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Entering the 2025 MLB season, expectations weren’t too high for Toronto Blue Jays youngster Addison Barger. After all, Barger struggled to produce on a consistent basis during his various stints up in the big leagues in 2024. Nevertheless, he did show some promise in the end, tallying seven home runs and 28 RBIs over 69 games played. However, a 0.4 bWAR and 68 OPS+, along with an average exit velocity of 88.3 mph and a hard-hit rate of 38.3%, left a lot to be desired. However, 2025 would turn out to be the coming out party for Barger. Not only did he become a regular in the Blue Jays lineup following his promotion in mid-April, but he would eventually be a key piece of their offensive attack during the regular season and the playoffs. So, with his sudden emergence to prominence, can Barger become the next homegrown star for Toronto? Taking a look at the numbers, the 26-year-old registered a .243 average and a .756 OPS, together with 61 runs scored, 32 doubles, 21 home runs and 74 RBIs over 135 games played in his first full season with the Jays. Just for comparison, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a slightly better average (.272) and OPS (.772), but just 52 runs scored, 26 doubles, 15 home runs and 69 RBIs in 123 games played in 2019, his first full season with Toronto. Going more in-depth with the advanced stats, Barger saw his average exit velocity jump to 91.7 mph this past season, ranking him in the 86th percentile in the league. His elite hard-hit rate of 51% ranked in the 91st percentile. More impressive was his bat speed of 75.9 mph, putting him into the 93rd percentile in the league. At the same time, Barger had a respectable xwOBA of .331 and barrel rate of 11.4%. As for Guerrero, he actually paled in comparison in his first full season with the Jays, maintaining just an 89.4 mph average exit velocity, a 38.7% hard-hit rate, and 7.7% barrel rate, though he managed a similar .333 xwOBA, thanks to superior plate discipline and contact skills. Seeing how Guerrero has turned out for the Blue Jays in recent years, Barger is absolutely on the right path in his development. That being said, perhaps Barger's ascension is more similar to that of Bo Bichette, who burst out big time in his first full season in 2021, producing a .298 average and an .828 OPS, along with 121 runs scored, 29 home runs and 102 RBIs over 159 games played. That year, Bichette had an xwOBA of .350, an average exit velocity of 91.4 mph, a 47.5% hard-hit rate and a 9.9% barrel rate. So, overlooking Bichette's massive offensive production, Barger’s underlying metrics look quite similar to those of Bichette from his first full season. One thing to keep in mind is the fact that it took Barger until age 25 before entering his first full season with the Jays, whereas for both Guerrero and Bichette, their first full seasons with Toronto came at a much younger age (20 and 23, respectively). As a result, it was reasonable to expect that they had some more time to grow, whereas Barger had a lot more time to mature his game before taking the big stage. In addition, if taking a look at their performances from the minors, both Guerrero (.945 OPS, 160 wRC+) and Bichette (.894 OPS, 144 wRC+) were better hitters than Barger (.814 OPS, 120 wRC+) before their first full seasons in the majors. So, potential-wise, one would expect greater things from the Jays' dynamic duo. Nevertheless, Barger optimistically displayed rapid growth and maturity in his game when he was able to adapt and elevate his play during the postseason. He hit .367 with a 1.024 OPS, together with eight runs scored, three home runs and nine RBIs in 17 playoff games, coming through with big hits in some key moments. As a result, if Barger is able to progress his game as both Guerrero and Bichette did theirs, the Blue Jays might not need to waste too much money targeting any top free agent sluggers on the market. That is because they could have a budding one in Barger, who could be developing into the team’s next homegrown star. He might not be quite at the elite star-production level of the other two aforementioned players, even once he reaches his full potential, but getting the next Shawn Green or Adam Lind (when they were in their primes) wouldn't be too shabby either. View the full article

On Saturday evening, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Royals remain open to trading starter Kris Bubic and other pitchers to acquire a big-name bat this offseason. Bubic had an excellent campaign in 2025, despite missing most of the second half due to a shoulder injury. In 20 starts and 116.1 IP, the first-time All-Star posted a 2.55 ERA, an 8.97 K/9, and accumulated a 3.3 fWAR. Only Michael Wacha posted a higher pitcher fWAR last season (3.6) for the Royals. Additionally, upon his return to the rotation last year, Bubic still profiled well across his TJ Stuff and other metrics, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary below. Bubic rated above-average in not just TJ Stuff+ (103), but zone% (51.9%), chase% (32.4%), whiff% (28.8%), and xwOBACON (.344). Thus, it makes sense why teams are interested in Bubic's services for 2026, even if he will be a free agent after next season. In addition to Bubic, it also seems like the Royals may be interested in trading relievers John Schreiber or Bailey Falter to clear payroll for a player like Boston's Jarren Duran or St. Louis' Brendan Donovan. Here's what Rosenthal says about those possibilities in his latest piece. John Schreiber is an interesting name, mainly because he was used in many high-leverage situations last year. When it came to gmLI, which measures leverage index when a pitcher enters a game, only Carlos Estevez (1.81) and Lucas Erceg (1.64) had higher gmLI marks than Schreiber. That said, while the 31-year-old righty posted a 3.80 ERA and flooded the strike zone last year, he struggled to generate chases and whiffs, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary below. As for Bailey Falter, he struggled in his brief tenure in Kansas City, posting an 11.25 ERA in 12 IP with the Royals. His FIP was a little better at 5.22, but his overall FIP was 4.94 over 125.1 IP with the Pirates and Royals last season. Like Schreiber, inducing whiffs and chases was an issue for Falter a year ago, and it's hard to imagine it improving enough in 2026. While Falter and Schreiber may not be trending in the right direction, they could be a nice fit for a roster that lacks bullpen depth and needs relievers who will throw strikes and limit the walks. Rosenthal mentioned that Kansas City remains committed to keeping not just Cole Ragans but also to Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, among others, even though they are drawing interest. The Royals have traded away Angel Zerpa and Jonathan Bowlan already this offseason, who posted ERA marks of 4.31 and 3.61 last season, respectively. It will be interesting to see whether Royals GM JJ Picollo would be open to trading another young pitcher, such as Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, or Luinder Avila, if it helps them acquire a big-name position player who can boost the middle of the batting order. Photo Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images View the full article

If you thought that the Brewers found slim pickings when it came to the Major League Rule 5 Draft, check out the dribs and drabs of the minor league phase of the draft. Milwaukee had only a couple of players who made any impression at the major league level for the Brewers, and a handful of others who made it to the big leagues, albeit for other teams. Here are the five players drafted by the Brewers who actually played for Milwaukee. Isaac Collins, OF-2B (from Colorado), 2022 Despite showing good speed with 30 steals at Double-A Hartford in 2022, the Colorado Rockies elected not to protect Collins, and the Brewers scooped him up in the Minor League portion of the draft. Collins began the 2023 season at Double-A Biloxi and showed power (10 HR), speed (29 steals), and a good eye, drawing 75 walks while batting .269/.424/.431 across just 376 plate appearances. He earned a late-season promotion to Triple-A Nashville but went 0-for-7 in three games. The following year, Collins showed his stuff at Nashville, batting .273/.386/.475 with 14 homers and 24 steals in 500 trips to the plate. The Brewers called him up for a sip of Starbucks in September. Although Collins struggled with only two hits in 17 at-bats, he showed his moxie, singling on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues and then stealing second base against his former organization in a 4-1 loss to the Rockies. The switch-hitter earned the final spot on the 2005 Brewers Opening Day roster after Blake Perkins suffered a broken tibia in training camp. Although the Brewers stumbled out of the gate, losing four straight games, Collins went 3-for-6, including a pair of doubles. He scuffled through mid-June but then caught fire over the next three months, hitting .297/.383/.485 with 26 extra-base hits in 229 ABs. Collins ran out of steam the last three weeks of the regular season, batting just .133/.333/.167 over 30 at-bats. In the postseason, Collins got only one start and went 0-for-9. Defensively, he posted a -1 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), which put him squarely in the middle of all left fielders, but had a +5 Outs Above Average (OAA), which ranked him near the top of the list. After the 2025 season, Collins was traded, along with relief pitcher Nick Mears, to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Ángel Zerpa. Caleb Boushley, RHP (from San Diego), 2021 The Brewers selected the Hortonville, Wisconsin product (via UW-La Crosse) from the San Diego Padres in the 2021 Minor League phase. The major league portion was postponed and then cancelled due to an offseason lockout. Boushley spent the entire 2022 season at Nashville, starting 25 games while posting a 12-2 record with an ERA of 3.25. His 1.17 WHIP was solid. He repeated the Triple-A level in 2023, and although his stats weren’t as good as the previous year, Boushley got called up to Milwaukee in late September. In his first action on a major league mound, Boushley had mixed results as he gave up a home run to Ian Happ, blew a save, but got the win in extra innings. In 2 1/3 innings, he allowed the Happ home run, walked two (one intentionally), and struck out five. To date, it is his only major league win. After the season, Boushley was outrighted to Nashville, and in January, the Minnesota Twins signed him to a minor league contract. He made two appearances in two separate stints for the Twins, and after the season, he became a free agent after he refused a minor league assignment. The Texas Rangers signed Boushley to a minor league contract in November. In 2025, Boushley spent most of the season with Texas, making 25 appearances and earning one save. Two days before Thanksgiving, Boushley signed a contract with the KT Wiz in the KBO League, hoping to find a little overseas magic. David Manning, RHP (from Minnesota), 2002 Manning was a third-round pick of the Texas Rangers in the 1992 MLB Amateur Draft. He spent seven years in the Rangers organization and barely made it to Triple-A, pitching in 12 games over a three-year period. He was granted free agency after the 1998 season and signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs. Manning pitched two seasons at Double-A and Triple-A but suffered an undisclosed elbow injury that curtailed his 2000 season and the following season. He was a member of the New York Yankees organization for two months in early 2002 before being released. Manning signed with the Minnesota Twins in July and made 10 starts at Double-A New Britain. He was released once again and then was signed in the Minor League Rule 5 draft by Milwaukee. Manning began the 2003 season at Triple-A Indianapolis and got called up to Milwaukee in early August when Glendon Rusch went on the disabled list. It only took a few days for him to make his big-league debut. Unfortunately, he got rocked in his first outing, giving up four hits, five walks, and seven runs in a four-inning start against Montreal. A week later, he made his second start, and the results weren’t very different. Manning allowed seven hits, three walks, and six runs in just 2 2/3 innings against Florida. He was released 10 days later. He never made it back to the majors, but he did see a lot of the world. In addition to playing two seasons in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, he played three years in the Mexican leagues and one winter in Venezuela. He also played in two independent leagues and had partial seasons in the Cubs and Orioles organizations. Matías Carrillo, OF (from Pittsburgh), 1987 Carrillo was purchased by the Pirates in December 1985 from the Mexico City Tigers after four seasons in the Mexican League. After two ho-hum seasons in the Pirates chain, he was selected by the Brewers in the 1987 Minor League Rule 5 Draft. He spent four years (one at Double-A and three at Triple-A) in the minors for Milwaukee and was a decent player, finally getting his shot in the bigs in May 1991 when outfielder Darryl Hamilton went on the disabled list. Carillo did his best Moonlight Graham impression, although he played in three games to Graham’s one contest. In late May, Carrillo came into three consecutive games as a defensive replacement in left field for Franklin Stubbs and Greg Vaughn. Carrillo’s Milwaukee career showed no plate appearances and no defensive chances in the field. He was sent back to Triple-A Denver to make room for the return of pitcher Teddy Higuera at the end of May. Carrillo returned to the Mexican League for two years before he got signed by the Florida Marlins. He finally got his first big-league at-bat on September 1, 1993, and singled off Padres’ pitcher Andy Benes. He also had a double and two RBI. In his first dozen games, Carrillo batted .323/.323/.452 with four doubles across 31 at-bats. He finished the year with a batting line of .255/.281/.364 across 55 at-bats. In 1994, Carrillo played 80 games up until the Major League Strike. He batted .250/.295/.301 across 136 at-bats. He became a free agent after the year and played the next 15 years in the Mexican Leagues, retiring from baseball at age 46. Carrillo managed eight years in the Mexican League and one year in the independent Pioneer League before pulling the plug. Tom Candiotti, RHP (from Kansas City), 1980 How many people remember that ‘Cotton’ Candiotti pitched for the Brewers? He began his career with an unaffiliated team in the Low-A Northwest League in 1979 before signing with the Royals. He pitched for one year with the Royals at Double-A and Triple-A before getting picked by the Brewers in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft in 1980. He made 21 appearances (14 starts) in 1981 at Double-A El Paso and went on the shelf with an elbow injury. He underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the end of 1981 and the entire 1982 season. He pitched at two levels in 1983 before getting called up to Milwaukee in August when Don Money went on the disabled list. After a pair of relief outings, Candiotti earned four straight wins, including two complete games and one shutout. The last four games were a disaster as he lost four straight. He posted an ERA+ of 117 and a FIP of 3.90. Candiotti was viewed as a long reliever in 1984 by manager Rene Lachemann, but instead was sent down to Triple-A Vancouver. He was recalled by Milwaukee in mid-July and made three starts with mixed results before going on the DL with right shoulder tendinitis. Upon his return, he made five appearances in September, finishing his Brewer career. In 1985, Candiotti made 28 combined starts between El Paso and Vancouver and was released after the season. Candiotti made 18 appearances (14 starts) for Milwaukee, posting an ERA+ of 96 and a FIP of 4.04. Candiotti spent the next 14 years in the bigs, toiling for Cleveland, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto, and Oakland. He amassed 200+ innings nine times in his career. He retired at age 42 with 151 wins and an ERA+ of 108. The Ones That Got Away Five of the players chosen by the Brewers in the draft didn't make it to Milwaukee, but instead, made their big-league debuts with other clubs. Mike Warren, RHP (from Oakland), 1981 Warren made six starts at Single-A Stockton (4-0, 3.27 ERA), striking out batters at a rate of nearly 25% while posting a 1.14 WHIP. He was traded, along with first baseman Johnny Evers, to the A's for utilityman Rob Picciolo. Warren pitched for Oakland for three years (1983-85) and made 27 starts among 52 appearances and had an ERA+ of 75 and a FIP of 4.75. Juan Cerros, RHP (from Cincinnati), 2004 Cerros actually pitched in the bigs before Milwaukee scooped him up. He made 11 relief appearances for the Reds in 2003 and pitched to an ERA+ of 87 and FIP of 4.26. Not sure what happened in early 2005, but Cerros never pitched in the Brewers chain, instead electing to play in his native Mexico for the next 10 years. Brett Campbell, RHP (from Washington), 2007 Campbell also pitched in the bigs prior to getting drafted by the Brewers. In 2006, Campbell appeared in four games for the Nationals, posting an ERA+ of 45 and a FIP of 6.38. The Brewers released him before the start of the 2008 season. After his playing career, Campbell was a coach at Georgia Perimeter College, a small school near Atlanta. After two years, he became a scout for the Texas Rangers and, more recently, is scouting for the New York Mets. Kevin Mattison, OF (from Miami), 2013 Mattison also played in the majors prior to being drafted by Milwaukee, appearing in just three games for Miami in 2012, going 0-for-5. In 2014, Mattison played in 91 games at Triple-A Nashville, batting just .212/.294/.387 with 21 extra-base hits in 217 at-bats, but he struck out 33% of the time. He was released by the Brewers in mid-August. He signed with the Nationals before the 2015 season but was released after just three games at Triple-A Syracuse. Matt Ramsey, RHP (from Miami), 2016 Ramsey pitched for Double-A Biloxi in 2017 and led the Southern League with 27 saves. In mid-July, he was promoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs but scuffled there and was sent back to Biloxi, where he finished the season. Ramsey was released after the season and was picked up by Houston. He spent the 2018 campaign in the minors for Houston and once again chose free agency. The Los Angeles Angels signed him, and he started the 2019 season at Triple-A Salt Lake. He was called up to the Angels in late April and the next day made his only big show appearance, pitching a perfect ninth against the New York Yankees, striking out Mike Ford to end the game. He was let go by the Angels in early June. He pitched in Mexico and in an independent league, but retired after the season. Final Thoughts The Brewers, like most other teams, hope to find that special needle in a haystack with the Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. It happened with Collins, Candiotti, and, to a lesser extent, Mike Warren. But for the most part, major league teams are just happy if they can find someone who can be a solid performer for them at the higher levels of the minors. And if they happen to make it to the bigs? That's a job well done by that organization. Please feel free to share any thoughts or comments in the comments section below. View the full article

A.J. Preller has been activated. As evidenced by the San Diego Padres' re-signing of Michael King and signing of South Korean infielder Sung Mun Song, the organization now stands to play a significant role in how the remainder of the winter transpires across the landscape of Major League Baseball. And while the addition of Song, in particular, could have a bearing on the team's willingness to deal from their position player group, he stands to serve as a wildly important addition regardless of how the rest of the offseason unfolds. The 2025 Padres lacked infield depth. Outside of the starters, it was a group that was led by Jose Iglesias in a reserve role. The veteran appeared at second base for 40 games, third base for 24, and shortstop for another 32. Mason McCoy made a dozen appearances at short and another two at the keystone. There was a smattering of Tyler Wade in there early, too. To recap, that's a wRC+ of 73 (Iglesias), 42 (McCoy), and 69 (Wade) in support of their starting group. And that starting group didn't remain healthy throughout the year, with Xander Bogaerts, in particular, only appearing in 125 games. Plus, Jake Cronenworth missed a bit of time early in the year. Suffice it to say that when there was an absence — however brief it may have been — the Padres had a problem on their hands without any supplemental offense to speak of. Song's addition changes the calculus entirely. In general, the team is getting a versatile infielder that supplements the starting lineup with significantly more offensive upside than anyone they trotted out last year. His most recent KBO action featured a .315/.387/.530 line with 26 homers and 25 steals. Song logged time only at second and third base last year but also has some first base reps to his credit. His addition, as such, unlocks some versatility for the current roster. As things stand right now, you're looking at some combination of Gavin Sheets and Luis Campusano at first base. Jake Cronenworth will primarily handle the keystone while bouncing over to first occasionally. Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado remain in place to handle shortstop and third base, respectively. While first base still stands as the most likely of the positions for an upgrade at present (barring a trade of Cronenworth), let's momentarily assume that no further transactions unfold with respect to the infield. Sheets' on-paper ability to move to the outfield corners and Campusano's current obligation as the team's No. 2 catcher allows new manager Craig Stammen to work Song in with some frequency, perhaps even as the primary first baseman if he's more content to have Sheets serve as a DH and let Campusano develop his glove behind the plate without additional obligations. Cronenworth can also slide over if he wants Song in at second base. Perhaps most importantly, though, is the fact that Song can step in reliably at third. That allows Stammen to work Machado in as the designated hitter with at least a little more frequency. We've seen his bat go through questionable stretches and his glove work decline a shade over the last two years. The flexibility there just adds a bit more of a safety net in those stretches where an approach or mechanical adjustment is needed on the part of Machado, without the extra burden of focusing on the defensive side of the ball. It's not that Song will supplant Machado for any meaningful stretch of time, but more so that he just offers that extra layer of protection for an essential player entering a season in which he'll turn 34 years old. Regardless of specifics, though, it cannot be overstated how much more dynamic the infield group becomes with Sung-mun Song now in the mix. Even if he's unable to attain a role as a traditional everyday player, he offers a level of offensive upside as a fill-in or injury replacement that the Padres lacked entirely in 2025. Not only does he offer the bat-to-ball skills that you prefer from that kind of role, but he possesses much more power and speed upside. While it's now much more likely that they deal from this group than it might have been even a few days ago, it's clear that the floor has been raised considerably on the infield grass in San Diego. View the full article

“The monthly card update is never late, nor is it early. It arrives precisely when it means to.” When it comes to overall card market health, I have fielded a lot of questions on if I think there is a bubble in this marketplace. Unfortunately, I don’t have a very “clicks-friendly” answer. Is there a bubble? Yes and no. In the new products from roughly 2015 and on, there are just too many cards. Even your numbered cards have different variations. Let's say you pull a 2025 Topps Chrome true red parallel, numbered /5, Royce Lewis. Fun pull, but there’s also an /5 sapphire, /5 logofractor, /5 ray wave, /5 red wave, and more! As you can see, you think you have this extremely rare card, but it has a long list of cousins. For these modern cards to do really well over time, you need the card to grade a 10 and it needs to be a very popular player. Otherwise, I think this modern market is certainly a bubble waiting to burst. The card market isn’t all doom and gloom. Like I mentioned above, it’s knowing the right cards and the right players to target. There has been a junk wax era in the past, and we are on the verge of that again (if not already there with the print runs on some of these rookie cards). The early 2000s is the market I am targeting and feels like it’s not as widely collected. Print runs are lower and there are some elite names and “local legends” that I love. The two big ones are Albert Pujols and Ichiro. Both are universally loved and will be remembered by baseball historians until the end of time. The other target for me is local fanbase heroes that were great players but maybe came up short of immortal careers. This could include players like Kris Bryant, Bernie Williams, Torii Hunter, and many others who will likely be short of The Hall. Without hesitation, these people will have a large collection of people who say, “That is my favorite player of all time”. Remember, target rookie cards, on card autographs (not sticker autos), low serial numbered cards before 2020, and cards that have a chance to grade gem mint. Overall, baseball cards are becoming more of an institution in the average household and cards are more visible and more widely accepted than ever before. Before the pandemic card boom, this was far more of a hide in your basement and don’t tell anyone type of activity. Now when you hop on Instagram, there are card accounts all over. You can even be at a party and there’s a good chance if you bring up “cards”, you’ll see someone's eyes light up. Cards aren’t going anywhere, but being able to know what is trash and what is treasure is a huge deal for someone’s enjoyment of the hobby. I always point folks to 130point.com to check on comparable sales and to get an idea of what others have decided certain cards are worth. 5 Twins players and their cards I am looking to add before the turn of the new year: Kaelen Culpepper (Bowman Chrome 1st’s autographs) Royce Lewis (‘22 Topps Chrome Rookie autographs *NON STICKER*, Bowman Chrome 1st’s) Byron Buxton (1/1’s and ‘15 Topps Chrome Rookie autographs) Joe Mauer (‘02 Bowman Chrome autograph, numbered cards and SPs from playing years) Torii Hunter (numbered cards from 2015 and earlier and autographs) View the full article

Dismissed by the Miami Marlins at the end of the 2024 season, Jeff Schwarz filed a civil complaint against his former employer in Palm Beach County Circuit Court on Thursday. Schwarz, who was 60 years old when the Marlins dismissed him, alleges that he was the victim of age discrimination. He's seeking "in excess of $50,000" through this lawsuit. It's unclear exactly when Schwarz was originally hired by the Marlins, but the photo above is from 2004. Across several different stints with the organization, his various roles included Triple-A pitching coach, Gulf Coast League pitching coach, pitching coordinator and (most recently) rehabilitation pitching coach. Quite frankly, I wasn't aware of his existence until learning of this legal action and therefore don't have any insight into the quality of his coaching. Schwarz's lawsuit references both president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and director of player development Rachel Balkovec, both of whom are in their 30s. Balkovec delivered the news of his termination, allegedly attributing the decision to "cleaning house" rather than job performance. Schwarz attempts to establish that there was a pattern of discrimination on the basis of age in violation of the Florida Civil Rights Act. In total, 11 Marlins coaches who were at least 46 years old got canned in October 2024 despite being "eminently qualified for their position," he claims. That group included Triple-A Jacksonville manager Daren Brown, High-A Beloit manager Billy Gardner and minor league pitching coordinator Scott Aldred. Schwarz feels that he is entitled to compensation for "extreme emotional distress, mental pain and suffering, past and future pecuniary losses, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of the capacity for the enjoyment of life and other non-pecuniary losses, along with the loss of back and front pay, interest on pay, bonus, and other fringe benefits." You may download the full lawsuit here (Jeffrey Schwarz v. Marlins Teamco LLC). I'm not a lawyer, but this situation seems highly likely to be settled out of court. View the full article

The San Diego Padres reunited with ace Michael King, removing some burden off the shoulders of various other starting pitchers in the rotation. View the full article

It was easy to see that the Brewers valued Brandon Lockridge’s speed and defense the moment they acquired him at the 2025 trade deadline. The 28-year-old’s sprint speed of 30.1 feet per second ranked seventh among all baserunners, and he has accrued 5 Defensive Runs Saved in just 394 ⅔ career big-league innings in the outfield. That profile fit in nicely with Milwaukee’s existing team identity. Lockridge’s approach has been geared toward maximizing the havoc he can wreak on the bases rather than hitting for power. In 196 games across the 2023 and 2024 minor-league seasons, he reached base at a .396 clip and stole 86 bases while hitting just five home runs. That offensive profile has yet to translate into success in the majors, where Lockridge has hit .226/.268/.308 for a 62 wRC+ in 160 plate appearances, but his defensive value has kept him slightly above replacement level in 79 games. Like Blake Perkins, Lockridge doesn’t need to do much offensively to be a productive fourth outfielder. However, the Brewers are high on him to an extent that suggests they see more potential in his bat. They acquired him for veteran starter Nestor Cortes in a deal that also saw them pay down the remainder of Cortes’s salary. Milwaukee also shipped Isaac Collins to Kansas City last week, a move that opens up more playing time for Lockridge next season. A fifth-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2018, Lockridge was scouted during his early prospect days as a power-speed threat who regularly pulled the ball in the air. He popped a combined 39 home runs over his first three full years in the system. Serious swing-and-miss issues stalled Lockridge’s progression, though, with a 68.5% contact rate and 26.9% strikeout rate holding him to a .230/.300/.379 line (90 wRC+) in Double-A in 2022. By 2025, Lockridge’s contact rate improved to 80.6% in Triple-A, but the home runs have evaporated because he’s stopped pulling balls in the air. His 50.1% hard-hit rate ranked in the 92nd percentile of Triple-A hitters this year, but his 8.1% pull air rate ranked in the 11th percentile. In the big leagues, Lockridge hit 36.9% of his batted balls to the opposite field, the fifth-highest rate among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances. Many hitters who typically prioritize going to the opposite field stand further back in the batter’s box. This gives them time to let the ball get deep over the plate and still make decent contact, rather than meeting the ball before their hands and barrel have a chance to work through it. Lockridge, however, doesn’t set up like a hitter with an extreme opposite-field approach. He stands a few inches closer to the pitcher in a much wider stance than most of his oppo-minded contemporaries, meaning he typically makes contact in front of the plate. The biggest reason Lockridge rarely pulls the ball in the air is not where in a pitch’s flight he makes contact; it’s his swing path. Despite making contact in front with decent tilt, Lockridge’s average attack angle of 5 degrees was only half the league average, meaning his barrel doesn’t switch to much of an upward trajectory by the time it reaches the ball. In other words, he’s often chopping at it – swinging down and leveling out, instead of swinging down to lead into a slight uppercut as his hands work through the pitch. That choppiness was immediately on display in his Brewers debut, initially in a productive fashion. He notched his first hit with a 104.4-mph grounder through the right side. VndNNndfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0JnTllVbEpRVjFFQVdRTlFBQUFIQkFCU0FGa0NWVmdBQmwxWFZBWUFWUVJWQndjRg==.mp4 He later smoked a 102.1-mph liner to right on a hanging breaking ball. VndNNndfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X1Z3TlpBRkZTQUFZQUNGWUZBd0FIQ1FkV0FGaFhVRkVBVVZJQkFRWlhWQUlHVkFGUw==.mp4 That’s not a fundamentally bad swing – it can produce worm-burner and line-drive singles, just like those two hits – but it may not be the best utilization of Lockridge’s athleticism in the box. Despite posting a solid 40.5% hard-hit rate during his small sample as a Brewer, he slugged just .370 with an 86 wRC+. Lockridge may be capable of a more balanced profile, and Pat Murphy prefers the versatility of a more vertical bat path for the right hitters. He and the Brewers shouldn’t try to turn him into a power hitter – his speed is his greatest asset – but some small tweaks to get him meeting the ball at a better angle could yield a valuable payoff. View the full article

The MLB Draft Lottery delivered an early holiday gift to the Twins at last week’s Winter Meetings when the club secured the third overall pick. It is the organization’s highest draft position since 2017 and one that should offer the chance to add an impact talent to a farm system already trending upward. Still, ending up in the third spot comes with a history that is anything but straightforward. Depending on the year, the third pick has produced Hall of Famers, perennial All-Stars, fringe big leaguers, and players who never quite lived up to the expectations placed on them. That is the challenge the Twins now face. The third overall pick can transform a franchise, but its legacy also provides a reminder that even the most carefully managed scouting departments can miss. Minnesota has reaped both ends of that spectrum over its history with the pick and now finds itself hoping that this year’s draft can tie the story together in a much more satisfying way. Some of the best selections ever made from the third spot came long before the modern scouting and analytics era. The Brewers struck gold twice in the 1970s by drafting Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. Both players carved out Hall of Fame careers while accumulating more than 75 rWAR apiece, setting standards that have towered over every other third overall pick for nearly five decades. The 2000s produced more star talent with Evan Longoria in 2006 and Manny Machado in 2010. Machado’s 61.7 rWAR already puts him among the elite at the position, and he still has time to climb higher before his career closes. More recently, the third overall pick has been attached to high ceilings and heavy risk. Detroit selected prep outfielder Max Clark in 2023, a player many evaluators believe could be a fast mover once he gets deeper into pro ball. He is already a consensus top-50 prospect and could debut as early as 2026. The Rangers went in a very different direction with Kumar Rocker in 2022 after his winding path from Vanderbilt to independent ball to the first round. It was a surprise pick at number three that changed the rest of that first round. Rocker still flashed top 50 potential entering last season, but has struggled to find sustained success in the majors. Last season, he had a 4.88 FIP and a 19.5 K%. Miami hoped Max Meyer, a Minnesota Golden Gopher legend, would become a rotation anchor after taking him third overall in 2020. Injuries and inconsistency have slowed his ascent, leaving his long-term role in MLB unsettled. In 2025, he posted a 4.47 FIP with a 23.9 K%. The Twins have their own complicated history with the third overall pick, and both of their selections arrived with expectations that were never fulfilled. Minnesota believed Willie Banks could become a fixture in the rotation after grabbing him in 1987. Instead, he bounced around the league and contributed only 1.0 rWAR in 85 career appearances. Dave McCarty followed in 1991 and brought an enticing college power bat, with evaluators projecting a quick rise. He reached the majors but never developed into the middle-of-the-order presence the Twins hoped for, producing negative value during his time in Minnesota (-3.2 rWAR) despite playing parts of 11 seasons in the majors. As Jamie Cameron wrote, the Twins have some intriguing options that will be available with the third overall pick next July. College shortstop Justin Lebron is the frontrunner for the third pick. Last season, he posted a 127 wRC+ for Alabama. Other college options include Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress, Virginia outfielder A.J. Gracia, and Coastal Carolina right-handed pitcher Cameron Flukey . However, it’s important to note that a lot can happen during the spring season for college and high school players. There is at least one comforting trend. In both years, when the Twins held the third overall pick, the franchise went on to win the World Series. It may be a coincidence, but with a premium draft selection now secured and a front office that has seen some recent draft success stories, Minnesota has a chance to reshape the story around the third pick. History may be complicated, but the Twins will gladly accept the opportunity to add the next great chapter. What stands out about the history of the third overall pick? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

A.J. Preller and the San Diego Padres are always lurking. So, when it was reported (though eventually clarified) that Michael King had boiled his free agency down to three teams — the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees — it was hardly shocking that it was San Diego that was able to convince the New York state native to put pen to paper and remain on the West Coast. King and the Padres agreed to a new three-year pact on Dec. 18. The deal can pay him up to $75 million across the three years, though only the first is guaranteed for both sides. Each of the two additional years carries a player option, with those two years holding the potential to pay King $58 million ($28 million in 2027, $30 million in 2028). The deal carries significant risk for the Padres, as there's plenty of opt-out potential if King can stay healthy and earn a longer-term contract following the 2026 campaign. If he's not healthy or struggles, then they're on the hook for significant dollars. Nevertheless, it's hard to overstate the value of familiarity in beginning the process of stabilizing a presently shallow rotation. The Padres entered the offseason with only Nick Pivetta guaranteed within their starting five. Dylan Cease departed for Toronto, and it was widely expected King would follow him out the door. Even with Joe Musgrove set to return from Tommy John surgery early in the year, his lack of a firm timeline and a collection of fringe arms — JP Sears, Sean Boyle, Randy Vásquez, and Matt Waldron — left very little by which to be inspired as far as the starting pitching group was concerned. Worse yet was that the path to actually improving that status was murky. The farm system is barren to the point where acquiring an impact starter via trade would've likely been impossible. Additionally, the organization is seemingly always in some form of financial peril, a situation which had the potential to become worse as ownership explores a potential sale of the franchise. So, while names like Ranger Suárez, Zac Gallen, Framber Valdez, and Tatsuya Imai exist on the free-agent market and options like Freddy Peralta or maybe Tarik Skubal are available via trade, possessing the resources to acquire any of them was going to be a tall order. Even for an executive as ambitious as Preller. Which is why, despite the risk, the re-signing of Michael King is in the upper tier of worthwhile roads the Padres could have traversed in their pursuit of starting pitching. When healthy, the Padres know what they're getting in King. The 2024 season, his first in San Diego, featured a 3.9 fWAR courtesy of a 2.95 ERA, a 27.7 percent strikeout rate, and an 8.7 percent walk rate. His percentile distribution looked as follows: Not only was King adept at running up his strikeout total, he was downright excellent in avoiding quality contact. It's an area in which he continued to find success through his injury-plagued, 15-start campaign of 2025. Despite the fact that he averaged fewer than five innings per start and took a major step back on the whiff side of things, he still ended things in the 84th percentile in average exit velocity for opposing hitters (87.8 MPH) and the 68th in Hard-Hit% against (38.1). For a player who worked through a nerve issue and knee inflammation over the course of a full season, that he still was able to maintain some level of effect is encouraging. What the Padres need King to do in 2026, above all, is to get back to his efficiency. He averaged 5.7 innings per start in that 2024 season, but followed it up with only 4.9 innings per start in 2025. The health component was (obviously) the primary factor there. Especially because there isn't a whole lot to be too discouraged by within the particulars. His fastball velocity only fell by 0.2 miles per hour through those issues, and his spin rates were actually higher on the year. There are some usage factors that could be improved (like getting the changeup back to its usual level of involvement and effectiveness), but health will be the primary factor in King providing value to the 2026 Padres. That's what they're banking on, too. The risk is obvious. If King experiences additional inflammation or nerve issues, then the Padres have a severe problem on their hands, both in terms of personnel and payroll. If healthy, though, he's a stabilizing force atop the rotation, capable of providing nearly six innings per start. And while the general public has already come to accept the idea that he'd opt out in the event of a strong season, he'd still be in line to take home elite money for two consecutive years. It'd be about years if he does, not dollars. Risk was going to be a natural byproduct of any of the notable free-agent options, though. And that's the important thing to consider here. Suárez has back issues. Gallen has had stretches of uneven performance and a smattering of trips to the injured list. Imai has to transition from Japan to the United States. Valdez is two years older. They all feature some kind of risk, and the term of any contract is projected to be longer for his free-agent counterparts. In King, the Padres not only get a short-term commitment (even if it doesn't end up completely working out), but familiarity. That matters. They know him in the physical sense and in a mechanical one. There isn't an adjustment period with the coaching staff given that Ruben Niebla is still running things as pitching coach. You purely have to ensure King is healthy, and it's unlikely the Padres and their limited resources would've been willing to make this investment if they believed he was anything but. Essentially, this is kind of an ideal outcome for the Padres. The risk exists but feels more minimal by comparison considering that familiarity. The contract doesn't run into next decade like, say, Xander Bogaerts' does. Above all, they now insert King atop their rotation alongside Pivetta and a returning Musgrove. This singular addition changes the pitching outlook for the staff and puts the roster into far better position than it was even 48 hours ago. View the full article

In the next installment of the countdown of top Royals assets, we are highlighting the 16th-20th-most valuable player assets. If you missed the previous list of players, you can find the breakdown of players 21-25 here. 20. Carlos Estévez, RHP Age: 32 Controlled Through: 2026 (Club Option for 2027) In his first year in Kansas City, Estévez assumed the closer role. He is serving the last year of his 2-year, $22.2 million contract, which includes a club option for $13 million in 2027. Estévez had an excellent year in 2025, leading the American League with 42 saves. He has been a reliable anchor for this bullpen after James McArtur and Lucas Erceg shared closing duties in 2024. His success in 2025 may have been slightly fortunate compared to the Statcast expected metrics, where his ERA, batting average, slugging percentage, and weighted on-base average against were all lower than expected. ERA BA SLG wOBA Actual 2.46 .199 .315 .255 Expected 3.72 .231 .396 .299 His fastball velocity has also declined in each of the past three seasons. Still, Estévez has counteracted that by throwing his fastball at a career-low 53.5% of the time while increasing the frequency of his slider and changeup. He does not strike out a ton of batters, but he also prevents hitters from barreling the ball and is above average at keeping runners off the bases. It is valuable to know who is getting the ball in the 9th inning to close out a game. If Estévez can replicate his season from last year, the Royals will be in a good position to compete in 2026. 19. Kyle Isbel, CF Age: 28 Controlled Through: 2027 Isbel has been a steady presence in the Royals' outfield. He has accrued at least 1.6 bWAR in each of the last three seasons, and is one of the best defensive centerfielders in baseball. His defensive excellence did not go unnoticed the previous season when he was a finalist for the Gold Glove award in centerfield. He grades in the 93rd percentile in fielding run value and outs above average. He has one of the fastest reaction times, which allows him to cover a lot of ground in Kauffman Stadium’s large outfield. His offense is lacking, grading below the 10th percentile in xwOBA, xBA, and xSLG. Despite his deficiencies at the plate, his OPS+ of 83 was still higher than that of 11 players who logged time in the Royals’ outfield last season. If he can maintain his current offensive output, Isbel’s elite defense will remain a positive asset to the Royals. It will especially help if the Royals can add offensive production in the other outfield positions. 18. Isaac Collins, OF Age: 28 Controlled Through: 2030 Speaking of outfield help, the Royals are hopeful that Isaac Collins can make an immediate impact in the lineup. On December 14th, the Royals traded for Collins from the Milwaukee Brewers along with Nick Mears. Collins should be able to fill the void in left field that plagued the Royals last season. In his rookie campaign, Collins slashed .263/.368/.411, suitable for a 118 OPS+ and 2.1 WAR. His strong performance earned him a 4th place finish in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. Collins’ main offensive attribute is his plate discipline. He gets on base at a high rate, draws walks, and doesn’t chase pitches out of the zone. The walks will be a welcome addition to the lineup, considering the Royals ranked 29th in walks last season, and Collin’s OBP of .368 outpaced all qualified Royals hitters in the previous season. His hitting and power metrics graded last season at close to or just below average, but his ability to consistently get on base will be very valuable to the Royals. Collins also provides versatility on defense. With the acquisition of Lane Thomas, Collins could also shift to second base if needed. This will be valuable since the Royals’ second basemen also struggled at the plate last season. With five more years of team control remaining, the Royals' Collins can develop into a consistent contributor for years to come. 17. Seth Lugo, RHP Age: 36 Controlled Through: 2927 (Vesting Option for 2028) Lugo took a step back in 2025 following his Cy Young runner-up campaign in 2024. After signing an extension to keep him in Kansas City through at least 2027, Lugo struggled on the mound and eventually landed on the injured list for a lower back issue. Lugo will look to bounce back in 2026, hoping his regression is injury-related rather than age-related. If he can limit his walks and home runs allowed, he should be in a good place to be a reliable workhorse in the rotation and go deeper into games. In 2024, he averaged 6.26 innings per start, and in 2025, he only averaged 5.59 innings. 16. Salvador Perez Age: 35 Controlled Through: 2027 Perez assumed more innings behind the plate after Freddy Fermin was traded to the Padres last season. Entering his age-36 season, Perez has logged significant mileage at baseball’s most physically demanding positions, especially for someone of his age. With the emergence of Carter Jensen, the Royals should probably look to cede more time behind the plate to Jensen. Perez’s leadership is still unquestioned, and he continues to be a vocal leader in the clubhouse. He has the “C” in his jersey for a reason. Hopefully, he can turn to mentoring Jensen in his next two seasons in Kansas City. For now, he is still a valuable bat in the Royals lineup. He will continue to hit for power in the middle of the lineup, whether he is catching or serving as the designated hitter. View the full article

Shota Imanaga's return to the Chicago Cubs' rotation — after a bizarre double-opt-out that required the qualifying offer to mend — should be a boon at large for the team in 2026, even if his home run problems render him less effective than the pitcher he was in 2024 and the first half of 2025. However, his presence (and the looming return of Justin Steele from elbow surgery) puts the Cubs in a weird spot when it comes to one of their best depth arms. Javier Assad took 29 starts for the North Siders in 2024, and he entered camp with an eye on yet another job at the back of Craig Counsell's rotation. Unfortunately, an oblique strain had other ideas, holding him out until August 12. That long layoff limited him to just seven starts (plus one bullpen appearance) and 37.0 innings, but he was more or less the pitcher fans have come to expect when stepped back onto the mound — he recorded a 3.65 ERA, 47.4% ground-ball rate, while pitching to about 1.0 fWAR per 100 frames. His strikeouts were down, but so too were the amount of walks and home runs he surrendered. He pitched to contact effectively, letting the Cubs' superlative defense take care of the many balls in play. In other words, he was Javier Assad. Long one of baseball's best FIP-beaters (a topic our @Jason Ross explored in depth here), the 28-year-old's expected stats continued to betray his actual production. His 4.24 FIP this past season was more than a half-run higher than his ERA; his expected ERA (xERA) was 4.79, clear of his actual mark by more than a full digit. It's no secret why a contact-manager like Assad continues to outperform his FIP; the stat hones in on the outcomes a pitcher controls (strikeouts, walks, hit-by-pitches, and home runs). It may be a better indicator of a pitcher's potential to dominate, but it hardly accounts for a pitcher who knows how to pitch to his defense's strengths as well as Assad does. A lot of what drives his success is a seven-pitch mix that includes three fastballs (a four-seamer, a cutter, and a sinker), two distinct slider shapes (a traditional slider and a sweeper), and a curveball and a changeup. None of these pitches are actually incredible, mind you — in a small sample, his sweeper and four-seamer were the only offerings to generate an xwOBA below .300 this year. He gets by on a quantity-over-quality approach, which works when you're able to differentiate movement profiles as much as Assad does. *Chart courtesy of Baseball Savant Again, that sheer diversity doesn't lead to dazzling results. His strikeout rate has never been above 21% in a single season, and he routinely ranks toward the bottom of the league in generates whiffs and chases. Were it not for a proven ability to miss barrels and generate ground balls, Assad probably wouldn't even be in the league. And yet, he has proven, time and time again, to have that ability, expected stats be damned. Putting him in a Keegan Thompson-esque, multi-inning-fireman role is simply not the right play here. Assad is a starter, plain and simple. Thanks to that seven-pitch arsenal, he tends to get better as he gets deeper into games. He's also significantly better with runners on base, which would sound like a load of small-sample nonsense if he hadn't repeated the same feat four years running. So, what's the plan here? He isn't taking a spot from Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton, or Imanaga in the rotation, and Steele would have the inside track on the fifth job if and when he's healthy. Plus, Colin Rea is still a factor after his strong effort in 2025, and Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown are still clogging up space on the 40-man roster. Would the Cubs really stash Assad in Triple-A (he has two option years remaining) until a need arises? Will they try to treat him like a true swingman, á la the way the Cincinnati Reds have used Nick Martinez the past few years? It's something of a good problem to have since Assad has proven so effective in his opportunities, despite what the expected metrics suggest. He's not so good that he'll cause internal strife by ringing up 15 Triple-A hitters a night, but it's also a waste of his talents to have him soak up mop-up duty on either side of a blowout. What the Cubs need is an Alec Mills or Keegan Thompson. What they have is Javier Assad. If they can find the balancing act between those two distinct archetypes, perhaps a brighter future lies ahead for both team and player. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins made big news in the past week by signing free agent Josh Bell, and then formally announcing a drastic shakeup to the franchise's ownership structure. Outside of that, however, it's been fairly quiet on the offseason front. Most notably, the club has yet to take serious action on its most clear and pressing need: the bullpen. Cole Sands, coming off a disappointing season, is accompanied by Justin Topa as the only veteran relievers in the mix. Kody Funderburk seems likely to return. Outside of that, the Twins entered this winter with essentially an open slate. They acquired Eric Orze, coming off a solid age-27 rookie season with the Rays, in a low-wattage trade. He's lined up for a spot. More recently, Minnesota brought in two right-handers with major-league experience on minor-league deals: Grant Hartwig and Dan Altavilla. It's easy to see why fringy free agents like these would be drawn here. Aside from the four aforementioned names — who are all shaky in their own ways — there's nothing standing in the way of major-league bullpen spots other than the likes of Travis Adams, Pierson Ohl, John Klein, Marco Raya and Connor Prielipp. I'm sure the Twins are planning on turning to all of those guys at some point, but there's no need to feel compelled to rush any of them. In many cases, these young pitchers could stand to get some true relief experience in the minors after largely working in starting or hybrid roles in the past. Yeah, the Twins will probably add a more established reliever or two via signing or trade, but I doubt they'll go much beyond that in terms of MLB contracts. Investing heavily in the bullpen would clash with the philosophies this front office has held strong to, and also, incoming ownership figurehead Tom Pohlad made clear that big spending is not in the cards. Plus most of the top free-agent relievers are off the market already. Flexibility is going to be the point. I don't want to paint it as a good thing that the Twins are so short on dependable, proven major-league relievers. It's not. But there are some advantages in creating this stage of opportunity. We've seen plenty of instances where the Twins had an exceptional relief pitcher in hand — Jeff Hoffman, Yennier Cano, Ronny Henriquez — only to let him slip away because they couldn't afford the patience to stick with him through struggles, or to give him innings ahead of more accomplished arms. That's not going to be much of an impediment in 2026. The Twins will take an experimental approach and hope it yields success stories that actually take root here instead of elsewhere. But again, this comes with major downsides from a perspective of short-term competitiveness. While the trial-by-fire formula can eventually lead to a high-quality, cost-efficient relief corps, it is pollyannaish to believe that's going to take hold immediately. For every Hoffman, Cano and Henriquez, there are many more borderline pitchers with hints of upside who flop and never figure it out. The Twins had to go through many misfires to land on the deep, methodically developed bullpen that they unloaded at last year's deadline. On their way to figuring out what works in a completely reinvented unit, we're going to have to endure some pain. Any baseball fan knows how much a terrible bullpen can sabotage the fortunes of an otherwise capable team. That's the big paradox facing the Twins, and as Tom Pohlad framed it more broadly, "the needle we're trying to thread this year." I have no expectation that the Twins will be terribly ambitious in adding to their bullpen over the remainder of the offseason, but I'm eager to see how creative they can get. One way or another, it should be an adventure. View the full article

Alex Bregman remains a hot topic on the free-agent market as two of the biggest names, Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, are now off the board. That leaves Bregman, Bo Bichette, and Kyle Tucker as the top remaining bats still searching for a home. Boston had been linked to Bichette earlier in December, but Julian McWilliams reported on December 9 that “the Red Sox are no longer involved with Bo Bichette unless his market changes drastically.” That development leaves Bregman as the premier hitter connected to the Sox, in a market that has noticeably picked up pace over the past week. The looming question for Craig Breslow and the front office remains: Despite the successes of the 2025 season, should the Red Sox look to retain Bregman’s services going forward? The answer is unequivocally yes. Before getting there, it is worth summarizing the recent developments surrounding Bregman and his market, as he has gradually moved out of Boston’s presumed grasp and into the orbit of other teams. On December 11, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reported the following: “Mega-agent Scott Boras, representing Alex Bregman, the top free-agent third baseman on the market, has initiated discussions with the Mariners to express Bregman’s willingness to consider Seattle as a destination, an industry source told The Times.” That report suggested the market may not have been moving at the pace Bregman originally anticipated. When an agent reaches out to a team rather than the other way around, it signals a lack of leverage and likely did little to increase the Red Sox’s sense of urgency. Chris Cotillo of MassLive echoed that sentiment shortly thereafter. Then, on December 16, the dam broke. Jeff Passan reported on December 18 that Bregman is seeking a long-term deal after taking a short-term contract last offseason. Ken Rosenthal added in The Athletic that the Diamondbacks could pursue Bregman while keeping Ketel Marte, though such an outcome appears unlikely. The idea of the Red Sox offering a long-term contract to a player over the age of 30 runs counter to their recent history. Even this offseason, they lost out on Pete Alonso to a division rival after refusing to go to the necessary lengths, a pattern that mirrors their approach with Schwarber as well. In fact, the only player on the current roster signed as a free agent to what could reasonably be considered a long-term deal of four or more years and over $100 million is Trevor Story. To their credit, the Red Sox have committed to intelligent extensions with Ceddanne Rafaela, Kristian Campbell, Brayan Bello, Roman Anthony, and Garrett Crochet. Still, the organizational theme is clear: a reluctance to deviate from “the model.” While the back half of contracts with older free agents often becomes inefficient, there is real value in maximizing the short-term window. Craig Breslow has demonstrated sharp decision-making in trades and roster construction, but at some point, he needs to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman once said, “If you’re always rational about every free agent, you’ll finish third on every free agent.” Breslow and company have been too rational. Even last offseason, it felt as though Breslow was backed into offering Bregman a one-year, $40 million deal simply to avoid the risk of committing four-plus years to a 30-year-old. @Maddie Landis dove deeper than I have into the financial decisions of this new-form Red Sox and how their approach contrasts with the Chicago Cubs. It is an excellent piece that expands on the issues I raised here. Beyond what appears to be a philosophical issue within the modern Red Sox front office, though, it's clear Alex Bregman needs to be brought back. He is one of only three free agents projected by FanGraphs to produce at least 4.0 fWAR. A model of consistency, Bregman has not posted a wRC+ below 114 since his rookie season, has never recorded a strikeout rate above 15.5 percent, and has hit at least 12 home runs in every full season except his rookie year and the shortened 2020 campaign. According to data from TJStats, Bregman remains one of the elite bat-to-ball hitters in the sport. That profile is especially relevant given that the Red Sox ranked sixth in O-Swing percentage at 29.4 percent, 19th in Z-Contact percentage at 85.2 percent, 25th in overall Contact percentage at 75.8 percent, and 10th in strikeout rate at 22.9 percent. His off-field presence may be just as valuable as his production at third base or in the batter’s box. Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer have both spoken about Bregman’s influence on their approach. Carlos Narváez recounted Bregman calling him at 2 a.m. to discuss hitting mechanics and consistently seeking extra cage work with teammates. Even Connelly Early has described how Bregman sat down with him after his debut to discuss pitch tipping. If the Red Sox commit to Bregman, or a player of his caliber, on a long-term deal, it would signal a commitment to championships rather than an exclusive focus on optimal future outcomes. This is already a playoff-caliber roster, and with the right moves, it can become a legitimate championship contender. It is time for Breslow to move beyond the model. View the full article

"So, we've got J.P. and now, maybe B.J., and maybe we get A.J. too. Let's get all those guys with the initials." - John Gibbons The Boston Red Sox were not going to persuade J.P. Ricciardi away from his plans for the Toronto Blue Jays. After his friend Theo Epstein shocked the baseball world by quitting his post as general manager of the Red Sox on Halloween, Ricciardi made it clear he was committed to the same position he held in Toronto. The Massachusetts-native said his relationship with Blue Jays’ president Paul Godfrey was “hard to put a price tag on” and that ownership was willing to increase spending to make Toronto more competitive in 2006. “I have no interest in that job, none whatsoever,” Ricciardi said, a day before he met the first of his three high-profile free agent targets for the offseason. Ricciardi felt Toronto could contend with its current payroll of around $50 million, but the team finished 80-82 in 2005, and starting pitching was one of the areas the team sought to improve in with an expanded payroll. Roy Halladay (12-4, 2.41 ERA) had been spectacular before his season ended with a broken leg, and in his absence, Josh Towers (13-12, 3.71) and rookie Gustavo Chacin (13-9, 3.72) were leaned on, with each logging over 200 innings. Dave Bush (5-11, 4.49) and Ted Lilly (10-11, 5.56) were also due to return, but Ricciardi dreamed of adding A.J. Burnett to Toronto’s staff. A cocksure right-hander with a high-90s fastball, Burnett supplemented his reputation in the final days of the 2005 season. “We manage scared, we coach scared, and we play scared,” Burnett said of the Florida Marlins, a day before 75-year-old manager Jack McKeon sent Burnett home with a few games left on the schedule. Despite the kerfuffle, Burnett headed to free agency as one of the top players on the market. He was considered by insiders a long shot to land with Toronto, with his childhood-favourite team, the St. Louis Cardinals, expected to be the front-runners for his services. If they could not swing Burnett, Ricciardi had interest in free agent lefty Jarrod Washburn, who did NOT reciprocate. The Wisconsin native not only preferred to play in the Midwest, but grew “visibly upset” when reports of Toronto’s interest first circled in September. Washburn wound up signing in Seattle and posted a 31-49 record across four seasons. (photo credit: Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review) The Blue Jays sent their best recruiting effort at Burnett, who arrived in Toronto and was greeted at the stadium by Halladay. Afterwards, at a local steakhouse, Doc told Burnett about the closeness between players and coaches alike inside the Blue Jays clubhouse. Toronto pitching coach Brad Arnsberg was in Florida with Burnett from 2002-2003, and the free agent pitcher told Halladay he wished to meet Ricciardi and Gibbons as well. Later, at a Raptors game, Burnett said Toronto looked “night and day” from his time in Florida. The Blue Jays had inserted themselves at the front of Burnett’s market, which was shaping up to be a four-to-five year pact worth around $10 million annually. As the Winter Meetings neared, Ricciardi discussed contracts with his other two targets: Brian Giles and B.J. Ryan. The 34-year-old Giles had seen his power numbers drop since being traded from Pittsburgh to San Diego but finished ninth in NL MVP voting in 2005 with a .301/.423/.483 slash. The hard-throwing southpaw Ryan was coming off his first All-Star appearance, saving 36 games for Baltimore in his first season as a closer. Toronto’s willingness to spend appeared to be the only thing keeping them linked to the three free agents. Ryan’s free agent visit resonated so much for Geoff Baker that he led his story in the Toronto Star by saying the meeting “will likely be as close as (Ryan) gets to playing baseball in this city.” So, when the New York Daily News reported that Ryan and the Blue Jays agreed to terms on November 25, it was the first bombshell of the offseason. Replacing the beleaguered Miguel Batista as Toronto’s closer would net Ryan a five-year, $47 million contract, according to the report, figures that exceeded any contract ever given to a reliever – figures that were denied by the general manager. “As far as I know, we haven’t signed anyone yet,” said Ricciardi, with yet being the key word. Born Robert Victor Ryan on December 28, 1975 in Bossier City, Louisiana, Ryan explained he went by B.J. or Bo Junior after his father: “That’s just straight redneck-ology right there.” (Photo credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images, via SB Nation) The deal was finalized two days later. It was a stunner, “almost laughable” to Ken Rosenthal, but the deal sent a message to Burnett, Giles, and the rest of the baseball world that the Blue Jays were serious. Burnett’s market had narrowed to a handful of teams, with Toronto growing in appeal to the right-hander and others. “When you look at what the Blue Jays are trying to do here, you’ve got to be impressed,” said Giles’ agent Joe Bicks. “I can tell you Toronto’s getting serious consideration.” Giles was reported to have received a five-year contract worth $55 million from Toronto, a report that wasn’t true. Ricciardi acknowledged his club had made Giles an offer but would not go that high in term for the aging outfielder. As Giles neared his decision, Ricciardi had a “gut feeling” the California native would return home. The outfielder was leaning towards a deal with the Dodgers before the Padres upped their offer by nearly $5 million, re-signing Giles on a three-year, $30 million contract. Burnett remained unsigned as the baseball world headed to Dallas for the Winter Meetings. His agent Darek Braunecker said they had received final offers from all interested teams, including the betting-favourite Cardinals, who came in with a four-year deal worth $10 million annually. The coveted fifth season in the St. Louis offer was only an option year. With insiders feeling the decision was down to the Cardinals and Blue Jays, Toronto ponying up a guaranteed fifth year would be a difference maker. “We’ve got things that we’re working on right now, but we’re still waiting to see what happens with A.J.,” said assistant GM Tony LaCava as he, Ricciardi, and the rest of the front office checked into the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in the afternoon. If Toronto struck out on Burnett, they were rumoured to be interested in discussing a trade with Oakland for Barry Zito, who had one year left on his contract. He signed with San Francisco the next offseason. (photo credit: The Associated Press, via The Globe and Mail) A few hours later, Braunecker arrived at the hotel, signalling the meetings were about to get underway. The suspense would not last long; Toronto’s offer of five guaranteed years for $55 million sat atop Burnett’s list. Burnett desired to pitch in a Cardinals uniform, and Braunecker went back to St. Louis that evening. Walt Jocketty and the rest of the Cardinals' brain trust met and would make their final, final offer: four years, $44 or $48 million. Either way, Burnett was heading north. No one was willing to make the financial commitment that the Blue Jays were, something the free agent took advantage of. Toronto’s first offer to Burnett was for five years and $50 million, which was met with a $60 million ask over the same length. While the two sides split the difference on money, the Blue Jays gave Burnett a no-trade clause as well as an opt-out after year three. Some felt the Blue Jays overpaid for not one, but two pitchers, in a span of eight days, but for the first time in a decade, Ricciardi had landed the free agent big fish for Toronto. And the Winter Meetings had only just begun. View the full article

On Friday, the Associated Press reported that nine teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, will pay the competitive balance tax for the 2025 MLB season. Toronto's bill came in at $13,609,719 on a $286,135,551 CBT payroll. The Blue Jays avoided paying the luxury tax in 2024, so they were able to reset their penalties. That means that, unlike the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Astros, and Rangers, the Blue Jays did not face a higher charge for having exceeded the CBT threshold in consecutive seasons. However, they will still pay the fifth-highest luxury tax bill in the league, and their top pick in next year's draft will be moved back 10 spots because their payroll exceeded the third threshold of $281 million. In 2026, the third threshold will rise to $284 million, but the Blue Jays are already well past that number, according to RosterResource. With an estimated CBT payroll of around $294 million, there is a very good chance that Toronto will be over the fourth (and highest) luxury tax threshold by the end of next season. Featured image courtesy of Nick Turchiaro, Imagn Images. View the full article

The San Diego Padres added KBO star Sung Mun Song and a former Minnesota Twins top prospect, Jose Miranda, in free agency. Which player has a better chance of breaking out for the team in 2026? View the full article

The San Diego Padres filled a gaping hole in their 2026 rotation by agreeing to re-sign free-agent right-hander Michael King. It's a big deal, in more ways than one. As important as it was for San Diego to address an offseason need, the contract's structure benefits the club early while also protecting the player for the foreseeable future. The basic math, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, is $75 million over three years ($25 million AAV). That's in line with what Nathan Eovaldi and Sean Manaea received last offseason to return to the Rangers and Mets, respectively. But the baseball math makes this deal potentially much smaller, and therefore a win for the Pads. It starts with the breakdown of the Year 1 compensation. According to Feinsand's sources, King is guaranteed up to $22 million in 2026, which is almost equal to the $22.05 million qualifying offer he declined last month. But the payout is not straightforward. Rather, it's divided this way: -- $12 million signing bonus. -- $5 million base salary. -- $5 million buyout of a $28 million player option for 2027. If King rebounds from his injury-marred 2025 season and pitches like the revelation he was in 2024, then he'll surely test the market again at 31. If he has a bad year and/or is injured again, then he can opt in and bank the $28 million. Then, he would face a similar decision following Year 2: a $30 million player option for 2028, with no buyout. Those are nice insurance policies. Consider this, too: If MLB's salary structure changes drastically in the wake of a lockout next December, that $58 million could become above market. King would have an incentive to stay all three seasons, but he still would be able to go year to year. Of course, the Padres get something out of this, too. King's $5 million salary next year should, in theory, allow the front office to spend on a back-end starter and/or an infield bat (beyond the recently signed Sung-mun Song). Even if that's not the plan, San Diego's rotation leaders -- King, Nick Pivetta ($19 million) and Joe Musgrove ($20 million) -- will tie up a reasonable $44 million in cash in 2026. For a budget-conscious team, that's more than affordable, even if the long-term plan is still uncertain. If King opts out next offseason, then the club would be freed from a backloaded contract after extracting solid value. The timing couldn't be better because of the labor situation and the possibility that ownership will change course and trim the payroll. It's rare that a deal with this kind of structure is a win-win for both sides, but the Padres did what it took to keep King in town. Now, they'll reap the benefits. View the full article

A day after re-signing starting pitcher Michael King, the San Diego Padres have landed another free agent. Well, this move doesn't have the same gusto as the king signing; it is a low-risk, high-reward deal. Aram Leighton of Just Baseball is reporting that the San Diego Padres and utility and Fielder Jose Miranda have agreed to a minor league deal. Miranda, 27, played parts of four years for the Minnesota Twins. Overall, he was an above-average hitter with a 103 WRC+, .719 OPS, and 28 home runs in exactly 1,100 plate appearances. Despite that productivity, he was limited to just 12 big league games in 2025 due to performance. Having been demoted on April 12, after some confusion on the base pass, Miranda never got it going with Triple-A Saint Paul and ended up spending the rest of the season in the minor leagues. Following the season, the Twins outrighted Miranda, who declined his assignment and effectively became a free agent. Miranda, who can play multiple infield spots, is a bit position-less as he can't play any of the spots particularly well. Miranda was a bit of an unknown and unheralded prospect prior to his 2021 season, when he split time between Double-A Wichita and Triple-A Saint Paul. For more on the rise and fall of Miranda, who will look to bounce back in 2026, check out our article on Twins Daily! What do you think of the signing? Can he bounce back with the Padres in 2026? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

When Josh Bell signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals for the 2025 season, he wanted to change his swing and hit for more power. His hopes were to hit more home runs, and he didn’t mind striking out a bit more. He adjusted his swing and his stance, both from the left side of the plate and the right side of the plate. His stance was more upright, and he utilized a slightly higher leg kick than he previously had. While these changes are not uncommon in the modern game, Bell had some lousy results immediately after making them. Through May 14th, he had a wRC+ of 46, with a slash line of .146/.234/.285. Through this same time period, he had a lower average exit velocity, a higher strikeout rate, and a lower walk rate than his career numbers. His hard-hit rate was the lowest it had been since 2017. Bell was hoping to hit for more power, envisioning more home runs and doubles by making these changes to his swing, but the results did not follow. In the first six weeks or so of the season, he was one of the worst hitters in the major leagues. The switch-hitter struggled from both sides: more fly balls, fewer line drives, more chasing outside the zone. Too many easy outs. From the outside, one may have thought this was Bell aging and that he would never be the same, especially given some downward trends in contact quality over multiple seasons. However, Bell was able to make in-season adjustments to not only improve his numbers, but give more hope for future years as well. This is likely what caught the Twins' eye, compelling them to give the 1B/DH a bigger contract than anyone they signed last offseason. “I just tried to lower my launch angle, tried to focus on squaring up the ball as best as I can, tried to get my OPS over .600 -- so, I’ve done that,” a resurgent Bell said around the All-Star break. “Now I'm fighting for .700. We'll see where we go from there.” From May 15th until the end of the season, Bell hit for a wRC+ of 130, which is 30% above league average. His slash line of .272/.358/..467 was the improvement he and the Nationals were hoping for. Virtually every metric trended in the right direction as visible changes took hold, and that creates room for healthy optimism going forward. The Bell signing is one that will not only lengthen the Twins lineup, but he will provide a veteran presence as someone who has gone through struggles and shown the ability to make in-season adjustments. The Twins surely value this in a veteran for a young and less experienced roster. Are you a believer in Josh Bell's turnaround? Share your thoughts below! View the full article

According to Just Baseball and Aram Leighton, the San Diego Padres have signed Jose Miranda to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training. For the Padres, it is a low-risk upside play on a hitter who not long ago looked like a reliable middle-of-the-order presence. For Miranda, it is another opportunity to prove that his best baseball is not already behind him at age 27. For a moment, it felt like the Twins had uncovered yet another homegrown bat. Miranda arrived in 2022 as a former second-round pick and top-100 prospect and eventually settled in after a rocky introduction to the majors. He finished his rookie season hitting .268/.325/.426 (.751) with a 116 wRC+, popping 15 home runs and 25 doubles in 483 plate appearances. A shoulder injury derailed Miranda’s 2023 season almost immediately. Installed as the Opening Day third baseman, he struggled badly before undergoing surgery, finishing the year with a .211/.263/.303 (.566) line. While the injury offered some explanation, it also introduced real questions about whether Miranda’s bat would ever fully bounce back. In 2024, he appeared to answer some of those concerns. Miranda rebounded with a .284/.322/.441 (.763) slash line and a 112 OPS+ across 121 games. The production returned, but so did the physical issues. Repeated back injuries shortened his season and prevented him from building any real momentum heading into the following year. Then came 2025, when everything unraveled. Miranda made the Opening Day roster but quickly looked overwhelmed. Through 12 games, he hit just .167 with 13 strikeouts in 36 plate appearances. His timing was off, the quality of contact evaporated, and the Twins sent him back to St. Paul. Things only worsened there. After a freak accident while carrying bottled water, Miranda struggled throughout the year, slashing .195/.272/.296 (.569) in 90 games with the Saints. His once reliable bat to ball skills disappeared as he chased pitches and failed to drive mistakes. It was a shocking fall for a player who had looked like one of the Twins most dependable hitters just a year earlier. Miranda’s four year run in Minnesota ended with a .263 average, 28 home runs, and a 101 OPS+. He remains a bat first corner player with limited defensive value and pronounced reverse splits, but the talent has not vanished entirely. For the Padres, this is a simple gamble. If Miranda can rediscover even a portion of his former self, the reward could be meaningful. If not, the cost is minimal. View the full article

Shortly after the news of Kansas City acquiring Matt Strahm from Philadelphia in exchange for Jonathan Bowlan, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extra Base reported that utility player Abraham Toro agreed to a Minor League deal with the Royals that includes an invitation to MLB Spring Training. The 29-year-old infielder played with the Red Sox last season, posting a 77 wRC+ and -0.7 fWAR in 284 plate appearances. His best season fWAR-wise came in 2024 with the Athletics, as he not only posted a career-high 0.7 fWAR, but also sported an 87 wRC+ in 364 plate appearances. Toro struggles to generate hard contact, as his average exit velocity, barrel, and hard-hit rates ranked near the bottom of the league, according to TJ Stats data. That said, he makes a lot of contact and doesn't strike out, despite an aggressive approach, which can be seen in his Statcast percentiles below. Because this is a Minor League deal, the Royals do not have to clear a roster spot for Toro. Kevin Newman was also invited to Spring Training earlier this month and should compete with Toro for a spot on the 40-man roster this spring in Surprise. Photo Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images View the full article

The Blue Jays are in the thick of the offseason rumour mill, supposedly chasing both Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker. Fans are refreshing their social feeds like they're life-support machines. So, I asked four AI platforms to tell me when and where these stars will sign. The results? A comedy of contradictions. MetaAI basically shrugged and said, “Let’s wait and see.” Thanks, Meta. Groundbreaking stuff. It did toss out a Bichette-to-Jays scenario for seven years and $210 million (the exact terms of Dylan Cease's contract), and Tucker juggling a short-term Dodgers deal versus a 10-year Blue Jays mega-contract. I read this as he’ll sign somewhere, sometime, for a lot of money. Riveting stuff. Thanks, Meta. After some additional prompts to ChatGPT, it boldly predicted Tucker would sign first, later this month or early January, maybe with the Jays or Yankees. Bichette? Somewhere between $180-225 million over seven or eight years. Basically, what every human analyst has been saying for months. Insight level was slightly ahead of a fortune cookie. (Although, as a product, offseason Blue Jays fortune cookies might do well, especially after a season like last year.) Also needing a bit more prodding, Copilot went full crystal ball. It gave exact dates. Tucker signs December 23 with the Jays, Bichette January 8 with the Yankees. It even threw in a Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade rumour for spice. If this happens, Copilot deserves a plaque, or at least a shot at becoming the GM for the White Sox or Rockies. If not, well, it’ll just say “data changed.” Grok AI was the least impressive of all the platforms. It thought Tucker still played for the Astros (he was traded to the Cubs in 2024). Oops. It predicted Tucker would sign February 1 for $180 million and Bichette January 15 for $150 million. Bargain-bin prices compared to all the other predictions. Does AI have more insight than human analysts or MLB GMs? The short answer is no. AI is regurgitating public rumours and projections, while actual GMs are negotiating behind closed doors with real budgets, egos, and spreadsheets. AI can’t read the room, gauge a player’s loyalty, or know if an owner woke up feeling generous. It’s guessing. Sometimes confidently, sometimes hilariously incorrectly. Most analysts consider Tucker to be the top free agent on the market. Lots of teams have expressed interest outside the Jays, Dodgers and Yankees. The Mets and Giants are also considered potential suitors. Our friends in the AI world didn’t really take any of those outside teams seriously. Aside from the Mets, the same teams have been rumoured to be part of the Bichette sweepstakes. After a Zoom call earlier this month with Bichette, the Red Sox remain in the hunt. There are rumours that the Mariners and Rangers have also reached out. ESPN’s Jeff Passan has suggested that the Jays could still land both Tucker and Bichette, but that seems highly unlikely considering the amount of spending they have committed to already. Most market predictions point to the majority of free agents signing by early January, giving some buffer room before pitchers and catchers report. Based on past seasons, sometimes more complex negotiations extend into February. The odds are that both Bichette and Tucker are waiting to see how the league responds to the first big signing. Neither wants to be first. If another team signs Tucker, then the Jays will pivot and pursue Bichette a bit harder, probably increasing their offer as they look to lock him up. Once both sign, others will follow suit. Teams that were in the hunt will adjust and fill voids through different free agents or trades. The list of available free agents remains long. The position player free agents who can put up big wins above replacement (WAR) numbers are few and far between now. Cody Bellinger (7.0 fWAR from 2024-25) and Tucker (8.7 fWAR from 2024-25) are the two biggest names on the outfield free agent board. There has been some talk that the Jays and Yankees are waiting for Tucker’s decision before following up with Bellinger. The Mets and Giants could be some of the front-runners for Bellinger. Alex Bregman (7.7 fWAR from 2024-25) and Eugenio Suárez (7.6 fWAR from 2024-25) are the biggest names outside of Bichette and the NPB free agents in the infield. Bregman and Suárez are both in their thirties, and have drawn plenty of interest. The Tigers, Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Red Sox are among those courting Bregman, while Suárez looks destined to head back to the National League, perhaps with the Pirates, although the Red Sox have been linked to him as well. At the end of the day, AI’s predictions about MLB free agency are entertaining, but they’re hardly gospel. These platforms can crunch numbers, scrape rumours, and spit out contract figures, but they lack the human nuance that drives real negotiations. General managers like Ross Atkins (love him or hate him) aren’t just balancing WAR numbers and payroll. They’re navigating egos, clubhouse chemistry, and ownership whims. AI can’t predict if a player’s spouse prefers Manhattan over Toronto or if a team’s billionaire owner suddenly decides to splurge after a successful weekend in Vegas. What this experiment really shows is that AI can be good for sparking conversation, but not for setting your betting lines. It’s a tool, not a crystal ball. The fact that one platform suggested Tucker still played for the Astros says it all. Data without context is just noise. Meanwhile, the real decision-makers are working phones, making offers, and playing the long game. So, will Bichette and Tucker sign with the Blue Jays? Maybe. Will AI ever replace MLB GMs? Not a chance. Until then, enjoy the speculation, laugh at the algorithms, and remember that baseball’s biggest moves are still made by humans, not AI. View the full article

On Friday morning, Robert Murray of Fansided noted that left-handed reliever Matt Strahm would be heading to the Kansas City Royals, according to sources. Later, Mark Feinsand confirmed the move, also noting that right-handed reliever Jonathan Bowlan would be going back to the Phillies in the deal. The Royals this offseason have noted that they wanted to acquire a lefty reliever who could get left-handed batters out. After trading away Angel Zerpa for Isaac Collins and Nick Mears, it seemed like the Royals' need for such a reliever was even more urgent. Strahm is a former 21st-round draft pick by the Royals, selected in the 2012 MLB Draft. Strahm pitched two seasons in Kansas City (2016 and 2017) and put up ERA marks of 1.23 and 5.49, respectively. Since then, he's pitched for the Padres, Red Sox, and Phillies and posted a 2.74 ERA, 2.99 FIP, and 1.5 fWAR in 66 outings and 62.1 IP. When looking at his metrics via TJ Stats, Strahm illustrated above-average stuff metrics, a strong ability to flood the strike zone, and a capability to generate a lot of chase as well as weak contact. Strahm will be a free agent after the 2026 season. It will be interesting to see if Strahm will be a one-year project or if the Royals are planning to extend him at some point next year. He just turned 34 years old this November. As for Bowlan, he had a solid year last season, posting a 3.86 ERA in 44.1 IP. He also sported strong TJ Stuff+ metrics as well as chase and whiff rates, according to TJ Stats. Bowlan's FIP was a bit higher at 3.97, and he didn't see a whole lot of high-leverage situations last year. He is also out of Minor League options, and he was one of the most optioned relievers in the Royals' bullpen last season. With the arrival of Mears and James McArthur returning from injury, it seems like the Royals were willing to make Bowlan expendable, despite his intriguing pitch metrics. The Royals have made the deal official, per their team's social media accounts. With it being a one-for-one trade, the Royals roster remains full at 40 players. Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images View the full article

The Chicago Cubs' quiet offseason continues, as the team made two more savvy signings in Caleb Thielbar and Tyler Austin while waiting out the top end of the free-agent market. View the full article