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Since it’s Thanksgiving, we here at Talk Sox wanted to take a minute and consider some things that we should be thankful for as Boston Red Sox fans. There’s a ton of things that I could have on this list, especially considering the team is coming off their first trip back to the postseason since 2021, but I decided to cap this exercise at just five. So, whether you're reading this with a turkey hangover or while it's still in the oven, let's all gather round and share in some gratitude on this day of thanks. #5: The Red Sox Foundation Since the season of giving is here, let’s start with the Red Sox’s biggest philanthropic endeavor, the Red Sox Foundation. Through the Foundation, the organization has donated over $130 million to various causes through multiple partnerships since 2002. The Foundation works with, most notably, The Jimmy Fund, but they have partnered with a few other organizations such as the Home Base Program and The Dimock Center, as well as multiple educational focused movements like the Red Sox Scholars, the New England and Lee County Service Scholarships, Fenway Park Learning Lab, and the Nike RBI and Jr. Nike RBI Leagues. The Foundation has raised over $167 million for The Jimmy Fund, something that every fan of this team can be proud of. #4: Craig Breslow’s Willingness to Make Deals I know, not every deal has worked out in his favor, but Breslow’s willingness to actually make trades has put this team in a position to be successful for years to come. His blockbuster deal at last year’s Winter Meetings for Garrett Crochet (more on him shortly) was the first sign that the tide had finally turned in the front office and the team was once again focused on putting a winning product on the field. His communication style seems to be getting better and that should only help him with future negotiations, especially as this year’s Winter Meetings are fast approaching. He’s a far cry from the more fringe-type of deals that Chaim Bloom was making, and this team finally feels like it has his fingerprints on it. As long as that determination continues. Breslow’s time as the President of Baseball Operations will be looked back on fondly... especially if the Sonny Gray trade is a harbinger of what's to come this winter. #3: Fenway Park A thing of beauty, the beacon of the Commonwealth. Fenway Park is the oldest MLB park and is a destination for baseball diehards, not just Sox fans. Fans flock to the stadium to see the Green Monster in person, take tours of the historic landmark, and bask in the greatness that is Boston. It has its quirks, and some of the most uncomfortable seats anywhere, but it’s ours. There’s something to be said about setting foot in a professional park where some of the greatest baseball players in history once stood. You can’t say that about really any other place except Wrigley Field in Chicago. A World Series with the Red Sox and the Cubs would be absolutely magical, and seeing the team hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy on the field at Fenway Park again would be a sight to behold. #2: The Influx of Young Offensive Talent The Red Sox have to be thankful that Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Kristian Campbell have all made their major league debuts and are looking to grow from the 2025 season. Yes, two of them ended the season on the injured list and one was optioned to Triple-A Worcester, but we can all see that the future of the team lies in this young core. Anthony will be a mainstay in the lineup for years to come, Mayer and Campbell have shown flashes of potential, and Rafaela has a knack for clutch hitting that he pairs with exceptional outfield defense. As this core grows together, they’ll help establish the Red Sox as an offensive powerhouse to back up a starting rotation that can hopefully lead the team to another World Series title. #1: Garrett Crochet’s Extension We finally have our top-of-the-rotation ace in Crochet and fans should be celebrating for years to come. He proved in 2025 that he has the firepower to lead a rotation in Boston. He came in second in Cy Young voting this year and is primed to be a top candidate for the award, likely winning at least one, for the life of his contract. Crochet is the face of the pitching staff, and perhaps the face of the franchise. His extension will keep him in Boston throughout his peak years and, hopefully, make him a World Series champion along the way. What else would you add to the list of things for Red Sox fans to be thankful for during this holiday season? Sound off in the comments below! View the full article

Late Tuesday morning, Jeff Passan reported that the Red Sox were trading pitchers Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts in exchange for Sonny Gray and $20 million in cash. Gray’s base 2026 salary is $31 million and includes a $10 million mutual buyout option, so his total salary minus the $20 million in cash is $21 million. Gray, a November Scorpio, turned 36 this month. The former Vanderbilt Commodore has played for five different teams (Athletics: 2013-17, Yankees: 2017-18, Reds: 2019-21, Twins: 2022-23, and Cardinals: 2024-25) in the majors throughout his 13-year career. The Red Sox mark his sixth team, meaning he’s played for 20% of the league. Is age merely a number? In his age-35 season, Gray’s 2025 performance (21.7% K-BB% [seventh among qualified pitchers], 4.28 ERA, 3.39 FIP, 3.07 xFIP, and 3.6 fWAR) was significantly better than any Red Sox pitcher not named Garrett Crochet. Let’s dive into Gray’s arsenal. Gray’s pitch mix graph might be one of the most intensive that I’ve stumbled upon on Baseball Savant. With the plethora of colors, curves, and abrupt breaks, it resembles something akin to a Japanese subway station map. The biggest takeaway from the graph is that Gray has adapted consistently throughout his career. You can see how Gray has dropped the use of his four-seamer and sinker, while leaning more on his breaking pitches (curveball and sweeper) in his mid-thirties. Four-Seamer (22.3%) Gray’s four-seamer has never been a dominant pitch. It hit an all-time low in velocity (91.7 mph) and strikeout rate (4.6%) this past season. With only 10.5 inches (ranked 422 out of 438) of induced vertical break, the pitch doesn’t generate much rise. Unsurprisingly, Gray’s four-seamer yielded a .376 BA and .584 SLG, which were higher than his .360 xBA and .573 xSLG. The strongest tools in Gray’s arsenal are his breaking pitches, so he aligns with the Red Sox pitching lab’s paradigm of tossing more breaking balls and limiting fastball usage. Sweeper (19.3%) Gray’s sweeper is his bread and butter. Among qualified pitchers, the pitch posted the highest strikeout rate (51.2%), the fourth-highest whiff rate (42.3%), and the fifth-highest run value (7). With 42.0 inches of vertical drop and 14.9 inches of horizontal break, Gray’s sweeper has a more distinct sinking effect. If you want a primer on the dominance of Gray’s sweeper, check out this thread on Twitter. Curveball (18.3%) Gray recorded a 35.4% put-away rate with his curveball, the highest in baseball. Compared to the previous season (13.9% pitch rate), he threw the pitch more often, and its usage reached an all-time high in September. Opposing batters struggled against the pitch (150 BA, .156 xBA, .173 wOBA, and .182 xWOBA). Sinker (17.4%) Gray’s sinker saw a decline this season. Last year, it dropped from a +5 run value and 105 Stuff+ to 1 and 97 mark, respectively. He yielded 25 home runs: six on his four-seamer, five on his sweeper, three on his curveball, three on his changeup, one on his cutter, and seven on his sinker, the most of any pitch. Opposing batters started making more contact on Gray’s sinker, and the pitch saw a significant jump in slugging percentage from .385 to .477. The Rest of Gray’s Arsenal (Cutter: 12.6%, Changeup: 8.4%, Slider: 1.6%, and Slow Curve: 0.1%) Pitch Run Value Stuff+ wOBA xwOBA K% Whiff% PutAway% Hard-Hit% Cutter -1 91 .424 .380 4.4% 23.3% 30.0% 45.0% Changeup -3 80 .464 .436 7.5% 25.6% 27.3% 30.6% Slider 1 123 .215 .211 30.0% 38.1% 42.9% 28.6% Gray’s cutter and changeup posted a wOBA higher than their xwOBA, indicating he’s dealt with poor luck on those pitches. His cutter and changeup’s putaway rates are solid, so he’s productive at retiring batters with those pitches, but their low strikeout rates indicate he hasn’t been able to get ahead of batters frequently; Gray’s 26.7% two-strike percentage ranked 403 among the 436 qualified pitchers. When he was behind in the count this past season, his batted ball rate was alarmingly high (52.9%), and his strikeout rate was low (5.9%). When he was ahead in the account, his batted ball rate plummeted to 2.6% and his strikeout rate increased to 53.2%. Simply put, Gray’s biggest issue is getting to a two-strike count. On a positive note, his first-strike percentage reached an all-time high of 64.7% in 2025. He’s trending in the right direction and may only need to incorporate some pitch sequencing adjustments to put himself in more advantageous counts. Despite Gray’s slider posting the highest Stuff+ (123) in his arsenal and a strong strikeout rate, he rarely threw the pitch. He seems to have a love-hate relationship with the pitch, dropping it after 2019, bringing it back for the 2021-22 seasons, shelving it again in 2023, and reintroducing it this year. Its velocity dipped from 83.6 mph in 2021 to 83.2 mph before matching its 2019 speed in 2025. If he leans on the pitch more consistently next season, he should get ahead in the count more often. We’re at the end of Gray’s arsenal! He only threw his slow curveball twice in 2025, so it’s more of a flex than a go-to tool in his mix. The Red Sox did not extend a $22.05 million qualifying offer to Lucas Giolito, allowing Gray to step into Giolito’s role as a mid-rotation starter. Gray has substantially more swing-and-miss stuff than Giolito and doesn’t come with the baggage of injury issues, which bolsters the Red Sox’s pitching staff. Most importantly, the veteran adds some stability behind Garrett Crochet in the rotation. He has been a reliable starter over the past two seasons, tossing 166.1 innings in 2024 and 180.2 in 2025. Cot’s Contracts estimates the Red Sox's 2026 payroll at $216.86 million, leaving $27.13 million to spend before reaching the $244 million luxury tax threshold. Their payroll was $8.72 million over the $241 million threshold in 2025, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they’re willing to exceed the threshold again next season. Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow remarked on the trade, “We felt like there was an opportunity to upgrade our rotation in 2026, and we did that. It’s early in the offseason. There are still opportunities that I anticipate materializing. Exactly what they look like, I’m not sure. But we’re not going to close off any chance to make the team better.” The Sonny Gray trade marks the first move of the Red Sox’s offseason, and based on Breslow’s comments, they’re poised to pursue additional roster upgrades in the coming weeks and months. View the full article

Breaking News from Jon Heyman: The Toronto Blue Jays are signing right handed pitcher Dylan Cease for $210 million over seven years. More to come… View the full article

The Minnesota Twins enter this offseason in a familiar position. They are talented enough to compete, but flawed enough that one wrong decision could send them tumbling out of contention for the third consecutive season. After an uneven 2025 season, it is clear that the front office needs a coherent plan to put this roster back on track. It can be easy for fans to say, "Go sign Kyle Tucker or Kyle Schwarber to long-term deals," but those aren’t realistic; Minnesota’s owner-imposed budgetary constraints foreclose those options. Instead, the Twins must work on the margins and find success on a razor-thin line. Last year, they signed Harrison Bader and Danny Coulombe to deals that worked out in the team's favor. Now, the Twins might have even less financial flexibility with which to work. Here are five steps the Twins could take to push toward contending again next year. Step One: Keep Pablo López and Joe Ryan The blueprint for winning baseball in Minnesota starts with pitching that can match up with anyone in the league. For the Twins, that conversation begins with Pablo López and Joe Ryan. Both pitchers have established themselves as playoff-caliber starters who can carry the club through rough stretches. Last season, Ryan was a first-time All-Star. He posted career highs in rWAR (4.5) and ERA+ (125), and his four-seam fastball was its usual, excellent self, worth 1.3 runs above average per 100 thrown. López was limited to 14 starts due to hamstring and shoulder injuries, but posted a 156 ERA+ across 75 2/3 innings. The Twins can hope that a healthy López is back to being a workhorse in 2026, after he averaged over 185 innings per season from 2022-24. Moving either hurler would create a hole that the Twins have no realistic path to filling. With a solid foundation already in place, Minnesota should stay the course and let its rotation leaders continue to set the tone. Step Two: Sign Paul Goldschmidt Minnesota has leaned on a revolving door of veteran first basemen in recent years, and bringing in Goldschmidt would extend that trend. Ty France, Carlos Santana, and Donovan Solano were recent one-year solutions at first, but Goldschmidt is a different level of player. He is no longer the intimidating MVP threat he once was, but he remains a dependable defender and a disciplined hitter. Last season, he played 146 games for the Yankees and posted a .731 OPS and a 104 OPS+. Diamond Centric predicts that he will sign a one-year, $6-million contract that should be in Minnesota's budget. His ability to lengthen the batting order and provide clubhouse leadership could make him an ideal short-term addition. The Twins can hope that he has one final impact season left, and that his bat brings needed balance to the middle of the lineup. Step Three: Re-Sign Caleb Thielbar The bullpen has become a major offseason concern after last season’s trade deadline, and adding stability should be a priority. Thielbar has meant a great deal to the organization, and he remains an effective option when healthy. Minnesota let him leave in free agency last season, and he continued to show value with the Cubs. In 67 appearances (58 IP), he posted a 2.64 ERA (147 ERA+) with a 25.5% strikeout rate and a 5.9% walk rate. More importantly, he held lefties to a .161/.211/.276 line in 95 plate appearances. Bringing him back would add needed experience to a relief corps that lacks established late-inning arms. The market for a 39-year-old reliever will likely be muted. His presence alone will not fix the bullpen, but it would give the Twins a known quantity who can bridge the gap while other roles are sorted out. Step Four: Transition a Trio of Young Starters to Relief Roles The Twins have invested heavily in young pitching, but injuries have slowed the development of several promising arms. Marco Raya, Connor Prielipp, and Zebby Matthews all offer interesting starting pitcher traits, but their health histories raise fundamental questions about their long-term durability. Raya has seemed destined for a bullpen role for a couple of seasons, with the Twins tightly managing his workload while aggressively promoting him. Last season at Triple-A St. Paul, he posted a 6.02 ERA with a 22.6% strikeout rate and a 12.6% walk rate. Prielipp finally had a healthy season, including pitching at Double-A Wichita and for St. Paul. The Twins may want to give him one more season to be a starter, but they went through a similar transformation with Jhoan Duran. Like Prielipp, Duran dealt with injuries in the minors before the team decided to let him cook in the bullpen. Matthews might have the most straightforward path to a bullpen role. He’s already seen a velocity increase since joining the Twins. His four-seamer and slider could be his primary offerings in the bullpen, while dumping his other pitches. A spring training move to the pen could give Minnesota a wave of high-upside relief help while lowering injury risk. Shorter outings could unlock additional velocity and give the relief corps the swing-and-miss capability that was often missing last season. Step Five: Give Emmanuel Rodriguez an Opening Day Job The Twins need an offensive spark, and Rodriguez fits the profile of a player ready to provide it. His minor-league résumé shows patience, power, and the ability to change the game on both sides of the runs ledger. He showcased all these skills during the Dominican Winter League, including winning the All-Star Game MVP. Rodriguez has little left to prove in the minors, and Minnesota should give him the chance to grow at the major-league level from Day One. Unfortunately, Minnesota’s outfield depth chart is filled with other left-handed bats, including Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, James Outman, and Alan Roden. Minnesota would need to trade one or more of these players to move Rodriguez onto the 26-man roster. Walker Jenkins might be the higher-ranked prospect, but expecting him to be ready by Opening Day feels premature. Rodriguez brings upside and urgency to a lineup that needs both. Minnesota has the pieces to build a contender in 2026. By keeping their rotation intact, adding targeted veterans, infusing the bullpen with young talent, and trusting a high-ceiling bat, the Twins can chart a clear and competitive path forward. What would you realistically change about this offseason plan? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Five of the Milwaukee Brewers' top draft picks in 2024 are performing well and moving up in the organization, and two of them are already ranked in the Top 10 on Brewer Fanatic’s Top Prospect list. Let’s check out the progress of this draft class and see if they are trending up or down after the 2025 season. Braylon Payne, CF (1st Round, 17th Overall) Payne was signed to an under-slot deal and was initially seen as something of a reach, but he performed well in an extremely small sample in 2024, collecting seven hits in 16 at-bats at Low-A Carolina, The left-handed-hitting Payne was injured at three different points during the 2025 campaign at Carolina, and was limited to 77 games. He didn’t hit for great power, but showed a good eye at the plate, drawing walks at an excellent rate of 15.2%. Unfortunately, he struck out at a less-than-stellar rate of 30.1%. Payne did show a great knack for stealing bases, swiping 31 in 41 attempts. Defensively, he has decent range and shows an average arm. The youngster gets bonus points for performing well at age 19. On the other hand, Brewer Fanatic’s eighth-ranked prospect’s truncated, injury-wrecked season doesn’t show an upward trend. For his initial assignment next year, flip a coin: Wilson or Wisconsin? TRENDING: Even Blake Burke, 1B (1st Round, 34th Overall) Burke’s pick was acquired from Baltimore in the Corbin Burnes trade. Milwaukee plucked him out of the University of Tennessee. He smacked 50 home runs in three collegiate seasons, so it was a surprise when he hit only five homers in his first 366 at-bats. The lefty slugger found his power stroke at Double-A Biloxi, where he hit 11 round-trippers in just 140 at-bats. Even though he posted a sublime wRC+ of 177 at Biloxi, he will probably play at least another half-season there before being considered ready for Triple-A Nashville. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Burke isn’t a bad defender at first base, but he did commit nine errors last season. His arm is average at best, so he will stay at first or become a DH. Burke, Brewer Fanatic's No. 15 prospect, is a below-average runner, so don’t expect many stolen bases. TRENDING: Up Bryce Meccage, RHP (2nd Round, 57th Overall) Meccage earned above-slot money in the second round, based on his mid-90s fastball and a pair of high-spin breaking balls that he displayed at his high school in Pennington, New Jersey. In his first pro season, Meccage struck out batters at an above-average rate of 23.6% for Carolina, while allowing walks at a rate of 8.9%. The walk rate isn't terrible, but control is something Meccage needs to work on. If he can refine his craft, he can be a quality middle-of-the-rotation starter for Milwaukee. After having success in 19 starts at Carolina, he is a candidate for promotion to High-A Wisconsin in 2026. TRENDING: Up Jaron DeBerry, RHP (3rd Round, 93rd Overall) DeBerry, selected out of Dallas Baptist University for $25,000, pitched so well in his first professional season that he moved from Low A to High A to Double A, all in a span of three months. In those three stops, DeBerry made 19 starts (among 22 total appearances) and struck out batters at a rate of 23.9%, while walking only 7.3% of batters faced. His best pitch is a low- to mid-80s sweeper that spins at 2,800 rpm or more. DeBerry’s fastball is pedestrian and sits in the low 90s, but he has a full suite of pitches and uses them well to keep hitters off balance. At Biloxi, DeBerry made seven starts and performed well, but expect to see a reprise of that role to start the 2026 season. A good start as a Shucker could see him move north to the Music City sometime during the year. TRENDING: Up Marco Dinges, C (4th Round, 123rd Overall) Dinges was picked out of Florida State, after a monster season wherein he batted .323/.415/.583 with 15 home runs in 64 games. Small for a catcher at 5-foot-11, he showed plus power and needed only 85 at-bats at Carolina before moving to the Timber Rattlers in High A. In 172 at-bats in Appleton, Dinges posted a wRC+ of 137 and batted .273/.371/.483 with 10 home runs. His arm grades out at 55 on the 20-80 scouting scale, but some think he might eventually move to a corner outfield spot. Dinges might start 2026 at Wisconsin, but it would not be a huge surprise to see him begin the campaign at Biloxi. TRENDING: Up Others of Note: RHP Chris Levonas (2nd Round, 67th Overall): Did not sign and elected to honor his commitment to Wake Forest. RHP John Holobetz (5th Round, 156th Overall): He was the PTBNL in the Quinn Priester trade. RHP Tyson Hardin (12th Round, 365th Overall): Pitched well at two levels in 2025 and is currently BF’s No. 17 prospect. The 2024 Draft class has had tons of success over the last two seasons, and we look forward to seeing these guys (and others) in Milwaukee in the near future. What stands out about this group? How would you grade their stock so far? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

On MLB Network's Hot Stove, Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards reflects on his 2025 midseason position change and how wins above replacement accounts for his all-around value as a player.View the full article

It's that time of year again! Talk Sox invites you to discuss your favorite players and moments from the 2025 Boston Red Sox season!View the full article

Standing in the WestJet Flight Deck in May, a former member of the Blue Jays’ front office told me that it was unlikely Bo Bichette would be back as a Jay in 2026. He said that was part of the rationale for trading for Andrés Giménez, who was destined to be the team’s shortstop of the future. At the time, it kind of made sense. Giménez seemed to have found his swing after losing it in Cleveland, and Bichette was only starting a mini campaign expressing his desire to stay in Toronto. What transpired, as the Jays mounted a season to remember, is that Giménez lost his swing, and the Jays found a desire to retain Bichette. Where Bichette would play in the infield if he does re-sign is a topic for another article. Ultimately, money talks, and there are some big teams (with big payrolls) that have expressed interest in Bichette. Bichette is an exceptional hitter, but as a fielder, he ranks closer to the middle (if not the bottom) of the pack. Giménez is an exceptional fielder, but a bottom-of-the-order hitter. Most likely, if Bichette signs elsewhere, Giménez shifts to shortstop. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stays at first. Second and third become available. Ernie Clement (3.2 FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement) did a great job at third last season. He was occasionally spelled by Addison Barger (2.2 fWAR), either to play second, have a night off or fill in at short. Barger has a big bat, a cannon for an arm and is a pretty good fielder (as long as the ball isn’t popped up in the infield). Davis Schneider (1.3 fWAR) and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (0.7 WAR) also saw some action at second base through the season and managed the position well. Schneider is under a pre-arbitration contract in 2026, while Kiner-Falefa is now a free agent. If Bichette’s time with the franchise has come to an end, the Jays will need to decide who’s at second (or is that what’s at second?) and, potentially, who’s at third. One possibility is already off the table with this week’s trade between the Rangers and the Mets. Marcus Semien (2.1 fWAR), who had a career-best season with the Jays in 2021, was traded to New York for outfielder Brandon Nimmo. Rumour has it that the trade makes room for the Mets to sign either Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger. A move that would potentially impact the Jays as well. So, Semien is no longer available. Another highly interesting option would be José Ramírez (6.3 fWAR), whose contract runs until 2028 and includes a full no-trade clause. He is a third baseman but has, at times, played second and short. With the Jays' front office including former Cleveland front office employees Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro, there have been a number of deals between the two teams during their tenure. This proposed swap would definitely shake things up. Who would go in the other direction? The price just might be too high. Recent reporting suggests that Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte (4.6 fWAR) might be on the market. Another big bat would potentially lessen the blow of losing Bichette’s in the lineup. Once again, the price might be too steep, but the Diamondbacks and the Jays have been trade partners before. Earlier this month, the Braves exercised a $7 million option for their second baseman Ozzie Albies (1.3 fWAR). His contract includes one more club option in 2027 for the same amount. Despite his struggles in recent years, Albies could still offer a potent bat. Yet, due to his low salary, he would also come with a high price tag in terms of who the Braves might ask for in return. As for free agents, that’s where the Jays' options become a bit more interesting. The bigger names at second base include Willi Castro (0.5 fWAR), Jorge Polanco (2.6 fWAR), Jose Iglesias (-0.2 fWAR), Dylan Moore (-0.1 fWAR) and Ramón Urías (1,1 fWAR). It is unlikely any of them would be difference-makers like Ramírez, Albies or Semien. Shortstops and third basemen tend to be bigger difference-makers, but this year’s group at short doesn’t seem to hold many. Outside of Bichette, the other options include Miguel Rojas (1.7 fWAR), Ha-Seong Kim (0.3 fWAR) and Kiner-Falefa. If the Jays decide to move Clement to second, their free agent options at third base offer a bit more pop, with a higher price tag. Alex Bregman (3.5 fWAR), who had been rumoured to be in talks with the Jays before signing with the Red Sox last year, is once again available. Eugenio Suárez (3.8 fWAR), who helped the Mariners get to the playoffs after being traded late in the season by the Diamondbacks, is also on the market. And now we wait. Is a reunion actually in store for Bichette and the Jays? If the Jays end up landing Tucker or Bellinger and a top-tier starter, what money would be left to bring in a free agent infielder? And while the trade route is interesting, would it leave a hole somewhere else? The only real surplus the Jays have is in the outfield, and I’m not sure those players are in the same echelon as the names above. Another wrinkle in the Jays’ infield planning is the development within their farm system. Prospect Orelvis Martinez was designated for assignment in September and has since signed with the Nationals. Leo Jiménez, who saw limited action in the big leagues this past season, might be closing in on being ready. Jiménez offers defensive versatility that could stabilize the infield if veterans depart. The Jays may decide that instead of paying a premium for established stars, the smarter play is to trust their pipeline and let the next wave of talent prove itself. It was 2018, the last time the Jays had an infield that did not include either Bichette or Guerrero, but 2026 might end that streak and make room for another. Depending on which infield positions the Jays target for a change, it will most likely be a better defensive group, but perhaps at the cost of offensive output. View the full article

The surest sign of a healthy competitive team is a constant 40-man crunch — when the roster is so laden with desirable talent that any decision to sign, claim or trade for a new player must be weighed heavily against the cost of losing quality talent that will be eagerly swooped up on waivers. The Twins have been in this type of position at times during the Derek Falvey era. They are far from it right now. Following a series of moves in recent days, Minnesota's 40-man roster is technically full, but it's not exactly brimming with quality. Particularly on the position-player side, it is staggering just how much of the roster is occupied by borderline (at best) major-league talents who are no longer young enough to offer meaningful upside. Of the 21 hitters currently on the 40-man roster, I would count a full third (7) in this category. Here's where each stands in the team's planning as we head into December: Edouard Julien – Hasn't hit for two years and offers no defensive value. Julien is out of options next year and it's hard to see him making the roster barring injury or a huge spring. He seems to be merely keeping a spot warm, but at the same time, he's undeniably a tier above almost everyone else on this list in terms of proven track record. James Outman – Similar to Julien in that he hit well in 2023 but hasn't since, and is beyond the post-hype phase approaching 30. He's more likely to stick around because he can play center (kinda) but it's highly questionable whether he belongs in the big leagues. The Dodgers' desire to clear him off their own 40-man roster played a role in the trade that sent Outman here for Brock Stewart. Ryan Kreidler – Has appeared briefly in each of the past four seasons with the Tigers. Among players to receive 200 or more plate appearances during that span, he ranks 343rd out of 343 in OPS. The Twins recently got him off waivers from a fellow cellar-dweller in Pittsburgh. Sub-replacement level player. Ryan Fitzgerald – A nice story and all, but there's a reason Fitzgerald was nearly 31 when he made his big-league debut for the Twins this past season. He flashed a bit in 50 plate appearances and I could envision him holding his own in a bench role, but again, we're talking about the definition of a fringe MLB talent here. Mickey Gasper – Despite his success in Triple-A, he looked overmatched against major-league pitching at age 29, and he's a defensive non-factor aside from the ability to serve as an emergency catcher. Would any other team claim him off waivers? I find myself asking that about many of these guys. Jhonny Pereda – Another waiver pickup, added last July when the Twins needed catching depth. He rarely saw the field thereafter, though he spent a decent amount of time on the roster. Trading for Alex Jackson means Pereda's days are numbered. Carson McCusker – Kind of stunning he is still on the 40-man roster after the Twins showed no interest in using him at all despite ample opportunity. Maybe some other team will think he's a big-leaguer but Minnesota made clear through their actions that they don't. That's seven extremely fringe major-league talents occupying space on Minnesota's 40-man roster. All but one or two of these players would likely pass through waivers unclaimed. Not an ideal starting point for the offseason, especially considering that several other hitters I didn't name (Kody Clemens, Brooks Lee, Austin Martin, Alan Roden) are very much in doubt as MLB-caliber bats. But that's all this is: a starting point. Which brings us to the flip side. There's no shortage of room to add! The big question is how much they will. I would envision a couple of these roster spots going to newly acquired pitchers; they need more relievers and relative to the position-player side, there aren't many arms you'd want to part with among the 19 currently rostered. That will somewhat limit their ability to shake things up on the offensive end, but there's zero question that a shakeup is a needed. You look at the current roster makeup and it's just structurally unsound. They have eight left-handed hitting outfielders. They have only a handful of hitters with any level of accomplishment in the major leagues. They have six pitchers with even modest experience in a major-league bullpen, and that includes Travis Adams and Pierson Ohl who have ERAs over five. The front office has a lot of work to do, but still plenty of time to do it as the offseason gets underway in earnest. The Winter Meetings are in less than two weeks and that's often a catalyst for hot-stove action, though no one's really expecting the Twins to act quickly or aggressively. I'm dubious they'll ultimately invest much at all in upgrading these spots, which is a bummer. But they've got to do something. Right now their 40-man roster is at capacity, filled with clutter and redundancy. Even through the scope of a non-competitive rebuilding team, which is the path they seem likely to follow, the makeup of the roster makes little sense at the moment. View the full article

It's that time of year again! Padres Mission invites you to discuss your favorite players and moments from the 2025 San Diego Padres season!View the full article

The Rule 5 draft will take place on December 10 in Orlando, Florida. The Miami Marlins usually participate in the major league phase of the draft, but that seems rather unlikely this time around. They are set to pick 12th in the draft—compared to third the year before—and it's harder to justify carrying a rookie on the roster all season when there are expectations of the team being competitive in 2026. Also, they don't even have an opening on the 40-man roster—a move would need to be made before the draft begins. With that being said, catcher Liam Hicks proved to be a nice pickup in the 2024 draft and the Marlins are starting to show an ability to develop under-the-radar players who didn't reach their potential with their previous organizations. We are preparing for the possibility that they may still take a chance on somebody with the right upside and roster role. Below are 10 unprotected players who the Marlins should be considering in the major league portion of the draft. Pitchers RHP Blake Burkhalter (Atlanta Braves) The majority of Rule 5 picks are pitchers, so we will begin with them. Burkhalter may be one of the first names off the board this year, before the Marlins are even on the clock. Taken with the 76th pick of the 2022 MLB Draft, the righty reached the Triple-A level in 2025, posting a 3.77 ERA, 4.82 FIP, 6.68 K/9 and 4.65 BB/9 in 31 innings pitched. Overall on the season, he had a 3.32 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 7.69 K/9 and 3.93 BB/9 in 32 appearances (16 starts) and 103 innings. Ranked 11th among Braves prospects per MLB Pipeline, Burkhalter could bolster the bullpen with his strong fastball/cutter combo, along with a low-80s curveball and occasional changeup. TDZHUWJfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0JGZFpBRlFEQjFjQVhsSlhVd0FIVUFCZkFGbFhVQWNBQkFBRkNBSUhBZ1FIQlZOUQ==.mp4 Upgrading the bullpen is one of the Marlins' top priorities heading into 2026. In addition to bringing in a veteran reliever, it wouldn't hurt to give Burkhalter an opportunity to see what he can show during spring training. LHP Hayden Mullins (Boston Red Sox) Mullins, who is 25 years old, spent the 2025 season between High-A and Double-A, posting a 2.21 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 10.89 K/9 and 4.51 BB/9 through 101 ⅔ innings pitched. His arsenal consists of a fastball, slider, cutter and changeup. The slider seems to be his best pitch, per FanGraphs, with a 60-grade future value and 55-grade current value. It is a bit risky to select a prospect with no AAA experience. However, that did not scare the Marlins away from picking Hicks when he was in that situation last year. RHP Griff McGarry (Philadelphia Phillies) McGarry spent most of the season in AA, but was then promoted to AAA. Between both levels, he posted a 3.44 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 13.34 K/9 and 5.27 BB/9. He has been a strikeout machine throughout his professional career thanks to a 60-grade slider and overpowering fastball. McGarry is very tough for right-handed batters to hit, and that should carry over to the majors. Clearly, the issue is control. LHP Dalton Rogers (Boston Red Sox) Another lefty in the Boston system, Dalton Rogers was a third-round pick in 2022 out of Southern Mississippi. He had a breakthrough year in 2025 after previously being stuck at the High-A level. In 105 innings pitched, Rogers finished with a 3.09 ERA, 3.03 FIP, and 15% K-BB%, almost all of that coming against AA competition. Rogers has electric stuff, but will need to control it better if he wants to stick as a starter. With an over-the-top fastball, sweeper, and lofty curveball, he should reliably miss bats if turned into a reliever. RHP Alaska Abney (Cleveland Guardians) Perhaps the most unique player on this list is Guardians submariner Alaska Abney. Pure deception and grit are the name of the game for Abney, who was a 15th-rounder in 2021. Abney spent the majority of the 2025 season rehabbing from a shoulder injury, but he finished strong. In his 20 ⅓ innings at AA, he had a 1.44 ERA, 3.12 FIP, and 23.4% K-BB%. Unlike the couple pitchers mentioned before him, he locates with precision and issued only two walks. The Marlins bullpen hasn’t had an arm angle like this since Adam Cimber. RHP RJ Petit (Detroit Tigers) Petit had an extremely successful 2025 season. Between Double-A and Triple-A, he posted a 2.44 ERA, 2.94 FIP, and 21.3% K-BB%. One tall glass of water, Petit stands at 6’8”, 300 pounds. Those unique physical characteristics contributed to the excellent results on his slider and sinker. With the way he commands the zone, limits damage, and strikes hitters out, it would be a surprise if none of the teams picking before the Marlins took a shot on Petit. Position Players OF Kyler Fedko (Minnesota Twins) Last season, Fedko broke out, slashing .258/.367/.487/.855 with 28 home runs, 82 RBI and a 131 wRC+. For such a power-heavy profile, the right-handed bat only struck out 21.2% of the time and walked 14.0% of the time. There isn't much of a need for an outfielder in Miami, but the 2021 12th-rounder would provide some versatility having been used part-time at first base over the last two years. 1B/C Creed Willems (Baltimore Orioles) In AA with the Orioles, Willems slashed .253/.338/.441/.779 with 16 home runs, 59 RBI and a 117 wRC+. He is even more familiar with first base than Fedko, including 29 starts there in 2025. On the other hand, at only 22 years old, it would be a huge adjustment for Willems to face MLB pitching right now. INF Austin Gauthier (Los Angeles Dodgers) Gauthier, a former undrafted free agent, stands out for his plate approach, contact, and defense. In a full season at Triple-A, he posted a slash line of .259/.404/.354, with a wRC+ of 108 and .364 wOBA. Gauthier walked as many times as he struck out with a chase rate of 17.5% and whiff rate of 20.4%. Gauthier's average launch angle is extremely low at three degrees, hence his 54% ground ball rate. He does have decent exit velocities, suggesting that if a team could increase his pulled fly ball rate, they could find themselves a diamond in the rough. OF Yohendrick Piñango (Toronto Blue Jays) Yohendrick Piñango is a true data darling with elite EVs. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Piñango slashed .258/.361/.430, with a wRC+ of 122 and .362 wOBA. He gives scouts a lot to dream on as well with his strong frame and sweet lefty swing. The downside of Piñango is his lack of defensive ability—he'll probably be limited to left field in MLB. The 23-year-old has two weeks left to raise his profile in the Venezuelan Winter League. He homered Tuesday in his first game with Cardenales de Lara. 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With the trade for Sonny Gray completed, the Boston Red Sox have begun their construction of their 2026 roster as the team hopes to improve upon their Wild Card Round finish. With Gray, the Red Sox have now acquired a pitcher who can provide them quality innings and strikeout opposing batters while limiting walks. While Gray is not the number two starter fans have dreamed of pairing with ace Garrett Crochet, he is a dependable arm for a rotation that was struggling to get quality starts near the end of the season. Along with Gray, the St. Louis Cardinals sent $20 million to cover nearly half of the $41 million he will be owed on his reworked contract. The deal, which was originally $35 million for the season along with a $30 million team option or a $5 million buyout for the 2027 season, was changed to become a $31 million contract with a mutual option buyout of $10 million for what will amount to $41 million. The Red Sox will be on the hook for $21 million of it. With that, the team has effectively replaced Lucas Giolito for Gray and will still have some money to work with along with several players in their organization to trade. The idea of taking on Gray and his bloated one-year contract is a sign from management that they’re willing to go for a championship prior to the upcoming lockout. It’ll be likely the team looks to add to the rotation through a separate move, but for the time being their, next target is to add an impact bat. According to MassLive's Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox are now shifting their attention toward acquiring lineup reinforcements. With glaring holes at three of the four infield positions, it only makes sense that the team will now focus on the offense before returning to the rotation. While Gray is not a bona fide number two starter at this point of his career, he was much better than his numbers suggest. If he puts up a chase rate of 31.2% and a whiff rate of 27.5% (his numbers in 2025), that will lessen the pressure of getting another top-of-the-rotation pitcher. By the end of the season, the offense was a mixed bag, especially once Roman Anthony was injured. With the addition to the rotation already secured, the team could go in various directions. They could look for a reunion with Alex Bregman after he opted out of his deal, or they could look elsewhere in the form of a Pete Alonso or Kazuma Okamoto. Thanks to only trading Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke in the Gray deal, the team could reach into their outfield depth and perhaps build a package around either Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu to bring in an impact bat such as Ketal Marte from the Diamondbacks. The Gray trade has opened the door for the team to head down multiple avenues, and while it seems likely they’ll sign an impact bat over trading for one, the extra trade capital they still hold in Duran and Abreu could make a trade more affordable while leaving money to sign a big-name free agent later in the offseason. If there’s one thing Craig Breslow has shown since taking over baseball operations, it’s that he’s not worried about reactions to moves. He’s made several big-swing trades, including one that sent the then-face-of-the-franchise to San Francisco in what may essentially end up being a salary dump. Gray was just the first piece of the offseason puzzle; expect many more to follow as the pieces come together. View the full article

Last Friday, the Minnesota Twins traded for veteran catcher Alex Jackson from the Baltimore Orioles for Triple-A utility player Payton Eeles. Jackson's acquisition all but solidifies the position for next season, with him serving as Ryan Jeffers's backup—perhaps with Jhonny Pereda and Mickey Gasper serving as depth options in Triple A. Still, with Jeffers in his final season under team control and the organization rostering no MLB-caliber catchers in the high minors, significant concerns remain about the position's long-term depth. Minnesota's current projected 2026 payroll hovers around $89 million, including Carlos Correa's $11 million (paid to Houston) and with estimated earnings for players with unresolved arbitration cases. Despite operating under strict, unnecessary spending limitations, team decision-makers should still have the spending power necessary to extend Jeffers. Meaningful negotiations between the front office and Jeffers's representation are unlikely to occur until the organization's new limited partners are officially announced. Still, optimism about the Twins' ability to extend Jeffers should persist. Despite not being a top-10 catcher in baseball, the 28-year-old is one of the AL's best offensive backstops, solidifying himself as a key right-handed bat in the middle of Minnesota's lineup. Obviously, he isn't deserving of an extension on par with what Cal Raleigh (six years, $105 million) or Will Smith (10 years, $140 million) received in recent years. Nor, however, will he sign for peanuts. Realistically, Jeffers could net a contract in the three-year, $30-million range, identical to the contract the Twins handed Christian Vázquez before the 2023 season. As of now, Jeffers and reliever Justin Topa are the only 40-man roster inhabitants set to depart the organization after next season, clearing roughly $7.6 million from a payroll that (as mentioned earlier) is already under $100 million. Players like Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Royce Lewis, and Trevor Larnach (if he isn't traded this offseason) will reach arbitration-3 status next offseason, making them more expensive. Also, pre-arbitration players Matt Wallner, Kody Clemens, and Simeon Woods Richardson will reach arbitration-1 status, similarly making them pricier. Still, Minnesota will have one of the lighter payrolls in baseball entering next season, meaning the club has the financial cushion necessary to hand Jeffers a multi-million dollar raise over multiple seasons. The 2027 regular season is likely to be affected by a work stoppage (even if the lockout ends before any games are actually lost), muddying the picture of how valuable extending Jeffers would be for Minnesota. For that reason, Minnesota is unlikely to offer him a one-year extension. Considering how thin the club's catching depth is behind Jeffers in the high minors and the fact that top catching prospect Eduardo Tait isn't anticipated to make his major-league debut until 2028 or 2029, the organization might not have a choice but to extend their veteran backstop to a multi-year contract, despite their recent reluctance to hand out eight-figure contracts. That's ok. He's worth it, and the room to invest in him is there. View the full article

When the San Diego Padres were building their bench for the 2025 season, they followed a very specific formula. With little money to invest (save for the deal to which they signed Nick Pivetta), the reserve group was comprised largely of minor-league signings that were selected to the active roster ahead of the start of the regular season. Sometimes it works. It's how the team was able to bring Gavin Sheets into the fold. Other — and perhaps more frequent — times, it doesn't. None of Jason Heyward, Oscar González, Martín Maldonado, Tyler Wade, Yuli Gurriel, Connor Joe, or Jose Iglesias offered much in the way of contributions throughout the season. Almost all of those names were off the roster and out of the organization in short order. Only Iglesias made it all the way through, and that was on the strength of his versatility above all. In San Diego's case, it was an ineffectual way to fill out the roster. Unfortunately for the Padres, it's likely how next year's depth will also be assembled. And we've already seen the start of it. The team signed Pablo Reyes to a minor-league deal last week. A utility veteran with time in seven separate seasons in Major League Baseball, Reyes' peak in volume came back in 2023. That season, he logged 185 plate appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers and was as close to checking in as a league average bat as he has in his entire career (95 wRC+). While he didn't offer anything in the way of power off the bench (.090 ISO), he struck out just 11.4 percent of the time, walked at a 7.6 percent rate, and added seven steals. He also hasn't remotely approached that output since. In the two subsequent seasons, Reyes has 98 combined plate appearances at the top level. He got into games on 21 occasions for the Boston Red Sox and made a single appearance for the New York Mets in 2024 (though he failed to make an appearance at the plate with the latter). He's now coming off a season in which he appeared in 25 games and notched 34 plate appearances with the New York Yankees. Even by the lower standard set forth by such a small sample of offensive work, the numbers are uninspiring. Reyes' strikeout rate in each of the last two years has approached 30 percent. His walk rate sits lower than it did in that decent '23 campaign, and there is almost zero power to speak of (.033 ISO). This is a player whose value is almost entirely wrapped up his ability to move around the field. In that sense, Reyes is, essentially, Jose Iglesias. But worse. There was a time when Reyes represented the super-utility type well. Second base, third base, shortstop, and all three outfield spots were at his disposal at each of the major league and Triple-A levels. That level of versatility, however, has started to diminish. His time on the outfield grass has waned as he's settled into a rotation between second, third, and short. Now, that's something that the Padres need given Iglesias' departure. But as lackluster as Iglesias' bat was, you'd like that extra bit of versatility in order to justify an even worse one in his stead. It's obviously possible that the team makes an additional investment or two that offers additional upside. And it's hard to get too worked up about a depth signing that occurs in November. What this does, however, is speak to the same trend we saw from the Padres last offseason continuing into this one. If there's an investment to be made, it's on the mound. The team is in need of significant help in the rotation and some additional depth in the bullpen. The limited financial resources at their disposal will likely be deployed there. The position group, meanwhile, will be supplemented with exactly this type of signing. Sometimes you get a Sheets. But considering the direction which Reyes' career has taken in recent years, you're looking like something much more akin to the much larger group of failed bench players that the team saw last year. View the full article

It's that time of year again! North Side Baseball invites you to discuss your favorite players and moments from the 2025 Chicago Cubs season!View the full article

With the Rule 5 Draft coming up during the Winter Meetings, the Twins went ahead and protected six Rule 5 eligible players by adding them to the 40-man roster. This year was more clear-cut on who would be added and who would be left off, but there were still two names that came as somewhat of a surprise in the Twins' decisions with them.View the full article

The payment breakdown of Major League Baseball's 2025 pre-arbitration bonus pool became public on Tuesday. Eligible Brewers players received a combined $4,742,392 in bonuses, making Milwaukee the first club with at least 10 recipients in a season since the pool's implementation in 2022. Here are the players and their earnings, as reported by the Associated Press. Brice Turang ($1,155,884) Caleb Durbin ($707,139) Isaac Collins ($631,766) Sal Frelick ($507,232) Jackson Chourio ($414,477) Quinn Priester ($307,705) Chad Patrick ($305,643) Abner Uribe ($271,917) Aaron Ashby ($228,384) Joey Ortiz ($212,245) For many of those names, that's a solid chunk of change compared to their base salaries. Turang led the way with a bonus that was 149% of his 2025 salary, after a season in which he posted a career-best 124 wRC+ and started to transmute his raw power into in-game results. Durbin and Collins about doubled their earnings after emerging as legitimate Rookie of the Year candidates in their first full big-league seasons. Priester and Patrick, who stabilized the rotation at times throughout the year, added about 40% of their league-minimum salaries. MLB introduced the pre-arbitration bonus pool as part of the 2022-2026 collective bargaining agreement to reward players for producing early in their careers. It's meant to ameliorate the tension created by the fact that when young stars first reach the majors, they have virtually no earning power. Every team pays into a $50-million pool, which is then distributed to all players who are not yet eligible for arbitration—including those (like Chourio and Ashby) who signed extensions. Award-based bonuses are bestowed based on a player's finish in MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, or All-MLB Team voting. The remaining funds are awarded using a WAR-based formula. Most of this year's Milwaukee recipients will be eligible for more bonuses next year. Only Turang is arbitration-eligible in 2026, due to his Super Two status. Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson, and Robert Gasser are among the candidates for added earnings a year from now, depending on how much they contribute next season. For now, the length of this list underscores the depth of Milwaukee's corps of players under long-term team and cost control, and the combination of these payments and their forthcoming playoff shares should make the clubhouse a happier place come spring training. View the full article

Speaking on MLB Network yesterday, Jon Morosi reported that the Arizona Diamondbacks are "actively listening" to trade offers for All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte. He added that no deal is imminent, but multiple teams have checked in, including the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays. As Morosi points out, Marte has limited no-trade rights in his contract with Arizona (a deal that runs through 2030, with a player option for 2031). However, neither Philadelphia nor Toronto is on the list of teams to whom he could reject a trade. So, how do Jays fans feel about the club potentially trading for Marte? Do you think it's a realistic possibility? Would you be happy to have Marte in Toronto if it means Bo Bichette is signing elsewhere? Have your say in the comments below. Featured image courtesy of Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images. View the full article

Reporting for The Athletic, Patrick Mooney reported that the Cubs are interested in right-handed reliever Ryan Helsley, formerly of the Mets. Across seven MLB seasons, Helsley has worked 319 2/3 innings with a 2.96 ERA and a 3.17 FIP, striking out 10.6 batters per nine innings with 3.7 walks per nine and allowing 0.84 home runs per nine. He has 105 career saves and 6.0 WAR. Helsley’s peak came in a three-year run from 2022 through 2024. In that span, his ERA and FIP were under 3.00, and he ranked among the top relievers in WAR, ERA, strikeout rate, and WHIP for pitchers with at least 200 innings. He was an All-Star in 2022 and 2024 and in 2024 led the majors with 49 saves while posting a 2.04 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 23 walks in 66 1/3 innings, winning the National League Reliever of the Year Award and making the All-MLB First Team. In 2025, Helsley opened as St. Louis’s closer, converting 21 of 26 save chances before being traded to the Mets at the deadline. He threw 56 innings between the two clubs with a 4.50 ERA and a 3.89 FIP, with 10.1 strikeouts and 4.0 walks per nine. His two-month stint with New York included a 7.20 ERA over 20 innings, with 25 hits and 11 walks allowed, and four home runs allowed. Helsley’s four-seam fastball still averaged 99.3 miles per hour in 2025. The Cubs, who have already agreed to a two-year contract with Phil Maton, are now among the clubs showing interest in Helsley as they explore ways to add another late-inning option. What do you think, is Helsley a good complement to Maton? View the full article

Alex and Maddie are joined by guest Richard McGill of Playing Catch to discuss the trade that sent Sonny Gray to the Red Sox. They talk through some NL Central trade options and close out with why Red Sox fans will be excited to have Gray on the team in 2026. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-talk-sox-podcast/id1783204104 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qPrPXEngu0CxgTmlf0ynm Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-talk-sox-podcast-244591331/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/4tmd121v Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talksox View the full article

When it comes to Cubs baseball, there was a great bounty of gifts to be thankful for in 2025. From a thrilling playoff run to the return of legendary players like Anthony Rizzo back into the fold, you'd have to be a turkey not to find something to like about where this franchise is, and where it could go. So, while you loosen your belts and take part in whatever timeless holiday traditions you call your own, take a look at five big things Cubs fans have to be thankful for. 1. Cade Horton: Near or at the top of every Cubs fans' wish list is a Dylan Cease-type top-of-the rotation starting pitcher. Should that happen, that pitcher will work great in concert with the magnificent Cade Horton. Before succumbing to a rib injury at the end of the 2025 season, the 24-year-old righty helped his squad stack wins in the second half. Racking up 11 wins and pitching 118 innings in the majors, Horton got to 147 total frames, setting the stage for what should be an unfettered 2026. Many believe it was Horton, not the Braves' Drake Baldwin, who was most deserving of the National League's Rookie of the Year honors. North Siders are lucky to have him, and he certainly figures to keep the Cubs in the playoff mix for years to come. 2. The Cubs are a Playoff Team: Though in retrospect, it feels as if the Cubs barely scratched the surface of what could be in 2025, they roared back into the postseason for the first time in a long time. The North Siders have a strong young core, mixed with some veteran talent that has yet to reach its full potential. In disposing of the San Diego Padres at Wrigley, and taking the Brewers to the brink, this squad's playoff showing suggested that this could just be the beginning for club looking to refill the tank and make another run in 2026. 3. Pete Crow-Armstrong: To be honest, all of baseball should be thankful for the Cubs' Gold Glove center fielder. His offensive production disintegrated in the second half, but his presence never did. Crow-Armstrong is a tremendous ambassador for the game and a bright young star the organization should want to keep around. If he stays on the track of growth and maturity, he'll no doubt provide even more core memories for the Wrigley faithful. 4. Michael Busch: The anticipation of blockbuster offseason free-agent signings is an exercise in anxiety. Around this time of year, getting caught up in what you don't have is as easy as scooping a second helping of mashed potatoes and gravy onto your plate. The fan base would love a reunion with slugger Kyle Schwarber, but in Michael Busch, they've already got one of the shiniest gifts under the tree. With 34 homers and an .866 OPS during the regular season, Busch lit up scoreboards in 2025. At 28, he's five years Schwarber's junior. He arrived on the North Side of Chicago as an overlooked talent, but his poise, performance, and defensive prowess leave baseball fans in Illinois (and beyond) no choice but to take notice. 5. Craig Counsell: A couple years ago, when the Cubs plucked their current skipper from Milwaukee, I thought it was a shrewd but necessary move. He's a "put your money where your mouth is" type of manager who, whether you agree with his choices or not, doesn't stand idly by while the game happens around him. Counsell and his staff turned Matthew Boyd into an All-Star ace who did more than just ensure his squad stuck around a couple games longer in the playoffs. At the end of the underwhelming 2024 season, Counsell famously proclaimed that his should be a 90-win ball club. He proceeded to go out and get 92 victories the following season. He's a great dude to have at the helm of this organization, and I think the best is yet to come. So there you have it, Cubs fans, if that list doesn't warm up your heart just a little bit, make yourself a cup of coffee. The North Side of Chicago is a baseball epicenter, with growth ahead. While we still may have visions of World Series rings dancing in our heads, there's much to be thankful for on this day—and every day. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins have spent the last three seasons in a whirlwind, from playoff team to multiple collapses. Yet as another winter begins, the most significant questions once again have little to do with roster construction or player development. Instead, all eyes are on the owners’ suite, and the future of a franchise is still stuck in the limbo of a half-completed ownership restructure. Commissioner Rob Manfred recently offered the first public update in months, confirming that the Pohlad family’s push to sell minority stakes is still underway. “Those non-control interest sales are in process—on track and in process,” Manfred said, sharing no further details. His comment was brief but telling, a reminder that nothing has been finalized and that the process is dragging into its second offseason. For a front office already asked to navigate shrinking margins, the uncertainty does not help. The Slow Burn of a Sale That Wasn’t In mid-August, the Pohlads abruptly pulled the Twins off the market after nearly a year of shopping the entire franchise. Instead of a complete sale, the club announced the addition of two minority investment groups. Details were scarce then, and they remain scarce now. Fans still do not know who is involved in either group, and the deal is not complete, though indications are that the incoming investors will hold roughly 20 percent of the team once approved. The intended purpose of the sale was equally significant. After failing to find a buyer at their targeted valuation (around $1.7 billion), the Pohlads elected to take on minority partners to pay down over $400 million in existing debt. Redirecting even a portion of that financial relief into baseball operations would signal commitment not only to the president of baseball operations, Derek Falvey, but also to a fan base weary of mixed messages. So far, that reinvestment remains a hope, rather than a reality. A Front Office Waiting for a Number While the ownership transition drags on, the baseball operations department is left working without a clear payroll budget for 2026. That uncertainty creates an impossible task for a front office trying to balance the possibility of adding with the reality that they may be told to subtract, instead. According to multiple reports, ownership has not communicated a target number for next season, leaving the baseball side to prepare for every scenario. The difference between an $85 million payroll and a $115 million payroll is substantial, and both figures appear to be in play as potential ceilings. This is why recent comments from Falvey carry a different tone. He emphasized three separate times that his focus is on adding to the roster, not breaking it down. He then noted that achieving that outcome depends on what “we” are allowed to do. In a vacuum, this might seem like standard front office language. Given the situation, however, it feels like Falvey is subtly drawing a line between his own intentions and whatever ownership ultimately decides. Players Notice What Is Happening Fans are not the only ones paying attention. Byron Buxton made it clear that he appreciates the stability of playing under the Pohlad family, noting that their presence makes future conversations easier. But even that loyalty has limits. Reporting from The Athletic suggests that Buxton wants to play for a winner and may reconsider his stance if the roster teardown continues—especially if pitchers like Joe Ryan or Pablo López are moved. Players watch the franchise's direction as closely as fans do. They know when a team is pushing forward, and they know when ownership is forcing a retreat. If uncertainty persists deep into this winter, it is not unreasonable to expect more players to ask questions about where the organization is heading. A Story Bigger Than a Single Offseason The latest frustration stems from a familiar theme. When ownership hesitates or defers major decisions, the baseball operations department is left to absorb the fallout. The Pohlads have earned a reputation for slow decision-making in financial matters, and this prolonged minority sale only reinforces that perception. The team cannot fully rebuild or fully compete until ownership clarifies its plan. For now, the Twins are stuck straddling two potential tracks, neither of which leads to sustained success. So, where do things go from here? As fans wait for action, the truth is that the next move belongs to ownership. Once the minority sale is complete, the Pohlads must communicate a payroll direction and allow the baseball operations group to act accordingly. Until then, every rumor—whether involving López, Ryan, or any other player—will continue to feel like guesswork. What do you think the Twins should do once the minority sale is finalized? Do you trust the Pohlads to provide a clear direction? And how much patience do you have left for an ownership group that continues to leave the front office and the fan base in limbo? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Adding roster depth doesn't always lead to the sexiest moves of the offseason, but as the Blue Jays showed last season, it is absolutely crucial to building a dominant team. Small moves like signing Eric Lauer to a minor league deal, adding Myles Straw in a minor trade, and claiming Tyler Heineman off waivers were all moves that helped the Blue Jays reach the World Series. Not all minor moves pay off; Joey Votto, Spencer Turnbull and Richard Lovelady never had their moments in Toronto. But part of building depth comes from recognizing where you can add talent. The Blue Jays will undoubtedly make some additions this winter, with some being headline names and others being small moves that could pay off later. In this piece, we’ll take a look at the corner infield positions and see where the Blue Jays might look to add depth. FIRST BASE Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: .292/.381/.467, 23 HR, 3.9 fWAR Vlad needs no introduction. He's the undisputed starting first baseman and is one of the truest superstars in the sport. He elevated that spotlight to a new level in the postseason, producing a 1.289 OPS and eight home runs to do his part to get the Blue Jays to the brink of the title. Guerrero has also been incredibly durable, playing 156+ games in each of the last four seasons. He’ll be relied on heavily again in 2026 as Toronto looks to repeat as American League champions. Ernie Clement/Anthony Santander Behind Guerrero, the only returning players who logged time at first base last season were Ernie Clement (12 games) and Anthony Santander (one game). Clement can fill in admirably in a pinch, but he is best suited to play elsewhere on the diamond. Santander has just 14 career games at first, and while giving him more reps there could help ease Toronto’s outfield logjam, it's hard to rely on him in that position until that happens. Look for the Blue Jays to add some first base depth before the start of spring training. Riley Tirotta - .268/.359/.417, 12 HR, 111 wRC+ (with Triple-A Buffalo) The Blue Jays don’t have a “true” first baseman in Buffalo right now. Tirotta is the closest candidate, having played 55 games at the position in 2024. Last season, he became a lot more versatile (something the Blue Jays emphasize in their farm system), as he played games at first base (36), third base (43), and right field (30), as well as second and shortstop. He hasn't appeared on any of FanGraphs' preseason lists of Jays top prospects or Jays Centre's top prospect rankings, but he has produced above-average offence in recent years. If the Blue Jays stand pat, then Tirotta could see some time in Toronto this summer. Other Names To Know: Damiano Palmegiani Peyton Williams THIRD BASE Addison Barger .243/.301/.454, 21 HR, 2.2 fWAR Because of the Blue Jays' positional versatility, Addison Barger may see more time in right field than at third base. But at the moment, he is pencilled in as the everyday third baseman. Barger had a breakout season in 2025, and Toronto will once again rely on his bat to spark the offence. Defensively, he grades better in the outfield, but because of his elite arm strength (96.5 mph average), he’s valuable at both positions. Until injuries or future roster moves dictate otherwise, he’s likely to get the first look at third base. Ernie Clement .277/.313/.398, 9 HR, 3.2 fWAR If Barger isn’t the starter, then Clement is next in line. He played all four infield positions in 2025 (and likely will again in ‘26) but saw most of his work at the hot corner. His glove is elite; Statcast's Fielding Run Value ranked him as a top 10 infielder last season, and the eye test backs it up. As of now, Ernie is slotted to be the everyday second baseman, but any addition up the middle could push him back to third. If he’s able to replicate his 2025 breakout, the Blue Jays will happily pencil him in every day. Charles McAdoo .247/.318/.413, 16 HR, 114 wRC+ (with Double-A New Hampshire) McAdoo came over in the Isiah Kiner-Falefa trade at the 2024 trade deadline and looked right at home in his first full season with the organization. He’ll be 24 years old next season and has a real chance to take a step forward to big league relevance. There is some swing and miss to his game (27.7% K-rate in 2025), and he may eventually shift to first base. But the Blue Jays let Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stay at third for a while and may do the same with McAdoo. He ranked as Jays Centre's 14th best prospect on our end-of-season list. Other Names To Know: Cutter Coffey Sean Keys Tucker Toman On the whole, the Blue Jays have impact at the top, but once you get past Guerrero, Barger and Clement, the depth falls off quickly. In recent years, the club has let go of Will Wagner, Spencer Horwitz, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ty France, all of whom provided coverage at the corner infield spots. With that in mind, the Jays will need to prepare for potential injuries or underperformance, and they will likely look for reinforcements through trade or free agency this offseason. Those additions may not make headlines, but as this team just showed, the under-the-radar moves could prove crucial as they aim to repeat as American League champions in 2026. View the full article

Tuesday afternoon, the Boston Red Sox surprised everyone by making a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. In a move that saw the Red Sox improve their major league pitching, they were forced to sacrifice some depth and a previously touted prospect for Sonny Gray. But did the Red Sox really give up a lot for Gray? When you really look at it, it seems that the Red Sox managed to steal Gray for two pitchers they may not have had much interest in anymore. The official deal between the Red Sox and Cardinals saw Gray and $20 million shipped to the Red Sox in return for Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke. Of course, the first reaction to this trade is wondering why Craig Breslow would be willing to move on from Clarke after just one season, especially after he had made Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list during the season. Clarke, however, was a huge risk of becoming nothing more than a reliever the further into the season he pitched. Clarke spent time with both Salem and Greenville in 2025, along with a few stints on the injured list. Making 14 starts, Clarke finished the year 0-3 with a 4.03 ERA in 38 innings. The key to his prospect billing was the fastball-slider combination, which paired a triple-digit fastball with a slider that showed considerable bat-missing ability. This led him to strike out 60 batters. However, with Clarke, his biggest issues (and the ones that have deemed him a high risk of ending up as a reliever) were his lack of control and stamina. Despite throwing just 38 innings, Clarke issued 27 walks, hit 12 batters, and allowed 14 wild pitches. Of his 14 starts, he recorded more than 12 outs in only four starts. From June 26 until his final start on August 8, Clarke did not make it out of the third inning one time. Clarke’s command needs work because no matter how fast you throw, if you can’t throw strikes, you won’t last long in organized baseball. Clarke’s final three starts saw him throw one, 1/3, and 2 1/3 innings, respectively. In those starts, he threw 35, 37, and 59 pitches. He struggled to get outs early in the count, and during his July 25 start with Greenville, all but one batter (the first one) worked an at-bat of at least five pitches. That start was the perfect representation of Clarke: a pitcher who could strike batters out but struggled to work counts to get quick outs while walking batters. In that game, Clarke pitched one inning and allowed two hits, two earned runs, two walks, and struck out three batters while throwing a wild pitch. There’s no denying that Clarke is talented, but right now, as the Red Sox view their window as beginning to open, they decided they couldn’t wait and hope he figures things out. Instead, they decided to move on instead of being burned. Remember, not every prospect pans out. If they had, the Red Sox would have looked very different during the 2010s and early 2020s. Instead, Breslow decided to pull the trigger to bring in a veteran arm who performed better than his stats showed. Joining Clarke in the Cardinals organization is Fitts, the first big move that Breslow made after getting hired. 2025 was an up-and-down year, both on and off the field, as Fitts saw himself shuttled between Boston and Worcester in between stints on the injured list. Opening the season in the Red Sox Rotation, Fitts pitched well through his first three starts on the mound until an injury in his third start halted his momentum. Placed on the 15-day injured list with a right pectoral strain, Fitts would see himself out of action until late May. During that span, the Red Sox saw Hunter Dobbins leap ahead of Fitts on the depth chart, but with the team still in need of pitching, they brought Fitts back early against Milwaukee, having him pitch on limited innings. The outing went well as he tossed three scoreless innings, but after that, things went downhill for the right-hander. Fitts would see himself be shelled by the Los Angeles Angels, allowing three home runs in the first on his way to a six-run, five-earned outing that saw him optioned back to Worcester after. Fitts again saw a mix of success, making three starts but only making it past the fourth inning once (though his outing on July 1 was cut short due to a rain cancellation). After that, Fitts saw himself bouncing between Boston and Worcester, making two appearances in late July before being sent back to Worcester and recalled in late August for one appearance out of the bullpen, where he tossed four innings and allowed three runs. He would end up injured, this time with right-arm neuritis, which ended his season. While Fitts dealt with injuries and inconsistency, the Red Sox noted how several of their young pitchers were developing. Payton Tolle and Connelly Early both made their major league debuts and pitched well enough to make the postseason roster. Hunter Dobbins pitched well until his season-ending injury, and prospects in the minors continued to develop as several pitchers leapfrogged Fitts on the depth chart. He had become expendable in a trade without hurting the team’s overall depth too much. And so, Breslow pulled the trigger on the trade to send a lottery prospect and a depth pitcher for a middle-of-the-rotation arm. He showed that the Red Sox are serious about next season, all while keeping Gray only on the books for next season. He didn’t take on additional money that could affect the team, given a likely lockout in 2027. Breslow found a way to focus on 2026 and 2026 alone. And with the money coming back from St. Louis, the trade looks even better. This is a trade that a team looking to win makes. Breslow knew it, and he didn’t falter in negotiations. View the full article

The Miami Marlins engaged the representatives of right-handed phenom Eury Pérez regarding a potential contract extension during the spring of 2025, sources tell Fish On First, though talks failed to progress beyond the initial stages. The two sides were approximately $15 million apart in negotiations. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was first to mention that these talks took place early Wednesday morning. The Dominican flamethrower possesses a rare combination of size, command, fastball quality, and youth. He made his major league debut on May 12, 2023. In 19 starts as a rookie, Pérez posted a 3.15 ERA with 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings. His season was interrupted in July by an unpopular demotion to Triple-A due to a predetermined innings limit. He was recalled a month later and eventually finished the year on the injured list with left SI joint inflammation. In spring training 2024, Pérez first dealt with a fingernail issue, then began experiencing elbow discomfort. He opened the season on the injured list and later underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery. He returned to MLB in June 2025 and recorded a 4.25 ERA over 95 ⅓ innings. He will still be just 22 years old on Opening Day 2026. "We're always going to have those conversations. We have a bunch of really good players," president of baseball operations Peter Bendix this offseason said in relation to making extensions. Conveniently Pérez is represented by Adriel Reyes of CAA—the same agent who negotiated Sandy Alcantara’s extension, the only long-term deal completed during the Bruce Sherman era. Knowledge of these past talks comes on the heels of reporting that the Marlins are also interested in securing All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers on a team-friendly deal. However, Pérez, outfielder Jakob Marsee and catcher Joe Mack profile as far more likely extension candidates. Comparable industry extensions for homegrown starting pitchers include Brayan Bello’s six-year, $55 million deal with Boston in 2024 and Spencer Strider’s six-year, $75 million contract with Atlanta in 2022. I expect Miami to be offering Pérez something in between. Fish On Fist founder Ely Sussman projected a five-year, $60 million pact in his Marlins offseason blueprint. View the full article