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Major League Baseball announced a new media-rights arrangement today that will give ESPN the ability to carry local games for six clubs beginning in 2026 — including the San Diego Padres. While that sounds like a major shake-up, Padres fans won’t see any real changes to how they watch games next season. Padres games will continue to be available through Padres.TV, MLB’s dedicated in-market streaming service that covers the San Diego region and surrounding areas. Anyone who used Padres.TV last year will have the same setup available in 2026. Fans living outside the Padres’ home territory will still rely on MLB.TV, with blackout rules continuing to work as they always have. The new agreement does not alter the local TV distribution plan for 2026. If you watch the Padres through a traditional TV provider, you should find the games on the same channel and carrier you used last season, without needing a different package or tier. The new rights also gives ESPN the ability to distribute some games on its digital platforms, possibly including the ESPN app. MLB hasn’t detailed how often that might happen, but whatever ESPN adds will simply give fans another way to watch—not remove existing options, at least not for 2026. This deal also doesn’t touch who produces the Padres broadcasts. The on-air talent, production teams, and overall presentation should look familiar. Considering the upheaval of 2023–24—when the Padres abruptly transitioned off Bally Sports and MLB stepped in to stabilize distribution—this stretch of consistency is good news. Fans who settled into Padres.TV or who stuck with their cable provider won’t have to relearn anything for 2026. While the announcement may seem minor from a fan’s perspective, it represents a larger strategic shift for MLB. The league is moving toward a more unified national media framework and broadening its streaming reach, a trend that could help balance financial gaps between markets as more teams’ local rights fold into league-controlled deals. View the full article

This afternoon, Major League Baseball announced the anticipated new media-rights agreement granting ESPN rights to distribute local games for six teams beginning in the 2026 season—including the Minnesota Twins. While this represents a significant change in the league’s broader TV and streaming strategy, Twins fans can relax; nothing changes about how you watch games. In-market streaming: Twins.TV will continue to carry all in-market games for fans in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Wisconsin and Iowa. Out-of-market streaming: MLB.TV remains the option for out-of-market viewers (with the usual blackout rules). The MLB.TV and Twins.TV bundle will remain available. Traditional TV: The deal does not affect 2026 local television distribution. You should continue watching on the same carrier, same channel, and same subscription tier you used last year. In addition, MLB will gain an additional distribution lane and may choose to stream select games on the ESPN app or related platforms. Those specifics haven’t been announced, but whatever ESPN adds will be in addition to, not instead of, Twins.TV or your current TV provider. In addition, this deal should not affect the broadcasts themselves, as it is a distribution rights deal, and doesn’t affect the production of the broadcasts. After last season’s rocky rollout of Twins.TV (including late carrier announcements and MLB server issues on Opening Day), this stability is a welcome development. Fans will be able to watch exactly as Twins Daily's TV/Streaming Guide directed you to in 2025: Twins.TV for streaming, and the same TV provider and channel for cable/satellite. From that standpoint, the announcement is straightforward, but it represents a much bigger deal to MLB. This is an early step toward consolidating national television and streaming rights, which is an especially important development for smaller markets. Unlike the NFL or NBA, where the bulk of television money is shared, local television revenues represent a major difference between large- and small-market teams in MLB. The hope is that grouping most MLB teams into a single deal will help address that inherent disparity. View the full article

The MLB rostering deadline came and went on Nov. 18, and with it, teams have effectively "finalized' their 40-man rosters prior to the meat and potatoes of the offseason. There were a number of notable moves made around the league, from the Baltimore Orioles' baffling decision to trade Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward to a record number of free agents accepting the qualifying offer. Perhaps the most shocking thing of all, though, was the San Diego Padres' lack of activity. A.J. Preller's squad selected the contracts of just two prospects -- reliever Garrett Hawkins and starting pitcher Miguel Mendez -- to protect them from the Rule-5 Draft, which was expected. Otherwise, the Padres were eerily silent during a busy day on the MLB calendar. Starting with Mendez, the 23-year-old ranks 12th on Padres Mission's Top 20 list, and other outlets are even higher on his upside. He finished the 2025 season in Double-A after starting with (for the third straight year) Lake Elsinore, and his overall stats were a beauty to behold: In 95.0 innings, he paired a 3.22 ERA and 3.86 FIP with a 29.4% strikeout rate and .208 batting average allowed. The right-hander was at his best in High-A Fort Wayne, logging a 1.32 ERA (3.33 FIP) across 12 starts. He allowed just three home runs and 24 walks over 61 1/3 innings, showing a newfound proclivity to pitch to contact effectively. His results were a little overblown (3.71 xFIP) thanks to a humongous 89.7% left-on-base rate, but the strides he made in his development were apparent. Mendez did struggle in his cup of coffee at Double-A to end the season -- he ran an 8.06 ERA and 5.91 FIP that were inflated because of a problematic walk rate (15.9%) -- but he was a lock to be added to the 40-man roster. He could start the 2026 season at Triple-A and make his debut around the mid-season point, depending on the state of the major-league rotation. As for Hawkins, the 25-year-old doesn't rank on Padres Mission's top prospect list, though he does rank 13th in the system over at FanGraphs. That's not the biggest compliment in the world (the Padres' farm system is the worst in the league), but it is a sign that the now-protected reliever could be in line for a bullpen job come Opening Day. The right-handed reliever missed the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and like Mendez, finished the most recent campaign in San Antonio. His 1.50 ERA and 2.22 FIP were promising on their own, but his 35.1% strikeout rate and 0.15 home runs allowed per nine innings (HR/9) really paint the picture of his dominance. A true relief prospect at this point (he hasn't started on a full-time basis since 2022), Hawkins recorded 10 saves in 2025 and looks destined for a role as a middle reliever in the Padres' stacked bullpen. If Mason Miller or Adrian Morejon actually transition back to the rotation, look for Hawkins to grab one of their jobs in spring training. Beyond those two players, the Padres left other Rule-5-eligible players unprotected, including the likes of Jagger Haynes and Francis Pena. The 40-man roster now stands at 36, a sign that the team may be gearing up for a flurry of transactions in the coming weeks. However, their silence during an otherwise busy day could also point to some consternation within the front office while wrestling with an ownership group plotting a sale and rumored budget constraints. The offseason has only just begun, but save for a lowkey re-signing of swingman Kyle Hart, the Padres have mostly sat out the early-bird proceedings. Where they go from here is anyone's guess. View the full article

For the past five years, Torii Hunter has hovered around the edges of the Hall of Fame conversation, without gaining the traction needed for a serious push. His candidacy has lived in that tricky gray area where voters clearly respect his career, but hesitate to elevate him into Cooperstown territory. That uncertainty is common with players whose value extends beyond the numbers, and Hunter’s résumé has long walked that line. But the current voting cycle may finally give him the opening he needs. With a historically thin ballot for 2026, voters may begin reassessing holdover candidates, especially those whose contributions to the sport transcend simple statistical comparison. Hunter fits that mold better than almost anyone still on the ballot, and the timing has never been more favorable. Reviewing the 2026 Ballot The 2026 ballot is shaping up to be one of the weakest in recent memory. According to Jay Jaffe, this will be the first time since 2008 that six or fewer candidates on the ballot carry a JAWS score of at least 50. JAWS is an acronym for the Jaffe Wins Above Replacement Score, a system created to evaluate a baseball player's worthiness for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It compares a candidate's statistics to the average Hall of Famer at their position by averaging their career WAR (Wins Above Replacement) with the total WAR from their best seven seasons (peak WAR). The goal is to identify players who are at least as good as the average Hall of Famer, using a metric that balances career value with peak performance. It is rare for a ballot to lack clear-cut newcomers, and that scarcity could shift attention toward long-term holdovers like Hunter. None of the first-time players is projected to gain significant traction. The 12 newcomers include Ryan Braun, Shin-Soo Choo, Edwin Encarnacion, Gio Gonzalez, Alex Gordon, Cole Hamels, Matt Kemp, Howie Kendrick, Nick Markakis, Daniel Murphy, Hunter Pence, and Rick Porcello. While many of those names bring strong careers and memorable moments, they fall short of the typical Hall of Fame profile. Hamels is the most compelling. He finished his 15-year career with a 3.43 ERA, a 123 ERA+, and 2,560 strikeouts. He owns a World Series MVP trophy and had several ace-level seasons, but analysts remain split on whether that résumé will launch him toward the Hall. Among position players, Braun is the headliner, based strictly on production. He won Rookie of the Year and an MVP, made six All-Star teams, and hit 352 home runs with six 30-homer seasons. He even posted back-to-back 30/30 campaigns in 2011 and 2012. However, multiple suspensions for performance-enhancing drugs complicate (and likely sink) his candidacy. With no overpowering newcomers and few returning candidates separating themselves in recent years, the subsequent two cycles could create space for overlooked players to climb. That includes Hunter. Hunter’s Hall of Fame History Hunter debuted on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2021 and has remained on the edge of survival ever since. Candidates must receive at least five percent of the vote to stay on the ballot, and Hunter has flirted dangerously with that cutoff multiple times. His results so far: 2021 BBWAA: 9.5 percent 2022 BBWAA: 5.3 percent 2023 BBWAA: 6.9 percent 2024 BBWAA: 7.3 percent 2025 BBWAA: 5.1 percent He has never received double-digit support, and recent slippage might concern some Twins fans. Yet hovering between five and ten percent can also signal that a player has a loyal block of voters and could expand their support under the right ballot conditions. The Case For Hunter Hunter’s defining skill was his game-changing defense. Nicknamed “Spider-Man” for his leaping robberies at the wall, he collected nine Gold Gloves over a 10-year stretch. Few outfielders of his era controlled center field as completely as Hunter did, and his highlight-reel plays remain essential vignettes of early 2000s baseball. Only seven players in MLB history have hit 350 or more home runs while also winning at least nine Gold Gloves, an exclusive group that underscores his rare two-way impact. His offensive résumé, while not elite by Hall standards, is undeniably strong. Hunter finished with 353 home runs, 498 doubles, over 2,400 hits, and 195 stolen bases. He earned two Silver Sluggers and became a five-time All-Star. Hunter blended power, speed, and creativity in a way that made him a constant threat and a difficult matchup for pitchers. Beyond the numbers, Hunter’s leadership and personality left a lasting mark everywhere he played. From Minnesota to Anaheim to Detroit, he was viewed as a franchise culture setter, an ambassador for the sport, and a respected veteran who influenced winning clubs. Voters who prioritize intangibles often keep players like Hunter in the conversation longer than the metrics alone suggest. The Case Against Hunter Hunter’s overall offensive profile falls short of Cooperstown norms. His career .277 average with a .331 on-base percentage and .461 slugging average places him comfortably above average, but not close to the offensive standard for Hall of Fame outfielders. His 110 career OPS+ means he was just 10% better than average over a long career. Defensively, the numbers diverge sharply from the reputation. While Hunter’s early career metrics were exceptional, the second half of his career tells a different story. From 2006 through his retirement in 2015, advanced metrics rated him as a below-average defender, even after moving to right field. His total defensive rating lands at -7.9, a reminder that defensive value can erode quickly and dramatically in a player’s thirties. His postseason record does little to bolster his candidacy. In 48 playoff games, Hunter hit .274/.340/.414 with four home runs, three of which came as a Twin. While those numbers are respectable, they lack signature October moments and include several defensive miscues that fans still remember. Voters often look for postseason excellence to elevate borderline candidates, and Hunter does not benefit from that boost. One of the biggest challenges for Hunter is how voters interpret the two halves of his career. From 1997 through 2007, he was a premier center fielder with elite defensive value and above-average hitting. From 2008 through 2015, his bat improved while his glove declined, making him a good but no longer great two-way player. His placement at 35th among center fielders in JAWS, trailing players like Curtis Granderson, Bernie Williams, and Andrew McCutchen, creates another hurdle. All three names are widely viewed as excellent players but not Hall of Famers, which impacts how Hunter’s case is perceived. The Path Ahead The Hall of Fame ballot is always competitive, and Hunter still faces a steep climb. But with the 2026 ballot featuring few compelling options and the current cycle offering voters a chance to reevaluate candidates in the middle tier of support, the environment could be shifting in his favor. Ballots like these have historically helped overlooked players make incremental gains, sometimes setting the stage for long-term campaigns. Do you believe Hunter deserves more support on the Hall of Fame ballot? How do you evaluate players with careers that blend elite peaks and uneven longevity? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

In May 2022, Chad Green left a game against the Orioles with right arm discomfort. Three days later, he was undergoing Tommy John surgery, ending his 2022 season and likely limiting his use in 2023. As 2022 was his last arbitration year, he became a free agent at season's end. In January 2023, Green signed an unusual deal with the Blue Jays. It called for $2.25 million in 2023 and a player option for $6.25 million in 2024. But it also granted the Jays two team options (exercisable under certain conditions): one for three years and $27 million, and one for two years and $21 million. The Jays ultimately ended up exercising the two-year, $21 million option. Green only pitched 12 innings in 2023, so the Jays did not receive $2.25 million of value in that year. But that was expected. Green benefitted from this deal in that he received income in what could otherwise have been a year of unemployment, and (more importantly), as a member of the Jays organization, he had access to their training and medical facilities during his rehabilitation. The Jays benefited not in 2023, but from their option to keep him under contract for future years. Toronto might be faced with a similar opportunity this offseason. In 2021, his first year in the majors, Luis Garcia pitched 155 innings for Houston with a 3.48 ERA and a 3.1 fWAR. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting (to Randy Arozarena of Tampa Bay) and was named to the Topps All-Rookie Team. He had a similarly strong 2022 but injured his arm in May 2023, requiring Tommy John surgery and ending his year. He missed all of 2024, and while he tried to come back in 2025, he experienced further issues. By October 2025, he was forced to have a second Tommy John procedure, meaning that he will likely miss all of the 2026 season. The Astros released Garcia in November, as his one remaining year of arbitration had no value to them with him recovering from surgery. Even at his healthy best, Garcia is not an ace. But in his 2021-22 years, he had a 3.60 ERA, a 3.74 xERA, a 3.78 FIP and a 5.1 fWAR. That fWAR was 32nd among all pitchers. And Garcia would be pitching in 2027 in his age-30 year, so the potential to return to his 2021-22 form is very real. Should the Jays pull a Chad Green on Garcia? In 2025, Garcia earned $1.875 million. Suppose Toronto offered him a similar amount for 2026, knowing it was unlikely that he could even make it back next year for a playoff run. But the 2026 guarantee would come with a team option – possibly something like the three-year, $27 million option Toronto offered to Green? Perhaps there would also be a one-year player option if the Jays declined their multi-year end of the deal. As with Green, this would guarantee Garcia access to a top MLB medical and rehab staff for the duration of his recovery, and an income in what otherwise could be a barren year. The Jays would be gambling, but if Garcia does recover to anything close to his 2021-22 form, their option would be a bargain. The Bottom Line It seems that every offseason, the Jays (and most teams) are scrambling to fill their rotations for the upcoming year. Planning ahead by creating options could reduce that frenzy. Yes, a deal like this one carries some (considerable?) risk, but as a famous baseball philosopher once said, “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." View the full article

What was already set to be a complicated offseason for the San Diego Padres got even more so with news that the Seidler family was exploring a sale of the franchise. Despite what appeared to be a little bit of financial wiggle room upon some impending departures from the 2025 roster, everything is in flux now. Of course, we don't have any confirmation on that. But, even if the Padres did want to run a payroll in the neighborhood of where they ended 2025 (about $211 million), that only leaves them with about $20 million given a projected $190 million for the 40-man roster at present. Regardless of the financial particulars, it appears increasingly likely that the team could explore a deal for at least one of their long-term position players. It's an idea centered around position players because position players is where they have volume on the long-term side. Each of Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Jackson Merrill, and Jake Cronenworth are under contract until at least 2030. The pitching staff doesn't have that kind of action, with just each of Nick Pivetta & Yu Darvish locked into deals through only 2028 (the latter of which doesn't even have a clear path to finishing out the deal). Of the position players on the roster, it's Jake Cronenworth that is most likely to be moved. There have been whispers about such a deal before to the extent that teams were reportedly asking about him prior to the 2025 trade deadline. He's also the most easily-moveable name given his relatively reasonable contract that isn't as intensely backloaded as some of his counterparts on the active roster. It's an idea that has some merit, but whether the financial savings would do enough to compensate for his departure from the roster is a separate conversation altogether. The Case For Trading Jake Cronenworth Cronenworth is going to cost a shade over $12 million against the payroll through the 2030 season. His original deal was a seven-year, $80 million pact agreed upon ahead of the 2023 campaign. It was deemed a bit of an overpay at the time considering Cronenworth was set to move to first base, a position which didn't entirely fit his skill set, especially considering the power he demonstrated in 2021 (.194 ISO) fell drastically in '22 and has continued to fall since. Instead, Cronenworth has had to drive his approach to bring about value at the plate. He was a below-average bat in '23 (91 wRC+) and just a shade over in '24 (105 wRC+) before riding a spike in his walk rate (13.4 BB%) to a 117 wRC+ in 2025, his highest since that 2021 season. The frustrating thing with Cronenworth is that he hasn't been able to parlay that patience into anything meaningful. His ISO bottomed out at .131 in 2025 despite that jump in free passes, without any encouraging signs in the contact trends to accompany it; his barrel rate and hard-hit rate remained fairly in-line with what we'd seen before. And it's not as if he's a top tier defensive player at the keystone. He ranked 67th in Fielding Run Value (-2) at the position after finishing at a -4 mark the previous season. At this point, you're paying for the approach, because the power isn't on its way back and the glove hasn't been there in a handful of years in its own right (though bouncing between positions over multiple years likely doesn't help). The Padres need more power. They were a top-10 team in on-base percentage that failed to supplement that presence on base with any kind of impact. Freeing up the $12 million owed to Cronenworth could allow them to reallocate that bit of money toward more of an impact bat that would compliment the lineup more effectively. Should the Padres seek to move him, it's hard to imagine too many teams shying away from his market. Enough teams might be willing to pay for that approach and versatility, even if the latter comes with some shortcomings on the defensive end. The Case Against Trading Jake Cronenworth Even for a team in financial peril, it's hard to sacrifice stability in the name of $12 million. And despite not regaining the form he showcased over the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Cronenworth has very much been a stable presence for a chaotic organization. For one, this is a reliable player. He's appeared in an average of 145 games over the last five seasons. The Padres have lost each of Tatis, Merrill, Bogaerts, and Machado for significant periods over the last few years. Even sans any notable power, the ability to remain in the lineup and bring that steady approach is something that the Padres can't necessarily afford to part with. It's hard to overstate the importance of that approach in itself. Sure, the Padres were a top-10 team in OBP, but they ranked only 15th in walk rate. Only Tatis comes anywhere near touching what Cronenworth has provided in terms of patience. On paper, the Padres are a team in possession of impact bats. If Cronenworth can bring that approach to the bottom of the order, the onus transitions to the players atop the lineup to make that matter. And, as long as we're considering things that shouldn't be overlooked, the instability wrought by a lack of a permanent defensive home is likely pinning down Cronenworth's ability to find success on the defensive side. One imagines that finding a longer term solution at first base and a suitable backup for the middle infield (beyond a spring training invitee making their way on the roster) would allow him to ply his trade effectively at second base in the way that he did back in 2022. At the end of the day, it's a $12 million price tag. That's not terribly cumbersome for most big league organizations, save the Pittsburghs or the Miamis of the world. Sacrificing the things Cronenworth does well to save a fairly minimal amount against the total payroll number doesn't seem like something that would actively work in favor of San Diego, especially given some of their shortcomings on the present roster. Otherwise, you're filling an entire side of the infield within the confines of the payroll, rather than just one spot. That's an entirely different ballgame. View the full article

A look at the 2025 season for Walker Jenkins, the Twins' top prospect, who was once again cut short due to injury, and what his long-term outlook may ultimately be, given his unique blend of upside and polish. View the full article

A look at what clicked for Luis Peña in a breakout year and what the ceiling could ultimately be for the Brewers' infield prospect. View the full article

Maddie and Alex run through the roster changes as the Red Sox prepare for the Rule 5 draft. They then discuss Kristian Campbell's new position in left field and turn that into a discussion on Jarren Duran trade packages. They wrap up the episode by running through the Pete Alonso rumors and discussing other potential free-agent fits. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-talk-sox-podcast/id1783204104 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qPrPXEngu0CxgTmlf0ynm Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-talk-sox-podcast-244591331/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/4tmd121v Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talksox View the full article

When asked whether first base would be a position the Minnesota Twins prioritize in free agency or the trade market this offseason, president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey's answer was a mixed bag. As anticipated, the executive sang praises for the club's post-deadline primary starting first baseman. "Kody Clemens was a huge, you know, value add for us last year,” Falvey said while discussing first base at last week’s GM Meetings in Las Vegas. “We want to give Kody a lot of runway at (first base) too, because he was really a, he was a special fit for us last year." Unsurprisingly, Falvey also suggested the club could add a right-handed-hitting first baseman to complement Clemens. His comments on the club's other internal options, including a once highly-touted prospect Twins Territory has understandably soured on, were less on-script. "I think (first base is) an area where we're going to hope that there's a few guys internally that we've asked to continue to grow and develop there,” he said. “Eddie Julien got some time there, and, you know, we'll continue to get a little more work." Despite operating as Clemens's time-share partner at first base post-trade deadline (appearing in 26 games at the position), Edouard Julien’s inclusion comes as a surprise. Given how poorly the 26-year-old has performed at the plate since his breakout 2023 rookie campaign (80 wRC+ over a combined 509 plate appearances) while being one of the worst qualified defenders in baseball the past two seasons, those who follow the Twins believed the once-beloved French Canadian was a candidate to be removed from the 40-man roster this winter. Falvey's comments all but bury that notion, and barring Minnesota signing a cost-effective right-handed first base option (a decision that would make this analysis moot), Julien is slated to enter next season as Clemens's backup. Obviously, entering a 162-game season with two defensively deficient, same-handed Quad-A players as the only options at an offense-first position is an unwelcome outcome. One could justifiably criticize Falvey for naming Julien as an option at first base. Arguably, the organization has handed the 26-year-old too long a leash already. Yet, given the significant spending restrictions ownership has imposed on the front office, team decision-makers have both hands tied behind their back, with Kyler Fedko and Aaron Sabato being the only other internal candidates with experience at first base in the high minors. Fedko and Sabato probably aren't MLB-caliber contributors. That being the case, Falvey named Julien because he is the only other option. Again, Clemens and Julien's redundant offensive profiles make them poor platoon partners. However, since Julien can play second base (and start at designated hitter) and Clemens could rotate between second base and both corner outfield spots, the two left-handed bats could co-exist as a versatile tandem. Julien is out of minor-league options. He would need to pass through waivers before being outrighted to Triple-A. Despite his lousy performance in 2024 and 2025, a club would be justified in taking a chance on the left-handed bat, given his exceptional rookie campaign. Minnesota is justified in keeping Julien on the 40-man roster and not risking losing him to waivers before next season. However, if he struggles in April, they should be quick to pull the plug. Unfortunately, given how shallow the position player pool is, Julien's leash will likely be longer than deserved. Twins Daily's John Bonnes contributed to the reporting in this piece. View the full article

When asked whether first base would be a position the Minnesota Twins prioritize in free agency or the trade market this offseason, president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey's answer was a mixed bag. As anticipated, the executive sang praises for the club's post-deadline primary starting first baseman. "Kody Clemens was a huge, you know, value add for us last year,” Falvey said while discussing first base at last week’s GM Meetings in Las Vegas. “We want to give Kody a lot of runway at (first base) too, because he was really a, he was a special fit for us last year." Unsurprisingly, Falvey also suggested the club could add a right-handed-hitting first baseman to complement Clemens. His comments on the club's other internal options, including a once highly-touted prospect Twins Territory has understandably soured on, were less on-script. "I think (first base is) an area where we're going to hope that there's a few guys internally that we've asked to continue to grow and develop there,” he said. “Eddie Julien got some time there, and, you know, we'll continue to get a little more work." Despite operating as Clemens's time-share partner at first base post-trade deadline (appearing in 26 games at the position), Edouard Julien’s inclusion comes as a surprise. Given how poorly the 26-year-old has performed at the plate since his breakout 2023 rookie campaign (80 wRC+ over a combined 509 plate appearances) while being one of the worst qualified defenders in baseball the past two seasons, those who follow the Twins believed the once-beloved French Canadian was a candidate to be removed from the 40-man roster this winter. Falvey's comments all but bury that notion, and barring Minnesota signing a cost-effective right-handed first base option (a decision that would make this analysis moot), Julien is slated to enter next season as Clemens's backup. Obviously, entering a 162-game season with two defensively deficient, same-handed Quad-A players as the only options at an offense-first position is an unwelcome outcome. One could justifiably criticize Falvey for naming Julien as an option at first base. Arguably, the organization has handed the 26-year-old too long a leash already. Yet, given the significant spending restrictions ownership has imposed on the front office, team decision-makers have both hands tied behind their back, with Kyler Fedko and Aaron Sabato being the only other internal candidates with experience at first base in the high minors. Fedko and Sabato probably aren't MLB-caliber contributors. That being the case, Falvey named Julien because he is the only other option. Again, Clemens and Julien's redundant offensive profiles make them poor platoon partners. However, since Julien can play second base (and start at designated hitter) and Clemens could rotate between second base and both corner outfield spots, the two left-handed bats could co-exist as a versatile tandem. Julien is out of minor-league options. He would need to pass through waivers before being outrighted to Triple-A. Despite his lousy performance in 2024 and 2025, a club would be justified in taking a chance on the left-handed bat, given his exceptional rookie campaign. Minnesota is justified in keeping Julien on the 40-man roster and not risking losing him to waivers before next season. However, if he struggles in April, they should be quick to pull the plug. Unfortunately, given how shallow the position player pool is, Julien's leash will likely be longer than deserved. Twins Daily's John Bonnes contributed to the reporting in this piece. View the full article

When prospects get added to the 40-man roster, it's a sign that their big-league arrival is at least somewhat imminent. Last year at this time the Twins made two additions: Travis Adams and Marco Raya. Adams went on to debut and make 18 appearances in the majors. Raya surely would have come up at some point if he wasn't a disaster in Triple-A. (And Derek Falvey has already name-dropped Raya as a candidate for this year's bullpen picture.) On Tuesday, the Twins added six minor-league players to their 40-man roster – three times the number from last year and one of their biggest totals in recent memory. It signifies something deeper: a greatly increased reliance on their farm system to fuel MLB success as the franchise openly pivots away from spending competitively. "We know we're going to be young," Falvey said recently. Each of the six players added to the roster on Tuesday, as well as a seventh acquired via trade, could easily play a role as soon as the upcoming season. Here's a quick look at how that could come to pass. Connor Prielipp, LHP I'm increasingly convinced the Twins are hoping to lean on Prielipp as a high-leverage reliever out of the gate. He was finally healthy last year and unleashed his dominance across multiple levels of the system, earning the organization's minor-league pitcher of the year nod. His combination of a mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider can play in the majors now. Injuries have prevented him from building up any kind of workload baseline, so a relief role seems like a given, and there's no reason to waste any more bullets in the minors if his arm feels good. I'd bet on Prielipp breaking camp in the Twins bullpen, maybe even as their closer. Role: Late-inning reliever Kendry Rojas, LHP Rojas earned attention while rising quickly through the Blue Jays system, and was already in Triple-A at age 22 by the time the Twins acquired him in the Louis Varland trade. He got crushed at that level, and will likely open with the Saints next year, but that puts him just a step away from the majors. Depending on how things play out, it's plausible Rojas could debut as either a starter or reliever, with the Twins hoping his impressive repertoire from the left side can lead to a quick impact. Role: Swingman John Klein, RHP He was quietly one of the breakthrough stories in the Twins system this year. The Brooklyn Park, MN native came out of nowhere to strike out 128 in 106 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, making enough waves that the front office felt compelled to protect him from pitching-hungry teams in the Rule 5 draft. At 6-foot-5 and 225 lbs, he's got a big-league build and his stuff took a massive step forward this year. I suspect the Twins are counting on him to play a significant role for their bullpen in 2026. Role: Middle reliever Andrew Morris, RHP Coming off a stellar 2024 season that carved out his place in a promising pitching pipeline, Morris reached Triple-A at age 23 and held his own between some injury troubles. I wouldn't be totally shocked if the Twins fast-tracked him into a relief role but I suspect they'll keep him starting for now, in which case he'll likely open the season somewhere in the 6-9 range of the rotation depth chart. Given how quickly attrition tends to strike, that could line him up for a debut before midseason. Role: Starter Gabriel Gonzalez, OF Gonzalez raked last year, flashing .329/.395/.513, and he finished the season at Triple-A at 21. It's not out of the question we're talking about him as a dark horse for the Opening Day roster in spring training. But if not, he'll definitely be in the mix for a call-up early on if he's able to start hot again in St. Paul. The Twins have quite a few ostensibly bat-first players with questionable gloves, but a majority of them are left-handed, which is one reason Gonzalez's righty bat was important to protect. Role: Corner outfielder/DH Hendry Mendez, OF/1B When the Twins acquired Mendez at the deadline in exchange for Harrison Bader, his defensive experience was exclusively in the outfield, but the front office quickly started talking him up as a future first base option. Months later, after spending time in Wichita and the Arizona Fall League, Mendez still hasn't logged any official game time at first base but the Twins are working him out there and I'd be surprised if he doesn't start breaking in the 1B mitt next spring. First base is a position where Minnesota could sorely use short-term help, with Kody Clemens currently lined up as starter, and Mendez is one of the top candidates to succeed him. Role: First baseman/DH Eric Orze, RHP Unlike the six players above, Orze wasn't a 40-man addition from within the organization but rather a trade pickup in exchange for pitcher Jacob Kisting, a 14th-round pick from 2024. The potential role for Orze is pretty straightforward – he made 33 appearances out of the Rays bullpen last year and adds a semblance of MLB experience to a relief corps that is currently lacking. Right now he should be viewed as an odds-on favorite to make the Opening Day roster, albeit as a low-leverage and low-upside option. Role: Middle reliever View the full article

Welcome to part two of our offseason series covering the 1918 Chicago Cubs. In part one, we briefly recapped the 1917 season, examined the influence that World War 1 was potentially going to have on the 1918 season, and took a look at some of the big personnel changes the Cubs made. You can check that out here. Today, we’ll kick-off the season by checking in with the Cubs’ early results in both April and May. A Slow Start and a Major Loss The Cubs won their last four games of April to recover from a 2-3 start and finish the month at 6-3. Despite that hot streak, they were looking up in the standings at the 11-1 New York Giants, who scored 80 runs in those 12 games. The 6-3 start was of little concern when Grover Cleveland Alexander’s name was called in the draft. Alexander, who figured to be the team’s best starting pitcher, was set to serve in the United States Army and fight in World War I. According to the New York Times, he left to report to Camp Funston in Kansas on April 30. The star pitcher’s loss had a tremendous impact on the Cubs. He was only able to make three starts, posting a 1.73 ERA in limited duty.. However, I want to take a second to acknowledge the human impact this had on Alexander. He would not make his way back to the United States until almost exactly one year later, in April of 1919, when, according to the New York Times, he wanted to spend two weeks with his mother, and then two weeks to rest. Remarkably, Alexander was able to return to form following his reintroduction to baseball en route to his eventual Hall of Fame induction. He managed to collect 181 of his 373 career wins following his year in service, though he never managed to strike out as many guys as he did previously. This is particularly incredible when you consider this passage from the Hall of Famer’s Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) biography: ”Alexander spent seven weeks at the front under relentless bombardment that left him deaf in his left ear. Pulling the lanyard to fire the howitzers caused muscle damage in his right arm. He caught some shrapnel in his outer right ear, an injury thought not serious at the time, but which may have been the progenitor of cancer almost thirty years later. He was shell-shocked. Worst of all, the man who used to have a round or two with the guys and call it a day became alcoholic and epileptic, a condition possibly caused by the skulling he’d received in Galesburg. Alex tried to cover up his epilepsy using alcohol in the mistaken belief that it would alleviate the condition. Living in a world that believed epileptics to be touched by the devil, he knew it was more socially acceptable to be drunk.” Harrowing and disturbingly human, no? Some things truly are bigger than baseball. The 1918 Cubs thus had to move on without their best starting pitcher, but that impact simply pales in comparison to the impact that was felt by Grover Cleveland Alexander himself. A Win Streak and a Productive May The Cubs, who had Claude Hendrix starting games in place of Alexander, won their first five games of May, giving them a nine-game win streak, and an 11-3 record. Hendrix, however, struggled. After a two-run complete game to end April, he allowed six runs in each of his first two starts in May. He would settle down after a brief stint in the bullpen to finish the month with a 3.13 ERA. It all felt for naught. The New York Giants persisted, with the New York Times writing on May 6, 1918 that “the runaway race which the Giants are making the National League has the other clubs worried, and as each day passes it looks more and more as if there was no club East or West which would be able to stop McGraw’s juggernaut.” They enjoyed a 18-1 start to the season and a 4.5- game lead over the second-place Cubs on May 9. To make matters worse, Larry Doyle, who the Cubs had traded for Lefty Tyler that offseason, was a major factor in the Giants’ success. He posted a .426/.483/.722 batting line with two home runs through May 4. Unfortunately, he fell ill not long after, with the New York Times reporting on May 16 that he had to have surgery for an intestinal issue. Doyle wouldn’t play again until July 2. Having lost one of their most productive hitters up to that point, the Giants would lose five of six, and the Cubs had ample opportunity to cut into their deficit when they hosted the Giants for three games at Weeghman Park at the end of May. The Cubs went on to sweep that three-game set by the final scores of 7-4, 5-1, and 7-3. The team enjoyed four RBIs from new outfielder Dode Paskert in the opening contest, a complete game from Hippo Vaughn in the second game, and a four-hit game from Les Mann in the finale. This put the Cubs in a much better position to end the month of May. At 23-12, they were still 1.5 games behind the Giants, but that number seemed small compared to the 4.5-game lead it was just a few weeks earlier. Charlie Hollocher, Fred Merkle, Mann, and Paskert all had batting averages above .300. Vaughn was providing stability to a starting rotation that sorely needed it, posting a 1.34 ERA through the month of May. Led by Merkle, Mann, Paskert, and Hollocher, the offense was rolling, and despite the loss of Grover Cleveland Alexander, the pitching staff had allowed just 104 runs, which was second-lowest in baseball behind the Giants at 103. They were also due for some reinforcements. According to his SABR biography, Phil Douglas, who had pitched to a 2.55 ERA in 1917, missed the first couple of months of the season with appendicitis, but was due to return to pitching for the Cubs in June. There was plenty of reason for optimism going forward. View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers have another veteran inked in for 2026, with the return of Brandon Woodruff on a one-year, $22.05-million deal. The club will now gamble that Woodruff might be able to remain healthy and perhaps take a step toward regaining his former velocity, while guaranteeing themselves a veteran presence in their rotation for next season. There are durability risks, but the upside play from this is quite large—and as the adage goes, there's no such thing as a bad one-year deal. Cast your minds back to July 6, when Woodruff made his return from the IL in Miami. Despite reduced fastball velocity and an overall drop in raw stuff, Woodruff's precision and competitiveness won the day. He didn't back down. The interesting follow-up to that was how it affected the rest of the rotation, namely Jacob Misiorowski. Misiorowski commented in awe about that start and the aggressiveness Woodruff showed. Intriguingly, we saw similar results in his next start. Facing the Dodgers' fearsome lineup, Misiorowski began to follow Woodruff's example, pounding the strike zone with first pitches and eliciting chases after that. He threw 82.6% first-pitch strikes against the Dodgers (including 69% of his four-seam fastballs inside the strike zone) and 71.4% against the Mariners in his next start, both of which were the high points for Misiorowski in 2025. For all of Freddy Peralta's strengths, that direct, attacking style eludes him. It's something Woodruff can impart that Peralta can't, particularly to rookies: trust your pitches both in and out of the strike zone, especially early in counts. Woodruff did give up a long home run to Heriberto Hernandez in that Miami start and didn't change his approach one iota, continuing to command the zone. For all that these players have done developmentally to reach the big leagues, sometimes it takes a veteran to lead by example. Among other reasons, this is why the Crew are intent on having at least one veteran pitcher on their roster in 2026. Peralta has led the rotation since Corbin Burnes's departure and done an admirable job, continuing to be effective throughout with a 3.19 ERA and 3.90 FIP and taking the ball every sixth day. He has looked shaky at times, including in the playoffs, but then, one could argue that he has at least been available in the playoffs. With one veteran shored up, the question is whether the Brewers will be more open to trading Peralta. Entering the last year of his contract, and due just $8 million, Peralta is unquestionably a bargain. Yet, prior success is no guarantee of future performance, and one elbow injury sends that value down the drain from an on-field standpoint. The same goes for Woodruff, with his injury history. There's no guarantee both of these pitchers can reach 100 innings (let alone 150 each) in 2026. Strength in depth has been the Brewers' calling card in the rotation in recent seasons, and that should continue in 2026. If Tyson Hardin and Bishop Letson were established Triple-A arms banging on the door, this is a different conversation, but they're not at that stage just yet. The Brewers have no immediate pressure to make room in their rotation, and have plenty of optionable arms that they can use to retain that depth, with Robert Gasser, Logan Henderson, Chad Patrick and more all able to be cycled through. Now, though, they might have to trade one of their erstwhile aces. With Woodruff taking up over $22 million, their payroll has little room for other upgrades, and if they're going to use trades to make those improvements, it's likely to come in the form of trading either Peralta or Woodruff. The latter, now, would have to give his permission to be traded until June 15. Peralta has greater trade value, too, because of his greater durability; lower salary; and the fact that an acquiring team could still extend him a qualifying offer next winter. His value to the Brewers inside the clubhouse exceeds the value most MLB teams put on that character, and that hasn't changed just because Woodruff signed on for next season. Still, a trade of Peralta feels much more likely in the wake of Woodruff's return. What do you think of the Woodruff signing? Do you think it's now more likely that Freddy Peralta gets moved? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! View the full article

Like many mid-market teams, the Minnesota Twins face the perennial challenge of competing with the Yankees, Dodgers, and other big-spending franchises. Seeing how successful the other programs are, the temptation for Minnesota fans is often to chase established veterans in free agency to boost the roster, thinking it will make a difference. But there is a smarter path: maximize the value of homegrown players by giving them opportunities to flourish. They can do that, in turn, by investing in coaching and player development. Teams like the Twins, Rays, and Guardians generate less local revenue from TV deals, ticket sales, and concessions than teams like the Dodgers, Mets, and Yankees. Even with revenue sharing, in which each team contributes 48% to a pool that is redistributed evenly throughout the league, the differences in income can be massive. By one estimate, 10 teams brought in more than $100 million more than the Twins did in 2024. Therefore, it's unrealistic to hope that the Twins could consistently compete with the league's powerhouses in spending on external talent. The value of emphasizing homegrown talent is not theoretical; nor is it confined to small-market teams. Yes, the Brewers, Rays and Guardians benefit from doing it well, but so do the developmental juggernauts that are the Dodgers and Yankees. The Twins are slowly figuring it out. In fact, halfway through the 2025 season, MLB Pipeline ranked the Twins second in farm system rankings, behind only the Dodgers. Alas, Minnesota's front office can’t seem to crack the code to winning. There is a more efficient version of the process that they can lean into to be successful in the fight for the postseason, but it requires more than smart spending. They have to plunge more resources into development and instruction, and use those resources better, too. The Twins rely heavily on analytics to create the best teams they can. How does that translate to what is on the field? At its core, the formula is simple. Every player’s financial cost is their average salary, plus any developmental costs. FanGraphs estimates the cost for 1 WAR on the free-agent market at around $8 million. A homegrown player earning $1-2 million and producing 3.0 WAR delivers far more efficiency than a $15-million veteran producing the same value. Coaching can be a multiplier, turning raw talent into tangible results by refining mechanics, improving decision-making, and building mental toughness. The Cleveland Guardians provide a clear example. Low payrolls have not stopped them from producing All-Star talent. Take José Ramírez, a $50,000 international signee who became a perennial All-Star, and first-round pick Francisco Lindor, who amassed more than 28 WAR before being traded. The Tampa Bay Rays take the concept even further, serving as the gold standard of “cheap WAR.” They drafted third baseman Evan Longoria, who went on to produce 51.8 WAR while with the Rays. Meanwhile, though, the Yankees can be just as good at the same things. They drafted and developed Aaron Judge, rather than plucking him away from some other club. They traded for and developed Luis Gil, the former Twins farmhand-turned-Rookie of the Year hurler. The Dodgers maintain such a robust farm system that they can trade for any player they want, and they take advantage of this regularly. The reason these teams are each successful is they draft properly and have talent to pull from, but the Twins seem to have a hard time progressing like the others. The Twins have made progress with their in-house prospects, including players like Walker Jenkins, Royce Lewis, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Bailey Ober. In 2024, 63% of the Twins WAR came from homegrown talent. But the Twins need to make an investment in how those players are grown on a consistent basis. The math for coaching investment is compelling. One homegrown player producing three WAR generates roughly $24 million in market value. While the Twins’ cost is a $1.5 million salary plus development, that creates a surplus of $22.5 million, less whatever hours were poured into that player by coaches and staffers. Scaling up, improving the output of just 10 players by one WAR each translates to roughly $80 million in added value. While costs are private outside of player contracts, the general investment in coaching infrastructure is around $20 million in the major leagues, a fraction of the potential return, making it one of the highest-leverage moves a team can make. It is not just about coaching at the major-league level, but also at the minor-league level. Even highly regarded prospects have not come to the parent club looking as ready to help as fans hoped. Pitcher development has been inconsistent, and the Twins sometimes pay market prices for production that could be cultivated internally. Without deeper investment in coaching, Minnesota risks leaving WAR and payroll efficiency on the table. The Twins minor leaguers also want to be ready to go up to the big-league level and not have to go back down, as Jenkins explained in an interview with Matthew Leach of MLB.com. If the Twins focus on solid development at every level, their output will continue to grow and look like their big-market competition. The Twins need to prioritize coaching that strengthens a team atmosphere (incorporating mechanics, analytics, performance, and mental skills) at every level of the organization. They should build a development “stack” that ensures continuity from A-ball to the majors, and work with players to become good enough to offer extensions rather than go to arbitration. While Derek Shelton certainly is bringing a change of culture to ensure players are developing at every level, he is not in charge of payroll. That's where his power and influence end. Suppose the organization really wants to see a culture shift, as Shelton envisions. In that case, ownership has to get involved and help make the investments with the remaining $40 million for players, which is the amount left to spend of the $130 million they had available in 2025. Finally, the front office should shift payroll focus: spend smarter, not necessarily more. By investing in coaching and development, the Twins can turn modest spending into elite results and compete sustainably in a mid-market environment. This is not to say that the Twins have not already considered most of this, or that they aren't doing their best to become competitive with their own talent. What is the actual difference between the four organizations? Do the Twins not hire enough? Do the Twins not hire the right people? Unfortunately, measuring and finding great, transformative coaches can sometimes be as hard as finding and acquiring great players. Nonetheless, that's where the Twins might have their best chance to get an edge. View the full article

The 2025 Detroit Tigers season was an emotional rollercoaster. Heading into the All-Star Break, the team held a 59-38 record, the best in baseball, and a 12-game division lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central. Following an epic collapse (28-37), they finished the season second in the division behind the Guardians. It’s difficult to imagine where the Tigers would be without their ace Tarik Skubal. Over the past three seasons, the team went 38-13 in the southpaw's starts. Skubal won the AL pitching Triple Crown in 2024, leading AL pitchers with 18 wins, a 2.39 ERA, and 228 strikeouts, and unanimously won the AL Cy Young Award. His dominance continued in 2025, and he won his second consecutive AL Cy Young Award, finishing with 13 wins, a 2.21 ERA, and 241 strikeouts. Skubal had Tommy John surgery in 2017, causing him to miss part of the 2016 season and the entirety of the 2017 season at Seattle University. Although Skubal’s velocity (95 mph fastball) was promising, concerns over his injury led him to fall in the 2018 MLB Draft, with the Tigers selecting him in the ninth round (255th overall). After his first two seasons in the Tigers’ farm system, a December 2020 Baseball America scouting report projected Skubal’s “ceiling of at least a mid-rotation starter”. Skubal underwent flexor tendon surgery in August 2022. He returned to pitching just before the 2023 All-Star Break, with the velocity on almost all of his pitches increasing. The following season, he tinkered with his pitch sequencing, reducing the use of his slider (14.9%) and fastball (33.2%), while throwing his changeup (27.0%) and sinker (20.6%) more often. Following the Tigers' departure from the 2025 postseason, Jon Heyman reported that the Tigers and Skubal are over $250 million apart in extension negotiations, sparking speculation that Skubal could be dealt this offseason. At the recent GM meetings, Craig Breslow stated the Red Sox were looking to add a frontline starter to put behind Garrett Crochet and a power bat. What about a pitcher who could slot in front of Garrett Crochet? Let’s imagine a Red Sox trade for Tarik Skubal. To start, it’s worth examining the Tigers’ positional needs. Like Alex Cora, Tigers skipper A.J. Hinch values defensive versatility and moved players around the field during the season. The chart below shows the Tigers’ and Red Sox’s 2025 positional splits, highlighting the top contributor at each position by fWAR ranking among qualified players. 2025 Red Sox vs Tigers Positional Split Rankings Red Sox Position Tigers 12th Catcher 3rd 18th 1B 13th 25th 2B 8th 7th 3B 32nd 17th SS 22nd 8th LF 12th 3rd CF 32nd 9th RF 11th 12th Rotation 7th 2nd Bullpen 24th First-time Gold Glove winner catcher Dillon Dingler (4.6 fWAR) is under control through 2030. First baseman Spencer Torkelson (2.3 fWAR) had a strong season and enters free agency in 2029. Second base is more unsettled; Gleyber Torres (2.6 fWAR) signed a $15 million, one-year deal and is now a free agent. The Red Sox utilized a revolving door at second base during the season, so the team doesn’t have a surplus to assist Detroit. Going into the 2026 season, there is uncertainty at third for both teams. The Tigers aggressively pursued Alex Bregman last offseason, offering a six-year, $171.5 million contract, but he signed a three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox. Now that Bregman has opted out, the Tigers are rumored to be gearing up for another run for him. Utility man Zack McKinstry (1.7 fWAR) generated the most production at shortstop. In the outfield, Riley Greene (2.3 fWAR) primarily manned left field. Center field stands out as a major area for upgrade, as Tigers center fielders ranked 28th overall in baseball. Though he’s primarily regarded as a shortstop, Javier Báez’s 0.7 fWAR led the eight players who appeared in center field in 2025. Wenceel Pérez (1.9 fWAR) and Kerry Carpenter (0.9 fWAR) were a productive platoon pair in right field, similar to Wilyer Abreu and Rob Refsnyder. Pérez, a defensive wizard, produced four Outs Above Average, while Carpenter dominated right-handed pitching (122 wRC+ split). Trade Scenario Gauging a potential Skubal trade is tough. Skubal enters free agency after the 2026 season, leaving him with one year of team control. A somewhat comparable trade occurred in February 2024, when the Orioles acquired then 29-year-old Corbin Burnes, who also had one year of remaining control. Though Burnes is a quality pitcher, he doesn’t reach Skubal’s ceiling and was a couple of years removed from his 2021 Cy Young Award season. Mock Trade: Boston receives: LHP Tarik Skubal Detroit receives: LHP Connelly Early/Payton Tolle, OF Jarren Duran, and SS Franklin Arias (Baseball America’s No. 48 prospect) Connelly Early or Payton Tolle help offset the loss of Skubal. Both have high ceilings and experience pitching in the majors. While Duran's performance took a step back in 2025, his 3.9 fWAR ranked 13th in baseball among position players. He’s posted seven OAA in center field over the past two seasons, and would be a significant upgrade for the Tigers. Arias is a well-regarded right-handed shortstop, ranked fourth in the Red Sox’s system and 48th overall (Baseball America). Sox Prospects projects his major league debut in mid-2027, which coincides with the expiration of McKinstry’s contract. Outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia could be swapped for Arias, though adding another outfielder to the trade would be somewhat redundant. Fellow shortstop Marcelo Mayer could factor into a Skubal trade, though his trade value is diminished after his season ended prematurely with a wrist injury. Since Skubal is a Scott Boras client, he is unlikely to sign an extension with his new team. Adding another layer of complexity to a Skubal trade is the potential for a lockout. MLB’s Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire on December 1, 2026. If/when a lockout occurs, Skubal will likely be a free agent. The 2021 Major League Baseball lockout lasted 99 days, spanning from December 2, 2021, to March 10, 2022. Four days before the start of the lockout, 11 players, including Javier Báez, Max Scherzer, Corey Seager, and Marcus Semien, signed a total of $1.9 billion of contracts. The final day set a record of $1.3 billion in new contracts. During lockouts, free agents aren’t allowed to negotiate with teams, but once the work stoppage ends, a flurry of free agent signings typically ensues. After the 2021 lockout ended, several notable players quickly signed contracts: 3/18/22: Kris Bryant signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Rockies 3/18/22: Freddie Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers 3/22/22: Carlos Correa signed a three-year $105.3 million contract with the Twins 3/23/22: Trevor Story signed a six-year, $140 million contract with the Red Sox Alternatively, Sandy Alcantara is a controllable No. 2 starter in the trade market that wouldn’t cost as much as Skubal. Meanwhile, this year’s free agent starting pitching market is thin, “headlined” by Dylan Cease, Ranger Suarez, and Zac Gallen. Under Craig Breslow, free-agent pitching additions have been an area of weakness. FanGraphs’ 2024 “We Tried” Tracker shows the Red Sox pursued starters Blake Snell, Yusei Kikuchi, Shane Bieber, and Max Fried, but ultimately fell short. Looking ahead, waiting to pursue Skubal in free agency would be a cleaner path for the Red Sox. By the time Skubal enters free agency, the team will have a general manager to oversee free agent contract negotiations. Moreover, the Red Sox are one of the few organizations that could afford Skubal’s projected $400 million contract without sacrificing a substantial package of young talent. View the full article

At just 22 years old, Trey Yesavage has already lived a fascinating life. When most of us are his age, we're still trying to figure ourselves out, searching for a career, trying to find love, or even just trying to find a way to move out of our parents' basement. Yesavage isn’t your typical 22-year-old. By now, we all know the story. Drafted in July of 2024, he began 2025 in Single A before making a meteoric rise throughout the system to the big leagues, and then making three appearances in the World Series. It's as much of a fairytale moment as you can get in baseball without winning the championship. Shortly after the season concluded, the fairytale continued for Trey, as he announced on his Instagram that he and his girlfriend, Taylor, had gotten engaged! (Congrats from all of us at Jays Centre!) It capped off what will certainly be an extremely memorable year for Yesavage and his family. Getting engaged is a sign of commitment, a sign that no matter what happens, two people will be there for each other through thick and thin. An engagement shows that you're connected; it’s represents the bond that the two of you have formed as you take on the world together. And just like Trey and Taylor did, maybe it’s time that the Blue Jays should make a commitment of their own by offering Yesavage a long-term extension to keep him in Toronto. As things currently stand, Yesavage is still set to be a Blue Jay for years to come. He is in his pre-arbitration seasons and won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2029. He doesn't become a free agent until after the 2031 season, when he will hit the market as a 29-year-old. It wouldn’t be unheard of for the Blue Jays to offer a guaranteed contract to a player as young as Yesavage. The Boston Red Sox just did it with their star outfielder Roman Anthony, giving him an eight-year, $130 million contract extension this summer. Jackson Merrill signed a nine-year, $135 million deal with the Padres in April, while Jackson Chourio, Bobby Witt Jr., and Corbin Carroll also signed similar early-career extensions in recent years. The Blue Jays, however, have not historically been a team to do this; the only pre-arb extension they’ve ever given out was the three-year, $3.7 million pact they made with a then 22-year-old Roy Hallyday in 2000, and it’s been 25 years since then. The case for the extension makes sense. Yesavage has already shown he can get big league hitters out and do it on the biggest stage in baseball, despite being so young and inexperienced. Nothing in baseball is guaranteed, but if the Blue Jays believe that Yesavage is going to be a front-line starter for years to come, then giving him a small pay raise now, in exchange for long-term cost certainty, may be a smart investment. Star pitchers in baseball can make upwards of $35 million a season, and if Yesavage ends up signing a contract now, the Blue Jays could potentially have a starting pitcher who is worth that much money on a much cheaper deal, which could help keep the team competitive into the 2030s. For Yesavage, it makes some sense, too. I'm sure that engagement ring wasn’t cheap, and being able to have some cost certainty throughout his career would be a major plus. Having guaranteed money attached to your name can provide a sort of comfort, a consistent feeling knowing that no matter what happens in your career, whether it's an injury or poor performance, the income will still be coming. With the arbitration process, that isn't necessarily a guarantee. The main question that is going to have to be answered is how certain the Blue Jays are that Yesavage is going to be good and consistent for a long time. Pitchers are inherently injury-prone; the action of throwing the ball over the head causes a lot of strain on the elbow and shoulder, which can be a precursor to severe injuries. Yesavage also had a massive innings jump this year (174.2, compared to just 93 in his final season in college), and the fact that he throws with such a high arm angle means he puts more torque and pressure on the elbow than pitchers who throw more from the side, potentially putting him at higher risk for elbow issues going forward. The last time the Blue Jays had a pre-arb pitcher pitch so well at the highest level was Alek Manoah, who debuted in 2021. He pitched to a 3.22 ERA over 20 starts that year and followed that up with a 6.0 bWAR season, where he made the All-Star team, made 31 starts and finished third in Cy Young Award voting. If the Blue Jays were to have given Maonah an extension then, nobody would have questioned it. It looked like Manoah was set to be the next Blue Jays ace. Yet injuries, setbacks and a decline in command, derailed his career. The Blue Jays DFA’d him in September, and he is now a member of the Atlanta Braves. If the Blue Jays had given Manoah the big extension, then they would be stuck paying for a pitcher that isn't helping them win today. In hindsight, the fact that they didn’t looks like a smart move by the front office. Now, Trey Yesavage isn’t Alek Manoah; they're different pitchers with different paths. For every story like Manoah’s (or, say, Nate Pearson’s) there comes along a Roy Halladay or a Dave Stieb who becomes the backbone and anchor of a pitching staff. The Blue Jays will factor in injury risk, but at some point, the potential of Yesavage might be too high, and the Blue Jays may want to explore an extension sooner rather than later. Especially as the offseason rolls on. View the full article

Admit it, you thought the 2025 Miami Marlins would be bad. It's okay—I did, too. And yet, they finished a year with disaster in the forecast at 79 wins and played meaningful baseball late into September. With a pipeline of projectable minor league talent expected to make an impact, the prospects for a competitive Marlins club in 2026 seem within reach. However, the organization cannot solely rest on the laurels of what they already have. What reinforcements can they bring aboard to continue moving the needle in the direction of postseason contention? Stating the obvious, certain marquee names are unrealistic for the Fish, whose revenue streams pale in comparison to most other MLB franchises. They would inevitably get outbid for the likes of Kyle Tucker, Kyle Schwarber, Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz. Rather, I'll be highlighting several free agents who have less leverage and more inconsistent track records, but intriguing skill sets nonetheless. SP Dustin May Key 2025 statistics: 4.96 ERA, 4.88 FIP, 132.1 IP, 1.42 WHIP Regardless of how 2025 played out, there was a time in the not-too-distant past when Dustin May was among the more exciting young pitchers in baseball. The flame-throwing left-hander pitched to a 3.10 ERA in 191 ⅔ innings of work over parts of five seasons from 2019-2023, but an injury history highlighted by Tommy John surgery in 2023 kept fans wondering what would be of May once fully healthy. The result was a 4.96 ERA split between the eventual world-champion Los Angeles Dodgers and wild card-bound Boston Red Sox. While not the outcome May would have liked, there remains light beneath the paltry results. For one, May threw a career-high 132-plus innings, and with reports from May himself that an elbow issue that cut his season short is now healed, confidence in him assuming a similar or possibly even higher workload isn't out of the realm of possibility. Two, age is still a friend, as May will pitch 2026 in his age-28 season. For the Marlins' sake, May's suspect track record of health and recent subpar season make him affordable, even by their conservative spending standards. The prospect of a healthy and more productive May could be a welcome addition to a club expected to part with some of its current pitching staff. RP Andrew Chafin Key 2025 statistics: 2.41 ERA (177 ERA+), 3.46 FIP, 5.1 BB/9 If you've followed my work here, you know I've been on the "sign Andrew Chafin" train for the past several years. After another productive season in 2025, I'm still buying a ticket. While he didn't make his season debut until May 3, Chafin didn't miss a beat, pitching to a sub-3 ERA with Washington before finishing the year with an even better sub-2 ERA in his brief time with the Angels. As was the case in Washington, Chafin's underlying metrics suggest luck—he issued walks at the highest rate of his career—but the larger body of work says otherwise. In 542 career innings pitched over his 12 seasons, Chafin owns a 3.30 ERA and 3.35 FIP. Chafin isn't without concern. His fastball velocity continues to deteriorate, ranking merely in the fourth percentile among MLB pitchers this year. But with uncertainty surrounding the status of Andrew Nardi, who missed all of 2025 due to injury, Chafin represents a cost-effective—emphasis on effective—option for Miami in 2026. 1B Nathaniel Lowe Key 2025 statistics: .689 OPS (94 OPS+), 18 HR, 10.2 BB% If the 2026 Marlins want to emulate the 2002 "Moneyball" Oakland A's, then Nathaniel Lowe could be their Scott Hatteberg. The version of Lowe that the Nationals got in 2025 (.665 OPS) would have most running for the hills, but upon arriving in Boston on August 18, he resumed his old ways, hitting .280 with a 114 wRC+ and helping the Red Sox reach the postseason for the first time since 2021. Lowe brings a Silver Slugger, World Series championship, power, and a career 10.9-percent walk rate to the table despite a career-worst season. The Sox designated him for assignment on Tuesday rather than pay a projected $13.5 million salary in his final year of arbitration eligibility, so he should be attainable for a significantly lower price than that. Lowe can provide a boost to a Marlins team whose first basemen ranked 28th with a 83 wRC+ in 2025. Better than having Eric Wagaman atop the club's depth chart at the position. 1B Rhys Hoskins Key 2025 statistics: 90 G, .748 OPS (108 OPS+), 11.6 BB% Similar to Lowe, Hoskins would provide the Marlins with an injection of offense that they severely need at first base. Profile-wise, the two are eerily similar, sporting above-average plate discipline with above-average over-the-fence power and negative defensive value as strictly 1B/DH types. The difference, however, is in age, as Hoskins will enter his age-33 season in 2026, sporting a 102 OPS+ over the last two seasons with Milwaukee. Despite being two years his senior, Hoskins can still very much turn on a fastball. Among the 261 MLB hitters with at least 100 plate appearances ending on four-seamers in 2025, Hoskins' 59.7-percent hard-hit rate ranked 31st. Against all varieties of fastballs, he whiffed only 18.6% of the time (compared to his 27.6 whiff% overall). A notorious Marlins killer in his younger days, perhaps it's time for Hoskins to make amends by joining the Fish. View the full article

The Cubs made three additions to their 40-man roster Tuesday. Teams had a deadline of 6 PM Central to add players to their 40-man roster who would otherwise be exposed to the Rule 5 Draft, which is set to take place on December 10 at the MLB Winter Meetings. The Cubs selected left-handed pitcher Riley Martin, and infielders James Triantos and Pedro Ramírez. Of the trio, Ramírez is the highest-ranked prospect. Per mlb.com, Ramirez ranked as the Cubs’ eighth-best prospect in their latest prospect rankings, and he was 10th on Baseball America's ranking of them to begin the offseason. The 21-year-old signed with the Cubs as a teenager back in 2021 out of Venezuela, just like 2025 rookie Moisés Ballesteros. Much like Ballesteros, Ramírez has hit well at every level at which he has played so far. In 2025, Ramirez played the entirety of the season with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies. Over 563 plate appearances, he slashed .280/.346/.386 with 8 home runs, hitting primarily in the top of the order. Ramírez played 68 games at third base and 59 at second base in 2025, although due to a lack of arm strength, he should provide more value at second. Ramírez doesn’t have a clear path to playing time the way the current roster is constructed, so he may be viewed best as a potential trade chip for this upcoming winter. Although he is only 21 and has not played above Double A, his hit tool might have been too attractive for an infield-needy team to pass up in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. If he does stay with the Cubs, his utility will be as a flexible backup at both the positions he played this season. Triantos is the name on this list that most fans will recognize. The second-round pick from 2021 still has a bit of prospect sheen, but it wasn’t too long ago that he was viewed as the heir apparent to Nico Hoener. Some even thought his arrival could put Hoerner in more trade rumors. His stock was highest in 2022, when he ranked as the club's third-best prospect behind only Brennen Davis and Christian Hernandez. He hit .302 with the Iowa Cubs in 2024, but took a step back in an injury-plagued 2025. He batted .258/.315/.369 over 102 games with 7 home runs, and while he did tally 28 stolen bases, he was also thrown out 10 times. Triantos has never been a power hitter, and he is an average defender at best, so he needs to get on base more to provide value to a big-league club. Like Ramírez, Triantos doesn’t have a path to playing time with the Cubs in 2026, and with his prospect stock in decline, he probably won’t be the main piece in a significant trade. If he does end up hitting more with Iowa, the 22-year-old could end up getting a brief look at some point next season as a bench bat or injury replacement. Martin has the clearest path to playing time in 2026. If he was on the 40-man in 2025, he could have been considered for a September call-up. In fact, some fans called for that very thing, even though it would have meant adding him to the roster a couple months sooner. Martin was never a big-name prospect, and has been volatile during a five-year professional career, but he just put together his best full season exclusively at Triple-A Iowa. The southpaw had an ERA of 2.69 across 63 2/3 innings, striking out 80. He had one start, but worked mainly as a reliever who could handle longer outings. There's no such thing as too much bullpen depth, and with aging lefties Caleb Thielbar and Drew Pomeranz hitting free agency, Martin should get a long look in spring training. The Cubs will add relief options this winter, but Martin being added to the roster shows there’s confidence in him. Even if he doesn't break camp with the club, the 27-year-old should get his shot sometime next season. View the full article

Tuesday night was the deadline for teams to add Rule 5 Draft-eligible players to the 40-man roster. According to MLB.com Royals beat writer, the Royals added two pitchers to the 40-man roster by the deadline: Ben Kudrna and Steven Zobac. Kudrna is ranked No. 5 on our Top-20 Prospects list at Royals Keep. The former 2021 second-round pick from Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, primarily pitched in Double-A with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals last season. In 20 outings (19 starts) and 94 IP, he posted a 4.21 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. While those weren't elite, his 24% K rate, 15.7% K-BB%, and 3.53 FIP were much more encouraging marks. The 22-year-old righty struggled in the transition to Triple-A at the end of the season. In four outings (three starts) and 11.1 IP, he posted a 14.29 ERA and 2.74 WHIP. He also saw his K rate plummet to 15.7% and walk rate balloon to 27% (nearly 20% higher than his walk rate in Northwest Arkansas). Unfortunately, his stuff didn't profile well with the Storm Chasers either, which makes one wonder whether he was dealing with fatigue at the end of the season. In addition to a meager 35.5% zone rate and 20.6% chase rate, his overall TJ Stuff+ was below average at 94. On a positive note, he still posted a 29.5% whiff rate, showing his ability to make batters swing and miss was still there in Omaha, despite the poor peripherals. A full offseason and time with the big league coaching staff could help him rebound with the Storm Chasers in 2026, making him a viable option for the rotation at the end of next season or in 2027. As for Zobac, our 15th-ranked prospect, he struggled with injuries last year, which led to a down season despite the preseason hype (as we discussed in his scouting report). The 25-year-old only made 14 starts overall between Northwest Arkansas and the Complex League, with the latter being rehab outings. In that 44.2 IP sample, he posted a 7.25 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, and 13.7% K-BB%. The control and ability to throw strikes remain a plus aspect of Zobac's profile, and he still struck out 21.3% of batters in the Minor Leagues last season. The hope is that Zobac is fully healthy and can recapture the buzz he once had at the conclusion of the 2024 season. He could be a candidate to make the Royals roster at some point in 2026 as a long reliever or spot starter, as long as he can accumulate innings next season and solve his longball issues (2.01 HR/9 allowed in the Minors last season). The Royals roster is currently at 39, and some notable players were left off the 40-man roster, exposing them to the December Rule 5 Draft, which takes place at the conclusion of the MLB Winter Meetings. Here's a list of the most intriguing Rule 5-eligible players who could get drafted in less than a month. Felix Arronde, RHP: 12th-ranked prospect who posted a 2.80 ERA in High-A Quad Cities. Daniel Vazquez, SS: 14th-ranked prospect and had a Solid AFL campaign. Frank Mozzicato, LHP: 2021 First-Round Pick and 20th-ranked prospect. Gavin Cross, OF: 2022 First-Round Pick. Luca Tresh, C: Posted a .794 OPS in Omaha in 2025. Javi Vaz, UT: Athletic utility player who posted a 1.25 BB/K ratio and stole 25 bases in Double-A in 2025. Henry Williams, RHP: Former Padres prospect acquired in the Scott Barlow trade in 2023 Shane Panzini, RHP: 2021 Fourth-Round Pick who posted a 3.39 ERA, 109 IP across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels last season. Photo Credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images View the full article

Heading into Tuesday, some Twins fans (at least those of us who care about prospects) were anxious to find out who the Twins would protect. The assumption was that it would be a sizable group of players, but due to limits, they would still leave several players vulnerable to the Rule 5 draft in a couple of weeks. The Twins chose to protect six players. They added two right-handed pitchers (John Klein, Andrew Morris), two left-handers (Connor Prielipp and Kendry Rojas), and two outfielders (Gabriel Gonzalez, Hendry Mendez). None of the names are terribly surprising. If you read our article previewing and somewhat predicting the Twins roster additions, the first five that were assumed Givens were all added. The one surprise, and a minimal surprise at that, is arguably the closest to Target Field. Sure, John Klein ended the 2025 season pitching in St. Paul, but he spends his offseason in the Twin Cities. He is a 2020 graduate of Osseo High School and grew up in Brooklyn Park. At the time, he was a catcher. He went to Iowa Central Community College, and while there, he became a pitcher. One of his coaches was Jonas Lovin who was the pitching coach for the Saints in 2025. He was going to go play baseball at Minnesota State in Mankato, but a Twins scout saw him and signed him in August of 2022 as a non-drafted free agent. Just three years later, he finds himself on the Minnesota Twins 40-man roster. He really impressed at Wichita in 2025. He was throwing harder, touching 96 with a couple of fastballs. At 6-5 and 225 pounds, he's got a chance to pitch for his hometown team as early as the second half of next season. Tomah, Wisconsin, is about two-and-a-half hours east of Target Field on I-94. That's where Connor Prielipp grew up and went to high school before heading south to Alabama. The southpaw hasn't pitched a lot of innings as a pro, but he was able to remain healthy throughout the season. He ended the year at Triple-A St. Paul and tossed six innings in his final start. Blessed with size and a big fastball, Prielipp also has a tremendous slider and a good changeup too. It will be interesting to see whether he continues to build as a starter or come to the big leagues in the bullpen. We should see that happen, maybe even fairly early in the 2026 season. Kendry Rojas presumably has the most interesting story of the bunch. It started in Cuba. He came to the States and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. He missed time early in 2025, but he was pitching very well before the trade deadline, absolutely dominating Double-A hitters. He made one Triple-A start for the Jays before being included with outfielder Alan Roden in a last-second deadline deal with the Blue Jays. He really struggled in St. Paul, getting hit and issuing too many walks, but his stuff is electric. He's a guy they will likely want to keep starting as long as that is realistic. The fourth pitchers added to the Twins roster is right-hander Andrew Morris. He was the Twins fifth-round pick in 2022 out of Texas Tech. He pitched at three levels in 2024, ending the season with the Saints. That's where he spent the entire 2025 season, though he missed almost two months on the IL. Morris looks the part of starter. He sits 94-95 mph with the fastball, and yet he has touched 97. He also throws three breaking balls with three different paths to the plate and three different velocities. While the bullpen is always possible, Morris's stuff most shouts starting pitcher. The Twins also added two hitters, both outfielders, to the 40-man roster. Like Rojas, Hendry Mendez came to the Twins at the trade deadline from the Phillies in the Harrison Bader trade. At 6-4 and about 220 pounds, he looks like a power hitter, and he has that potential. To this point in his career, however, he has been a batting average, doubles type of hitter. He puts the ball in play, even walking more than striking out at several stops, including his two-month stint with the Wind Surge. With his size, it is likely that he will get some work in at first base this offseason and moving forward. However valuable his becomes will likely depend on how much game power he is able to develop. Finally, Gabriel Gonzalez was an easy addition to the roster. The 21-year-old came to the Twins from the Mariners in a February 2024 trade for Jorge Polanco. He struggled in Cedar Rapids last year and missed half the season with injury. But he returned to form in 2026. he played at three levels and hit over .315 at each spot. He combined to hit 38 doubles and 15 homers. He hit the ball hard. Defensively, he's got work to do on reads and routes and such, but he does have a strong arm. For more Twins Daily content on these six new Twins 40-man roster members, click their links here: John Klein, Andrew Morris, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, Gabriel Gonzalez, Hendry Mendez. At Risk: The Other Side of the Proverbial Coin With their six new additions to the 40-man roster, other minor leaguers (several legitimately called prospects) are now at risk of being lost in the Rule 5 draft in two weeks at the Winter Meetings. C.J. Culpepper has to be intriguing to teams. While he was hurt early in the 2025 season and eased very cautiously the rest of the season, he also looks like a starting pitcher. He sits 94-96 with the fastball, but he also has a sinker, a slider, a cutter, a curveball, and a changeup, and probably a couple of variations of each. Jose Olivares is the high-upside, hard-throwing pitchers who at 22 is incredibly intriguing to Twins coaches, front office, fans and more. Likely scouts and coaches from other organizations have noticed as well. While he's got some really good stuff and an ability to miss bats, he has a lot of walks. But, with his question marks, would he last with another organization all season? For the second straight season, the Twins are exposing Kala'i Rosario to the Rule 5 draft. He's coming off of a 2025 season that started slow and ended with him hitting .256/.358/487 with 30 doubles, five triples, 25 homer runs, and a shocking 32 stolen bases. Could the increased athleticism shown make him intriguing to another organization this year? Kyler Fedko broke out in 2025. At glance at the raw numbers is impressive. In 130 games, he had 25 doubles, 28 homers, and 38 stolen bases. Combined with speed, defense, and versatility, he does profile as a guy who some team will like as their fourth or fifth outfielder. And there are others who could be selected as well. Cory Lewis had a rough 2025 season, but maybe a team believes in that knuckleball. Catchers are very valuable, and at season's end, Patrick Winkel, Noah Cardenas, Ricardo Olivar, Andrew Cossetti and Nate Baez were all in Double-A or Triple-A. That group shows a mix of great defensive catchers and not-so great defensive catchers. There are a couple of guys that will have to hit their way to remain a backup in the big leagues, but that's possible. Other prospects who have ranked in the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins prospects who are eligible are infielders Danny De Andrade, Tanner Schobel, and Rayne Doncon. Former first-round pick Aaron Sabato was left unprotected. Lefty relievers like Christian MacLeod and Jaylen Nowlin could intrigue a team. Miguelangel Boadas just completed a nice showing in the Arizona Fall League. Again, most years we worry about how many players the Twins will lose in the Rule 5 draft. It is possible the Twins lose their first players since Tyler Wells and Akil Baddoo were lost in the 2020 Rule 5 draft. Most won't. Generally, somewhere between 15 and 20 MLB Rule 5 picks are made. Roster spaces are limited. But it truly does take just one organization who had a coach or scout see the right player on the right day and will vouch for that player. Even then, he'd have to stick with the organization all season. Twins Acquire Reliever From Rays The Twins sent right-handed pitcher Jacob Kisting, their 14th round pick in the 2024 draft out of Bradley to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for reliever Eric Orze. For much more on this trade, click here. The trade also puts the Twins 40-man roster at 40. Will the Twins non-tender some players later this week? We shall see. What are your thoughts on the Twins additions? Who might they lose? Share your thoughts below. View the full article

In what is sure to be the blockbuster move of the winter season (just kidding… maybe?), the Twins and Tampa Bay Rays made a trade Tuesday, swapping major league-ready hurler Eric Orze for minor-leaguer Jacob Kisting. The 6-foot-4 Orze made his debut with the Mets during the 2024 season, before the team dealt him to the Rays for Jose Siri. He ranked 51st on Tampa’s seemingly endless prospect chart. Orze did not make the Opening Day roster, but he appeared only two weeks into the season, and eventually posted a 3.02 ERA over 41 2/3 innings. The underlying stuff offers cause for some concern, including a 4.65 xFIP and a 10.7% walk rate. Tampa optioned Orze back to Triple A in July, but the decision allowed some tinkering that pushed his game forward. Though trading with the Rays can be a dangerous game, the team often ends up with a roster crunch that pushes good players through their cracks; ask Joe Ryan. Orze transferred from Northwest Florida State College to the University of New Orleans, before he discovered that he had testicular cancer in 2018. When he was ready to return to the mound, the pandemic pushed him back to the sidelines. Despite the short track record, the Mets drafted him in the fifth round, as the 150th overall pick. He relies on a splitter with lots of depth, which plays off a four-seamer and a slider. The splitter shows signs of wildness, hovering around 84mph and often dropping out of the zone to induce swings and misses—but without much luck getting strikes if hitters don't chase. In that case, he pushes a fastball that comes in around 94 mph, from a true three-quarter arm lot. His slider has a fine spin rate, but hitters demolished for a .404 AVG and an .844 SLG last year. Prospect analyst Eric Lonenhiggen suggested last year that Orze could comp to Trevor Richards, if he could manage more strikes. (But, like the good Trevor Richards. Not the Twins version.) Sent off in the trade is Jacob Kisting, drafted out of Bradley University in the 14th round in 2024. Kisting pitched mostly in relief for the Low- and High-A Twins affiliates in 2025, leaning on a high strikeout rate for an overall 3.79 ERA over 73 2/3 innings, and getting at least a couple votes from the Twins Daily staff for minor-league reliever of the year. Like most prospects at this level, it’s hard to know exactly how he might develop, though never discount the Rays when it comes to developing monsters from anonymous relief arms. Expect Orze on the Opening Day roster. If the stuff is there, he could manage his way up the relatively open pecking order into a 7th- or 8th-inning role. The Rays generally left him as a one-inning guy, but called upon him a few times to go a second. If his stuff is less than stellar, he might do the same for the Twins. View the full article

The Blue Jays' number five prospect, Ricky Tiedemann, was Rule 5 eligible and was headed for the Rule 5 draft on December 10. However, the Blue Jays protected him by adding him to the 40-man roster. The 23-year-old had impressive first two MLB seasons, posting a 2.17 ERA over 78 2/3 innings in 2022 and a 3.68 ERA over 44 innings in 2023. He missed most of the 2023 season due to a biceps injury. He was still dealing with the injury at the start of the 2024 season. In July, he left a game due to another injury and subsequently required Tommy John surgery. This surgery caused him to miss the remainder of 2024 and the entire 2025 season while recovering. Being added to the 40-man roster shows the Blue Jays have MLB plans for Tiedemann next season. The team could use a fifth starter instead of Eric Lauer, and Tiedemann could take his spot as the lefty in the rotation. If the prospect can replicate his early success in spring training next season, he could make the Opening Day roster. This decision will also depend on the Blue Jays' offseason moves. Tiedemann could also be a late-season call-up, following the Trey Yesavage path, and join for the postseason run if needed. View the full article

There's no denying Pablo Lopez is on the trade block this offseason, but with Lopez slated to earn $21.75 million next season, he may be harder to move compared to Joe Ryan, who is still under arbitration. Will the Twins entertain offers for Lopez, or will they intend to keep him and improve their chances of contending in 2026? View the full article

It isn't very often that I'm in full agreement with the Miami Marlins on roster moves, but Tuesday was an exception. They selected catcher Joe Mack and right-handers Josh White and William Kempner to their 40-man roster, protecting them from next month's MLB Rule 5 draft. To clear a spot on the 40-man to accommodate all three prospects, outfielder Joey Wiemer was designated for assignment. Mack has risen to No. 2 on the Fish On First Top 30 list following a season in which he represented the Marlins at the Futures Game. Spending most of 2025 at the Triple-A level, he slashed .257/.338/.475 with 21 home runs and nine stolen bases, and he played plus defense behind the plate, including a 33.3% caught stealing rate. He turns 23 next month. White (FOF #21) has emerged as a fascinating relief arm. Another homegrown Marlins prospect, he pitched to a 1.86 ERA, 40.8 K% and .166 BAA in 45 appearances this season against AA/AAA competition. He could challenge for an Opening Day job depending on how active the team is shopping for veteran relievers this winter. The unranked Kempner was nearly as effective as White (2.26 ERA, 33.6 K% and .162 BAA in 67.2 IP), though his lack of control upon being promoted to Jacksonville indicates that more developmental time is needed. A former San Francisco Giants farmhand, he was acquired by the Fish in January in exchange for international bonus pool money. As for Wiemer, he was claimed off waivers by the Marlins in August. In 27 games for them, he slashed .236/.279/.436 with three homers and an 88 wRC+. He played excellent defense in right field over that small sample (4 DRS and 3 OAA). Worth noting that if Wiemer clears waivers this time around, the Marlins can outright him to the minors and maintain club control of him for the 2026 season—that's because he has never been outrighted before and does not have the seven years of professional experience needed to elect minor league free agency. Notable Rule 5-eligible prospects who were left unprotected by the Marlins include: OF Andrew Pintar (acquired in the 2024 A.J. Puk trade) 1B Nathan Martorella (acquired in the 2024 Luis Arraez trade) INF/OF Jacob Berry (Miami's 2022 first-round draft pick) INF Yiddi Cappe (2022 Marlins Minor League Player of the Year) RHP Matt Pushard (career 3.21 ERA in 174 innings pitched as a minor leaguer) The Rule 5 draft will be held on December 10 in Orlando as the final event of the MLB Winter Meetings. The draft order is determined by the previous season's reverse standings, so the Marlins will pick 12th. View the full article