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This year, the Winter Meetings will take place in Orlando, Florida, from December 7-10. These meetings are renowned for major signings and trades, with all 30 MLB teams sending representatives alongside players, agents, and media. Notably, high-profile trades and signings — such as Juan Soto being traded to the New York Yankees and then signing a $765 million contract with the New York Mets, Miguel Cabrera being traded to the Detroit Tigers, and Shohei Ohtani signing a massive $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers — have highlighted the undeniable significance of this period for player movement. During last year's Winter Meetings, the Red Sox made the massive move in acquiring Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. Crochet lived up to the hype during the season, posting a 2.59 ERA, an 18-5 record, and a 255:46 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 205 1/3 innings. He's in prime form to carry this starting rotation for at least the next five years throughout the duration of the $170 million contract the lefty signed after landing in Boston last December. The Red Sox's significant needs for the upcoming season are on the pitching staff, which they addressed with short-term band-aids by acquiring Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals on November 25 and Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 4. The pitching staff will still be the primary focus during the Winter Meetings, as will the the decision to re-sign Alex Bregman or let him go. While we wait for the news to drop, let's take a look at other notable acquisitions and failures the Red Sox have made during this time period. During the 2016 Winter Meetings, the Red Sox went after another White Sox player, acquiring Chris Sale in exchange for Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz. Sale was phenomenal in his first two seasons in Boston, posting 2.90 and 2.11 ERAs, respectively, combining for a 545:77 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a 29-12 record over 372 1/3 innings. Sale would earn his only two All-Star appearances as a Red Sox in those two campaigns seasons. During the 2023 offseason, he'd get traded to the Atlanta Braves, where he won the NL Comeback Player of the Year and Cy Young Award that following season. Not to be topped, in 2000, the Red Sox were the big talk of the Winter Meetings after agreeing to an eight-year $160 million contract with Manny Ramirez. He had a stellar seven-and-a-half years in Boston, hitting 274 home runs before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2008 trade deadline. The 1987 Winter Meetings led to the Red Sox answering their closer question that offseason by acquiring Lee Smith from the Chicago Cubs for Calvin Schiraldi and Al Nipper. Smith spent two and a half seasons with the Red Sox, successfully converting 58 save opportunities. The Red Sox have also been on the wrong side of Winter Meetings acquisitions. In 2004, Boston tried to re-sign Pedro Martinez; however, they were outbid by the Mets. The Red Sox didn't want to guarantee a fourth season, which led to Martinez's decision not to not re-sign. They were outbid again in 2014 for a former player, but this time it was Jon Lester signing with the Chicago Cubs. History repeated itself in 2022, when the Red Sox sought to re-sign Xander Bogaerts but were outbid by the San Diego Padres. This offseason's Winter Meetings will revolve around the possibility of re-signing Alex Bregman. Fans will hope history doesn't repeat itself and that the team doesn't lose out on bringing back a key player. Other than Bregman, the focus will continue to be on reshaping the pitching staff for the 2026 season. View the full article

It is no secret that the Brewers are not totally happy with the offense of shortstop Joey Ortiz. Although Ortiz appeared in a career-high 149 games last season, he was removed for a pinch-hitter 34 times by manager Pat Murphy. Right now, Andruw Monasterio is the main backup, while Brice Turang and Caleb Durbin can play at short if needed. Would it make sense for the Brewers to spend a little money in the free agent market if the price was right? Of the handful of shortstops testing the waters of free agency, one stands out for Milwaukee with his skill, versatility, and the possibility that the team can make a one-year deal at a reasonable price. Isiah Kiner-Falefa would come to the Brewers fresh off World Series action with the Toronto Blue Jays, bringing Milwaukee some much-needed postseason experience. Kiner-Falefa, who will turn 31 in March, has appeared in 21 postseason games and would give a young Milwaukee club a boost in the clubhouse and on the field. There are two main issues to deal with: · Ortiz is superior to Kiner-Falefa on defense, with Joey O. better by a 12 to -3 rating in Outs Above Average, and a 10 to -4 advantage in Fielding Run Value. · IKF is much better than Ortiz at the plate when facing right-handed pitchers. Player Year(s) OPS v. LH OPS v. RH Ortiz 2025 .734 .537 Career .743 .612 Kiner-Falefa 2025 .536 .668 Career .643 .666 So, what’s the problem? The fact that IKF is better against right-handed pitching means he would get most of the playing time. The breakdown was about 72% right-handed starters and 28% southpaws that pitched against Milwaukee last season. On the surface, Ortiz would only make about 45 starts if he were in the lineup against left-handers only. Since the Brewers are looking to Kiner-Falefa to be more of a ‘semi-platoon’ guy, they would have to make some adjustments to get Ortiz 350-400 ABs for his superiority against lefties and on defense, while finding about half that amount for IKF. Since Ortiz is better defensively, the Brewers would want him in the lineup anytime groundball specialist Quinn Priester is on the mound. ‘The Reverend’ induced grounders at a rate of 55.1% last year, right around his career average. When Priester is on the rubber, Ortiz should be in the starting lineup. The difference against southpaws, at least in 2025, showed Ortiz with a huge advantage over Kiner-Falefa. That should keep Kiner-Falefa on the bench most of the time—if not all—against lefties. The edge IKF had over Ortiz against righties was not as significant, but it was still a pretty large difference. Digging deeper, Ortiz had his best month against righties in August with an .830 OPS, even though he hit no home runs. Add in his .748 OPS in June, and one can see that success against right-handers is attainable. Murphy will just have to find a way to get the ‘hot’ bat into the lineup. Unfortunately, Joey O. fell off a cliff in September with his worst OPS of the year (.482). Ortiz had a double and a triple in September in 70 at-bats along with one free pass. No wonder his OPS cratered. Perhaps the secret to Ortiz’s success would be for IKF to spell him against righties, giving Ortiz a break once or twice a week, depending on who is swinging the bat well. Ortiz could be a late-inning defensive replacement on the days he isn’t in the lineup. Kiner-Falefa can also play second or third and could be a valuable utility man. Where he would fit in would remain to be seen. In fact, IKF has played all three outfield spots and even made 66 starts behind the plate for the Texas Rangers in 2018-19. Maybe the Brewers wouldn’t need that third catcher after all. Is this all a pipe dream? Can the Brewers sign Kiner-Falefa? If he were amenable to a one-year pact in the $7 million range, it would be a decent deal for Milwaukee. What do you think about IKF? Would he be a welcome addition to the Brewers' roster? At what price? How would you break down the starts for each player? Get the conversation started in the comments section below. View the full article

He wouldn't have been the top name on many fans' wish lists, but Zac Gallen has emerged as one of the Cubs' top targets to address their starting rotation this winter. Reports of the team's interest percolated at the end of the week, and on Saturday morning, Bob Nightengale of USA Today erroneously reported that the team had agreed to a multi-year deal with Gallen, with an annual average value north of $22 million. Nightengale beat a hasty retreat, and ESPN's Jeff Passan issued a rare tweet to certify that news was not afoot. Sources confirmed that Gallen is not in agreement with anyone (and certainly that the Cubs were not close to completing a deal) to North Side Baseball, too. However, the team's interest in Gallen—and their engagement with Scott Boras, who represents him—is legitimate. Gallen and Boras are angling for a deal similar to the one Kevin Gausman signed with the Blue Jays or the one Robbie Ray got with the Mariners, each in late November 2021. Gausman got a five-year deal worth $110 million. Ray signed for $115 million over five seasons, with a no-trade clause for the first two years of the pact and the ability to opt out after the third. That's not likely to come to fruition. Boras is aiming high, hoping to establish an anchor that will make some team satisfied to snare Gallen for four years at $88 million or so. In reality, he's likely to come in a bit lower—and so far, the Cubs aren't going that far, by any means. A source familiar with the team's plans said Jed Hoyer and company have so far offered Gallen something much more similar to the three-year, $71-million deal they struck with Marcus Stroman in 2021. Stroman got $25 million in each of the first two years of that deal, and was due $21 million for 2024, but he took advantage of an opt-out clause and hit the market after 2023, instead. Boras, of course, wants to extend that structure by a year. Another source indicated that if the Cubs were to go to four years for Gallen, they would want to reduce the annual average value of the contract to something under $20 million. Escalators (like the clause in Stroman's deal which could have pushed the value of his final season up to $25 million if he'd stayed healthy) might still give Gallen a chance to earn $90 million or more on such a deal. While talks aren't yet advanced far enough that the two sides have discussed such details, an opt-out could give Gallen a chance to hit the market again after 2027. The Cubs could seek a fifth-year club option at a lower salary, should Gallen miss time for Tommy John surgery at any point. In essence, though, the Cubs are seeking to land him on a deal more akin to those of Stroman or Jameson Taillon than to what Gausman or Ray pulled down. Let's talk about why, given the apparent gap between how Gallen hopes to be valued and what the team hopes to pay, the Cubs are so prominently involved. To do so, we can start by observing three key truths about Gallen: He's a workhorse. Though a lat strain cost him almost a month in mid-2024, he's averaged 31.5 starts and over 180 innings per year since 2022. In 2023, between the regular season and Arizona's deep playoff run, he faced 987 batters and pitched 243 2/3 innings—remarkable numbers in the modern game. At his best, he was dominant, but his best feels a bit lost in the fog. He had a 2.54 ERA in 2022 and a 3.47 in 2023. It was 3.12 when he suffered that lat injury in mid-2024, but after he returned, the number was 3.99. In 2025, it ballooned all the way to 4.83. His strikeout rate dipped sharply; he became prone to the home run. As Dylan Cease's seven-year deal last month proved, though, ERA is not the statistic savvy front offices use to evaluate pitchers these days. Gallen's stuff can still be tantalizing. His fastball sits in the 93-95 range. His curveball and changeup can be plus, and he boasts a deep arsenal. On the fundamentals beyond the surface-level numbers, he's a starter with frontline upside. Specifically, one thing seems to have derailed Gallen. It's a very small thing, but a vital one, and the big question around him is whether it can be reversed. If so, he could get right back to dominating in 2026, and stay that way for the length of even a four- or five-year deal. If not, he's probably doomed to a long period of trying to find a new winning formula. It's all about fastball shape. Zac Gallen, Four-Seam Fastballs, 2022-25 Season Velocity Horiz. Ind. Vert. 2022 94.0 3.4 16.8 2023 93.5 3.0 16.5 2024 93.8 4.9 16.1 2025 93.5 4.5 16.3 Based on Gallen's arm slot, in the first two seasons above, he enjoyed about 4.2 inches of relative cut on his fastball. In other words, though it technically faded a few inches toward the arm side between release and the plate, it did so by several fewer inches than a hitter would anticipate. Over the last two seasons, the pitch is running more—but that means it's closer to what the hitter expects. He's down to 2.2 inches of relative cut. Every problem Gallen has experienced the last year and a half springs from that well. The heater doesn't look as much like his curveball as it used to, and it doesn't separate as well from the changeup as it used to. He's not missing as many bats or managing contact as well with the fastball as he could two years ago. The Cubs have a pitching infrastructure that excels, typically, at helping pitchers find and emphasize the cut on their fastballs. They envision helping Gallen reclaim the shapes and relationships that made his pitches so devastating a few years ago. In a market where Michael King is likely to get close to $20 million per year on a three- or four-year deal, Gallen makes some sense at the same price, even if he can't quite get back to his former levels. He's far more durable than King is, with similar upside. The Cubs don't want to pay full freight for that upside, because that would be a big gamble on such a small thing. If you had to bet on a pitcher whose fastball has gone awry, though, you'd much rather face the need to fix their horizontal movement than their velocity or the rising action on that pitch. Mechanical tweaks could turn Gallen around. He's struggled with the timing of his hip and shoulder rotation, and his posture at foot strike has gotten a bit out of whack. Cleaning that up could turn Gallen into an ace again, and the Cubs feel they're uniquely positioned to achieve that. Boras doesn't offer discounts to teams with confidence in their player development, though, and Hoyer won't overpay for a player whose recent track record creates real uncertainty. Thus, as the Winter Meetings get underway, the Cubs are in a familiar position: highly interested in a Boras client, and perhaps even in pole position, but waiting for the terms to match their valuation. 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It's a storyline merely lurking in the weeds with so much offseason buzz floating around, but the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system (ABS) making its way to Major League Baseball next season will be at the forefront of our minds once it actually gets underway. And the pieces published thus far around its implementation lend themselves to some interesting questions related specifically to the San Diego Padres. Over at FanGraphs, Davy Andrews published a piece in which he explored framing in the age of ABS. After navigating some of the numbers and paradoxical thinking around how framing as a skill might coexist with ABS, he noted what was one of more cogent points in the still-young discussion around this development: The thought here is that catchers that are already good at framing are going to have their skills amplified. And considering the IQ that the position requires, the instinctive reaction required to challenge a called ball means it's not a surprise that they feature the higher overturn rates than hitters. Ultimately, teams that employ strong defenders behind the plate are going to feel an added benefit in the introduction of ABS. This, somewhat automatically, lends itself to questions about the Padres' eventual interaction with ABS. As of now, Freddy Fermin stands atop the depth chart for the Padres behind the plate. It's hard to imagine that changes in any meaningful way. Behind him, however, remains something of a question. Luis Campusano is in line for some run as the No. 2 given the absence of anyone else in the organization at present. Considering the prior reluctance to insert him in such a role, though, that side of it could certainly change. Either way, the assertion that good framers can be made better by ABS doesn't necessarily bode well for whatever shape the duo takes for San Diego. Fermin wasn't a particularly effective framer during his post-deadline time with the Padres. He finished with -2 Framing Runs and was largely ineffective in the shadows to which Andrews referred in the above excerpt. He graded out as exactly average in the top shadow (0 Framing Runs) and was at 2 Framing Runs to his left, but went -1 on the right and -2 on the bottom of the zone. Bear in mind the fact that that Baseball Savant's shadow doesn't exclusively consider inside of the zone, so we shouldn't expect Fermin to linger around that 90-percent mark. But his checking in as exactly average or below in the majority of the areas isn't a terrific development if we're to believe in the amplification of skill wrought by ABS. If there's a positive, it's that Fermin was a markedly better catcher in the bottom shadow (16 Framing Runs) and still above average to his left during his years with the Kansas City Royals. So, if he can find a marriage of his strengths between Kansas City and San Diego, the possibility exists that he can use ABS to his advantage. The more concerning part of this is Campusano. If ABS enhances the quality of good framers, then we're left with the belief that poor framers could become more exposed. He checked in at -9 Framing Runs between 2023 and 2024, including -4 in the top shadow and -8 to the left. There's a reason the Padres have been reluctant to insert him behind the plate. And if we're to believe this is a trend that could manifest next season, then it may certainly be worth exploring a transition to platoon first base and bench work, rather than as a regular catcher. Either way, as exciting as the prospect of ABS has the potential to be, it's not painting a terrific picture for the Padres at the present moment. In separate work cited by Andrews' article at FanGraphs, Tom Tango examined challenge probability by utilizing data available from the 2025 minor league season (where ABS was implemented for the full year). His model provided something of a baseline for what level of aggression we could see from hitters and catchers alike, with the following standing out: The psychological side of this is also going to be fascinating. Catchers that are quality framers carry that IQ with them. It would also be easy to assume that because quality framing is fairly black-and-white (courtesy of analytics), those that are good framers know they are good framers. Could those who struggle on the framing side be more reluctant to challenge with knowledge of their own shortcoming? It's impossible to project that, but the situational and skill-set side is going to be a tremendous aspect about which to speculate as far as underneath-the-surface factors go. We're still a long way off from this meaning too much for the Padres. They have an offseason to work with each backstop and could add another catcher that helps their case here. But the early indicators aren't off to a terrific start. For a shallow pitching staff that is going to need as much help as possible, this is suddenly an area that the Padres may need to address in short order. View the full article

After finishing the season 70-92, the Twins landed the second-best odds in the MLB Draft Lottery to earn the first overall pick. With the small sample size of three previous draft lotteries, how often does the team with the second-best odds land the first or second overall pick, and what could be the worst spot they can land in the 2026 MLB Draft? View the full article

We have reached that stage of the MLB offseason where you can believe whichever version of reality you want. There have been a handful of major moves, but the dam hasn't fully burst yet. In the meantime, league sources are attempting to manipulate insiders to steer negotiations toward whichever outcome will ultimately benefit their team/client. At the end of the 2025 season, Miami Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix was non-committal about whether the organization would be retaining veteran rotation leader Sandy Alcantara. That has opened the door for rampant speculation. According to reporting from Jeff Passan of ESPN, "teams aren't clamoring to give Miami the return it would need to give him up." He added in a separate article later in the week that "Miami is almost certain to move a starting pitcher this winter, and Edward Cabrera has generated the most interest." Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic did not distinguish between the availability of the Dominican right-handers: "There’s a strong possibility that the Marlins end up moving one of their starters, league sources said. Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera have continued to attract serious attention from other teams." Most recently, we have this from Bob Nightengale of USA Today as of early Sunday morning: "The Marlins have told teams that ace Sandy Alcantara is staying, but starter Edward Cabrera is available." The general consensus is that Cabrera—who's two and a half years younger than Alcantara, coming off a much more consistent season and considerably cheaper—would bring back more talent in return if traded this winter. View the full article

This year, the Winter Meetings will take place in Orlando, Florida, from December 7-10. These meetings are renowned for major signings and trades, with all 30 MLB teams sending representatives to mingle and negotiate with players, agents, and media. High-profile trades—such as Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox, Juan Soto to the New York Yankees, Chris Sale to the Red Sox, and Miguel Cabrera to the Detroit Tigers—dominate the headlines. It's as intense a four-day span as there will be all offseason. The Cubs themselves capitalized on this setting last offseason, acquiring Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros and agreeing to sign free-agent catcher Carson Kelly during the Meetings. Their impact was evident, but with Tucker now a free agent, the front office shifts its focus to acquiring a depth bat, a front-end starter, and bullpen help. As speculation builds about what moves the Cubs might make this offseason, let's revisit the most impactful Winter Meetings acquisitions in the franchise's history. Jon Lester's signing stands out as perhaps the most impactful. At a time when the franchise sought to move out of a rebuilding phase, Lester's arrival—via a six-year, $155 million contract after the 2014 season—signaled the Cubs' intent to contend. During Lester's tenure, the Cubs made five postseason trips and won the 2016 World Series. During that season, he had a 19-5 record, 2.44 ERA, and a 197:52 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The lefty would finish the season as the runner-up to the Washington Nationals' Max Scherzer in the National League Cy Young voting. He threw more than 140 innings in every season except one (the 2020 Covid-shortened season). After his contract expired, the Cubs declined his $25 million mutual option for the 2021 season, making Lester a free agent. He would sign with the Nationals, get traded to the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline, and then hang his cleats up after the 2021 season. During the 2015 Winter Meetings, the Cubs bolstered their offense by adding Ben Zobrist, fresh off his World Series win with the Kansas City Royals. The utility player signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the Cubs. To make room for Zobrist, the Cubs made a separate trade, sending Starlin Castro to the New York Yankees. During that season, Zobrist hit .272/.386/.446 with 18 home runs, 94 runs, and 76 RBIs over 632 plate appearances, earning his only All-Star appearance as a Cub. In the 2016 World Series, Zobrist went 10-for-28 with five runs and two RBIs, and it was his go-ahead hit at the top of the 10th inning of Game 7 that put the Cubs up 8-7. They'd hold on in the bottom half, breaking their 108-year title drought, with Zobrist earning the MVP honors. His four seasons with the Cubs marked the end of his career. A notable Winter Meetings trade came in 1980, when the Cubs traded their four-time All-Star closer, Bruce Sutter, to the St. Louis Cardinals. Sutter was perfect, saving 133 games during the 1976-1980 seasons as a member of the Cubs, without blowing a save opportunity. In 1979, he earned the NL Cy Young Award, posting a 2.22 ERA, 110:32 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and converted all 37 save opportunities over 101.1 innings. A contract dispute led to the trade, but in return for Sutter, the Cubs received Leon Durham, Ken Reitz, and Ty Waller from the St. Louis Cardinals. This trade benefited both teams, as Sutter continued his dominant pitching in three of his first four years in St. Louis. For the Cubs, Durham played eight seasons, hitting 138 home runs and earning two All-Star appearances. Reitz and Waller weren't major contributors in their short-lived careers in Chicago. This offseason's Winter Meetings may be busy for the Cubs. Shota Imanaga surprisingly accepted his one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer over becoming a free agent. Still, the Cubs could use another front-line starting pitcher, with Justin Steele likely to miss at least the first half of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery early into last season. The bullpen needs an overhaul, and the offense could use a depth bat, especially if Matt Shaw continues to struggle at the plate or if Owen Caissie isn't ready for the big leagues. View the full article

The Blue Jays certainly mean business this offseason. In a surprising move, the team has announced that RHP Yariel Rodriguez has been outrighted from their 40-man roster. Toronto now sits with 38 players on the roster, with the Cody Ponce signing still pending. Rodriguez, a Cuban native, signed a five-year, $32 million contract in February of 2024 after three strong seasons pitching in Japan from 2020 to 2022. The Blue Jays originally tried him as a starting pitcher in his first professional season. He made four starts in April before being placed on the injured list due to spinal inflammation. When he came back at the end of June, he had a 4.17 ERA, a FIP that matched, and looked like a potential starting rotation building block for years to come. In 2025, Toronto shifted him back into the bullpen, a role in which he excelled while in Japan, and it looked like he had really found a home. On the whole, he had a 3.08 ERA, a team-high 73 innings pitched out of the bullpen, and in terms of Win Probability Added, his 2.29 WPA led all Blue Jays relievers. Because of that performance, the outright off-the-roster move caught many people off guard; the Jays aren't pressed for 40-man roster space, and from the outside looking in, it doesn’t seem like anything forced their hand, so the timing seems odd. It's possible that the Blue Jays simply chose to get ahead on some business, much like when they non-tendered Alek Manoah earlier this season to get some roster clarity, and maybe the team is doing the same with Rodriguez here. Still, the question remains: Why move on from Yariel in the first place? While his season-long numbers look solid, there were some stark differences between the first and second halves that cause some concern. Yariel Rodriguez first half vs second half: - ERA: 2.47 vs 4.21 - WHIP: 0.93 vs 1.51 - K%: 25.6% vs 16.9% - BB%: 8.9% vs 15.3% More baserunners, more runs, fewer strikeouts, and more walks, none of those pointed in the right direction. His average fastball velocity, as high as 96.8 mph in June, dropped to 94.8 mph by season's end, which was just another cause for concern. By October, he wasn’t even on the World Series roster, despite being one of the better relievers for chunks of the summer. Ultimately, the Blue Jays saw enough warning signs to take a gamble, expose him to waivers, and risk losing him for nothing but $7 million in salary relief. All other 29 teams also passed. Rodriguez remains in the Blue Jays organization, as he doesn’t have enough service time to decline the outright assignment in favour of free agency. As things stand, he will train this winter and try to earn his spot back on the 40-man roster, or potentially become a trade candidate if the Blue Jays are willing to retain some of the $17 million remaining on the contract. For the Blue Jays, this move creates options. They didn't need the roster spot today, but the Blue Jays are clearly going to add more to their roster. With the additions of Ponce and Dylan Cease to the starting rotation, it has pushed some of the other potential starting options (Eric Lauer, maybe Jose Berrios) into potential bullpen roles to begin the season. As of now, the Blue Jays bullpen looks like: RHP - Jeff Hoffman, Yimi Garcia, Louis Varland, Braydon Fisher, Tommy Nance, Jose Berrios LHP - Brendon Little, Eric Lauer This list doesn’t include names like Mason Fluharty, Justin Bruihl, and Paxton Schultz, all of which helped the Blue Jays at various points in 2025. One silver lining of Rodriguez’s situation is the potential opportunity to be a starting pitcher again. Behind Berrios and Lauer, the Jays' starting pitching depth includes: Ricky Tiedemann, Bowden Francis, Lazaro Estrada, and Adam Macko, with Gage Stanifer not far behind. Rodriguez has the chance to spend most of the season in Buffalo, and if things go well for him, he can force his way back onto the roster. How his story unfolds remains to be seen. Maybe he returns to the bullpen and regains his early-season form, maybe he converts to a starter and something clicks for him, maybe his best success will come outside of the Blue Jays organization. Situations like this can still pay off. Myles Straw was in a similar situation in Cleveland before the Blue Jays made a trade, and Straw was a key part of the Jays' success in 2025. Whether or not that happens in Toronto, I doubt we’ve seen the last of Yariel Rodriguez. As for the team, this move adds another layer of intrigue. They’ve already made two impact signings to the rotation, and with the winter meetings arriving, clearing a spot on the 40-man roster may be a sign that something else may be coming. One thing is for sure: the Blue Jays certainly aren’t afraid to make some challenging decisions, as they look to find the pieces to push the team to baseball glory. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals need help in the outfield in 2026. Thankfully, Royals GM JJ Picollo has made that a priority, and it wouldn't be surprising if Kansas City made some noise at the Winter Meetings next week to pursue that much-needed addition in the outfield. Many big names have been listed as options for the Royals, which is an encouraging sign. It shows that owner John Sherman isn't averse to increasing payroll to make a deal, and that the Royals aren't afraid to make a trade that could carry some risk (such as trading away ace Cole Ragans). To compete with teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, and Blue Jays, small-market clubs like Kansas City need to make those kinds of moves to make a splash, especially in the postseason. That said, this is a different Royals team from the Dayton Moore era. The Royals are more data-inclined than ever before. That is evident in their manager, Matt Quatraro, who came over from the Rays, and in their coaching staff, which hired highly analytical coaches this offseason, such as Connor Dawson from Milwaukee and Mike McFerran from the Athletics. Both are known for their data-focused coaching approach with their respective clubs. Thus, to be a long-term winner like Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Tampa Bay, Kansas City needs to find the right fits that can help Quatraro utilize the entire 26-man roster over a full season. That usually means finding the right platoon options who can give key guys rest while still keeping the club competitive day to day. Utilizing the entire roster has been a priority not just for Quatraro but also for Picollo when assembling the roster each offseason. That philosophy is a key reason why Rob Refsnyder would be the perfect fit for the 2026 Royals. Refsnyder Hit the Ball Hard and Didn't Chase Last Year Last season with the Red Sox, he didn't get a ton of at-bats, but he made them count in a significant way. In 70 games and 209 plate appearances, Refsnyder slashed .269/.354/.484 with an .838 OPS. He also hit eight home runs, scored 29 runs, collected 30 RBI, and stole three bases. When looking at his advanced metrics via Fangraphs, his ISO was .214, his wRC+ was 128, and his fWAR was 1.0. All those numbers are impressive for a player with only 70 games. An intriguing aspect about Refnsynder's profile is that he hits the ball hard. His exit velocity, barrel, and hard-hit rate percentiles all ranked in the upper part of the league, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary profile. Refnsyder's average EV ranked in the 88th percentile, his barrel rate ranked in the 80th percentile, and his hard-hit rate ranked in the 94th percentile. What also makes Refsnyder intriguing is his strong plate discipline, as he avoids chasing many pitches out of the strike zone. His O-Swing percentage ranked in the 95th percentile, and his walk rate ranked in the 81st percentile last season. According to Fangraphs, Royals outfielders ranked 15th in O-Swing% (28.6%) and 25th in walk rate (7.2%). Thus, Refsnyder would provide a significant boost to the Royals' lineup in those categories at the plate in 2026. Refsnyder is a Platoon Monster Kansas City struggled to get much from right-handed-hitting outfielders in 2025. They ranked 28th in wRC+ (59) and fWAR (-1.6), according to Fangraphs. Individually, the group of right-handed-hitting outfielders who played last year isn't an impressive list, as seen in the table below. They need more help in this area next season, as not a single right-handed-hitting Royals outfielder posted a wRC+ in the triple digits. Thankfully, Refsnyder is the ideal solution to that problem, especially with his history against left-handed pitching. Last season, against lefties, the 34-year-old former Arizona Wildcat slashed .302/.399/.560 with a .959 OPS against lefties. He also posted a 0.59 BB/K ratio, a .259 ISO, and 159 wRC+, according to Fangraphs metrics. Over his career, he has a slash line of .281/.383/.443 with an .826 OPS, a 0.64 BB/K ratio, a .162 ISO, and a 129 wRC+. Refsnyder has a proven track record against left-handed starting pitching, sustained over 375 games and 764 plate appearances. Unfortunately, the history against right-handed starting pitching is porous. In 349 games and 759 plate appearances against righties, he has a slash of .229/.301/.332 with a .633 OPS, 0.32 BB/K ratio, .103 ISO, and 76 wRC+. Hence, if the Royals acquire Refsnyder, he would specifically have a role as a platoon specialist against lefties and little else. While that sounds limiting, that kind of weapon can be beneficial, especially over the course of a 162-game season. Refsnyder Could Be a Nice Complement to Caglianone in Right Field It is easy to be pessimistic about Jac Caglianone and his outlook after a rough rookie campaign. In 62 games and 232 plate appearances, he slashed .157/.237/.295 with a .532 OPS and 46 wRC+. He also hit seven home runs, scored 19 runs, collected 18 RBI, and accumulated an fWAR of -1.6. However, while the overall numbers weren't impressive, his batted-ball ability, especially in his exit velocity and barrel metrics, was much more encouraging, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary profile. Caglianone ranked in the 96th percentile in 90th EV, 81st percentile in Max EV, and 67th percentile in barrel rate. He also ranked in the 78th percentile in pull rate, indicating he can get around the ball on time. Unfortunately, a lackluster LA Sweet-Spot percentage (2nd percentile) led to a less-than-stellar Pull Air% (25th percentile). When things clicked, however, Caglianone could produce bombs like this one in September of last season in Philadelphia against Phillies ace Aaron Nola. Steamer projections have just released their 2026 version, and they are optimistic about Caglianone's outlook for the upcoming season. They project Cagalianone to sport the third-best wRC+ of Royals hitters next season with a 109 mark. Steamer also projects Caglianone to hit 18 home runs, collect 56 RBI, and post a .195 ISO in 419 plate appearances. Hence, Caglianone could take the next step as a hitter and overall star in 2026. Acquiring someone like Refsnyder to give him an occasional break against lefties could be the solution they need. They hold onto Caglianone's long-term value, while acquiring a bat in Refsnyder who could boost their lineup in specific situations next season. That is the kind of decision that good small-market teams make. It is also a solution that could help the Royals return to the postseason in an AL Central division that remains wide open, especially with Cleveland and Detroit having hazy offseasons thus far. View the full article

The winter meetings arrive every year with a blend of tension and possibility, and the Minnesota Twins find themselves right in the center of that mix. The front office has already signaled a shift in direction with notable trades at last year’s deadline, but the next few days will determine how dramatic this winter truly becomes. With payroll limitations, a clubhouse in transition, and a roster that needs both clarity and talent, these four questions will shape the Twins’ path forward. Will the Twins Trade More Veterans? Minnesota shocked much of the league when it moved key players at the 2025 deadline, and the possibility remains that the front office is not done trimming from the core. Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, and Byron Buxton represent the most significant names still drawing outside interest, and each presents a different challenge for the club. Ryan still has two years of team control through arbitration, making him the type of pitcher contenders ask about when they believe the Twins are retooling. There were already rumors about him being traded at the deadline, and he’s coming off an All-Star campaign. Lopez remains Minnesota’s best starting pitcher when healthy, and moving him would signal a complete reset instead of a soft pivot. He is owed the most money over the next two seasons ($43 million), making him a prime trade target. Then there is Buxton, the most complicated name of all. His contract, health history, and elite ceiling create a puzzle that only a few teams might be willing to solve, yet rumors have pointed to him being willing to waive his no-trade clause if the sell-off continues. The winter meetings have a way of accelerating conversations, and if another club is willing to pay for star upside, the Twins could continue reshaping their roster. Will the Team’s New Minority Owners Be Revealed? One of the strangest Twins storylines in recent months has nothing to do with baseball decisions. The club is expected to add two new minority ownership groups, but the details have been surprisingly quiet. The lack of transparency might be expected, but it remains strange that only limited details are available. Winter meetings are traditionally a stage for ownership announcements, branding pushes, and organizational updates. If the Twins intend to introduce their new partners before the 2026 season begins, this week is the ideal moment. The uncertainty has prompted speculation that the agreements are not fully finalized. Either way, clarity would be welcomed by fans eager to understand how these groups will influence future spending and long-term strategy. Will the Twins Sign a Closer? The bullpen is one of the clearest needs on the roster, especially after last summer’s sell-off. Minnesota is not expected to hand out any major long-term deals in free agency, but the club needs stability at the back end of games. The free agent market offers a few realistic options. Kenley Jansen stands out as a name with both experience and history chasing. Sitting 24 saves shy of becoming only the third pitcher in MLB history to reach five hundred career saves, he could find the Twins an appealing landing spot if they provide him with ninth-inning duties. Minnesota could also turn back to familiar faces. Taylor Rogers offers a left-handed veteran presence with strikeout stuff when healthy, while Caleb Thielbar would be a sentimental fit who could thrive in a lower leverage role. A bullpen addition of some kind feels close to inevitable, and the winter meetings could be where that move materializes. Will the Twins Attempt to Upgrade at First Base and DH? Derek Falvey made headlines at the GM Meetings when he suggested that Kody Clemens is in line to be the club’s starting first baseman. That may be the current plan, but it is hard to imagine the Twins entering the season with no improvements to two of the most crucial run-producing spots in the lineup. The organization needs more right-handed power, and the market offers several affordable options. Paul Goldschmidt is no longer the MVP-caliber hitter he once was, but has remained productive and dependable. Josh Bell brings switch-hitting pop that could balance the lineup. Rhys Hoskins would be a particularly strong fit if the Twins prioritize home run potential without breaking the bank. Any of these names would present an upgrade over the current depth chart and help alleviate pressure on Clemens to carry a position with a heavy offensive load. The winter meetings continually shape the offseason, but this year feels especially pivotal for the Twins. Whether they choose to move veterans, reveal ownership updates, fortify the bullpen, or add meaningful offensive help, Minnesota is positioned for a week filled with decisions that will define the next stage of their retooling. One way or another, the franchise will look different by the time the meetings conclude. Will the Twins answer any of these questions at the winter meetings? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

The Miami Marlins front office operates very deliberately. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but in two-plus years under the direction of Peter Bendix, the pattern is undeniable. They wait and wait and wait to extract what they deem to be appropriate value—this was exemplified most clearly at the 2024 MLB trade deadline, when the Marlins made six separate trades on deadline day itself. Covering a deliberate front office during the offseason is, frankly, not fun. So I'm going to make it fun by inviting you to an alternate universe in which the Marlins' approach is flipped upside down. What if all of Miami's significant 2025-26 offseason moves were already completed? This exercise does not require too much imagination because the activity of other MLB teams lets us know approximately what it would've cost the Marlins in terms of money and talent to upgrade their roster. Let's say that the Marlins did the following: Signed Josh Naylor to a five-year, $92.5 million deal Signed Ryan Helsley to a two-year, $28 million deal Traded Ryan Weathers, William Kempner and Chris Arroyo to the Boston Red Sox for Jhostynxon García and Jesús Travieso Traded Joe Mack to the Washington Nationals for Jose A. Ferrer and Hunter Hines Signed Will Banfield to a minor league deal Each of these hypothetical moves is based on an official transaction that we have seen around the league over the past month. Naylor, Helsley and Banfield received identical contracts from the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds, respectively. The Weathers/Kempner/Arroyo package is meant to mimic the package of Johan Oviedo, Tyler Samaniego and Adonys Guzman that the Pittsburgh Pirates sent to Boston for García and Travieso. Mack is taking the place of Harry Ford. In addition to Ford, the Mariners gave up their 2025 10th-round draft pick, right-hander Isaac Lyon, in the Ferrer trade. Seattle lacked leverage in negotiations because of the universal understanding that Ford was being "blocked" by the top catcher on the planet, Cal Raleigh, for the foreseeable future. Without that variable influencing the Marlins, I strongly believe Mack's current value is slightly higher than Ford's and it would be the Nationals including their 10th-rounder to balance the scales. Would you have been satisfied if this was what the Marlins had actually done? All-Star-caliber first baseman in the prime of his career, two high-leverage relievers (one of whom is not even arbitration-eligible yet) and a powerful rookie outfielder. In exchange, however, they'd be parting with a controllable starting pitcher who has mid-rotation upside and a major league-ready catcher with brilliant defensive ability. Here is an Opening Day roster projection to demonstrate how the pieces might've fit together: Projected starting lineup—C Agustín Ramírez, 1B Josh Naylor, 2B Xavier Edwards, 3B Graham Pauley, SS Otto Lopez, LF Kyle Stowers, CF Jakob Marsee, RF Jhostynxon García, DH Heriberto Hernández Projected bench—Liam Hicks, Connor Norby, Griffin Conine, Javier Sanoja Projected starting rotation—RHP Sandy Alcantara, RHP Edward Cabrera, RHP Eury Pérez, RHP Janson Junk, LHP Braxton Garrett Projected bullpen—RHP Ryan Helsley, RHP Ronny Henriquez, LHP Jose A. Ferrer, RHP Anthony Bender, RHP Tyler Phillips, LHP Cade Gibson, RHP Calvin Faucher, LHP Andrew Nardi I think these Marlins would probably surpass the club's 79-83 record from last season, but their odds of earning a postseason berth would be a coin flip at best. A few months from now once the dust settles, I'll be circling back to this as well as my original offseason blueprint and compare them to Bendix's real-life maneuvers. View the full article

The Winter Meetings will be held in Orlando, Florida, from December 7-10 this offseason. This time period is often when major signings and trades occur, as all 30 MLB teams send representatives, including owners, executives, and managers. Players, their agents, and media also attend. In the past, we've seen athletes at the top of their game change teams, including Garrett Crochet, traded to the Boston Red Sox; Juan Soto, traded to the New York Yankees; Chris Sale, traded to the Red Sox; and Miguel Cabrera, traded to the Detroit Tigers. The Toronto Blue Jays will likely be a popular name at the meetings, and this could be the time to re-sign Bo Bichette or pursue Kyle Tucker. This will likely be a "one or the other" situation, as adding both would take regular at-bats away from Addison Barger or Ernie Clement, who both proved to be valuable assets down the stretch and in the postseason. A trade could happen as well, given their surplus of outfielders. So, these four days are when we, as fans, can sit back and react with shock and awe as top-tier talent moves teams, changing the landscape of MLB. Last year during the Winter Meetings, the Blue Jays acquired Andrés Giménez and Nick Sandlin via trade from the Cleveland Guardians. While we prepare for this year's Winter Meetings, let's take a look at some of the more notable Winter Meetings acquisitions the Blue Jays have made in the past. The most impactful trade the Blue Jays made during this period was acquiring Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter from the San Diego Padres in 1990, sending Fred McGriff and Tony Fernadez to the Padres. Both Alomar and Joe Carter were key cogs in the Blue Jays winning their only two World Series championships in 1992 and 1993. Carter's iconic walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series to clinch the victory was arguably the greatest moment in franchise history. The quote, "Touch 'em all, Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life," from longtime radio announcer Tom Cheek, will forever live in Blue Jays fans' memories. In 1996, the Blue Jays made history by signing Roger Clemens to a four-year, $31 million contract, which at the time was the largest contract (money-wise) ever given to a pitcher, and the largest contract in club history. He spent only two of those seasons in Toronto, but he was dominant. He'd have a combined 41-13 record, 2.33 ERA, and a 563:178 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 498 2/3 innings. Clemens won the AL Cy Young Award in both his seasons with the Blue Jays, too. After the 1978 season, the Blue Jays traded Clemens to the Yankees for Homer Bush, Graeme Lloyd, and David Wells. In 1992, the team bolstered its offense after its first World Series run by adding 36-year-old Paul Molitor on a three-year, $13 million contract. At the time of the signing, Molitor was a five-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner, all while with the Milwaukee Brewers. That first season in Toronto, he hit .332/.402/.509 with 22 home runs and 111 RBIs. In the World Series that year, he went 12-24 at the plate with two home runs. He also scored 10 runs and had eight RBIs, leading him to claim the MVP honors. The righty was an All-Star with the Blue Jays in the 1993 and 1994 seasons and claimed another Silver Slugger Award in 1993. He is still one of the most impactful Winter Meetings signings in Blue Jays history. The Blue Jays have had their fair share of failed attempts to acquire top-tier talent during the Winter Meetings, as well. They have several times found themselves among a player's final two or three options, only to be outbid in the end. In 2016, outfielder Dexter Fowler was the Blue Jays' primary target, but the St. Louis Cardinals outbid them. In 2022, the Blue Jays were outbid for arguably their three top targets: Brandon Nimmo (New York Mets), Justin Verlander (Mets), and Taijuan Walker (Philadelphia Phillies). More recently, the Blue Jays were in the running up to the end to dole out a pair of record-breaking contracts. They were in the mix for Shohei Ohtani during the 2023 Winter Meetings. He visited the team's spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, but five days later, he signed a then-record $700-million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. History repeated itself last year, when the Blue Jays were among the final bidders for Soto, but he signed a historic 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets. Let's hope the phrase "the third time's a charm" plays out this Winter Meetings, as DiamondCentric's top free agent, Kyle Tucker, recently visited the Blue Jays' spring facility. There aren't many needs left for the Blue Jays this offseason, which may lead to a somewhat quiet Winter Meetings for the team. Most recently, the Jays addressed their need for more pitching depth by signing Cody Ponce. However, we the fans will still hope to hear news of Bichette returning to Toronto or another top-tier bat making his way north. View the full article

In the span of one calendar year, the Red Sox's plans for middle infield have changed drastically. As Kristian Campbell showed defensively, he was not the second baseman of the future, and Trevor Story opting into his contract has moved Marcelo Mayer off shortstop for the time being, the Red Sox still have an interesting mix of depth. 2025 saw a consistent presence at shortstop in Trevor Story, while second base saw several players gain playing time there, especially after Campbell was demoted to Worcester in June. Now the question remains: who will play second base on opening day, and whether the Red Sox have the depth to handle a loss of either their starting shortstop or second baseman. Fortunately for them, they would be able to handle the loss of a player on the defensive side thanks to the various players throughout the organization. 2026 Starters SS Starter: Trevor Story 157 games, .263/.308/.433 .741 OPS, 29 2Bs, 25 HRs, 96 RBIs Story saw himself bounce back from three straight injury-shortened seasons, and his first since 2021, in which he played 100 or more games. And despite an absolutely terrible May that had some calling for him to be benched or even possibly designated for assignment, Story was arguably the best offensive player for Boston. Story doesn’t walk much and will strike out quite often (176 strikeouts in 2025), but his ability to put the ball in play when it matters makes up for it. Along with his bat, Story is a veteran presence and leader in the clubhouse for an otherwise young team. Defensively, Story took a step back, whether due to age or from missing nearly two full years, is yet to be seen, but he posted a -9 Outs Above Average along with a -8 Fielding Run Value. His 19 errors were also a career high, but he still found a way to come up with a big play when necessary. 2B Starter: Romy González 96 games played, .305/.343/.483 .826 OPS, 23 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 9 HRs, 53 RBIs Now, for those following this depth series, you would know that González was penciled in as the most likely to be the first-base starter; well, the same holds for second base. At this point in the offseason, González could likely be the starter at either position, especially since neither David Hamilton nor Nick Sogard seems like a good option to start. González needs to be in the lineup each time a left-hander starts for the opposing team due to his .331/.378/.600 stat line against them. Should the Red Sox bring in a true first baseman, González will be able to properly serve his role as a super utility player for manager Alex Cora and get at-bats from various positions. Defensively, his versatility is an excellent weapon for Cora, though he may be best on the right side of the diamond. 2026 Backups Nick Sogard 30 games, .260/.317/.344 .661 OPS 8 2Bs, 9 RBIs Sogard is an interesting case: he would easily make plenty of teams’ 26-man rosters with his skill set of playing all over the field and making quality contact while handling fastballs. Unfortunately for Sogard, because of his two options, he’ll likely be shuttled between Worcester and Boston, just as he has been for the past two seasons. While Sogard can be solid defensively at multiple positions and has an average hit tool, his power could hold him back, as his exit velocities are below average, and he has only 12 career extra-base hits in 173 plate appearances. Despite that, he had earned the trust of Cora and was starting at second base during the playoffs, proving to be a sparkplug as he came around to score as the go-ahead run in game one against the Yankees. David Hamilton 91 games, .198/.257/.333 .590 OPS, 4 2Bs, 1 3B, 6 HRs, 19 RBIs Hamilton had a down season in 2025, seeing a drop in playing time and significant declines in his statistics. The middle infielder also saw himself optioned to Worcester during the season as well. Offensively, he tries to hit line drives and has solid pitch recognition and an understanding of the strike zone, but will expand the zone. His power is considered below average, and if he wants to be a consistent figure on the major league roster, he needs to hit more doubles as he did in 2024. However, his speed alone is enough to keep him around as an end-of-the-bench option for late-game pinch-running, as his speed puts pressure on opposing defenses. Defensively, he is much better at second base than shortstop, as he’s shown solid range there compared to the latter. Marcelo Mayer 44 games, .228/.272/.402 .674 OPS, 8 2Bs, 1 3B, 4 HRs, 10 RBIs Much like with González, Mayer is listed as the current third-base starter in this series due to Alex Bregman’s free agency and the team's lack of another player to plug in there right now. Of course, much like González, he could also be plugged in as the starter at second base instead, depending on how the rest of the offseason plays out. In his short time with Boston, Mayer proved he was ready defensively, mostly playing third base, where he handled the position with ease after playing it just five times between Portland and Worcester. He also appeared at second base and was able to handle that position as well. In a limited time (57 innings), Mayer did not commit an error and had a +1 Outs Above Average. Offensively, it was a different story as he flashed some power and showed he could currently be league average against right-handers, but against left-handed pitching, he struggled to a .154/.185/.231 stat line. Mayer is still young and has time to learn; his promotion to Boston last year was rushed due to Bregman’s injury, and he should fare better against major league pitching in 2026. Extreme Emergency: Ceddanne Rafaela 156 games, .249/.295/.414 .708 OPS 34 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 16 HRs, 63 RBIs First off, Rafaela should only be playing the infield in the event of an emergency. It’s not that he isn’t good at second base or shortstop, but rather he’s just that much better defensively in center field. Rafaela, however, has been forced to play key games in the infield the last two seasons due to injuries, as he appeared in 92 games between shortstop and second base in 2024 and, fortunately, only 24 games at second base in 2025. Offensively, Rafaela is as streaky as they come. His lack of plate discipline (which has improved) leads to a lot of chasing pitches and causes him to strike out by expanding the zone. But when he’s on, Rafaela could be one of the most clutch players on the Red Sox, as displayed by his multiple walk-offs in 2025. Minor Leagues Vinny Capra 47 games (White Sox/Brewers), .125/.157/.177 .334 OPS, 2 2Bs, 1 HR, 6 RBIs Capra, who signed a minor league deal on Thanksgiving, provides the Red Sox with another veteran depth option should the team need a player for a short term. Capra can play not just third base but also second base and shortstop, giving the Sox someone they can plug into the lineup to give multiple players a day off if needed. Offensively, he isn't good, to put it frankly. In 142 career plate appearances, he has a stat line of .133/.181/.188 while striking out more times than he has hits (34 strikeouts to 17 hits). But he’s the kind of player the team has targeted before for minor league depth, a veteran presence who can play multiple positions. Defensively, he saw 110 2/3 innings in the field between second base and shortstop and didn’t commit a single error. Max Ferguson 118 games (Portland Sea Dogs/Worcester Red Sox), .205/.323/.313 .637 OPS, 13 2Bs, 1 3B, 9 HRs, 42 RBIs Ferguson is the definition of an organizational player. Acquired in the Eric Hosmer deal in 2022, Ferguson has spent his time in the Boston system playing for whatever minor league team needs a healthy body. 2023 saw him jump from High-A Greenville to Worcester when they needed bodies, and since 2024, he has constantly bounced between Worcester and Portland. Offensively, he knows the strike zone and can work a count, but has below-average bat speed and little success against left-handed pitching. Despite that, his speed and defense could make him a short-term bench piece for Cora should the need arise. Tyler McDonough 79 games, .254/.328/.369 .697 OPS, 12 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 5 HRs, 27 RBIs McDonough is currently a high-end organizational player and, at best. He could be a utility player who is shuttled between Triple-A and the major leagues as needed. Defensively, he split time between second base, shortstop, left field, and right field in 2025, while the middle infield was his primary location. With soft hands and solid defensively, McDonough can capably play several positions. Offensively, he is average when it comes to in-zone contact and chase rates, but he will struggle against breaking pitches down in the zone. Before the September 1 roster expansion, he was considered for the 28th roster spot by some due to his defensive versatility and the lack of other options. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins’ front office walked into the winter meetings and did something fans probably needed to hear: they said they are not interested in trading Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan or Pablo López this offseason. Given the smoke surrounding all three in recent weeks, that was no small statement. And honestly, that is exactly how it should be. These are the types of players competitive teams collect, not unload. You build a core around them. You do not move them unless you are ready to admit that the window is closed and the locks have rusted shut. But even with that reassurance, fans are not imagining the tension. The Twins looked very much like a franchise walking the line between competing and retrenching. Last year’s deadline, which involved shedding bullpen arms and clearing money, suggested a team bracing for a softer landing in 2026 rather than gearing up to sprint. That is why, despite the front office’s public stance, it is still plausible to wonder whether the door is completely shut on moving Buxton, Ryan or López. Mid-market teams often operate with different guardrails. They do not have the luxury of outspending mistakes or replacing injuries with premium depth. When payroll projections dip, like this season where the Twins are expected to land well below last year’s post-purge figure of around 130 million dollars and possibly under 100 million dollars, the temptation to convert expensive, high-value players into multiple lower-cost future contributors becomes very real. It is not desirable from the fan perspective. It is not energizing. But it is a reality that front offices in this economic tier confront regularly. Teams in this bracket build and rebuild in rolling cycles. They hold their stars until they cannot justify the next contract or until the payroll crunch tightens. They trade premium players not because they want to but because the structure demands it. That is the context sitting quietly underneath the front office’s reassurance. First: Buxton. He is coming off the healthiest season we have seen in years. He energized the lineup, stabilized center field, showed MVP-caliber flashes and brought the type of charisma and presence that cannot be taught. However, he also carries the lingering reputation of injuries, being on the wrong side of age-30, and the uncertainty surrounding a potential 2027 work stoppage. If a missed season or partial season affects the remaining years of his team-friendly contract, the calculus shifts. For a mid-market team, this winter might have been the moment to capitalize on maximum value if they wanted to. Second: Ryan and López. Top-of-the-rotation arms don’t just walk around unattended. If you’re rebuilding, these are your most valuable trade chips. But if you’re trying to compete—even on a budget—they’re the exact pieces you refuse to entertain offers on. The Twins planting a flag here suggests they view 2025 not as a step-back year but as a bridge year they intend to bolster internally rather than detonate. Third: they understand the fan base. I mean, it’s hard to believe that this is the case given all the posturing and tone deaf reactions in the recent past. This is not a market that wants to hear about another cycle of waiting for a window to open. Fans want a push toward contention, not a slow retreat in the name of long-term flexibility. The front office knows that trading franchise-level players immediately after trimming payroll would create significant backlash. With attendance dipping into the lowest numbers they’ve seen since the Metrodome years, the front office and potential new partners have to understand they need some kind of revenue stream and unloading star talent would result in Target Field becoming the place where moss collects on empty seats. So their stance matters. Their core stays intact. Their best players remain. However, the underlying economics do not go away. The Pohlad family could choose to spend well beyond mid-market ranges, but they have opted instead to operate within them. If the Twins were to reverse course and entertain offers for Buxton, López or Ryan, the payroll projection would collapse quickly. What currently looks like a moderate dip from 130 million dollars could fall below 100 million dollars. That outcome would invite questions about whether the competitive timeline was being pushed further into the future. For now, the message is clear. The Twins are saying they are not rebuilding. It is the correct public stance. The next step is proving that keeping this group together leads to something greater than a reassuring sound bite. View the full article

Add the Toronto Blue Jays to the list of teams that have checked in on six-time NPB All-Star Kazuma Okamoto. In addition to the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates, the Blue Jays reportedly have interest in signing the slugging infielder, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Okamoto, 29, is DiamondCentric's no. 15 free agent this winter, projected to sign a four-year, $68 million contract. He has been one of NPB's most prolific sluggers over the last eight years, leading the Central League in home runs three times. Some evaluators have questions about his third base defense, suggesting he really belongs at first base or DH, but he would need to stick at the hot corner to make sense for the Blue Jays. The Yomiuri Giants posted Okamoto in mid-November, giving him until January 4 at 5:00 pm ET to sign with an MLB club. That date is significant, because the Blue Jays might not know by then whether or not they will be able to re-sign star shortstop Bo Bichette. So, what do you think about this rumour? Would you like to see the Blue Jays pursue Okamoto, or should they look elsewhere to upgrade the offense? Voice your thoughts in the comments below. Featured image courtesy of Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images. View the full article

The Cubs appear poised to lose Kyle Tucker to free agency without a fight, and yet, the Cubs have a bigger hole to fill in their rotation than that left by their departing right fielder. Don't take my word for it, Jed Hoyer has been saying as much since November 11th at the general manager meetings in Las Vegas. More specifically than just pitching, what the Cubs truly need are strikeouts. The team has done a great job of getting the most out of what they have, finishing the season 10th in ERA (3.81) despite ranking 19th in fWAR. They have done this through a combination of an elite defense and Wrigley Field turning into a pitcher's haven. Still, their inability to strike out hitters and overpower them came back to bite them in the playoffs, as the team was clearly an arm or two short in the Milwaukee series. The fix is obvious: just add more strikeouts. In theory, this won't be a hard fix, as despite the excellent ERA, the team finished just 21st in strikeouts in 2025, so there's nowhere to really go but up. The problem is that while it's easy to identify the need to add swing-and-miss stuff to the pitching staff, almost every other organization in Major League Baseball is going to place the same importance on striking hitters out, making it an expensive endeavor. Thus far in the Jed Hoyer era, the Cubs have been far more value-focused than anything; a team consistently looking for a good deal and willing to wait out markets, rather than going and getting "their guy". This hasn't always been a bad thing; they've managed to build bullpens on a shoestring budget and have also found players like Matthew Boyd to round out their pitching, but it also means that acquiring known strikeout artists has proven to be difficult. If you were going to apply the same value-forward proposition to the 2025 free agent class, it'd be hard not to zero in on left-handed pitcher Ranger Suarez. The writers of DiamondCentric ranked the 30-year-old Suarez as our ninth-best player available, with a projected contract of five years and $110 million. While $110 million sounds rich on the surface, it's a much smaller projected number (and fewer years) than we have tied to remaining pitchers such as Framber Valdez and Tatsuya Imai (both are projected for six years and over $150 million in total dollars). The value begins to show itself when you take into account just how close Valdez and Suarez have been over the course of the last two seasons, and where we have the two projected in terms of free agent contracts: On the surface, it would seem, then, that signing Ranger Suarez to a five-year deal around a $22 million average annual value would be kind of a slam dunk, but I'm not so sure he's a good fit for what the Cubs need. In fact, he's a contract and a player I hope the Cubs stay far, far away from, despite a recent report from Mark Feinsand suggesting the Cubs are among the three most "serious" threats to sign him. It's not because I think Suarez is bad, but that going with the "value" option has been a bit of a bugaboo for the team in general, and has seemingly left them a player (or two) short in each of the last two seasons. Breaking from that mold (even just a little bit) feels like a necessary next step in climbing the MLB hierarchy. Even just beyond breaking an internal mold, I hold reservations on the pitcher himself. The first reason is that red flags are already popping up, with a backslide in velocity. As recently as 2023, the left-handed pitcher was averaging over 93mph on his fastball. Jump to last season, and he's bled two full mph off the pitch as he now sits at 91.2mph. The velocity bottomed out mid-season, around 89mph, between June and July, before jumping back up to the low-90s. Still, nothing suggests that 93mph is coming back without some serious intervention (whether medically or mechanically, I'm unsure). The decline in overall velocity hasn't been seen entirely in terms of his strikeout rates, as he has sat pretty neutral over the course of the last three seasons, with K%'s of 22%, 23.2%, and 23.2% over his last three campaigns, but the drop in velocity remains concerning. A pitcher who already does not generate much whiff and who does not add much in terms of extension is playing with fire. There will come a point at which a lowered velocity is going to catch up with a pitcher who's already hovering around league-average strikeout rates, and it doesn't feel like Suarez is too far from that as is. Not everything is terrible with Ranger Suarez, however. As noted in the chart above, he's shown an elite ability to limit contact, finishing last year in the 89th percentile or better for barrels, exit velocity, and hard hit rate. He gets a good deal of chase, too. In front of that elite defense, Suarez would probably look to be a pretty good pitcher at times! But does he really solve what the Cubs need right now? The answer is: not really, I really don't think so. The Cubs already have left-handed pitchers who use lower-velocity, deception, and movement to limit batted ball data, like Justin Steele, who will return from injury in the first-third of the 2026 season. They have another lower-velocity lefty in Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon is essentially the right-handed version of a "limit-the-hitter to weak contact" type himself. Suarez's 23% rate is just a bit above league average for a starting pitcher, and his velocity is already below that of a league average starting pitcher (and even when we account just for left-handed ones). If the Cubs' biggest deficiencies in their rotation are strikeouts (21st) and they also lack some velocity (13th), then adding yet another pitcher like Ranger Suarez seems to be missing the point. Now is the time for a 92-win-Cubs team to stop worrying about surplus value in every single move. That isn't to say "ignore value entirely", but instead to suggest that a big-market team like the Chicago Cubs should occasionally get a little irrational about a guy they have to have. They've already missed on Dylan Cease, bowing out reportedly when the bidding got to $200 million, but just because they've missed on Cease shouldn't mean they need to give up on the pursuit of the almighty K. Tatsuya Imai projects to have a strong ability to strike out hitters in MLB. Other pitchers such as Michael King (27.6 K% since 2023), Joe Ryan (28.3 K% since 2023), Edward Cabrera (career 25.9 K%), and MaKenzie Gore (career 25.6 K%) remain available on the market in some fashion. There are likely other names that could become available or are available without even knowing, so these five shouldn't be the end of the discussion either. Ranger Suarez might not be a ticking time-bomb (though with the velocity decline, he might be, too), but he projects as a safer, more value-oriented signing that would improve the Cubs, but not likely in the way the team needs. The team needs to diversify a bit and become a little less reliant on great defense to make their pitchers look good; Nico Hoerner is an impending free agent in 2027, and Dansby Swanson took a bit of a step back last year - their defense isn't going to last forever. Dylan Cease on the contract he got would have looked very good at the top of the Cubs rotation with Cade Horton, but they cannot just allow that to be their one swing in terms of adding more whiff to their starting rotation group. They cannot simply rely on prospects to add what they need; Cade Horton looks like he'll help, and rookie Jaxon Wiggins may as well, but beyond those two, the cupboard is pretty barren in the system right now. So instead of using a ballpark and extracting every ounce of value, the Cubs should be looking to just "get a dude" for lack of better wording. Get a hoss, a stud, whatever you want to call him - bring in some strikeouts, even if it costs a little more. Sadly, Ranger Suarez, while a fine pitcher in his own right, falls short of that status in my mind. It isn't that he's a terrible pitcher; he's just not the right pitcher for the Cubs. What do you think of Ranger Suarez? Should the Cubs pursue the left-handed pitcher? Or are there other options for the Cubs that you'd rather have? Let us know in the comment section below! View the full article

When the Boston Red Sox signed Cooper Criswell before the 2024 season, many fans joked about it and were upset that, at the time, he was arguably the team’s biggest offseason signing after a 2023 season that saw the team fall apart down the stretch. Prior to joining the Red Sox, he had spent parts of three seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and Tampa Bay Rays as a roster fill-in, making two starts in two seasons with the Angels and making 10 relief appearances with the Rays. He was not viewed as someone who was going to help the rotation in a serious manner, yet Craig Breslow made sure to bring him into the organization. Criswell opened the 2024 season in Worcester, serving as pitching depth in the event the major-league squad needed pitching. Fortunately for the Red Sox. he got off to a hot start, allowing just one earned run in his first 10 1/3 innings before being called up to Boston. His first start was nothing too special, going four innings and holding the Angels to two runs on five hits a day after they had scored seven runs against Tanner Houck. It wasn’t until his second start (and third appearance) where Criswell got going, as in his next 19 1/3 innings, he allowed just three earned runs and the Red Sox won his next four starts. He cemented himself as a back-of-the-rotation option for the next few months, even with a couple of bad outings interspersed. But following a June 15 outing against the New York Yankees where he allowed just two runs over four innings, Criswell was optioned back to Worcester to make room for Chris Martin, who was coming off the injured list. He wouldn’t be gone for long. Recalled for a July 12 game against the Royals, Criswell would remain with Boston for the remainder of the season, bouncing between the rotation and bullpen as needed. In his first year with Boston, Criswell would go 6-5 with a 4.08 ERA in 26 appearances, 18 of them being starts. He would give the Sox 99 1/3 innings and managed to strike out 73 batters in that span. He wasn't a flashy signing, but he more than did his job when called upon. There were questions about if he would remain with Boston for 2025, but once he was given an extra option year, it was clear he would remain with the team as a depth option. He had pitched well enough in 2024 to be given that chance, and entering the 2025 season, he made his first Opening Day roster as an arm out of the bullpen. Unfortunately for Criswell, much like in 2024, he did not perform as well out of the bullpen and only made three appearances (including a three-inning save in the second game of a doubleheader with the Cardinals on April 6) where he gave up eight runs, five earned runs, in 4 1/3 innings. Following the doubleheader, he was optioned to Worcester, where he remained until the beginning of June. Criswell would make two appearances in his latest stint, faring better out of the bullpen as he would throw 4 2/3 innings and allow just a single run. But thanks to being optionable, Criswell was sent back to Worcester, allowing the Red Sox to keep roster flexibility with their pitching staff. The veteran pitcher would be called up once more, making a single appearance on July 2 where he went 1 2/3 without allowing a run against the Cincinnati Reds. Criswell provided innings out of the bullpen when the team had fallen behind 8-4 and allowed Alex Cora to keep his top arms rested. Criswell knew his role for the 2025 season and much like in 2024, he served it to the best of his ability. That was none the more obvious than in what may have been his best start with Boston. Needing a starter for an important August 1 game against the Houston Astros, the Red Sox turned to Criswell to take the mound. To say the game was important was an understatement, as the Red Sox were fighting with Houston at the time for a wild card spot and this was the first game of a three-game series. Criswell didn’t stumble; instead, he absolutely cruised on the mound as he kept Astros hitters from taking control of the game. Needing just 84 pitches, Criswell pitched around seven base hits and two walks to hold the Astros to a single run, giving the team every opportunity to score against Cy Young-candidate Hunter Brown. And the team managed to do so, tying the game in the seventh inning before walking it off in the tenth. Criswell’s heroics set the tone for the series as the Red Sox swept the Astros and gave themselves some breathing room. In return, Criswell was optioned to Worcester where he would make two more appearances before finally getting shut down due to right elbow inflammation. As the season ended, it seemed like Criswell would be designated for assignment or non-tendered as younger, more talented pitchers had emerged within the system. Instead, the Red Sox signed him to a one-year deal to avoid arbitration. Then, the news came out on December 4 that he had been designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Johan Oveido and Tyler Samaniego. He was subsequently claimed off waivers by the New York Mets, ending his tenure (at least for now) in Boston. Criswell won't be looked back upon as a franchise legend, but he always stepped up for the team when they needed him. For that, he should be remembered fondly by Red Sox fans. View the full article

Discussing the art of the MLB vs. MiLB phases of protection, here's some background via the ultimate Rule 5 guru, JJ Cooper of Baseball America, and we thank him for these insights: "Any Rule 5-eligible player who is not on a 40-man MLB roster is available to be picked in the MLB phase of the Rule 5 draft, while all players not on the 38-player Triple-A rosters are available to be picked in the MiLB Rule 5 draft. So, when it comes to the MLB Rule 5 draft, players on the 38-player Triple-A rosters are really the only players who get picked. If a player is available for the MiLB Rule 5 draft, it just makes too much sense to wait and pick them in a draft where there are no onerous roster restrictions. Similarly, MLB clubs move players who are not Rule 5-eligible off of Triple-A rosters in paper transactions once the offseason commences. It makes no sense for the Twins to leave Walker Jenkins (who finished the year in Triple-A) on the St. Paul roster when that spot can be used to protect another player from the MiLB Rule 5 draft. So, Jenkins has been transferred to the Double-A Wichita roster for procedural reasons. There may be some MiLB free agents whose signings have not yet been made public who are Rule 5-eligible but are not included on projected team lists." So, these modified AAA rosters are not something that's ever made public by MLB teams or MiLB affiliate pages. The Brewers actual AAA roster for Rule 5 purposes is invisible to us. For Milwaukee, this AAA roster nuance currently affects only one player on Nashville's AAA roster as of its MiLB.com link - LHP Tate Kuehner finished the 2025 season with the Nashville Sounds but is not yet Rule 5 eligible with only three professional seasons under his belt. The Brewers could place as many as 38 players on the "invisible" AAA roster to keep them from being picked in the minor league phase of Rule 5. In theory, that would only expose two players to the minor league phase. However, it's likely Milwaukee will protect less than 38, perhaps quite a few less. The first reason for doing so is to allow space for Milwaukee to take players from other organizations in the minor league phase, as the Brewers have often done (Isaac Collins, anyone?). If the team maxed out the 38-player list from the start and didn't lose any player in the MLB phase, there would be no room at all to grab a player like OF Garrett Spain, who the Brewers claimed from Toronto last year at this time, and who remains in the organization. The second reason a player might be exposed to the minor league phase is in "as a favor" fashion. Going back to 2012, then-General Manager Doug Melvin indicated that infielder Eric Farris had been exposed (and subsequently selected by Seattle) as a professional courtesy in order to provide a better chance at a future career for the player. It's quite possible that of the many players the organization has lost in the minor league phase in the ensuing years, some were left unprotected with similar thinking, though it's rare for a GM to indicate such openly. The names below are listed by the most recent level in which they saw action. An asterisk next to a player's name indicates that this is their first year of Rule 5 eligibility. While all these players were certainly reviewed by the Crew's decision-makers when addition to the big-league 40-man roster was considered earlier this fall, only RHP Coleman Crow, on the cusp of minor league free agency, was formally added. Crow was on a list like the one you see here last year at this time, but his injury status had teams wary and (thankfully) he was not plucked by another organization last December. There had been speculation that RHP Blake Holub and LHP Brian Fitzpatrick might join Crow on the 40-man this fall. As such, they may be potential targets on Wednesday. The minor league phase can always lead to unexpected names appearing, both coming and going. Here's to a productive Winter Meetings for the Brewers, including Wednesday's Rule 5 Draft which concludes the week's events in Orlando. P.S. The buzz around 40-man roster status and Rule 5 protection and exposure for Crew prospects is going to be over the top insane next year based on the volume and quality of prospects "coming due". There will be plenty of dialogue to rapture us throughout next year's minor league season in preparation for December 2026. AAA Nashville: RHP JB Bukauskas RHP Will Childers* LHP Brian Fitzpatrick* RHP Blake Holub INF Eddys Leonard INF Ethan Murray LHP Thomas Pannone LHP Nate Peterson* RHP Garrett Stallings INF Freddy Zamora AA Biloxi: INF Eric Brown, Jr.* INF/OF Eduardo Garcia RHP Stiven Cruz RHP Nick Merkel* C Darrien Miller OF Hedbert Perez C Ramon Rodriguez LHP Russell Smith OF Garrett Spain UTIL Jheremy Vargas INF Zavier Warren C Matt Wood* High-A Wisconsin: RHP Patricio Aquino* OF Luis Castillo* C Blayberg Diaz C David Garcia INF Daniel Guilarte* 1B/OF Tayden Hall* RHP Edwin Jimenez C Andrick Nava OF/INF Kay-Lan Nicasia RHP Yerlin Rodriguez RHP Will Rudy* RHP Cameron Wagoner* A-Ball Carolina: RHP Quinton Low* C Edgardo Ordonez* LHP Anfernny Reyes* LHP Caden Vire* Rookie Maryvale: C Eric Martinez* OF Demetrio Nadal* View the full article

So far this offseason, rumors have been swirling that the Toronto Blue Jays are looking to be in the mix for big bats to add to their contending lineup. Whether it be one of the very top free agents, i.e., Kyle Tucker, or one just a tier below, like Cody Bellinger, those are two outfield bats that could make a huge difference for the Jays going forward. However, lost in all the rumor mill excitement happens to be the Blue Jays’ big offseason signing from 2024-25: Anthony Santander. It appears as though many have already written off the former All-Star outfielder from being a major contributor for the upcoming season and beyond. But can Santander reinsert himself as a key piece of the contending puzzle for the Jays in 2026? Recall that Santander hasn’t been just a one-hit wonder during his time in the majors. Prior to joining the Jays, the 31-year-old outfielder posted bWAR values of 2.1, 3.0 and 2.9 and a wRC+ above 118 in three consecutive seasons with the Baltimore Orioles from 2022 to 2024. Last season with Toronto, his .175 average, .565 OPS, and -1.0 bWAR were among the worst of his nine-year MLB career. The critical question is how much of his struggles can be attributed to his shoulder injury that ended up limiting him to just 54 regular season games in 2025? Remember how ineffective Bo Bichette was during his injury-riddled 2024 campaign. Guess what happened the very next season for the star shortstop? A huge bounce-back campaign, in which he reverted to his true form, leading the Blue Jays into the postseason as a result. So, to make a real assessment of Santander, one has to give him a run to see how he performs once back to full health. The Steamer projection system at FanGraphs has moderate confidence in the 31-year-old slugger to become productive once again, as it predicts 26 home runs and 75 RBI but only a 106 wRC+ and 1.0 WAR for the upcoming season. It also has his strikeout rate reverting back closer to his 21.1% career rate at 22.7%. That would be a significant improvement upon his troublesome 27.6% mark in his first season with the Jays. Blue Jays fans should be optimistic as well since Santander still managed to maintain an average exit velocity around 89.6 mph last season, which is close to his career average of 90.0 mph. He also produced a hard-hit rate of 41%. What stood out was his alarming barrel rate of just 4.5%, which was almost a full five percentage points below his career average. His shoulder issue was likely the main cause behind that, so his egregious barrel rate should be easily rectified once he has his clean bill of health. As a result, the Jays might not really need the big addition of a Tucker or even a Bellinger this offseason. Santander reverting to the Santander of old might be enough of an offensive boost to the lineup, since Toronto never really saw the best of him in 2025. Therefore, things can only look up from here for Santander and the Jays as they look to get better and better for the upcoming season. View the full article

Ty Adcock has three things going for him as he joins his fourth MLB organization: 1. A fun name. 2. A big arm. 3. Winter-league buzz. Nos. 2 and 3 are mostly why the Padres signed him to a one-year, major league contract less than a week before the start of the 2025 Winter Meetings. Adcock is the type of depth reliever teams try to accumulate. Usually, these pitchers can be shuttled between MLB and Triple-A during the season. If a roster crunch hits, they can be cut without much stress. But Adcock is out of minor league options. The Mets outrighted him last August, and he became a minor league free agent in November. The major league contract is a tell that the Pads think they might have something in the right-hander, who will turn 29 on February 7. Adcock made just six appearances for New York over parts of two seasons. (Yes, he was one of the record 46 pitchers used by New York in 2025.) He did not enter manager Carlos Mendoza's bullpen circle of trust. In fact, he pitched with a lead just once in those half-dozen outings. Including his rookie season of 2023 with the Mariners, Adcock has pitched to a career 5.48 ERA (7.18 FIP), with nine home runs allowed in 23 innings. On the positive side, he owns a 4.75 K:BB ratio. Maybe the Padres liked the strike-throwing and decided to make a move. More likely, they really liked what he was doing with Estrellas in the Dominican winter league, which until about a week ago was managed by Fernando Tatis Sr. In nine innings over seven appearances (all in relief), Adcock racked up 15 strikeouts with no walks. His strikeout rate was 41.7 percent, and his K:BB was, well, infinity. (All stats through Dec. 3.) San Diego saw enough to put him on the 40-man roster. So, what, exactly, does Adcock offer the Friars if not high-leverage experience? Heat, mostly. In Seattle, he was slider-first, followed by the four-seamer. In New York, the pitch mix flipped, and he started throwing a cutter. (Source: Baseball Savant) In that transformation was the usual pursuit of added velo. Adcock caught it. Last season, Adcock bumped up his four-seamer average from 96.6 mph to 97.1 mph, while his cutter stayed at 93.1 mph. And the slider, which he throws equally to right-handed and left-handed batters, checks in at 86.9 mph, giving him good separation. (All velos per Baseball Savant.) On the downside, the four-seam spin rate is... not elite: 2,172 rpm (he's between Jeffrey Springs and Carlos Carrasco on the Statcast chart). The slider profiles better at 2,199 rpm. The company around him on that pitch is Hunter Brown, Zack Littell, and... Jeremiah Estrada. The cutter, his third pitch, spins at 2,206 rpm, which puts him between Springs, Logan Gillaspie, and Jason Alexander. So, his stuff is a tick or two below Estrada and other new teammates, David Morgan and Bradgley Rodriguez, but it should still play at the bottom of the 'pen. To recap, Adcock comes to San Diego with a three-pitch arsenal mix by a high-90s heater and a big showing in winter ball. In the spring, he'll try to build momentum while working with pitching coach Ruben Niebla and first-year manager Craig Stammen. Maybe they'll end up with a guy who is no longer Just A Guy. View the full article

Major League Baseball has put in place rules and stipulations for the MLB Draft Lottery that have changed how the MLB Draft operates for decades. The lottery will not always let the team with the worst record from the previous season have the first overall pick, so Jamie and Jeremy explain why the Colorado Rockies can't pick higher than 10th after setting a franchise worst 43-119 record in 2025. View the full article

Derek Falvey keeps saying he wants to add to the roster, to keep the starting pitching intact, and that he intends to compete. That said, the Twins don’t seem to be any closer to telegraphing intentions around payroll, and who knows when we will learn the identity or viability of the limited partners they hope to bring on. With the winter meetings right around the corner, if the Twins aren’t going to spend enough to fight for more than a .500 record, they should be actively shopping Ryan Jeffers as he enters the final year of team control. Being a catcher is a tough gig, with a lot of complexity to it. Beyond the physical toll of crouching, taking foul balls off the body, and having to pop up quickly to fire a throw to second, they need to call the game for an entire pitching staff. In today’s game, that means having a relationship with 13 different pitchers, plus the dozen or so more that spend a day, a week, or a month on the roster. Catchers have to be familiar with each pitcher’s repertoire, have a feel for proper sequencing for them, and quickly gauge the relative effectiveness of their arsenal on any given day. That’s…a lot. If you are a manager of people in your daily life, you know how difficult it is to be up to speed with the personalities, strengths, and needs of the people who work for you. Now, imagine being dropped into a new environment without the luxury of time to get to know people. It’s tough, right? By nature, any team trading for a starting catcher at the deadline is in the hunt. Time is dwindling, and every game matters. There aren’t months, or even weeks, to ramp up. There isn’t time to study film, or receive several bullpen sessions. Further, any team looking to trade for a catcher is doing so for a reason. Probably, it’s because they either lost their starting catcher to injury, or he has been ineffective at the plate to the point of needing to be relegated to backup duty. These factors combine to mean that the pool of teams looking to trade for a catcher is limited, indeed. Because of all of these factors, starting catchers are very rarely traded mid-season; it just doesn’t make a ton of sense. In fact, as best as I can tell, only seven starting catchers have been traded at the deadline in the past decade. Jonathan Lucroy was dealt twice, in 2016 and 2017. Martin Maldonado was traded twice, in 2018 and 2019. Austin Nola, in 2020, went from the Mariners to the Padres. Yan Gomes moved in 2021. Austin Hedges was traded in both 2020 and 2023. Old friend Wilson Ramos found a new home in both 2018 and 2021. Finally, old friend Christian Vasquez was traded from the Red Sox to the Astros in 2022. That’s not many trades at all, compared to any other position. Based on all this, it’s safe to assume that hoping the stars align for a trade at the deadline is not a good bet. It’s also safe to assume the Twins do not intend to give Jeffers a qualifying offer next offseason. And, I can’t imagine them looking to sign him to an extension as he would surely command somewhere between $10 and $15 million a year over at least three seasons. Jeffers is an above-average hitter at a tough position, is well-liked, cerebral, and is expected to be above-average at using the ABS challenge system to his advantage behind the dish. While he struggles with pitch framing and pop time, he would still have very real value to any team looking to upgrade at catcher. Over the past three seasons, he has averaged 2.0 fWAR, the same as the best free agent catcher currently available, J.T. Realmuto. The latter, per The Athletic, is due for a three-year, $45 million deal even as he enters the twilight of his career. Per MLB Trade Rumors, Jeffers is expected to cost around $6.6 million in his final turn through arbitration and comes without that pesky multi-year aspect, which many teams would presumably like to avoid heading into the uncertainty of the 2027 CBA negotiations. There is surplus value to be had, and plenty of teams would pay for that. It’s time for Falvey to pick a lane, but if it’s a rebuild, whatever he wants to call it, it’s time to trade Jeffers before losing him for nothing at season’s end. View the full article

The Twins' farm system has undergone significant restructuring in recent years, but the organization remains committed to developing waves of talent to complement the big-league roster. Some years produce star-level prospects while others deliver depth, but Minnesota has consistently found value across the age spectrum. Identifying a top prospect in every age group offers a unique view of how well the system is layered. It also highlights how the Twins continue to invest in both high-end draft picks and international signings, which gives the farm system balance and long-term upside. From teenagers just getting their first taste of professional baseball to pitchers and position players closing in on Target Field, every tier of the system features someone capable of making an impact. This age-based snapshot shows the range of tools, projections, and developmental paths that make the Twins one of the more intriguing organizations to track as their next wave forms. Age 17: INF Haritzon Castillo Castillo is one of the freshest names in the system, but he already carries the look of a fast riser. Signed out of the Dominican Republic, he has impressed evaluators with a fluid swing that produces consistent line drive contact. In 39 games last season, he hit .283/.395/.428 (.823) with 13 extra-base hits and a 117 wRC+. He moves easily in the infield with enough athleticism to project to multiple spots. While he is still years away, his baseball instincts have already put him ahead of most players his age. Other Candidates: INF Santiago Leon, RHP Santiago Castellanos Age 18: SS Quentin Young Minnesota took Young with their second-round pick last July, and he has quickly become one of the most exciting young shortstops in the organization. His combination of smooth defensive actions and emerging offensive impact gives him a strong foundation to build on. He went 2-for-17 in his pro debut, but it was a small sample size. The Twins love his ability to control the strike zone, and the added strength has started to translate into more loud contact. His ceiling is still forming, but the ingredients are all there for a significant leap. Other Candidates: OF Jhomnardo Reyes Age 19: C Eduardo Tait Tait was the top prospect acquired in the Jhoan Duran trade. He is coming off a breakout season in which he showed advanced feel for hitting and surprising pop for his age. In 112 games, he hit .253/.311/.427 (.738) with a 103 wRC+, while being four years younger than the average age of the competition at High-A. His receiving continues to improve, and the Twins believe he can develop into a strong defensive catcher as he matures. The bat is already ahead of schedule, and his balanced approach should allow him to move quickly. Minnesota has needed catching depth, and Tait has positioned himself as a key part of that future. Other Candidates: LHP Dasan Hill, RHP Matt Barr Age 20: OF Walker Jenkins Jenkins remains the centerpiece of the entire system. His five-tool profile and polished plate approach make him one of the top prospects in baseball. Last season, he finished the year at Triple-A and still combined for a 135 wRC+. Even as one of the younger players at his level, he has shown the ability to make adjustments quickly and consistently drive the ball with authority. His overall game continues to trend upward, and he has arguably the highest ceiling of any player to come through the Twins system since Byron Buxton. Other Candidates: RHP Charlee Soto, IF and OF Brandon Winokur Age 21: SS Marek Houston Houston has become one of the more intriguing infielders in the organization thanks to his smooth defensive ability and growing offensive confidence. The Twins took him with the 16th overall pick in last June’s draft and pushed him to High-A in his pro debut while slashing .270/.330/.350 (.680). His range and arm strength allow him to stay at shortstop long term, and the Twins think there is more power to come as his body matures. With a strong work ethic and improved plate discipline, he could take a significant step forward next season. Other Candidates: OF Gabriel Gonzalez, RHP Riley Quick Age 22: SS Kaelen Culpepper Culpepper was the Twins Minor League Player of the Year after he flashed across multiple levels this year with a dynamic skill set. In 113 games, he hit .289/.375/.469 (.844) with a 138 wRC+. He is a reliable defender at shortstop, after questions about his ability to stick at the position during the draft process. His offensive approach continues to tighten with more consistent at-bats. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways keeps him firmly in the conversation as one of the system’s most dependable upper-level infielders. Other Candidates: OF Emmanuel Rodriguez, C Khadim Diaw Age 23: LHP Kendry Rojas Minnesota spoke highly of Rojas when they acquired him as part of the Louis Varland trade. He has emerged as the top left-handed arm in his age group thanks to a sinker and one of the better sliders in the system. In 69 innings, he posted a 4.70 ERA with a 28.8 K% and a 10.3 BB% while being over five years younger than the average age of the competition at Triple-A. If his slider continues to develop, he could project as a playoff-caliber starter with room to grow. The Twins value his competitiveness and steady progress. Other Candidates: RHP Marco Raya, IF Billy Amick Age 24: LHP Connor Prielipp Prielipp is finally starting to resemble the dominant pitcher he was before Tommy John surgery. His slider remains a true out pitch, and the Twins have been encouraged by his increased velocity and improved command. In 2025, he posted a 4.03 ERA with a 27.0 K% and an 8.5 BB%. If he can maintain health, Minnesota believes he could push for major league innings sooner rather than later. Derek Falvey mentioned him as a potential option for Minnesota’s revamped bullpen, and he has the upside to be a dominant late-inning lefty. Other Candidates: RHP Andrew Morris, RHP Mick Abel This age-based breakdown shows how deliberately the Twins have built their farm system. Each tier offers something different, and together they create a foundation that can support both short-term needs and long-term aspirations. Players like Jenkins and Culpepper are nearing the doorstep, while younger talents such as Castillo and Young provide hope for the next wave. It is a reminder that, even as the major league roster shifts, reliable talent is developing just beneath the surface. Do you agree with the rankings? Should any of the other candidates be the top choice? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

William Contreras is back for his fourth year as the ironman behind the plate for the Brewers. His hitting fell off somewhat last season, as evidenced by a decline of all three slash numbers and a drop in home runs from 23 to 17. True, he played through some nagging hand injuries, but who out there thinks he could benefit from getting a few more days off during the long, arduous major league season? Jeferson Quero is expected to be the front-runner for the role of C2 in 2026, teaming up with fellow Venezuelan countryman Wild Bill in getting most of the playing time behind the plate for the Brewers. But what to do about a third catcher? Over the last three seasons, Victor Caratini, Eric Haase, Gary Sánchez, and Danny Jansen all shared time with Contreras on the backside of the irregular pentagon that is home plate. Ironically, all four of those backstops appear on the free agency list this offseason. Besides Sánchez, who are some other options? Initially, I liked the idea of Caratini coming back to Milwaukee in a reprise of his solid 2023 season, in which he hit seven home runs in 201 ABs. But his arm (13.7% CS rate) left something to be desired. Add to that his expected ask of a 2-year/$14 million contract, and I think it is a hard no for GM/President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold. Nearly 20 free agent catchers are left as we enter December, including Caratini, J.T. Realmuto, Jonah Heim, James McCann, and Yohel Pozo. But as a blogger posted, “It is a market so full, yet so bare at the same time.” How true. Going mostly by affordability, here is this humble scribe’s choice of a trio of catchers, one of which could help ease the grind of Major League Baseball for the Brewers' young catching savant in his freshman year in the bigs. Gary Sánchez Sánchez was signed by the Brewers as a free agent before the 2024 season. He did pretty much everything the Brewers asked of him, despite playing only 28 games behind the dish. Sánchez played a few games at first base in addition to DH’ing in 47 games. His batting line showed .220/.307/.392 across 245 at-bats, including 11 HRs, flashing his former 30-home run power. After the season, he signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles. In 2025, with Baltimore, the man known as 'The Sanchize' was forced into everyday action, playing in 17 of the Orioles' 20 games from mid-June until early July due to injuries to All-Star Adley Rutschman, and back-ups Maverick Handley and Chadwick Tromp. He batted .295/.348/.574 across a 61 AB sample during that timeframe, including five home runs. Unfortunately for Sánchez and the Orioles, he became the fourth catcher to visit the IL when he suffered a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on July 5. Sánchez played a handful of rehab games in September but never returned to the bigs. His final line for 2025 included a batting line of .231/.297/.418 across 91 at-bats. He is currently playing for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League and has a triple and a homer among his 8-for-29 start in nine games. Sánchez appears to be healthy, would provide a right-handed power bat, and could be a mentor for both Quero and Contreras. A 2-year, $7 million contract could be enough to lure the 33-year-old Sánchez back to Milwaukee, where he would likely end his career. Andrew Knizner Knizner spent his first five big league seasons in St. Louis before playing single free agent campaigns in Texas and San Francisco, respectively. Knizner (pronounced 'Kiz-ner'), who will turn 31 in February, has a career slash line of .211/.281/.316 in 323 games. He offers some pop in his bat, and on defense, his arm is considered fair-to-average, throwing out 22.2% of attempted base stealers against a league average of 23.2%. According to Statcast and FanGraphs, Knizner is middle of the pack with both a Fielding Run Value (FRV) of 0 and a Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) rating of -1. Although the right-handed batter may not have many (if any) elite tools to offer, he does have two things going for him. He married former Miami Dolphin cheerleader Ally Rahn last December, and his nickname is 'Kiz.' How could the Brewers not take the opportunity to showcase a battery of 'The Miz' and 'Kiz.' That alone is a t-shirt waiting to happen. He played for a one-year/$1.825 million contract for Texas in 2024, so it seems likely he could be inked to a 2-year/$3 million pact with Milwaukee. Reese McGuire The only left-handed hitter among my trio of players listed here, he would have been arb-eligible for the first time in 2026 and was projected to earn $1.9 million before he was non-tendered by the Chicago Cubs. McGuire, known as 'Pieces,' will turn 31 in March and has eight years of major league play under his belt. Last year with the Cubs, he batted .226/.245/.444 with nine homers in 133 ABs. His homers and 24 RBI were both career highs. McGuire posted a slightly below-average OPS+ of 94. Defensively, McGuire has a very good arm, throwing out 25.8% of runners attempting to steal last year. As recently as 2022, McGuire led the American League in nabbing base stealers, canceling runners at a 33.3% rate. In 2025, his FRV was four, and his DRS was -1. As with Sánchez and Knizner, McGuire offers tons of experience to help Quero along in his first year. Based on his arb numbers, it is likely McGuire would accept a 2-yr/$4 million contract. Other Options While players like Realmuto and Caratini are out of the Brewers' price range, and James McCann, Yohel Pozo, and Tomás Nido have all signed for 2026, there are several other options available. Former Brewers Jansen and Luke Maile are still out there. The bottom line is that Milwaukee could very well be interested in signing a veteran, low-cost receiver to help Contreras and Quero make it through 2026. Will they do it? What do you think of Sánchez, Knizner, and McGuire? Should the Brewers sign one of them? Is there anyone I am missing? Start the discussion in the comments section below. View the full article