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The Boston Red Sox acquired Willson Contreras from Chaim Bloom and the St. Louis Cardinals for Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo, and Blake Aita in the second deal of the offseason between the two clubs. According to Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox will pay Contreras $18 million in 2026 and $17 million in 2027, with a club option for 2028. The initial reaction may be that Contreras is not the bat the Red Sox need, especially when compared to Pete Alonso, a player the team made an offer to earlier this offseason. While Contreras does not provide the 40-plus home run power of Alonso, their production is far more similar than many may realize. Since 2023, Contreras has posted 8.2 fWAR, a 129 wRC+, and an .817 OPS. Alonso, by comparison, has an 8.4 fWAR, a 128 wRC+, and an .827 OPS. The two are hardly far apart in terms of offensive value. Contreras underperformed his expected metrics last season: a .257 BA versus a .260 xBA, a .447 SLG versus a .480 xSLG, and a .344 wOBA versus a .358 xwOBA. His expected numbers were all above average by league standards, with his xwOBA and xSLG ranking in the 87th and 85th percentiles, respectively. More importantly, his defense is among the best in baseball. His Outs Above Average ranked in the 91st percentile, with a total of six, the fourth-highest mark among all first basemen. His Fielding Run Value of four was the third-best at the position. Entering the offseason, the Red Sox had a clear need on the infield corners, with first base arguably the more pressing of the two. While homegrown product Triston Casas offers a strong ceiling due to his plate discipline and ability to barrel the ball, he struggled to stay on the field and got off to a slow start in 2025 before a torn patellar tendon ended his season prematurely. Roster Resource immediately slots Contreras into the three spot against both left-handed and right-handed pitching. He is an above-average hitter against both sides, posting a 142 wRC+ versus lefties and a 117 wRC+ versus righties. Beyond his general offensive prowess, Contreras bats right-handed, something the Red Sox lacked without Bregman in the lineup. Prior to the deal, three of the team’s best hitters—Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, and Wilyer Abreu—all hit from the left side. Only Anthony was an above-average hitter against left-handed pitching, while Duran and Abreu combined for just four home runs out of their 38 total against lefties. This move opens up the lineup in a significant way. Romy Gonzalez was the likely fill-in at first as Casas rehabbed his way back onto the field, forcing him to play more frequently than his skill-set should allow. Marcelo Mayer can now hit primarily against right-handed pitching, meaning Gonzalez will specialize against lefties as the two rotate (likely) at second base. Manager Alex Cora has long shown an affinity for lineup optimization, and this addition only gives him greater flexibility. Earlier this offseason, I wrote about how the Blue Jays seemingly rose from the ashes to become a World Series contender by prioritizing bat speed. The Red Sox feature top prospects Anthony, Mayer, and Campbell with above-average bat speed, along with the aforementioned Duran and Abreu. Contreras can now be added to that group. His average bat speed in 2025 ranked 23rd in MLB at 76 mph, and 62.1 percent of his swings exceeded 75 mph. Those traits contributed to career highs in 2025 in both barrel rate at 13.8 percent and HardHit rate at 48.9 percent. OHl3bnZfWGw0TUFRPT1fVkZjQUJRVU1WZ0FBQVZWWFZBQUhDRk1IQUFNRFdsY0FWRkJXQWdwVUJ3QlVVZ0VE.mp4 For those wondering, this move does not displace Connor Wong or Carlos Narváez in any way. Contreras was officially declared a first baseman by Cardinals leadership last offseason, and the Red Sox aren’t expected to change that. The Red Sox have not received a two-fWAR season from a first baseman since David Ortiz in 2017, a benchmark Contreras should be capable of surpassing. He also brings much-needed durability, as his first season transitioning away from catching was his healthiest since 2018, as he appeared in 135 games. This move should not deter the Red Sox from continuing their pursuit of Alex Bregman in free agency. Even after this deal, they rank near the middle of the league in offensive projections. This acquisition meaningfully strengthens the lineup, but more offensive help is needed in what figures to be a highly competitive AL East. View the full article

The start of 2026 is fast approaching, and the San Diego Padres still haven't made the blockbuster trade(s) that were teased/threatened during the Winter Meetings. That inaction has created a vacuum in the fan realm. Usually, it gets filled with trade ideas that would make every team involved say "no." But until Padres president A.J. Preller decides whether he is or isn't moving Nick Pivetta, Mason Miller and anyone else who has been in the rumor mill this month, people will keep using the interwebs to fire off proposals that totally aren't fleece jobs in the Friars' favor. But what if I told you I have three wild ideas that can be rolled into one multi-team swap that would help everyone involved? And that I can actually defend it? (Save the eye rolls and hate until you get to the end.) With that, and against the opinions of podcasters and pundits who know better (I see you, Erik Kratz), here's what I've devised: TRADE No. 1: Padres and Mets PADRES GET: RHP Kodai Senga INF Ronny Mauricio SS/OF Jett Williams (Mets' No. 4 prospect, No. 51 overall prospect per Baseball America) LHP Jonathan Santucci (Mets' No. 10 prospect) METS GET: RHP Mason Miller OF Ramon Laureano Why the deal makes sense for the Padres: It capitalizes on two sell-high opportunities AND helps to set up a much larger trade. Last year, Miller cost the Padres their top prospect, shortstop Leo De Vries, in a deadline deal. At the moment, he's the team's closer, but Jeremiah Estrada is still around. Miller is 27 and controllable for the next four seasons. His trade value remains sky-high. In 2025, Laureano revived his career as a 30-year-old with the Orioles and Padres. He enjoyed a solid a post-deadline run in San Diego (.812 OPS, nine home runs in 198 plate appearances). He may never be more tradeable, even though the Padres don't have a ready replacement for him. Kratz said on the "Foul Territory" podcast that the Padres should offload Xander Bogaerts' contract if they're serious about trading Miller. That might be needed in a real trade, but here, it isn't. Senga, 33 in January, is a question mark because of injuries and the fact he was demoted to the minors in the middle of a playoff race last year. But his rookie season of 2023 (2.98 ERA/3.63 FIP, 29.1 strikeout percentage in 166 1/3 innings) and contract (two years, $28 million, club option for 2028 based on health) will tease teams. Our @Randy Holt wrote this month that, on paper, a Senga trade to the Padres makes sense; this would be one way to make that happen. Mauricio, 24, is a switch hitter with light-tower power from the left side, but he's still catching up physically two years after suffering a major knee injury. The Athletic's Will Sammon reported this week the Mets are "open to moving" him, along with fellow infielders Mark Vientos and Luisangel Acuna. Sammon also reported the return "matters quite a bit" to the Mets in any trades they may make. Dare we say, Miller would make it worth their while? In real life, Mauricio could take over at second base for the Pads, but in this hypothetical, he isn't staying. Neither are Williams, who was the Mets' top prospect and a top-30 player not long ago, or Santucci, who made it to Double-A in his first pro season in 2025 and impressed there. Now, on to what you could call the Pivetta Pivot. TRADE No. 2: Padres and Orioles PADRES GET: 1B Ryan Mountcastle OF Nate George (Orioles' No. 4 prospect, No. 78 overall) RHP Trey Gibson ORIOLES GET: RHP Nick Pivetta and cash Why the deal makes sense for the Padres: San Diego would fill a need on the infield and move a pitcher who is likely in the final year of his contract. They'd also add trade capital for the deal that comes next in this exercise. Pivetta, 33, in February, was at his best in 2025 (career highs with 181 2/3 innings pitched and 190 strikeouts; a 3.49 FIP/2.87 ERA; a 19-12 team record in his starts). He's the most reliable rotation option at the moment. But he'll also be making $19 million in 2026, and he has a player option for 2027; another good year would set him up well in a free-agent SP class that is expected to be loaded. Mountcastle, 29 in February, is a natural first baseman, unlike the converted middle infielders who have occupied the position recently in San Diego. He's a power threat who's entering his walk year following an injury-marred 2025. He also should be eminently available -- the O's are stacked at first base and DH with Pete Alonso, Tyler O'Neill, Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo. George, 19, reached High-A ball last year in his first pro season and slashed .291/.380/.392 in 21 games there. Pretty good work for a 16th-round draft pick out of high school. Gibson, 23, is a power arm who struggled in his first go-round at Triple-A. Two down, one to go. That leaves the least realistic trade of the lot, but it's a deal that still works because of the returns from the first two trades. TRADE No. 3: Padres and Tigers PADRES GET: Tarik Skubal PTBNL TIGERS GET: Mauricio Williams Santucci George Gibson LHP Kash Mayfield (Padres' No. 4 prospect) Why this deal makes sense for the Padres: Skubal, even as a rental, is all that needs to be said, but let's expand on that: The prospect cost would be minimal, for once. Mayfield is the lone San Diego farmhand going to the Tigers in this scenario. Preller would flip the young players and minor leaguers that the Mets and Orioles provided. Dealing a first-rounder like Mayfield would be difficult, but it would also be on-brand. The left-hander was babied a bit in his first pro campaign. He mostly pitched once a week and logged just 60 2/3 innings over 19 appearances (all starts) for Low-A Lake Elsinore. He missed three weeks in May and June with shoulder discomfort. But when he was on the mound, he was good: 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings, a 3.14 K:BB ratio and 0.3 home runs per nine (in the California League!). Detroit needs to be overwhelmed to move its Cy Young-winning ace. A half-dozen players of this caliber could maybe make Tigers president Scott Harris think for a second: a young starting infielder, two top-100 hitters and three potential frontline starters in exchange for Skubal's walk season. In truth, this is probably too much for one year of the southpaw, but we're in the business of excess in this exercise. In the end, the Padres' portion of all this would be Skubal, Senga and Mountcastle for Pivetta, Miller, Laureano and Mayfield. Preller could actually make the first two trades separately, give or take a few names, if the Orioles aren't content with just adding Shane Baz. We've written previously that he should be trying to backfill the farm system after dealing more than a dozen high-level prospects over the past three years. And, yes, if he's offering Miller in trades, he could just make him the centerpiece of a potential trade for Skubal. The counter is that, in this scenario, Preller would stay true to his all-in M.O. by obtaining an elite starter and rotation depth, but without gutting the farm once more. View the full article

Here are five Cubs prospects who are destined to break into the major leagues, with or without the team, in the coming year. Cory Sparks dives into the strengths, weaknesses, and fit of Jaxon Wiggins, Ethan Conrad, Jonathon Long, Grant Kipp, and James Triantos. View the full article

In part four of our countdown of the Royals’ assets, we will be talking about the 10th through 6th most valuable player assets. If you missed the previous three lists, they are listed here. Part 1: #21-25 Part 2: #16-20 Part 3: #11-15 10. David Shields, LHP Age: 19 Controlled Through 2031+ Shields may be the best young pitching prospect in the Royals system right now, impressive since he is still a teenager. In his first season as a professional, between the Complex League in Arizona and Single-A Columbia, he posted a 2.38 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 2.75 FIP in 75.2 IP. He also showed impeccable command with a 31.9% CSW, 28.5% K rate, and 27.5% K-BB%. The lefty out of Mt. Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh primarily pitched with the Fireflies in 2025 and earned Carolina League Pitcher of the Year honors by the end of the season. Even though he hasn't advanced beyond Single-A ball, Shields is seen as one of the top pitchers in the Royals' farm system and one of the more underrated pitchers in the Minor Leagues. Baseball America notes that Shields has the best control of any pitcher in the Kansas City system, and MLB Pipeline had this to say in their most recent scouting report of the 2024 second-round pick. While he's not a high-velocity arm now, many scouts note that he likely will gain more as he moves up and gets older. Shields has a top-of-the-rotation projection, which makes him a Top-10 asset for the Royals right now. 9. Kendry Chourio, RHP Age: 18 Controllable Through 2031+ Shields and Chourio both pitched in Single-A Columbia last year, but the Venezuelan-born righty slightly edges out the Connecticut lefty in terms of asset value. One reason is age: Chourio is nearly a full year younger than Shields. The second reason is stuff: Chourio sports a mid- to upper-90s fastball. That ability gives him a higher ceiling than Shields, though Chourio's command and control lag a little bit behind the Pittsburgh area product. Baseball America is also incredibly optimistic about Chourio's stuff and repertoire, especially for a pitcher without intimidating size. The 18-year-old Venezuelan played at three levels as a 17-year-old last season: the Dominican Summer League, the Complex League, and the Carolina League (Single-A). Across those three stops, Chourio accumulated 51.1 IP and posted a 3.51 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 2.68 FIP. He also sported a 30.8% CSW, 29,9% K rate, and 27.5% K-BB%, thus illustrating he has the command and swing-and-miss ability to thrive as a top-of-the-rotation starter at the Major League level. Chourio's more dynamic profile makes him a slightly more valuable asset than Shields. A standard comp for Chourio is Royals legend Yordano Ventura, and when watching him pitch on tape, it's easy to see why: his easy motion and knack for getting hitters to swing and miss. 8. Blake Mitchell, C Age: 21 Controllable Through 2031+ Mitchell is an interesting asset for the Royals because he's coming off a rough, injury-plagued 2025 season. After breaking a hamate bone in his hand in Spring Training, Mitchell struggled to get going with the River Bandits last season. In 255 plate appearances, he only hit .218, posted a 111 wRC+, and launched three home runs, scored 28 runs, and stole 12 bases. He's got an athletic profile for a catcher with strong HR-SB ability. That was especially evident in 2024 with the Fireflies, as he hit 18 home runs and stole 26 bases in 486 plate appearances. And this is despite his primary position being catcher. A positive development for Mitchell is that he's coming off a strong Arizona Fall League campaign, which I believe has helped him recoup some of his value. In 83 plate appearances, he slashed .218/.390/.320 with a homer and five RBI. He also made the AFL All-Star team and led the Surprise Saguaros to an AFL Championship. There's a lot of swing-and-miss in Mitchell's profile, as he sported a 66.7% contact rate last year in High-A Quad Cities. However, he has strong plate discipline and athleticism and has demonstrated significant improvement defensively since being drafted in 2023. He's ranked No. 62 overall by MLB Pipeline, making him one of the top assets in the Royals system without MLB experience. With catching a source of organizational depth for the Royals, Mitchell is likely a prospect the Royals are floating in many trade talks this offseason. 7. Noah Cameron, LHP Age: 26 Controllable Through 2031 Cameron had a renaissance last year in his MLB rookie debut. The lefty out of St. Joseph, Missouri, posted a 2.99 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 24 starts and 138.1 IP. His FIP was a little high at 4.18, and his fWAR wasn't as impressive at 1.8. Nonetheless, Cameron posted a rookie debut to remember, which also included him finishing fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. The Royals have a ton of control over Cameron. He won't be eligible for arbitration until 2029 and won't be a free agent until 2032. That makes him a valuable asset, even if he may profile more as an end-of-the-rotation arm long term. While his K/BB ratio was strong at 2.65, his K rate was only 20.5%, his K-BB% was 12.8%, and CSW was 26.9%. Those are good numbers, especially for a starter. However, they are not elite, which could be why his name is not generating a ton of interest around the league in trade talks this offseason. Still, with excellent command, poise, and stability, Cameron has significant value to this Royals organization internally. He showed that he could take the mound and be competitive in many starts, as illustrated by his 10 quality starts last season. He also stayed healthy, which was a concern when he was initially drafted in the seventh round in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Central Arkansas. He had Tommy John surgery in college, but thankfully, he hasn't had any injury issues as a professional, which only adds to his long-term value to this Royals organization. 6. Kris Bubic, LHP Age: 28 Controllable Through 2026 Bubic will be a free agent after this season, which prevents him from ranking any higher than sixth. That said, he's one of the most talented pitchers on the Royals roster, and he illustrated last year that he could be a Cy Young candidate when healthy. After primarily pitching in the bullpen in 2024 (due to recovery from Tommy John in 2023 and the Royals' desire to "ease him" back to the mound), Bubic made 20 starts and pitched 116.1 innings last season. In that sample, he accumulated 11 quality starts, posted a 2.55 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and 2.89 FIP. He also sported a 24.4% K rate, a 16.2% K-BB%, and 30.1% CSW. Of Royals starting pitchers with 10 or more IP, only Cole Ragans posted a better CSW. As a result of these solid metrics, Bubic earned his first All-Star appearance in 2025. Unfortunately, injury issues came up in the second half, as a shoulder injury (similar to Ragans') shut him down for the remainder of the season. That said, Ragans' positive recovery should be an encouraging sign for Bubic and his health outlook for 2026. While Cameron holds more value to the Royals internally than with other clubs on the trade market, the inverse may be true for Bubic. It seems like Bubic may be Kansas City's best "realistic" trade asset right now. JJ Picollo has said they are not interested in trading away Ragans, Michael Wacha, or Seth Lugo. Furthermore, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has reported that the Royals remain "open" to trading Bubic, a sign that they're almost preparing to part ways with him should the right offer come along this offseason. It seems like Bubic could be the key to a trade involving Jarren Duran of the Red Sox or Brendan Donovan of the Cardinals. That kind of trade value is what makes him such an essential asset in the Royals organization, even though he will be eligible for free agency next offseason. View the full article

Dansby Swanson had a strong 2025 season. He only batted .244/.300/.417, with that middle number—the most important one, his on-base percentage—sagging alarmingly, but he cracked 24 home runs, stole 20 bases and made good adjustments, even as he endured some wretched luck and sequencing. His DRC+, according to Baseball Prospectus, was 113, marking him as well above average by process, even if his results were average or worse. That was the best DRC+ of his Cubs tenure, and an especially important bump from the 104 he posted in 2024. As he ages, Swanson continues a negotiation with his own skill set and with opposing pitchers—though the latter, of course, is a highly adversarial one, so it can't be as calm or simple as the one with himself. He'll turn 32 in February, and he's made significant adjustments to deal with the way his athletic baseline has changed and with things like the lingering core muscle injuries through which he played in 2024. Those adjustments paid off in 2025, in the form of more hard-hit balls, fewer grounders, and a stronger tendency to pull the ball in the air—all of which could (and perhaps even should) have led to more increased production than we really saw. To see both what a material and valuable change he made and why it might not be sufficient, consider these charts of Swanson's swing rate by pitch location for both 2024 and 2025. Swanson shifted his sights slightly upward in 2025, but only slightly. The focal point of his approach was still right around the same place it was last year, just above the belt and just on the inside half of the plate. However, he swung more almost throughout his swing range than he had the year before. He's not a guy who will get fooled badly and chase wildly, far outside the zone. He will, however, slightly expand, and he will try to cover the whole zone. Using Statcast's Attack Zone breakdown tells the story. Here are Swanson's swing rate rankings among hitters with a substantial number of pitches seen in each Attack Zone category, for 2025: Heart of Zone: 11th of 161 Shadow (Edges): 85th of 282 Chase and Waste (far out of the zone): 144th of 185 He leaned more into those tendencies in 2025 than he had the year before. That was partially because he was healthier than in 2024, and felt better swinging the bat, but it was also partially because his skills are evolving (and, to a mild extent, eroding). Swanson didn't feel like he could be as discerning; he didn't want to end up in unduly deep counts or miss his pitch to hit when it came. According to SEAGER, a system devised by Robert Orr (then of Baseball Prospectus) to assess a hitter's ability to balance selectivity and aggressiveness, Swanson got much better at that skill in 2025. SEAGER is made up of two components: Selectivity: the percentage of a hitter's good swing decisions (those with positive expected value based on the pitch's location) that took the form of good takes on bad pitches to hit Hittable Pitch Take Rate: the percentage of a hitter's takes (all pitches on which they didn't swing) that came on pitches with positive expected value for swings—thereby making them bad takes. Somewhat counterintuitively (if you just glance at the heat maps above), Swanson's selectivity rating changed very little from 2024 to 2025. In both years, just under half his good swing decisions were takes on bad pitches. His SEAGER shot up, though, because his take rate on pitches begging to be hit went down sharply, from 33.3% in 2024 to 27.9% in 2025. He didn't let good pitches go by nearly as often. This is why he found the gap in left-center field more often, especially later in the season. It's a big part of his improved contact profile. However, Swanson will have to adjust again in 2026, in multiple facets. Unfortunately, though those tweaks were admirable responses to the challenges of hitting well as one ages, new challenges are right around the corner, and these tweaks won't be enough to keep him a competent hitter. He's never been good at making contact on swings outside the zone, and in 2025, that figure plummeted to 44.3%, the worst mark of his career. Without a change in approach, that will continue to get worse; out-of-zone contact has a steep aging curve. So does bat speed, once a hitter turns 32. Swanson is at what the broader population experiences as a major inflection point for the loss of swing speed, so he's going to struggle to generate the same power we saw in 2025 unless he can tighten up his zone and lock in on pitches he can drive. Getting more aggressive was key to his improvements this year, but next year, both the alarming share of those extra swings that already came up empty and the fact that a slower stick is likely to reduce his margin for error mean he will need to get more patient, instead. Hitters decline at Swanson's age. It's a fact of life, in an extremely difficult game played at an extraordinary level of sheer athleticism. The Cubs, however, can ill afford to have Swanson take a step back. They need every bit of the production they got from him in 2025, for at least one more season. They can't offer him a move off shortstop to make maintaining his offense easier, at least until 2027. They can't reduce his workload much in terms of games played or started. They need Swanson to keep delivering big hits and tough at-bats, even though he's reached the stage of his career where he needs to oscillate increasingly widely and make bigger and bigger changes each year, just to tread water at the dish. He's between a rock and a hard cutter on the hands, and next season will be an exercise in very difficult extrication. View the full article

On Friday, the Minnesota Twins officially announced their first substantial acquisition of the offseason, signing Josh Bell to a one-year, $7 million contract. The switch-hitting veteran is slated to step in as the club’s primary first baseman while also mixing in at designated hitter. Despite netting a combined -13 Outs Above Average (OAA) at first base the past two seasons, the 33-year-old’s defensive prowess shouldn’t be a meaningful concern for those who follow the club, evidenced by the Twins' ability to maximize the positioning of their first basemen. Still, with Bell slated to start a meaningful number of games at designated hitter (leaving first base open) and the club not yet rostering a viable backup for the oft-injured Royce Lewis at third base, the Twins would be wise to actively pursue a player who could fill that void. Enter Mark Vientos. Coming off a breakout 2024 campaign wherein the then-24-year-old hit .266/.322/.516 with 27 home runs and a 132 wRC+ over 454 plate appearances, Vientos regressed last season, slashing .233/.289/.413 with 17 home runs and a below-league-average 97 wRC+. Sporting plus power with a high swing-and-miss profile, the now-26-year-old is one of the more volatile and streaky hitters in baseball. Due to his extreme fluctuation in performance (and the club’s overall dissatisfaction with its position player core), New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns appears to be making Vientos available in trade talks, signaling the club could soon move on from the once highly-touted corner infielder. Vientos is a poor defensive third baseman, evidenced by his netting -7 OAA at the position last season. However, he has been serviceable at first base, posting -1 OAA over 112 innings at the position in his four-season career. Barring injury, Lewis (a plus defensive third baseman) is slated to function as Minnesota’s everyday third baseman, meaning Minnesota could shield Vientos from the position. Yet, if Lewis were to miss extended time, Vientos could step in as his primary replacement, minimizing the offense lost in Lewis’s absence. At this point in their respective careers, Vientos is a better defensive first baseman than Bell, meaning Vientos could slot in as the club’s primary option at the position while Bell inhabits a more traditional designated hitter role. However, given Bell’s switch-hitting profile and Vientos’s platoon-proof nature, the two could function as an interchangeable first base and designated hitter tandem. 50961094-a023fa2a-ecad099a-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Despite a poor 2025 campaign from Vientos, Minnesota would still need to part ways with considerable prospect capital or MLB-ready assets to acquire the power-hitting right-handed bat’s services. New York is in dire need of MLB-ready starting pitching talent. Interestingly, that is the Twins' greatest area of strength and depth. Twins decision-makers could reasonably send veteran starting pitcher Bailey Ober to the Mets for Vientos and a mid-tier prospect, like Boston Baro or Heriberto Rincon. If New York were more interested in long-term upside and team control, a trade package headlined by Simeon Woods Richardson for Vientos and a mid-tier prospect could also make sense. Vientos is one of the more popular bounce-back candidates in baseball next season who perfectly fits Minnesota’s need of a right-handed hitting power bat who can play both corner infield positions while mixing in at designated hitter. He is also pre-arbitration and under team control until 2029, making him an even more enticing trade target for the salary-restricted Twins. As mentioned earlier, Minnesota could also afford to part with one of its mid-to-late-rotation arms to acquire Vientos, further supporting the deal's efficacy. A deal for Vientos likely wouldn’t happen before the New Year. Yet, the Mets' young corner infielder could soon get dealt, with Minnesota arguably being the most plausible destination. View the full article

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been oddly busy this winter. They haven't yet made the kind of financial splash that would grab attention and fuel friendlier narratives, but as Brewers fans know, it doesn't always take a crowd-pleasingly spendy move to win games. Pittsburgh has already traded right-handed starter Johan Oviedo to Boston, to snare outfield prospect Jhostynxon García, and sent young starter Mike Burrows to the Astros in a three-team trade that brought them three helpful players: slugging second baseman Brandon Lowe, slap-hitting outfielder Jake Mangum and hard-throwing reliever Mason Montgomery. They've also signed reliever Gregory Soto, to bolster their bullpen. If you believe in the likelihood of a rebound from outfielders Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds (or are bullish on the rotation even beyond Paul Skenes), you can start to squint your way to expecting competitiveness for the 2026 Pirates. This team is going to make an earnest (if untenably stingy) effort to upset and unseat the Brewers, and even if you don't think they're good enough to do so, their moving and shaking is affecting how the three-time defending NL Central champions are going about their business. By trading Oviedo to the Red Sox and Burrows to the Astros, the Pirates have diluted and softened the demand for Freddy Peralta in trades. Their acquisition of Lowe gives them a fairly dangerous trio of lefty bats, with Cruz and Spencer Horwitz joining their new teammate to pose a threat. Beating next year's Pirates will be harder than beating any recent year's version, even when it's non-Skenes starting hurlers' turns. An upstart Pittsburgh club also threatens to raise the floor for the whole division and make it harder to get to a Wild Card-worthy win total, should another team knock Milwaukee from its perch. So far, it's mostly felt like the odds of a Peralta trade were rising steadily, all winter. That might need to change, though, if the Brewers perform ongoing projections and realize their edge (not only over the Cubs, Reds and Pirates, but over the other contenders for Wild Card berths and seeding in the NL) is shrinking more than expected. The Cardinals have already traded Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, and they're likely to ship out Brendan Donovan. They're only taking in players who look like solid potential trade chips, come July. There will be some free wins scattered around the schedule next year, but it will feel like fewer than in the recent past. The Brewers have a mandate to pursue a championship in 2026. Doing that is getting harder, so the Crew might need to make new plans that involve more aggressive additions or fewer subtractions. The Pirates don't feel like an especially real threat to win the division, but that doesn't mean their frisky offseason is unimportant. View the full article

In speaking with reporters at the Winter Meetings last week, including Diamond Centric's own John Bonnes, Blue Jays manager John Schneider was asked about the Manager of the Year award. He offered a very typical Schneider response (quoted below) that was equal parts self-deprecating, boastful of his team, and reflective of his players and position. It’s the kind of answer you would expect from him and a perfect response from a PR perspective. It would be wildly out of character for him to come out and say, ‘Y’know what? I did deserve that award, and I was screwed by the BBWAA!’ That’s where I come in. John Schneider deserved that reward and was screwed by those who voted on it! In 2025, Schneider made some decisions that left me scratching my head at the best of times and yelling obscenities at my TV at the worst of times. One example, the one I probably had the biggest problem with at the time, was a series of pitching decisions down the stretch that forced the Jays into a bullpen day, with the division tied and Toronto (likely) needing to win out over the final four games of the season. As was the case for most of the season, the decision broke Schneider’s way, and the Blue Jays would win the game behind Louis Varland, Eric Lauer and Yariel Rodríguez’s perfect opening six innings. The plays often went Schneider’s way – enough so that the Jays finished as the best team in the American League. Over the course of the season, it became clear that the trust Schneider had in his players was reflected in the trust they had in him. He worked his way up through the levels of Toronto's system on the managing side, alongside many of the players that now make up his roster. In 2024, the Jays finished 20 games back of the division lead; in 2025, they won 20 more games than the year before. That kind of improvement is the type of thing that often swings voters when deciding on the Manager of the Year. Of course, much like in the playoffs, Schneider fell just short. Stephen Vogt is, by all accounts, a very good manager, and I can’t say that I watched enough Cleveland Guardians games to be fluent in his play-to-play decision-making, but I can certainly go through the kind of things that have been brought up as reasons to swing a vote his way rather than Schneider’s. The comeback: Vogt’s Guardians made the biggest comeback in the modern era, erasing a 15.5-game deficit from early July and an 11-game deficit in September alone. A historic comeback, no doubt, but Vogt wasn’t a mid-season replacement – he was the manager that led them to that deficit too. If you want to give him credit for the comeback, he’s gotta wear the blame for having them in that position. Cleveland went 20-7 in September, but if Detroit doesn’t have an equally (un)impressive collapse (7-17), putting up the worst record in the majors outside of Colorado, the comeback doesn’t happen. The Jays, meanwhile, don’t have an impressive comeback to point to. All they did was lead their division from the start of July through to the end of the season. Overcoming adversity: Vogt lost Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz in July amid a gambling scandal. Losing your closer and a starter unexpectedly is always going to be tough. But, managing gaps in your lineups from a player(s) absence is part of the game and the manager's job. Giving Vogt extra credit for the scandalous nature of two of those absences is disingenuous. Again, as with the comeback, Vogt was the manager when the scandal was happening, and, if we want to be hyperbolic, he allowed it to happen. If we look at it as purely a loss of players, the Jays had 21 players miss time to injury through the season, and the Guardians only had 16. Advantage Schneider. Payroll: The Jays had the fifth-highest payroll in the majors, while Vogt made do with the 25th-ranked payroll. On the face of it, this one seems more skewed in Cleveland’s favour. Historically, the Manager of the Year has gone to a team with a payroll outside of the top third of the league. To a degree, that makes sense. The less money a team has to spend, the more impact the manager needs to have (in theory). Of course, the disparity also has a lot to do with where the teams play; the AL East and Central are in different financial divisions. The East was home to the third (NYY), fifth (TOR) and 12th (BOS) highest payrolls in the league last season. The highest payroll in the Central, meanwhile (the Tigers’ $179M, 17th overall), would’ve ranked fifth in the East, ahead of only the stadium-less Tampa Bay Rays. Holding the Jays' payroll against Schneider while ignoring divisional competition is a cop out. The MotY is typically awarded to the skipper of the team that most outperformed its pre-season projections. Steering a Jays team that finished 20 games back of the division in 2024 and had the best record in the AL in 2025, you'd think Schneider would be a shoo-in for the award on this criterion. Both the Jays and Guardians were projected to be bubble playoff teams in the AL. MLB.com had us in the fourth tier of playoff hopefuls in their season primer. The Guardians were in the fifth tier. Regular season award votes are cast before the playoffs, so the Jays' run to the World Series vs. the Guardians’ Wild Card appearance doesn’t skew things, but ‘overcoming the odds’ means different things between the two divisions. We’re over 1,000 words in at this point, and this is where I’d normally wrap up with something like “The voters may have gotten this wrong, but everyone in Toronto can agree we’ve got the best manager in the league.” Not everyone in Toronto does agree, however, and one of those people in particular had an impact on the outcome. The AL MotY voting panel is made up of two writers representing the city (or state) of each team in the league. Both Cleveland voters had Vogt first. Schneider also had to settle for down-ballot votes from the Boston, New York and Tampa Bay writers. One Tampa ballot left Schneider off completely – rivalries run deep. Vogt, by contrast, split votes among writers from Detroit, Kansas City, Minnesota and Chicago (both Chicago voters had Dan Wilson first and split Vogt/Schneider in the second and third spots). Toronto Sun writer Rob Longley had Schneider #1, Vogt #2. The other Toronto writer was Rosie DiManno of the Toronto Star. She went with Vogt. DiManno’s co-worker at the Star, Mike Wilner, talked about the vote on his Deep Left Field podcast. While DiManno declined to appear and discuss her vote, she did share with Wilner her reasoning. We’ve already covered what I think about the gambling suspensions and the Guardians' comeback. John Schneider didn’t lose the award by one vote, so it’s a bit of a moot point, but to say that he didn’t have anything to do with the positive atmosphere in the Jays' clubhouse seems insane to me. Even if he only contributed by seeing a good thing happening and staying out of the way (something previous managers may have struggled with), he deserves credit for that. He said it himself: Award or not, John Schneider managed the team of the year. View the full article

East Carolina University selected Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough to be their fall 2025 commencement speaker. True to his nature, McCullough was self-deprecating while delivering his 11-minute address at ECU's Minges Coliseum on Friday. “ECU took a chance on me—mostly because the baseball team needed a catcher,” he said. “Coach Keith LeClair believed in me when honestly I didn’t believe much in myself.” He brought up his poor grades and the fact that he didn't finish his degree until age 26 after his professional playing career ended. "One of (the Marlins') core philosophies is simple: Development doesn’t stop in the major leagues,” McCullough explained. “Every Marlins player, no matter how experienced or talented, is on an individual path to be their best version.” “Today, you close one chapter. Tomorrow, a new one begins. You won’t have it all figured out. That’s OK— I certainly didn’t,” he added. “But if you commit to growth, find people who can show you the way, and keep showing up and getting better, I promise you this: Your future can exceed even your own expectations. Class of 2025, welcome to the big leagues.” You can watch McCullough's full speech below beginning at the 50-minute mark. On Sunday in winter ball, Deyvison De Los Santos (Dominican Republic) went 2-for-4 with a walk. His team, Gigantes del Cibao, needs one more win to clinch a LIDOM postseason berth. In Puerto Rico, Jacob Berry went 1-for-4 with a walk and Chris Arroyo went 0-for-2. Berry's 18-game on-base streak is the longest active streak in the league. In Venezuela, Jesús Bastidas went 3-for-6 and Riskiel Tineo had his 11th consecutive scoreless relief appearance. Marlins Opening Day is only 95 days away. 🔷 The Marlins released outfielder Danny González. The right-handed hitter signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2022 for $150,000. He never advanced beyond rookie ball despite half-decent offensive numbers. In 101 career minor league games, González slashed .223/.335/.348 with eight home runs and 21 stolen bases. 🔷 Sean McCormack explained how Robby Snelling has closed the gap with Thomas White for the distinction of Marlins top pitching prospect. 🔷 Former Marlins rehabilitation pitching coach Jeff Schwarz has sued the Marlins for age discrimination. 🔷 Xavier Edwards hosted his eighth annual XE9 baseball skills camp. Through the years, the event has grown from 18 to more than 200 campers. Marlins teammates Anthony Bender, Griffin Conine, Tyler Phillips and Braxton Garrett were among the many guest instructors with MLB experience. 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, to everybody's surprise, Japanese superstar Munetaka Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. When he was posted for MLB teams earlier this offseason, Murakami was widely projected to receive at least twice as much guaranteed money. Instead, the lefty slugger has positioned himself to re-enter free agency entering his age-28 season. The St. Louis Cardinals traded Willson Contreras to the Boston Red Sox for Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. View the full article

Jeff Passan of ESPN just broke the news that the Red Sox are trading for veteran slugger and first baseman Willson Contreras. In return, a package led by prospect Hunter Dobbins is on its way to St Louis. Contreras was 33 years old in the 2025 season with the Cardinals. He joined St. Louis on a five-year, $87.5 million free-agent deal before the 2023 season, and the contract includes a 2028 club option. He is under contract through 2027, with the option to extend through 2028 if exercised. While he is no longer considered a catcher, Contreras has continued to provide above-average offense, making his transition to first base rather seamless. In 2024, he appeared in 84 games and logged 358 plate appearances, hitting 15 home runs with a .262/.380/.468 line, a .370 wOBA, and a 141 wRC+, along with a 12.6% BB% and 26.8% K% and a 2.7 FanGraphs WAR. In 2025, he played 135 games with 563 plate appearances, posting 20 home runs and a .257/.344/.447 line, a .344 wOBA, and a 124 wRC+, with a 7.8% BB% and 25.2% K%, finishing at 2.8 fWAR. The remaining pieces going to St. Louis have not yet been announced. View the full article

Around this time, many projection systems begin churning out their latest models for the upcoming season. Steamer tends to be the earliest to go public, which provides a lot of spark and debate during this busy winter "hot stove" season. Here is a description of Steamer projections, including their history and how they are calculated both before and during the season. This will be a two-part series. In part one, I will look at five hitters who have noteworthy Steamer projections for 2026. In part two, I will look at five pitchers. I have included a table below of Steamer projections for Royals players who are projected to accumulate 10 or more plate appearances in 2026 (ranked by fWAR). That gives readers who may want to see how others are doing a glimpse of how others are doing beyond the five I will analyze in this post. Remember, the projections listed capture their 80th percentile projection. Bobby Witt Jr. will likely have more than 634 plate appearances next year. The same is true for Salvador Perez and 580 plate appearances. Thus, when looking at these, it's essential to approach these projections as a "modest estimate", not necessarily as gospel. With that said, let's look at five Royals hitters who could make a significant impact on the Royals lineup in 2026, based on their intriguing Steamer projections. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B In 563 projected plate appearances: 24 HR, 72 R, 81 RBI, .266 AVG, .346 wOBA, 120 wRC+, 1.9 fWAR The Royals have extended Witt and Maikel Garcia to solidify the left side of their infield until at least 2030. However, they have been a bit quieter about their long-term plans with Pasquantino, who's coming off a 32-HR, 113-RBI season, both career highs. The Pasquatch has struggled to stay healthy since debuting in 2022. However, he trended positively in terms of playing time last year, playing in 160 games and collecting 682 plate appearances. By avoiding the IL, Pasquantino was finally able to maximize his production, leading the Royals in home runs and RBI. Steamer seems optimistic that Pasquantino will continue to mash in the Royals' lineup in 2026. Pasquantino is projected to hit 24 HR, the third-highest projection for next year (behind only Witt's 26 and Perez's 25). His 120 wRC+ is the second-highest projection behind Witt's 133. Lastly, Steamer projects a positive boost in the BB/K ratio to 0.59. That's 13 points better than his ratio a season ago. The primary issue with Pasquantino is that his defense weighs him down. Last year, he posted a -16.9 Def (defensive runs above average), which contributed to his fWAR of only 1.5. Steamer projects a similar defensive outlook, with a -11.6 Def for 2026. Thus, he is projected to produce a Steamer under two, despite his optimistic offensive outlook. Despite the defensive issues, the Royals' primary first baseman should continue to be a force in the Royals' lineup, and he could be Kansas City's next extension candidate after the conclusion of this season, especially if he matches or surpasses his Steamer projections. Jonathan India, 2B In 500 plate appearances: 11 HR, 57 R, 47 RBI, 6 SB, .247 AVG, .320 wOBA, 102 wRC+, 1.3 fWAR It was a nightmare season for India in Kansas City last year. In 567 plate appearances, the former Reds second baseman hit .233 with an 89 wRC+ and -0.3 fWAR. Those were career-worst marks in those three categories. To make matters worse, he lost his spot as the Royals' leadoff hitter after the Trade Deadline, and he was seen as a non-tender candidate this offseason. Kansas City opted to bring India back for at least one more year, agreeing to an $8 million deal for this season. While many Royals fans are not optimistic about his outlook, Steamer paints a rosier picture for 2026. Steamer projects India sees a bit of a power and speed boost for 2026, with 11 home runs (two more than last year) and six stolen bases (none in the previous season). Steamer also expects India to see some batted-ball correction, with a 14-point increase in batting average. However, the most encouraging aspect of India's projection profile is that his trademark plate discipline shouldn't see regression. Steamer projects a 10.3% walk rate and 0.54 BB/K ratio, both improvements from a year ago (9.5% walk rate; 0.51 BB/K ratio). It seems like manager Matt Quatraro has a better sense of India's talents and skills, and thus, it's unlikely that the 29-year-old second baseman will move around the field like a year ago. That should help his defensive production, though it's unlikely that India will ever be a solid defensive player. Steamer projects a -6.1 Def for 2026, which isn't good, but is 5.7 points better than last season. The Royals do not need India to be an All-Star or an impact hitter at the top of the batting order. However, if he can provide a disciplined approach and some occasional pop in the 6th-7th hole in the batting order, that should be more than enough to help improve a Royals lineup that struggled with consistency in 2025. Jac Caglianone, RF In 418 plate appearances: 17 HR, 51 R, 56 RBI, 2 SB, .255 AVG, .331 wOBA, 109 wRC+, 1.2 fWAR Speaking of brutal seasons, no Royals position player had it worse than Caglianone, who struggled in his transition to the Major League level last year. In 232 plate appearances, Caglianone hit .157 with a 46 wRC+ and accumulated a -1.6 fWAR, the worst mark of Royals players a season ago. Hence, it is easy for many Royals fans to lose faith in Caglianone after he received such massive hype a season ago upon his debut. Steamer projections illustrate to Royals fans, however, that they should not lose faith in Caglianone and his potential impact in 2026. Caglianone is projected to hit 17 home runs and post a .331 wOBA and 109 wRC+, both massive improvements from a season ago. The defense is still a question mark, as Steamer projected Caglianone to produce a -6.6 Def in the outfield. That said, Caglianone's value and impact are needed by the Royals at the plate, not in the field. Kansas City can live with subpar defense if he can hit 20 or more home runs a season. His projected plate appearance numbers are low, so it's likely that Caglianone could surpass 17 home runs and hit 20 to 25 home runs if he receives 500 or more plate appearances. His .195 projected ISO is a 57-point increase from his rookie year, and he has the potential to live up to that ISO number or more, based on his substantial exit velocity and barrel metrics from a season ago. Will Caglianone be able to launch the ball enough to translate his batted-ball quality and bat speed into production in 2026? Steamer seems to think so. Carter Jensen, C In 277 plate appearances: 9 HR, 33 R, 32 RBI, 3 SB, .246 AVG, .323 wOBA, 104 wRC+, 1.4 fWAR While Caglianone failed to live up to rookie expectations in 2025, the opposite was true for Jensen, a local product who attended Park Hill High School in the northern KC metro area. A September call-up when rosters expanded, Jensen hit .300 with a 159 wRC+ and sported a 0.7 fWAR in 69 plate appearances. He also showed excellent batted-ball ability as well as plate discipline in his small MLB sample, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary from a season ago. The hype for Jensen in 2026 is real, and it seems like JJ Picollo and Quatraro are on board to make sure Jensen eases the catching load for Perez, much like Freddy Fermin did in 2024 and 2025 before the Royals backup catcher was traded to San Diego at the Trade Deadline. While Royals fans should be encouraged by Jensen's outlook, Steamer projects a bit of a regression, which makes sense over a larger sample. In 277 projected plate appearances, Steamer expects Jensen to hit .246 with nine home runs and 32 RBI. They also project him to post a .323 wOBA and 104 wRC+. For context, those marks are expected to be better than Perez's (.318 wOBA; 101 wRC+) next year. Of course, this is a pretty modest projection, and simply viewing Jensen as solely a backup catcher. I think Jensen is due for more designated hitter plate appearances, especially if he can get off to a hot start to the season. Nonetheless, Steamer is warning Royals fans who think Jensen is due for 20 to 30 home runs next year to perhaps cool their jets a bit (for now). Lane Thomas, OF In 379 plate appearances: 11 HR, 45 R, 41 RBI, 13 SB, .236 AVG, .306 wOBA, 92 wRC+, 0.5 fWAR The Royals seem to be aiming to make one more big move, whether it's Boston's Jarren Duran or St. Louis' Brendan Donovan. That should keep Thomas regulated to a fourth-outfielder role, who may get semi-regular time if he can get on a hot streak at the plate. Steamer is a bit conflicted about Thomas, who posted a 48 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR in an injury-plagued campaign in Cleveland last year. On one end, they are optimistic about his home run (11) and stolen base (13) production in a modest sample (379 plate appearances). Steamer also expects a power boost with a .158 ISO, a 46-point increase from a season ago, and only a five-point difference from 2024 when he played for the Nationals and Guardians. Thomas' plate discipline is projected to be around where it was last year. His 25.5% K rate is expected to be a 5.5% improvement, but his 0.32 BB/K ratio is expected to match his season-ago rate. The defense also doesn't project well, as his Steamer projects him to produce a -4.5 Def. That's a big reason why his fWAR is expected to hover under one next year. Still, for a fourth outfielder, this isn't a bad profile for the Royals to have. His wRC+ is projected to be better than Michael Massey's (89), John Rave's (84), and Tyler Tolbert's (66). Thus, Thomas should raise the floor of a Royals lineup that struggled to find right-handed production from the outfield last year. View the full article

When selecting his inaugural coaching staff, Craig Stammen mixed a good chunk of the old group with a handful of newcomers. The new San Diego Padres manager finalized his 18-member coaching staff, which was announced on Dec. 17. Stammen replaced Mike Shildt, who resigned immediately after the season with two years left on his contract. Shildt has since landed a job in the Baltimore Orioles' organization. The former Friars skipper led the Padres to two playoff appearances and had a 16-member staff in 2025. Stammen, a former MLB reliever including six years with the Padres, has no previous managerial experience, but has been in the organization for 10 years, including in a variety of baseball operations roles since his playing days came to an end. While it was known that Ruben Niebla, a finalist for the job Stammen got, was returning for his fifth season as the Padres' pitching coach, he received the additional title of associate manager. Interestingly, Stammen also named a bench coach from outside the building. That job went to Randy Knorr, a former MLB catcher who had a variety of roles, including minor-league manager, in the Washington Nationals' organization since 2008 until being let go after the 2025 season. The other key hire is Steven Souza Jr. as hitting coach. Souza was an MLB outfielder who retired during the 2022 season. This is his first coaching role, although he did spend 2025 as a special assistant with the Tampa Bay Rays. Helping Souza with will be Mike McCoy and Pat O'Sullivan, who both return as assistant hitting coaches. Raul Padron will be the hitting instructor. Ben Fritz is back as bullpen coach, as is Chris Apecechea as assistant pitching coach and Peter Summerville as game planning and pitching strategist. Herberto Andrade sticks around as the bullpen catcher and assistant coach. Kevin Plawecki joins the staff as the catching coach. In the coaching boxes, Bob Henley takes over at third base and David Macias at first base, also adding outfield and baserunning instructor duties to his résumé. Vinny Lopez will also be an outfield and baserunning instructor. as well as field coordinator. Nick Punto is also a new addition, becoming the infield coach, with Ryan Goins joining as infield instructor. Allen Craig and A.J. Ellis will be special assistants to the major-league staff and baseball operations. View the full article

When selecting his inaugural coaching staff, Craig Stammen mixed a good chunk of the old group with a handful of newcomers. The new San Diego Padres manager finalized his 18-member coaching staff, which was announced on Dec. 17. Stammen replaced Mike Shildt, who resigned immediately after the season with two years left on his contract. Shildt has since landed a job in the Baltimore Orioles' organization. The former Friars skipper led the Padres to two playoff appearances and had a 16-member staff in 2025. Stammen, a former MLB reliever including six years with the Padres, has no previous managerial experience, but has been in the organization for 10 years, including in a variety of baseball operations roles since his playing days came to an end. While it was known that Ruben Niebla, a finalist for the job Stammen got, was returning for his fifth season as the Padres' pitching coach, he received the additional title of associate manager. Interestingly, Stammen also named a bench coach from outside the building. That job went to Randy Knorr, a former MLB catcher who had a variety of roles, including minor-league manager, in the Washington Nationals' organization since 2008 until being let go after the 2025 season. The other key hire is Steven Souza Jr. as hitting coach. Souza was an MLB outfielder who retired during the 2022 season. This is his first coaching role, although he did spend 2025 as a special assistant with the Tampa Bay Rays. Helping Souza with will be Mike McCoy and Pat O'Sullivan, who both return as assistant hitting coaches. Raul Padron will be the hitting instructor. Ben Fritz is back as bullpen coach, as is Chris Apecechea as assistant pitching coach and Peter Summerville as game planning and pitching strategist. Herberto Andrade sticks around as the bullpen catcher and assistant coach. Kevin Plawecki joins the staff as the catching coach. In the coaching boxes, Bob Henley takes over at third base and David Macias at first base, also adding outfield and baserunning instructor duties to his résumé. Vinny Lopez will also be an outfield and baserunning instructor. as well as field coordinator. Nick Punto is also a new addition, becoming the infield coach, with Ryan Goins joining as infield instructor. Allen Craig and A.J. Ellis will be special assistants to the major-league staff and baseball operations. View the full article

Tom Pohlad, in his introductory presser, told the media that he wants fans to “believe [he’s] committed to a championship-caliber investment and team”, that he thinks the Twins are “within reach of winning a division title this year”, and that he’s “not a half-measure guy.” At the same time, he also acknowledged that the Twins are “laying the foundation for ultimately what [they] hope will be a nucleus that can be a championship-caliber team and that warrants a championship-level investment.” Those statements are somewhat at odds, and the why behind it makes sense. Based on the status of the current roster and number of top prospects in the upper minors, things are complicated to say the least. How do the Twins continue to add to the roster without blocking the future of the team? Where can they actually make significant upgrades without putting another Carlos Correa-sized impediment in their ability to field a complete roster? Is it even possible to do these things, at this point in time? Let’s start by looking at the areas of need, and I’ll discuss the challenges with upgrading at the position. I see three. Shortstop, if you aren’t a believer in Brooks Lee. Another big bat, preferably one who hits right-handed, if you can find a position for them. Bullpen. So much bullpen. Shortstop Do you believe that some combination of Lee, Ryan Kreidler, and Ryan Fitzgerald can, in the aggregate, be even average both at the plate and in the field? It seems like a stretch. The latter two are fringy guys, at best. Lee has looked overmatched throughout his young career and as it stands, may be better suited to a part-time utility role unless he can make some real adjustments to his approach. However, in order to justify moving a former top prospect off the spot, the Twins would need a clear upgrade. Signing someone like Isiah Kiner-Falefa could make sense. It would probably take a two-year deal, and I imagine it would take around $15 million deal to sign him. That’s affordable, but it’s tough to imagine the Twins being this quick to relegate Lee to a utility role. And, Kaelen Culpepper could be ready for his first call-up this summer. So, it seems unlikely the Twins would see upgrading shortstop as a good investment. Big Bat The Twins need consistent offense, and need it badly. However, finding a spot to play another bat would be easier said than done, at least without sacrificing playing time for someone else that deserves or needs it. All of Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Josh Bell, Luke Keaschall, Royce Lewis, Ryan Jeffers, Trevor Larnach, and Lee will play most days. Positionally, center field is taken. The corner outfield spots have a veritable logjam already, between Larnach, Alan Roden, James Outman, Austin Martin, and Wallner. Plus, both Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez are basically ready for the majors, with Gabriel Gonzalez on their heels. First base is taken, now, with the additional of Bell. Wallner’s best position is DH, and playing him as the strong-sided platoon, at the least, seems a no-brainer. Catcher is covered. You probably aren’t moving Lewis off third. Keaschall is at second, unless you move him to the outfield and make that logjam even worse. We covered shortstop already. So, again, where do you put another big bat? Unless you are trading multiple hitters, including some that are likely part of the future, there just doesn't seem to be room for anything more than a right handed platoon first baseman or DH. Bullpen Here we go. Finally. The easiest, most natural spot to upgrade from the current options. As Nick Nelson wrote, aside from Cole Sands, Justin Topa, and Kody Funderburk, there’s a ton of question marks. But, maybe fewer than you would think. The Twins didn’t trade for Eric Orze to not have him on their roster. Pierson Ohl and Travis Adams didn’t look amazing in their limited outings down the stretch last season, but neither figure to be starters for the Twins, and it makes sense to give both another season in the pen to see what they are capable of. That means at least five or six spots, out of eight, are written in at least pencil. “Great”, you might be thinking. “Sign two stud relievers!” On paper, that makes perfect sense. After all, the Twins have exactly zero current relievers who should get the eighth or ninth innings in close games with any regularity. Except. Have you looked at their starting pitching depth? As it stands, all of Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, Zebby Matthews, David Festa, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, and Andrew Morris will be competing for the fifth starter gig; one will be without a rotation spot even in Triple-A. That’s not to mention Marco Raya, who, as of now, is still a starter. It’s not including C.J. Culpepper or Ryan Gallagher, both of whom should be ready for a promotion to Saint Paul at some point in 2026. One also shouldn’t fully write off question marks like Matt Canterino or Cory Lewis. That’s so, so many pitching prospects. Realistically, four or five of those guys will end up needing to convert to relief. It’s no stretch to think that, say, Prielipp, Festa, and Morris could be converted to start the season, and that a couple of them could be with the Twins sooner rather than later. As you can see, 2026 is shaping up to be a truly transitional season; one in which it almost makes more sense for the Twins to just see what they have with the myriad prospects in the upper minors. Doing so would allow them to get a better sense for what their true longer-term organizational needs look like, and go into 2027 with sights set on two or three positions that need to be shored up with high-end options. But, doing little aside from signing Bell is truly a half-measure. You know, the thing Pohlad is against. Really, the only way to square all of his quotes, to compete this year while also building for the future, and to avoid half-measures entirely would be to deliberately block the youth movement for the first part of the season by signing a bopper and three good relievers to one-year deals, then planning to trade all of them as the prospects prove their readiness. Do you see ownership giving Falvey the green light to do so, if it were to cost another $35 million, or more? Even if it was really more like $15 or 20 million before they are traded away midseason, it’s still more than they are expected to spend, and by a decent margin. It would certainly be one way to put his money where his mouth is. It would make for some fun ball, too. View the full article

Gerald Knutson, 42, has had his holiday season ruined. Twins Daily once again supplied me with the funds to interview one local fan about his feelings about the ballclub. Unfortunately, Gerald hasn’t watched an inning since they traded Brusdar Graterol away to Los Angeles. Fox Sports North left YouTube TV around that time, and he refuses to pay cable prices to watch meaningless regular season games. The “Twins” causing him distress aren’t the Twins at all. The nativity scene outside of Our Lady of Perpetual Helplessness—a favorite parish among Minnesota sports fans–included two baby Jesuses this year. “What child is this?” he asks, gesturing at the second infant nestled among the barn animals. I suggest that was an oversight, but Gerald is positive he missed a doctrinal update in the bulletin. I offer to go in and get an explanation. Inside, I run into the parish priest, Fr. Maloney. He greets me, “Remember when Brett Favre threw that interception in the NFC Championship?” I then introduce myself as a reporter for Twins Daily and ask him about the double Messiahs outside. He blinks. “Twins Daily?” He asks. “Do you know the young man who writes there and keeps coming in asking to buy indulgences? He wrote an ill-advised satire piece about the Pope last May. That site should only let RandballsStu write satire. Everyone else there sucks.” “Well, some of it’s more parody,” I start. “And some of it’s surreal—" “Ask the Church Lady about the two ***** childs,” he says, cutting me off before I can point out the red box drawn around this very transcript. Where is that coming from? You can see it too, right? “Oh, we installed a new nativity scene this year,” says the Church Lady. I am in a different room. It’s like my childhood living room, except blue and there were no doors or windows. I think the Church Lady’s name was Barbara Rethke, but I think she just went by Church Lady. “We must have left the old child out there on accident. “And while we’re talking about the Twins, they should not sign Luis Arraez. His swing decisions are horrendous, and he doesn’t have another tool to support him if his BABIP starts with a two.” Finally, I have my Twins fan. “They also need to move David Festa to the bullpen. Two plus-plus pitches. Closer stuff. By the way, did you read Matthew this morning?” “Of course,” I reply. “Riveting genealogy.” “Not the scripture,” she scoffs. “Matthew from Twins Daily. He wrote about whether the Twins should sign Kennys Vargas to platoon with Clemens. 13,000 views. 173 comments.” She turns her computer monitor toward me. Below the Vargas story was a second Matthew, chronicling the time he made the A-Honor Roll despite being a truant, reflecting poorly on Highland Park Senior High. “I guess we really do plagiarize everything Gleeman says,” I muse. “There is nothing new under the sun,” she replies. “Every story has been told and will be told again. Though if Gleeman wants to protect his material, he should invest in a VPN, promo code CHURCHLADY. And also, Matt Wallner has a huge hole in his swing at the top of the zone.” Why is the definition of satire at the top of this page? This clearly isn’t satire. Through one of the room's many windows, I see Gerald has organized a protest. Some of the protesters seem to understand it’s about the mysterious twins in the manger, but more seem convinced it’s a protest of the Twins. Most wear Vikings purple, naturally. Santa Claus out there, too. He gives me a wry smile and says he’s on his way to give cheap pohlad a lump of coal. “I’m hoping to catch him before he leaves for Target Field with the Ghost of Christmas Present,” says Father Christmas. “Who is the Ghost of Christmas Present?” I ask. “They refuse to announce it,” he replies. “But if payroll doesn’t go up, does it even matter?” A Vikings helmet rolls out of the crowd. St. Nicholas kicks it. He screams in agony, dropping to his knees. “Did you know Santa broke his toe when they shot this scene?” the Church Lady asks me. Was she wearing that Guardians cap this whole time? I wonder if the Twins should sign Miguel Sano as a pitcher. My phone buzzes. I have an MLB notification. The Twins signed Josh Bell. One year, seven million. Wait. Am I dreaming? That’s not realistic at all. And what’s the meaning— I wake up. I'm lying swaddled in a hospital bed. Around me sat three wise men—RandballsStu, Phil Miller, and … “Gerald Knutson?” I ask the stranger, whose face I had only ever seen in the dream. “No, I’m Parker Hageman,” the man replies. “I thought you were a myth,” I say. “No, I just don’t really write much anymore.” “Greggory,” says Stu, “if that is your real name. I’m here to talk about satire. It’s not funny when anyone but me does it.” “But I’m not doing satire,” I protest. “You of all people must understand.” “Not. Funny,” said he. “It’s not supposed to be funny,” I exasperatedly reply. “It’s supposed to be amusing. But what is Phil doing here?” “I don’t have anything better to do in retirement,” the aged writer admits as he got up to fiddle with the hospital jukebox. “You’ve been in a coma for weeks,” Stu says. “TC Bear dropped a piano on your head. You popped out with piano keys for teeth and everything.” At least I knew I hadn’t missed any Twins news. It was still December. “So then what’s the true meaning of Christmas?” I ask. “I’m a nihilist,” answers Stu. “Christmas doesn’t mean anything to me. An ass spat in my face earlier today. I felt nothing. I never have.” Don’t Stop Believing by Journey started playing on the hospital jukebox. “Say what you will about the tenets of Chicago White Sox fanhood, but at least it’s an ethos,” a voice from behind me says. I turned my head to see Santa Claus leaning through the open window, away from the three. “I just gave a lump of— View the full article

At face value, the Nick Pivetta trade rumors make no sense for the San Diego Padres. We're talking about a rotation that has already lost Dylan Cease to free agency. The same rotation that will be without the injured Yu Darvish all season, and now features Joe Musgrove, who hasn't pitched since the end of the 2024 season. Currently, San Diego has Pivetta alongside Musgrove, Randy Vasquez, and JP Sears projected to be in their rotation for 2026. Plus, they just signed Michael King back, which could make Pivetta even more expendable. Of course, even with King in tow, that rotation is not a top staff in the league, with Pivetta as its ace. So, why are the Padres listening to offers on the right-hander? The truth is, it might make more sense than fans think. Pivetta's career stats scream "one-year-wonder." His previous career-high in bWAR was 2.5 in 2022, before breaking out for 5.3 bWAR in 2025. His best ERA was 4.04 in 2023, before posting a 2.87 mark in 2025. Likewise, his best FIP was 3.79, back in 2018, before finishing with a 3.49 FIP in 2025 (notably, much higher than his ERA). His WHIP fell to a career-best 0.985, blowing his previous best mark of 1.121 out of the water. The list goes on and on. The FIP/ERA comparison presents an interesting picture for Pivetta. From 2017-2024, Pivetta had a 4.36 FIP and a 4.76 ERA. His career FIP was nearly half a run better than his ERA. In a single-season sample, that would be considered bad luck, but over an eight-year period, it can be explained by the fact that Pivetta is a guy who gets hit hard. In his career, according to Baseball Savant, opposing hitters have a 9.4% barrel rate (compared to a 7.2% league-average). They've had an average exit velocity of 89.7 MPH, and a 40.5% hard-hit rate against Pivetta (compared to a 37% league-average). FIP is a stat based on strikeouts, walks, home runs, and hit batters. While he's not a strikeout artist, Pivetta has always had solid K/BB ratios and has never hit more than six batters in a season, so his FIP tends to be solid compared to his ERA. Usually, when a pitcher's ERA is higher than his FIP, it means his defense was bad and he got unlucky, but this is a long-term trend for Pivetta. His FIP was lower than his ERA in seven of his eight seasons. Did he have bad luck all seven seasons? Or were the Phillies and Red Sox defenses awful during his time with both clubs? Or could it be that Pivetta, being a pitcher who allowed more hard-contact than league average, made things harder for his defense? From 2017-2024, he allowed a .304 BABIP, while the league average hovered between .291 and .300. All of that is to say, Pivetta probably wasn't falling victim to bad BABIP luck and bad defense; he was falling victim to being one of the hardest-hit pitchers in the league. And that did not change in 2025. Pivetta allowed a 10.9% barrel rate (10th percentile), a 45% hard-hit rate (15th percentile), and a 90.3 average exit velocity (22nd percentile). Those were no better rates than he allowed in previous seasons, yet the results changed. In 2025, his ERA was 2.87, significantly lower than his 3.49 FIP, despite the underlying metrics staying almost exactly the same. What does that mean? It likely means Pivetta was not getting unlucky from 2017-2024; it means he got extremely lucky in 2025 and will probably regress back to the mean in 2026. If Pivetta is a one-year wonder, it makes sense for San Diego to sell high on their most tradeable asset. But what if he isn't? Will the Padres regret trading Pivetta if he has another strong 2026 season? Well, probably not, because Pivetta has a contract opt-out after 2026. If he turns in another All-Star level campaign next season, he will likely opt out of his deal, looking for a big payday before his career ends. That effectively makes it a lose-lose scenario for the Padres if they want to keep Pivetta. If they keep him and he turns out to be a one-year-wonder, they missed their chance to trade a No. 3 starter for the price of an ace. If they keep him and he continues to pitch like an ace, they will lose him next offseason and get nothing in return. That's why, as odd as it is to be shopping the ace of a rotation that is lacking in impact talent, it does make sense to offload Pivetta if the right deal emerges. View the full article

Though it’s worth not getting too excited about words alone, some of Tom Pohlad’s remarks about the state of the organization on Wednesday were encouraging. Notably, he called for accountability and change when results don’t meet expectations. Could this mean trouble for the current front office? Derek Falvey and company have been at the helm for nearly a decade, and despite a strong regular-season track record, they have only a single postseason series win to show for it. Despite missing the playoffs in four of five seasons in the era of expanded playoffs, Falvey was actually promoted to run both the baseball and business sides of the organization following a 2024 collapse. His seat has never seemed particularly hot. Perhaps that’s about to change. Tom Pohlad’s opening message, which essentially criticizes repeating the same process over and over while expecting different results, seems to apply perfectly to Derek Falvey and the front office in recent years. They’ve chosen to run almost identical rosters back repeatedly despite disastrous results. Up until the trade deadline, they were holding strong to a vision that just wasn't working. The payroll has been scaled back, lending them a bit of slack, but this front office used to at least be creative in their roster-building. Trading a former first-round pick and top prospect for Sonny Gray, or fan favorite Luis Arraez, for Pablo Lopez seems like a lifetime ago. Though not always popular moves, the Twins used to at least take swings to shake up the roster. Instead, it’s been status quo with poor results for nearly three years. The current front office has been in charge long enough that every player, aside from Byron Buxton, has been drafted, signed, or acquired by them. Perhaps this has been part of why they’ve had such a difficult time shaking up the roster in recent seasons. They had a mess to clean up when they took over in 2016, when the organization had a reputation for being analytically outdated and unsuccessful for several years prior. It’s the last five years, however, that have been the least successful stretch of this regime’s time in charge aside from 2023’s brief playoff run. Fans questioned whether the team was entering a full-blown rebuild at the 2025 trade deadline, as the Twins' selloff included both rentals and team-controlled players. Just weeks ago, those concerns remained very real as the Twins seemed on the fence about trading star players such as Buxton. This was particularly interesting, as it was reasonable to wonder whether this front office has earned the right to oversee another rebuild. Now seemingly aiming to compete in 2026, Tom Pohlad’s comments raise the question of whether this might be the last shot for Derek Falvey and this front office. The biggest holes on the roster were created voluntarily when the Twins chose to go scorched-earth on a dominant, team-controlled bullpen at the deadline. Falvey and GM Jeremy Zoll have expressed their comfort with replacing these players and maintaining a competitive roster, and now their confidence will be tested next season. The Twins will also be relying on several rebound performances in the lineup for the second season in a row from many of the same players that failed to make good on those hopes in 2025. Throw in several top prospects set to debut at some point down the stretch, and the organization’s player development will have to take center stage in order for the lineup to return to a competitive level. "We're gonna develop young players," Derek Shelton proclaimed in his intro presser, channeling what appears to be an organizational mandate. But it's not really up to him. Tom Pohlad’s comments should put Derek Falvey and the front office on notice. Employing the same process over and over without success is the definition of what we’ve seen for years now. If another attempt to compete fails in 2026, with a roster fully developed by this front office, it’s time for some accountability. Do you agree? View the full article

During the Winter Meetings, it was speculated that third baseman Alex Bregman could be a fallback option if the Blue Jays fail to sign Bo Bichette. Now, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Bregman could be a primary target for Toronto. Toronto’s winter to date has largely centered on pitching. The club added Dylan Cease on a seven-year deal, signed Tyler Rogers and Cody Ponce, and acquired Chase Lee in a trade. Bregman turns 32 in 2026, coming off two productive seasons. In 2024 (age 30), he played 145 games and logged 634 plate appearances for Houston, hitting .260/.315/.453 with 26 homers. His wOBA was .331, his wRC+ was 117, and he finished at 4.2 fWAR. In 2025 (age 31) with Boston, he appeared in 114 games and had 495 plate appearances, batting .273/.360/.462 with 18 homers. He posted a .356 wOBA, a 125 wRC+, and 3.5 fWAR. His 2024 BB% was 6.9% and his K% was 13.6%. In 2025, his BB% was 10.3% and his K% was 14.1%. View the full article

John Counsell, who was the Milwaukee Brewers' former director of community affairs and the father of former Brewers manager Craig Counsell, died Tuesday. He was 83. John Counsell worked for the Brewers from the time Craig Counsell was 8 to 18, with his son often running with the big names in team history, including Hall of Famers Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. John Counsell attended Notre Dame, where he also played baseball, footsteps Craig would follow. John Counsell was signed by the Minnesota Twins and played four years (1964-67) in the minors, including three with the Wisconsin Rapids Twins. But he never made it past Class A. Craig Counsell would play for the Brewers in 2004 and again from 2007 to 2011, then became the team's manager from 2015 to 2023, winning three NL Central titles. View the full article

The Miami Marlins have a two-headed, left-handed-pitching monster rapidly approaching the big leagues after wreaking havoc down on the farm. Robby Snelling led all minor league southpaws with 166 strikeouts in 2025. He spent half of his season with Triple-A Jacksonville, making 11 starts for the Jumbo Shrimp with only nine earned runs allowed. Nearly a year younger than Snelling, Thomas White missed bats at an even higher rate. He got a cup of coffee in Jacksonville (two starts) to end the season. Although neither are on Miami's 40-man roster yet, both prospects are likely to debut during the 2026 season. Snelling's success was the bigger surprise coming off an uneven 2024 campaign. He sliced his ERA in half (from 5.15 to 2.51) and improved his xFIP by more than a full run (from 3.80 to 2.72). These are elite numbers for any prospect, especially one who's facing Double-A and Triple-A competition as a starter. The curveball is Snelling's best pitch. It got a 42.70% whiff rate in Triple-A and a low .241 xwOBA, faring well against both lefties and righties. The pitch resembles former Marlin Andrew Heaney's curveball, but with much more velocity on it (averaging 82.6 mph). ckRPWTFfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0R3ZFJBRklNWGdjQUMxb0dWZ0FIQWdNQ0FGZ0hWVllBQjFVQkExRUNCUXNFQkZNSA==.mp4 An increase in velo has benefited Snelling's whole pitch mix. His fastball sat at 94.7 mph in Triple-A. He mostly removed the sinker from his arsenal as a result of being able to overpower hitters with the four-seamer and commanding it so well. Snelling's fastball has characteristics comparable to Tanner Scott's. Both get around 16.7 inches of induced vertical break (IVB), close to six inches of arm-side run, and just over six feet of extension down the mound during their delivery. Snelling's ability to locate more precisely and his slightly lower arm angle (approx. 26.6 degrees) are more conducive to long-term performance even if his velo doesn't continue to climb. Overall, his fastball performed well in Triple-A, posting a 36.5 whiff% and a .200 xwOBA. ckRPWTFfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0FBSlpCZ1pRQWxjQUFRQlFYd0FIQVZkVEFBTlRBZ0lBVUZFRVVnSURBd1pjQjFCUw== (1).mp4 Snelling was in the strike zone 54.5% of the time in Triple-A, which would have ranked top 10 among MLB starters in 2025. He mixed his pitches in such a way that hitters only swung at 62% of in-zone pitches, the same as Hunter Brown. Even when they did, their 77.5% zone contact rate was Dylan Cease-like. Outside the zone, the contact rate was 50.7%, on par with NL Cy Young Award runner-up Cristopher Sánchez (50.5%). He also thrived at limiting hard contact with a 3.5% barrel rate and 28.5% hard-hit rate. Snelling showed minimal flaws in 2025, and continuing a trend from his San Diego Padres days, he was injury-free. He has emerged as a complete pitcher. This is not meant to diminish Thomas White at all (2.31 ERA and 2.80 xFIP in 89.2 IP). His "stuff" may be slightly better than Snelling's, including a fastball that sits 95 mph and touched triple digits on several occasions. His sweeper is practically a cheat code for getting whiffs both in and out of the zone. UUFkQnFfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X1VBQlVWRkVCVkZNQUNRRUJVZ0FIQkFkVEFBQlVCVllBQkZkVUJBQUVBVmNIVmdNRQ==.mp4 However, White's lack of efficiency is a potential concern when looking ahead to how he'd fit in a major league rotation. He finished Double-A with a walk rate of 12.6%, and it ballooned to 25% his two starts of Triple-A. Although it's reasonable to project further improvement in that area—he is entering his age-21 season—waste pitches will likely always be part of his formula. White has completed six innings only once in a professional game. For context, Snelling did that 14 times in 2025 alone. The future is bright for both Marlins minor leaguers. White is universally ranked higher on public prospect lists due to his ceiling, but it may be easier to forecast consistent success for Snelling at the highest level. One thing's for sure: they will command a lot of attention when they report to spring training in February as non-roster invitees. View the full article

“To be honest it was a complete surprise,” Blake Wehunt said as he thought back to the 2023 draft. Taken in the ninth round out of Kennesaw State by the Boston Red Sox, Wehunt never expected to be drafted by the organization. The right-hander admitted that going into the 2023 draft, he had talked to teams here and there, but really had no idea when it came to expecting anything. All he knew was that he had a decent year to the point he had a shot at hearing his name called, but he wasn’t entering the draft with the thought of getting picked. “I hadn’t talked to the Red Sox much, so I went into it with zero expectations,” Wehunt recalled about the pre-draft process. “Sure enough, the Red Sox ended up calling. I’m blessed to be where I’m at.” Wehunt didn’t pitch much after getting drafted in 2023, getting into a single game at the Florida Complex League where he tossed one inning and struck out a batter while allowing one hit. The 2024 campaign was a bigger year for the pitcher, as in his first full professional season, he moved through three minor league levels, going from Single-A Salem and finishing the year with Double-A Portland. This past season saw Wehunt deal with injury, spending time on the injured list due to a lat strain. On the season, Wehunt wound up going 2-8 with a 5.68 ERA in 63 1/3 innings. In total, he appeared in 17 games and struck out 76 batters. But despite that, the season was still a success because of his improved cutter. “The fastball was 93-95 at the time and we have this huge gap in the arsenal where everything was either slow or fast. And so they came up with the idea of the cutter, and I was able to understand how to throw it pretty quickly,” Wehunt said as he talked about the process behind how a pitcher decides to add to their arsenal. The pitch, which he added in 2024, has evolved from there. “The plan before was to have something to show hitters early in counts that wasn’t a fastball and wasn’t off-speed. As I’ve grown to use it more, it’s definitely become more of an [offering] I can throw it in any count. It’s developed into using it how it should be vs just get ahead with it.” Of course, despite the improved cutter and Wehunt’s own work ethic, the injury still lingered on his mind as the season wore on and as he eventually got ready for the offseason. “Coming back (during the season) was a little tough because mentally, I had to learn how to trust that again. Now I’m to the point I don’t feel [the injury] anymore.” Wehunt spent half of October and half of November in Florida to do maintenance on his injury and making sure it was fine before getting into his usual offseason routine. Though, he also found time to enjoy some of his favorite activities. “I’m a big-time outdoorsman. Hunting, fishing, I’m all for it,” Wehunt explained when asked about things he enjoyed doing outside of baseball. “Most of the offseason I find myself doing [that kind of stuff]. Chasing deer and ducks and everything else.” And despite his enjoyment of hunting, Wehunt also knows that once New Year’s Day rolls around, it’s time to put the guns and bows away and to begin ramping up for baseball. “As soon as New Years is over, let’s put the rifle and the bow down and lets really hone in.” View the full article

In part three of our countdown of the Royals’ assets, we will be talking about the 15th through 11th most valuable player assets. If you missed the previous two lists, they are listed here. Part 1: #21-25 Part 2: #16-20 15. Michael Wacha Age: 34 Controlled Through: 2027 with a club option in 28 Wacha has been a steady and reliable presence on the mound and in the locker room. His 2.8 bWAR was third-best on a Royals team flushed with pitching depth. He also led the team in wins (10) and innings pitched (172.2), so he was the team’s workhorse for long stretches of the season. His advanced metrics on Baseball Savant show that he is in the 99th percentile in offspeed run value and in the 82nd percentile in pitching run value. Entering his age-35 season, it’s good to see Wacha still has some gas left in the tank and hopefully can continue to be solid for years to come. 14: Lucas Erceg Age: 30 Controlled Through: 2029 Erceg took a slight step back from 2024, but he was still one of the better arms in the Royals' bullpen in 2025. Throughout the year, Erceg served as the set-up man behind Carlos Estévez, and his ERA of 2.64, along with eight wins, helped the Royals have one of the more underrated bullpens in baseball. While most of his numbers were down from his excellent 2024 season, he still posted a high pitching run value of 72, and his fastball run value increased. If Erceg can continue to have quality appearances, he will be a mainstay in the Royals' bullpen for years to come. 13. Sean Gamble Age: 19 Controlled Through: 2031+ Gamble was selected 23rd overall by the Royals in the most recent MLB Draft. He was placed on the ACL Royals, but did not play any games for them in 2025 because he was not officially signed until July. The Royals see a lot of potential in Gamble, especially in the at-bats he took while at IMG Academy. He is a contact-heavy hitter and a plus runner with positional versatility, which the Royals love in their players. Now, whether he can turn his high school success into success at the minor league level is left to be determined, but he is an intriguing prospect that Royals fans will undoubtedly keep an eye on. 12. Josh Hammond Age: 19 Controlled Through: 2031+ Hammond was selected five picks after Gamble, at 28th, because of the Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) reward for Bobby Witt Jr. finishing in the top three of AL MVP voting. Hammond was a two-way player throughout high school and helped lead Wesleyan Christian Academy to its second state title in three years. Hammond has a lot of raw power at the dish to all sides of the field and has a cannon for an arm. Despite his two-way approach in high school, the Royals will focus more on his hitting, as that’s where he shows the most potential. He was drafted as a shortstop, but scouts say he could move to third base due to his arm. It’ll be intriguing to see what the Royals do with Hammond in the near future. 11. Vinnie Pasquantino Age: 28 Controlled Through: 2028 The Pasquatch is coming off a stellar year as he put up career highs in hits (164), RBIs (113), home runs (32), and bWar (2.4). It was a year that Vinnie needed, as he wasn’t able to contribute much during the Royals' playoff push in 2024, but he was able to contribute big time this year. His bat is his most valuable asset; his defense is what really needs work, as his fielding run value of 21 and his -7 OAA is not good enough for a team that prides itself on good defense. Still, there is no doubt that Pasquantino’s bat will stay in the middle of the order as long as he puts up the numbers he did this past year. View the full article

When it comes to content ideas, you either come up with something creative or steal from someone else. Well, here at Brewer Fanatic, we are going to borrow a concept from our friends over at Twins Daily. That is a list of player assets entering the upcoming season. Twins Daily has been doing this since 2018. Our inaugural Brewer Fanatic list will rank the 25 Milwaukee Brewers players and prospects with this in mind: Who are the most valuable in the organization's pursuit of building a champion? To do so, we considered age, upside, and contract. The Brewers are in one of the best positions in franchise history, coming off their third straight NL Central championship, having a relatively young MLB roster and prospects ready to be the next wave of contributors. Like it or not, that will allow the Brewers to spin off some of the talent before hitting free agency or to acquire other controllable assets. This list is a group effort. Jason Wang, Michael Trzinski, and I each came up with our own lists and merged them to create this ranking. Our individual rankings are included with each player, so you know who to blame if your favorite player isn't higher. Just kidding (but really). Each player's age and controlled-through years are based on his Baseball-Reference age for the 2026 season and when B-R says he can become a free agent. 25. Jared Koenig, LHP Jason's rank: 26 | Michael's rank: 24 | Steve's rank: 16 2026 Season age: 32 Controlled through: 2029 Opening our list is one of the Brewers' most dependable arms, who is often put into tough and late-inning situations, even if he is a late bloomer. As the Brewers do, they picked Koenig up off the scrap heap following the 2023 season, when he spent the entire season in the minors for the San Diego Padres after pitching in 10 MLB games for the Oakland A's in 2022. In two seasons with the Crew, Koenig has appeared in 127 games and posted a FIP of 3.31, striking out 24.6% of batters and walking 8.1%. While tying for ninth in MLB with 27 holds, Koenig has been versatile, serving as an opener in six games, all in 2024. Koenig provides a nice complement to Aaron Ashby, the Brewers' workhorse left-handed reliever, allowing manager Pat Murphy options depending on matchups, while also having a lefty to deploy when Ashby isn't available. Koenig allowed one run in six postseason games in 2025. He primarily relies on his sinker, which he used 57% of the time in 2025, while mixing in a cutter (18%) and curveball (16%). Koenig is entering his final pre-arbitration year and would be a very attractive piece to another team, even as he enters his age-32 season. 24. Tobias Myers, RHP Jason's rank: 14 | Michael's rank: 26 | Steve's rank: 25 2026 Season age: 27 Controlled through: 2030 After being a surprising rock of the 2024 starting rotation in his rookie season, notching a 2.7 bWAR in 27 games (25 starts), Myers was virtually nonexistent for the Brewers in 2025. Part of that stems from how his 2025 began — on the 15-day injured list with a strained left oblique. That was only a temporary setback, as he was activated and returned to the rotation in late April, when the Crew needed starters. But that only lasted for six games (one in relief) as Myers was optioned to Triple-A Nashville less than a month later. The Nashville shuttle was his plight for the rest of the season. As the Brewers' rotation stabilized, Myers was relegated to a bullpen role. His numbers for the season were very solid. He posted a 3.92 FIP, just behind the 3.91 in 2024, and an ERA+ of 117 in 22 games, including six starts. A big development for Myers in 2025 was the introduction of a splitter and a reduced reliance on his changeup. Already with a cutter and slider in addition to his four-seamer, Myers used the new splitter 16% of the time in the majors, with his changeup going from 11% in 2024 to 1% in 2025. Myers figures to be in the mix for the back end of the Brewers' rotation or a long-relief role. 23. Garrett Mitchell, CF Jason's rank: 20 | Michael's rank: 21 | Steve's rank: 21 2026 Season age: 27 Controlled through: 2028 Mitchell is the great unknown for the Brewers. Unknown because he hasn't been able to stay on the field long enough to showcase his value due to a variety of injuries. A first-round draft choice in 2020, Mitchell made his MLB debut in August 2022, playing 28 games that season. Since then, the left-handed-hitting center fielder has played 19, 69, and 25 games. That was due to a torn labrum while sliding (2023), a fractured left index finger in spring training (2024), and a strained left oblique and left shoulder surgery while rehabbing (2025). That doesn't include a left knee injury that sidelined him in 2021 and an oblique issue in 2022, both in the minors. In 2024, when he came back from the fractured finger, he showed flashes of his potential, putting up a .255/.342/.469 slash line with eight homers, 21 RBIs, and 11 steals. With 13 homers and 23 steals in 141 career games, it isn't hard to project a 20-homer, 30-steal full season. Mitchell has the talent and charisma to be as productive and popular as left fielder Jackson Chourio, which would be a boon for the Brewers. While Blake Perkins provides stellar defense in center, he doesn't have the offensive tools that Mitchell does, and the Brewers' offense sorely needs. With Perkins in his first year of arbitration eligibility, 2026 shapes up as a crucial season. The nature of Mitchell's injuries seems more fluky than anything, but frustrating for all involved, given their frequency. Mitchell is likely to be the Opening Day center fielder for the second year in a row; the only question is how many games will be played after that. 22. Robert Gasser, LHP Jason's rank: 21 | Michael's rank: 22 | Steve's rank: 19 2026 Season age: 27 Controlled through: 2030 The Brewers have been dreaming on Gasser since he was the key piece coming back in the Josh Hader trade with the San Diego Padres at the 2022 trade deadline. At the time, Gasser was a top prospect as a left-handed starting pitcher and, after spending all of 2023 at Triple-A Nashville, Gasser made his MLB debut in May 2024. But after five starts, in which he had a 3.38 FIP and 163 ERA+, Gasser blew out his left elbow and required Tommy John surgery. That kept him out until late in 2025, coming back to make two abbreviated late-season starts. The good news is that means Gasser will have a typical offseason and be ready to go at a fairly full throttle in spring training, though the Brewers will monitor his workload. With the rotation currently having a top three of right-handers Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, and Jacob Misiorowski, Gasser will be in competition with right-handers Chad Patrick, Logan Henderson, and Myers for the final two spots. Working in Gasser's favor is that he is a left-hander, potentially the only one in the 2026 Opening Day rotation. Featuring a four-seamer and a sweeper that he uses fairly equally (34% and 33% for his brief MLB career), along with a sinker and changeup, Gasser showed a good strikeout ability with 410 in 337⅓ innings in the minors, including 41 in 38 innings while rehabbing in 2025. Gasser should be a big part of the Brewers' rotation in 2026 and beyond. Due to the injury that cost him most of two seasons, this will be his final pre-arbitration season. 21. Luis Pena, SS-2B Jason's rank: 5 | Michael's rank: 26 | Steve's rank: 26 2026 Season age: 19 Controlled through: TBD Speaking of dreaming, we hit the first of three prospects to make this list. As you can see, where to rank Pena differed greatly, perhaps because the interpretation of this list's meaning differed among the three voters. None of this is a knock on Pena, the consensus No. 2 prospect in the organization. Six months older than top prospect Jesus Made, the 19-year-old Pena has risen through the system at the same speed as Made, except for one late promotion for Made in 2025. Both are middle infielders, with Pena shifting to second base in deference to Made. Pena, part of the Brewers' stellar 2024 international signing class, made it to High-A Wisconsin this season after being part of an exceptional grouping at Single-A Carolina. In 71 games at Carolina, Pena slashed .308/.375/.469 with six homers, 52 RBIs, and 41 steals. Following his promotion to Wisconsin, Pena ran into his first struggles as a professional, with a .168/.220/.297 slash line in 25 games. Speed is Pena's primary asset, with 83 steals in 140 games over two seasons, but he does have a good hit tool, having won the Dominican Summer League batting title in 2024 with a .393 average. His power increased from one homer in 2024 to nine in 2025, showing there is room to grow there as his body matures. Pena has also seen time at third base and appears to have the arm strength for the position. Likely to begin 2026 at Wisconsin, Pena is very much part of the Brewers' future and could find his way during the year to Double-A Biloxi with a good showing. View the full article

When it comes to content ideas, you either come up with something creative or steal from someone else. Well, here at Brewer Fanatic, we are going to borrow a concept from our friends over at Twins Daily. That is a list of player assets entering the upcoming season. Twins Daily has been doing this since 2018. Our inaugural Brewer Fanatic list will rank the 25 Milwaukee Brewers players and prospects with this in mind: Who are the most valuable in the organization's pursuit of building a champion? To do so, we considered age, upside, and contract. The Brewers are in one of the best positions in franchise history, coming off their third straight NL Central championship, having a relatively young MLB roster and prospects ready to be the next wave of contributors. Like it or not, that will allow the Brewers to spin off some of the talent before hitting free agency or to acquire other controllable assets. This list is a group effort. Jason Wang, Michael Trzinski, and I each came up with our own lists and merged them to create this ranking. Our individual rankings are included with each player, so you know who to blame if your favorite player isn't higher. Just kidding (but really). Each player's age and controlled-through years are based on his Baseball-Reference age for the 2026 season and when B-R says he can become a free agent. 25. Jared Koenig, LHP Jason's rank: 26 | Michael's rank: 24 | Steve's rank: 16 2026 Season age: 32 Controlled through: 2029 Opening our list is one of the Brewers' most dependable arms, who is often put into tough and late-inning situations, even if he is a late bloomer. As the Brewers do, they picked Koenig up off the scrap heap following the 2023 season, when he spent the entire season in the minors for the San Diego Padres after pitching in 10 MLB games for the Oakland A's in 2022. In two seasons with the Crew, Koenig has appeared in 127 games and posted a FIP of 3.31, striking out 24.6% of batters and walking 8.1%. While tying for ninth in MLB with 27 holds, Koenig has been versatile, serving as an opener in six games, all in 2024. Koenig provides a nice complement to Aaron Ashby, the Brewers' workhorse left-handed reliever, allowing manager Pat Murphy options depending on matchups, while also having a lefty to deploy when Ashby isn't available. Koenig allowed one run in six postseason games in 2025. He primarily relies on his sinker, which he used 57% of the time in 2025, while mixing in a cutter (18%) and curveball (16%). Koenig is entering his final pre-arbitration year and would be a very attractive piece to another team, even as he enters his age-32 season. 24. Tobias Myers, RHP Jason's rank: 14 | Michael's rank: 26 | Steve's rank: 25 2026 Season age: 27 Controlled through: 2030 After being a surprising rock of the 2024 starting rotation in his rookie season, notching a 2.7 bWAR in 27 games (25 starts), Myers was virtually nonexistent for the Brewers in 2025. Part of that stems from how his 2025 began — on the 15-day injured list with a strained left oblique. That was only a temporary setback, as he was activated and returned to the rotation in late April, when the Crew needed starters. But that only lasted for six games (one in relief) as Myers was optioned to Triple-A Nashville less than a month later. The Nashville shuttle was his plight for the rest of the season. As the Brewers' rotation stabilized, Myers was relegated to a bullpen role. His numbers for the season were very solid. He posted a 3.92 FIP, just behind the 3.91 in 2024, and an ERA+ of 117 in 22 games, including six starts. A big development for Myers in 2025 was the introduction of a splitter and a reduced reliance on his changeup. Already with a cutter and slider in addition to his four-seamer, Myers used the new splitter 16% of the time in the majors, with his changeup going from 11% in 2024 to 1% in 2025. Myers figures to be in the mix for the back end of the Brewers' rotation or a long-relief role. 23. Garrett Mitchell, CF Jason's rank: 20 | Michael's rank: 21 | Steve's rank: 21 2026 Season age: 27 Controlled through: 2028 Mitchell is the great unknown for the Brewers. Unknown because he hasn't been able to stay on the field long enough to showcase his value due to a variety of injuries. A first-round draft choice in 2020, Mitchell made his MLB debut in August 2022, playing 28 games that season. Since then, the left-handed-hitting center fielder has played 19, 69, and 25 games. That was due to a torn labrum while sliding (2023), a fractured left index finger in spring training (2024), and a strained left oblique and left shoulder surgery while rehabbing (2025). That doesn't include a left knee injury that sidelined him in 2021 and an oblique issue in 2022, both in the minors. In 2024, when he came back from the fractured finger, he showed flashes of his potential, putting up a .255/.342/.469 slash line with eight homers, 21 RBIs, and 11 steals. With 13 homers and 23 steals in 141 career games, it isn't hard to project a 20-homer, 30-steal full season. Mitchell has the talent and charisma to be as productive and popular as left fielder Jackson Chourio, which would be a boon for the Brewers. While Blake Perkins provides stellar defense in center, he doesn't have the offensive tools that Mitchell does, and the Brewers' offense sorely needs. With Perkins in his first year of arbitration eligibility, 2026 shapes up as a crucial season. The nature of Mitchell's injuries seems more fluky than anything, but frustrating for all involved, given their frequency. Mitchell is likely to be the Opening Day center fielder for the second year in a row; the only question is how many games will be played after that. 22. Robert Gasser, LHP Jason's rank: 21 | Michael's rank: 22 | Steve's rank: 19 2026 Season age: 27 Controlled through: 2030 The Brewers have been dreaming on Gasser since he was the key piece coming back in the Josh Hader trade with the San Diego Padres at the 2022 trade deadline. At the time, Gasser was a top prospect as a left-handed starting pitcher and, after spending all of 2023 at Triple-A Nashville, Gasser made his MLB debut in May 2024. But after five starts, in which he had a 3.38 FIP and 163 ERA+, Gasser blew out his left elbow and required Tommy John surgery. That kept him out until late in 2025, coming back to make two abbreviated late-season starts. The good news is that means Gasser will have a typical offseason and be ready to go at a fairly full throttle in spring training, though the Brewers will monitor his workload. With the rotation currently having a top three of right-handers Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, and Jacob Misiorowski, Gasser will be in competition with right-handers Chad Patrick, Logan Henderson, and Myers for the final two spots. Working in Gasser's favor is that he is a left-hander, potentially the only one in the 2026 Opening Day rotation. Featuring a four-seamer and a sweeper that he uses fairly equally (34% and 33% for his brief MLB career), along with a sinker and changeup, Gasser showed a good strikeout ability with 410 in 337⅓ innings in the minors, including 41 in 38 innings while rehabbing in 2025. Gasser should be a big part of the Brewers' rotation in 2026 and beyond. Due to the injury that cost him most of two seasons, this will be his final pre-arbitration season. 21. Luis Pena, SS-2B Jason's rank: 5 | Michael's rank: 26 | Steve's rank: 26 2026 Season age: 19 Controlled through: TBD Speaking of dreaming, we hit the first of three prospects to make this list. As you can see, where to rank Pena differed greatly, perhaps because the interpretation of this list's meaning differed among the three voters. None of this is a knock on Pena, the consensus No. 2 prospect in the organization. Six months older than top prospect Jesus Made, the 19-year-old Pena has risen through the system at the same speed as Made, except for one late promotion for Made in 2025. Both are middle infielders, with Pena shifting to second base in deference to Made. Pena, part of the Brewers' stellar 2024 international signing class, made it to High-A Wisconsin this season after being part of an exceptional grouping at Single-A Carolina. In 71 games at Carolina, Pena slashed .308/.375/.469 with six homers, 52 RBIs, and 41 steals. Following his promotion to Wisconsin, Pena ran into his first struggles as a professional, with a .168/.220/.297 slash line in 25 games. Speed is Pena's primary asset, with 83 steals in 140 games over two seasons, but he does have a good hit tool, having won the Dominican Summer League batting title in 2024 with a .393 average. His power increased from one homer in 2024 to nine in 2025, showing there is room to grow there as his body matures. Pena has also seen time at third base and appears to have the arm strength for the position. Likely to begin 2026 at Wisconsin, Pena is very much part of the Brewers' future and could find his way during the year to Double-A Biloxi with a good showing. View the full article

Coming out of the Winter Meetings, the Twins find themselves circling back to a familiar need. The team's offense struggled down the stretch and remains the most obvious place to upgrade a roster that is trying to stay afloat while reshaping its long-term direction. Last week, the Twins signed Josh Bell to a one-year, $7 million deal that comes with ramifications for the current roster. Minnesota could let him be the team's everyday first baseman, but he has been a poor defender for most of his career. To field the best lineup, Bell might be better suited for a DH role with a different player taking over at first base. That brings us back to Houston and to a decision that still hangs over the organization. The Twins shocked their fan base and much of the baseball world when they sent Carlos Correa back to the Astros last July. The deal felt like a final acknowledgement that the previous competitive window had closed. The return only sharpened that feeling. Minnesota received a 26-year-old low-minors pitcher in Matt Mikulski, who the team already released, and agreed to cover $33 million of Correa’s remaining contract. At the time, it looked like the Twins took the best offer available. Now, we know the talks may have been more complicated. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Minnesota initially pushed for veteran first baseman Christian Walker as part of those negotiations. Houston declined. Walker had just signed a free agent deal the previous winter and still had two years and $40 million remaining. The ask suggested the Twins were not simply dumping salary but actively searching for a way to remain respectable in the short term without Correa. Fast forward to this offseason, and Walker’s name is back in circulation. Reports indicate the Astros are attempting to clear a logjam at first base and designated hitter. Chandler Rome of The Athletic has noted that interest around the league has been limited. Walker’s 2025 numbers explain some of that hesitation. Over 154 games, he slashed .238/.297/.421 (.718) with a 99 wRC+ and produced 1.1 fWAR. There are reasons to think there is still something left. Walker was far better in the second half, launching 15 home runs and posting a 120 wRC+. He will be 35 years old in 2026 but remains a strong defender at first base (2 OAA in 2025), which carries real value for a pitching staff that will include young infielders across the diamond. This is where the Correa trade could be partially salvaged. Minnesota is already sending $10 million per season to Houston as part of Correa’s deal. A creative solution could see the Astros send Walker to the Twins while covering roughly half of his remaining salary ($16-20 million of the $40 million owed). Minnesota would likely need to include a lower-level prospect to make it work, but the cost would be manageable. It would not erase the sting of trading Correa for such a light return. However, landing a steady first baseman who can provide average offense and above-average defense would help stabilize the roster and provide a more transparent bridge between rebuilding and competing. Sometimes saving a trade does not mean winning it outright. Sometimes it means finding a way to make the aftermath hurt a little less. Does Walker make sense for the Twins? How much of his salary could the front office expect to acquire? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article