ownership has been so happy with him that he recently signed a two-year extension. His bias towards copying the Jays model makes sense; Minasian spent eight years in Toronto, starting as a scout and working his way up to director of pro scouting. He would then work in Atlanta as assistant GM and VP of operations under former Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos. The 2023 Blue Jays turned out to be just two years away from a World Series appearance. So, for an executive who wants to put their team on that same path, emulating the 2023 Jays seems like the place to start. The Angels got a headstart on that plan by acquiring former Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi for last season. Kikuchi put up a career-best 3.3 bWAR in 2025 and was rewarded midseason with a selection to the All-Star team (a feat he was unable to achieve in Toronto). I watched very few Angels games last season outside of their matches with Toronto, but I would tune in for Kikuchi. The lefty with one of my favourite deliveries in the game set a career high for innings pitched and was the ace of the Angels' staff. Seeing that kind of success must have sent Minasian back to the well again. The next starter to become available from that ‘23 Jays team was former ace-of-the-future, Alek Manoah. After being placed on waivers following his return from IL, Manoah was claimed by Atlanta. Following the end of the season, Manoah was non-tendered and elected free agency. It didn’t take long for the Angels to pounce, signing him to a one-year deal, marking his third team in three months. Not content with just two former Blue Jays, the Angels struck again. This time, they added the Jays' closer from the 2023 team, Jordan Romano. Romano was not just the closer but also an All-Star on that squad. The Angels' plan seems clear at this point. Another pitcher from that 2023 Blue Jays team that might be available is José Berríos. We’ve talked a lot over the last month about Berríos’ future and the seemingly conflicting statements coming from those in the position to know more than we do. I’ve said before that I don’t expect Berríos to be traded, but if he moves, my money is on the Angels. 19 times since becoming the GM in Anaheim, Minasian has gone out and acquired a former-Jay. Maybe we should see if he wants to go for 20? View the full article

In December 1975, the Seitz decision nullified Major League Baseball’s reserve clause, which ended an era where teams could effectively retain players in perpetuity and ushered in the era of free agency. Historically, the Royals are not known for making splashy signings in free agency, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been impact players acquired. Since this month marks the 50th anniversary of free agency, this two-part series will look at 10 of the best free agents in Royals history. Part one focuses on pitchers, and part two will focus on hitters. The selections for this list will be very subjective, but the primary criteria considered were WAR accumulated, accolades earned, and playoff/overall impact after signing as a free agent. Many players signed as free agents after years of success with the club, such as Mike Moustakas, Zack Greinke, and Mark Gubicza. However, only their time after they reached free agency will be considered for this list. Top Free Agent Pitchers David Cone Signed in 1993 | 14.1 WAR | 1x Cy Young | 1x All-Star After being drafted by the Royals in 1981, Cone only spent one season in Kansas City before being dealt to the New York Mets. After a productive six seasons elsewhere, including a World Series win with Toronto, the Royals signed him before the 1993 season. In his first two seasons in Kansas City, Cone made an immediate impact, accruing 14.1 WAR and winning the American League Cy Young Award in the strike-shortened 1994 season. In that 1994 season, Cone was an All-Star and finished 9th in MVP voting. Cone led a very good Royals pitching staff to a 64-51 record before the player strike ended the season short that August. His impact on the Royals could have continued into the playoffs that season, as the Royals were only four games back in the AL Central. After the 1994 season, Cone was traded, with one year left on his contract, to the Blue Jays for a couple of players who never made the major league roster and Chris Stynes, whose best years in baseball were after his time in Kansas City. Larry Gura Signed in 1979 | 11.4 WAR | 1x All-Star | 2x Top-10 Cy Young | 1980 AL Pennant After three impressive seasons with the Royals in 1976-78, the Royals re-signed Gura as a free agent before the 1979 season. In his first five seasons after signing, he accumulated 12.6 WAR, earning him an All-Star nod in 1980 and two top-10 AL Cy Young finishes in 1980 and 1981. Gura played a key role in the Royals' 1980 World Series run, which ended with a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. In three starts in the 1980 playoffs, he posted a 2.11 ERA over 21 1/3 innings, including one complete game against the Yankees in the ALCS. Although both of his starts resulted in Royals losses, he only gave up two runs in each of his starts and exited each game while the Royals had a lead. After the 1983 season, Gura’s productivity declined, and he was eventually released in 1985. With his achievements as a Royal before and after he signed as a free agent, Gura was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame in 1992. Edinson Volquez Signed in 2015 | 2.2 WAR | 2015 World Series After the 2014 season, James Shields, a free agent, left a large hole in the rotation. If the Royals wanted to return to the World Series and redeem their loss to the Giants, that void needed to be filled. Volquez did just that with his consistent performance in 2015. Volquez’s two years in Kansas City didn’t include stats that jump off the page, but he was the leader of the rotation that won the World Series in 2015. In 2015, Volquez had a 2.8 WAR and a 3.55 ERA across 33 games started and 200.1 innings in the regular season. He also led the Royals in playoff innings pitched with 28.2 and had a 3.77 ERA that postseason. Although his 2016 season was rather poor with a WAR of -0.6, the impact Volquez had on the championship-winning team is worthy of inclusion on this list. Seth Lugo Signed in 2024 | 7.0 WAR | 1x All-Star | 1x Gold Glove | Cy Young Runner-Up Lugo made an immediate and dramatic impact in the Royals’ rotation after joining in 2024, when he finished runner-up in the AL Cy Young voting and also led the Royals to their first playoff appearance since 2015. Lugo posted a 3.00 ERA and 5.4 WAR across 206 2/3 innings pitched, all good for second-best in the American League. His excellent defense also earned him a Gold Glove in 2024. While his 2025 season was less impressive and cut short by a back injury, Lugo still has two more years in Kansas City after signing an extension earlier this year. He will have the opportunity to show his value and veteran leadership to this rotation, especially if he can eat up innings as he did in 2024. Tim Belcher Signed in 1996 | 9.2 WAR While Belcher does not have the accolades of the other players on this list, his three years in Kansas City were very good. For a team that did not traditionally spend on acquiring free agents, Belcher was brought in to pair with star pitcher Kevin Appier. His first season, in particular, was excellent, with 4.8 WAR and a 4.41 ERA over 238 2/3 innings. Belcher proved to be a durable pitcher who could go deep into games, pitching at least 210 innings in each of his three seasons. While the Royals were not particularly successful during his time in Kansas City, Belcher was able to provide an immediate impact by his performance on the field and as a veteran leader in the clubhouse. Honorable Mentions Gil Meche Signed in 2007 | 10.2 WAR | 1x All-Star Meche was a similar addition to Tim Belcher, just a decade later. Meche provided an immediate impact on the Royals’ rotation with over 4.0 WAR in each of his first two seasons in Kansas City. However, Meche faced a sharp decline in quality after those first two seasons. Belcher's greater consistency throughout his time in Kansas City gave him the edge over Meche. Aroldis Chapman Signed in 2023 | 1.0 WAR He spent only half of the 2023 season in Kansas City, but during that time, he was traded to the eventual World Series-winning Texas Rangers. That trade returned Cole Ragans, who has since emerged as the Royals’ ace. Without Chapman, the Royals would likely not have Ragans, and the Royals’ current rotation outlook would be drastically different. Stay tuned for part 2 of this series, which will look at the best free-agent hitters in Royals history! View the full article

During a Fish On First Twitter space, Ely Sussman and Kevin Barral share their initial reactions to the Marlins signing free agent Pete Fairbanks to a one-year, $13 million deal.View the full article

Dear Santa, We have been such good fans this year! Please, please, please bring us some presents. Sure, we haven’t been perfect; we have been known to complain about the state of the team. ESPN just said that we are the most aggrieved fanbase in baseball. But it comes from love, we promise! All we want is to win and to know that ownership cares, too. It’s been a hard couple of years, and a lot of our friends are having a tough time with it. Anyway, I know you are always watching us and have seen us going to games, watching on TV (now that we can do that again), and buying Byron Buxton jerseys. So, we deserve some presents, right? And we don’t really want too much; just a few things. Let's begin with the offseason. For starters, we really need two relievers. We know Derek Falvey got rid of all of our old ones. Maybe he thinks we don’t like relievers anymore? You know the truth, though, right? We love relievers. We want to see them every day! Unless Pablo Lopez throws a complete game, but we aren’t greedy. We don’t even need the best relievers. Just ones we won’t be embarrassed to show the other teams when they come to visit. Maybe Seranthony Dominguez and Danny Coulombe? That couldn’t be too expensive for the Twins, could it? Next, we are asking for another good bat. Jeremy Zoll said that he wanted another impact bat or two, so that’s almost a promise, right? If it’s not too much trouble, it would be nice if he were right-handed to make platooning a bit more successful and prevent our excess lefties from having to face tough southpaws. They aren’t very good at that. You know that, right? We have been watching Marcell Ozuna for a long time. Maybe he would like to come play for the Twins. Finally, please make sure the Twins trade Trevor Larnach for whatever they can get, and designate James Outman for assignment. Those guys are nice and all, but they don’t really fit in with the rest of the team, and they prevent the Twins from being as fun as they could be. Santa, you probably know this already, but if you can’t find the right free agents to make the team good in 2026, it’s ok if the Twins have to trade someone. Simeon Woods Richardson probably makes sense if the Twins could trade him for Coby Mayo or another young first baseman. We would really like not to have to sign a new one every single year. Santa, we think you would agree, if you gave us those things, the offseason wouldn’t be too bad, right? We know, too, it’s a lot less than what most of the other teams are getting. Oh. We also want a few things after the season starts. The biggest thing we want here is for the front office to make good decisions. We don’t want the Twins to be playing guys like Mickey Gasper, Ryan Fitzgerald, Ryan Kreidler, or Edouard Julien, if it means that prospects are sitting in Triple-A Saint Paul. I know fans love having a really fun team across town, too, but we all know the Twins deserve better players than the Saints. We know you are more of a once-a-year kind of gift giver, but a lot of stores have been advertising something called “Christmas in July”. Maybe they mean the trade deadline? If so, we do have ideas for a couple of gifts you could give us then, too. The biggest thing, honestly, seems very reasonable. If the Twins are holding their own, and Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Gabriel Gonzalez have looked decent, can you please make sure that Tom Pohlad gives the front office the go-ahead to add payroll? You know what I mean, right? Not Trevor Richards' payroll, but enough to actually get the missing pieces to take the Twins deep into October. We have been saving prospect capital for so long. It would be ok to spend some, right? One more thing. We know this might sound greedy, but it’s really just thinking ahead to next year, and just so we don’t forget. Once the Twins know what they have after letting the kids play this season, we really want them to take some big swings to have a really good team. That will show us that ownership cares about us; you know, like Tom Pohlad said. Sincerely, the Minnesota Twins fanbase P.S: We know you don’t have any control over this, but would you mind doing us fans a favor? Could you talk to your friend, General Health? We know you guys are close, and we know he’s not a Twins fan. But, if he could keep Buxton, Royce Lewis, Luke Keaschall, Joe Ryan, Walker Jenkins, and Emmanuel Rodriguez healthy, we sure would appreciate it. He’s been mean to them for too long. View the full article

Dear Santa, I hope you get this letter. We’ve been very good this year in Milwaukee - okay, maybe we swore too much in the middle of October - but otherwise very good! We’ve been patient and supportive - more than 2.5 million of us showed up for the third straight year. We love beating the Cubs, but we really want to make history next year. We don’t need much - we’re pretty set on a lot of things most fan bases need. So if it’s not too much to ask, here’s a small list of things we’d like, please: A statement of intent to go all-in! Just slip that in Mark’s stocking, please. Freddy Peralta as our Opening Day Starter. Please let him stay in Milwaukee this winter! One additional big power bat. We haven’t had a 30 home run hitter in three of the last five years, and we will need more power next fall! Good health in the coming year. Especially for Brandon Woodruff, William Contreras, and Christian Yelich. And especially in September/October. You can help with shoulders, lats, backs, and broken fingers - right? Continued growth from our young lads: August Brice Turang for a whole season - 30/30! Jackson Chourio with a little more patience leading to a lot more power - 30/30! The Miz walking fewer batters while continuing to do Miz things Quinn Priester and Chad Patrick locking in as excellent mid-rotation caliber starters Caleb Durbin turning into a Gold Glove third baseman and an on-base machine Joey Ortiz winning a Gold Glove and remembering that he was an above-average hitter as recently as 2024 Lots of innings and strikeouts for the many talented young pitchers working their way through the minor leagues. Cooper Pratt, Jesus Made, Luis Pena, and Brady Ebel being the best collection of shortstops at every level of the minor leagues from Triple-A to Single-A A bright new glove for Abner Uribe. Maybe fuchsia! A big trade deadline acquisition! We don’t know exactly what we will want - but we want it! Not to be greedy - but we need a fourth straight Central Division championship. It’s kind of a prerequisite for our last two wishes (like batteries for remote-controlled gifts). We promise not to take it for granted and to be thankful. We’d love to beat the Dodgers in the NLCS - they bullied us this year, and they squeaked past us in 2018. They’ve been pushing everyone around for a couple of years now, and we think lots of people, even outside of Milwaukee, would find joy in us receiving this gift. Finally, one last small thing - we really, really want to win a World Series for the first time ever! We haven’t asked for much. I hope you bring it all, and if you love us at all, please bring just the last one. We’re leaving out beer and cheese curds for you and tart Spartan apples for your sleigh team. Merry Christmas ? - Brewers Fans View the full article

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the 'Ville, We pondered how the Cubs' roster be filled Between trades, signings, and Japanese postings And last minute visits the Cubs might be hosting. Last month, the Mariners re-signed Josh Naylor, Jays got Cease and Rogers (Tyler, not Taylor). O's got Big Pete and made quite a few trades And even some signings by the Tampa Bay Rays! The Yankees gave one-year deals to some folks Because Hal Steinbrenner cried he was broke. White Sox Murakami, Royals trying again! Detroit got Kenley, and Kyle Finnegan! The Mets got Semien and traded away Nimmo, Atlanta signed relievers for another go. The Twins for some reason signed up Josh Bell... And the Marlins brought in old friend Chris Morel! Phillies re-signed Schwarber and brought in Brad Keller, Cards traded bulk to Boston on their way to the cellar. The NL West signed up pitching in spades... Even the Pirates made a bunch of cool trades! Which brings us to the Cubs, who've been mostly quiet... Though some bullpen signings occurred, can't deny it. Still plenty of room under the luxury tax, They definitely should spend, and those are the facts. Up at Gallagher Way, the lights shining bright As the front office worked far into the night Jed Hoyer and crew consider both old and new-ish Working on Christmas Eve? It's OK, 'cause Jed's Jewish. If they look into Japan, would they sign Imai? Or perhaps they'll add Okamoto to the fray? What of Framber, or even Zac Gallen? Or will they do trades (Gore? Joe Ryan?) No one knows what's up with Bo Bichette or Bregman As Scott Boras spews his dad jokes and bad puns The Cubs know they need more pitching and bats But they can't just pull a name out of a hat. Might not be Tucker, and probably not Belli, But hopefully someone who can hit dingers aplenty. Alex Bregman still seems to be the best play, Then maybe trade Matt Shaw for a new ace. The lineup is solid if they can replace Kyle's bat, The rotation needs at least one more stud, stat. The bullpen, as always, cost-effective but great? The bench needs a utility guy, then they'd be in good shape. Now Porter! Now Maton! Now Milner! Now Webb! On, Danny! On, Ben Brown! On Colin, and Caleb! Get Craig those out-getters, manage that contact, Maximize the funk and miss the fat of the bat. With months to go until Cactus League play, The plan the Cubs laid out hasn't much changed. Get that star bat (most likely third base), Shore up the bullpen, and get that new ace. Jed has some decisions with CBA looming He might get taxed, but salaries are expiring. Here's to some sweet additions to this great core Postseason bound next season, and here's to much more! View the full article

On Wednesday morning, Red Sox insider Ari Alexander reported that left-handed pitcher Helcris Olivarez agreed to a Minor League deal with the Royals with an invitation to Spring Training. Olivarez started his career as a pretty heralded prospect in the Rockies' system with high-velocity stuff. However, he suffered a shoulder injury in 2022 that required surgery. Recovery forced him to miss the remainder of 2022 and all of 2023. Olivarez was later released by the Rockies and was picked up by the Red Sox before the 2024 season. He spent half a season with the Red Sox before being let go in July of that season. The Giants promptly picked him up after his release and primarily pitched the remainder of the season in Double-A Richmond. He spent all of last season in the San Francisco organization, pitching in Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento. With the Rivercats last season, he posted a 3.65 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 37 IP (34 appearances). He posted impressive strikeout numbers (26.3% K rate) and a solid CSW (30.2%). Unfortunately, he struggled with control, as illustrated by his 24.6% walk rate and 1.7% K-BB%. As a result, his FIP was 5.84, 2.19 points higher than his ERA. The 25-year-old lefty possesses solid stuff, though he doesn't quite have the 100-MPH stuff that he once had as a Rockies prospect. According to TJ Stats, he posted strong TJ Stuff+ metrics and encouraging whiff rates, as shown below. Olivarez's overall TJ Stuff+ was 101. He also sported two pitches with 64 grades: the sinker and changeup. His whiff rate was 37.3% and his xwOBACON was .277. That showed that Olivarez in Triple-A could not just generate swings and misses, but also unproductive contact. Unfortunately, his paltry 40.2% zone rate and lackluster 18.8% chase rate weigh down his overall outlook at the Major League level. It will be hard for him to succeed until he improves his control and reduces the number of free passes. The Royals likely view Olivarez as a project who will likely eat a lot of innings as the primary lefty reliever in the Triple-A Storm Chasers bullpen. According to Roster Resource, the only other lefty relievers currently in the Omaha bullpen are Chazz Martinez and Christian Chamberlain, who are both older than Olivarez. That said, the Royals have had success the past couple of seasons with relievers on Minor League deals, as demonstrated by Taylor Clarke last year and Sam Long in 2024. Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images View the full article

The Miami Marlins are signing Pete Fairbanks to a one-year, $13 million deal. It includes a $12 million salary, $1 million signing bonus, $1 million in incentives based on total appearances and a $500,000 acquisition bonus if he is traded during the 2026 season. Will Sammon of The Athletic was first to report Tuesday afternoon that an agreement had been reached. Fairbanks has spent the vast majority of his MLB career with the Tampa Bay Rays. In 2025, he set career-highs with 60 ⅓ innings pitched and 27 saves, though his 3.61 FIP was the worst mark since his rookie season. The Rays could've retained him for 2026 on an $11 million club option, but declined it. The Marlins upped their offer to Fairbanks recently, as Fish On First's Isaac Azout reported last week. Losing Ronny Henriquez to season-ending elbow surgery may have pushed them to sweeten the deal even more. Miami's 40-man roster is full, so there will have to be a corresponding move for them to officially announce the signing of Fairbanks. View the full article

On Wednesday morning, Jon Heyman reported that the Royals are among the teams still interested in acquiring free-agent outfielder Austin Hays. Hays is coming off a solid season with a Reds team that made the postseason a year ago (they lost in the Wild Card round to the eventual World Series champion Dodgers). In 416 plate appearances, the 30-year-old outfielder slashed .266/.315/.453 with a .327 wOBA, 105 wRC+, 15 home runs, and 64 RBI. He also accumulated a 1.2 fWAR with the Reds in 2025, a one-fWAR improvement from his split season with the Orioles and Phillies in 2024. The 2016 third-round pick was primarily effective as a lefty-masher with Cincinnati. In 105 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers, he hit .319 with a 155 wRC+, .231 ISO, and 0.50 BB/K ratio. Conversely, in 289 plate appearances against righties last year, Hays hit .249 with an 88 wRC+, .173 ISO, and 0.20 BB/K ratio. Thus, if the Royals acquire Hays, it's likely that he could be in a platoon role, splitting time in either right field with Jac Caglianone or in left field with Isaac Collins. Lane Thomas, in this scenario, would likely split time with Kyle Isbel in center field. When looking at his Statcast summary profile via TJ Stats, Hays shows adeptness at pulling and barreling the ball. However, his exit velocity and plate discipline metrics were shaky last season. As a result, his .300 xwOBA was 27 points lower than his actual wOBA, a sign that he could be due for regression in 2026. The Royals still are reportedly trying to acquire Jarren Duran from the Red Sox or Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals. That said, Hays may be a nice consolation prize for the Royals if GM JJ Picollo isn't able to swing a trade for the Red Sox outfielder or Cardinals infielder this offseason. Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images View the full article

The Minnesota Twins entered the offseason surrounded by questions about direction and intent after a trade deadline that saw nearly 40 percent of their major league roster moved to cut payroll and restock the farm system. That kind of sell-off usually signals more changes to come, but the early indications suggest Minnesota is drawing a clear line. The Twins appear committed to keeping their veteran core intact, including Pablo Lopez, Byron Buxton, and Joe Ryan, rather than continuing down a full teardown path. That commitment has become increasingly apparent as rival teams continue to check in on Ryan. Interest around the league has not slowed, but the Twins’ response has. According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, Minnesota is no longer engaging in meaningful trade conversations involving the right-hander. “Teams continue to ask the Minnesota Twins about right-hander Joe Ryan, who is under club control for two more seasons. The Twins, though, continue to say they are not shopping Ryan, and one person briefed on their talks said they haven’t even discussed him with other clubs since before the GM meetings in early November.” This is the second time this winter that Rosenthal reinforced the idea that Ryan is expected to remain in the organization for next season. The message has been consistent, and perhaps most telling is the detail that the Twins have not even discussed Ryan internally with other clubs since early November. This is not posturing or leverage building. It sounds like a firm stance. From the outside, the interest makes complete sense. Ryan is under club control for two more seasons, has proven he can miss bats at a high level, and fits neatly into the rotation of almost any contender. For a team that already showed a willingness to move significant pieces in July, trading Ryan would be an easy way to continue shedding payroll while bringing back a meaningful prospect haul. But context matters, and this is where the Twins drawing a line feels justified. The American League Central remains wide open. Minnesota has endured two straight disappointing seasons, yet a powerhouse rival does not stand in the way of a return to relevance. If Ryan and Pablo Lopez stay healthy, the bullpen finds its footing again, and the young hitters take even modest steps forward, the Twins can absolutely contend for a postseason spot. That is a lot of ifs, and nobody should pretend otherwise. Still, there is a difference between acknowledging risk and surrendering before the season begins. Trading Ryan now would be a clear signal that the Twins are not interested in finding out what this roster can be. There is also no urgency. If the team finds itself buried again next summer, the trade deadline will still be there. Ryan will still have value. For now, fans deserve to see whether this group can put the pieces together and chase another playoff birth. View the full article

The San Diego Padres made a pair of notable additions to their infield group last week, and both should have something to say about the team's first base conundrum. First, and probably more notably, they signed Korean infielder Sung Mun Song to a three-year deal. Later in the day, it was reported that they had signed former Minnesota Twins corner infielder José Miranda to a minor-league deal that includes a spring training invite. Song's addition will impact the team much more immediately and directly. Whether it leads to a trade of someone like Jake Cronenworth or simply takes the load off an infield group that needed some reliable depth, there is a multitude of ways in which he can be impactful for the 2026 team. Miranda, meanwhile, will have to work a bit more to take on the minor-league-invitee-to-impactful-role-player trajectory that we saw from Gavin Sheets last season. Regardless of either player's contribution in 2026, though, they each (in their own way) create a bit of mystery surrounding how the Padres may handle their one remaining vacancy on the infield dirt: first base. The 2025 Padres had six different players appear at first base. Luis Arráez was there for 117 games, trade deadline acquisition Ryan O'Hearn was in there for 27, and each of Jake Cronenworth and Gavin Sheets took reps on 13 occasions. Plus, Yuli Gurriel appeared four times and Connor Joe once early in the season. Of that group, only Cronenworth and Sheets remain. Arráez and O'Hearn remain free agents, with each of Gurriel and Joe finding themselves out of the organization early on last season. Including the two holdovers, the Padres now, technically, have five players capable of playing first base in their organization. Cronenworth handled first base duties in 2023 and a good deal of the time in 2024. Sheets profiles better at first base than he does in the outfield. While he only played second and third for Kiwoom last year, Song has some time at first to his name in previous years. Miranda was once Minnesota's first baseman of the future before falling off severely and grabbing only 36 plate appearances in 2025. Then you throw in Luis Campusano, whom the team might like more as a first base and designated hitter option even with his present status as the team's backup catcher. That's a lot of names, four of which are on the active roster. That opens up numerous possibilities as to how the team could handle the position heading into 2026. The simplest is that you have some kind of combination of Cronenworth and Song on the right side of the infield. Maybe that's Cronenworth at first and Song at second. Perhaps it's the other way around, especially with Song possessing a bit more power upside that serves as a prerequisite for the position. In that case, Sheets lands as your primary designated hitter and occasional corner outfield or first base fill-in, while Campusano plies his trade only as the team's backup catcher and gets in as the DH on occasion. In that scenario, Miranda isn't likely to be a factor on the major-league roster. However, should Miranda force his way in, things get a little more complicated. Maybe you've got a Miranda-Cronenworth-Song combination between first and second that is dependent on matchups. Or Miranda serves purely as a bench bat to fill in at either corner infield spot while Cronenworth and Song hold down the right side with more regularity. Sheets and Campusano then fight it out for some extra time as the designated hitter. It becomes more mouths to feed in the plate appearances game. Of course, Cronenworth could be traded. Then you're likely looking at Song as the everyday guy at the keystone while Miranda and Sheets comprise more of a platoon situation between first base and designated hitter. Campusano maybe fills in on occasion, but those are your priorities. That scenario requires the most heavy lifting, as you not only have to have a theoretical trade of Cronenworth but also a hypothetical situation in which Miranda wins a roster spot in camp. Given that it's A.J. Preller we're talking about, there's also the looming chance that an outside addition still has yet to manifest. Paul Goldschmidt exists on the free agent market. Even if his bat isn't what it once was, he adds a stable glove — assuming his -3 Outs Above Average in 2025 was an outlier — and an intangible presence. Rhys Hoskins and his .237 career ISO figure are also out on the free-agent market. Neither would cost a ton, to say nothing of a fallen-out-of-favor trade for someone like Triston Casas in Boston. For what it's worth, Mark Vientos is reportedly also available, and Preller has reportedly already talked to the New York Mets on some level in recent days. Essentially, the Padres now have two roads in front of them with respect to the first base position. They can either bring in a pure first baseman, with or without a Cronenworth trade, and maximize the flexibility of their current roster. Or, they can go with a volume approach and rotate out any of the options currently within their organization. With the composition of the current roster feeling incomplete, it's difficult to know which path is the "correct" one as of now. View the full article

Tom Pohlad made clear that under the new ownership group, the two things they intend to improve on are accountability and communication with their fans, media, and employees. Tom Pohlad's first media appearances indicate they will do so, but what can the Twins do moving forward to prove their words and improve the team's payroll?View the full article

In a pre-Christmas gift to Boston Red Sox fans everywhere, Craig Breslow made a trade to bring All-Star first baseman Willson Contreras to Massachusetts in exchange for RHP Hunter Dobbins, RHP Yhoiker Fajardo, and RHP Blake Aita. I wrote about how Contreras would be an excellent trade addition during the Winter Meetings, and now first base has been solidified for the next two seasons. And yet, the team's work on the infield isn't done — there’s still a hole at the hot corner. While talks are still ongoing with Alex Bregman in free agency, there are other teams in the mix for him. Coming back to Boston makes a lot of sense for both sides. When healthy, Bregman thrived playing at Fenway Park and his veteran leadership helped young players like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer ease their way into the big leagues. Bringing in Contreras, another veteran and hitter that brings a swing perfect for Fenway, should help in the negotiations with Bregman, but not in the typical way. Having Contreras on the roster zaps quite a bit of the negotiating power that Bregman’s larger-than-life agent, Scott Boras, has in the ongoing talks. Before Contreras, the Red Sox needed Bregman’s bat. Now, though? They still need him, but not in a "our season hinges on this guy" kind of way. While it’s obvious that the Red Sox should add another bat in addition to Contreras, it no longer has to be Bregman's stick. Wouldn’t it make more sense for the Red Sox to pivot to someone younger like Bo Bichette, especially considering he’s younger and is currently projected to make a similar amount of money on the open market? He’s also informed teams that he’s willing to move off of shortstop, a position he desperately needs to abandon. Moving Bichette to second base helps to solve the infield puzzle and guarantees Gold Glove center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela stays where he is needed most. Bichette fits the timeline of the Red Sox. He’s 28 and would absolutely rake at Fenway. He's a spray hitter with power to all fields who currently plays in a (relatively) pitcher-friendly stadium in Toronto. Even if his power doesn't push past 25 home runs he's led the league in total hits twice. The Red Sox need a guy who is comfortable putting the ball in play and driving in runs, while also putting himself in a position to score. Moving him to second base would allow for Trevor Story to continue playing shortstop and would slide Marcelo Mayer into the starting third base role. Trusting Mayer to stay healthy for a full season is risky, but he’s a top prospect for a reason. With multiple reps at third, he should get his feet under him faster than most. Should that not pan out, the Red Sox still have four outfielders with only three outfield spots to fill. Trading one of them for a third baseman could be an option down the line. The organization may see Mayer as the heir apparent at shortstop, but he has already proven that he can handle the hot corner, albeit in a small sample. The Red Sox fixed the revolving door at first base with the trade for Willson Contreras. Pivoting away from Alex Bregman to Bo Bichette would fix the gaping hole that has been second base since Dustin Pedroia retired. If the Red Sox are serious about competing in the long term, buying into the youth movement instead of giving six years to an aging veteran is the way to go. View the full article

Last week, the Miami Marlins made their signing of Christopher Morel official. Sources tell our own Isaac Azout that Morel will not be the last bat added this offseason. Whether it's via free agency or trade, the Marlins will continue shopping for efficient ways to upgrade an offense that ranked tied for 19th in MLB in wRC+ and 27th in home runs. Below are four names (two trade targets and two free agents) that should be considered by the Marlins front office. 1B Triston Casas (Boston Red Sox) With the Boston Red Sox acquiring Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals, former top prospect Triston Casas does not have a clear spot in the club's future plans. The American Heritage product is only entering his age-26 season, but he has been hampered by injuries—he was limited to playing 63 games in 2024 and 29 games this past season. Even before suffering a left patellar tendon rupture, Casas was on pace for the worst year of his career. However, Casas had an impressive .250/.357/.473 slash line prior to 2025. Under previous front office leadership, the Marlins were reportedly very interested in his combination of power and plate discipline. Maybe Casas' value is too low for Boston to move him right now. He could still be helpful as depth behind Contreras. Any potential trade sending him to the Marlins would likely involve the Sox getting starting pitching in return. OF Jo Adell (Los Angeles Angels) On the other hand, another former first-round pick, Jo Adell, is coming off a career year. Splitting his time between center field and right field, Adell slashed .236/.293/.485/.778 with 37 home runs, 98 RBI and a 112 wRC+. Adell has always struggled to get on base (career .277 OBP) and he shouldn't see much action in center field moving forward, but his power stands out. He has two more years of club control remaining. The Angels pitching depth is still shaky and their lineup is too right-handed-heavy. The Marlins are a natural trade partner, though there hasn't been any indication yet that Adell is on the market. OF Starling Marte (free agent) Marte was a very popular Marlins player in 2020 and 2021. Back then, he was their everyday center fielder and No. 2 hitter. A lot has changed. This past season at age 36, the New York Met slashed .270/.335/.410/.745 with nine home runs, 34 RBI and a 112 wRC+. He averaged only 99 games per year in Queens and he's mainly a designated hitter at this stage of his career. His speed has also been in a steady decline. Playing in Miami where Marte already resides might bring out the best in him. The Marlins would platoon him so that he faces left-handed pitching as much as possible. UTIL Luis Rengifo (free agent) Given the Marlins' desire for defensive versatility, Rengifo seems like a logical fit. Typically a second baseman/third baseman, he can handle shortstop or any of the outfield spots if needed. Last season, Rengifo slashed .238/.287/.335/.622 with nine home runs, 43 RBI and a 73 wRC+ through 147 games played. Even in a disappointing season, he struck out under 20% of the time. Prior to that, Rengifo was coming off three straight seasons where he posted a wRC+ over 100, including career-highs of a 118 wRC+ and 24 stolen bases in 2024. It's rare for 29-year-olds with solid MLB track records to settle for one-year deals. Rengifo's uncharacteristically bad 2025 has created a nice opportunity for the Marlins if they believe he'll bounce back. View the full article

Edwin Encarnación had maybe the most famous parrot outside of a pirate’s when he played for the Blue Jays. He was also pivotal to returning the franchise to October relevance. A three-time All-Star, an American League RBI leader, and the author of one of the most important home runs in Jays’ history, Encarnación appears for the first time (and most likely the last) on the Hall of Fame ballot this year. I watched him once in a spring training game in Sarasota, Florida, when he played for the Cincinnati Reds. He wasn’t a great fielder at third, but man, he could hit. His 16-year career included stops with the Guardians, Mariners, Yankees, and White Sox, but he made a name for himself with the Jays. Alongside José Bautista, they formed Toronto’s version of the “Bash Brothers.” Encarnación’s basic career ledger is imposing: 424 home runs, 1,261 RBIs, an .846 OPS, and a 123 OPS+. His overall Baseball Reference WAR rests at 35.3. For context, that’s comfortably above-average, and considering he played a lot of DH, his value was concentrated almost entirely in the batter’s box. Following a mid-2009 trade from Cincinnati in the Scott Rolen deal, Encarnación initially played third base for Toronto before later moving between first and DH. Earlier in his career with the Jays, they nearly let him go. In 2010, he was designated for assignment. Oakland claimed him on waivers, then non‑tendered him a few weeks later. Toronto eventually re-signed him. I'm not sure if it was ever directly attributed to Bautista, but Encarnación eventually found his power in Toronto. In 2012, he crushed 42 homers and had a .941 OPS. It was a season that saw him finish 11th in MVP voting and start a multi-year run of elite production. The start of that year also earned him a contract extension with the Jays. He signed a three-year, $27 million deal (with a $10 million club option for 2016) in July 2012. When you consider some of the Jays' hitting greats like George Bell, Carlos Delgado, Vernon Wells, Joe Carter and Bautista, it might be surprising to learn that Encarnación finished his time with the Jays third in home runs (239), while ranking among the top 10 in several other categories, including RBIs and OPS. He wasn’t just about power either. Encarnación paired his power with consistent plate discipline, maintaining walk rates of between 10-13%. That is much better than most sluggers when it comes to patience at the plate. There is no question that he is best known for his walk-off, three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning of the 2016 American League Wild Card Game against the Baltimore Orioles. If he had been able to maintain what he did in 2015 and 2016 throughout his career, his chances of being inducted into Cooperstown would have been improved substantially. He hit 39 home runs with 111 RBIs in 2015 along with a .929 OPS. The following year, he upped his home run output to 42 and increased his RBIs to 127. Those seasons were a bit of an anomaly for Encarnación. Sure, he drove in 100 runs or more in six seasons, but didn’t really get close to that output in most of the other 10. Encarnación was primarily a DH and first baseman for the majority of his career, so if you are looking for recent comparisons that would include Delgado, Mark Teixeira, and maybe even Don Mattingly. Teixeira had 409 career home runs and finished well above Encarnación in WAR at around 50. He only garnered 1.5% of the vote in his first year of eligibility to enter the Hall of Fame and fell off the ballot. Given that Delgado and Mattingly were both recently reconsidered by a Cooperstown special committee and fell short of the 12 votes needed for induction, the odds are not in Encarnación’s favour. One of the biggest hurdles for Encarnación’s Hall of Fame case is positional value. Voters have historically undervalued designated hitters, even those with elite offensive numbers. David Ortiz is the rare exception, and his induction was buoyed by postseason heroics and a larger-than-life persona. Encarnación’s career, while impressive, lacks that same narrative weight beyond his Wild Card walk-off. Bigger names like Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun and Matt Kemp are among the 12 newcomers on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot this year. Encarnación is also joined by Howie Kendrick, Daniel Murphy, Rick Porcello, Shin-Soo Choo, Gio González, Alex Gordon, Nick Markakis and Hunter Pence. Carlos Beltrán is among 15 players who carried over from last year. He came 19 votes shy in last year’s balloting. While Edwin Encarnación left the Jays in 2016 for a big contract with Cleveland, then proceeded to the Mariners, Yankees and White Sox, he will always be remembered for his contributions in Toronto. No doubt, part of that productivity resulted in him returning to the organization, where he continues to serve as a special advisor and assistant. Like a lot of former Jays, including Bell, Delgado, Bautista, and Dave Stieb, Encarnación’s contributions won’t be recognized by Cooperstown. Instead, we can look back fondly at his parrot and remember him and the teams he led during the 2010s. Ultimately, Encarnación’s story isn’t about a Hall of Fame plaque. It’s about moments that mattered for Toronto. From his 2012 breakout to his 2016 heroics, he helped define an era of Blue Jays baseball that reignited the franchise. For a generation of Toronto fans, his name evokes packed stadiums, deafening roars, and the thrill of meaningful October baseball. Edwin Encarnación won’t get a plaque on the wall in Cooperstown, but he gave Toronto something just as rare. He gave the franchise hope, excitement, and a return to the playoffs after two decades. In the end, that’s a legacy no ballot can define. If you watched the Blue Jays this past season, you might have noticed that Encarnación was frequently in the dugout as part of his current role with the club. He continues to mentor Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and others in the franchise, and that might ultimately be even more impactful than his playing contributions. View the full article

Last week, the Royals made a splashy move to shore up the bullpen, acquiring All-Star setup man Matt Strahm from the Phillies for Johnathon Bowlan. Kansas City's approach has centered on targeting specific needs, particularly in the outfield and bullpen, and leveraging its pitching depth in trades. The Strahm deal, which reunites him with the team that drafted him, is a cornerstone of this strategy. Matt Strahm Background Drafted by the Royals in the 21st round of the 2012 draft, Strahm came out of Neosho City Community College. He had dominated the minors with his best season coming in 2015, where he shared time in the Royals' Single-A and High-A affiliates, appearing in 29 games with a 2.59 ERA, five saves, 121 strikeouts, and .968 WHIP. He made his major league debut with Kansas City in 2016, appearing in 22 games with a 1.23 ERA, a 34 percent strikeout rate, and an xWOBA of .227. He struggled in his sophomore season, appearing in 24 games with a 14.3 walk percentage and a barrel percentage of 6.5, finishing with an inflated xERA of 4.09. Strahm would be sent packing in 2018, with Esteury Ruiz and Travis Wood going to the Padres in exchange for Trevor Cahill, Brandon Maurer, and Ryan Buchter; he appeared in 112 games with the Padres, posting a 107 ERA+. After one season with the Red Sox, he’d sign with the Phillies in 2023, where he’d be the anchor of the Phillies bullpen. Including a 2024 campaign where he received the only All-Star nod of his career, where he appeared in a career high 66 games with a 6-2 record, ranking in the 96th percentile in K% (33.3) and xBA (.187), 97th percentile in BB% (4.6), and 99th percentile in xERA 2.43. Matt Strahm Arsenal The 34-year-old lefty has a four-pitch repertoire that consists of a fastball, slider, sinker, and cutter. This season, he relied heavily on a fastball-slider combo, with his fastball being used at a 38 percent clip and slider at 32%. His fastball sits at 92.3, where it generated a putaway percentage of 23.4 and an xBA of .174. He uses his fastball heavily against righties, raising his usage to 44.8%. He struggled with the longball, giving up four home runs and a 45.8 hard-hit percentage that brought his run value down to -3. His slider comes in at his best pitch at a run value of +8 with a whiff rate of 30%, wOBA of 167, and a 28.8. His 87.7 mph cutter was his second-best pitch, which generated a usage rate of 14.6% but created soft contact with a 23.8 hard-hit percentage, and his second-best putaway pitch at 21.4, finishing with a run value of +4. Finally, at +2 run value, his sinker sits at 92.4 mph. Hitters were all over it last season, hitting at a .319 xBA, .506 xSLG, and xWOBA. Strahm will bring consistency and a veteran presence to an already strong bullpen with average velocity and nasty break pitches that generate weak contact. He is the perfect setup man for a hungry playoff team. View the full article

Freddy Peralta was a hot name at the Winter Meetings, and it looks increasingly likely that the Brewers will trade their ace prior to his final season of team control. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reported that the Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, Giants and Astros all expressed interest in acquiring Peralta, while our own Matt Trueblood added the Braves and Padres to that list. It would be a bold all-in decision for the Brewers to keep Peralta, but if (as expected) he is to be traded, here are a few returns we might see. Mets receive: Freddy Peralta Brewers receive: RHP Brandon Sproat (MLB Pipeline #5 prospect in organization), SS Elian Pena (10), RHP Peter Kussow (27) The Mets came out of the Winter Meetings with a lot of negative publicity, after watching the Dodgers and Orioles sign franchise mainstays Edwin Díaz and Pete Alonso, respectively. Acquiring Peralta would give the Mets and former Brewers GM David Stearns an experienced No. 1 starter to lead his young rotation. In return, the Brewers receive three players, headlined by Sproat, an athletic 25-year-old pitcher who can hit 100 MPH on the gun and sits around 96. Sproat struggled to generate strikeouts at his previous rate this season, in 121 innings at Triple-A and a brief 20.2 innings in the majors. Still, he has electric stuff; the Brewers can help him regain his dominance. Pena received the largest non-Roki Sasaki International bonus last winter, at $5 million, and is a robust hitting infielder who had a strong season in the Dominican Summer League. Kussow was the Mets' 2025 fourth-round draft pick from Arrowhead High School in Wisconsin, where he was a standout pitcher. Overall, the Brewers would receive an MLB-ready pitcher who should contribute to the team quickly, and two very talented 18-year-olds to develop. —Telemachus Rafaelidys Orioles receive: SP Freddy Peralta Brewers receive: OF Dylan Beavers (MLB Pipeline #83 overall prospect, #2 in organization), UTIL Jeremiah Jackson I’d like to preface this by saying that I’m quite bad at putting together mock trades. I’ve never worked in a baseball front office, nor have I ever worn a suit while attending a baseball game in person. Nonetheless, I think I’ve gotten good enough at the part where I point at good players and say “hey, they’d be awesome to get in a trade!” It’s the other part—the mental simulation of haggling; the imagining of leverage and negotiation—that I really struggle with. So if this trade seems unfair, it probably is, but that’s what makes this so much fun. A few years ago, Baltimore’s core of next-level position player prospects seemed to be the future of the AL East, but with disappointing results from pretty much everyone except Gunnar Henderson and a rotation that included 41-year-old Charlie Morton on Opening Day, this was a wash of a year. However, the Orioles now seem to be going all-in this offseason. They followed up trades for Taylor Ward and Andrew Kittredge with a $28-million free-agent contract for Ryan Helsley and a $155-million deal for Pete Alonso. Even after acquiring Shane Baz, the thing they’re missing is starting pitching, which has only marginally improved since the beginning of the offseason; they sent Greyson Rodriguez to the Angels to land Ward. In exchange for Peralta, the Brewers are still in need of more pop in their lineup. Only three players (Andrew Vaughn, Jackson Chourio, and Christian Yelich) slugged above .450 last season, and although Milwaukee made their small-ball approach work, their weakness was exploited by the Dodgers in a lopsided NLCS matchup. Dylan Beavers is Baltimore’s #2-ranked (and MLB’s #83-ranked) prospect, and had a solid showing across 35 games in the big leagues last year, posting a 125 wRC+. What’s more exciting is the 152 wRC+ he posted across 418 plate appearances with Triple-A Norfolk. While slashing .304/..420/.515 with the Tides, he also had a 16.3% walk rate against an 18.2% strikeout rate. His approach at the plate could be a major improvement over Isaac Collins in left field. Now that the Orioles have an excess of talent in the outfield with prospects like Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Ike Irish on the way, perhaps they’d be willing to part with him. Jeremiah Jackson was Mr. Do-it-All in 2025, primarily playing outfield for the big-league club but spending most of his time in Triple A playing shortstop and third base. Like Beavers, he had good power results, posting a 117 wRC+ with a .447 slugging percentage across 183 major-league plate appearances. He also posted a 182 wRC+ with a .673 slugging percentage across 171 plate appearances in Triple A. His career walk rate is just 6%, but he cut down on strikeouts significantly while in the minors last year, so he is trending in the right direction. This may seem like a lot to ask for one year of one pitcher, but it’s important to note that Peralta will be owed just $8 million from his club option in 2026 and has been a consistently solid starter since becoming a big-league mainstay in 2021. If Baltimore truly wants to be competitive in what may be the toughest division in MLB, this could be the deal that takes them to the next level. —Jason Wang Red Sox Receive: RHP Freddy Peralta Brewers Receive: LHP Kyle Harrison, RHP Kyson Witherspoon (MLB Pipeline #89 overall, #3 in organization), OF Nelly Taylor (15) After seeing what the Orioles had to give up for the Rays' Shane Baz, the package for Peralta should include an MLB-ready player, along with prospects that we can see make their debuts as soon as 2027. With the Red Sox showing interest in improving their rotation for this season, Peralta's $8 million salary is a nice, cheap rental, if not a player worth extending to keep the rotation strong beyond 2026. The club already added Johan Oviedo from the Pirates, as well as Sonny Gray from the Cardinals. So why not keep plucking from the NL Central and grab the Brewers' ace? He would easily slot into a prospective playoff rotation for them, and would be an upgrade over Patrick Sandoval, who is still coming off Tommy John. The Brewers would get a controllable asset back in Harrison, who, yes, is another left-hander when they already have five in the bullpen. If the Brewers see Ángel Zerpa, DL Hall, or even Aaron Ashby as potential starters taking the Jose Quintana role, however, a spot opens up for Harrison to slot in their place in long relief. The real prize in this package is Kyson Witherspoon, whom the Red Sox drafted in the first round in last year's draft. He has multiple plus pitches, including a mid-90s fastball, a sharp slider, and a cutter that is in the upper 80s and pretty consistent. He's still working on his changeup, but he does have a pretty decent curveball that's been given a 60 grade by MLB Pipeline. The downside is he hasn't made a professional debut, only starting in rookie ball this season. But don't be surprised if he becomes a top prospect in the future. Nelly Taylor, on the other hand, fits the mold and type that the Brewers organization has looked for for a while now. He's an aggressive, above-average runner who won Minor League defensive player of the year in his first full pro season. He's likely going to play center field, and would be a nice depth piece in a farm system that doesn’t exactly need immediate help in the outfield. Seeing as his bat speed has continued to improve over the last few seasons, maybe Taylor would see a path to the big leagues within the next season or two. —Ryan Pollak View the full article

The Twins’ 2025 season will not be remembered fondly, at the major-league level. For the second straight year, Minnesota faded badly in the second half, and the trade deadline only deepened the frustration. Fan favorites with multiple years of team control, like Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and Louis Varland, were shipped out—moves that signaled another organizational reset, rather than a push forward. Those decisions understandably strained the relationship between the front office and the fanbase. Still, the offseason remains unfinished, and perspective matters. When you zoom out beyond Target Field and look across the organization, there was legitimate progress made in 2025. The Twins’ farm system provided some of the brightest moments of the year and offered a reminder of why patience still matters in the Twin Cities. Here are five ways to remember 2025, through the lens of Twins minor leaguers. Big Years from Gabriel Gonzalez and Dasan Hill If there was one clear takeaway from the farm system this season, it was the emergence of legitimate impact talent. Gabriel Gonzalez was named Twins Daily’s Minor League Hitter of the Year after putting together his most complete professional season. In 123 games, he hit .329/.395/.513 with a 148 wRC+, while reaching Triple-A as a 21-year-old. He showed improved plate discipline, consistent power to all fields, and the kind of offensive profile that now projects comfortably into a corner outfield role at the major-league level. Plus, he’s a right-handed hitter, something the Twins have lacked for that very role in recent seasons. On the mound, Dasan Hill earned Twins Daily’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors, and his rise felt just as meaningful. In 19 starts (62 IP), he posted a 3.19 ERA, a 3.35 FIP, a 31.1% strikeout rate, and a 15.0% walk rate. The 19-year-old took noticeable steps forward with his command and secondary offerings, turning raw arm strength into sustainable production. If he continues to make strides next season, he could enter the picture as a top-100 prospect. In an organization that continues to prioritize pitching development, Hill’s progress stood out as a significant win. Top Prospects on the Brink: Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez The Twins still possess two of the most intriguing offensive prospects in baseball. Walker Jenkins continued to validate the hype surrounding him, showing why he is viewed as a potential franchise cornerstone. He reached Triple A in his age-20 season, a rare feat, and posted a 135 wRC+ across three levels. Many national outlets will have him ranked among baseball’s top 10 prospects entering 2026. His combination of physicality, athleticism, and advanced approach at the plate keeps his ceiling among the highest in the system. Emmanuel Rodriguez remains a fascinating case study. When healthy, he is one of the most dangerous hitters in the minors, pairing elite on-base skills with game-changing power. While durability remains i doubt, however, 2025 reinforced that Rodriguez is not a fringe prospect. In 65 games, he posted a 135 wRC+ with an .839 OPS and a 20.6% walk rate. Minnesota allowed him to play in the Dominican Winter League, and he's posted a .292 batting average with a .417 OBP and a .646 slugging percentage for a robust 1.063 OPS over 18 games. He is a potential middle-of-the-order bat knocking on the door of Target Field. Cedar Rapids Wins the Midwest League West Division Title Team success at the minor-league level does not always translate directly to future wins in the majors, but it still matters. The Kernels had to win back-to-back games in the best-of-three series to clinch the Midwest League West Division title. Their run to a runner-up finish in the Midwest League Championship showcased a group that played meaningful games late into the season. It was the team’s third Midwest League Championship series in five years, showcasing that the organization is finding ways to win in the low minors. That experience is valuable. Prospects learning how to handle pressure, adjust during playoff series, and perform in high-leverage situations adds an element that development plans cannot fully replicate. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 74-63 record. The Kernels’ success was a reminder that the system is not just producing individual standouts, but also competitive teams. Breakout Seasons from Connor Prielipp and Kaelen Culpepper Few prospects needed a strong year more than Connor Prielipp, and he delivered. After injuries slowed his early professional career, Prielipp finally enjoyed extended time on the mound and looked the part of a polished left-handed arm. In 24 games (82 2/3 IP), he posted a 4.03 ERA, a 3.54 FIP, a 27.0% strikeout rate, and an 8.5% walk rate. Earlier this winter, Derek Falvey mentioned him as a potential arm that could shift to a bullpen role for 2026. His ability to miss bats and attack hitters reestablished him as a meaningful piece of the pitching pipeline. Kaelen Culpepper also made noise in 2025, emerging as one of the system’s most pleasant surprises. The former first-round pick slashed .289/.375/.469 with a 138 wRC+ and 25 steals. His blend of athleticism, defensive versatility, and improving offensive output raised his stock, to something befitting a player taken higher than 21st in his draft class. Culpepper’s development added depth to a system that increasingly values flexibility and up-the-middle talent. A Restocked Farm System from the Trade Deadline The trade deadline hurt, but it served a purpose. By moving established big-league relievers and veterans on expiring deals, the Twins replenished a farm system that had thinned out in recent years. Minnesota acquired multiple prospects ranked in Twins Daily’s top-20 prospects, including catcher Eduardo Tait, right-handed pitcher Mick Abel, and lefty Kendry Rojas. Other prospects acquired include righty Ryan Gallagher, outfielder Hendry Mendez, righty Geremy Villoria, catcher Enrique Jimenez, righthander Sam Armstrong, and southpaw Garrett Horn. Not every prospect turns out to be a star, but the Twins need viable options for the long term. The incoming talent may not all become household names, but the organization added volume, upside, and developmental options across multiple levels. That matters for a front office that continues to operate under owner-imposed payroll constraints. Minnesota’s farm system is now ranked among baseball’s best, and the team will add to that depth with the third overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. A deeper farm system creates options, whether that means internal promotions or future trades that better align with competitive windows. The 2025 Twins will be remembered for another collapse and difficult decisions from the dugout to the owners' suite. The 2025 farm system, however, tells a different story—one of growth, opportunity, and a reminder that the next core of Twins baseball is still very much under construction. What stands out from the past year in the Twins farm system? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

For a contending team, it wouldn’t have been pragmatic for the Boston Red Sox to go into the 2026 season without additional depth at first base, a position that has been a glaring weakness over the past three years. Moreover, first base seemed to be the obvious place to acquire a desperately-needed power bat. Following the acquisition of Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals, Triston Casas faces an uncertain path to playing time in 2026. Let me start with this: I’m a vocal Triston Casas fan. In college, I took a break from following the Red Sox closely as my studies (and extracurricular activities) took precedence. After graduation, I started watching the team again, largely drawn back to baseball by Casas’ rookie season. As someone who’s also been labeled as quirky throughout my whole life, it was refreshing to see an MLB player with a similar personality on my favorite team. Growing up during the boring era of baseball personalities, Casas was like a shot of espresso. I love that Casas is unapologetically himself, from his adherence to routines (I also eat strawberries daily) to his love for sushi, and most importantly, his ability to demolish the ball. After finishing third in the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year voting, it looked like Triston Casas was going to be the Red Sox’s middle-of-the-order power bat for the future. In 2024, a rib cartilage tear sidelined him for most of the season. In 2025, a torn patellar tendon abruptly cut his season short. Due to Casas’ extensive injury history, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow was reluctant to name him as the team’s starting first baseman in 2026. Year PA BB% K% AVG OPS wOBA wRC+ WAR 2023 502 13.9% 25.1% .263 .856 .367 131 1.8 2024 243 12.3% 31.7% .241 .800 .342 120 0.6 2025 112 9.8% 24.1% .182 .580 .256 56 -0.6 Casas’ value comes from his bat, which peaked during his rookie season. His defense at first has been subpar, posting -9 Outs Above Average (OAA) in his 2023 rookie season, -2 OAA in 2024, and -3 OAA in 2025. On the other hand, Contreras is a plus defender at first, recording +6 OAA in his first full season manning the position. Back in June, Casas said he aims to be ready by Opening Day. The addition of Contreras alleviates the pressure on Casas to rush his recovery and return Notably, he has three remaining minor league options and could start the season in Triple-A Worcester. When fully healthy, Casas, as a left-handed bat, could work out some platoon with Contreras between designated hitter and first base. Figuring out what to do with Masataka Yoshida, the team’s designated hitter, is a bridge to cross later in this possible future. If Casas obliterates the ball in spring training, releasing Yoshida could be an option; the former NPB phenom has never provided much value defensively, and he’s a square peg in a round hole as a designated hitter. He profiles more as a contact hitter than the power bat that teams want from the position. Considering the uncertainty surrounding Casas’ health and questions about his performance returning from consecutive substantial injuries, however, cutting ties with Yoshida now would be premature. The Red Sox finally have depth at first base, a position that has only accumulated 1.4 fWAR for the team since 2022 (24th in baseball). Contreras himself brings his own history of injuries, albeit most of them were related to catching. Trading or releasing Casas when his value is at an all-time low would be short-sighted. At just 26 years old next season (his birthday is in early January), he remains controllable and won’t reach arbitration until after 2026. Take it from Breslow, who summed up the team’s approach: “(It’s an) opportunity to keep everybody fresh, to keep everybody involved and engaged at the same time. As we sit here in late December with Triston coming off of a season-ending injury, to get too far ahead of ourselves probably doesn’t make a ton of sense. To have right-handed impact, left-handed impact, both guys that can hit the ball out of the park, it’s going to make us better.” For now, patience is the best strategy. The Red Sox can afford to let the situation unfold. View the full article

The Ronny Henriquez news is a gut punch. After emerging as the most impactful Miami Marlins reliever in 2025, he has been ruled out for the entire 2026 MLB season following Tommy John surgery. Finding somebody to fill his shoes is a daunting task, particularly at this stage of the offseason with many of the most accomplished free agent relievers no longer available. That being said, perhaps it instills confidence in the Marlins front office to remember they originally acquired Henriquez as a waiver claim. Browsing the 40-man rosters of every team, I have identified three arms with many of the same attributes. While we can't count on them getting designated for assignment like Henriquez did, they should be attainable at a very low cost. The following pitchers each meet this criteria: Primarily used as a reliever by their current team Above-average fastball velocity Multiple secondary pitches with at least 10% usage Finished 2025 season healthy Out of minor league options Pre-arbitration eligible RHP Colin Selby (Baltimore Orioles) Major League Baseball made a rule change in recent years to prevent teams from constantly shuttling players back and forth between Triple-A and The Show. The Orioles pushed Colin Selby to the legal limit in 2025, optioning him on five separate occasions before we even reached the halfway mark of the season. A hamstring strain sidelined him throughout most of the second half. Selby's arsenal consists of a sinker, curveball, slider and four-seam fastball. The curve is his most intriguing weapon with massive vertical drop from his high arm slot and an average spin rate of 2,840 rpm. OTc5blFfVjBZQUhRPT1fRGdKWVVWQU1Yd3NBWFZOUVh3QUhCQUJVQUZsUlcxa0FCMU1HQVZBRENRSlhWZ0ZR.mp4 Selby is still under club control for six more years and landed 64.5% of his pitches for strikes in limited action with the O's, so it would almost certainly take a trade of some kind for the Marlins to pry him loose. Then again, Henriquez was in an identical situation last February when the Minnesota Twins surprisingly let him go. RHP Chase Silseth (Los Angeles Angels) Chase Silseth made the transition to full-time reliever last summer. From 2022-2024, his propensity for allowing home runs was a serious issue (19 HR in 89.0 IP). However, in 10 late-season appearances out of the Angels 'pen, the only batter to take him deep was Nick Kurtz. No shame in that. Silseth used to throw as many as seven different pitch types. In 2025, he simplified his approach—four-seamers and splitters to lefties, with the addition of sweepers and sinkers to righties. Although Silseth's upside is alluring, he had a lengthy IL stint for right elbow inflammation in 2024 and has only been tasked with pitching back-to-back days once in his professional career. RHP Carlos Vargas (Seattle Mariners) Carlos Vargas was already out of options entering 2025, so he spent the entire year on Seattle's active roster (excluding one series he missed while on the paternity list). He posted a 3.97 ERA with a 16.3% strikeout rate in 77 innings pitched. He stuck around during their postseason run, too. Leaning heavily on a high-90s sinker, Vargas is a ground ball machine (95th percentile among MLB pitchers in GB%). There were 12 ground ball double plays turned behind him, tied for the second-highest total of any reliever. cf960766-f4a78de5-d3ee3413-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Vargas had jarring reverse platoon splits during his age-25 campaign—lefties slashed .205/.248/.341 while righties slashed .327/.404/.485. He could benefit a lot from learning a sweeper, much like Henriquez did upon being acquired by the Fish. View the full article