DiamondCentric

Kyle Finnegan is a name that has been floated and connected with the Chicago Cubs dating back to last offseason, when he was non-tendered by the Washington Nationals. As the trade deadline approached in the summer of 2025, his name was once again floated by Patrick Mooney and Sahdev Shama of The Athletic as a name the team was interested in. Instead of ending up on the North Side of Chicago, the Nationals instead dealt him to the Detroit Tigers. Now, as the Cubs look to rebuild their bullpen this offseason, the reliever could once again fit into the team's plans. Finnegan, 34, is a bit of a late bloomer, with his first full Major League Baseball season coming when he was already 29 years old. Between 2021 and 2025, the right-hander has been a solid bullpen arm, providing 2.2 fWAR over 322 innings pitched. If there is a bit of a knock on the former Nationals closer, it is that he's always been a bit home-run prone, giving up at least nine per year, and maxing out in 2023 with 11 round-trippers surrendered. For the Cubs, this may be less of an issue than for other teams, as Wrigley Field has done a great job suppressing offense all on it's own. Between 2023 and 2025, Wrigley Field has ranked 25th in offensive run value according to Baseball Savant's park factors, as well as below league average for home runs surrendered. There will still be days where the wind is howling, but it seems that the winds have literally shifted in on this front. However, the Detroit Tigers may have done the heavy lifting for the other 29 MLB organizations already by helping Finnegan change his pitch mix. Finnegan has plenty of velocity sitting between 96 and 97mph and a plus fastball shape according to FanGraphs' Stuff+ pitch modeling, but the pitch has been hit fairly well over the last few years, finishing with wOBA's against of .299, .339, and .349 over the last three seasons, respectively. Contrast, then, the reliever's other main offering, his split-finger, a pitch that has had, over the same span, wOBA's against of .254, .271, and .184, respectively. It grades out incredibly well by Stuff+ as well, and gets tons of whiffs—nearly 35% of the time in two of those three seasons. It's a great pitch, which makes it all-the-more-baffling that while with Washington, he threw the fastball nearly 70% of the time. Finnegan was able to remain a good pitcher, but there was meat on the bone that was being tossed in the trash can. This all changed last summer after being acquired by the Detroit Tigers who, over the course of two months, flipped his pitch usage. By the end of the season, Finnegan was throwing his split-finger fastball nearly 60% of the time, up from his 30% with Washington. This transformed the right-handed hurler from a good reliever to a near-elite one. Look at the difference between his time in Washington and Detroit in 2025: Finnegan saw improvement across the board (outside of hard-hit percentage). It shouldn't be shocking that featuring his best pitch significantly more, and one designed to increase ground balls and decrease fly balls. would be all that was needed to generate a major jump in the reliever's profile, and yet, Washington couldn't figure this one out. None of this is to say I would expect him to remain a sub-2.00 ERA pitcher moving forward, but that with a heavy dose of split fingers, he's likely going to be a significantly better option that he had been with the Nationals. The best thing about him, however, is that he won't break the bank. The right-hander did not feature in the Top 50 Diamond Centric Free Agent Rankings, and with his age-34 season upcoming, likely won't require a multi-year commitment to secure his services for the 2026 campaign. Knowing how the Cubs enjoy building their bullpen and their reluctance to fly above the luxury tax limits, he would fit nicely into their structure and would likely provide a strong back-end piece with Daniel Palencia and Phil Maton already under contract. He may not be as exciting as someone like Devin Williams or Robert Suarez at first, but could emerge as the steal of the offseason if he can keep up his momentum from Detroit. What do you think of Kyle Finnegan? Would you approve of the Cubs adding him to their 2026 bullpen? Sound off in the comment section below! View the full article

Miguel Sano is doing the thing again. The ball is jumping off his bat in the Dominican Winter League, and he is currently leading the circuit in OPS. This is the version of Sano that Twins fans remember well. Towering home runs. Light tower power. A swing that seems to require its own ZIP code. It is all there, and it always seems to show up when he heads home for the winter. And in a year where the Twins need a first baseman, have a tight payroll, and are open to creative roster fits, it is at least fair to ask the question. Could the organization really consider bringing him back? The idea is light-hearted on the surface because it has become almost mythical with Sano. He is still only 32. He still looks like he was built to hit baseballs out of sight. And he still has the same blend of talent and pure strength that once made him the crown jewel of the Twins prospect system. At his best, he changed games with one swing. At his worst, he frustrated fans, coaches, and front offices. That is part of the package, and it always has been. His recent big-league struggles are no secret. His production dipped sharply in his final seasons with Minnesota, including a .342 OPS in 2022. His conditioning and maturity were questioned more than once. He bounced around without gaining traction, including playing 28 games with the Angels in 2024 (73 OPS+). Since then, he has played only in the Dominican Winter League, and it seemed the door had closed for good. In 60 plate appearances this year, he's gone 18-for-51 (.353 BA) with seven homers, three doubles, and an 11-to-7 strikeout-to-walk-ratio. Even with those totals, it is hard to imagine a contending club handing him a guaranteed job. But then you see the Winter League numbers. You see the highlights. And when a team like the Twins is trying to field a competitive roster without expanding payroll, it opens the door to some creative thinking. The front office has already shown its willingness to take a flier, offering Ty France a non-guaranteed $1 million contract. Suppose that is the market for depth bats with upside, who would object to doing the same with Sano? The risk is minimal, and the upside is not imaginary. He hit a pile of home runs during Derek Shelton’s years as hitting coach in Minnesota, including a career-high 34 bombs in 2019. Maybe there is a relationship there that could help both sides. Maybe there's still trust in place. Or maybe it is just a fun storyline. This is not an argument that the Twins should sign him. First base is a critical position for a club that is on the fringes of contention. There are safer options. There are more reliable bats. And there is a lengthy track record showing that Sano has struggled to consistently translate Winter League success to a full major league season. The team needs stability, not wishful thinking. Still, there is something undeniably entertaining about the idea. Old friends rarely return in baseball, but sometimes they do. Sometimes a player finds himself late in his career. Sometimes the fit makes sense even when logic says it should not. The Twins should not bank on Sano being part of their 2026 solution, yet it is perfectly reasonable to keep an open mind for the right price. The story may end exactly where most expect it to. Sano will take his Winter League dominance somewhere else while Minnesota finds a safer everyday first baseman. But in an offseason that will require creativity and thrift, he remains one of the more fascinating names to keep an eye on. Sometimes, the most improbable options make the winter a little more fun. Should the Twins consider a reunion with Sano? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox made an early offseason splash by acquiring Sonny Gray, whom they'll pay just $21 million in 2026 thanks to the St. Louis Cardinals picking up half of his remaining salary. Soon after the trade, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reported that Boston had shifted its attention to an impact middle-of-the-order bat. That approach is reasonable, but Gray is not the number two starter many fans envisioned when the offseason began. Hopes of pairing Garrett Crochet with Joe Ryan created dreams of one of the most dominant one-two punches in the sport. Gray instead profiles as an upper-tier number three starter. That still carries value, but it does not justify ignoring additional upgrades. As our own @Maddie Landis illustrated, Gray’s velocity continues to dip and he has become increasingly reliant on his breaking pitches to miss bats. His sweeper was dominant last season with the highest strikeout rate among all qualified sweepers. Along with the near one run gap between his SIERA and ERA, there is reason to believe he can regain his 2023 form, a season where he finished second in American League Cy Young voting. Even so, he is not enough to stabilize the rotation on his own. FanGraphs’ Roster Resource currently projects Patrick Sandoval, who has not pitched in a year and a half due to a strained left elbow, as the fifth starter. Kutter Crawford is slotted fourth after also missing 2025. The Red Sox can slow-play their returns, but relying on both early in the season does not create confidence. Meanwhile, the rival Toronto Blue Jays recently signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year, 210 million dollar contract and widened the gap. If Boston intends to spend heavily on a bat, there are still cost-efficient pitching upgrades available that would keep the club under the third luxury tax threshold. 1. Freddy Peralta Reporting from MLBTradeRumors.com and The Athletic suggests that the Brewers may be concerned about their long-term payroll. Milwaukee has frequently moved top pitchers one year before free agency — see Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams — and could do the same with Peralta. Peralta has one year left before free agency and is owed only eight million dollars in 2026. This gives the Red Sox significant flexibility to add both a bat and bullpen help. He finished fifth in National League Cy Young voting this past season and has never posted a strikeout rate below 27.1 percent. For a Boston team that was only slightly above league average at striking out opponents, Peralta’s three straight seasons with 200 or more strikeouts would raise the rotation’s ceiling considerably. There are signs of some good luck in his most recent performance. His strand rate of 85.5 percent was well above his career norms, and his .243 batting average on balls in play was below the league average of .291. Some regression is expected, but even with that in mind, Peralta is easily worth his contract and would immediately slot in as the number two starter in Boston. 2. Merrill Kelly If the Red Sox want a cost-effective free agent starter, Merrill Kelly is an ideal option who can serve as a strong fourth starter while performing like an above-average number three. Most projections, including DiamondCentric’s, estimate his price at about 18 million dollars per year. year during that stretch. Since 2022, Kelly’s highest ERA is 4.03, and his SIERA has ranged from 3.95 to 4.12 in each season. He has delivered an fWAR of either 3.1 or 3.2 in every full season. His changeup is one of the best in the league with a .147 isolated slugging allowed, a 74 wRC+ against, and 3.5 inches of extra movement compared to similar pitchers. Kelly may cost about what Walker Buehler received, but he offers a much higher floor and is not a developmental project. Whoever signs him can reasonably expect an ERA between 3.50 and 4.00 over about 160 innings. With Boston sitting about 20 million dollars below the first luxury tax threshold, Kelly fits perfectly as a finishing piece for the rotation. The Red Sox should prioritize adding a bat, but their current rotation is not strong enough to compete with Toronto or New York. They have depth options for the fifth spot that include Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Kyle Harrison, Patrick Sandoval, Kutter Crawford, Hunter Dobbins, and Tanner Houck once he returns. Depth is valuable once injuries occur, but elite teams win with top-tier pitching, not only with back-end coverage. Peralta offers the higher-impact solution and Kelly provides dependable stability. Boston currently projects for the second-highest starting pitcher WAR behind the Dodgers, but projections only matter so much. If the Red Sox remain quiet on the pitching front, they will fall behind quickly. One more meaningful addition could secure their place among the league’s best. View the full article

On Saturday, Boston Globe reporter Alex Speier reported that the Royals may be open to trading Cole Ragans for a package involving a Major League outfielder, with Jarren Duran being floated as the centerpiece of such a trade. Here's a snippet from Speier's piece that discusses trade interest between the Red Sox and Royals and what a possible Ragans trade could look like, courtesy of Red Sox Stats on Twitter. We have talked about Duran as a trade possibility for the Royals before on Royals Keep. He would certainly boost a Kansas City outfield that rated as the worst in baseball in both fWAR (-1.4) and wRC+ (70). Duran had 3.9 fWAR and 111 wRC+ in 696 plate appearances, which led all Red Sox outfielders. However, this is the first time the mention of Ragans has been floated in trade rumors this offseason (Kris Bubic and Noah Cameron have been mentioned as trade candidates). Ragans was hurt last season, making only 13 starts and pitching 61.2 innings for Kansas City. He also posted a 4.67 ERA, his worst mark since joining the Royals in 2023 at the Trade Deadline. However, the 27-year-old lefty still had a 38.1% K rate and a 30.4% K-BB%, the latter the third-best rate among pitchers with 60 or more innings. As a result, Ragans has been identified as a bounce-back candidate for 2026 by many experts, especially if he can return to his 2024 form, which saw him post a 3.14 ERA and 4.9 fWAR in 186.1 IP. The Royals signed Ragans to a three-year, $13.25 million extension last offseason. While the deal gives him and the Royals some salary stability from 2025 to 2027, he will still have one more year of arbitration in 2028 before becoming a free agent in 2029. If Ragans rebounds to his 2024 self, he could be due for a big payday when he becomes a free agent, which may be difficult for the Royals after committing money to Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo over the past calendar year. The Red Sox recently acquired Sonny Gray from the Cardinals, which lessens the need for an immediate trade to improve the rotation. However, Boston still needs help at the bottom of the rotation, especially if it wants to compete in a division with the Yankees and Blue Jays. Roster Resource projects Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval to be in the rotation for 2026, and neither pitched for the Red Sox last year due to injuries. Photo Credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images View the full article

After the Minnesota Twins traded right-handed hitting outfielder Harrison Bader to the Philadelphia Phillies during the organization's Trade Deadline mass exodus, left field became a hodgepodge for the club, with Austin Martin, Trevor Larnach, James Outman, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. , Kody Clemens, and Alan Roden earning playing time at the position. This quintet failed to impress, hitting a combined .217/.298/.336 with a 79 wRC+ over 332 plate appearances. Still, some players stood out in left field late last season, signaling they could earn extended roles at the position next season. The primary player who took advantage of their opportunity was Martin. Hitting .282/.374/.365 with one home run, eight doubles, and a 113 wRC+ over 181 plate appearances, the 26-year-old impressed as Minnesota's primary left fielder, making 37 appearances at the position late last season. Showcasing a glimpse of the offensive profile that made him one of the most highly-touted college bats in the 2020 MLB Amateur Draft, Martin's defense in left field also impressed, with the speedy outfielder generating three Outs Above Average (OAA) over 262 innings at the position. With Larnach expected to either be traded this winter or become the club's primary designated hitter early next season, Martin should be penciled in for a good share of left field starts entering next season. The contact-skilled right-handed bat won't develop into a power-hitting bat. Still, given his above-average strikeout rate, near-elite contact profile, and plus range, Martin should be an above-average contributor in left field, providing Minnesota a strong foundation at the position in 2026. Keirsey is no longer with the organization. Outman will likely continue to mix in at the position early next spring, but is out of options, and thus is also a DFA candidate who could no longer be a Twin come Opening Day. Clemens could be in the mix in left field, but President of Baseball and Business Operations Derek Falvey stated he will receive extended opportunities at first base next season. As mentioned earlier, Larnach is expected to either depart the organization or move off the position, meaning Martin's primary platoon partner is expected to be Roden. Acquired alongside Kendry Rojas in the trade that sent Louis Varland to the Toronto Blue Jays, Roden struggled in his small sample with the Twins, hitting .158/.200/.263 with a 26 wRC+ over 40 plate appearances. The 25-year-old's struggles weren't unique to Minnesota, evidenced by him hitting .204/.283/.306 with a 67 wRC+ over 113 plate appearances with Toronto. Despite struggling at the plate in his rookie campaign, the left-handed bat excelled at Triple-A the past two seasons, generating a 147 wRC+ over 428 plate appearances while posting an elite strikeout rate and expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA). Unsurprisingly, Roden has struggled against left-handed pitching in the high minors and the majors. Yet, he hit .350/.436/.540 over 117 plate appearances against right-handed pitching at Triple-A last season, signaling he could become an above-average hitter against right-handed pitching with more opportunities next season. The former Blue Jays prospect is also a plus fielder, evidenced by his sporting plus range in left last season (2 OAA) alongside well-above-average arm strength. Martin and Roden are both young, inexperienced bats who have less than 600 combined plate appearances in the majors. Still, given their sustained success and encouraging advanced metrics at Triple-A the previous two seasons, plus defensive profiles, and above-average athleticism and speed, the duo could blossom into one of the more productive and exciting left field platoons in baseball early next season, an encouraging outlook for a Twins team blanketed in uncertainty. View the full article

The San Diego Padres need Joe Musgrove to perform. Last year’s rotation was already an island of misfit toys, and things are only getting more complicated in 2026. Nick Pivetta will return, but can the 32-year-old breakout star be trusted to sustain his career-high output from last season? No one knows where Dylan Cease or Michael King will be pitching, but it’s unlikely San Diego keeps both. Ownership is in shambles and, unlike years past, can’t be counted on to save the day with a big signing or trade. (Yes, I’ll still be delusional and pray for Tarik Skubal like every other fanbase.) The brightest glimmer of hope for the Padres’ staff is the return of Joe Musgrove. He’s dealt with many injuries since 2023: Spring training fractured toe Shoulder capsule issue Bone spur Torn ulnar collateral ligament Tommy John surgery Returning to dominance won’t be easy, but with modern treatment plans and his history of success, he can still be a key piece of the rotation. Before the injuries, he was one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball. His last two fully healthy seasons, 2021 and 2022, included more than 180 innings each. During that stretch, he logged: 362 2/3 IP 3.06 ERA 3.64 FIP 3.58 xERA 26% strikeout rate 6.5% walk rate The most predictable drop-off will be in his workload. It’s unlikely he returns to the innings-eater he was a few seasons ago. Musgrove has already spoken about “easing” himself back into action, and that’s okay. In 2025, only two Padres starters threw more than 140 innings (Pivetta and Cease), and only one other reached 100 (Randy Vásquez). King was injured, Darvish was injured, and the Nestor Cortes/JP Sears deadline duo was notably unproductive. Despite that, the Padres still won 90 games and fielded a respectable pitching staff. Essentially, the bar for Musgrove to come in and be an upgrade is fairly low. The focus has to be on avoiding re-injury and making the innings he does throw as productive as possible. So, what can we expect? Musgrove has shown he can succeed even when he’s not fully healthy. Coming back from Tommy John surgery is a different level of adversity, but his 2023 and 2024 seasons are encouraging. Even though he never surpassed 100 innings in either year, he still produced: 3.47 ERA 3.74 FIP 3.69 xERA 24.5% strikeout rate 5.4% walk rate There’s clearly reason to believe in Musgrove’s resilience. Also, he isn’t a fastball-dependent pitcher. That’s important because many pitchers who get Tommy John struggle to survive the velocity drop. Musgrove throws his fastball just 25% of the time with an average velocity of 93 mph (1.7 mph below average). His fastball velocity hasn’t been above the 34th percentile since 2021, when it sat in the 45th. What will affect him more is a potential decline in spin rate. Musgrove has been in the 98th or 99th percentile in fastball spin since 2021. Compare that with Jacob deGrom, who missed a similar amount of time after Tommy John surgery and has dealt with his own injury battles. DeGrom dropped about five percentiles in both velocity and spin rate, yet still had a dominant return in 2025. Now, Musgrove isn’t deGrom, but he also isn’t as reliant on power pitching (elite velocity and high-spin off-speed pitches). Instead, he navigates lineups with a five-pitch mix and pinpoint command. Those traits don’t vanish—he’ll just need time to shake off rust. With likely declines in fastball metrics and breaking balls posing higher injury risk, expect Musgrove to lean more on his changeup. He threw it 11.4% of the time in 2023, his highest mark since 2018, and it became his most effective pitch, yielding a 40.6% whiff rate and 22.9% putaway rate. A cutter increase should complement that. The cutter has been one of Musgrove’s most consistent pitches, never posting a negative run value on Statcast. In 2023, the same year he threw more changeups, the cutter had a run value of +7. Shifting away from a fastball/curveball vertical attack and moving toward a horizontal approach with cutters and changeups isn’t just healthier, it’s effective. That said, he can still trust his breaking balls. Unlike fastballs, his curveball and sweeper should remain sharp. Looking at deGrom again—whose 90+ mph slider is one of the most arm-taxing pitches in baseball—he saw no drop in slider velocity or spin in 2025. In fact, he kept his RPM above 2,600, something he rarely did even in his prime. Hopefully, San Diego can use that same magic to keep Musgrove’s breaking pitches spinning. He typically throws his sweeper and curveball around 20% each. Overall, he’ll likely see a decline in velocity that will reduce the fastball’s effectiveness. He’ll also be coming off a long injured-list stint and a difficult surgery. Protecting his health will be the priority, and spinning a heavy load of breaking balls immediately isn’t smart. Still, sports science is stronger than ever, and pitchers like deGrom have been returning from similar injuries. We also know that Musgrove plans to ease back into a full starter workload. With that in mind, here’s my prediction: 2026 Projection 120 IP 3.75 ERA 3.98 FIP 23.8% strikeout rate 5.9% walk rate Pitch Mix 23.5% fastball 18% curveball 22% cutter 20% slider/sweeper 15% changeup 1.5% other It may not be Cy Young-level production, but this output would be a significant upgrade for a rotation in desperate need of stability. View the full article

Ben Brown's trajectory over the course of 2025 landed as one of the more enigmatic episodes of the 2025 Chicago Cubs. On one hand, his mix of an upper-90s fastball and destructive knuckle-curve led to some strong results in matters of balls and strikes. Brown's 25.6 percent strikeout rate sat in the 73rd percentile and his 6.8 percent walk rate finished in the 71st. Of course, on the other hand, he got touched up in the contact game to the tune of a sixth-percentile hard-hit rate (47.3 percent) and a seventh-percentile barrel rate (11.4 percent). That somewhat paradoxical mix left him with an unsightly 5.92 ERA, an eventual demotion to Iowa, and larger questions about his future role as a member of this pitching staff. Namely, the following question: Is there a path toward continued starting opportunities for Ben Brown, or is he destined for relief work in some form? While not initially a rotation candidate, a strong spring performance during the exhibition season afforded Brown a legitimate shot at being part of the starting five from 2025's outset. A competition that seemingly came down to he and Colin Rea resulted in Brown winning the job on the heels of the tantalizing stuff wrought by that two-pitch mix. While Rea became a necessity within the rotation in his own right, Brown held onto regular duty for most of the first two months of the season. By the end of May, however, Craig Counsell experimented with an opener given Brown's struggles that resulted in starts in which he allowed five, six, six, and eight earned runs. Injuries necessitated continued turns, but Brown found himself out of the starting five permanently by the end of July. From there, he was deployed in relief (primarily as a bulk arm) for the remaining 18 of his 106 1/3 total innings for the year. Split between starting and bullpen work, the following is how Brown's numbers shook out in 2025: As a Starter: 75 2/3 IP, 6.30 ERA (4.47 FIP), 23.8 K%, 6.7 BB%, .362 wOBA against As a Reliever: 30 2/3 IP, 4.99 ERA (3.10 FIP), 30.5 K%, 6.9 BB%, .300 wOBA against Despite the innings sample heavily leaning toward the starting side, there's immediately sort of a clear picture as to which path makes more sense for Brown. Such an idea is furthered by a 4.19 ERA the first time facing hitters as a reliever against a 5.70 ERA the first time facing hitters as a starter. His 35.3 percent strikeout rate the first time through the order as a reliever was also his best individual mark in any trip through the order, regardless of role. In relief, Brown was also able to work at an eight-percent dip in hard contact (by FanGraphs' definition), a decreased fly-ball rate, and a subsequent decrease in his homer-to-fly-ball ratio. In a number of different ways, the numbers pretty easily support Ben Brown making a transition to full-time relief duty. But it's also not as simple as "this guy is performing better in this scenario, so we should drop him into said scenario full time." Instead, the reason for keeping Brown in relief is the same as it's always been: his failure to develop a third pitch. Brown attempted to incorporate a changeup as the season wore on. It was a journey that would prove to be unsuccessful, not only in terms of usage, but outcomes. Brown threw the changeup just 4.5 percent of the time in 2025, with its usage peaking at 10 percent in July. By the time he entered regular work out of the bullpen, it dropped to 3.5 and 4.3 percent usage in the season's final two months, respectively. And it's not just a matter of his struggling to incorporate the pitch. It's what happened when he did. Even with a smaller sample in its use, Brown's changeup was touched for hard contact exactly 50 percent of the time, with a barrel rate of 20 percent and a fly-ball rate lingering around 30. Obviously, none of those trends represent a recipe for success. On just about every level, Brown struggled to maintain anything effective with that pitch despite the movement he was able to generate with it. The following is the contour of each of Brown's two primary pitches from 2025 (the fastball and the knuckle-curve): For the most part, that's exactly how those should look. You want a concentrated area with a pitch like a fastball. Something like a knuckle-curve is going to expand that concentration a little, but the vertical nature of the contour's trend still reads in exactly the way it should. And then you get to the changeup: Again, it's not only a matter of Brown's inability to know when to use the pitch, but throwing the pitch at all. It's not that it got touched up by opposing hitters—it's that he had very little command over the pitch at large. Part of that is the nature of trying to add a pitch on the fly. The pitch flailing so erratically doesn't lend itself to much confidence that Brown would be able to do it over the long-term, either. Without that third pitch coming to fruition, there's no argument for providing Brown with an opportunity to get back into the starting five. The other two pitches would have to be elite. And while the knuckle-curve might offer that (121 Stuff+), the fastball does not (84 Stuff+). Barring some massive development in the lab this winter, it almost becomes impossible to justify as a result. If the splits don't say so, the absence of a meaningful third pitch certainly does. View the full article

Major League Baseball is inching toward a critical crossroads. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires at the end of the 2026 season, and both the league and the MLB Players Association are preparing for a heated negotiation cycle that could spill into the 2027 campaign. That uncertainty has many players, owners, and fans bracing for the possibility of another lockout. Long-standing debates over a potential salary cap, competitive balance, and revenue distribution sit at the core of the tension. Twins fans are watching closely because the next CBA could bring changes that reshape the franchise’s future. While a lockout would be painful in the moment, the resulting agreement might benefit mid-market clubs like Minnesota in surprising ways. Salary Cap and Salary Floor Possibilities For decades, the Twins have lived in a league that rewards massive spending. The Dodgers, Yankees, and Phillies regularly show what happens when a team pours resources into the roster. Their path to October often looks much smoother than the one available to teams operating on tighter budgets. Outliers break through from time to time, but the numbers are clear. World Series contenders tend to come from the top of the payroll rankings. Owners are again pushing for a salary cap, an idea players continue to reject. But if the topic gains traction, it could come with a salary floor. That part of the conversation matters deeply for Minnesota. A salary floor would force the Twins to invest a certain amount in payroll each season. Fans frustrated by dips in spending would welcome the mandate because it would align payroll with competitive goals rather than fluctuate with market conditions or ownership preferences. A cap system would introduce new rules and restrictions, but for a franchise that rarely pushes past the middle of the spending pack, the ceiling matters far less than the floor. A consistent spending baseline could help the Twins maintain depth and avoid seasons where their roster relies too heavily on luck. Television Revenue and the Shift from Regional Networks The collapse of regional sports networks has hit several clubs hard, and the Twins are among the most affected. The move to Twins.TV last season brought greater accessibility for fans but created financial uncertainty. Under the old RSN model, teams received guaranteed broadcast revenue. Under the new setup, Minnesota likely saw a significant drop in media income. This is why league-wide media restructuring could be a massive win for the Twins. MLB is pushing toward a more unified national broadcast approach, and major platforms like ESPN and Netflix have shown interest. If the league can bundle local rights into a national package and distribute revenue more evenly, mid-market teams would benefit immediately. For the Twins, that could mean restoring lost revenue and creating long-term financial stability. In a sport where media money drives payroll decisions, a stronger national model would give Minnesota far more flexibility. Competitive Balance and a Changing League Structure Competitive balance is the heartbeat of CBA negotiations. Every issue, from revenue sharing to expansion, connects back to leveling the field between massive and mid-sized markets. MLB could pursue several structural changes, including a salary floor, a stricter cap system, realignment, or expansion. As previously mentioned, a salary floor would help the Twins by requiring low-spending clubs to increase investment. A tougher cap-and-tax system could prevent large market teams from hoarding talent. These changes would give Minnesota a more realistic chance to compete consistently with baseball’s financial heavyweights. Realignment is more complicated. The Twins currently benefit from the softest division in the sport. Realignment could tighten competition and make postseason paths more challenging. Expansion adds more teams to the mix and could redistribute talent and revenue in unpredictable ways. Even with these risks, most competitive balance changes tend to benefit clubs in markets like Minnesota. Anything that narrows the economic gap between teams increases the Twins’ chances of building sustainable success. A More Stable Economic Landscape and the Future of Twins Ownership There is another angle that Twins fans should not overlook. A stronger and more stable economic environment for baseball could influence the ownership landscape. The Pohlad family has already explored selling minority stakes in the team. If MLB’s next CBA creates firmer financial footing with stabilized media revenue, more explicit payroll rules, and healthier league-wide structures, the incentive to sell could grow. Prospective buyers want predictability. They want guaranteed revenue streams, consistent league policies, and less volatility in the economic model. A post-CBA environment that offers exactly that may open the door for a more serious ownership shift. While the Pohlads have been steady owners for decades, many fans believe a fresh ownership group could bring greater ambition and investment. If the next CBA pushes baseball toward long-term stability, it could create the conditions needed for the Pohlads to finally move forward with a sale. That possibility alone gives Twins fans another reason to watch these negotiations closely. The next CBA carries enormous implications for the Minnesota Twins. A salary floor could guarantee more consistent spending. A revamped national media model could replace lost revenue and stabilize payroll capacity. Competitive balance reforms could limit the overwhelming advantages enjoyed by the sport’s richest teams. Realignment presents risks, but the overall picture still tilts in Minnesota's favor. Add in the potential for a more stable economic environment to spark real ownership change, and the Twins could emerge from the next CBA in a significantly stronger position. The road to 2027 may be bumpy, but the destination could offer real hope for the franchise’s future. Will the next CBA help mid-market teams like the Twins? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Wednesday night’s report that Dylan Cease had signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Blue Jays sent ripples across Major League Baseball. The signing will push the Jays’ 2026 payroll close to $270 million and may result in less flexibility for additional big signings. MLB is big business. The league generated over $12 billion in revenue in 2024, with the average team valuation sitting at $2.6 billion. In 2000, Rogers bought an 80% stake in the Blue Jays for $165 million in cash and stocks. They purchased the remaining stake from Interbrew in 2004. Today, the Jays are worth between $2.15 billion and $2.4 billion. Consistent success over the years has played a role in that valuation, but so has a holistic approach to running the organization. Rogers owns everything from the stadium to the broadcasting rights and everything in between. If you aren’t an accountant, it can be challenging to parse out exactly how much money the Jays are making for Rogers. The team’s net stadium revenue was $300 million in 2024. Its operating income was a loss of $34 million. Forbes suggests those numbers were a bit higher, at $384 million in revenue and a loss of $60 million. Keep in mind, the losses don’t take into account ticket sales, broadcast revenue, merchandise and overall brand awareness. Again, those numbers are from 2024, not last year. With the Jays coming within a game of the World Series title this fall, their extended postseason run ensured additional revenue in their coffers. For a sense of what an organization rakes in during the playoffs, consider that the collective agreement with the players’ association allocated the players $129.1 million of ticket revenue in 2024. And that's just the players' portion. Heck, the World Series 50/50 winner took home $25 million!? All that to say, it isn’t surprising that the Jays have been spending and presumably will continue spending this offseason. Last season, the Mets had MLB’s largest payroll on Opening Day, in part because Shohei Ohtani and other Dodgers' players' contracts are heavily deferred. Last season, $68 million of Ohtani's $70 million salary was deferred. Cease, for what it's worth, also has deferrals in his deal that bring his average annual salary down from $30 million to $26 million. Anthony Santander, Toronto's biggest signing last winter, also has significant deferrals in his deal. The Jays' Opening Day payroll ranked fifth amongst MLB teams at just under $240 million, nearly $20 million more than the next closest teams (Rangers and Astros). Being close to half a billion still left the Jays more than $40 million behind the team just ahead of them on the list. The Phillies, at fourth overall in spending, had an Opening Day payroll of $284 million. At the end of the season, the Jays' payroll stayed steady in fifth spot, well over $100 million lower than the World Series champion Dodgers. For comparison's sake, the Marlins, Athletics and Rays all had payrolls under $80 million. In fact, the Marlins’ payroll on Opening Day last season was $67 million. The disparity between the Jays and the very top spenders is even more pronounced when you take into account MLB’s Competitive Balance Tax (CBT), which financially penalizes teams that exceed a set threshold. Last season, the first threshold for penalties was $241 million. The Dodgers once again established a new record for a luxury tax payment at $168 million. That was on top of their payroll costs. The Jays' CBT bill last season was only $10 million. Exchange rates and taxes can put the Jays at a bit of a disadvantage. While most of their revenue is in Canadian dollars, their payroll is in US currency. MLB’s revenue sharing is different than the CBT, as it distributes national revenue evenly to all teams. One of the unknowns when it comes to the Jays' revenue is how much Rogers generates from the “broadcast deal” with itself. The Dodgers have a 25-year, $8.35 billion deal with Spectrum for local rights that pays out an average of $334 million per season through 2038. Where does that leave the Jays when it comes to spending for the 2026 season? President Mark Shapiro has indicated that ownership has bought in (literally) on continuing to build. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s big extension early last season and now the signing of Cease demonstrate the validity of that sentiment. The 2026 Jays still need pieces. They need relief pitching, and they need at least one infielder. That infielder is either Bo Bichette or someone else if they shift players around. Those additions won’t come cheap, even if they come via trades. The talent pool in the system doesn’t sound like it is quite ready, so spending will play a role in how competitive a team the Jays field in 2026. With the Cease contract, the Jays’ spending will be heavily invested in six players (Guerrero, Cease, Santander, George Springer, Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Shane Bieber). Signing a marquee player like Bichette or Kyle Tucker would undoubtedly push the payroll closer to the likes of the Phillies ($284 million in 2025) and the Yankees ($293 million). While spending usually bodes well for teams, the Mets last season were the exception. Pending labour unrest might also be a big wrinkle on the horizon. The current collective agreement between MLB and its players expires in December 2026. The stumbling block will be the owners' fixation on establishing a salary cap. With the potential for a labour disruption that could impact the 2027 season, the Jays have decided to take an aggressive approach that mirrors that of other top-five spending franchises. Signing Cease so early in the offseason is an indication of that. They are investing heavily in core talent, leveraging fan engagement across Canada and globally, and maximizing sponsorship opportunities. The 2027 season isn't guaranteed, so the Jays are positioning themselves to make another deep run in 2026. After that, the Jays, along with all of MLB, will need to navigate uncertain waters. Remember what happened in 1994? If not, the recent Netflix documentary about the Montreal Expos highlights the building of what would have been a dynasty. Unfortunately, the work stoppage and a lack of ownership direction ultimately cost the city its team. The Jays are in a more enviable position. They are owned by a big company that is able to connect the dots when it comes to spending, success and revenue. They have a fanbase that extends beyond the city to an entire country. While the economics of baseball don’t make it easy on the team, they have found a formula that works. Here’s hoping that formula can weather a few more signings and a potential labour disruption. View the full article

The Winter Meetings: the biggest event of the MLB offseason. Annually, key figures from all across the baseball world gather in one place, this time in Orlando, Florida. The Winter Meetings give the sport a jolt of adrenaline, producing more than their fair share of rumors and transactions. Fish On First will have boots on ground with Kevin Barral and Isaac Azout there. Our guide below covers everything you need to know from the perspective of the Miami Marlins. This page will be regularly updated leading up to the start of the event. Table of contents Marlins moves so far Winter Meetings schedule Four big questions What we are hearing Marlins moves so far Here's a complete roundup of Marlins personnel changes since the end of the 2025 regular season. Acquired players: RHP Zach Brzykcy (waiver claim), RHP Evan McKendry (minor league deal), RHP Samuel Vásquez (minor league deal) and RHP Tyler Zuber (re-signed to minor league deal) Departed players who've found new teams: 1B/OF Troy Johnston (claimed by Colorado Rockies), RHP George Soriano (claimed by Baltimore Orioles), OF Joey Wiemer (traded to San Francisco Giants), LHP Adam Laskey (signed by Colorado Rockies) and RHP Freddy Tarnok (signed by NPB's Hiroshima Carp) Departed players who remain free agents: C Brian Navarreto, RHP Jesús Tinoco, RHP Valente Bellozo, RHP Christian Roa, INF Jack Winkler, RHP Lane Ramsey, RHP Morgan McSweeney, UTIL Dalvy Rosario, LHP Luis Palacios, OF Grant Richardson, OF Shane Sasaki and RHP Evan Fitterer Selected to 40-man roster: C Joe Mack, RHP Josh White and RHP William Kempner Coaching staff additions: Chris Hess (assistant hitting coach), Corbin Day (assistant hitting coach), Craig Driver (first base/catching coach) and Harry Wilonsky (bullpen catcher) Coaching staff departures: Derek Shomon (hired by Chicago White Sox), Joe Singley (Baltimore Orioles), Tyler Smarslok (Washington Nationals) and Chi Chi González Winter Meetings schedule The Hilton Bonnet Creek and Waldorf in Orlando, Florida, will host the 2025 Winter Meetings from December 8-11. Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix is expected to hold multiple media availabilities during the course of the week. 2026 MLB Draft Lottery (December 9) The lottery is very unpredictable, as the Marlins learned the hard way last year. They were tied with the Colorado Rockies for the best odds of winning the number one overall draft pick, but fell all the way to seventh. This time, the Marlins have a 1.85% of winning the lottery. The most likely outcome is that they will land the 10th pick. The drawing will be held at 4:00 p.m. ET and broadcasted to the public on MLB Network at 5:30 p.m. ET. Rule 5 draft (December 10) The Marlins are 12th in the Rule 5 draft order. However, they would need to open up at least one spot on their 40-man roster to participate in the major league phase of the draft. The draft begins at 2:00 p.m. ET. Unprotected Rule-5 eligible players in the Marlins organization include: Catchers Spencer Bramwell, Bennett Hostetler and Sam Praytor Infielders Nathan Martorella, Jacob Berry, Cody Morissette, Yiddi Cappe, Jesús Hernández, Echedry Vargas and Wilfredo Lara Outfielders Andrew Pintar and Ian Lewis Right-handed pitchers Zach McCambley, Matt Pushard, Jesse Bergin, Riskiel Tineo, Gabe Bierman, Alex Williams, Brandon White, Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, Tristan Stevens, Holt Jones, Juan Reynoso, Michael Pérez and Jhoniel Serrano Left-handed pitchers Dale Stanavich, Justin King, Dameivi Tineo and Brayan Mendoza Four big questions 1. What are the team's biggest needs? The Marlins have a nice combination of depth and upside in their starting rotation and outfield. Beyond that, they have to consider outside acquisitions to put themselves in a position to contend in 2026. First base is wide open for the Marlins. Eric Wagaman struggled in 2025 while starting the majority of the team's games, as did most of the other players who split time at the position. Still only 22 years old and coming off a disappointing season at Triple-A, Deyvison De Los Santos could use more development time. A veteran, short-term addition makes sense here. Ryan O'Hearn is coming off of an All-Star season with the Baltimore Orioles and later the San Diego Padres. Aging Paul Goldschmidt can still get red-hot for extended stretches. There's also the potential return of Josh Bell, who at the age of 33, still hit 22 home runs with a 107 wRC+. One trade target would be Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz, who is coming off a season with a 135 wRC+. Before the offseason even began, reports linked the Marlins to some of this offseason's top high-leverage bullpen arms, and that continues to be a priority. Other than Ronny Henriquez, manager Clayton McCullough didn't have relievers he could trust in strikeout situations last year. Among all MLB teams, the Marlins 'pen ranked 22nd in ERA and 26th in fWAR. 2. Which returning players are candidates for position changes? One source told Fish On First that in addition to Wagaman, we could potentially see players such as Connor Norby, Graham Pauley and Liam Hicks receive reps at first base moving forward. Norby is the only one of that group who has no previous MLB experience there. Norby struggled as a full-time third baseman this past season—he posted minus-4 outs above average and minus-5 defensive runs saved. That may have bled into his offensive performance, slashing .251/.300/.389/.689 with eight home runs, 34 RBI and a 90 wRC+. Norby's usage will depend on whether the Marlins are comfortable enough in Pauley's all-around game to make him an everyday starter at the hot corner. Meanwhile, Agustín Ramírez will not be moved off of catcher anytime soon. There isn't a logical fallback plan for him, in the Marlins' opinion. When he was with the New York Yankees, Ramírez's minor league appearances at first base went very poorly. His lack of speed rules out a move to the outfield and they would rather live with flawed defense behind the plate than limit him to designated hitter. 3. Will any starters head to the bullpen? In Fish On First's most recent roster projection, the Marlins starting rotation consisted of Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, Eury Pérez, Ryan Weathers and Janson Junk. That leaves Max Meyer, Braxton Garrett, Adam Mazur, Ryan Gusto and Dax Fulton on the outside looking in, not to mention top prospects Robby Snelling and Thomas White, who are expected to be called up at some point this season. Could any of these traditional starters be converted into relievers and compete for opportunities in the bullpen? The Marlins have been patient with Meyer, a former first-round draft pick, but he's on the mend from yet another major surgery, this time to his left hip. His plus-plus slider has carried him for his entire career, and a move to the 'pen would allow him to throw it more often than ever. Although the Marlins could option him to the minors if he gets squeezed out of the rotation, he seems ready to contribute now in a more specialized role. Last season between Double-A and Triple-A, Fulton posted a 5.38 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 9.98 K/9 and 5.12 BB/9. Other than limiting home runs, there weren't any positive takeaways. A move to the bullpen could be in everybody's best interest as the 6'7" lefty provides a much different look to batters than any of the club's other arms. This is all assuming Alcantara and Cabrera are not moved. The Marlins listened to offers for both of them at the July trade deadline, but talks have not advanced to that point so far this offseason. 4. How much is Bruce Sherman willing to spend? The 2025 Marlins finished with a payroll of approximately $68 million, which was the lowest in MLB. They are currently projected to spend even less next season. It's difficult to earn a postseason spot, much less contend for a championship, with such limited investment from ownership. As we detail below, the front office is evaluating impactful free agents and potential contract extensions for core players. However, actually getting deals done will require money from principal owner Bruce Sherman, who has been non-committal about increasing payroll. What we are hearing - On the subject of high-leverage relievers, a source tells Fish On First that the Marlins are showing interest in both Devin Williams and Pete Fairbanks. Williams, who was with the New York Yankees last season, posted a 4.79 ERA, 2.68 FIP, 13.06 K/9, 3.63 BB/9 and 18 saves through 62 innings pitched. Fairbanks, who had his $11M club option declined, posted a 2.83 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 8.80 K/9, 2.69 BB/9 for the Rays. He had career-highs of 27 saves and 60 ⅓ innings pitched. Either of them would instantly become the club's closer. - Despite recent reports linking Miami to right-hander Michael King, FOF has learned that a reunion with the former Marlins farmhand is highly unlikely. - Miami is in discussions with several pre-arbitration players about potential contract extensions. No player has received an extension from the Marlins since Richard Bleier in March 2022. - Between Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera, Cabrera appears the more likely trade candidate this offseason—but Miami will only consider a deal that nets an overwhelming return. The organization expects Alcantara to be on the mound for Opening Day 2026. View the full article

Alex Jackson has not had the best career for a former first-round pick and backup catcher, but 2025 was his best season to date, even though it was limited to 37 games. Jeremy and Jamie review his numbers to see what kind of sample he could provide for the Twins in a similar number of games played next season.View the full article

Editor's Note: Dylan Cease signed with the Toronto Blue Jays after this was written but before it was published. In a pre-Thanksgiving shocker, the Boston Red Sox acquired Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals. Gray’s addition to the starting rotation, along with the $20 million the Cardinals sent with him, makes him the perfect Lucas Giolito replacement. However, he can't (and obviously won't) be the team's only premier addition this offseason. Ideally, the Red Sox are still in on an impact bat to play a corner infield spot, as well as another arm to slot into the number two spot in the rotation. According to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, the team is shifting their current focus to adding that impact bat as the Winter Meetings approach. This makes a ton of sense as the offseason hasn’t even truly gotten started. Yes, we’ve seen the Seattle Mariners lock up Josh Naylor long-term while the Rangers and Mets recently made a rare one-for-one trade in addition to the Gray trade. The ball won’t really get rolling until the Winter Meetings during the first weekend in December. As we know, that’s where Craig Breslow swung a blockbuster trade to bring Garrett Crochet to Boston last year. Could Breslow be looking to sign a name like Pete Alonso or Kyle Schwarber this time around? It’s likely, but he’s also poised to swing a trade for another arm while he’s there. As we’ve highlighted here at Talk Sox, the trade between the Rangers and Mets likely has a large impact on the plans the Red Sox have made for this offseason. The Rangers, a team that needed outfield help, now have it, and the Mets, who are still trying to figure out how to beat the Dodgers, now could use an impact bat to slot into their outfield and have pitchers to choose from. Luckily for them, the Red Sox are ripe with outfield talent who should be moved to add another arm into the rotation. Even though the offense is seeking a necessary upgrade, we saw just how crucial having three starters to carry the team into the playoffs is in modern day baseball. We’ve talked at length about how Crochet is the guy in Boston now, and for good reason, but even with the addition of Gray, he needs another arm behind him to take some of the weight off his shoulders. Brayan Bello took another step forward in 2025 until the end of the season when fatigue caught up with him and Connelley Early and Payton Tolle both flashed serious upside and will be competing for a backend rotation spot in spring training, but a true number two is still a must-add. Gray profiles as a number three starter at this point in his career. In 2025, he posted a 4.28 ERA with a 26.7% strikeout rate and a 5% walk rate to go along with his 3.6 fWAR. He logged 180.2 innings over 32 games. That ERA is less than desirable and would have him ranked fourth on the Red Sox among starters who threw at least 20 games last season. His innings though, would have been second on the team by almost 20, and his fWAR would have placed him second as well, almost two full points higher than Giolito. Having that type of arm slide into the number three spot in the rotation means that when the Red Sox head into October, that they have three starters (Crochet, Gray, Bello) they can count on to carry them on a deep playoff run. Eschewing another top-tier pitching addition would be incredibly shortsighted in an American-League landscape that is lacking a true top contender outside of the Blue Jays and Mariners, and that's assuming they can both repeat their 2025 success. Sonny Gray is a great addition for the Red Sox, especially on a restructured contract that allows for the team to make more moves this offseason.. The Red Sox absolutely need to add an impact bat, and hopefully bring Alex Bregman back into the fold, but they shouldn’t put all their attention on the offensive side of the ball just yet. There are still ace-caliber arms that can be added over the coming days and weeks. If the goal is to emerge as more than just another contender among a crowded group of such teams, Boston would be wise to compound their addition of Gray with another front-of-the-rotation arm. View the full article

The Athletic recently cited unnamed "people briefed on (Milwaukee's) plans" that the Brewers are "fretting" over payroll. MLB Trade Rumors posted the story on Thanksgiving, too. As a result, national news outlets continue to advocate for Brewers' pitcher, Freddy Peralta, to be traded this offseason. It is no surprise when pundits openly wonder which veteran player a small-market team will trade next. Speculation is what makes baseball's offseason so much fun. At the same time, claims that the 2026 Brewers' payroll is a problem and that Milwaukee needs to trade Peralta this winter are both highly questionable. The Brewers' 2026 payroll is currently projected to be $136 million, according to FanGraphs. This would be an estimated $13 million increase over last season's final payroll numbers. However, Milwaukee's 2022 final payroll was $138 million. There is little evidence to believe the Brewers cannot support a payroll smaller than a few years ago, especially after an appearance in last season's National League Championship Series. If Milwaukee were worried about a $13 million payroll increase, it would not have extended a $22.025 million qualifying offer to Brandon Woodruff. The Brewers already have plenty of cost-controlled pitchers to fill next year's rotation. On the other hand, it was clear from the postseason that Milwaukee lacked an additional top-of-the-rotation starter who could be relied upon in October. Woodruff's contract is a calculated risk for 2026 to make the team better. Brewers' principal owner, Mark Attanasio, and President of Baseball Operations, Matt Arnold, both told The Athletic in a November 18 article after signing Brandon Woodruff that Milwaukee is "excited about our rotation," and the future of Freddy Peralta was an "independent decision." A rotation of Peralta, Woodruff, Quinn Priester, and Jacob Misiorowski would be among the best in the National League. The Brewers could conceivably do nothing else for the remainder of the offseason and be favored to win a third consecutive Central Division title. All that to say, Milwaukee does not need to trade Freddy Peralta. For three consecutive years, Peralta has made 30 or more starts with 200 or more strikeouts. Eight million dollars cannot buy that level of performance, especially on a one-year commitment. Dollar for dollar, Peralta could be the most valuable veteran starting pitcher in the league, especially for a small-market team. The best argument for trading Peralta is the promise of receiving multiple years of control from one or more prospects. It is worth noting that Milwaukee already has the best minor league system in the league, according to Baseball America's 2025 mid-season report. The Brewers' top three prospects are shortstops with Cooper Pratt and Jesus Made already appearing in Double-A last season. Jeferson Quero and Marco Dinges already have bright futures as catchers. The Brewers do lack high-end outfield talent, but Jackson Chourio and Sal Frelick are entrenched in Milwaukee for several years. A high-end pitching prospect with five or six years of team control would be worth considering. The prospect would need to be "can't miss" because the Brewers already have Misiorowski, Priester, Patrick, Henderson, Ashby, and Gasser for multiple years, too. It is tempting to wonder about the unnamed sources that receive briefings on the Brewers' level of payroll comfort. Are the briefings in PowerPoint format, or are they simply conversations overheard at the water cooler? Do the briefings address the contradiction of expressing an urgent need to shed one-year financial commitments to add multi-year commitments, presumably in free agency? It is absurd to suggest the Brewers need to trade Freddy Peralta to sign Isiah Kiner-Falefa or another platoon player. Matt Arnold did not win his second consecutive Executive of the Year award by fretting about payroll or doubting the organization's long-term plans. Freddy Peralta understandably should be on every team's Christmas wish list. But what can a big market club offer a small market club that already has everything it needs to win 97 games and high-level prospects at most positions? View the full article

Every year, Twins Daily looks at the best Black Friday deals in the Minnesota Twins Company Store. These were graded the best by our panel of retail experts (RandBall’s Stu, John Bonnes, John Bonnes’s dog, and the ghost of Pa Ingalls). Trevor Larnach. For those baffled by Minnesota re-signing a lefty outfielder for a team loaded with them, the team seems to be admitting there was a mistake on their end. “We sort of don’t have any money and sort of maybe weren’t paying attention to all the paperwork,” said a front office source. “If you want to buy Larnach from us for what we paid, that’s super cool. Plus, he’s housebroken.” Derek Shelton’s Insulting Nickname: Origins. Maniac Twins fan Greggory T. Masterson is offering subscribers a behind-the-scenes look as he crafts a successor to Rockhead, his withering nickname for former Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “Derek Shouldquit is my current favorite,” said the towering 7-footer. “But by no means is this contest over.” A Mystery Twin Cities Office Building. Inspired by holiday grab bags with unknown items inside, the Pohlad family is offering a surprise office building in the Twin Cities for the low price of $8 million (cash only). “If you ever wanted to own a constantly depreciating building with an absurdly high vacancy rate, there’s never been a better time,” per a family spokesperson. A Laminated List of Every Twins Pitcher from August 1, 2025 to the End of the Season. Win bar bets and fascinate other fans with your deep knowledge of who the hell even pitched for the Twins after the 2025 trade deadline. Did Steve Bedrosian throw an inning of relief, even though he has been retired for many, many years? The only way to know is to buy this attractive card, which fits in most billfolds, clutches, and men’s crossbody bags. Joe Ryan, Pablo López, and Bailey Ober Jerseys. “What do you mean, no other players jerseys are on sale,” asked a retail store employee. “These Byron Buxton jerseys are also discounted.” Image license here. View the full article

So much of the offseason so far has been spent discussing the Blue Jays' inability to score Isiah Kiner-Falefa from third in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7, but even getting to that point (a run away from winning the championship) was a result of one particular stat. Not ERA or OPS, but extra bases taken. While the team’s average sprint speed was slower than in 2023 and 2024, the 2025 club managed to be among the league’s best at taking extra bases. The 2025 Jays’ year signaled a profound transformation, one rooted not just in long balls or frontline pitching, but in a subtler, cumulative advantage: aggressively taking extra bases. From going first to third on singles to scoring from first on doubles, the Jays relentlessly converted contact into pressure and pressure into runs. This was a shift from years where the focus was solely on hitting home runs. The narrative was further sharpened by Kevin Kiermaier’s behind-the-scenes role as a special assistant. During his two seasons with the Jays, he never seemed to lose his hustle. A self-described “outfield whisperer,” Kiermaier helped embed defensive precision and baserunning awareness across the organization. The result was an offense that attacked in layers, and a culture that made every ninety feet matter. The 2025 Blue Jays’ bats were relentless, arguably led by George Springer’s .309/.399/.560 line, complemented by 60 extra-base hits (XBH). Bo Bichette hit .311 and led the club with 63 XBH, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added 57 XBH with a .292/.381/.467. Those three gave the Jays a high ceiling night after night, but what differentiated this group from prior versions was how consistently their contact turned into immediate pressure on opposing defenses. This identity didn’t emerge from nowhere. It followed the 2024 season, in which Toronto’s baserunning was a liability. They ranked second-worst in baseball across 2023-24 according to FanGraphs’ baserunning runs (BsR) at -23. The 2025 season marked a notable improvement. Yet, these Jays weren’t known for swiping bases via steals; rather, they were forcing defenses to respond to them taking third from first and home from second. Toronto’s turnaround was both philosophical and opportunistic. Their collective emphasis on stretching bases mattered most in tight games and the high-leverage moments of October. The 2025 team was intent on converting inches into runs. They struck a balance between patience and pressure, pushing the envelope without running into reckless outs. This created a compounding effect: more throws, more relays, more chances for misplays. As their offense found its groove, analysts consistently credited the all-around offensive production to situational execution. If you look solely at the numbers, the Jays were actually led by Bichette’s 63 extra-base hits, followed by Springer’s 60 and Daulton Varsho’s 35 in just 71 games. Clutch moments usually don’t happen by accident. The Jays were clutch, but it helped that they often had opportunities to be clutch. Ernie Clement’s contact proficiency, Addison Barger’s late-game pop, and Bichette’s high-leverage swings cashed in runs all season long. A focus on contributions up and down the lineup helped gel the team and became a weapon unto itself. This was especially important after Anthony Santander didn’t come as advertised. In 54 games, Santander hit .175/.271/.294. Paltry results compared to his career average numbers. It was a systematic approach to generating runs that held together the offense’s run-scoring capacity. It didn’t require crazy launch angles, just better reads, jumps, and risks aligned with context, and it translated directly into run expectancy upticks across innings and games. Milliseconds are usually the difference between an extra base or an extra out, a run scored versus a rally stalled. In a pennant race decided by tiny margins, and a World Series decided by inches, those inches and feet were the Blue Jays’ currency. Acquiring extra bases meant putting runners in scoring position with fewer than two outs, fewer double plays and more pressure on opponents. To sustain and elevate this identity in 2026, the front office needs to seek more athletic, high-IQ players whose OBP, speed, and defensive range create opportunities and deny them to opponents. The goal is balance, not simply chasing another big slugger. At the top of the lineup, the Jays need to have hitters with high walk rates, fast sprint speed, and great first-step reads that keep pressure constant. Pairing such profiles with Springer’s savvy and Bichette’s gap contact (presuming Bichette returns), for example, would play well with first-to-third baseball. Bench speed and utility versatility are crucial, especially in the postseason. The Jays were able to shore up their defence late in games while increasing speed on the basepaths through players like Nathan Lukes, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Myles Straw and Joey Loperfido. A team needs to build and foster a culture that embraces speed and plate discipline. It isn’t easy, but the Jays proved in 2025 that it can be done. Adding one Dylan Cease is precisely what the Jays needed for success in 2026. He limits free passes, reduces defensive exposure and keeps games in run-manufacturing range. An offense designed to take extra bases thrives in tight, mid-scoring games. Good pitching and defence avoids blowouts by removing walk clusters. What we saw from arms like Shane Bieber and Eric Lauer hints at the value of command-first starters to keep the base-stealing and advancement machine relevant every night. Critically, “extra bases taken” isn’t a fad. It’s the scalable core of modern run creation. Pitching keeps evolving. Velocity and spin aren’t retreating. As a consequence, all-contact offenses without advancement plateau. Likewise, all-slug constructions tend to boom-and-bust in October. Toronto’s 2025 blend of elastic scoring through advancement, power when present, and defense that denies the same edge proved resilient across the season and postseason regardless of opponent. That’s the good news. The bad news is that mentors like Kiermaier might not be around to preach this message. Recently, he posted a not-so-cryptic message on social media that he's seeking a new role. The 2025 Jays showcased a modern blueprint for winning baseball: Make every ninety feet count. Their ability to take extra bases multiplied the impact of an offense already rich with stars, turned innings into pressure cookers and provided stability on nights when home runs were hard to find. If the Jays continue to prioritize high OBPs, speed (on the bases and on defense), bench utility, culture, and command-first pitching in 2026, they’ll preserve the manufacturing engine that took them to the brink of a title. The World Series margin was razor-thin, so the Jays’ next step is to keep stretching singles into doubles and doubles into runs, while taking every available inch until the final inch flips the last game their way. View the full article

Three months removed from suffering a right lat strain, Tyler Zuber is officially back with the Miami Marlins organization on a minor league deal. He will be at spring training as a non-roster invitee. The 30-year-old right-hander had horrible surface-level stats with the Marlins and New York Mets in 2025 (11.25 ERA, 23.7 K% and .327 BAA in 12.0 IP). But perhaps Miami is intrigued by the depth of his pitch mix—he used a sweeper, four-seam fastball, slider, sinker, changeup and cutter during that small sample. If only Zuber were getting ahead in the count more frequently, his variety of pitches could make him a tough matchup. He's very likely to begin next season with Triple-A Jacksonville. On Thursday in winter ball, Jared Serna (Mexico) went 0-for-4. On Friday in winter ball—playing in Australia, which is 16 hours ahead of us on the east coast of the United States—Eric Rataczak went 2-for-5 with a clutch home run. The Sydney Blue Sox starting first baseman raised his OPS to .898. yy4v3k_1.mp4 Only 118 days away from Marlins Opening Day. 🔷 With there reportedly being a large gap between Kyle Stowers and the Marlins in recent contract extensions talks, Kevin Barral picked Eury Pérez, Jakob Marsee and Joe Mack as more realistic extension candidates. 🔷 Concluding their series of World Baseball Classic-inspired national team rosters, Son Los Marlins constructed the best possible Venezuelan team comprised of former Fish (en español). 🔷 Mike Petriello of MLB.com identified the Marlins as having some of the key ingredients to potentially emulate the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays. 🔷 A rendering of what loanDepot park will look like for the Miami Tennis Invitational on December 8 portrays the outfield walls as a much brighter shade of blue compared to this past season. We'll find out soon whether this is a legitimate change or just a hastily assembled visual with distorted lighting. 🔷 Congratulations to Mallory and Dane Myers, who are expecting their second child. 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Dylan Cease and the Blue Jays agreed to a seven-year, $210 million deal. That may prove to be the largest contract signed by any pitcher this offseason. The Los Angeles Angels are negotiating to buy out the final year of Anthony Rendon's ill-fated $245 million deal, deferring a portion of the money beyond 2026. Rendon is expected to retire. View the full article

The Red Sox are surveying the market for middle-of-the-order help and have been linked to two right-handed sluggers: Pete Alonso and Kazuma Okamoto, and also have interest in Kyle Schwarber and a reunion with Alex Bregman. Both Alonso and Okamoto hit from the right side and would share similar Fenway Park considerations, but their backgrounds and skill sets differ. Alonso is a right-handed first baseman who bats and throws right, and will be in his age-31 season in 2026. In 2025, he logged 709 plate appearances with a .272/.347/.524 line, a .252 ISO, and an 8.6% walk rate. Over 2023 and 2024 combined, he produced a 122 wRC+. He has consistent pull rates in the low-40 percent range on balls in the air, making him a good fit for the Green Monster profile that converts deep flies into extra-base hits. His offensive value is concentrated at first base, so any fit with Boston would be almost exclusively as a primary first baseman and designated hitter. Kazuma Okamoto is a right-handed hitter with experience at third base, first base, and the outfield; he will be in his age-29 season in 2026. In 2025, with Yomiuri, he recorded 293 plate appearances, hitting .327 with 15 home runs. Over 11 NPB seasons, he has 248 career home runs, including six straight seasons with at least 30 homers from 2018–2023. As another right-handed power bat, Okamoto would also work in front of the Green Monster, with Fenway’s doubles-friendly environment potentially interacting with his history of consistent home run power. His positional background at both corner infield spots creates a different roster fit than Alonso, combining right-handed power with some flexibility between third base and first base. Schwarber offers a different offensive profile from Alonso and Okamoto, bringing left-handed power to pair with their right-handed bats. A left-handed hitter, Schwarber has primarily played left field and designated hitter, but is exclusively a DH as he enters his age-33 season in 2026. Over 11 MLB seasons, he has logged more than 5,300 plate appearances with a .231/.346/.500 batting line and 300-plus home runs, producing an .846 OPS across that stretch. He cleared 690 plate appearances in both 2024 and 2025 with on-base percentages in the mid-360s and slugging percentages of .500 or better. View the full article

Reports came out on Wednesday that the Twins have the inside track on signing Dominican shortstop Angel Ozuna for around $500,000 when the 2026 international signing period begins on January 15, 2026. Normally this wouldn't be huge news. Last year the Twins signed several high-profile international free agents for more than $500,000. But this situation is different than others, and it will be interesting to follow over the coming months. Shortstop Angel Ozuna was expected to be one of the top international signings in the Class of 2027, when he turned 16. The Yankees were believed to have an agreement with Ozuna, a product of Los Bauti Baseball Academy, to a signing bonus of at least $5 million. However, last year it came out that he had falsified his age and got busted for it. He was three years older than he was claiming. Instead of being a 13-year-old dominating other 13- and 14-year-olds, he was actually a 16-year-old dominating 13-year-olds. He should have been a part of the 2024 international signing class, but with this new information, Ozuna was suspended for one year. However, it is now being reported, also by Wilber Sanchez, that he has a pre-arranged deal with the Twins to sign for around $500,000. What does that mean? Once Ozuna serves his time, he can be signed. However, since he is signing as an 18-year-old rather than a top 16-year-old, he isn't going to get the $5 million. But, he is still a very talented player, he's just not as young as believed. And there is the whole concern about a person who was willing to falsify his age. View the full article

Reports came out on Wednesday that the Twins have the inside track on signing Dominican shortstop Angel Ozuna for around $500,000 when the 2026 international signing period begins on January 15, 2026. Normally this wouldn't be huge news. Last year the Twins signed several high-profile international free agents for more than $500,000. But this situation is different than others, and it will be interesting to follow over the coming months. Shortstop Angel Ozuna was expected to be one of the top international signings in the Class of 2027, when he turned 16. The Yankees were believed to have an agreement with Ozuna, a product of Los Bauti Baseball Academy, to a signing bonus of at least $5 million. However, last year it came out that he had falsified his age and got busted for it. He was three years older than he was claiming. Instead of being a 13-year-old dominating other 13- and 14-year-olds, he was actually a 16-year-old dominating 13-year-olds. He should have been a part of the 2024 international signing class, but with this new information, Ozuna was suspended for one year. However, it is now being reported, also by Wilber Sanchez, that he has a pre-arranged deal with the Twins to sign for around $500,000. What does that mean? Once Ozuna serves his time, he can be signed. However, since he is signing as an 18-year-old rather than a top 16-year-old, he isn't going to get the $5 million. But, he is still a very talented player, he's just not as young as believed. And there is the whole concern about a person who was willing to falsify his age. View the full article

Happy Thanksgiving from us at Padres Mission. It's a time to sit back and think of everything you can be thankful for. I'm grateful for my first year here, covering the San Diego Padres. It's been a fantastic, fun first season, and I look forward to the future, which hopefully includes a World Series run. For the Padres faithful, there are many things to be thankful for regarding the team, but here are five things that should be at the top of your list. The Padres add experience behind the former reliever, now manager, Craig Stammen. Stammen had a solid 13-year career as a reliever, posting a 3.66 ERA over 885 innings. He's only been retired for three years, but he served as a special assistant to the Padres, helping with player development in that span. Even though he's still been around the game, he needs experience on his coaching staff. The inexperience was addressed by hiring Randy Knorr. Knorr has been a bench coach, first base coach, bullpen coach, catching coordinator, minor league coach, and has recently been an advisor in player development. When a team has a rookie manager, it's reassuring to fans that there is experience somewhere within the coaching staff. This team, on paper, looks solid next season, so Stammen is stepping into a comfortable situation. A.J. Preller's dedication to building a competitive team. Preller has been determined to put together a competitive team. That included this past season, acquiring notable players, including Mason Miller and JP Sears from the Athletics, and Ryan O'Hearn and Ramón Laureano from the Baltimore Orioles, to help bolster an already impressive roster. Preller has been known to do whatever it takes to put together the best team, including trading for Fernando Tatis Jr. from the Chicago White Sox in 2016 and Juan Soto from the Washington Nationals in 2022. Preller's contract expires after the 2026 season, but discussions are ongoing, so Padres fans can feel confident the Padres will remain competitive for the foreseeable future. The former ownership group, specifically Peter Seidler. With the uncertainty of the ownership group, let's be thankful for the years we had with former owner Peter Seidler, who tragically passed away in November 2023. He was an owner who supported backing Preller's big moves, including the massive contracts to land superstars in free agency, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts top this list, and the blockbuster trades stated earlier. During Seidler's tenure, the Padres made the postseason during the 2020-shortened season, ending a 14-year drought. After that season, he became the controlling owner. He not only had a passion for baseball, but he also poured his love into the community. He formed the "Tuesday Group", which addressed homelessness in San Diego and helped raise money for the Padres' "Pedal the Cause" for local cancer research. The Padres remain owned by the Seidler family, with Peter's brother, John, named chairman before this past season. The family is currently exploring options, including a potential sale. With the Padres coming off their first consecutive 90-plus-win seasons in franchise history, the team is performing at its best and appears appealing to potential buyers. Despite this news, the ownership group is committed to getting the resources to bring a World Series home. You, the Padres fanbase. The Padres fanbase has been electric, especially over the last decade. After breaking the 14-year postseason drought in 2020, the Padres have now made the postseason in four of the previous six seasons, including a 2022 NLCS trip. This past season, 3,437,201 fans attended 81 games at Petco Park, with 72 games selling out. With the Seidlers showing the willingness to do what's needed to win, the fans are rewarding the loyalty. Gone are the days of finishing fifth in the NL West. However, as promising as the season looks, by the end, the fans are left heartbroken and looking to the next season. The Padres again look prepared to contend in 2026, and the fans will be there for all the ups and downs. The 2026 Padres look promising (again). Ryan O'Hearn, Luis Arraez, Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Robert Suarez are notable names to leave for free agency. The number one bullpen in ERA (3.06) last season is left intact, except for Suarez, whose 2.97 ERA was a key to the bullpen's success, although we replace him with a full season of Mason Miller closing games. The starting rotation returns Nick Pivetta, coming off his best season over his nine-year career. He posted a 2.87 ERA, 9.41 strikeouts per nine innings, and 3.49 FIP over 181 2/3 innings. Joe Musgrove will return after missing all of the 2025 season with a UCL injury that required Tommy John surgery. With the loss of Cease, King, and Yu Darvish, who will miss the entire 2026 season due to a UCL injury, a back-end starting pitcher is a significant need this offseason. JP Sears and Kyle Hart are projected to be the number four and five starters. Giving Sears a shot makes sense, as he's only pitched in four MLB seasons and has shown flashes of brilliance; however, regarding Hart, an upgrade is needed. He just turned 33, but hasn't had an ERA under 4.00 since 2019, except his 2024 season in the Korean Baseball Organization. The offense returns all the starters from last season, besides O'Hearn and Arraez. We got to see a blip of the number seven prospect, Tirso Ornelas, last season in 16 plate appearances. He struggled, slashing .071/.188/.071, but he showed great vision at the plate, walking and striking out both at 12 percent. The offense as a whole finished in the bottom half of all primary stats last season, so a bat or two are high on the needs list this offseason, but they can be bench bats that can platoon at positions or a first baseman. View the full article

Owen and Jesse break down the shocking signing of Dylan Cease to a seven-year contract. This alters the shape of the rotation considerably, especially with the late-season emergence of Trey Yesavage. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jays-centre-podcast/id1846108462 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bi7SzfpcqMo5xYWnbCeoL Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-jays-centre-podcast-300304824/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/2qk9wqxd Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayscentre View the full article

Just as you ready yourself to guzzle down your gravy-soaked plated paean to colonialism, Uncle Donny plops himself down beside you. He knows you like the Twins, and that you’re keenly plugged in to the comings and goings of the club. And now that he has you cornered, he’s going to tell you all of his ill-informed, sometimes problematic thoughts about your favorite club. By the end of the meal, you’ll be begging to talk about something less divisive, like religion or politics. In no particular order, here is a list of items that your least favorite uncle will throw out over the next hour or two. Pour yourself another drink. Lord knows Donny has. Players are too soft in today’s game, and it’s because they didn’t drink out of the garden hose enough when they were kids. Maybe a little lead in their system would stop them from getting plantar fasciitis and “a little bit of brain damage” when they get hit in the head with a 95-MPH fastball. The injured list was created by communists. “To be honest, we pay too much attention to lists these days,” he shouts, as you wince at where this conversation could possibly be heading. “The only list we should concern ourselves with is my Christmas list. I’m asking for the same things I do every year. A poster of Sean Hannity to hang in my garage, and a kit to make my own beef jerky." Has Aunt Lorraine still not gotten him that poster, or is he using the damn things for wallpaper? Target Field should have a Fleet Farm on premises. “Why do we need seven different bars in the stadium, when real Americans get lit in the Salvation Army parking lot before coming in? What if I want to buy a socket wrench, a 20-pound bag of bird seed and some chocolate-covered peanuts that were packaged in 2016?” The pitch clock is an abomination. “Stupid kids these days just want the game to finish earlier so that they can get home to their Rugrats.” That program aired its final episode in 2004, and besides, Hey, Arnold! was better. The Twins should fire Derek Shelton (yes, already) and hire Doug Mientkiewicz to be the new manager. “Dougie Baseball has forgotten more about baseball than the brain wizards upstairs have ever known. He would’ve gotten my vote if I had one,” Donny says while pouring gravy directly from the boat into his mouth. “In fact, I wrote him in with my vote to be the Mayor of St. Paul. Screw you, Carter!” The Twins should trade Byron Buxton (he calls him Brian Buxton) and sign Luis Arraez to play shortstop, moving Brooks Lee to center field. “Arraez never misses time (don’t look that up) and Buxton can never stay healthy for more than 60 games. Lee should have no trouble in center field because he’s athletic and his dad coached him to have good fundamentals.” Hitters are too focused on what he calls “launch velocity.” The ball doesn’t go as far if you hit it too hard. In high school, he was taught to swing slow, because slow is smooth and smooth is fast. The Twins were right to trade away players with hyphenated last names. “Pick a lane already!” Donny shouts while slapping the table, scaring the children sitting across from him. “The smartest thing ‘Failvey’ ever did was trade Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Simeon Woods Richardson should be next. I know his name doesn’t have a hyphen, but it’s so long that it looks like a rainbow on the back of his jersey.” Trust me, you don’t want to hear his opinion on rainbows. Birds aren’t real. This isn’t Twins-related, but it does catch your attention. His birder phase doesn't seem that long ago; this feels like an about-face. As you finish your meal and start making your way to the front door for a Minnesota goodbye, Donny pulls you aside. “Hey kid, thanks for listening to your grumpy old uncle. I know we don’t see eye-to-eye much anymore, but it means a lot to be able to catch up with you at these things every year,” he says as he gives you a rather tender one-armed side hug and sneaks a crumpled piece of paper in your hand. “This is for you. Enjoy it, and let me know if you ever want to throw rocks at the Union Pacific trains that run behind my condo.” You unfurl the paper in your hand. It’s a coupon for a free car wash that expired three years ago. View the full article

Turkey Day is here, and many of us will gather with our families and friends to partake in turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. It is a tradition that has been ongoing for many years, but this year, let’s add why Brewers fans should be thankful. 6. Tailgating For as long as the Milwaukee Brewers have been in existence, fans have been partying in the parking lots before, during, and after games at the ballyard. Large quantities of alcohol are consumed. Hamburgers, brats, and hot dogs are cooked up on the most basic ‘Lil Smokey’ charcoal grill, all the way up to the four-burner gas grill with side burners for veggies. The beer, burgers, and potato chips go along with games of catch and cornhole. People wander around, cadging cans of Bud Light while making new friends with other fans. Let’s all be thankful for the fellowship, friendship, and time to cheer on our Brewers. 5. Miller Park/American Family Field/Uecker Field For 31 years, fans flocked to Milwaukee County Stadium, often wondering whether the weather would postpone games and/or make things miserable. A small group of friends and I went to Opening Day nearly every year in the 1980s. We never knew what to expect: it could be snowing, and 30 degrees, or it could be sunny and 60. And the weather forecast could change by the time we drove three hours from central Wisconsin. We might have long johns and winter jackets, or we could have t-shirts and shorts. You just never knew. When Miller Park opened in 2001, it took away the uncertainty of ‘will there be a ballgame today?’ For that, we should be thankful. 4. An Abundance of Talented Prospects Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, Sal Frelick, Jacob Misiorowski. Hopefully, that foursome will be competing at a high level in Milwaukee for the next 10 years. And then check out the prospects in the minors. Although they are at various levels, they should arrive at Uecker Field over the next few years and shine like the stars we hope they can be. Jesús Made, Luis Peña, Cooper Pratt, Jeferson Quero, Braylon Payne, Luke Adams, Brock Wilken, and Bishop Letson are all exciting players who should make their presence felt in Milwaukee soon. Let’s be thankful that the Brewers ‘cupboard is full and that the future looks bright. 3. Matt Arnold and Staff Arnold has been a member of the Brewers front office since October 2015 and has been the general manager since November 2020. Last month, Arnold was promoted to president of baseball operations. Along with the new title, Arnold will presumably earn a larger salary, and the job of president could prevent other teams from trying to pry Arnold away from Milwaukee with the promise of a president's position. Although the previous regime of David Stearns had success in the amateur draft, Arnold has seen seven players reach the major leagues from the 2021-2023 draft classes, including Sal Frelick and Jacob Misiorowski. Add to that the fact that the Brewers had four players in MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospect list for 2025: Made (4), Peña (18), Pratt (56), and Quero (84). Arnold isn’t perfect, but he is doing a darn good job for the Brewers, and we are thankful to have him and his staff. 2. Pat Murphy The Brewers' current manager has had a long and storied career both in college and in the pros. He coached Notre Dame and Arizona State from 1988 to 2009, compiling a 947-400-2 record and being named Baseball America’s Coach of the Year in 1998 at Arizona State. He held several positions in the San Diego Padres organization, including minor league manager and interim manager for the Padres in the second half of 2015. Milwaukee hired him after the 2015 season and became a bench coach on Craig Counsell’s staff. After Counsell left to manage the Chicago Cubs, Murphy became the Brewers' manager, and the rest is history. Milwaukee won two NL Central titles under ‘Murph,’ and he was named NL Manager of the Year in both 2024 and 2025. Whether it is the Brewers' success under Murphy, his humor, or his culinary specialties, we should be thankful for Patrick Thomas Murphy. 1. Bob Uecker Even though ‘Ueck’ passed away last January, he is top of mind for anybody who is involved with the Brewers, whether cheering in the stands or playing on the field. Bob Uecker wasn’t a great player, but he did play six years in the big leagues. He was a dear friend and guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, a key player on the TV show Mr. Belvedere, and a hilarious character in the zany Miller Lite commercials. Uecker’s Harry Doyle lines from the movie Major League are uttered all around the world. ‘Juuuust a bit outside!’ More importantly, Bob Uecker was the beloved voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for over five decades. And he was a close friend to Brewers players, including Robin Yount and Christian Yelich. Brewers fans hoped that the ‘spirit’ of Bob Uecker would send the Brewers to the World Series in 2025, but it just didn’t happen. But how many times did you think, ‘Ueck was looking over the Brewers?’ I know I did, many times. This Thanksgiving, let’s be thankful for all that Mr. Baseball offered the fans and players of the Milwaukee Brewers. Be Thankful EVERY Day Sometimes we fall short of giving thanks on a daily basis. We get together with family and loved ones on the fourth Thursday in November to eat, drink, and make merry. It is a special day, but we should be thankful every day. Going forward, we should all make that effort. And we are thankful for our Milwaukee Brewers. The Crew hasn’t made it to the pinnacle of baseball supremacy, but there is always next year! Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! View the full article

Thanksgiving is here, and in between your second and third plates of turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, it’s good to look back on the year and your life to find what you are thankful for. This can be family, friends, or a new job, perhaps. So here are five things Royals fans can be thankful for before falling into their tryptophan coma. 1. Bobby Witt Jr. Not since the days of George Brett have the Royals had a bona fide superstar to cheer for. Fresh off another 8+ bWAR season, Witt also added some hardware to his collection with his first Platinum Glove Award and second Silver Slugger. Witt finished 2025 in fourth place in MVP voting, following up his 2024 campaign in which he came in second; this marked the first time since the 1984 and 1985 seasons that the Kansas City Royals had back-to-back years with a player cracking the Top 5 with Dan Quisenberry (third place), and George Brett (second place), respectively. Having a perennial MVP-caliber player is more than just something to be thankful for; it’s something to be excited about as fans. 2. The Defense For all of the Royals' offensive woes that might have occurred this past year. One thing they can really be thankful for is elite defense from some of the most crucial positions. The left side of the diamond was anchored by two Gold Glove recipients, with Maikel Garcia having a career year at third base, both at the dish and on the field, and Bobby Witt Jr. getting his second consecutive Gold Glove and his first Platinum Glove. As a team, the Royals ranked eighth in the majors in Defensive Runs Saved. Elite defense can carry a team deep into October, as fans may recall from the 2014 and 2015 postseason runs. 3. Starting Pitching If the Royals have 99 problems, starting pitching isn’t one of them. Noah Cameron deserves a quick mention as the 26-year-old rookie out of St. Joseph, MO, made splashes in his first year with the team, posting a 2.99 ERA in 138 innings. Not making his debut, but certainly his breakout, Kris Bubic showed the big leagues his potential. Before getting shut down for the rest of the season in late July with a rotator cuff strain, Bubic was absolutely dealing, posting a 2.55 ERA with a 9:3 strikeout to walk ratio en route to his first All-Star Game appearance. Barring any trades (the rumor mill is swirling), The Royals will be coming into the 2026 season with a lot of depth on the mound. 4. An Invested Ownership Group Regardless of where a fan may stand with the ever so talked about and controversial New Royals Ballpark conversation, one thing most can agree on is the effort put forth by the ownership group led by John Sherman. Since purchasing the team from David Glass in late 2019, Sherman has made substantial efforts to improve the on field product. The Royals of old were once mocked as a “major league farm team” for their lack of never signing their top talent to long term deals. John Sherman quickly flipped that script when he signed Bobby Witt Jr. to a whopping 11 year, $288 million deal. Whether it is savvy trades bringing in guys such as Cole Ragans, or free agent signings like those of Seth Lugo or Michael Wacha, it’s clear that this ownership group wants to win and put a competitive team on the field year in and year out. 5. Our “Kauffman Era” Apologies for the Taylor Swift pun. Back to the stadium conversation, nothing is concrete yet but one thing seems like a forgone conclusion and that is that the Kansas City Royals' days of playing at Kauffman Stadium are numbered. Luckily there is still time to enjoy it as the move will take several years, making this a great time to really reflect and be thankful for such a beautiful and awesome ballpark this team has called home since 1973. From the world renown fountains in the outfield, to the massive crown that sits atop the scoreboard, it truly is a sight for sore eyes. Kauffman has been the stage for so many cherished moments in Royals history; Bret Saberhagen's complete game shutout in Game 7 of the 1985 World Series, the 2014 Wild Card miracle, Bo Jackson launching a ball 475 feet into the center field lawn for his first career homer, the list goes on and on. Speaking personally, some of my fondest memories as a kid were coming to baseball games and watching the Boys in Blue play at “The K”. Truly one of the best experiences in all of baseball. View the full article

The Miami Marlins have not signed any of their players to contract extensions since 2022. That should change this offseason, not only to lock them up for the future, but also to increase the team's luxury tax payroll and avoid a potential grievance from the Major League Baseball Players Association. In a report from The Athletic, Brittany Ghiroli said that there was a large gap between Marlins and Kyle Stowers in their recent negotiations, which have since ceased. Expect the Marlins to now turn their attention to potential long-term building blocks like outfielder Jakob Marsee, catcher Joe Mack and pitcher Eury Pérez. Eury Pérez Fish On First has confirmed that the Marlins and Pérez's camp were engaged in extension talks last spring training. The expectation is talks will pick up again soon. Pérez is coming off a season where he posted a 4.25 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 9.91 K/9 and 3.02 BB/9 through 95 ⅓ innings pitched. He made all of his scheduled starts after completing Tommy John surgery rehab and his average fastball velocity actually increased slightly from where it had been as a rookie (from 97.5 mph to 97.9 mph). The expectation is that the Marlins righty will have no innings limit and will be full throttle in 2026. The 22-year-old has one more season to go before he's eligible for arbitration and he's four seasons away from free agency. A couple contract extension comparisons are Bryan Bello (Boston Red Sox), who signed for six years, $55M, and Spencer Strider's six-year, $75M extension with the Atlanta Braves. Jakob Marsee Marsee, 24, was one of four players acquired in the trade that sent Luis Arráez to the San Diego Padres. His first taste of the big leagues far exceeded expectations, as Marsee slashed .292/.363/.478/.842 with five home runs, 33 RBI and 14 stolen bases while playing all three outfield spots. It has become increasingly common for players to be extended with only a partial season of MLB experience. However, in most of those cases, the player was considered an elite prospect before debuting. Marsee, on the other hand, wasn't even ranked on Top 100 lists. The comparison that comes closest to being relevant to Marsee is Kristian Campbell of the Boston Red Sox. Just days after making his debut, he agreed to an eight-year, $60M guarantee and the Red Sox got club options for years nine and ten. Applying the same contract structure to Marsee would fully buy out two of his free agent years, with options covering two more if he's still an impactful player past age 32. Joe Mack Mack began the 2025 season in Double-A, but was quickly promoted to Triple-A, finishing the season slashing .257/.338/.475/.813 with 21 home runs, 58 RBI and a 120 wRC+ between both levels. Just as importantly, he is a fantastic defensive catcher, particularly when it comes to throwing out baserunners attempting to steal. The Marlins' search for a high-quality successor to J.T. Realmuto has been ongoing for seven years, but may finally be coming to an end here. Likely the only way Mack makes the 2026 Opening Day roster is if an extension is agreed to ahead of time. Similar to Campbell's case, the Marlins would delay announcing the deal until the season gets underway to keep him eligible to earn them a future Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick. There have only ever been eight pre-arb extensions handed out to catchers. Within that list, Salvador Pérez is one of them, signing a five-year, seven million dollar extension with the Royals in 2012. Obviously, times have changed, so the comparison to make is the most recent extension signed, which was Keibert Ruiz, signing for eight-years, $50M with the Washington Nationals. The downside with signing a catcher this early is the way that the contract can play out based on production, and for Ruiz, he has struggled, never posting a wRC+ over 100 in a full season with the Nationals. View the full article