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As part of the most recent collective bargaining agreement between the players union and MLB, an annual bonus pool was created to pay players who accumulated significant on-field value and/or finished highly in balloting for the league's major awards, in seasons in which they did not yet qualify for arbitration. It was one small (and ultimately inadequate) way to shift money from highly paid veterans (often on the decline) and underpaid young stars of the game, and it's made a significant difference in the earning power of players over their first two or three years in the league. The bonuses paid to several dozen players were announced Tuesday, and three Cubs saw their 2025 earnings substantially boosted. Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was on the All-MLB second team and put up impressive totals in wins above replacement, earned an extra $1,206,207, which is just shy of double his salary for the season. Between that extra infusion of cash; winning a Gold Glove Award; a playoff share; and his massive marketability (which has already yielded some lucrative endorsement opportunities), Crow-Armstrong got much richer this year. Whatever leverage the Cubs hoped to wield in negotiations over a contract extension when they began them in the spring has evaporated. Crow-Armstrong is still in position to hit free agency relatively young, and he'll qualify for arbitration as a Super Two player in 2027. He's holding all the cards. Cade Horton got $500,000 for his runner-up finish in the Rookie of the Year voting, and made a total of $852,806 in bonuses after adding the amount he earned via WAR calculations. That's more than he made in salary, too, and he gets the non-monetary (but extremely lucrative) added benefit of getting a full year of service time for 2025, thanks to getting those Rookie of the Year votes. He's now set to become a free agent after 2030, just as Crow-Armstrong is. He, too, leaped forward in terms of his career earning potential this season, thanks to the new rules that came into effect in the last CBA. Nothing, however, can save the earning power of a late-blooming first baseman. Michael Busch, who arguably had the best season of any Cub, got just $483,108 for his efforts. This was Busch's age-27 season, and while he made the most of it, he's not eligible for arbitration until 2027, and can't become a free agent until the end of 2029. By then, he's likely to be moving out of his prime. The Cubs have little incentive to extend him, and he has little chance to make All-MLB teams or rack up WAR, because of his position and the way the statistics are calculated. He'll be grateful for the extra money, which will be over $500,000 once his playoff share is heaped on top of it, but Busch didn't hit the same kind of jackpot as his younger, more celebrated teammates—even though he had a tremendous breakout campaign. These initiatives—the bonus payments and the service-time rewards—are a great step forward for the game, giving young stars more leverage and more power. It only makes the Cubs' job harder, because extending Crow-Armstrong looks like a very expensive endeavor at this point. So be it. The team will have to either swallow its worries and make a splash, or accept the risks that come with going year to year with franchise cornerstones. In the meantime, for Crow-Armstrong, Horton and Busch, these are just desserts for a job extremely well done. View the full article

In episode 102 of Destination: The Show, the crew break down the Twins additions to the 40-man roster, from the more expected to the less obvious. They spend some time digging into the emergency of undrafted right-handed pitcher John Klein, who looks like a candidate for the MLB bullpen in 2026. The guys discuss Derek Shelton rounding out his MLB Staff before digging into Trevor Larnach being tendered a contract for 2026. Finally they answer listener questions on the forthcoming draft lottery. 0:00 Intro 4:25 Housekeeping 5:02 40-Man Roster Adds (lots of John Klein talk) 17:14 Rotation talk 22:40 Hendry Mendez 24:34 MLB Coaching Staff 27:00 Trade for Alex Jackson 39:38 Contracts Tendered (including Larnach) 45:32 Listener Questions You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View the full article

This afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays announced they had placed left-handed pitcher Easton Lucas, 29, on unconditional release waivers. This will free up another space on the 40-man roster, giving the front office three open spots to work with. Lucas made his MLB debut with the Athletics in 2023 and bounced from the A's to the Tigers to the Blue Jays in 2024. He made a pair of excellent starts for Toronto this past April, striking out 11 in 10.1 scoreless innings. Unfortunately, he struggled after those two outings and could not stick with the major league club. As is often the case when a team releases a player seemingly out of nowhere, it is believed that the Blue Jays granted Lucas his release so he could sign a contract with a foreign professional team (per Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith). According to reporter Francys Romero, that team will be in Japan's NPB. Featured image courtesy of Mitch Stringer, Imagn Images. View the full article

On Monday, the Kansas City Royals announced that they hired Mike McFerran as assistant pitching coach. McFerran replaces Zach Bove, who left earlier this month for the head pitching coach role with the Chicago White Sox. McFerran is only 32 years old but has a diverse coaching history, with much of his time spent at his alma mater, Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, Wake Forest University, and the Sacramento Athletics. With Wake Forest, he served as an associate head coach and pitching lab coordinator, helping develop first-round draft picks such as Ryan Cusick and Rhett Lowder. After a successful tenure with the Demon Deacons, he moved on to the Athletics organization, where he primarily worked with Minor League pitchers for the past two seasons. The Royals' new assistant pitching coach had a pretty interesting interview on "And That's The Game" from Pro Batter Sports last year, when he was a member of the Athletics organization. In the podcast, he discussed his unique coaching background and his overall coaching philosophy. When it came to replacing Bove, the Royals were looking for someone who shared Bove's ability to work closely with pitchers, especially in game strategy and pitch design, according to MLB.com Royals beat writer Anne Rogers. With his extensive background in pitch mechanics and incorporating science, data, and technology to develop athletes, especially pitchers, it seems like Kansas City found that fit with McFerran. Here's a snippet from Rogers' piece that provides background on McFerran's coaching history, especially during his tenure at Wake Forest. With the McFerran hiring, the Royals' coaching staff should be complete for the upcoming season. In addition to Bove, the Royals needed to replace assistant hitting coaches Keoni DeRenne and Joe Dillon. They found those replacements in Connor Dawson of the Brewers and Marcus Thames of the White Sox. Photo Credit: © William Purnell-Imagn Images View the full article

When the Collective Bargaining Agreement between players and owners made their most-recent agreement in 2022, one of the better policy changes was giving more money to players who are unable to make the big money yet. Each season, the league sets aside $50 million. Specific amounts are earned for receiving Rookie of the Year, MVP or Cy Young votes, or finishing first or second team All-MLB. For instance, Paul Skenes won the Cy Young this season, so he got $2.5 million for that. Hunter Brown finished third place in NL voting, and for that, he received $1.5 million. A player can only receive a bonus for one award per year, the higher amount. The remaining money is then allocated to several players based on a special formula using a couple of WAR stats. The top of the 2025 pre-arbitration bonuses looks a lot like the top of the NL Cy Young vote. Paul Skenes led the way at $3,436,343. Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez earned $2,678,437, and Brown earned $2,206,538. Others to earn a bonus over $1 million include Mariners Bryan Woo ($1.54M), Diamondbacks OF ($1.34M), A's 1B Nick Kurtz ($1.30M), Cubs OF Pete Crow-Armstrong ($1.21M), Braves catcher Drake Baldwin ($1.18M), Brewers 2B Brice Turang ($1.16M), and Rays 3B ($1.07M). A 23-year-old former 2nd round pick, Keaschall made his big-league debut in April and earned 164 days of service time during the 2025 season. He hit .302/.382/.445 (.827) with 14 doubles, four home runs and 28 RBI. He had 14 steals in 17 attempts. He received a couple of Rookie of the Year votes. Per Baseball-Reference, his season was worth 2.0 WAR. Per FanGraphs, his season was valued at 1.6 WAR. Keaschall,'s 2025 salary for his big-league time would have been the major-league minimum salary of $760,000. Since he was on the roster 164 days, his MLB salary was somewhere around $690,000. On Tuesday, he earned his bonus of $209,217, an extra 30% for him. Just two players, Reds infielder Matt McLain ($206,056) and Nationals OF Daylen Lile ($150,000), earned a smaller bonus. Frankly, the Twins didn't have a lot of pre-arbitration players on the roster who played enough for consideration. Others include Matt Wallner, Brooks Lee, Edouard Julien each had more plate appearances than Keaschall's 207. Frankly I'm surprised that Simeon Woods Richardson didn't get a bonus in 2025. He went 7-4 with a 4.04 ERA over 111 1/3 innings and 22 games started. It was worth 2.2 bWAR and 1.2 fWAR, so he had to be close. Louie Varland had to be close as well. Following the 2023 season, the Twins had six players earn the bonus: Bailey Ober ($432,752), Edouard Julien ($397,629), Joe Ryan ($341,931), Royce Lewis ($341,190), Ryan Jeffers ($300,304), and Jhoan Duran ($271,789). After the 2024 season, the Twins had five players earn this bonus: Bailey Ober ($381,085), Griffin Jax ($352,852), Joe Ryan ($331,054), Matt Wallner ($256,296), and Simeon Woods Richardson ($243,471). View the full article

Miami Marlins players Kyle Stowers, Xavier Edwards, Otto Lopez, Jakob Marsee, Janson Junk and Eury Pérez combined to receive nearly $2 million from the MLB pre-arbitration bonus pool, per the Associated Press. Players can become eligible for bonuses based on where they finish in the voting for major awards (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and All-MLB). However, each of the six Marlins were paid according to a proprietary wins above replacement formula. This is the second straight year that Edwards and Lopez have earned pre-arb bonuses. Marsee spent the first four months of the 2025 season in the minor leagues, yet was so valuable as an all-around player down the stretch that he made up for lost time. He winds up collecting more money from the bonus pool than he did in salary during his partial season on the Marlins roster. Ronny Henriquez and Heriberto Hernández are among the other young Marlins who fell just barely below the bonus pool cut-off. Courtesy of Spotrac, we can combine these bonuses with each player's cash earnings at the major league level to approximate their overall income for 2025: Kyle Stowers, $1,317,218 Xavier Edwards, $1,158,237 Otto Lopez, $1,067,012 Eury Pérez, $982,753 Janson Junk, $779,784 Jakob Marsee, $523,282 Ten members of the Milwaukee Brewers received bonuses, making them the only team better represented than the Marlins. The pool was divided among 101 total players. Edwards, Lopez, Pérez and Stowers will be eligible for arbitration beginning in 2027, so they'll have only one more opportunity next year to be included in the pool. Junk and Marsee won't be arb-eligible until 2028 at the earliest. View the full article

The Red Sox have checked in on free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. Realmuto, entering his age-35 season, just completed his sixth year with Philadelphia and reached the postseason in four straight years as the club’s primary catcher. In 2025, Realmuto logged 550 plate appearances over 134 games and hit .257/.315/.384 with 12 home runs and eight stolen bases, producing a .700 OPS and a 91 OPS+. FanGraphs credited him with a 94 wRC+ and 2.1 WAR. Statcast shows a wOBA of .307 and xwOBA of .316, with a hard-hit rate around 37 percent. On the defensive side, he caught over 1,150 innings in 2025 and remained a high-volume backstop. He posted a 28 percent caught-stealing rate and pop times around 1.86 seconds. Boston’s current catching group centers on Carlos Narváez and Connor Wong. Over the 2024–25 seasons combined, Wong has 675 plate appearances and produced a .255/.314/.374 line with a .688 OPS, .119 ISO and 92 wRC+. Narváez’s 2025 defensive metrics included a fielding run value of +5, +4 blocks above average, +2 caught stealing above average, and +3 framing runs, placing him among the more effective defensive catchers by those measures. With the emergence of Narváez in 2025, do you think Realmuto is a good addition? View the full article

The Twins front office has expressed a desire to add to the current roster, but their ability to do so is likely to be limited by the impending partial sale of the team. Even when this is resolved, we've learned that getting a straight answer on anything from this regime is not going to happen. Regarding the team’s intentions to contend in 2026, fans will have to draw their own conclusions based on how the offseason goes. There are several spots on the roster to watch to gauge whether the Twins are trying to contend in 2026, but three stand out. First Base The Twins have been shuffling first basemen for the last few years, opting to fill the spot with cheap veterans who have had varying degrees of success. In 2025, it was one of the team’s weaker positions. Opening Day starter Ty France eventually lost his job to career journeyman Kody Clemens, who had some nice moments but wasn’t the kind of player a contending team wants to have in the lineup every day. First base is at the bottom of the defensive spectrum. Having a good defensive first baseman is nice, but offensive production is an absolute must. The 29-year-old Clemens is the incumbent, coming off a .715 OPS, which was below league average overall and well below average among first basemen. The Twins also have no legitimate prospects on their way to take the position over midseason. It’ll be worth watching whether they see value in upgrading the position, either in free agency or via trade. The team is in desperate need of a boost offensively, and adding a first baseman with more upside is one of the most cost-effective upgrades they can make. If they roll with what they have headed into 2026, it’s worth questioning how serious they are. The Bullpen The once-elite Twins bullpen is now one of the worst in baseball, following a shocking sell-off at the trade deadline. Falvey and company downplayed the effect of these moves, explaining that they had built the previous bullpen internally. While that's true, he failed to mention that assembling the previous group took years of trial and error. Pretending that the current group (along with a few waiver claims and minor-league signings) will be competitive in 2026 is unrealistic. This regime has shown that they don’t value relievers highly enough to spend much on them in free agency. They’ve rarely invested in them, and it’s gone quite poorly on the rare occasions when they have. Unfortunately, they’ve left themselves no choice but to do it this winter, if they’re serious about competing in 2026. The Twins could have a top-five rotation in 2026, yet they may miss the playoffs with their current bullpen. They need to hit on two or three legitimate arms to turn to at the back end of games, or the rest of the roster won’t matter. If they choose to stand pat, they likely aren’t especially worried about winning games in 2026. López and Ryan The most obvious tell for the Twins' intentions in 2026 will be what they do with Joe Ryan and Pablo López. Derek Falvey has expressed his desire to keep both players, but payroll may leave him no choice but to sell them off for parts. Regardless of what they bring back, trading one or both of them would be waving the white flag. The rotation is the lone bright spot of the Twins' roster. We can dream of a world where Taj Bradley, Mick Abel and others take a big step and fill the void left by trading away high-end starters, but that would be refusing to admit what’s right in front of us. López and Ryan each have multiple years of team control at prices below their market value. Teams looking to compete don’t trade these types of players when they’re in the situation the Twins are in. They do it to lower their payroll and try to sell the cheaper prospects they get in return, as a reason for the fanbase to have hope. If either López or Ryan is traded, the Twins are telling us 2026 doesn’t matter. The path to competing without one of these two at the front of the rotation becomes far too narrow. The team would be left with question marks across all departments, and it’s been years since this front office has given confidence that they can find answers. Local writers will undoubtedly continue to push for answers regarding the Twins' intentions for 2026, but there’s very little chance they will get them at any point this offseason. Actions speak louder than words, anyway, and watching their moves this offseason will give us all the answers we need. Will the Twins make a legitimate effort to improve in 2026, or will their stated goals of adding to the roster be undermined by the actions they take? View the full article

In a recent piece by Jack Stern, he mentioned eight relievers who played substantial roles in the Brewers bullpen last year. Six of them—Grant Anderson, Aaron Ashby, DL Hall, Jared Koenig, Trevor Megill, and Abner Uribe—have minor-league options left. Nick Mears and Rob Zastryzny do not. This octet will do much of the heavy lifting out of the pen in 2026, but Milwaukee faces a practical constraint: the guys they would most want to swap out to bring up fresh arms at times are the ones who can't be sent down. As with last year’s starting rotation, though, there's helpful depth that could alleviate those problems. Let’s check out some of the guys in the minors who haven't been celebrated or praised, but should get called up to Milwaukee sometime in 2026—and a few prospects who look like they will move up to the higher levels. Second-Chance Relievers Craig Yoho (BF #20 prospect) Yoho appeared in eight games for Milwaukee last year in three separate stints, and other than one bad outing, he allowed five hits and two runs in 7 2/3 innings, good for an ERA of 2.35. Of course, one can't just eliminate the worst outing in a small sample, but his handful of strong appearances loosely confirmed the upside scouts saw (and his stats reflected) before he matriculated to the majors. Yoho throws the Triple-A equivalent of the Devin Williams Airbender, but command of it is still a work in progress. His fastball sits in the 92-94 range, and he rounds out the mix with a curve and a change. He's also working on a cutter. His 31% strikeout rate at Triple A is a portent of good things to come in Milwaukee. Expect to see him at Uecker Field for a good portion of the 2026 season. Easton McGee The lanky (6-foot-7) righthander split time between Nashville and Milwaukee last season. Although he didn’t have the success in the majors that Yoho did, he pitched four outings of at least two innings, serving as a key bridge from the middle of the game to the team's higher-leverage guys. He threw a sinker and a curve about 30% of the time each, with his fastball topping out at 94-95. In his previous eight seasons in the minors, McGee made 100 starts, so in a pinch, he could be a spot starter for the Brewers, but it's more likely he will be a middle reliever. Sammy Peralta Selected off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels in late October, Peralta is a decent-sized (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) soft-tossing southpaw whose fastball sits at just over 89 mph. He throws a slider in the 78 range, along with a change that hits 82. Peralta was an 18th-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Tampa, and bounced around in the White Sox and Mariners chains before pitching in the Mexican League to start the 2025 campaign. After a few subpar outings with the Angels in September, he caught on with Milwaukee. He is another candidate for a long relief job in Brew City. Triple-A and Double-A Relievers Blake Holub A 15th-round pick of the Detroit Tigers in the 2021 MLB Draft, the 6-foot-6, 230-pound Holub is another in the long line of towering Brewers pitchers. He has raw talent, but struggles to find the plate on a consistent basis, as his 11.8% walk rate shows. On the other hand, a ‘violent’ delivery helped him strike out batters at a rate of 28.5%. At 27, he is a tad old to be a prospect, so this might be his make-or-break year. Will Childers Matthew Wilkie Childers was a 30th-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2019 MLB Draft, but didn’t sign. He attended the University of Georgia and was an All-American his freshman year. But then disaster struck, in the form of two elbow surgeries, which led to his being picked up by Milwaukee after the 2022 MLB Draft as an undrafted free agent. Childers has had an up-and-down career, but his 2025 season (with a 25.5% strikeout rate) shows promise for the future. Justin Yeager Yeager was a 33rd-round draft pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Southern Illinois University. After three years in the Atlanta Braves organization, Yeager was a part of the trade in which the Brewers acquired William Contreras in 2022. Yeager has spent the better part of the last three years at Double-A Biloxi, but in 18 appearances and 21 innings at Nashville last year, Yeager allowed only 3.8 hits per nine innings. At age 28 at the start of the 2026 campaign, he is in the same ‘long-in-the-tooth’ prospect boat that Holub is in. Mark Manfredi Manfredi is one of the best left-handed options at the middle levels of the minors for the Crew, having pitched at Biloxi all season in 2025. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder was drafted in the 9th round of the 2023 draft. During his first season at High-A Wisconsin, he made 12 starts among his 28 appearances. In 2025 at Double A, he was strictly a reliever, making 44 trips to the mound while striking out batters at a 29.8% rate. He needs to work on his control, as he posted a 14.9% walk rate. With a good season, the 25-year-old could possibly see some late-season action in Milwaukee this year. Tyler Bryant Bryant joined Yoho, Childers, and Holub on the 2025 Brewers Spring Breakout roster. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Texan was signed as a free agent by the Brewers in June 2024. After five seasons of small college ball and one year in the independent Frontier League, Bryant got his chance with Milwaukee. He showed enough last year in nine games with Carolina and 11 games with Wisconsin to move up to Biloxi in 2025. Bryant struck out batters at a rate of 31.2%, but also walked them at a rate of 12.7%. He was injured in July and missed the last couple months of the season. Bryant will turn 27 in January, so his clock is also rapidly ticking. Others of Note Anthony Flores, LH, Wisconsin J.D. Thompson, RH, DNP professional ball Ethan Dorchies, RH, ACL, Carolina Frank Cairone, LH, DNP professional ball What’s Next? The Brewers used 25 pitchers in relief last season, including position players Jake Bauers and Anthony Seigler. The 634 2/3 relief innings accounted for 44% of the team's innings pitched. Due to the heavy workload that relievers take on these days, a team will need to shuttle pitchers back and forth in the organization on a constant basis. It is also imperative that the relievers who are called up perform well, and the Brewers are hoping for that same result. View the full article

Well, at long last, the Boston Red Sox have their No. 2 starting pitcher. Sonny Gray of the St. Louis Cardinals is heading to Beantown as part of yet another blockbuster trade in this early part of the 2025-26 MLB offseason. Gray, 36, is reworking his contract as part of this deal. He'll receive $31 million for 2026 and a $10 million buyout on a mutual option in 2027. It's currently unknown how much money, the Cardinals are sending to offset some of that salary, but "cash" is included in the deal. The return for Gray is reportedly major-league pitcher Richard Fitts and top pitching prospect Brandon Clarke. MORE TO COME... View the full article

The Minnesota Twins will be featured in Major League Baseball’s Field of Dreams Game next August, a celebration of nostalgia, cornfields, and players who ideally still exist on the roster by first pitch. Unfortunately for MLB’s marketing department, the Twins appear determined to test that last requirement. The league has already rolled out promotional materials splashed with Minnesota stars Byron Buxton, Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Ryan Jeffers, and Royce Lewis. These posters look great on billboards, buses, and social media feeds. They would also make tremendous historical artifacts documenting a team that might be entirely gone by the time the game actually happens. One MLB official admitted privately that the league is preparing for the worst. “Let me put it this way,” the source said. “We may or may not have a folder titled: Things To Do If The Twins Trade Everyone With A Pulse. And that folder may or may not be very full.” The Twins front office also seems aware of the situation. A team source provided clarity on the matter. “Look, we like our guys,” the source said. “But we also really like future payroll flexibility. And prospect capital. And maybe just the general chaos of it all.” With the trade deadline falling before August’s Field of Dreams Game, the league is constructing backup promotional plans. The first option is simply swapping out the current stars for top prospect Walker Jenkins, who has yet to debut but has already been used as a placeholder so often that he might appear on more posters than Buxton by February. “Walker looks great in a cornfield,” an MLB designer said anonymously. “He also looks great in any graphic where we desperately need a Minnesota Twin who still plays for the Minnesota Twins. At this point, he might be our entire September promo package.” If Jenkins is not available or is inconveniently also traded for pitching depth or a rental reliever with an expiring elbow, MLB’s contingency depth chart shifts to Austin Martin. His second-half surge has made him credible enough to be featured, though the bar for credibility is now best described as “Can this person plausibly wear a Twins hat without us getting sued?” MLB’s most ambitious contingency plan involves fully leaning into misdirection. With Kody Clemens arriving in the organization, the league is reportedly considering a marketing strategy based on the assumption that casual fans will assume he is his father, Roger Clemens. “I'm not saying we would imply he is Roger,” an MLB source clarified. “Just that we would not go out of our way to clarify that he is not Roger. If people want to believe the Twins are sending that Clemens to Iowa, who are we to interrupt their joy?” The Twins, for their part, have not ruled out the possibility of using Clemens on the mound if public confusion reaches a high enough level. “We will do whatever the situation calls for,” a team source shared. “Is Kody a pitcher? Not currently. Could he be? Theoretically. Is this entire winter theoretical? Absolutely.” The league remains hopeful that at least one recognizable Twin survives the summer. But the risk is real, and it must be faced. One document labeled Emergency Minnesota Adventure outlines scenarios ranging from signing random former Twins to reintroducing TC Bear as a two-way player. Another plan apparently suggests asking Joe Mauer if he is busy that weekend. As the marketing department frantically prepares for all potential futures, MLB leadership remains officially calm. “This is all hypothetical,” one league executive insisted. “There is no reason to believe the Twins will trade away their entire roster. Unless they do. Which they might. But maybe they will not. But probably they will.” Fans now wait for more details, as August approaches and the cornfield beckons. Whether the Twins arrive with actual MLB players or some last-second collection of fallback options, we won't know for some time. View the full article

As the Chicago Cubs firmly enter offseason mode, they’ll explore all avenues in an attempt to make the team better for 2026. One of those avenues is via trade, which can sometimes involve pieces at the minor-league level, and can sometimes involve players at the big-league level, like the recent Marcus Semien for Brandon Nimmo trade. In this article, we’ll take a look at the Cubs’ 10 most important players on the major-league roster and consider their overall likelihood of being traded this winter. 10 - Seiya Suzuki Pros: Since his arrival in MLB, Suzuki has been one of the most productive offensive players around. Believe it or not, he has a 127 wRC+ since his MLB debut in 2022, which is 32nd in all of baseball. He’s ahead of players with much bigger names like Alex Bregman, William Contreras, Corbin Carroll, Austin Riley, and Fernando Tatis Jr. Cons: The obvious difference between Suzuki and each of those players named above is that all of those other guys play premium defensive positions, or at the very least, play a less-premium position very well. In 2024, Suzuki was worth -3 runs in the field, according to Baseball Savant’s Fielding Run Value, and thus shifted to designated hitter full time in 2025, which also brings his value down considerably. That, plus an unproductive second half of this past season, might leave a bad taste in some people’s mouths. Trade Likelihood: Low The Cubs don’t figure to be bringing Kyle Tucker back, and will probably be investing whatever money they have in the budget into the pitching staff. They’ll need Suzuki to cover right field full time again in 2026 (or DH, if Owen Caissie's glove is better suited for the field). 9 - Matt Shaw Pros: Shaw showed some potential of being an above-average everyday player in 2025, posting a 130 wRC+ after the All-Star break, to go along with 11 home runs. His fly ball rate and pull percentage all increased significantly, and that is basically what it boils down to: When he can get out in front of the ball and get it in the air, he’ll be a productive player. He showed significant progress towards being a viable every day third baseman in the field as the season progressed as well. Cons: When it was bad, it was really bad, and that came to fruition in the playoffs as Shaw went just 2-17 with seven strikeouts. He struggled against velocity all season, posting just a .281 wOBA and .195 batting average against pitches over 95mph, per Baseball Savant, which is a pretty standard offering from most pitchers in this day and age. Trade likelihood: Low It’s been reported that teams asked for Shaw at the trade deadline, and the Cubs balked at that request, so it would seem to me that they value Shaw a bit differently than the rest of the league. Value aside, the Cubs don’t really have anyone else in house to replace Shaw should they deal him, and as mentioned earlier, I’d expect most of their resources to be funneled towards pitching. I anticipate the former Maryland Terrapin to be at third base on Opening Day in 2026. 8 - Ian Happ Pros: Happ is the longest tenured Cub, and while I am certain front offices don’t value that much, I do! He has also been as consistent as it gets, putting up a batting line between 16 and 22 percent above league average, according to wRC+, and a FanGraphs WAR between 2.8 and 3.7 in each of the past four seasons. The veteran certainly isn’t a top-level player in baseball, but he is still a guy who the Cubs should be happy to pencil into their lineup every day going forward. Not to mention, he has a relatively affordable salary of $19m in 2026. Cons: It was already mentioned: Happ isn’t an elite hitter, and he doesn’t play a particularly valuable defensive position. He just is who he is at this point. At 31 years old, you probably wouldn’t expect him to improve a whole lot going forward. Trade likelihood: Low Point blank, Happ has a no-trade clause. Which is unfortunate, because if there is a position player that makes the most sense to deal, it’s probably the veteran left fielder. The Cubs have both Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara looking for big-league playing time, and Happ might be a desirable target for any team looking for reliable help in left field. I won’t complain about having to keep a guy like Happ around, but were it not for the no-trade clause, it might make sense from a team-building standpoint. 7 - Matthew Boyd Pros: Boyd was hands down the Cubs’ best pitcher in 2025, putting up a 3.21 ERA, a 3.65 FIP, and 3.4 fWAR en route to his first All-Star appearance. He was a major player in getting the Cubs back to the postseason for the first time since 2020. Cons: The veteran lefty, who eclipsed 100 innings for the first time since 2019, broke down a bit towards the end of the season. His ERA jumped from 2.34 in the first half to 4.63 in the second half, including an ugly 5.31 mark in September. A rough start in Game 1 of the NLDS likely sticks in a lot of people’s minds, though he did rebound for a good start to send the Cubs to Game 5 later in that series. Trade likelihood: Medium The Cubs already have the following starting pitchers on their 40-man roster: Boyd, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, Colin Rea, Javier Assad, Ben Brown, and Jordan Wicks. Jed Hoyer has been clear he would like to add starting pitching this winter, and if he manages to add a couple of names to that group, it’s entirely possible that the Cubs could look to deal Boyd while his value is high. 6 - Justin Steele Pros: From 2022 to 2024, Steele had the 15th-best fWAR in baseball and ninth-best ERA. He was a reliable top-of-the-rotation starter for three seasons. Cons: Even at his best, Steele has never been a big-time bat-misser, certainly not the level of some of the other top starters in baseball. That alone takes some shine off. Couple that with the fact that he is coming off of another elbow surgery, and we just have no idea what we can really expect from the southpaw in 2026. Trade likelihood: Low… for now The Cubs have had success working with Steele, and I’d imagine they’d want to try to bring his value back up in 2026 before looking to deal him. If things go well for him, but poorly for the Cubs, I wouldn’t be surprised if a deal is explored at the trade deadline in July, or at the very least, next offseason. View the full article

Luis Campusano's role with the San Diego Padres has been one of the more perplexing organizational developments over the last handful of seasons. Peaking as the team's No. 3 overall prospect in each of 2021 and 2022, the backstop has never quite gotten the run that his offensive upside might have deserved. Now on his last legs with the franchise, the 2026 campaign will finally reveal all about his long-term outlook in San Diego. After a cup of coffee in each of those two seasons when he was a top prospect, the 2023 season looked like the one where Campusano was finally going to get some run behind the plate. Given that he turned in his best season to date, turning in a .319/.356/.491 line and a 133 wRC+ across 174 plate appearances, that should have been the case. Health pinned down his ability to produce over a longer stretch, but it did lead to a decent run in the following year. However, Campusano was unable to duplicate his offensive success in 2024 — his line read .227/.281/.361, with a wRC+ of 83 in 299 PA — and his defensive grades were woeful (-13 Fielding Run Value, -17 Defensive Runs Saved). He would cede virtually all playing time to Kyle Higashioka and Elías Díaz by year's end. Unconvinced by such a downward turn in his development, the Padres turned to a combination of Díaz and Martín Maldonado ahead of 2025. Freddy Fermin was acquired at the deadline to gain further stability at the position. It'll be Fermin behind the dish for '26, with Higashioka long gone, Díaz a free agent, and Maldonado calling it a career at the outset of this offseason. Behind him, however, there's some space for depth. And if the Padres are finally going to understand what they have in Luis Campusano, it should likely be him as the No. 2 to start the season. The offensive upside is undeniable. Despite garnering only 27 trips to the plate in 2025 with the Padres, Campusano turned in an excellent year as a hitter in El Paso. His final line read .336/.441/.595 with a 148 wRC+. Perhaps most impressive was the fact that he nearly matched a strong strikeout rate (17.3 percent) with a quality walk figure (15.2 percent). He walked in 22.2 percent of his minuscule amount of plate appearances at the top level as well. Even if he struck out at a 40 percent clip, there's an approach there that is worth spending some time with in the lineup. The issue for the Padres will be getting Campusano playing time with this pitching staff. It's difficult to justify time for a poor defensive catcher with a group as quality as the Padres are in relief. It's even more so to deploy such a catcher with a starting staff that figures to exist heavily on the margins given an intense lack of depth and few dollars to play with this winter. You need a stabilizing presence back there. Fermin offers that as a starter and most teams are willing to compromise offense from their backup in the name of the glove, not the other way around. That the Padres were willing to tender a contract to Campusano speaks to the idea that this could be the year they consider giving him some actual run as a backup catcher and bench bat. There's a whole winter ahead to work with him. Maybe that time is dedicated to shoring up his skill behind the plate. Otherwise, he may not be long for the roster with a handful of savvy veterans now available in free agency at a lower price point. In any case, though, the relationship between player and organization is reaching its inflection point. If it doesn't work, then you're left with a couple of options. You either move him in the spring to a team that is intrigued enough by the bat, or you select the catcher to be inevitably added via a minor-league deal ahead of the spring. Either outcome isn't a terrible one. They both, however, fall short of what would be the preferred option: Luis Campusano shows enough with the glove to justify his presence on the roster while adding a more-than-capable bench bat to a Padres roster sorely in need of offensive depth. Of course, any road toward determining exactly what the future looks like for Luis Campusano will require the Padres to give him a legitimate leash. View the full article

The Twins traded tiny grit machine Payton Eeles to the Orioles for catcher Alex Jackson. In this edition of Twins 5, I share my reaction to that trade and the non-tender deadline which Trevor Larnach survived. I also speculate on the possibility Ryan Jeffers and Matt Wallner get traded, briefly discuss the Arizona Fall League and touch on DaShawn Keirsey Jr. being DFA'd. View the full article

The 2024 MLB Draft marked a pivotal moment for the Minnesota Twins, as the front office aimed to inject the system with high-end athleticism and safer, polished hitters. Over 16 months later, the results are starting to take shape. While it is still early in the development cycle, the 2025 season offered the first real indicators of who is rising and who still has work to do. Here is a look at how the top selections performed, and whether their stock is trending up or down. SS Kaelen Culpepper (1st Round, 21st Overall) Culpepper wasted no time proving he was worth a first-round bet. After showing brief flashes during his pro debut in 2024, he took a significant step forward this past season. His plus bat speed helped him drive the ball to all fields, and he trimmed his strikeout rate (17.4%) while maintaining a strong walk rate (9.7%). He finished the year slashing .289/.375/.469, with a 138 wRC+. The Twins named him the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year. At the time of the draft, there were questions about whether or not Culpepper could stick at shortstop. After 2025, Culpepper looks capable of sticking on the left side of the infield thanks to quick reactions and smooth hands, and he finished the year as a steady highlight reel at shortstop. His stock is way up because he showed both a higher offensive ceiling and a more stable defensive floor than projected. He now looks like a potential impact player for the Twins as early as 2026. Stock: Way Up IF Kyle DeBarge (1st Round, 33rd Overall) DeBarge entered pro ball known for elite defensive ability, and he only strengthened that reputation by winning a Rawlings Gold Glove after the 2025 season. His range and consistency anchor his value, and he displayed exceptional body control at both shortstop and second base. Offensively, DeBarge is still more contact-oriented than impact-driven (107 wRC+), but his bat-to-ball skills make him an annoyance at the plate for pitchers. However, he stole 66 bases to add to his offensive value. His stock is up because the defense is already top-tier, and the offensive floor appears solid enough for a future big league utility role with a chance for more. Stock: Up 3B Billy Amick (2nd Round, 60th Overall) Amick was drafted for his right-handed power, but his 2025 season exposed some concerns. Pitchers attacked him with elevated velocity and late-breaking spin, and his chase rate climbed (26.3 K%) throughout the year. While the raw power still flashes (150 wRC+), he struggled to translate it consistently in games. After being limited to 59 games, Minnesota sent him to the AFL, but he struggled by going 1-for-30 (.033 BA) with a 20-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His stock is down because the swing and approach need refinement before he can unlock his offensive upside. Stock: Down SP Dasan Hill (2nd Round, 69th Overall) Hill was viewed as a projection pick, and the early returns are encouraging with Twins Daily already ranking him in the organization’s top-10 prospects. His fastball ticked up into the upper 90s, and he showed improved command to both sides of the plate. Even more promising was the development of his sweeper, which added late bite and became a legitimate out pitch. Hill still needs to build stamina and sharpen his changeup, but the athleticism and strike-throwing are trending in the right direction. In 19 starts this season, the 19-year-old posted a 3.19 ERA with a 31.1 K% and a 15.0 BB%. His stock is up because his raw tools are beginning to translate into real on-field results. Stock: Up C Khadim Diaw (3rd Round, 96th Overall) Diaw made one of the biggest leaps in the class in 2025, as his offensive game took off. His strong frame produces natural power, and he showed a more controlled swing path, allowing him to drive pitches in the strike zone (161 wRC+). He also started gaining national attention with ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel placing Diaw in Minnesota’s top-10 prospects earlier this season. Unfortunately, he dealt with multiple injuries in college and missed time with a broken thumb last season. His stock is up because he blended production with projection and looked more like a long-term piece in the system. Stock: Up OF Jaime Ferrer (4th Round, 126th Overall) Ferrer was known for his raw pop when the Twins drafted him (1.083 OPS in his junior season), but his year was marked by inconsistency. First basemen and corner outfielders must hit for power, and he was limited to a .339 SLG and an 82 wRC+. Opposing pitchers exploited holes up in the zone, and his timing drifted as the season progressed. While he can still do damage on mistake pitches, his overall contact quality dipped, and his defensive profile remains limited to a corner outfield spot. His stock is down because the hit tool questions have grown louder, and he will need to make adjustments heading into 2026. Stock: Down OF Caden Kendle (5th Round, 159th Overall) Kendle entered the organization as an older but polished bat with strong plate discipline. Unfortunately, his 2025 performance plateaued. He posted a solid on-base percentage (.323 OBP) but did not impact the ball with enough authority (.382 SLG) to stand out. His limited power narrows his margin for error, and he will need to unlock more extra base damage to rise through the system. His stock is down because his offensive output did not match the expectations for a player with his college track record. Stock: Down The 2024 draft class already shows signs of paying dividends for the Twins, particularly with Culpepper, DeBarge, Hill, and Diaw emerging as early success stories. Others will require more time and development, but the organization can feel optimistic about the foundation laid by this group. 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

As we enter the holiday season, the concept of reuniting with family members and loved ones is on the mind. While there may be a few people we're a little less than thrilled about sharing a table with (maybe it's that know-it-all cousin of yours you never really got along with?), there will also be some folks we haven't seen for quite some time who will fill our evenings with joy and laughter. We'll realize, in that moment, just what we've been missing. Right then, even if for a short time, we are whole again. It's in this vein that the Chicago Cubs will be looking fill out their 2026 roster, and a "family reunion" of some sorts may just be what the doctor ordered. There are a handful of heroes of past Cubs rosters who are looking for homes next year, and it may be that they choose the familiar home they once had instead of a brand-new city in which to settle down. I'll examine three candidates: designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, and relief pitchers Mark Leiter Jr. and Andrew Chafin. Together, we can endeavor to decide just how likely it is for them to sit down at the Cubs' dinner table for the foreseeable future. Reunion Candidate #1: Designated Hitter Kyle Schwarber Kyle Schwarber was one of the more beloved Cubs hitters during his time in Chicago. From hitting a ball atop the right-field scoreboard in the 2015 NLDS to heroically returning for the 2016 World Series (after missing the lion's share of the season due to an unfortunate knee injury), the left-handed hitter made his mark in Chicago. His time was cut short when the team decided to non-tender him, ultimately spending the same money on Joc Pederson instead ahead of the 2021 season. Now, the Cubs will have a chance to rectify that error by bringing Schwarber home. Since 2021, the left-handed DH has been among the best in baseball, averaging a 135 wRC+ for the Nationals, Red Sox, and Phillies. Once a strict platoon bat, Schwarber even has some some mojo against left-handed pitchers, finishing with a 162 wRC+ against them in 2025. He's strictly a DH, but his bat is so good that it doesn't really hold him back from being useful. Why Schwarber might fit into the Cubs' plans: The Cubs are slated to lose (arguably) their best hitter to free agency, in Kyle Tucker. The team could swing their incumbent at DH, Seiya Suzuki, back to right field for the 2026 season, which would open up a perfect spot for Schwarber. His left-handed bat was actually better than Tucker's was last year, and he would add significant thump to the lineup. Why Schwarber might not fit into the Cubs' plans: The Cubs just don't put a massive emphasis on DH most years. They value positional flexibility, and Schwarber offers none of that—though he might be capable of moonlighting a little at first base. As well, they have two rookies in Owen Caissie and Moisés Ballesteros, who both hit from the left side. Either could conceivably slip into the position. How likely is a reunion? About as likely as that one uncle of yours not getting political this week at the dinner table. There are already rumors that the Philadelphia Phillies are going to try to keep him (and they aren't afraid to jump a market). According to ESPN insider Jeff Passan, the market is hot for the DH. Could the Cubs decide that Schwarber, who probably won't need a seven-year commitment, is the player they should get irrational about? Perhaps, but it feels like another team will decide to do that instead. As fun as it would be, it seems like a reunion here is unlikely. Reunion Candidate #2: Reliver Mark Leiter Jr. Leiter spent two and a half seasons in the Windy City after the Cubs helped to revive the then-31-year-old's career. He hadn't pitched an inning in the majors since 2018, but by the middle of 2022, he had established himself a key cog in the Cubs' bullpen. Flashing a plus splitter that was devastating to left-handed hitters, the reliever had finally found a home—that is, until the trade deadline of the 2024 season. With the Cubs staring at decision point (choosing between making a run for it and selling off some assets for the future), the New York Yankees made an offer for the right-hander pitcher that the Cubs couldn't turn down. The Cubs acquired young reliever Jack Neely and infielder Ben Cowles, and Leiter was sent to the city that never sleeps. While Leiter was pretty good in New York, the Yankees made the decision to non-tender the 34-year-old last week. making him a free agent. Why he might fit into the Cubs' plans: The Cubs bullpen is currently wide open and quite unsettled. Returning closer Daniel Palencia will be coupled with recently-signed Phil Maton, but there is little clarity regarding the rest of the bullpen. One area in which the Cubs are lacking; anyone who specializes, specifically, in getting left-handed hitters out. Despite being right-handed, Leiter uses his splitter effectively against opposite-handed hitters, finishing with a 2.61 xFIP against lefties last season. Why he might not fit into the Cubs' plans: While the Cubs are looking to rebuild their bullpen, they may aim higher than Leiter. Though he'd offer the comfort of familiarity, Leiter really struggled against right-handed-hitters, posting significantly worse numbers against them; a strikeout rate of just 12.1% and an xFIP well over 5.00. If there's enough concern that he's too specialized, the Cubs may not see a place for him in their revamped 2026 bullpen. How likely is a reunion? As likely as I am to pull a hamstring during the Turkey Trot: 50/50. The Cubs need a lot of relievers this offseason, and you'd have to imagine that if there's an organization out there who believes they can get the most out of Leiter, it's the Cubs. With all of their left-handed specialists leaving, it makes Leiter that much more attractive. So while I wouldn't gamble my hard-earned money on it, I think there's a good chance this one could happen; much like a white Christmas remains possible, Reunion Candidate #3: Reliever, Andrew Chafin Chafin feels like he was part of the Chicago Cubs for longer than he was, but the left-handed reliever only spent some inactive time in 2020 and half of the 2021 season with the team. Admittedly, it was a great 31-game sample, as the left-handed pitcher put up a 2.06 ERA and 0.9 fWAR (which is a lot for a partial season!), ultimately earning a trade to Oakland that would bring back Triple-A outfielder Greg Deichmann and a minor leaguer with an electric arm—Daniel Palencia. Since 2021, Chafin has been signing for playoff non-contenders and then being traded at the deadline to a playoff hopeful. Now 35 years old, the reliever is once again looking for a new home. Why he might fit into the Cubs' plans: As I detailed with Leiter, the Chicago Cubs' bullpen is currently empty. They've lost most of their bullpen, which also includes the non-tender of depth piece Eli Morgan. The team will need a lot of relievers, and Chafin could fit back in as a left-handed option, The Cubs have not shied away from older lefties; their primary options just a year ago were the 37-year-old Drew Pomeranz and 38-year-old Caleb Thielbar. Comparatively, Andrew Chafin represents a youth movement. Why he might not fit into the Cubs' plans: On the surface, he looks like he might be done as a big-league pitcher. Chafin's fastball has declined to the wrong side of 90 mph, so while his ERA remained sterling (2.41), his xFIP climbed to nearly 4.00 last year. His strikeout rate dropped by 3%, and his walk rate ballooned to 13.3%. The Cubs already have a lack of velocity in their pen, so adding another soft-tosser may not be the best gamble to take. How likely is a reunion? About as likely as I am to eat a second slice of apple pie on Thursday On the surface it may seem like a good idea (my eyes being larger than my stomach), but once I think about it, it probably isn't so, at my age. Chafin has a lot of signs of decline, and I'm not sure that the Cubs will be in a place to see if he still has it. Maybe they see something within his biomechanics and think they can squeeze and find 2 mph on his fastball again, but I think it's more likely (as he hits the back end) of his 30's that he's trending toward the end. What do you think of these reunion candidates? Do you have a favorite one? Maybe there's a reunion out there that I didn't think of? Let us know in the comment section below! View the full article

As we enter the holiday season, the concept of reuniting with family members and loved ones is on the mind. While there may be a few people we're a little less than thrilled about sharing a table with (maybe it's that know-it-all cousin of yours you never really got along with?), there will also be some folks we haven't seen for quite some time who will fill our evenings with joy and laughter. We'll realize, in that moment, just what we've been missing. Right then, even if for a short time, we are whole again. It's in this vein that the Chicago Cubs will be looking fill out their 2026 roster, and a "family reunion" of some sorts may just be what the doctor ordered. There are a handful of heroes of past Cubs rosters who are looking for homes next year, and it may be that they choose the familiar home they once had instead of a brand-new city in which to settle down. I'll examine three candidates: designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, and relief pitchers Mark Leiter Jr. and Andrew Chafin. Together, we can endeavor to decide just how likely it is for them to sit down at the Cubs' dinner table for the foreseeable future. Reunion Candidate #1: Designated Hitter Kyle Schwarber Kyle Schwarber was one of the more beloved Cubs hitters during his time in Chicago. From hitting a ball atop the right-field scoreboard in the 2015 NLDS to heroically returning for the 2016 World Series (after missing the lion's share of the season due to an unfortunate knee injury), the left-handed hitter made his mark in Chicago. His time was cut short when the team decided to non-tender him, ultimately spending the same money on Joc Pederson instead ahead of the 2021 season. Now, the Cubs will have a chance to rectify that error by bringing Schwarber home. Since 2021, the left-handed DH has been among the best in baseball, averaging a 135 wRC+ for the Nationals, Red Sox, and Phillies. Once a strict platoon bat, Schwarber even has some some mojo against left-handed pitchers, finishing with a 162 wRC+ against them in 2025. He's strictly a DH, but his bat is so good that it doesn't really hold him back from being useful. Why Schwarber might fit into the Cubs' plans: The Cubs are slated to lose (arguably) their best hitter to free agency, in Kyle Tucker. The team could swing their incumbent at DH, Seiya Suzuki, back to right field for the 2026 season, which would open up a perfect spot for Schwarber. His left-handed bat was actually better than Tucker's was last year, and he would add significant thump to the lineup. Why Schwarber might not fit into the Cubs' plans: The Cubs just don't put a massive emphasis on DH most years. They value positional flexibility, and Schwarber offers none of that—though he might be capable of moonlighting a little at first base. As well, they have two rookies in Owen Caissie and Moisés Ballesteros, who both hit from the left side. Either could conceivably slip into the position. How likely is a reunion? About as likely as that one uncle of yours not getting political this week at the dinner table. There are already rumors that the Philadelphia Phillies are going to try to keep him (and they aren't afraid to jump a market). According to ESPN insider Jeff Passan, the market is hot for the DH. Could the Cubs decide that Schwarber, who probably won't need a seven-year commitment, is the player they should get irrational about? Perhaps, but it feels like another team will decide to do that instead. As fun as it would be, it seems like a reunion here is unlikely. Reunion Candidate #2: Reliver Mark Leiter Jr. Leiter spent two and a half seasons in the Windy City after the Cubs helped to revive the then-31-year-old's career. He hadn't pitched an inning in the majors since 2018, but by the middle of 2022, he had established himself a key cog in the Cubs' bullpen. Flashing a plus splitter that was devastating to left-handed hitters, the reliever had finally found a home—that is, until the trade deadline of the 2024 season. With the Cubs staring at decision point (choosing between making a run for it and selling off some assets for the future), the New York Yankees made an offer for the right-hander pitcher that the Cubs couldn't turn down. The Cubs acquired young reliever Jack Neely and infielder Ben Cowles, and Leiter was sent to the city that never sleeps. While Leiter was pretty good in New York, the Yankees made the decision to non-tender the 34-year-old last week. making him a free agent. Why he might fit into the Cubs' plans: The Cubs bullpen is currently wide open and quite unsettled. Returning closer Daniel Palencia will be coupled with recently-signed Phil Maton, but there is little clarity regarding the rest of the bullpen. One area in which the Cubs are lacking; anyone who specializes, specifically, in getting left-handed hitters out. Despite being right-handed, Leiter uses his splitter effectively against opposite-handed hitters, finishing with a 2.61 xFIP against lefties last season. Why he might not fit into the Cubs' plans: While the Cubs are looking to rebuild their bullpen, they may aim higher than Leiter. Though he'd offer the comfort of familiarity, Leiter really struggled against right-handed-hitters, posting significantly worse numbers against them; a strikeout rate of just 12.1% and an xFIP well over 5.00. If there's enough concern that he's too specialized, the Cubs may not see a place for him in their revamped 2026 bullpen. How likely is a reunion? As likely as I am to pull a hamstring during the Turkey Trot: 50/50. The Cubs need a lot of relievers this offseason, and you'd have to imagine that if there's an organization out there who believes they can get the most out of Leiter, it's the Cubs. With all of their left-handed specialists leaving, it makes Leiter that much more attractive. So while I wouldn't gamble my hard-earned money on it, I think there's a good chance this one could happen; much like a white Christmas remains possible, Reunion Candidate #3: Reliever, Andrew Chafin Chafin feels like he was part of the Chicago Cubs for longer than he was, but the left-handed reliever only spent some inactive time in 2020 and half of the 2021 season with the team. Admittedly, it was a great 31-game sample, as the left-handed pitcher put up a 2.06 ERA and 0.9 fWAR (which is a lot for a partial season!), ultimately earning a trade to Oakland that would bring back Triple-A outfielder Greg Deichmann and a minor leaguer with an electric arm—Daniel Palencia. Since 2021, Chafin has been signing for playoff non-contenders and then being traded at the deadline to a playoff hopeful. Now 35 years old, the reliever is once again looking for a new home. Why he might fit into the Cubs' plans: As I detailed with Leiter, the Chicago Cubs' bullpen is currently empty. They've lost most of their bullpen, which also includes the non-tender of depth piece Eli Morgan. The team will need a lot of relievers, and Chafin could fit back in as a left-handed option, The Cubs have not shied away from older lefties; their primary options just a year ago were the 37-year-old Drew Pomeranz and 38-year-old Caleb Thielbar. Comparatively, Andrew Chafin represents a youth movement. Why he might not fit into the Cubs' plans: On the surface, he looks like he might be done as a big-league pitcher. Chafin's fastball has declined to the wrong side of 90 mph, so while his ERA remained sterling (2.41), his xFIP climbed to nearly 4.00 last year. His strikeout rate dropped by 3%, and his walk rate ballooned to 13.3%. The Cubs already have a lack of velocity in their pen, so adding another soft-tosser may not be the best gamble to take. How likely is a reunion? About as likely as I am to eat a second slice of apple pie on Thursday On the surface it may seem like a good idea (my eyes being larger than my stomach), but once I think about it, it probably isn't so, at my age. Chafin has a lot of signs of decline, and I'm not sure that the Cubs will be in a place to see if he still has it. Maybe they see something within his biomechanics and think they can squeeze and find 2 mph on his fastball again, but I think it's more likely (as he hits the back end) of his 30's that he's trending toward the end. What do you think of these reunion candidates? Do you have a favorite one? Maybe there's a reunion out there that I didn't think of? Let us know in the comment section below! View the full article

For the first time in Peter Bendix's two-plus years running the Miami Marlins front office, we have a credible report about the team negotiating a contract extension with a player. The negotiations did not go far, according to Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic, but earlier this offseason, the Marlins discussed a potential long-term deal with All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers. Ghiroli describes the two sides as being "incredibly far apart." Stowers' camp was using Bryan Reynolds as a comp, who received an eight-year, $106.75 million extension from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2023. The Boston Red Sox and Ceddanne Rafaela agreed to an eight-year, $50 million deal in 2024 shortly after Rafaela's debut, and that's reportedly what the Marlins are comfortable spending. Let's acknowledge right away that Stowers is a tricky player to appraise, even compared to other individuals with short MLB track records. That's because his track record has been particularly inconsistent: First 117 MLB games (2022-24): .208/.268/.332, 6 HR, 33.8 K% and -0.9 fWAR Last 117 MLB games (2025): .288/.368/.544, 25 HR, 27.4 K% and 4.0 fWAR Clearly, the Marlins believe that this past season is more indicative of who he will be moving forward, otherwise they wouldn't even be interested in a contract that may cover the rest of his career. When the Pirates extended Reynolds, he was the same age that Stowers is now. He had a similar blend of power and plate discipline and a similar defensive profile (solid left fielder who could fake it in center). However, his breakout year (2021) was bookended by other full seasons of great hitting (2019 and 2022). That established a much higher "floor" for himself than Stowers has been able to do. Also, Reynolds was a year closer to free agent eligibility. Stowers is under Miami's club control for four more seasons. Any deal he signs as a free agent would start at age 32, at which point he's likely to be past his prime. That's why, whether it be Reynolds or Rafaela, we shouldn't be referencing guaranteed eight-year frameworks in regard to Stowers. He is immensely valuable to the Fish going forward, but not that far into the future. I have landed on Matt Carpenter's initial extension with the St. Louis Cardinals as the most relevant starting point. View the full article

Last week, the Baltimore Orioles received outfielder Taylor Ward in exchange for right-handed starter Grayson Rodriguez. Ward is owed $13.7 million next year before he hits free agency in 2027. At age 26, Rodriguez is under team control through the 2029 season. His career has been riddled with injuries—shoulder and lat issues sidelined his playing time in 2024. This past season, he didn’t pitch, and in August, he underwent debridement surgery on his right elbow. On the other hand, Ward belted a career high of 35 home runs in 2025 (fifth in the AL). With the ability to hit the ball to all parts of the field, Ward should fare well playing 81 games in the hitter-friendly confines of Camden Yards. On Nov. 24, Jeff Passan reported that the Mets were trading outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien. Entering his age-33 season, Nimmo is owed $102.5 million through 2030, while Semien, who turned 35 in September, is owed $72 million through 2028. The Mets are sending $5 million to help offset the salary difference. The longest-tenured member of the Mets’ core, Nimmo had a stellar season at the plate in 2025, recording 114 wRC+, 25 home runs, and a career-high 50.2% hard-hit rate. However, his defensive metrics have dwindled with age. After primarily starting in center field throughout his career, Nimmo has shifted to left field. His defensive regression correlates with the decline in his sprint speed. Three years ago, Nimmo ranked in the 84th percentile for sprint speed (28.6 ft/s), and his Outs Above Average (OAA) was in the 91st percentile (six). Since then, both metrics dropped significantly. In 2025, his sprint speed fell to the 46th percentile (27.3 ft/s), while his OAA decreased to the 42nd percentile (one). Marcus Semien profiles as the exact opposite of Brandon Nimmo. Semien was sidelined with a Lisfranc sprain and left foot injury in 2025. Over the past couple of seasons, his bat has shown a steady decline: 2023: 128 wRC+ (during Texas’ World Series run) 2024: 101 wRC+ 2025: 89 wRC+ While Semien has maintained solid plate discipline, he isn’t a substantial threat at the plate anymore. Yet, unlike Nimmo, his defense has remained elite. He won his second Gold Glove in 2025 (7 OAA). Semien is a threat on the basepaths and has maintained an elite sprint speed through his mid-30s. This past season, the Mets ranked last in the league for sprint speed, so Semien provides a much-needed boost to the team’s baserunning. At second base, the Mets had a revolving door of second basemen with Jeff McNeil, Brett Baty, and Luisangel Acuña manning the position at various points in the season. Semien shores up the defense of the right side of the Mets’ infield, and a change of scenery could help rejuvenate his bat. In the outfield, Juan Soto is locked in right for the foreseeable future. Center field is a question mark. The Mets avoided arbitration with Tyrone Taylor, a plus defender in center field with elite speed. Internally, they could look to call up prospects Carson Benge and/or Jett Williams to fill in at center field during the 2026 season. McNeil also provides some positional versatility and can play in the outfield. Looking at the Steamer’s 2026 projections for the top free-agent outfielders, the outfield market is weak. Outside of Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, these players don’t move the needle greatly for contending teams. Given that outfielders are prime extension candidates (Julio Rodríguez, Jackson Chourio, Corbin Carroll, Jackson Merrill, and Roman Anthony), the free-agent outfield pool will continue to narrow. Player Age Position BB% K% ISO BABIP AVG OPS wOBA wRC+ WAR Kyle Tucker 29 RF 13.6% 15.2% .215 .278 .268 .853 .366 136 3.7 Mike Yastrzemski 36 RF 10.9% 23.3% .180 .269 .229 .726 .316 102 1.0 Cody Bellinger 30 CF 8.2% 15.0% .184 .282 .267 .781 .336 115 2.8 Cedric Mullins 31 CF 8.9% 22.8% .156 .274 .230 .689 .302 92 1.2 Rob Refsnyder 35 LF 10.4% 26.1% .161 .315 .248 .743 .325 108 0.4 Taylor Ward 32 LF 10.3% 24.1% .192 .286 .243 .764 .325 114 2.2 Brandon Nimmo 33 LF 9.7% 22.1% .172 .301 .255 .763 .333 115 2.5 Jarren Duran 29 LF 8.1% 23.5% .178 .319 .257 .760 .329 107 2.4 Wilyer Abreu 26 RF 11.1% 24.5% .203 .295 .249 .786 .338 113 1.7 The Red Sox are currently flush with outfield talent. Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu stand out as potential trade candidates. Projection-wise, both are younger and offer more long-term value than the 2025-26 free agent outfielders not named Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker. Although Duran took a step backwards in 2025, he is an above-average outfielder under team control through 2028. His skillset relies on his elite speed (29.1 ft/s, 91st percentile), which typically regresses with age. Considering that Duran prides himself on his insane workout routines and taking care of his body, his speed won't diminish overnight. Abreu is a two-time Gold Glove winner in just his first two full major league seasons. This past season, he slugged 22 home runs, the second-most on the Red Sox, and has four remaining years of control. While his ceiling has been a topic of debate, he’s proven that he can provide Gold Glove defense and has the potential to reach 30 home runs with his power. An ideal trade partner would have a surplus of controllable starting pitcher depth and need an upgrade in the outfield. Contending teams in the bottom third of the league for outfielder OAA include the Phillies, Rays, Braves, Mets, and Reds. The Phillies are far from a perfect match, the Rays are an intra-division team, and the Braves could potentially align with the Red Sox's need for a power bat at first (Matt Olson, anyone?). Again, similar to the Red Sox, the Braves and Mets are in search of a top-of-the-rotation starter. The Mets have an intriguing crop of pitching prospects (Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong), but if you're trading Duran/Abreu, you would prefer receiving a proven major league pitcher. On another note, Justin Willard, the Red Sox's former Director of Pitching, was hired by the Mets as their new pitching coach. Willard was a pivotal piece in overhauling the Red Sox's pitching program. The impact of his departure is unknown and could make the Red Sox more averse to taking on pitching projects moving forward. Following the Taylor Ward and Brandon Nimmo trades, the hot stove is just starting to heat up. Jarren Duran and/or Wilyer Abreu stand to provide a higher return than Grayson Rodriguez or Marcus Semien, and the front office must make a decisive decision to sell high on one or both players as it pursues the necessary pitching upgrades to make a World Series push. View the full article

With Bo Bichette declining Toronto's one-year qualifying offer, the team can now begin to negotiate with his camp, alongside several other interested teams across Major League Baseball. Both Bichette and the organization have repeatedly signaled interest in a new deal, and the front office says retaining him is its top priority this winter. At the same time, Ross Atkins and Co. are juggling their other priorities in order to field a team that can, at the least, match what this past year’s squad managed to do. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve heard reports that the Blue Jays remain the favourites to sign Bichette. Those reports are tempered a bit by news that teams such as the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers are also competing for his services. Y, if the Jays can sign Bichette, where should they turn their attention next? Kyle Tucker has been linked to the Jays and other squads so far, and the media has been highlighting Toronto's interest in several pitchers. Remember that the Jays will be without Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt unless they choose to re-sign one or both of them. If not, they need to fill those voids and probably get a handful of new arms for the bullpen. So, what positions should the team prioritize after Bichette? The starting rotation buoyed the team through the season. They bent, but they didn’t break. The same could be said about the bullpen. A team that is going to contend needs depth in both the rotation and the bullpen. Typically, starting pitchers and big bats fetch the biggest paycheques. In 2025, Toronto’s lineup was Jekyll and Hyde all season. They would score at will or not score at all; sometimes in the same series. A team with a competent pitching staff doesn’t have to be perfect if the offense can consistently produce. What the Jays need is a lineup that opponents will fear. What does that look like? A leadoff man who eats pitches and gets on base. A number three hitter that also eats pitches and can advance the leadoff man. And in order for the first three batters to be successful, the clean hitter needs to be feared due to his ability to avoid chasing and knock baserunners home. A batting order is just like a house of cards. Each batter has two roles: get on base and set up someone else. Sometimes their prowess means the batter before them gets more hittable pitches. Despite their success last season, the Jays had some gaps in their lineup. There were spots where opponents could get a little breather. Think Anthony Santander, Andrés Giménez, and the outfielders outside the regulars. Having a healthy Bichette would help, but the Jays are going to need at least another bat; the likes of Tucker would definitely give other teams' pitchers a reason to stress. MLB ranked this year’s crop of free agents, and their list broke the group down into five tiers. The top tier includes Bichette, Tucker, Cody Bellinger, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, Dylan Cease, Tatsuya Imai, Michael King, Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suárez and Framber Valdez. There has been some talk naming Bellinger and Valdez among the players the Jays have been wooing. With Santander and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. locked in, Alonso, who was in talks with the Jays last year, is most likely off the table. You can probably remove Schwarber from that list too. If the Jays sign Bichette, the only reason to go after Bregman is if they plan to trade Clement. That would be an interesting consideration, as Clement’s value probably won’t get any higher, but the financial cost of adding Bregman would be significant. In theory, even the biggest payroll can only cover two of that tier of players at the most. In the second tier, it's Edwin Díaz, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto, Jorge Polanco, J.T. Realmuto, Eugenio Suárez and Robert Suarez. The Jays have been linked to at least Díaz and Murkami so far. Bassitt, Luke Weaver and Justin Verlander are among the players highlighted in the third tier. The Jays’ front office is no doubt poring over the analytics to determine where there are gaps and, more importantly, where there is value. If you take a limited view of the World Series, the Jays lost because their bullpen couldn’t hold the lead in Game 7. The other side of that coin is that the Jays didn’t score enough runs, so the bullpen had to be perfect (and wasn't). 2025’s lineup produced for the most part, but I'm not sure you can count on Springer’s consistency or Varsho’s power next season. For that matter, Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw would have to have big seasons, along with Ernie Clement and Addison Barger continuing to produce the way they did this past year, for a no-move winter to be feasible. Many of the little moves in the winter leading up to last season worked out. The big swing and miss was Santander. Injury or not, he had a disappointing season and still has four years left on his deal. Bichette’s camp might be waiting to see where the first big free agent goes and for how much before making their decision. That puts the Jays in an unenviable position. They’ll need to act fast, whether or not they are able to sign him. Once they do, they need to secure a big bat in the outfield. It might necessitate a trade that could bring in some bullpen help. When the batting order is a little more settled, then it will be time to go down the list of available starting pitchers. The Jays need to sign at least one starter this winter. Bringing back Bassitt would be a fallback. He was tremendous out of the 'pen in the playoffs, but he won’t want that role during the regular season. Neither will José Berríos, who will most likely have rehabilitated from his late-season injury by then. So, in the coming weeks, the Jays’ list of priorities is: Bichette, another bat and a bunch of arms (in that order). View the full article

We've finally arrived at part four in our series, which explores our top-five prospects in the Royals farm system. As stated before, the Kansas City Royals may not receive much respect from prospect experts for their system. For example, Bleacher Report, in their updated system rankings in September, ranked the Royals as the 23rd-best system in baseball. However, under scouting director Brian Bridges, the Royals have done a much better job in terms of amateur scouting and drafting since he joined the organization in 2024. That has resulted in much better Royals prospects, especially at the top of the system. In part four of Royal Keep's Top-20 Prospects rankings, we look at a pitcher just recently added to the 40-man roster, two teenage pitchers who did well in Low-A ball in 2025, a former first-round pick who had a solid fall in Arizona, and a local KC-area catcher who made his debut in September and could be a centerpiece for this franchise for years to come. 5th: Ben Kurdna, RHP (Highest Level: Triple-A) The Royals added Kudrna to the 40-man roster last week (along with fellow right-hander Steven Zobac) to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft in December. A former Blue Valley Southwest High School product and 2021 second-round pick, the right-hander has shown growth the past couple of seasons in ways that Frank Mozzicato, who was drafted ahead of Kudrna in 2021, hasn't. Kudrna has done a much better job of striking out batters each season in the Minor Leagues. After only generating a 19.2% K rate in 2023 in High-A Quad Cities, he has shown improvement over the past two seasons. In 2024, in 115.1 IP between High-A and Double-A, he produced a 24.2% K rate. In 2025, in 105.1 IP, he posted a 22.9% K rate between Double-A and Triple-A, but sported a 24% K rate in 94 IP in Northwest Arkansas. In addition to strikeouts, the 22-year-old has also demonstrated solid CSW (called-strike plus whiff) rates as well as strong groundball rates over the past two years. In 2024, he posted a 30% CSW and a 45.6% GB% across High-A and Double-A. In 2025 with the Naturals, he induced a 45.4% GB% and 27.5% CSW, both solid marks for a starting pitcher. Unfortunately, Kudrna hit a bit of a wall in his first exposure to Triple-A at the end of last season. In four games (three starts) and 11.1 IP, he posted a 14.29 ERA, 2.74 WHIP, and 9.94 FIP. He struggled immensely with his command while pitching for the Storm Chasers. His K rate didn't just drop by 8.1%; his walk rate also jumped to 27% (resulting in a K-BB% of -11.1%). Furthermore, the stuff didn't profile well on a TJ Stuff+ end as well. He only sported a TJ Stuff+ mark of 94, and only one of his six offerings had a TJ Stuff+ mark in the triple digits. His other metrics, such as zone rate (35.5%) and chase rate (20.6%), didn't profile well either. That said, he did generate a decent 29.5% whiff rate, and his GB% of 45.7% was actually 0.2% higher than his GB% in Northwest Arkansas. Hence, there were some positive signs for Kudrna in his brief exposure to Triple-A, even though the overall metrics weren't great. With a fresh start and a complete Spring Training in big league camp, Kudrna could make a push to join the rotation midseason, especially if he can continue to generate whiffs and strong groundball rates in 2026. 4th: Kendry Chourio, RHP (Highest Level: Low-A) Arguably the biggest riser in the Royals' farm system last year, Chourio advanced to three different levels of play in 2025 as a 17-year-old: DSL, Complex, and Low-A. At each level, the Venezuelan teenager dominated on the mound. In five appearances and 17.2 IP in the DSL, he posted a 2.04 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 32.8% K rate, and 31.3% K-BB%. In the Arizona Complex League, his dominance continued. In three starts and 11 IP, he posted a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 35.4% K and K-BB%. As a result of those solid, complex performances, he earned a promotion to Low-A Columbia, despite being younger than most high school seniors. Low-A ball was a bit more of a reality check for Chourio. In six starts and 22.2 IP, he posted a 5.16 ERA. However, his WHIP remained solid at 1.06, and his 25% K rate and 20.8% K-BB% were also solid marks, especially for a pitcher of his age. His 3.66 FIP and 3.26 xFIP demonstrated that he was better in Columbia than his high ERA suggested. Chourio showcases a plus four-seamer that can touch 97 MPH and an equally plus changeup that plays well off his fastball. His breaking offering needs work, but he still has plenty of time to develop it as he gets more Minor League innings. Some scouts and insiders have remarked that Chourio shares many comps with Yordano Ventura, the most decorated and successful international pitching prospect developed by the Royals. Granted, that's high praise, and a bit unfair to Chourio, who just turned 18 in October. However, the tools, pitch command, and the physical projection (he's six-foot, 160 pounds) are impressive so far with the young Venezuelan. If he continues to develop, he could be the Royals' top pitching prospect by midseason, and perhaps their top prospect by the conclusion of 2026, if everything falls into place. 3rd: David Shields, LHP (Highest Level: Low-A) In addition to Chourio, the Fireflies had another teenage phenom in Shields, a second-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. After a warm-up start in the Complex League, the Pittsburgh prep prospect made 18 starts in Columbia. In 71.2 IP with the Fireflies, he was flat-out dominant. He posted a 2.01 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, a 28.3% K rate, a 23.1% K-BB%, and 2.57 FIP. These stellar numbers helped him earn Carolina League Pitcher of the Year honors. Shields showcased an easy delivery, strong stuff, and excellent command in his tenure with the Fireflies. Here's what MLB Pipeline said about Shields and his pitch repertoire in their latest scouting report: The Pennsylvania native doesn't have as electric a velocity as Chourio, but the extension and command have helped him produce more polished results in his Low-A debut. There's also a mature approach by Shields on the mound that may remind some Royals fans of Kris Bubic. However, Shields has more velocity and overall upside than the Royals lefty who made the All-Star Game this past season (primarily because Shields was drafted out of high school, unlike Bubic, who was drafted out of college). He will likely matriculate to High-A Quad Cities in 2026. He could make a move to Northwest Arkansas by midseason if he dominates Midwest League hitters like he did Carolina League hitters. The swing-and-miss stuff (31.8% CSW) and the strong ability to keep the ball on the ground (46.7% GB%) demonstrate that he can find multiple ways to get batters out, which should help him as he progresses up the Royals farm system. 2nd: Blake Mitchell, C (Highest Level: High-A) Mitchell has bounced back and forth between the top and second spot in Royals prospect rankings the past couple of seasons. In 2024, he held the title of top Royals prospect, especially after hitting 18 home runs, stealing 25 bases, and posting a 137 wRC+ in 466 plate appearances with the Fireflies. However, the Royals drafted Jac Caglianone sixth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, and the Florida slugger immediately ascended to the top spot in the Royals system. It was also a tough season for Mitchell in 2025, in myriad ways. First off, in Spring Training, he broke a hamate bone in his hand, which forced him to start the year on the IL. When Mitchell returned to action, he struggled to get in rhythm in High-A Quad Cities, especially at the plate. In 49 games and 216 plate appearances, he only hit .207 and had two home runs. Furthermore, his ISO was only .089, a far cry from the .201 mark he posted in Low-A Columbia in 2024. Mitchell did show some positive signs offensively. His eye at the plate has been lauded, and he did post a 20.8% BB% and 0.63 BB/K ratio with the River Bandits last year. That said, his approach was sometimes a bit too passive, as evidenced by his 41.2% swing rate and 49.5% first-strike percentage last season. On a positive note, it seemed like Mitchell finally was fully healthy in Arizona this fall. As a result, he produced a solid AFL campaign in terms of results and underlying batted-ball metrics with the Surprise Saguaros, who won the AFL Championship. In 82 plate appearances, Mitchell slashed .233/.439/.317 with a .756 OPS. While he only hit one home run, he showed excellent exit velocity metrics. His 90th EV ranked in the 71st percentile, his barrel rate ranked in the 72nd percentile, his average EV ranked in the 82nd percentile, and his max EV ranked in the 98th percentile. Furthermore, Mitchell was much more aggressive, ranking in the 86th percentile in Z-Swing%. However, he still showed his highly touted plate discipline, as evidenced by his 89th percentile O-Swing% and 95th percentile BB%. In addition to solid metrics, the AFL was good for Mitchell to build some confidence, especially in big moments. The 21-year-old catcher had a walk-off single in the AFL semifinals that helped punch the Saguaros' ticket in the AFL Championship. Even though there's a lot of catching depth in the Royals system, Mitchell is impressive defensively, showing excellent athleticism and arm strength behind the plate. He threw out 31% of baserunners last year, a 16% improvement from his mark in 2024. He also stole nine bags the previous year and 25 in 2024. Thus, he has the athleticism to be a multi-tool threat at the MLB level, even as a catcher. While 2025 wasn't a season to remember for Mitchell, he's still 21 years old, and he is trending in the right direction after a productive AFL stint. He should be one to watch in 2026 as an impact prospect in this system, as long as he stays healthy. While he may start in High-A, he could move quickly and be in Northwest Arkansas before Royals fans know it. 1st: Carter Jensen, C (Highest Level: MLB) Jensen won't be a prospect for much longer, especially after accumulating 69 plate appearances with the Royals as a September call-up. That said, he had an incredible season in 2025, helping him shoot up the board on most Top-100 lists. In 111 games and 492 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A, Jensen hit .290 with 20 home runs, 72 runs scored, 76 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. He also posted a 0.49 BB/K ratio, an .878 OPS, and 136 wRC+ with the Naturals and Storm Chasers, combined. Those stellar numbers helped him earn the George Brett Hitter of the Year Award, which goes to the top Royals position prospect in the system. While his Minor League numbers were incredible, they paled in comparison to what he did in his 20-game sample with the Royals as a 21-year-old. In his MLB debut, he slashed .300/.391/.550 with three home runs, 12 runs scored, and 13 RBI. Jensen also posted a .941 OPS, a 159 wRC+, and hit one of the longest home runs in Kansas City Royals history in Sacramento. Now, Royals fans have seen solid September call-ups only to be fooled the following season. That said, Jensen's Statcast percentiles show a player who's mature beyond his years, not just in plate discipline but also in power and batted-ball ability. Those levels of red, even in a small sample, aren't prevalent at the MLB level. In fact, Jensen's underlying metrics with the Royals in September caught the attention not only of Royals fans but also of national prospect experts. Here's what Thomas Nestico of TJ Stats said about Jensen, his No. 7 overall prospect in baseball, in Jensen's latest scouting report. There's a lot to like about Jensen and what he can bring to this organization in 2026. Not just as a prospect, either, but as a regular contributor to the Royals lineup. The emergence of Jensen is a big reason Kansas City was able to deal backup catcher Freddy Fermin at the Deadline, even though he was productive in that role over the past two seasons. Even when Jensen isn't behind the plate, he should be getting regular time at designated hitter, especially against right-handed starting pitchers. While Salvador Perez signed a two-year extension, manager Matt Quatraro will likely help preserve Perez's bat and stamina by giving Jensen more innings behind the plate. That catching playing-time split should not just help the Royals in the short term (maximizing Perez's offensive production), but also help ease Jensen into being Kansas City's catcher of the future after Perez finally retires. View the full article

Information surrounding Justin Steele has been sparse since his elbow surgery in April. We know he's back to throwing, but it's hard to predict whether he'll be back on a big-league mound by the end of April or only after the All-Star break. That leaves the Cubs with a lot of uncertainty to navigate as they try to improve their starting rotation. WHERE THE CUBS STAND Let's sketch out the Cubs' 2026 rotation, as it stands right now. Here are the likely starters, with estimates of the starts we can expect them to make Shota Imanaga:25 Jameson Taillon: 25 Cade Horton: 25 Matthew Boyd: 25 Justin Steele: 15 That's 115 starts, with 47 left to fill. The Cubs have over $50 million to spend to get to the luxury tax threshold. Keep in mind, though, that they also have only two key returning relief pitchers (three trustworthy guys, perhaps, after signing Phil Maton) and need to address the bench. The Cubs do have internal options, each with varying degrees of excitement. Javier Assad endured an injury-plagued 2025, but was recently tendered a deal. Jordan Wicks struggled in the major leagues in 2025, with a 6.28 ERA in just 15 innings, but still maintains a first-round draft pedigree and the potential to earn innings. Jaxon Wiggins, MLB.com's 67th ranked prospect, touched Triple A after torching the low minors (2.17 ERA across three levels, 97 strikeouts in 78 innings). The fifth starter, in a best-case scenario, would be Steele. He did start throwing on October 20: That gives Steele, who was projected on a 12-18 month recovery timeline, at least a chance to be ready opening day. In all probability, it will be at least a few weeks later than that, but the early returns are good. Given that he wasn't the most durable starter before the elbow finally gave way, the workload will need to be managed. The X-factor is Colin Rea, whom the team proactively brought back for 2026 and over whom they now have control for 2027, too. Rea is as unsexy as they come, but he also made 27 starts and sported a 3.95 ERA in 2025. He's a nice floor-setter for the bottom end of the rotation, and with Imanaga returning, Rea's presence might be enough to keep the team from feeling undue urgency to act. Between Steele's health, Assad's injury-wrecked 2025, Wicks's wobbliness, and Wiggins himself having had to be managed while recovering from his own Tommy John surgery, some of the younger internal options are risky. They could be seen as palatable, though, given the salary constraints the Cubs usually place upon themselves. With needs in the lineup and an entire bullpen to rebuild, the rotation could very well be set. WHAT DO THE CUBS NEED? That's really the crux of the issue for the Cubs. They need more innings to be covered. Horton, Boyd, Imanaga, and Taillon have had their issues with injury, and while none will need to be handled carefully in any specific way in 2026, it seems unlikely that they'll each stay healthy all year. The front office knows this; all offseason messaging has been about the pursuit of pitching. How many innings Steele will be able to contribute is a variable the Cubs can only loosely control or predict. They will, however, try to plan around it. WHO IS AVAILABLE? HOW MUCH MONEY DO THE CUBS HAVE? Most offseason reports have the Cubs with around $50 million to spend for their entire offseason. If most of this will go to the rotation, using the top 50 free agent tool on our umbrella site can be instructive. Here are some free agent targets the Cubs have been mentioned as being interested in, and their projected contracts: Dylan Cease: 6 years, $198 million: He's the big fish, and would take some sort of commitment by the Cubs to exceed the luxury tax for this season. He would be the ideal fit, though. Cease has taken the ball every turn in the rotation since he came up in 2019. This would be a big step to mitigate the workload concerns, and he gets swings and misses, too. Michael King: 4 years, $75 million: With an extensive injury history, he would be another risky arm to mix in with the rest. He's been an above-average starter for most of the last two and a half seasons, except that he missed significant time even in 2025. The third option might be to sign another player in the same bracket as Rea: a get-you-there guy, rather than someone who would actually start in October. Rea himself could be that guy, too, and then slide into the bullpen if and when the club reaches the postseason. If the Cubs can deploy a four-man playoff rotation of Horton, Steele, Boyd, and Imanaga—all at full health and performing at their best—they can be competitive even against the other top teams in the National League, though they would be underdogs. Signing arms like Chris Bassitt, Lucas Giolito, or Cody Ponce (the latter returning, this winter, from a career-altering stint in the Korean Baseball Organization) wouldn't excite fans, but they could chew through innings from March through September and then (as Bassitt did for the 2025 Blue Jays) become important out of the bullpen come October. The floor would be raised, but not the ceiling. Arguably, adding a high-priced starter would plug one hole, but open up another. Daniel Palencia and Maton are the only guys you can fully trust in the current bullpen, although Rea, Assad and/or Wicks could be utilized in relief roles at various points in 2026. They're losing (underwhelming) bench bats Justin Turner and Willi Castro and (whelming) middle-of-the-order bat Kyle Tucker via free agency. Much like a family with teenagers going to the grocery store, the budget can only withstand so much. Steele has to be treated as possible icing for a more substantial cake next year. The Cubs recognize a failure from last season: they ran out of capable arms in October. Only time will tell if they can fix this, and still address the rest of the roster with the money Tom Ricketts allocates. If they properly understand their rehabbing erstwhile ace, though, they'll at least buttress their rotation with someone who takes pressure off his recovery process. View the full article

Although it now seems like eons ago, payroll constraints were once the least of Twins Territory's concerns. Instead, a significant number of those who follow the team were hyperfixated on the club's unwillingness to part ways with aging, unproductive veterans in favor of providing young, "high-upside" players with extended opportunities at their respective positions. To be specific, that time was 2023, and the most notable cases of fans being upset over young, exciting players being blocked by aging veterans were Max Kepler and Joey Gallo blocking Matt Wallner's path to playing time in the corner outfield, and Kenta Maeda blocking then-starting pitcher Louis Varland's shot at the starting rotation. There were also instances of distaste expressed over Christian Vázquez getting more playing time than Ryan Jeffers at catcher, and about Jorge Polanco and Kyle Farmer clogging Edouard Julien's course to becoming the next star Twins second baseman. However, the most pronounced gripes concerned Wallner and Varland not getting the opportunities they were perceived to have deserved. Twins Territory's disdain toward Kepler, Gallo, Maeda, Vázquez, Polanco, and Farmer subsided as the team got hot after the All-Star break, winning the AL Central and cathartically ending its 18-game postseason losing streak. Still, that contempt returned in 2024, when Vàzquez again obstructed Jeffers's path to more starts behind the plate, Farmer denied rookie infielder Brooks Lee the freedom to roam freely as the club's primary utility infielder, and Chris Paddack deprived David Festa of the chance to solidify himself as a core member of the club's five-pitcher starting rotation. Kepler, Gallo, Maeda, Vázquez, Polanco, Farmer, and Paddack were all veteran players signed to multi-million-dollar contracts. In fact, the seven veterans combined to make roughly $48 million in 2023. On the other hand, Wallner, Varland, Jeffers, Julien, Lee, and Festa were making the league-minimum salary (or just over it in Jeffers's case), meaning that the fanbase was clamoring for not only what they perceived to be the younger, better options, but also the more cost-effective ones. Fast-forward to the present, and Twins decision-makers have changed course, no longer electing to sign aging, unpopular players on one-year deals in the name of "veteran depth." Instead, minimum-salaried, high-upside players Alan Roden and Austin Martin are projected to be platoon partners in left field. Lee is penciled in as the Opening Day starting shortstop. Luke Keaschall figures to be the everyday second baseman and a core member of the club's lineup. Simeon Woods Richardson and Taj Bradley are projected to fill out the club's rotation, and the bullpen is expected to be filled with oodles of young, high-velocity arms, brimming with talent and potential. So, why is no one excited? Well, given that ownership has mandated the front office cut what could become $60 million in payroll since the 2023 season concluded, the optics are horrible. Couldn't be worse, really. Everyone who has followed this team the past two seasons recognizes that. The widespread indignation is justified. However, there's more to it. Obviously, most of Twins Territory really only cares about winning. Every fanbase is the same way. Yet, when one strategy isn't generating a sustainable form of winning, fanbases will advocate for the strategy that isn't being implemented to be adopted, until their favorite team begins winning again. To be more specific, in early 2023, playing the veterans like Gallo, Vàzquez, Farmer, and Maeda wasn't working, so those who follow the team clamored for younger players like Wallner, Varland, and Julien to get more playing time in hopes of them being the solution for the team's losing ways. On the flip side, after watching young, cost-effective players like Roden, Julien, Bradley and James Outman (among others) guide the team to an abysmal post-trade deadline record, many factions of the fanbase are advocating for the front office to target free agents in the ilk of Gallo and Vázquez (from a monetary perspective), in hopes of temporarily patching those holes and returning the club to contender status next season. Again, this constant course correction isn't unique to Twins fans. However, it is vital to acknowledge the cognitive dissonance. Signing and playing a horde of free agents on one-year contracts won't save the Twins, just as playing exclusively young, high-upside players on minimum contracts would be too extreme. Instead, it will require a collective of veteran and young players buying into clearly communicated standards set by Minnesota's front office and new coaching staff. That is how the Twins won in 2023, and how organizations like Milwaukee and Cleveland win season after season. Will that happen? Obviously, only time will tell. However, constantly calling for dramatic course correction is an unhealthy way to engage with the sport—let alone build a roster. It might be worth a year of letting the young guys play, to find out who can do what. View the full article

Bo Bichette brings a lot to the table. He led the AL in hits in 2021 and 2022, and would likely have done so again in 2025 had he not been injured (he finished the year with 181 hits to Bobby Witt Jr.’s league-leading 184). But there are negatives. His baserunning has been negative for the last three years, and his fielding at shortstop has been very poor. In 2025, his DRS of -12 and OAA of -13 were both dead last among the 22 qualified shortstops. As a result, despite an excellent 134 wRC+ in 2025, Bo only recorded a 3.8 fWAR. It is possible (probable?) that Bichette could move to second or third base? Doing so would hopefully improve the poor fielding numbers he put up as a shortstop. But it is unlikely that this would dramatically increase his fWAR, as the positional adjustment for second or third is substantially lower than that for shortstop. And many writers speculate that Bo strongly prefers to remain at short and would make that a condition of any new contract. So, what would happen if Bo Bichette were to sign elsewhere? Here are a few scenarios. The Internal Options Suppose, as a worst-case scenario, the Jays are unable to sign or trade for any position players and are accordingly required to backfill for Bichette using only internal options. Assume for this exercise that Andrés Giménez remains at shortstop in 2026. Giménez is projected to have a 95 wRC+ in 2026 (per Steamer) – roughly the same as the 96 he put up in 2023 while playing second base for Cleveland. If we assume that his level of defense at short is equivalent to what it was at second (he *was* a Platinum Glove winner!), then the only difference in his fWAR should be the difference in the positional adjustment, which equates to roughly 1.0 fWAR. So, his 2026 fWAR could be his 2023 fWAR plus one, or 4.8. The highest FanGraphs projection for Bichette in 2026 (playing shortstop) is 4.0. So, taking both offense and defense into consideration, Giménez at short could be roughly a 1.0-fWAR upgrade on Bichette in 2026. But moving Giménez to short creates an opening at second base. Giménez at second could still be expected to produce over 3.0 fWAR. To replace that, Toronto has two options. The first is Davis Schneider. In 2025, “Babe” put up a 1.3 fWAR despite only having 227 plate appearances. Keeping up that pace over 600 PA would have given him 3.4 fWAR. But Schneider was used primarily against left-handed pitching in 2025 – 56% of his PA were against lefties, even though left-handers only comprise roughly 30% of MLB pitchers. Schneider had a 106 wRC+ against lefties in 2025, but a 155 against righties. Playing a full year, with ~70% of his at-bats against right-handed pitching, could raise his fWAR even further, presuming he maintains those reverse platoon splits. And then there is Ernie Clement. Clement only played 423 innings at second base in 2025, but if you extrapolate his +10 DRS to a DRS/1350 (or his +6 OAA to an OAA/400), he was the best fielding second baseman in baseball. (As an aside, DRS/1350 is DRS extrapolated to a full season of 1350 defensive innings, and OAA/400 is similarly OAA extrapolated to a full season of 400 defensive attempts.) True, he only had a 98 wRC+, but even so, he earned a 3.2 fWAR. And if you believe that his outstanding playoff performance was an epiphany rather than a blip, a 2026 fWAR of 4.0+ is not out of the question. And the scary thing about Clement is that, as holy-cow-Batman as his defense is at second base, his defense at third is just as good. In 603 innings at third base in 2025, his +11 DRS (+25 DRS/1350) and +7 OAA (+11 OAA/400) would both have been top-three in the majors over a full season. So, if Schneider is playing second, Clement should be able to put up a similar 3.0-4.0 fWAR at third. But Clement is not the Jays’ only option. Addison Barger had a 125 wRC+ in the first half of 2025 before regressing to an 87 in the second half. He struggled against left-handed pitching with a 69 wRC+ but had a strong 125 against righties. And Barger’s underlying metrics give cause for optimism. His average exit velocity was 91.7 mph (compared to Alex Bregman's 90.1), his hard-hit percentage was 51% (again, for context, Bregman's was 44.4%), and his barrels/PA was 7.8% (Bregman's was 4.8%). And, like Clement, Barger had an excellent postseason with a .367/.441/.583 slash line and a 188 wRC+. Defensively, Barger had a +1 DRS and a zero OAA at third base in 2025 – not exceptional, but more than adequate. So, Barger is a strong breakout candidate for 2026. The Jays could also play Barger in right field. Or, if he is playing third (and cloning technology is not sufficiently advanced), Toronto could go with Nathan Lukes in right. In his 441 innings in right field in 2025, Lukes had a +21 DRS/1350 and a +13 OAA/400, both of which would be elite. He is projected (per Steamer) for a 109 wRC+ in 2026. A 109 wRC+ with elite defense in right field could translate to an fWAR in the 3.0-4.0 range over a full season. So, a (worst-case) purely internal fix could have Schneider/Clement at second, Giménez at short, Clement/Barger at third and Barger/Lukes in right, with the very real potential to have 3.0+ fWAR at every one of those positions. Not bad for a fallback option! The Jays sign Kyle Tucker If the Jays sign Tucker, the uncertainty about who plays right field goes away in a hurry. That likely pushes Barger to third (which is his better fielding position anyway) and Clement to second, potentially making Schneider and Lukes trade candidates for pitching upgrades. The Jays trade for Ketel Marte If the Jays traded for Marte, it would likely push Clement to third and Barger to right. Again, Lukes and Schneider would become either valuable bench contributors or enticing trade pieces (if they were not included in the Marte deal itself). The Jays sign Alex Bregman I am not a big fan of signing aging third basemen, particularly to contracts that take them into their late 30s. And, as noted above, Barger’s underlying hit metrics in 2025 were stronger than Bregman’s, so his upside is arguably higher at this point in Bregman’s career. But if the Jays *did* sign Bregman, it would likely push Barger to right field and leave Clement and Schneider competing for second base. The Bottom Line The Jays are in a very favourable position going into 2026. Not only do they have multiple young players with high upside, but those players have positional flexibility. That flexibility not only creates opportunities for the current roster but also for free agent signings and trades. And as a wise baseball philosopher once said, it can be more valuable to make options than to make plans. 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Recent reporting from Mark Feinsand indicates that the Royals are seeking a "right-handed bat who can complement the left-handed hitting Jac Caglianone in right field." The Royals (rightfully) see Caglianone as a long-term answer in their lineup. While Vinnie Pasquantino occupies first base, the outfield is the logical home for Caglianone. It can be argued that he was rushed to the majors too soon due to the lack of outfield production, so a platoon can be a good way to ease into his first full big-league season without having the pressure of playing every day. Because this role is specifically for a platoon bat, the Royals are unlikely to spend aggressively. Below are realistic candidates who fit the likely salary range and role requirements. Free Agents Rob Refsnyder 2025: .269/.354/.484 | rWAR: 1.2 | OPS+: 131 Playing in Boston, Refsnyder has spent the last four years as a right-handed platoon option against left-handed pitching. Two-thirds of his plate appearances last season were against a left-handed pitcher, where he slashed .302/.399/.560 with a 171 OPS+. He made $2.1 million last season, so his contract could be in a range that fits the Royals' budget. Given his experience in this role and affordability, he is the ideal fit for the Royals' needs. Tommy Pham 2025: .245/.330/.370 | rWAR: 1.0 | OPS+: 95 Tommy Pham joined the Royals late in 2024 for the playoff push that ultimately ended early in the ALDS after losing to the pennant-winning Yankees. At 37, he was still able to contribute to a struggling Pirates team. Pham’s 2025 splits didn't favor hitting against left-handed pitching last season, but he has hit better against lefties over the course of his career. He would likely fit into the Royals' salary structure, so there's an opportunity to reunite. Michael Conforto 2025: .199/.303/.333 | rWAR: -0.7 | OPS+: 79 Conforto really struggled last season with the Dodgers, posting a sub-replacement-level season and the lowest OPS+ of his career. His splits against left-handed pitching were much better than his season numbers, slashing .246/.372/.385. Entering his age-33 season, Conforto might be looking for his last long-term deal and might not want to transition to a platoon player quite yet. Teams might be hesitant to trust him as an everyday starter rather than hope his regression was an outlier, so maybe a one-year “prove it” contract could be a viable option for Conforto. He would also need to take a decent payout for Kansas City to be a realistic destination. He made $17 million last year, which is probably a more realistic mark for an everyday player on the Royals rather than a platoon player. Austin Hays 2025: .266/.315/.453 | rWAR: 0.8 | OPS+: 105 Hays is the 50th-ranked free agent on the DiamondCentric free agent board. With his injury history, he is not going to command a large contract. Maybe an opportunity to play in a part-time role with limited exposure can keep him healthy for a full season. Austin Slater 2025: .216/.270/.372 | rWAR: -0.1 | OPS+: 78 Last year, two-thirds of Austin Slater’s starts were against left-handed pitching. He was acquired by the Yankees from the White Sox last year to help fill the gap when Aaron Judge was injured. However, it did not go particularly well. With the White Sox, he was just about league-average with a 100 OPS+, plenty good enough for the Royals' platoon spot. Once he joined the Yankees, he slashed .120/.120/.120 with a -32 OPS+ in 14 games. Even with 78 being the lowest OPS+ for a player in this piece, that is still a higher OPS+ than eleven of the players who the Royals played in the outfield last season. Over his career, he has had enough success as a platoon bat to think that his short Yankees tenure was an outlier. Given his experience as a platoon bat and likely salary demands, he earned $1.75 million last season. Kansas City could be a likely destination for Slater. Recently Non-Tendered Players Adolis Garcia 2025: .227/.271/.394 | rWAR: 2.7 | OPS+: 93 Garcia may not be the ideal player for this role, considering he is likely to command more than the Royals are willing to allocate to a part-time outfielder. That said, given their outfield struggles last, he should be an option that the Royals should consider in their outfield, but other teams will be interested in courting Garcia as well. Christopher Morel 2025: .219/.289/.396 | rWAR: -0.3 | OPS+: 90 Christopher Morel is likely a greater risk, since he posted negative WAR in the last two seasons. We are not that far removed from 2023, when he had a 122 OPS+. Last season, he was only marginally better against left-handed pitching. He likely wouldn't require a large contract, which would at least be attractive to the Royals. Trade Candidates Jo Adell 2025: .236/.293/.485 | rWAR: 1.2 | OPS+: 111 After the Angels traded Taylor Ward, Jo Adell is probably less likely to get traded. While he fits the salary profile, Adell is probably more likely to be an everyday player rather than a platoon option. The Royals could likely be interested in adding him to the outfield, but probably not as just a platoon option. While searching for trade candidates, I found that most outfielders I considered either had salaries too high for this profile or were left-handed, making them poor fits to platoon with Caglianone. Given that the Royals have a surplus in starting pitching, there are a variety of teams that could be potential trade partners. Teams like the Braves, Mets, Nationals, Cardinals, Padres, Orioles, Red Sox, Rays, Astros, and Angels all could use more starting pitching. One More Noteworthy Player Mike Yastrzemski 2025: .233/.333/.403 | rWAR: 2.8 | OPS+: 109 It has been speculated on multiple sites that Yastrzemski re-signing with the Royals would be a good fit. The Royals are looking to add a right-handed bat to platoon with Caglianone and an everyday left-fielder, and Yaz does not fit either of those roles. Despite his consistent production (2+ rWAR in every season), he has been shielded from facing left-handed pitching in recent seasons. If the Royals sign Yastrzemski, then they would also need a right-handed bat to complement him in the lineup. View the full article