DiamondCentric

The San Diego Padres will be in need of a full-time designated hitter in 2026. The lineup has struggled to hit for power for the past two seasons, and something is going to have to change if San Diego wants to truly be in contention in 2026. What better way to add some of that much-needed pop to the lineup than signing a veteran free-agent to focus all their time on hitting? Here are five players who could fill that role in San Diego. 1. Kyle Schwarber Schwarber is clearly the prize of the offseason when it comes to designated hitters, and for good reason. He's been one of the most consistent power hitters in the league for the past five years. Since 2021, he has a 136 OPS+, a .514 SLG, and 219 home runs (averaging 43 bombs per season)! In 2025, he finished with red all over his Baseball Savant page, including a 100th percentile finish in Hard-Hit%. He also cracked the 99th percentile in batting run value, xSLG, and Barrel %, while ranking in the 98th percentile xwOBA, average exit velocity, and bat speed. He also had a great eye, finishing in the 97th percentile in walk rate. Obviously, there are two massive holes in his game that prevent him from being an MVP: he strikes out too much and does not play defense. But, for a lineup like San Diego, which already prominently features contact bats, Schwarber might actually be a breath of fresh air. He's a three-true-outcomes guy, which makes his at-bats as fun as they can be frustrating. After two years of employing contact king Luis Arraez, perhaps it's time San Diego tries going all-in on power. 2. Marcell Ozuna Ozuna from the Braves had a down year in 2025, but there is still plenty of evidence to suggest he is capable of bouncing back. Remember, it was not that long ago that Ozuna was receiving MVP votes and was challenging Shohei Ohtani for the title of best DH in baseball. Ozuna's .400 slugging percentage was significantly lower than his xSLG of .437, and his analytics look solid. He finished in the 83rd percentile in xwOBA, and the 85th percentile in chase rate. Best of all, he was still drawing walks at an elite rate. Ozuna was in the 98th percentile in walk rate, a big reason why is OBP (.355) was over 120 points higher than his AVG (.232). Because of his age (35) and because he had a down year last year, Ozuna will probably be significantly cheaper than Schwarber. There's an inherent risk here, and the Padres don't want to hitch their wagon to another old, declining veteran. However, if Ozuna can get even halfway to where he was in 2024, he would be in contention once again as the second-best DH in the National League. 3. Andrew McCutchen This is where the DH class suddenly becomes very weak. There is a real argument that McCutchen, entering his age-39 season, is the third-best DH available. This is not a drag on McCutchen. He's been fine in his last three years in Pittsburgh, with a combined 104 OPS+ over 1,315 at-bats. The problem is he has no upside and a lot of risk. His age is a risk in and of itself, and he's also had a bad tendency to get hurt throughout his career. Like Schwarber and Ozuna, McCutchen is at least good for one thing: he walks a lot. His 12.2% walk rate placed him the 88th percentile in the league, and his chase rate also stayed very low, at just 20.7%. Still, it feels like whoever signs McCutchen (if it's not Pittsburgh) would be settling. McCutchen is the compensation prize, not the reward. 4. Justin Turner At this point, the veteran infielder is more of a DH than anything else. Once again, Turner would be a bounce-back candidate, and it's hard to predict how much he'll be able to bounce back at 41 years old. After 13 straight seasons with an OPS+ above 100, Turner's OPS+ fell all the way to 75 last year with the Cubs. He was worth -0.1 bWAR, his least valuable season since 2010. Signing Turner to be their DH would feel similar to the Jason Heyward signing last offseason, and we all know how that one turned out for San Diego. He'd bring a great presence to the clubhouse, but he's hardly a lock to upgrade the offense. 5. Starling Marte The former Mets and Pirates star could be in the mix to play outfield as well, but at this point, he is more of a DH at 37 years old. He actually had a fine year in 2025, putting up an OPS+ of 111 and a bWAR of 1.0. However, that came after a very rough 2023-24, when he was worth -0.1 bWAR and had an 89 OPS+ in 180 games. Again, Marte should be considered a last resort for the Padres' need. He'd make sense as a tertiary addition to the lineup, not the primary one. View the full article

Brooks Lee is all but set to be the 2026 Opening Day shortstop, but his biggest issue was his chase rate in 2025. How can he cut down on the bad swings at the plate and improve upon his strike zone judgement to keep playing every day next year View the full article

If we follow the rumor trail, it seems as though the Chicago Cubs are going to be big players in free agency this offseason. They currently have a qualifying offer out to Shota Imanaga worth more than $22 million, though it's believed he will decline it. Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma are reporting the Cubs' interest in additional big names. They're reporting that the Cubs want to "build more pitching depth, both at the top of the rotation and throughout the organization," and specifically go on to name Michael King and Dylan Cease as potential targets. King had a bit of a lost season in 2025 due to injury. However, in 2024, he threw 173 1/3 innings in his first full year as a starter. In that season, he posted an impressive 3.33 FIP and a 19.0% K-BB rate. That's why MLBTR predicts he'll earn a four-year, $80 million contract in free agency this year. It will be up to King if he wants the extra couple of million over long-term security he'll receive by becoming a free agent. Cease, who is a free agent, has been a modern-day iron man, making 32 starts in five consecutive seasons. His productivity has alternated each season he's been with the club, receiving Cy Young votes in 2022 and 2024 while sporting ERAs north of 4.00 in 2023 and 2025. About to enter his age-30 season, MLBTR predicts Cease will get a seven-year, $189 million contract via free agency. Given the security and an extra $5 million in 2026, it's hard to imagine Cease will accept the qualifying offer. As a reminder, a team receives compensatory draft picks if its free agent rejects the qualifying offer and signs with a new club. Conversely, the team making the signing must forfeit draft picks, with the exact picks exchanged depending on the financial status of both organizations (e.g., whether they pay the Competitive Balance Tax or receive revenue sharing). Which pitcher should the Cubs prioritize? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Earlier this week, the Toronto Blues were reported to be in "every market" and specifically to be interested in landing a high-end reliever. Reporters from the Athletic previously named Pete Fairbanks, Devin Williams, Phil Maton, and "other similar relievers" as possibilities. Now, we have another name to add to the list. Francys Romero is reporting that the Toronto Blue Jays have "emerged as a strong suitor" for Raisel Iglesias. The 36-year-old has been among the game's best for nearly a decade and hasn't shown signs of slowing down. Iglesias appeared in 70 games for the Atlanta Braves during the 2025 season, throwing 67 1/3 innings in relief. The right-hander recorded a FIP of 3.31 and produced a 21.4% K-BB%. Converting 29 of 34 saves, Iglesias generated a Win Probability Added (WPA) of 1.04 in 2025. Given his age, MLBTR anticipates a short-term deal, netting $32 million over two seasons. Of the names mentioned, which would you prefer the Jays to add? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

The Rule 5 Draft is on December 10th, but the deadline to protect players from the draft is November 18th. Unlike recent offseasons, there are no surefire additions for the Brewers, and there may not even be any coin-flip options. There are three pitchers and one position player who can at least make a case, though. The four players with cases are among the 31 eligible players to be selected this year. The complete list is available in our forums, along with a more detailed explanation of what makes a player eligible for selection in the draft. Brewers fans are well aware of the dangers of leaving a player unprotected, as they witnessed one of their prospects become the number one selection in last year's draft, and proceeded to watch the previously mentioned Shane Smith pitch his way to an All-Star appearance, or at least a "White Sox need an All-Star" appearance, in his debut season. Following the addition of Coleman Crow to the 40-man roster last week, keeping him from minor league free agency, the Brewers currently have 38 of the 40 spots filled. Thus, they could add two players to the roster without any additional moves, but the question is whether they will feel the need to do so with any of the 31 eligible players. None of these four players has as strong a case as Smith or Chad Patrick had in 2024, but they do all have a case. Pitchers: LHP Brian Fitzpatrick The Brewers used their tenth-round selection on Brian Fitzpatrick in 2022, drafting him out of Rutgers. Having spent time in a starter's role and a relief role in the past, all of Fitzpatrick's appearances in 2025 were out of the bullpen, though many were of the multi-inning variety. After returning to High-A to begin the season, Fitzpatrick was quickly pushed to Double-A in 2025. In 34 ⅔ innings, he posted an impressive 1.82 ERA, to go along with a 2.99 FIP. He struck out 28.6% of batters in Biloxi, and only walked 7.5% of them. He was promoted again to Triple-A, where his first outing was a significant struggle, as he allowed six earned runs in one inning. However, in the final 17 ⅔ innings of his season that followed, he had a 4.08 ERA and a 3.78 FIP. His numbers aren't what land him on this list, though. It's his repertoire and his build that are most intriguing. A true five-pitch pitcher, Fitzpatrick can keep hitters on their toes, especially in shorter stints. He throws a two-seam fastball and a four-seam fastball in the 92-94 MPH range, reaching back for 95 at times. This was a velocity jump for him from having sat 90-92 in the past. He also mixes in a short slider in the mid-80s and a bigger sweeper in the upper-70s. His best pitch is his 82-84 MPH changeup, which he averages around 17 inches of run on. Standing 6'7" and generating about the same amount of extension from the left side, Fitzpatrick has qualities that are likely to be intriguing to big league organizations. Will it be enough to protect him? Likely not, but there is enough here not to rule it out. Likelihood of protection: 15% RHP Will Childers Childers is a legacy of the Brewers, as his father, Matt, was a Brewers draft pick in 1997 and debuted for the Brewers in 2002. Will was an undrafted signing after the 2022 draft after attending the University of Georgia, where he spent the majority of his time injured after a strong freshman season. He didn't appear in his first professional games until June of 2023 as he continued to rehab. After 38 ⅔ innings of 2.33 ERA and 3.08 FIP pitching in Double-A, Childers didn't see the same success in Triple-A. His 4.50 ERA looks respectable, but the 6.07 FIP tells a different story. You don't have to look much further than three of the more important stats to see why FIP is low on him. His strikeout rate went from 30.9% in Biloxi to 18.4% in Nashville. His walk rate went up from an already high 11.2% to 15.8% after the promotion. Beyond that, he also allowed an unsavory 1.38 home runs per nine innings, nearly double the 0.70 number he had posted in Biloxi. Like Fitzpatrick, Childers has a deep repertoire for a reliever, and like Fitzpatrick, it's not his results that warrant him a look. His main fastball is a four-seam, which tends toward the "cut/carry" profile, thrown in the 95-97 MPH range and reaching 99. His sinker is a dead-zone shape thrown in a similar velocity band, though the movement appears to be late, helping the pitch play better than the overall shape would suggest. He throws a cutter in the upper 80s, but it can blend into a shorter slider at times. It's a pitch that could use some sharpening, but it shows signs of being above average. Childers also throws a curveball in the 82-84 MPH range, with sharp, downward bite. Based on his struggles in Triple-A and his injury history, he seems unlikely to be protected, but his pure stuff and the impressive showing in Double-A do give him a fighter's chance. Likelihood of protection: 10% RHP Blake Holub Holub was acquired from the Tigers for Mark Canha following the 2023 season. There are similarities to Childers with Holub. His walk rate in Triple-A was 16.8%, and he has a cut/carry fastball, though Holub's has a lot more true cut, and is even classified as a cutter. Holub struggled in his first taste of Triple-A in 2024 as well. His overall numbers in 2025 were strong. He had a 3.70 ERA and a 3.54 FIP, brought along by a 29.1 whiff-rate and striking out 28.6% of batters faced. The walk rate was a problem for him, but the contact quality was weak, which, when combined with his ability to generate swing and miss, helped him limit runs. Along with his interesting cutter, which he throws in the 93-95 MPH range and can reach 97 with, Holub throws his slider around 43% of the time. Sitting around 85 MPH, the slider generates a lot of ground balls and has good depth to it. He rounds out his repertoire with a very rare splitter. Holub is already 27 years old, and he is a relief-only pitcher at this point. The Brewers are unlikely to protect a player like Holub, but he is someone that a team could view as an option to fill a relief role right away, with a little upside if they can help him limit the walks a bit more, and perhaps are willing to let him lean on the splitter a bit more often. Likelihood of protection: 10% Position Players Catcher: Matt Wood -- FanGraphs #43 prospect A fourth-round pick out of Penn State in 2022, Wood got off to a solid, if unspectacular, start in High-A this season. He was promoted to Double-A in late May, and that's when he began to really make his case. His wRC+ improved from 103 in 116 plate appearances (as well as 100 in 379 plate appearances in 2024) to an impressive 134 with Biloxi in 245 plate appearances. He hit a career-high six home runs as well. However, the biggest reason he now has an outside chance at protection was the strides he made behind the plate. According to Baseball Prospectus, Wood went from -2.3 Catching Defense Added in 2023 to an improved 2.7 in 2024, but he jumped all the way up to 6.5 in 2025. After throwing out 20.4% of stolen base attempts in parts of three seasons in High-A, Wood threw out 27.2% of runners in Double-A. He also showed improvement in blocking and receiving. Position players are naturally less likely to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft, as they are a bit harder to hide in the big leagues for a full season, but a team that is looking for a backup catcher could see Wood as a player on the upswing that would be worth a flier. Likelihood of protection: 10% Other Names of Note RHP Yerlin Rodriguez Rodriguez is not going to be protected; his walk rate has been over 20% each of the last two seasons in High-A, but his stuff warrants mention. He has been up to 101 MPH in his minor league career, and his slider can be a wipeout pitch for him at times. If a team is willing to take a shot on his stuff, the Brewers will likely let them take that chance. RHP Nick Merkel Merkel has shown a wide repertoire out of the bullpen. Mixing six pitches with all three fastball variations, two breaking balls, and a changeup. He combines that with seven feet of extension and decent command. His velocity is only in the low-90s, but a FIP of 2.94 and a bunch of average or better pitches will garner some interest. Of the players in this category, he may be the most likely to be selected, but given that he never got the call to Triple-A in 2025, he seems unlikely to be protected. UTIL Ethan Murray Murray is the lone position player in this section, mainly due to his Double-A performance. The former fifth-round pick posted a very strong 146 wRC+ with Biloxi, but his performance did not carry over to Triple-A, where his wRC+ was 44 in 114 plate appearances. While his average exit velocity of 89.7 MPH was above average, he lacked top-end power. Outside of making decent swing decisions, the rest of the peripheral stats were all well below average. He's a serviceable shortstop defensively and above-average at second base, capable of helping at third and in left field as well. He's unlikely to be selected and almost certainly won't be protected. It would have to be considered an upset if anyone is protected by the Brewers this season, barring an outside acquisition, along the lines of the Oliver Dunn trade two offseasons ago. If they do protect anyone, they have to come from this group. Is there anyone we missed? Should anyone be protected from this group? Let us know! View the full article

Rumors surrounded Edward Cabrera leading up to the 2025 MLB trade deadline. After finishing his career year in good health, there are sure to be many suitors trying to acquire him from the Miami Marlins again this offseason. Cabrera posted a 3.53 ERA and 3.83 FIP with a career-high 137 ⅔ innings and surprisingly consistent strike-throwing. His fastball velocity sits at 97 mph and his curveball has joined his changeup as a reliable putaway pitch. He's still under club control for three more seasons via arbitration. While the iron is hot and they're focused on making offensive upgrades, the Marlins may part with their homegrown starter. In this mock trade proposal, the Athletics—whose window of contention is similar to Miami's—look to nab Cabrera in exchange for one of their own breakout players. Marlins acquire: 1B/OF Tyler Soderstrom and OF Henry Bolte Athletics acquire: RHP Edward Cabrera and RHP Calvin Faucher Tyler Soderstrom in 2025 posted a .276/.346/.474 slash line and 25 home runs with a .354 wOBA and 125 wRC+, finishing the year with 3.4 fWAR. A left-handed hitter, he held his own against fellow lefties (103 wRC+), allowing him to accrue 624 plate appearances. 7b25b74b-17f56bb9-84e9150a-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Soderstrom began this season at first base, but moved to left field once Nick Kurtz arrived in the big leagues. Although he performed well with the glove at his new position, many still believe his defensive home moving forward should be first base or DH. That's how the Marlins would utilize him in this scenario. With only two years of MLB service time, Soderstrom is not even eligible for arbitration yet and he won't hit free agency until after the 2029 season. An affordable power bat who can anchor the Marlins lineup with loud pop, he'd fit in perfectly. Henry Bolte is the fifth-ranked prospect in the Athletics farm system, according to MLB Pipeline. The 2022 second-round draft pick was signed out of high school for an overslot deal of $2 million. In 2025 at Double-A and Triple-A, Bolte slashed .284/.385/.427 with a .377 wOBA and 121 wRC+. He flashes encouraging hard-hit rates and a max exit velo of 111.6 mph. 82zih7.mp4 Bolte plays a good outfield, but may be relegated to a corner spot long term. Speed may be his best tool with a 99th-percentile Sprint Speed in AAA. The 22-year-old shows promise and could be valuable depth for the Marlins ever-crowded outfield. Under the hood, there are areas of concern that may lead to the A's being willing to move Bolte. He has struck out in nearly one-third of his plate appearances throughout his minor league career. In AAA, he was particularly vulnerable against offspeed and breaking pitches (35 whiff% or higher vs. curveballs, sweepers, sliders, and changeups). The Marlins player development group may be able to fix his plate approach. Also, Bolte had a shockingly low pulled-air rate—remove him from the hitter-friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League and his actual slugging percentage of .433 may settle in much closer to his .295 xSLG. Bolte is not Rule 5-eligible until 2026, which would allow the Marlins to keep him off their 40-man roster next season until he's fully ready to contribute. In addition to Cabrera, the A's also get a high-leverage reliever in Faucher who has posted respectable numbers for the Fish the past two seasons. He is under club control through 2029. By including Faucher in this trade, I am assuming the Marlins will make a separate offseason move to reinforce their bullpen, ideally bringing in somebody who misses even more bats. View the full article

At the GM Meetings in Las Vegas this week, Derek Falvey insisted that his hope is to build around what he currently has, rather than further subtracting pieces, in an earnest effort at competitiveness in 2026. This is a semi-plausible notion in theory, with the team possessing enough rotation depth and intriguing hitters make themselves a threat. The glaring flaw in this vision, of course, is the bullpen. You can't compete without at least a decent one, as we've seen, and the Twins are starting nearly from scratch after selling off the entire unit in July. No reliever who auditioned in the latter part of the season looked very good, so the Twins are going to need to rapidly identify and activate arms to fill these roles. External additions will be part of the picture, for sure. But from the moment they shipped off four future-controlled relievers at the trade deadline, Minnesota's intention was clear: draw from the abundance of decent-to-great pitching prospects in their system — a pool that expanded from all their trades — to develop the next wave of outstanding homegrown relievers. In some ways, this approach is hard to argue against. After all, it's the same formula used to forge the relief corps that was in such high demand at the deadline. Falvey noted as much when speaking to reporters, including Twins Daily's John Bonnes, in Las Vegas. "When you look across the game at good bullpens that emerge from within, a lot of them are starters that transitioned," Falvey said. "We ourselves had multiple of those, whether it's Griffin Jax or Jhoan Duran or others that came through our system as starters. I wouldn't expect that to be any different." This is valid. But one factor that must be considered with this approach is the player's preference and receptiveness. Generally speaking, professional pitchers want to pursue a path to starting first, and exhaust the possibility before they submit to a bullpen role. There is, quite simply, a lot more money to be made and more stability to be had in a rotation spot. Duran and Jax are interesting examples to cite. In each case, you could see why the team would envision a well-suited relief role. But in each case, you could also why the player would be amenable to the plan when it was implemented. Duran had long struggled with arm injuries, and missed nearly the entire 2021 season with a forearm issue before stepping into the Twins bullpen in 2022 and immediately thriving. Jax had been bashed into submission with a 6.37 ERA as a 26-year-old rookie in 2021 before making his own successful role pivot in 2022. Ultimately, the team and coaches make calls about player usage, but forcing players down paths they aren't necessarily aligned to can create friction. In this sense, it's worth noting the two prospective candidates that Falvey specifically called out in his answer: "I am kind of excited about some of the arms we have at Triple-A and Double-A over the last couple of years that while they haven't always hit their stride as starters, they might have an ability to impact us in different ways. I'd hate to put too much pressure on any of them, but you see Connor Prielipp throw the way he can at times, you see Marco Raya throw the way he has." Similar to Jax and Duran, one can see the appeal on both sides for reliever transitions in these cases. Prielipp has been besieged by injuries since he was in college, and has thrown barely 100 innings in three years since being drafted. The idea of building up a starter workload is all but impractical at this point. Raya is coming off a brutal season at Triple-A that now has him questioning if he'll reach the majors rather than when. Both these guys are probably open to immediate bullpen transitions, with the promise of an MLB fast-track, and I'm guessing it's already been broached with them if Falvey is discussing it openly. But at best, that leaves several other vacancies needing to be filled, and while there are certainly a number of pitchers in Minnesota's mix with the makings of quality relievers, they make for tougher decisions and conversations. David Festa, Zebby Matthews, Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, Simeon Woods Richardson, Kendry Rojas, Andrew Morris. Some of these pitchers are going to end up in the bullpen. But who? And how do you get them on board with it when, by circumstantial necessity, it's got to happen now? The Twins don't have the luxury of waiting around for some of their higher-upside relief candidates to fully fizzle out as starters if the team has any hopes of shocking the world with a good bullpen in 2026. I find myself wondering if this was a big part of the motivation for hiring LaTroy Hawkins as bullpen coach, while keeping Pete Maki in place to lead the staff. There's value in familiarity and trust when navigating these kinds of tricky situations. Hawkins, specifically, can be a voice of experience and validation in this journey. He's the perfect real-world example: a promising young pitcher who came up, didn't take as a starter, transitioned into bullpen role in his mid-20s, and then enjoyed a tremendously long and fruitful career. Can he sell some of the current young Twins pitchers on a similar path, and a relief transition before they've really had their fair shake at starting? That's one of the biggest questions facing the team as they look ahead to a high-stakes bullpen experiment in 2026. View the full article

I love Bo Bichette. Honestly, how could you not? It's hard to have been a Blue Jays fan over the past five-plus seasons and not appreciate everything he has done on the field. Just a quick look at his Baseball Reference page will tell you all you need to know. Since his debut in 2019, Bichette has been a two-time All-Star, accumulated 21 bWAR, and twice has led the league in hits. He’s top ten in Win Probability Added and Offensive WAR. Off the field, Bo has been just as valuable. He’s used his status and platform to help fund a new baseball stadium, provide equipment and gear, and cover other costs for youth baseball in Florida, and in February 2023, he brought teammates to his hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida, to support the “Play Ball” program to bring baseball to underserved communities. Bichette has always been soft-spoken, a man of few words, and usually tends to avoid the spotlight, but no matter how much he tries, the spotlight is going to find him this winter. He enters free agency as a 28-year-old with a lot of big league success already, and is certainly set up for a massive payday. Whether or not that payday comes from the Blue Jays will be a different story. Bo has expressed interest in returning to Toronto, and Ross Atkins has mentioned the Jays will be in Bichette’s market, but, as with anything in sports, especially baseball, there are no guarantees. Until he’s signed his name on the dotted line, the Blue Jays need to think about a backup plan, just in case their star shortstop signs elsewhere. Now, let’s be clear, I want Bo Bichette back in Toronto. There is something incredibly poetic about a star who is drafted by, developed by and performs for one team throughout their entire career, and while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is on pace to be the first player to do that as a Blue Jay, the plan was always for Bo and Vlad to do it together, to lead Toronto to World Series glory. That was something we all hoped for in the summer of 2018, when we were checking in on New Hampshire Fisher Cats box scores to see what our young future superstars were doing. But should that poem not be written, and Bichette does leave Toronto, here are five options the Blue Jays have when it comes to replacing him on the roster. 1 - Add a New Shortstop Let's be clear, if the Blue Jays go this route, there isn’t an option available that is as attractive as Bo Bichette at the shortstop position. Based on the 2026 Steamer WAR projections, the next best options are Ha-Seong Kim, Willi Castro, and Miguel Rojas. Kim makes the most sense out of the three, as he’s a plus defender and already has a 4+ WAR season under his belt, but the bat isn’t on the same level as Bichette’s, so the Jays would need to add another bat elsewhere. On the trade market, it's hard to find a match. Most teams that have star shortstops don't seem likely to trade them. Only J.P. Crawford and, to a lesser extent, Gavin Lux are shortstops of note who have one year remaining on their contract. Maybe it's worth a check in on the Nationals to see what’s happening with CJ Abrams or the Marlins with Xavier Edwards, but none of these moves seems likely, and odds are this won't be the route the Blue Jays go if/when they have to replace Bichette. 2 - Add a Second Baseman and Move Giménez to Shortstop Full-Time Even if the Blue Jays do sign Bichette, this seems like a realistic maneuver for the Blue Jays anyway. Bichette was willing to play second in the World Series, and Andrés Giménez is stellar at the shortstop position. If Bichette and Giménez both agree to it, it seems like it could work. In terms of other players to fill the second base void, the top free agents at the position are Gleyber Torres, Jorge Polanco, and Luis Arraez. Arraez is a bat-to-ball master, but the defence is atrocious (-35 outs above average, -27 fielding run value in his career at second), so as much as the Jays value contact, this may not be a fit. The other two could make sense if the Jays go this route. 3 - Add a Third Baseman and Use Clement at 2B, Giménez at SS This seems like the most likely move out of the three so far. After Bichette’s injury in September, Ernie Clement played 2B in 13 of the 19 remaining games, as well as six more in the ALDS and ALCS, and although his Gold Glove-calibre defence is valuable anywhere, having him up the middle certainly will help. Davis Schneider could also stand in at second if needed as well. This would open up the option for the Blue Jays to add an impact bat at the third base spot, and the options here become much more attractive, Alex Bregman could reunite with his old teammate George Springer and play at the hot corner here, while Eugenio Suarez just hit 49 home runs across two teams last year. Maybe a trade offer for the Twins’ Royce Lewis might make some sense as he enters his final year of team control. Replacing Bichette’s bat won't be easy, but this would give the Jays a fighting chance at doing so. 4 - Add an Outfielder and Use Clement/Barger/Giménez at 2B/3B/SS This is where the Blue Jays' flexibility comes in handy, as they really have too many players for not enough spots. Addison Barger has shown that he can play third base, which is important as right field/DH will likely be filled by Springer and Anthony Santander. Getting Barger's bat into the lineup at third base instantly makes the team better. But the Jays are always looking to add talent, and they could choose to improve on the Davis Schneider/Nathan Lukes platoon they used last season. Earlier this week, we took a look at some of the top free agent outfield options and whether they would fit in Toronto. And yes, Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, or Kyle Schwarber would instantly make the team better. In fact, those three players were the only position player free agents who had a higher fWAR than Bichette in 2025, so don't be surprised if the Blue Jays look this way if Bichette does not return. 5 - Stick With the Internal Position Player Options and Go Hard on Pitching Instead If the Blue Jays were to report to camp tomorrow with the players currently on the roster, they’d honestly be okay. Yes, losing Bichette would hurt, but aside from him, Ty France, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the Blue Jays are bringing most of the lineup back, and they don’t necessarily have to add another bat. In this scenario, the Blue Jays can do what they’ve been really good at over the last few winters, and that's sign free agent pitchers. Right now, The rotation has Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, and Shane Bieber as locks, but Yesavage just had a massive increase in innings pitched, Bieber is still on his way back from Tommy John surgery, and both Gausman and Berríos have a ton of career innings under their belts and are on the wrong side of 30. This could be the perfect time to go “all-in” on pitching, by throwing some money at Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, or Ranger Suárez. They could also check in with the Marlins on Sandy Alcantara, the Twins on Joe Ryan, the Brewers on Freddy Peralta, or the Nationals on MacKenzie Gore. And maybe they call the Tigers about Tarik Skubal, just in case. There are quite a few free agent relievers available on the market (Edwin Díaz, Robert Suarez, Pete Fairbanks, Devin Williams, and others). The Jays could sign one or two of those arms and try to go all in on run prevention. It's a recipe that has worked in the past, and if pitching and defence wins championships, then the Blue Jays will be well on their way. Ultimately, I hope this isn’t a path the Blue Jays have to explore. If everything goes well this offseason, Bo Bichette will be back in Toronto, and hopefully, some reinforcements will come along with him. But just in case things don’t work out in our favour, the sky is not falling, and the Blue Jays have plenty of alternative options as they try to get back to the Fall Classic and, this time, be on the right side of history. View the full article

NOTE: This is a work of satire. Nothing "reported" here is factual, other than what is linked. Please enjoy. Savannah, GA — Ahead of the Banana Ball Championship League's inaugural 60-game season in 2026, the first-ever Banana Ball Player Draft was held earlier this week. As most industry experts and Banana Peelers (i.e., MLB insiders but for the BBCL) expected, the Indianapolis Clowns selected World Series champion and former Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. first overall. Despite being a shoo-in for the top draft spot, sources say that the Clowns' pick wasn't without some internal controversy. The Red Sox, seeking an eighth MLB-caliber outfielder to complete their "double-logjam", apparently were willing to go to extreme lengths to bring Bradley back to Fenway Park. "I won't go into the specifics, but we were close," Red Sox's president of baseball operations Craig Breslow said about his trade negotiations with the Clowns' front office. "They drove a hard bargain. Contrary to what their name says, negotiating with that team is no joke." Of course, in Major League Baseball, draft picks beyond those awarded in Competitive Balance Rounds cannot be traded. However, according to a Generative AI program trained exclusively on Keeping Up with the Kardashians episodes, that same stipulation doesn't apply to MLB teams trying to trade with Banana Ball teams. "Sure, whatever. I didn't punish the Astros after they cheated in 2017. You think I'm going to stop Brez from trading Roman Anthony for [2024 Banana Ball MVP] DR Meadows?" MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said when asked about the legality of the attempted blockbuster. As far as Bradley is concerned, he's happy the Clowns held onto the pick and drafted him, making him the first-ever former MLB player to join the league full time. He originally made a cameo appearance in the league for the Savannah Bananas, alongside fellow Red sox alumnus Johnny Damon, back in July. "I feel like this was another opportunity to not only the league, but to be able to help the people behind me to ... hopefully, catapult other African American ballplayers to want to play the game," Bradley told ESPN. Originally an exhibition team in the Negro Leagues, the Clowns have a rich history that includes employing Hank Aaron and various professional women ballplayers, such as Toni Stone and Connie Morgan. They went defunct in 1989 after an initial 64-year run, but, with the blessing of Bob Kendrick (president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum), they will return to the diamond once more in 2026 as part of the Banana Ball Championship League's first full-fledged season. Bradley, of course, is a Boston icon. He was an All-Star in 2016 and a Gold Glove winner in 2018, the latter season proving to be the high-water mark for his tenure in Beantown. That year, the team won the World Series, and Bradley played postseason hero in the ALCS. At the time of publishing, the veracity of reports detailing the trade packages offered for the first overall pick cannot be confirmed. However, Talk Sox can exclusively report that the Red Sox were willing to include Payton Tolle and the rights to Steve Pearce's World Series MVP Award in various offers. View the full article

On Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the Royals were one of the interested teams in utility player Brendan Donovan. Donovan has proven to be a solid player for the Cardinals in his four seasons in the Majors. In 492 games, he has a career slash of .282/.361/.411 with a .772 OPS. In 2025, he slashed .283/.353/.422 with a .775 OPS. Donovan also hit 10 home runs, scored 64 runs, and collected 50 RBI. Even though he produced a -1 OAA and -1 FRV last year in terms of defensive metrics, according to Savant, the 28-year-old primarily played left field and second base, two positions that need improvement in 2026. Donovan doesn't flash big-time home run power, but he squares up the ball well and demonstrates strong plate discipline, according to Statcast data via TJ Stats. The Cardinals likely would be interested in acquiring starting pitching from Kansas City in exchange for Donovan. Last year, St. Louis ranked 25th in starting pitcher ERA, 22nd in SP WHIP, and 29th in SP K/9. They also don't have much proven pitching in the rotation beyond Sonny Gray, though Matthew Liberatore showed some improvement in 2025 (4.21 ERA in 151.2 IP). It's been reported that multiple teams are interested in Kris Bubic, who missed most of the second half due to a rotator cuff injury but should be ready for Opening Day in 2026. The Cardinals could be one of those teams, and they may be interested in signing Bubic long-term if acquired. It's unlikely Bubic alone would net Donovan. However, the Royals could also throw in prospects from positions of depth, which include pitching and catching. Ben Kudrna pitched in Triple-A and has a better chance to break into the Cardinals' rotation this spring than the Royals'. Blake Mitchell is coming off a strong finish in the Arizona Fall League and could be expendable after a breakout season by Carter Jensen, who was called up when rosters expanded in September. If the Royals aren't willing to move Mitchell, they could offer Ramon Ramirez, a slugging catching prospect who primarily played in Low-A Columbia in 2025. Photo Credit: © Eakin Howard-Imagn Images View the full article

Royce Lewis showed signs of his old self in the second half of 2025. He still has a ways to go to be back to where he was in 2023, but he's at least turning in the right direction. How can he maintain the progression to be one of the Twins' most reliable bats in the lineup? View the full article

Assuming the Twins have their eyes set on competing in 2026, they're probably four or five relievers away from having a shot. It's a peculiar place for this regime to be, as their budget is likely limited and they've rarely invested in bullpen arms. The front office will be looking for affordable upside. Though they may not be shopping at the top of the free agent pile, plenty of names stand out as potential targets. Jordan Romano Romano is two seasons removed from being an effective reliever, but he's shown enough to earn another bounce-back opportunity in 2026. There's no sugarcoating his 6+ ERA in just under 60 innings pitched since 2023, but the Twins may be able to squint and see a path to Romano returning to his dominant ways. Romano's slider remains a dominant offering, and the pitch helped him maintain respectable strikeout and whiff rates. His fastball has been the problem: he's lost a tick of velocity, and his heater has been crushed. Being a two-pitch pitcher, Romano will either have to get that velocity back at age 33 or make a fundamental change in how he throws his fastball. The Twins could help him with this, and the two parties can match up on a mutually beneficial bounce-back deal. If it pays off, Romano may earn himself another contract, and the Twins can get a high-end reliever at a bargain price. Taylor Rogers A Taylor Rogers reunion makes too much sense. The Twins could use an experienced left-handed reliever, and Rogers could benefit from a return to his roots. Rogers has been solid since leaving Minnesota, but has lost some of the dominance we were accustomed to. He's lost two miles per hour in fastball velocity, which may cap his ceiling. The reliance on his sinker to combat this loss of velocity has led to fewer swings and misses, but Rogers has continued to get outs and avoid the longball. He’s thrown 226 innings since the Twins dealt him in 2022, posting a 3.61 ERA and supporting peripherals. At the right price, anything resembling those numbers would provide a massive boost. While the Twins need high-end relief help, Rogers doesn't necessarily need to fill that need in 2026. Adding him to fill the primary left-handed relief role would be valuable and likely affordable. He's still a plenty effective relief arm, and his experience and leadership may bring plenty of intangible value to a Twins bullpen that will likely require all the help they can get. Ryne Stanek The ship may have sailed on the 34-year-old Stanek making a much-needed adjustment to his pitch mix, but the Twins could give it a shot for minimal risk. His fastball still averaged 98.5 mph in 2025, but he appeared to have leaned on it too much, and that, paired with an ugly walk rate, led to an ERA over 5 with the Mets last season. Stanek has a dominant slider and an effective splitter in his repertoire, and it's worth wondering whether these secondary pitches should be his bread and butter, despite the velocity of his fastball. His pitch mix lends itself well to being able to retire hitters on both sides of the plate, and his raw stuff could be worth gambling on even after years of failing to break out fully. At the very least, it's easy to see a path to a secondary setup man role, which he's filled at times throughout his career. The names may not be exciting, but the Twins will likely have to shop in this tier of free agency to fill the many needs in their bullpen. Are there any under-the-radar relievers you'd like to see them target in free agency? Let us know below! View the full article

One year ago, the Twins made David Popkins their sacrificial lamb, hoping that a new voice of leadership for the hitting group could help reverse and offensive collapse that sank their 2024 season. It didn't work. Popkins went on to Toronto and enjoyed remarkable success with the AL Champion Blue Jays, while the Twins brought in Matt Borgschulte and watched basically all of their negative trends in the lineup worsen. One year later, Borgschulte is out and the Twins have brought in a new hitting coach. Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune reported on Thursday that the Twins are hiring Keith Beauregard to take over the head role, with assistants Trevor Amicone and Rayden Sierra remaining in place. Unlike Borgschulte and Shelton, not to mention apparent bench-coach frontrunner James Rowson, Beauregard is a true organizational outsider rather than a retread. But one trait shared by all of these names is a background and specialization in hitting instruction, signifying the front office's effort to fundamentally reshape this aspect of their club. Here's a deeper look at the journey that brought Beauregard to this point, and what he brings to the table as Minnesota's new head hitting coach. Keith Beauregard's History in Baseball Born on May 15th, 1983, Beauregard was a successful college baseball player at Saint Anselm in New Hampshire. He spent a few years playing independent ball, dabbled in real estate for a bit, and then was drawn back to the game, joining the staff at University of Massachusetts-Lowell as a hitting coach in 2011. In two seasons, he distinguished himself to gain the notice of Santa Clara University, which hired him to their staff as an assistant in 2012. “Keith Beauregard will be missed,” said UMass Lowell head coach Ken Harring at the time. “He has a knowledge, passion and energy for the game of baseball that you can't teach. His goal of becoming a full time coach came true and it is well deserved.” In 2019, Beauregard took another step forward, reaching the pro baseball ranks by joining the Los Angeles Dodgers system as a hitting coach in the low minors. His role in the Dodgers organization grew until he was hired by the Detroit Tigers as an assistant hitting coach in 2022. After the 2025 season, the Tigers parted ways with Beauregard, making him available for the Twins. Parallels to David Popkins You don't have to squint to see the shades of Popkins in this hire. Both were total outsiders with no previous connection to the Twins organization, and both got their start as professional coaches in the Dodgers farm system (where they "worked alongside" one another). Both of these guys were, and are, considered emergent instructional talents. There are also some less-positive parallels, which may offer insight. Popkins was fired by the Twins in 2024 after a second-half collapse that saw Minnesota spiral out of playoff contention behind an anemic offense. Beauregard just departed from Detroit under starkly similar circumstances; although the Tigers made the playoff this year, they fumbled a surefire division title with a 28-37 post-break record, as their team OPS dropped by 50 points from the first half. "Not a big surprise that someone would have to take some heat for the Tigers hitting performance in the second half of the season," wrote Brandon Day on the Tigers blog Bless You Boys. "Beauregard probably just drew the short straw in that regard." We've seen with Popkins the kind of success a scapegoated, previously ascendant coaching talent can immediately experience with a change of scenery, and the Twins are hoping for the exact same outcome here. Notable Success Stories for Keith Beauregard It's difficult if not impossible to quantify or specifically measure the impact of coach, particularly an assistant hitting coach, on a player's success. But Beauregard does have his name attached to some notable development wins, including a familiar name. In 2023, as James Outman embarked on what would prove to be an excellent rookie season for the Dodgers, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times wrote about the ingredients in his rise from a unheralded seventh-round draft pick to a major-leaguer. Beauregard was part of the minor-league development staff that helped rebuild his "Caveman-like" swing, introducing an unorthodox method. "[Outman] added a front leg kick to hone his timing and flattened what had been a strikeout-prone bat path — common staples of many Dodgers swing-change plans," Harris wrote. "He also trained his front side to remain more stable and closed off. And he even embraced some unusual tactics from former minor league hitting instructor Keith Beauregard (now the hitting coach of the Detroit Tigers) to improve his coordination with his weaker left hand — a crucial component of his left-handed swing." The unusual tactic in question? Coloring books. "Keith was saying, you got to learn to develop special skills with your left hand,” said Dodgers hitting consultant Craig Wallenbrock. “So he bought him a bunch of coloring books and crayons, and told him to start coloring in between the lines, keep it fine tuned.” Outman is a pertinent example since he's likely to be on the Twins roster next year, albeit not a crucial piece. Beauregard's tenure in Detroit might be more meaningful in terms of his desired impact here in Minnesota. His offseason work with Tigers hitters is credited with helping lineup cornerstones like Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter break through. I don't know what it will take to get key Twins hitters like Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee and Matt Wallner on track. But I hope Beauregard will have some fresh ideas. If not coloring books, at least he brings a blank slate. View the full article

We're looking for contributors to write Royals content over the offseason! First, feel free to reach out via email at brock.beauchamp@royalskeep.com or reply to this article. Writing Articles If you’ve ever wanted an audience for your Royals takes, this is the perfect place. While we generally lean into analytics and analysis, we also take a “come as you are” approach to baseball and give writers a lot of leeway to write about the game in a way that interests them. That could manifest in historical pieces, previews, or regular series. It’s a matter of finding your niche in the fandom and carving out a space for it. Making Videos We're also looking for videographers! Most of our content is on the shorter side (3-7 minutes), though we have space for plenty of different formats and ideas. Like the writing side of the site, we usually lean into analytics, but it's not the only path we're open to exploring. It is also noteworthy that we pay our content creators. It’s certainly not enough to quit your day job. So don’t do that. However, it might be enough to show that we value your time, talent, and effort. If you know someone who might be interested in creating Royals content as a side job, please share this with them! View the full article

With Luis Arraez set to depart in free agency, the San Diego Padres will need a new first baseman in 2026. The first base market this offseason should be very active, so there will be plenty of opportunities to replace light-hitting Arraez. Here are the five best fits. 1. Cody Bellinger Obviously, Bellinger would cost a lot of money, and it's still not clear exactly how much the Padres are going to be willing to spend this year. However, a player like Bellinger makes too much sense for San Diego. He's a high-risk, high-reward type of player with all kinds of talent—exactly the type of player AJ Preller likes to target. Bellinger is versatile. He played mostly in the outfield for the Yankees last year, but he can play first base at a solid level as well, and in this case, that's where the Padres would need him more. The trouble with Bellinger is that the Padres, essentially, would have to buy high on the 30-year-old, which is probably a mistake given the peaks and valleys of his career. On the other hand, Bellinger has not had a legitimately bad season since leaving the Dodgers after 2022. He's been worth 12 bWAR from 2023-25, with a 125 OPS+ and good defense (12 Defensive Runs Saved this past season). There's a floor worth believing in, especially if his ceiling remains anywhere near his MVP level in 2019. 2. Pete Alonso Alonso might be even more far-fetched of an idea than Bellinger simply because of how much he'd cost, but you can't convince me that Alonso would not be the best option from a pure skill perspective. The Padres need more power in their lineup. They were below average in 2024 and got even worse at hitting for power in 2025. Enter Alonso, who has arguably been the game's most consistent power hitter that doesn't own multiple MVPs. Bringing him in would immediately inject 35+ home runs into the San Diego lineup. For what it's worth, Alonso has actually been very consistent on a year-to-year basis. While he does occasionally enter slumps that lower his numbers, the Polar Bear has never seen his OPS+ dip below 122. That is impressive for a guy who has played seven years in the big leagues. Why would the Padres not want to sign a guy like Alonso, who has been consistent and is elite at the one thing the Padres have been missing in their lineup for the past few years? Likely, they'd be deterred by the length Alonso is looking for. It was reported that Alonso is looking for a long-term deal around seven years in length. That would pay Alonso through his age-37 season. San Diego simply can not afford to get hooked on another long-term contract. It already looks like Xander Bogaerts is a bust, and Manny Machado is going to slow down at some point. The juice may just not be worth the squeeze here. 3. Josh Naylor Naylor is sort of the antithesis to Arraez; where the latter has shortcomings and is more of a one-dimensional player, Naylor is much more of a complete hitter. Naylor, for example, is (much) better at hitting for power. Naylor is better at baserunning and base stealing. He's a better defender, and he has better plate discipline. The only thing that Arraez does better than Naylor is his insane ability to make contact on nearly every ball thrown to him. A good trait, but Naylor is the better overall player, and Naylor absolutely shone in the postseason with the Mariners. Naylor also makes more sense financially than either Alonso or Bellinger. He's likely going to end up with a three-to-five-year deal at around $15 million per season, which is affordable for San Diego. My favorite Josh Naylor stat is that he stole 30 bases in 2025 despite being in the third percentile for sprint speed. Sometimes, Josh Naylor does not make sense. Sometimes, baseball does not make sense. 4. Munetaka Murakami Murakami is listed as a third baseman, but it sounds like his third base defense leaves a lot to be desired. That means he has future first baseman written all over him. Again, this probably depends on where his market lands. How much are the Dodgers willing to pay? How much would a team like Seattle be willing to pay, as they are set to lose both their first baseman and third baseman to free agency? Murakami might be one of the hottest commodities on the market this offseason. Or, he might not. Perhaps the Dodgers decide they are okay with Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman at the infield corners. Perhaps the Mariners pivot to internal options at third base while re-signing Naylor to play first base. Maybe Murakami's poor defense weighs down his market, and suddenly, he is a relatively cheap option for San Diego. Or maybe I'm just hoping for what can never be. Murakami was an excellent player in the NPB, with a .951 OPS across eight seasons there. And he won't even turn 26 until February. Murakami has the potential to be the next great Asian-born player to come to the United States and absolutely tear the league up. However, there is probably also a scenario where the game catches up to him in the States, and he never reaches the same dominant peak that he has reached in Japan. The risk here is high, but the reward could be astronomical. 5. Ryan O'Hearn O'Hearn could definitely be slated for a return to the Padres. After trading for him at the deadline in 2025, O'Hearn did slump a bit, but he finished the season strong. He is coming off a 2.4 bWAR season in '25, and a 2.0 bWAR season '24. The last time his OPS+ was below 100 was in 2022. Simply put, O'Hearn has been a good hitter for a while now. At the same time, he should be considered more of a platoon bat than a full-time starter. O'Hearn struggles against left-handed pitching, so much so that the Orioles did not trust him to start against southpaws. That means having to carry a second first baseman on the roster, which might not be ideal. At the same time, O'Hearn is a good player, and he might fly under the radar this offseason with so many other big names at first base and DH. He's already been in San Diego, and he likely would not cost all that much to bring back. It's certainly more of a Plan B than any of the Plan A's above, but there is sense to keeping tabs on O'Hearn's market this winter. View the full article

Considering some of the visible shortcomings on offense and defense, A.J. Preller and the San Diego Padres should be fairly busy fortifying their roster this winter. However, there is no area of the organization more in need at present than that of the starting pitching group. Heading into the offseason, it was an objective truth that the team would need to address the front end of their starting five. With Dylan Cease set to hit free agency and Michael King following suit via his declining of a mutual option, that left a void in the available upside in the rotation. The news that Yu Darvish would miss all of 2026 after undergoing elbow surgery only further exacerbated the need to add on that front. As of this writing, the Padres have only five starters on their 40-man roster (Darvish notwithstanding): Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove, JP Sears, Matt Waldron, and Randy Vásquez. Of that quintet of arms, only Pivetta appears to be a reliable entity ahead of the 2026 campaign. Musgrove may return early but is also coming back from Tommy John surgery, leaving not only his effectiveness but his volume in some question until he settles back into a usual groove. Each of Sears and Waldron struggled in a small sample for the Padres in '25, while Vásquez's issues with walks limit his upside to a No. 5 starter. It's not a terribly inspiring group and becomes even less so when you consider that Pivetta is due for at least some regression after a career season. With that, we know the Padres will be active in attempting to add to their rotation. But while it's difficult, if not entirely impossible, to overestimate someone with the aggression of A.J. Preller, the path toward making impactful addition seems rather difficult, even if the volume of options is abundant, On the free-agent market, you'll find names like Cease, King, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, and Brandon Woodruff, among others. Those that have been mentioned as trade candidates (to varying degrees) include Tarik Skubal, Hunter Greene, Freddy Peralta, and now Kodai Senga. In short, there are a number of roads down which Preller and the Padres could travel in order to bolster the front portion of their rotation. But how feasible is each? The Padres will have money to spend given the impending offseason departures of Cease, King, Robert Suárez, and Luis Arráez. They're coming off a season in which they ran a roughly $211 million payroll, about $40 million more than they carried the previous year. Sans additions and arbitration raises, they're at about $190 million as a projected payroll figure for '26. So, there's some flexibility there considering where they've run payroll in previous seasons. But, when one considers the effort to get that payroll down in the first place, is ownership going to feel compelled to add one of the names on the free-agent market given the associated cost? The cheapest projected deal of the free agents listed above is Woodruff, at a three-year, $66 million contract. That's still a sizable addition to the payroll, and that's for a veteran pitcher with a laundry list of injury issues who is tied to the qualifying offer. It remains to be seen how willing ownership would be to invest too heavily in such a contact, even with some of the freed up cash from imminent departures. One has to imagine, though, that an impact addition remains more likely via that route than a trade. While there are some super intriguing names floating out in the rumor mill ether, we have to remember that the Padres are sporting a fairly barren farm system in comparison to practically all other teams. The last MLB Pipeline farm system rankings stuck the Padres dead last among the 30 teams, which is hardly a surprise given Preller's continued aggression. But with so many of the prospects even in their top 30 still at the lower levels of the minors, it's very much a system that lacks the juice to execute a move for the needed upside in this rotation. Starting pitching comes at a premium cost, after all. Even Preller might find it difficult to move on someone he wants considering the other teams in need of rotation help. With that in mind, it's hard to see a clear path toward such an acquisition this winter. Obviously, if ownership is willing to put forth the money to be active in free agency, then some optimism can begin to manifest. In the meantime, though, a more likely route looks to be a volume approach in which they pursue more mid-tier arms and hope Ruben Niebla can work his magic. Again, we can't underestimate the Preller factor in all of this. But confronting the size of the need, which is massive, with the on-paper likelihood of effectively addressing said need... it just isn't a terribly rosy prospect in San Diego at the moment. View the full article

The Arizona Fall League has concluded, and the Toronto Blue Jays had several representatives who participated in the campaign. The league has six teams, and every MLB team sends at least seven top prospects to its affiliated club. The Blue Jays' prospects played for the Glendale Desert Dogs, who finished 11-16 and were eliminated during the play-in round of the playoffs. The AFL is, unofficially, the culmination of the minor league season, allowing teams to assess how their prospects perform against high-level competition. Thirty-three of the 80 players in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game once played in the AFL, with 10 of the 20 players in the starting lineups among them. Here's how the Blue Jays' prospects performed this year. *All prospect rankings from Jays Centre and MLB Pipeline Josh Kasevich - SS (JC No. 11, MLB Pipeline No. 12 prospect) Kasevich finished the 2024 season in Triple-A Buffalo, hitting .325/.382/.433 with a .815 OPS in 173 plate appearances for the affiliate. He likely held hopes of an MLB in 2025, but he aggravated a preexisting lower back injury, causing him to miss a majority of the season. His rehab stints in the rookie and Single-A affiliates were successful, as he hit a combined .368/.478/.395 with an .873 OPS. Yet, after being activated from the 60-day injury list on August 15, Kasevich struggled in his Triple-A Buffalo return, slashing .173/.272/.184 with a .456 OPS in 114 plate appearances. The Jays Centre No. 11 prospect performed slightly better in the AFL, where he hit .255/.419/.255 with a .674 OPS and drew 17 walks compared to 11 strikeouts in 74 plate appearances. His .327 weighted on-base average (wOBA), an advanced metric that measures a hitter's total offensive value, ranked in the 36th percentile among all hitters in the AFL, meaning it was lower than that of most players in the league. Despite a 92.4 mph average exit velocity — ranked in the 80th percentile, indicating above-average power off the bat — his strength and discipline at the plate have not yet translated to home run power. Kasevich is eligible for this winter's Rule 5 draft, which means that to protect him, the Blue Jays would need to add him to the 40-man roster. His injury likely complicates that decision and will presumably keep him off the roster. Even though his in-game power production is low, his on-base and defensive skills at a prime position could increase his chances of being selected by another team. That said, if he doesn't get selected and the Blue Jays don't re-sign Bo Bichette this offseason, Kasevich may have a shot at making his MLB debut in 2026. Cutter Coffey - 3B (MLB Pipeline No. 27 prospect) Coffey came over in the trade package that sent Danny Jansen to the Boston Red Sox at the 2024 trade deadline. He struggled with High-A Vancouver after the trade, hitting .185/.309/.272 with a .581 OPS. He spent this season still in High-A, but had far more success (.273/.359/.427 with .786 OPS). His 11 home runs, 68 runs, and 62 knocked in over 440 plate appearances earned him the Canadians' Offensive Player of the Year Award. Coffey has drawn comparisons to a right-handed Addison Barger from within the organization. The 21-year-old was one of the top performers in the AFL. He slashed .354/.447/.462 with a .909 OPS and a .404 wOBA. This wOBA placed him in the 77th percentile among AFL players (meaning he performed better than 77% of them). However, his .108 isolated power (ISO, a measure of raw power) was slightly below average, at the 43rd percentile, and his 86.5 mph average exit velocity (23rd percentile) was among the lowest in the AFL. He's not eligible for the Rule 5 draft until the 2026 offseason, which means he will continue to develop his skills in the minors. He doesn't need to be added to the 40-man roster until next winter. With his success this season in High A, Coffey may start next season with Double-A New Hampshire. Edward Duran - C (MLB Pipeline No. 13 prospect) Duran came over at the 2022 trade deadline in a package that also included Anthony Bass and Zach Pop, which the Blue Jays received in exchange for sending Jordan Groshans to the Miami Marlins. His skill set is described as that of a defense-first catcher and a contact hitter. Over his five minor league seasons, he has never hit more than eight home runs, which he achieved this season across a combined 431 plate appearances in Single and High A. Duran struggled in the AFL, hitting .152/.263/.394 with a .657 OPS over 38 plate appearances. His .242 isolated power (ISO) ranked in the 87th percentile among AFL hitters, higher than that of any of his fellow Blue Jays prospects. However, the catcher's .286 wOBA (26th percentile) and his 83.5 mph average exit velocity (20th percentile) ranked among the lowest in the league, underscoring his offensive struggles compared to his peers. Duran is Rule 5 eligible this winter, but it's unlikely that he will be protected (by being added to the 40-man roster) or selected in the draft. Alex Amalfi - RHP Amalfi spent his first three seasons in the minor leagues in Single-A and High-A affiliates, where he started five of the 64 games he pitched in. He continued in the bullpen this season with Double-A New Hampshire before getting moved to the starting rotation in August. He posted a combined 4.41 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 100:47 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 87 2/3 innings, but he was slightly more successful as a starter, posting a 3.86 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 11 starts. The right-hander was likely sent to the AFL to get more starts against tougher competition, but he struggled in his five AFL outings, posting a 9.95 ERA, 2.37 WHIP, and allowing batters to hit .321 off of him. His 8.8 percent strikeout percentage, which ranked in the fifth percentile, and 19.1 percent walk percentage (27th percentile) ranked among the worst marks in the league, indicating below-average strikeout ability and worse-than-average control compared to his peers. Amalfi is Rule 5 eligible this winter, but his lack of recent success will likely keep him from being selected. Angel Bastardo - RHP (MLB Pipeline No. 29 prospect) Bastardo, a Rule 5 draft pick by the Blue Jays in 2024, missed 2025 after Tommy John surgery. Before his injury, he posted a 4.76 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and a 357:145 strikeout-to-walk ratio over five minor league seasons. Though added to the AFL roster to get some work this year, he did not pitch. Due to his Rule 5 status and time on the injured list, he must be active for the Jays for at least 90 days in 2026 or be offered back to the Red Sox. Kai Peterson - LHP Peterson has only played two minor league seasons, but he excelled this year. In High A, he had a 2.74 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 42 23/3 innings in relief. He earned a promotion to Double A on August 14. However, his success didn't translate. He only threw 7 2/3 innings, but had a 4.70 ERA and 2.09 WHIP. His addition to the AFL roster was likely to provide him with more experience against tougher competition. The 23-year-old continued to struggle in the AFL. He threw 7 1/3 innings, posting a 7.59 ERA and 2.18 WHIP, allowing batters to hit .276 off of him. Peterson struggled with control, walking eight batters. He is considered an off-speed pitcher, primarily throwing a changeup, slider, and sinker; however, his maximum velocity of 93.3 mph (14th percentile) was one of the slowest in the AFL. He becomes Rule 5 eligible after the 2026 season, so the Blue Jays have another season to evaluate their young lefty. Yondrei Rojas - RHP Rojas struggled from 2022 through 2024 at the rookie level and in Single A. He never posted an ERA under 4.30. However, he flipped a switch this season and was outstanding. He had his best season as a minor leaguer in 2025 while in High A and Double A. The righty posted a 1.43 ERA combined between the two levels across 37 2/3 innings with a 0.88 WHIP, a 47:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a .167 opponents’ batting average. Rojas became one of the Blue Jays' more notable pitching prospects during the season. However, in his first time facing tougher competition in the AFL, Rojas struggled. He pitched 2 1/3 innings, posting a 30.86 ERA with a 2:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 3.00 WHIP, allowing hitters to bat .385 off him. The righty is Rule 5 eligible and would have likely been added to the 40-man roster to be protected if it weren’t for his poor AFL performance. His dominant minor league stats may still appeal to teams, but his AFL struggles provide essential context for his (lack of) readiness. Chay Yeager - RHP Yeager thrived in High A this season, posting a 1.77 ERA with a 43:13 strikeout-to-walk ratio while holding batters to a .126 average against him over 35 2/3 innings. His promotion to Double A was less successful, as he posted a 4.50 ERA and was hit harder, allowing a .269 batting average against him. However, he still maintained an impressive 21:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His struggles carried over to the AFL, where he has posted a 9.00 ERA over nine innings. His control was an issue, as shown by his 7:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and he allowed three home runs. His strikeout rate (22nd percentile) and walk rate (45th percentile, about league average) were on the lower end of the league ranks. However, his 98.1 mph max velocity ranked among the fastest in the AFL. He becomes Rule 5 eligible after the 2026 season. View the full article

Ian Happ is so much more than just the longest-tenured member of the Chicago Cubs. He's now a four-time reigning Gold Glover in left field, a remarkable achievement considering the team had no idea where to put him for the first five seasons of his career. He's also got a career 116 wRC+ and 20.6 fWAR to his name, not to mention a few clutch postseason hits that span across the last relevant Cubs core and this one. In a vacuum, Happ is one of the most consistent players in the sport. He's been above average at the plate without fail, posting a wRC+ figure between 106 and 132 in every season of his career. Narrow the scope to just the last four seasons, and that margin becomes impossibly thin; Happ's wRC+ hasn't fluctuated more than six points since the start of 2022, sitting between 116 and 122. He's also been worth a reliable amount of WAR in that span, contributing between 2.8fWAR and 3.7fWAR to the cause every season. On the surface, he's as dependable as it gets. He plays 150-plus games per campaign—a mark he hasn't fallen below since 2021, when he played in 148 contests. He walks a ton, working a 13.2% free pass rate since 2023. He plays quality defense in left field. He's no superstar, but he's the kind of franchise "glue guy" that puts in the work and gets the job done on an annual basis, no questions asked. Except, if you know anything about Happ, you know he's really one of the streakiest hitters in the sport. On just a month-to-month basis in 2025, his performance looks like what the main character would achieve in a C-student's high school interpretation of Jekyll and Hyde on a baseball diamond: March/April: .722 OPS, 108 wRC+ May: .684 OPS, 98 wRC+ June: .779 OPS, 115 wRC+ July: .638 OPS, 86 wRC+ August: .835 OPS, 134 wRC+ September: .892 OPS, 148 wRC+ October (Postseason): .490 OPS, 31 wRC+ If you were to get even more granular and take a look back at his individual games and series, the contrast would be even more stark and unnerving. Seriously, go and look through North Side Baseball's repository of Happ-related articles—it won't take long before you find two diametrically-opposed pieces using equally-valid evidence to support extreme hypotheses about Happ. Here's one from Aug. 10 reassuring Cubs fans that everything would be all right after a disastrous July, and here's one literally two weeks later vouching for Happ to be benched for top prospect Owen Caissie. Over the course of a 162-game season, you can live with peaks and valleys if the end result is reliable and predictable. In the one-mistake-and-you're-out environment of the playoffs, though, it's harder to swallow that pill. Happ may have hit two (seemingly, at the time) crucial home runs against the Brewers in the NLDS, but he also struck out in 39.4% of his plate appearances in October. That just won't fly. However, that's not necessarily the reason the Cubs should consider trading Happ this winter. Nor is the fact that top prospects Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara (who is out of minor league options) are banging on the door and in need of playing time in a crowded outfield picture. This is purely an argument about long-term planning, which the Cubs haven't done the best job of in recent years. As things stand, the only guaranteed money on the books after the 2026 season is the remaining $81 million on Dansby Swanson's contract. Yes, there are various options and players bound to earn millions of dollars via arbitration, but the only payout the Cubs will be forced to make in 2027 as of this moment is for Swanson. That obviously means that there's plenty of room for a long-term contract or two or three to be added to the payroll this offseason, but it also means the Cubs aren't taking any risks when it comes to the impending 2027 lockout. They've structured the roster in a way to ensure that, no matter what happens in next year's CBA negotiations, they won't be caught off guard. In a pragmatic sense, what that amounts to is the fact that a vast majority of the veterans on this roster are due to become free agents in a year's time. Right now, that list includes: C Carson Kelly (mutual option) C Reese McGuire 2B Nico Hoerner LF Ian Happ RF Seiya Suzuki SP Jameson Taillon SP Matthew Boyd (mutual option) SP/RP Colin Rea (club option) That's a comical amount of talent to lose in one offseason, and you can be sure the team will at least broach the extension conversation with a number of those players. But, seeing as everyone on that list besides Hoerner is already at least 30 years old, it might be time to start consolidating the roster. The Milwaukee Brewers have been pulling this trick for ages -- they've traded Corbin Burnes, Yovani Gallardo, Devin Williams, and now potentially Freddy Peralta when they were one year out from free agency -- and have made it out unscathed every time. And each of those players were dominant pitchers in their prime, a decidedly more valuable asset than Happ is right now with his one year of control remaining at a $19 million salary. It doesn't have to be Happ of course. I maintain my belief that trading Jameson Taillon while the iron is hot after his second-half performance could yield long-term dividends, Hoerner is probably too valuable to move thanks to his defense and contact skills, but Suzuki could bring in a nice return from a team in need of power if the Cubs don't mind purging all of the Japanese talent from their roster in the same offseason. And this doesn't have to be the path the team takes. They can commit to this roster for 2026 and go all-in on their last year of certainty before the CBA expires. But, that would require a level of commitment that this team hasn't been accustomed to in quite some time—it'd be several steps further than how they treated 2025 with the Kyle Tucker trade. Given his inconsistencies and the team's directionless path forward, trading Happ may be a necessary evil. The Cubs wouldn't need him to bring back top prospects in a deal (they'd certainly prefer major-league-ready talent, especially on the pitching side), and his excellent defense, switch-hitting prowess and season-long reliability would tempt a lot of other teams in trade talks, especially given how barren the outfield market is in free agency after Tucker and Cody Bellinger. It feels wrong to suggest given his importance to Chicago as the last remaining piece from 2017 and before, but Ian Happ might be better suited as a trade chip than a Cub this offseason. View the full article

The Seidler Family was the latest baseball ownership group to announce that they intend to put their team, the San Diego Padres, up for sale, as the 2025-2026 offseason is in its infancy. The Seidler Family has had majority ownership of the Padres since 2012, with the late Peter Seidler operating as the team’s control person from 2020 until his death on November 14, 2023. Since Peter Seidler’s death, there have been numerous legal battles over who should have a controlling interest in the team, as his widow, Sheel Seidler, sued his brothers Matt and Bob Seidler after their brother John was appointed as acting chairman of the Padres while the appointment was still pending league approval earlier this year. On top of the legal battles between the Seidler brothers and Sheel Seidler, the Padres had also taken out a $50 million loan to help cover payroll during the 2023 season, as reported by Evan Drellich, Ken Rosenthal, and Dennis Lin of The Athletic in November of 2023. With debt accumulated and an ongoing lawsuit that has not been settled in or out of court, the sale of the Padres could take much longer than folks anticipate. The announcement that the Seidlers are putting the Padres up for sale comes just a few months after the last baseball ownership family, the Pohlads, decided to take their team, the Minnesota Twins, off the market after a 10-month process in which no sale took place. The Pohlads did not have any legal action surrounding their ownership of the Twins that was attached to their exploration of selling the team; however, they had accumulated nearly $500 million in debt and were asking for a selling price of no less than $1.7 billion, which was around the price tag the Angelos family sold the Baltimore Orioles for to their current owner, David Rubenstein. Reports indicated the Pohlads were unwilling to go any lower on a sale price of $1.7 billion after their initial deal with Chicago White Sox minority owner Justin Ishbia fell through in spring training this year. The Pohlads had received offers as high as $1.5 billion for the Twins, but interested parties were unwilling to assume a significant portion of the team's debt, which they hoped a potential buyer would take on. It’s unclear whether the Seidlers have paid off their $50 million loan and interest at this time, or whether they have any additional outstanding debt associated with the Padres. But given the issues the Pohlads had with the Twins trying to attach their debt to the sale to a new owner, any debt attached to the Padres will be an issue for a potential buyer as well. With the lawsuit between Peter Seidler’s widow and his brothers still ongoing, it’s fair to assume the announcement of a new owner of the Padres will not come any sooner than Opening Day at the earliest. The best-case scenario for the Padres to move the sale along quickly is an Opening Day announcement, but given what is tied to this ownership group, both on and off the field, and the Twins' sale process track record, it’s a safer bet that the Padres' sale process could take a minimum of six months and up to a year before a new ownership group is announced and then approved by MLB. But with an impending lockout looming a year from now, it might speed up the pace of the sale process so MLB can have a new ownership group in place before the lockout begins next offseason. There’s no telling how long this sale process will take, but assuming it will take less than six months is a fool's errand. The saga surrounding the sale process of the Twins is just the latest track record to set the precedent ahead for the Padres, and that is what Padres fans should expect to follow as their sale process begins next week. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs sit on the precipice of their most important offseason in a decade, though their commitment to the short-term window remains a genuine question.View the full article

The Twins are likely to non-tender Trevor Larnach in the coming weeks, but there is a case to be made for him to be one of the Twins' top trade candidates. Larnach will not net the highest return in any trade on his own, but he could at least alleviate his salary while getting a new reliever in a wide-open bullpen. View the full article

Major League Baseball’s annual General Manager Meetings mark the kickoff of the hot stove season, when trade and acquisition rumors first start percolating before coming to a boil at December’s Winter Meetings. The 2025 edition is this week in Las Vegas, and the Minnesota Twins came in with a plan. “We sent [Twins president] Derek Falvey to Vegas with two things: An open mind and a Ziploc bag full of pennies,” said a source close to the Pohlad family, who’ve owned the Twins since 1982. While the former makes sense for a team that may be continuing a major roster teardown, why the pennies? “There are some great joints off-Strip or in north Vegas where the penny slots are loose as heck,” said the source. “If Derek wants a platoon outfielder or a bullpen arm, here’s one way of getting there.” The meetings themselves were held at The Cosmopolitan, right in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. “Yeah, you’re not getting any bargain action at a place like that,” said the source. “That’s where the Dodgers stay. No thanks. Derek likes to get creative, anyway.” Multiple media sources covering the meetings told Twins Daily that Falvey was spotted lugging the coin bag into multiple off-strip locations, including a combination Pizza Hut/Taco Bell by Nellis Air Force Base; the Cowabunga Bay Waterslide Experience; and what local authorities and community leaders say is the deadliest strip mall in Henderson. At press time, there was no indication that Falvey had won big or that the Twins had made any roster moves. Still, the source was confident that it would pay off in the long run. “The Pohlads had their faithful manservants clean out all the coins from their fleet of Land Rovers and Bentleys,” said the source. “We didn’t even touch the Rolls (Royces) or Porsches. There are at least the beginnings of a utility infielder in there.” View the full article

The Boston Red Sox are gearing up for a lucrative offseason, though they must decide whether to make their blockbuster moves via free agency or trade. Will they re-sign Alex Bregman, and will they pursue Munetaka Murakami?View the full article

Fueled by his friendship with Seiya Suzuki and his eye-catching fashion choices, Pete Crow-Armstrong became an international star when the Cubs went to Japan to open the 2025 regular season. Next March, he won't have to endure as long a flight to experience the same global spotlight. He has accepted an offer to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, starting with pool play in Houston in March, he announced Thursday night. Any list of center fielders on the wish list for American manager Mark DeRosa was going to include Crow-Armstrong, and since Byron Buxton (arguably the only other center fielder from the U.S. better than Crow-Armstrong in 2025) will probably elect to avoid the injury risk of playing high-stakes games three weeks before Opening Day, the Cubs' young star has a clear path to playing time for his country. He won't be the Cubs' only representative in the tournament, but Crow-Armstrong is the one who could enjoy a further star turn by playing well there. That doesn't come with direct benefits for the Cubs. In fact, in addition to the slight risk of injury and the significant disruption of the preparation process that is spring training, this is likely to put extra time pressure on any attempts to sign him to a long-term deal. The two sides can't talk as easily with Crow-Armstrong in Houston. As Crow-Armstrong's profile continues to grow, he's also in an increasingly comfortable negotiating position. If the Cubs want to lock him up beyond 2030, they might already need to shift their focus from trying to capture value on a team-friendly extension toward paying the market rate for his services. Contracts signed by similarly famous and talented players (Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodríguez, Fernando Tatis Jr.) have worked that way, even when the player didn't appear to have the short-term earning power or proximity to free agency to extract that kind of payday. Those players are all better than Crow-Armstrong, whose second-half struggles at the plate exposed very real weaknesses. However, his freakish athleticism and the upside he flashed with a calendar year (from August 2024 through July 2025) during which he batted .271/.312/.524 in 687 plate appearances make him just as dynamic as they are—and he's becoming that caliber of celebrity, too. The Tokyo Series to open 2025, his showcase at the All-Star Game and the Cubs making a two-round push into the postseason put Crow-Armstrong very much on the global map this year. Next year, he'll get to continue carving out a niche. He might even prove himself to be the best defender in baseball, anywhere in the world. The World Baseball Classic is wonderful because of players just like Crow-Armstrong; the endlessly charismatic Randy Arozarena was one of the biggest stars of the last one. Next spring's event continues to fill up with big names, and that's what Crow-Armstrong has already become. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins enter the offseason with more questions than answers. Ownership appears poised to reduce payroll, but the front office still hopes to be competitive in a winnable AL Central. That balancing act could push Derek Falvey and company to explore creative ways to improve the roster without adding significant salary. One of the clearest paths to doing that might be to deal from their outfield depth, an area where the organization has plenty of talent and intrigue. At this week's GM Meetings in Las Vegas, Jon Morosi reported that the demand for starting-caliber outfielders is high. That's a bit obvious, and the report is short on details or newsworthy nuggets, but it might turn out to signal something real about the outfield market this winter. For the Minnesota Twins, that could not come at a better time. The organization boasts a deep group of major-league and near-ready outfielders, giving the front office an opportunity to get creative. Byron Buxton: Unlikely though it seemed a few months ago, Buxton might waive his no-trade clause to join a contending club—particularly if the Twins continue to move veteran players this winter. He's coming off one of the best offensive stretches of his career and remains a highly athletic center fielder. His contract is team-friendly, and with several clubs looking for star-level outfielders, his value is at an all-time high. Trading Buxton would be a seismic move for the franchise, but it is one the front office might entertain if ownership prioritizes trimming costs. Matt Wallner: Wallner experienced ups and downs last season but still managed to post a 110 OPS+, making him one of the more productive hitters in the Twins’ lineup. His combination of raw power and patience makes him an intriguing trade piece for teams looking for a controllable corner outfielder with upside. Minnesota could decide to hold onto Wallner and hope for another step forward in his development, but if the front office wants to shake up the core, he could be one of the first players moved. Trevor Larnach: Larnach’s future with the Twins appears uncertain. He is projected to make $4.7 million through arbitration, too high a salary for a player without a clear path to everyday playing time. He had a 116 OPS+ in 2024, but that dipped below average in 2025 (99 OPS+). Minnesota could explore trading him before the non-tender deadline, but his market value might be limited. While his raw tools still stand out, most teams view Larnach as a depth piece, rather than a lineup cornerstone. Austin Martin: Martin quietly finished the season strong and flashed the all-around game that once made him a top prospect. In 50 games, he produced a .740 OPS with 11 steals and a solid 31-to-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His ability to play multiple positions adds value, but another team could view him as an emerging regular after a promising finish. Trading Martin could address another area of need, though they may prefer to see if he can take another step forward next spring. Minnesota’s outfield picture becomes even more crowded when factoring in recent trade deadline acquisitions. James Outman and Alan Roden both project to step into more consistent playing time if the Twins move one or more of their current outfielders. Top prospects Emmanuel Rodriguez and Walker Jenkins both finished last season at Triple-A St. Paul and should arrive in the majors as early as 2026, giving the organization even more reason to consider dealing from its depth. The Twins are in a rare position: they can trade from strength without compromising their long-term outlook. If the rest of the league’s demand for outfielders remains high, Minnesota may find that its deepest position could also be its best source of value this winter. Whom should the Twins consider trading from the list above? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article