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The Minnesota Twins are in a terrible predicament. With Pablo López likely to undergo Tommy John surgery before the end of the month, they're suddenly short a frontline starting pitcher, in a rotation mix that was meant to be the team's utmost strength heading into 2026. New chairman Tom Pohlad has issued a clear (though unfunded) mandate that the team be competitive this season, but it's hard to see how they can do so with the personnel on hand, given the staggering injury to their leader and ace. Compounding the loss of López is the fact that he is the highest-paid player on a team defined and constrained by its lack of payroll flexibility. López is due $21.5 million in 2026; the Twins won't pay any other player more than $15 million. López and Byron Buxton are the only guys making more than $6.7 million this year. It's possible that the team will recoup some of the lost salary via an insurance claim, but it's unlikely that they'll be given substantial money with which to recruit any representative replacement of their star righty. One way they could do so, however, would be to trade Trevor Larnach for pitching help. Larnach, soon to turn 29, is set to make nearly $4.5 million this year, but his role on the team has been obviated by the acquisitions of Josh Bell and Victor Caratini. He batted a respectable .254/.330/.428 against right-handed pitchers last season, but he has little defensive value and is not likely to be substantially better than Bell or Caratini as a DH in 2026. He has no place to play in the crowded (if underwhelming) Twins outfield mix, and is an injury risk even when he manages to lumber underneath a ball out in left field. With two years of team control remaining and coming off a season in which he made an apparently unconscious, ill-advised swing change, Larnach probably has some appeal to teams as a reclamation project. Until now, the Twins have been uninterested in trading him on those terms, holding out instead for a robust return that reflects the potential they saw in him when they made him a first-round pick and (over the years) a priority piece of the roster. If they come down on their asking price, though, they could match up with another team on a deal that would move them forward in the short term and the long term. Five teams stand out as having a surfeit of pitching depth and a need for left-handed help at DH or in left field. That doesn't mean they could find a perfect fit with the Twins on a trade, but these clubs make promising suitors if the team wants to offload Larnach. Moving him would need to bring back a pitcher who augments their depth, though it wouldn't bring anyone similar to López. The other, ancillary benefit of such a move would be freeing up a few million dollars to spend, perhaps on a last-second bullpen addition. Arizona Diamondbacks Somewhat shockingly, the Diamondbacks have brought back both Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen in free agency. That leaves them with a bunch of good options in the starting rotation, especially once Corbin Burnes returns from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last spring. It wasn't really what the team initially planned to do, though. As a result, they'd already brought in Michael Soroka to round out a rotation that also includes compelling young arms Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson. Meanwhile, the team dealt away outfielder Jake McCarthy and utility option Blaze Alexander, leaving them with extremely shaky options for the corner outfield spots and at DH. They'll go with Pavin Smith as the DH against most righties, and defense-first youngster Jorge Barrosa in left field. If Corbin Carroll is at all delayed in his return from a broken hamate bone, the team's corner outfield outlook will get truly destitute. Earlier this winter, Minnesota had interest in right-handed journeyman Taylor Clarke, who ultimately signed with Arizona. The low-wattage version of a deal sending Larnach to Arizona would be to get Clarke in exchange, filling innings and giving the Twins a small amount of upside, plus the aforementioned monetary savings to put toward relief help. The alternative version would make the team more expensive, not less so, but it would be buzzier: Minnesota could take on some portion of the $46 million left on the contract of left-handed starter Eduardo Rodríguez. Rodríguez, who will turn 33 in April, has posted an ERA just over 5.00 in his first two seasons with Arizona, but when he's right, he can still be a solid mid-rotation starter. He'd be a sponge for innings, rather than a respectable candidate for a playoff rotation spot, but the Twins could find multiple ways to extract value from him, if they found the right unlocks for a misused arsenal. The Diamondbacks would have to eat much of the money owed to Rodríguez, but that's not out of the question. Chicago Cubs With a loaded rotation, the Cubs will send at least three intriguing starters to Triple-A Iowa this spring, barring a spate of injuries. If 2021 first-round pick Jordan Wicks were panning out as hoped, he'd be more in the thick of the battle for a rotation spot, but as it is, he's a sturdy lefty with a plus changeup whose velocity has ticked up into the mid-90s in recent stints. Lanky right-handed starter Ben Brown would form a perfect trio with Taj Bradley and Mick Abel: three hard-throwing righties with tantalizing starter ceilings but major risk of ending up as a reliever, instead. Kitchen-sink swingman Javier Assad is nearing age 30 and still hasn't gotten a proper chance to establish himself in Chicago, despite putting up good numbers every time the team gives him a shot. None of the three are making significant sums in 2026. All three can be optioned to the minors. Chicago projects to have an all-right-handed-hitting bench, and currently has no choice but to slot Moisés Ballesteros in as their regular DH—a daunting proposition not only because Ballesteros is young and inexperienced, but because the Venezuelan prospect hasn't yet made it to Cubs camp due to visa issues. Larnach for one of Brown, Wicks or Assad could work out perfectly for both sides. Cincinnati Reds How much are you missing Chase Petty these days? He's not looking like a future star, but he remains an optionable arm with upside. Like Wicks, he was a 2021 first-round pick but hasn't yet found his stride in the majors. Like Brown, though, he has real promise even if he needs to be converted to the bullpen. Cincinnati's top starters are too good for the Twins to snatch them up in exchange for Larnach, but in addition to Petty, they have some relief arms they could spare and who would be notable upgrades for Minnesota. Houston Astros Loaded though they are on the infield, the Astros have a sketchy outfield picture to deal with. If the season began today, they'd give lots of at-bats to the likes of Joey Loperfido and Zach Cole in the corner spots, especially when facing right-handed pitchers. Larnach is slightly better and slightly cheaper than Jesús Sánchez, whom Houston traded for Loperfido at the beginning of camp as they rearrange deck chairs. He'd be a good fit for their home park. Meanwhile, the Astros are awash in flawed but useful starting pitching. Jason Alexander, Spencer Arrighetti, AJ Blubaugh, Colton Gordon, Kai-Wei Teng and Miguel Ullola are all optionable, but none are in line for many starts in the majors with Houston. In varying degrees and ways, all six are worth a look for the Twins. Swapping Larnach for one of them would give the team more controllable pitching and that financial flexibility they might need to improve the bullpen. Washington Nationals This would be something akin to a challenge trade. The rebuilding Nationals aren't going to surrender good pitchers under long-term control for a player like Larnach. However, he would solve some problems for them in filling out the lineup on a day-to-day basis, and they have some post-hype arms who might appeal to the Twins. Former All-Star (even if it was largely an obligatory selection, based on the rule that every team must be represented) Josiah Gray hasn't recovered as hoped from an injury detour, and only has the same amount of team control left that Larnach has, but he's also set to make $1.35 million this year, so he'd bring the team substantial savings. Righty Jake Irvin comes with Minnesota connections and more team control than Gray, though he, too, has been rough lately. Larnach can't command an especially rich return in a trade. The Twins are past the point of deluding themselves on that front. However, he could still net the team some viable pitching depth, which has become a more salient and serious need in the wake of Tuesday's news about López. General manager Jeremy Zoll will have to do something to repair the rupture of his roster. Finally moving Larnach might be the best way to go about it. View the full article

The San Diego Padres will have quite a bit of rostering shuffling to do after making multiple big league signings recently. Even more if they intend to add any of the players signed to speculative minor league contracts. As of Tuesday, the first domino has fallen. According to the San Diego Padres official X account, they have DFA'd outfielder Tirso Ornelas to make room for Griffin Canning. Ornelas' role was never guaranteed as it likely came down to him and fellow outfielder Bryce Johnson to battle for one of the last active roster spots. One of the two became even more expendable once it was announced that the Padres signed Nick Castellanos. After the first day of camp, Ornelas is the odd man out. In a cup of coffee last year, Ornelas posted a .256 OPS across 16 plate appearances. However, at Triple A El Paso he was an above average posting a 104 wRC+ with 10 home runs and seven stolen bases. His scouting report suggests that he can play an average, if not above average, corner outfield. Do you think Ornelas will make it through waivers? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

When the Minnesota Twins walked out of last year’s trade deadline having dealt away their entire late-inning infrastructure, the implication was clear. This bullpen was going to need a complete rebuild. Jhoan Duran was gone. Griffin Jax was gone. Louis Varland was gone. Brock Stewart was gone. Even depth arms who had soaked up meaningful innings were moved, as the front office pivoted toward future flexibility. By the time the dust settled, Minnesota was left with a relief corps that resembled more of a tryout list than a functional major-league unit. Fast-forward to the first official week of spring preparations, and the picture is beginning to sharpen. A handful of additions have quietly transformed what once looked like an organizational weakness into a group with at least some defined roles. Closer: Taylor Rogers It's a familiar face stepping back into the ninth-inning conversation. Rogers returns to Minnesota for the first time since being dealt away four seasons ago, and immediately becomes one of the most experienced late-inning options in the room. While he no longer features the consistent mid-90s velocity that earned him All-Star recognition earlier in his career, he still offers steady command from the left side and a track record of handling pressure situations. On a modest one-year commitment, he projects as the bullpen’s primary southpaw and the most logical candidate to handle save opportunities as the season begins, barring a healthy and thunderous spring by Liam Hendriks. Set Up Options: Cole Sands, Justin Topa, Anthony Banda Sands enters camp looking to rebound from a frustrating follow-up to his breakout 2024 campaign. His swing-and-miss ability dipped noticeably last season, while his walk rate trended in the wrong direction, resulting in more traffic and more damage. Even so, his pitch mix and prior success suggest there is still legitimate upside here. Minnesota will likely lean on him in meaningful innings, hoping the sharper version of his arsenal returns. Topa was able to stay on the mound more consistently in 2025, after injuries derailed the previous year. He logged one of the heavier workloads of his career. He doesn't overpower hitters, but keeps the ball on the ground (47.7% ground-ball rate) and limits loud contact when he's right. Asked to take on higher-leverage responsibilities late last season, he showed some volatility. With the current roster construction, however, he may again find himself pitching in key spots. Banda joined the organization shortly after camp opened, following a move that brought him over from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The veteran left-hander has quietly posted strong run prevention numbers over the past two seasons, thanks to improved fastball location and a willingness to challenge hitters inside. He is better suited for matchups against left-handed bats, but has proven capable of covering multiple innings when needed. He is due to make $1.6 million this season, so he is nearly guaranteed to break camp with the club. Middle Relief Mix: Eric Orze, Travis Adams, Kody Funderburk, Andrew Chafin Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the offseason, Orze brings a mid-90s fastball and a splitter that has generated strikeouts throughout his professional career. He translated that swing and miss ability into solid results during his first extended big-league look last season and could quickly climb the trust ladder if that continues. Adams appears ticketed for bullpen work full-time, after Minnesota shifted away from developing him as a starter in 2025. Last season, his results in relief were uneven, but there were encouraging signs late in the year. His velocity ticked up in shorter appearances. In his final eight appearances (8 1/3 innings), he had a 3.02 FIP and an 8-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Twins will be watching closely to see if that version of Adams can show up more consistently over a full season. Funderburk made perhaps the strongest late-season impression of anyone remaining in house after the deadline teardown. In 24 innings following the trade deadline, he posted a 0.75 ERA with 28 strikeouts. That extended opportunity down the stretch forced him back into the club’s future plans. Entering spring, he looked like the clear secondary left-handed option, though Banda and Chafin’s arrivals add new competition to that role. Chafin enters his age-35 season and his 16th year in professional baseball. While the deal does not guarantee him a spot on the Opening Day roster, it immediately throws him into legitimate competition for a role. Last season, the veteran posted a 2.41 ERA across 33 2/3 innings. He struck out 36 hitters against 19 walks and limited left-handed batters to a .136 average. That type of platoon effectiveness remains especially valuable, even with other lefties on the roster. This list omits fellow non-roster signee Liam Hendriks, whose return to the organization reads like something out of a baseball time capsule. Originally signed by Minnesota as a teenager out of Australia, he later developed into one of the sport’s most dominant closers—after departing the system before the Twins gave him a chance to be a reliever. Now nearing 37 and working back from multiple health setbacks, he arrives on a minor-league deal as an upside play, but with serious questions about his utility. Taken together, this group lacks the established star power that defined Minnesota’s bullpen in recent seasons. There is no arm capable of dominating the ninth inning the way fans had grown accustomed to before last summer’s reset. What it does have is variety, flexibility, and multiple pitchers with something to prove. That reality may ultimately define the Twins' early season. Without a traditional late-inning hierarchy carved in stone, matchups and hot hands are likely to dictate usage patterns, as the coaching staff evaluates who can handle higher-leverage moments. It's not the most glamorous approach, but it's often how new bullpen cores are formed. If even two or three of these arms outperform expectations, Minnesota could find itself with legitimate trade chips or a surprisingly stable back end of the pen by midseason. For now, the bullpen remains a work in progress, but for the first time since the deadline fire sale, it at least resembles a group with direction, rather than one simply filling innings. What will change with this bullpen group before Opening Day? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

With spring training games mere days away, the 2026 season is officially underway for the Chicago Cubs. Last year's group carried plenty of intrigue with Kyle Tucker in the mix and the emergence of Pete Crow-Armstrong among the storylines, but it was always a team that felt incomplete. This winter, however, Jed Hoyer and company took measures to ensure that the 2026 roster would look a bit more robust than its immediate predecessor. It wasn't a perfect offseason, of course; it still feels like one or two more moves could have really solidified things from the jump. Nevertheless, it's a roster whose prospects in the upcoming season offer something a little more encouraging than what came before it. Cubs' Offseason Free Agent Signings RHP Phil Maton (two-year, $14.5 million) LHP Hoby Milner (one-year, $3.75 million) LHP Caleb Thielbar (one-year, $4.5 million) 1B/OF Tyler Austin (one-year, $1.25 million) RHP Jacob Webb (one-year, $1.5 million with 2027 club option) RHP Hunter Harvey (one-year, $6 million with 2027 mutual option) 3B Alex Bregman (five-year, $175 million) RHP Shelby Miller (two-year, $2.25 million) There was a certain onus on the front office to be extremely active this winter. For a while, though, much of the action took place almost exclusively in relief. Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins were tasked with replenishing a pitching staff that lost Brad Keller, Taylor Rogers, Aaron Civale, Michael Soroka, Drew Pomeranz, and Ryan Brasier to free agency and traded Andrew Kittredge back to Baltimore early this winter. Rather than undergo the more typical process of building the relief corps out of reclamation types, the focus was on veteran arms. Each of Maton, Milner, Webb, and Harvey bring a veteran dynamic from both sides of the mound while Thielbar continues to be a reliable presence set forth by a strong showing with the Cubs in 2025. Miller's deal, however, puts an eye on 2027 considering he's set to miss the upcoming season while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. This updated collection of relief arms comes in addition to the typical smattering of minor-league deals and waiver claims. This talk of relievers buries the lede, however. The most impactful move of the winter was the team's signing of Alex Bregman to a five-year contract. A team that lost Kyle Tucker in free agency — and never really had any ambition of retaining his services for the long term — needed to produce impact offense from somewhere. In Bregman, they get a gap-to-gap hitter who doesn't strike out. To say nothing of the veteran presence he is reported to add to any clubhouse environment. He was one of only two major-league signings the team made to fortify their lineup this winter, as Tyler Austin returns from a lengthy stint in Japan to serve as a right-handed compliment to Michael Busch and, perhaps, occasional designated hitter. While not true free agents, it also seems worth noting here that the team re-signed Colin Rea to a one-year deal with a club option for 2027 while Shota Imanaga returned on the qualifying offer after both sides declined their respective 2026 options. Cubs' Offseason Trades Acquired cash from the Orioles for RHP Andrew Kittredge Acquired RHP Edward Cabrera from the Marlins for OF Owen Caissie, SS Cristian Hernandez, and IF Edgardo De Leon As busy as things might've been on the free agent front, the trade circuit had nary a whisper as to the team's intentions this winter. The Kittredge move happened early, as the team wasn't inclined to pay the $9 million owed to him for 2026. In Cabrera, however, the Cubs made as impactful a move as they could have hoped for. Long-rumored to have interest in a starting pitcher with frontline stuff, the Cubs brought in Cabrera to sit toward the front of the team's rotation. They lost some of their medium-term stability in doing so by trading Caissie (considering the impending free agent status of each of both Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki), but acquired exactly the profile for which they'd been searching for at least a couple of years. Cubs' Offseason Grade Similar to the 2024-2025 offseason, the Cubs did not have a lot of questions on their roster in need of answers. Save Tucker, much of last year's starting lineup remained intact, while the rotation carried over plenty of the volume from 2025 into the winter, especially once each of Rea and Imanaga were retained in their respective ways. Nevertheless, the Cubs remained a team starved for impact. They needed some on offense to replace Tucker, and perhaps beyond. They lacked the sort of dynamic presence in their rotation outside of Cade Horton. While there's an argument to be made that they could have gone further (especially on the offensive side), the fact that they were finally willing to open the payroll to an addition like Bregman and invest in an arm like Cabrera — in addition to the dramatic shift in process on the bullpen front — signals a shift in the somewhat stagnant modus operandi we've seen from the organization over the last few years. A B+ feels more than earned. Verdict: B+ View the full article

Lou Hennessy, Gregg Masterson, and Brock Beauchamp react to the devastating news that Pablo Lopez has torn his UCL and will miss the 2026 season. Listen using Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-twins-off-daily-podcast/id1741266056 Listen using Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4tb78XlurcPTYYSsARdbD7 Listen using iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-twins-off-daily-podcas-167548600/ Listen using Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/nvclbt0w Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twinsdaily View the full article

While addressing the contract extension for president of baseball operations A.J. Preller on Monday, San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler was asked about the status of the sale of the MLB team. "We’ve had tremendous interest,” Seidler said at the team's spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz. “There has been interest, some parties that have been reported in the press, others have not. There are more parties interested than has been reported." The Seidler family announced it was pursuing a sale in mid-November, but some family quarrels prevented that from truly progressing. That was resolved a couple weeks ago, with the team expecting to start receiving bids by the end of the month. View the full article

Two days after the Phillies released veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos, the Padres scooped him up as they aim for a surge in 2026. The question becomes this: while Castellanos has had a remarkable career at the plate, what can he truly provide for San Diego this upcoming season? In this video, we dive into his strengths, weaknesses, and fair expectations for his role this summer. View the full article

Two days after the Phillies released veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos, the Padres scooped him up as they aim for a surge in 2026. The question becomes this: while Castellanos has had a remarkable career at the plate, what can he truly provide for San Diego this upcoming season? In this video, we dive into his strengths, weaknesses, and fair expectations for his role this summer. View the full article

Pablo López eluded the Scalpel of Damocles last fall. He hurt his arm on an awkward dive in September, and he admitted afterward that he feared the worst. At the time, he escaped serious damage to his elbow, but spring is the reaping season for this kind of thing, and López was part of Jobe’s Harvest. He left the team’s first full-squad workout Monday with elbow soreness and underwent an MRI. On Tuesday, the team announced the bad news: López has a "significant tear" in his elbow and is likely to need season-ending (or, rather, season-thwarting) surgery. General manager Jeremy Zoll stressed that López, who will seek a second opinion before proceeding with the operation, suffered a new injury this spring. His MRIs from early 2023 and late 2025 looked identical; the damage to his ligament is new. López will get that second opinion from noted surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, but given the "significant tearing to his UCL in his elbow," even the best-case scenario would see him sidelined for a long time. López, who will turn 30 early next month, also missed time with strains of his hamstring and shoulder in 2025. He made just 14 starts, but posted a 2.74 ERA and continued to be the co-ace of a strong starting rotation. If he elects surgery, he’ll miss the third season of a four-year contract extension worth a total of $73.5 million, which he signed in April 2023. He’s owed $21.5 million this season, and the same amount in 2027, after which he’ll become a free agent. Without him, Minnesota will struggle to maintain the rotation depth needed to compete even in the weak AL Central. Last year, starting pitching was a strength, but not a strong enough one to keep the team afloat. That was partially due to the prolonged absence of López for the middle stretch of the season, but also to Bailey Ober having a season marred by high home-run rates and a massive decrease in strikeout rate. Perhaps foreseeing this possibility, the team attempted to bolster their starting rotation in the final stages of free agency, pursuing Framber Valdez. Instead, though, Valdez signed with the Tigers, and now, there’s no strong candidate to replace what the Twins had hoped they would get from López this year. The loss of López does create more room in the rotation for the team’s young hurlers. In addition to Ober and Joe Ryan, the team has Simeon Woods Richardson, Zebby Matthews, Mick Abel, Taj Bradley and David Festa in position to push for starting roles. That’s hollow consolation, though, since none of that group is likely to be as good as López, even if one or more stays healthy and pitches to the best of their ability all year. The Twins acquired López from the Marlins in exchange for Luis Arraez. Almost immediately, both López and the Twins made it clear that he was more than a short-term boost for the starting rotation. The aforementioned extension cemented López as a pillar of the organization’s pitching plans. Now, the final guaranteed year of that contract looms as both a financial commitment and a target date for the club’s hopes of a full return. On the field, López largely delivered on that investment in his first two seasons in Minnesota. In 2023, he posted a 3.66 ERA across 194 innings with 234 strikeouts, immediately pitching like a staff leader and earning All-Star recognition. In 2024, he again took the ball 32 times, going 15–10 with a 4.08 ERA, striking out 198 in 185 1/3 innings. The raw ERA uptick didn’t change the larger picture: Minnesota had the kind of dependable, high-end starter the franchise has long prized. But the path to Tuesday was paved by a frustrating, stop-and-start 2025 season—one that offered both a reminder of López’s ceiling and a warning about his health. Even in his limited, interrupted workload, López was effective. He was the biggest source of the hopeful “what could have been” feeling around a season defined by missed opportunities and disappointment. That was supposed to carry him into a bounce-back 2026 season. Alas, those hopes are now scuttled. Zoll acknowledged that López, who first had Tommy John surgery as a teenager in the Marlins system, had exceeded the window of protection from reinjury that the operation typically affords. "It's an unfortunate reality with, you know, him originally having Tommy John surgery 12 years ago, and the reality of those, the shelf life of those ligaments, you just never know when these things could happen," Zoll said. More to come. Twins Daily's John Bonnes is on site in Ft. Myers and provided reporting on this news. View the full article

The San Diego Padres added yet another arm to the free-for-all competition for one of the last two spots in their 2026 starting rotation. Right-hander Walker Buehler, who recorded the final out of the 2024 World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is joining the Friars on a minor-league deal, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Monday. The 31-year-old Buehler pitched last season for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, posting a combined 5.66 FIP (4.93 ERA) in 126 innings over 24 starts and two relief appearances. Buehler has struggled since having Tommy John surgery in August 2022. He returned to the Dodgers midway through the 2024 season, making 16 starts and compiling a 5.54 FIP over 75⅓ innings. Buehler was once one of the Dodgers' top starters, finishing fourth in the NL Cy Young Award balloting in 2021 and ninth in 2019. He also finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2018. He becomes the third low-cost addition in the last three days to the battle for the final two spots. Right-handers German Marquez and Griffin Canning agreed to major-league deals over the weekend, with the Padres formalizing Marquez's signing Monday of a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2027. Canning, coming back from an Achilles injury, has yet to formally sign his one-year deal with the Friars. Right-hander Jhony Brito (elbow surgery) was put on the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster. Another move, also likely involving the IL, must be made to add Canning. Those three along with right-hander Randy Vasquez, left-hander JP Sears and nonroster invitees Marco Gonzalez, a left-hander, and right-hander Triston McKenzie are the top contenders for the rotation behind right-handers Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Joe Musgrove. Musgrove is throwing in the early days of camp after coming back from Tommy John surgery. Buehler rejected the qualifying offer from the Dodgers following the 2024 season and became a free agent, signing with the Red Sox for $21.05 million, the same amount as the QO. View the full article

Before reading this part of the Brewers' voyage to Milwaukee, read part one of the series, "A Failed Launch". Also, part two of the three-part series, "Up For Grabs." PART 3 Charlie O. Finley got back into the headlines on Feb. 4, 1970. “I tried to be of help to Milwaukee. The next thing I see all over the papers is that my plan wasn’t good for baseball," Finley said to reporters at the time. "They made me look like a fool.” His plan had been to move the Pilots to Milwaukee on an interim basis. “If that group up there is trying to get major-league baseball, they haven’t shown me anything.” On Feb. 5, hotel magnate Edward Carlson lauded a fundraising effort that raised nearly $6 million toward a ‘cash and credit goal,’ in a last-ditch effort to get the necessary cash together for the Seattle group. “We hope and believe that this remarkable demonstration of civic pride and financial commitment will convince the American League to retain the Pilots franchise in Seattle on a permanent basis,” Carlson said. “I think we have a deal.” That statement sounded prescient on Feb. 10, when the American League owners voted to keep the franchise in Seattle. Several possibilities were discussed, including a trusteeship that would rescue the team. “This is a very serious problem,” AL president Joe Cronin said. “The American League is leaning over backwards to keep baseball in Seattle." The next day, the American League rejected an application for the Carlson/Danz Seattle group and voted to have the Daley/Soriano group keep the Pilots in Seattle. Carlson had wanted a non-profit organization to run the club for him, and this was a main concern of the American League. "We felt the non-profit factor in their plan could not fit into operation of a baseball club,” Cronin said. At that same meeting, the AL decided to advance the Pilots $650,000 for spring training expenses. On Valentine’s Day, the American League appointed Roy Hamey to oversee the operations of the Pilots. Hamey, you might remember, was a general manager for the New York Yankees in the early 1960s. He would take command of the team as it was just getting ready for spring training. On Feb. 24, 46 players began camp in Tempe, Arizona. Meanwhile, Tempe community leaders reported that they “have exceeded last year’s season ticket sale for the Pilots’ spring training schedule,” according to the Everett (Washington) Daily Herald. Back in Seattle, John Spellman was optimistic. “We still plan to let out bids in November, and construction [for the domed stadium] is still scheduled to start before the end of the year (1970)," he said. In early March, the Milwaukee Sentinel reported that owners were "contemplating moving the club before the regular season started.” The story went on to say that the group worried the Pilots would lose more money in 1970. Hamey’s reply? “Absolutely ridiculous.” Court chaos returned on March 16. The American League had been set to move the franchise to Milwaukee, having the nine necessary votes from owners that would approve the move. Just before the meeting was to begin, though, Circuit Court Judge James D. Bruton, Jr. issued a restraining order that would keep the league from moving the team from Seattle. The league’s response was that the teams could not afford to continue to support the Seattle franchise. The Bank of California sided with the AL in trying to remove legal hurdles that would keep the Pilots in Seattle. The lawsuit that Mayor Wes Uhlman filed at $25 million had been increased to $82 million. According to the Olympia (Washington) Olympian, William Dwyer, special assistant state attorney general, said that if the restraining order was dismissed, “the club will move and our $82 million antitrust damage suit goes into effect immediately.” Note: The lawsuit lasted until Feb. 1976, when it was dismissed on the condition that Seattle would receive an expansion team in 1977. After going from state court to federal court, and then back to Washington state court, and seeing two changes of venue from King County to Kitsap County to Snohomish County, the suit was officially dismissed in April 1977—when the Seattle Mariners made their debut in the new domed stadium called the Kingdome. On March 18, a petition was filed in U.S. District Court, asking that the franchise be sold to Milwaukee for $10.8 million under the Bankruptcy Act. In a hearing that took place on Friday, Mar. 21, Superior Court Judge James W. Mifflin heard arguments. He granted a continuance over the weekend, after which he would decide whether to grant the City of Seattle and State of Washington a temporary injunction to prevent the franchise from moving. Pacific Northwest Sports, Inc. (the ownership group) filed a petition of bankruptcy that sought a transfer of the franchise to Milwaukee so creditors could get paid. Sidney C. Volinn, a bankruptcy court referee, was scheduled to hear the petition on Tuesday, Mar. 24. Baseball Facilities, Inc., a developer of the Pilots' spring training site, filed suit saying the Pilots had failed (once again) to develop the facilities as promised. As the wheels of justice continued to move slowly along, Judge Mifflin's patience wore thin. Meanwhile, Volinn was set to decide the fate of the franchise on Mar. 30. Forgotten in all the litigation was the fact that the ownership group had signed a contract with the Milwaukee group earlier in March, which would expire on April 1. Time was of the essence. Back in Seattle, Dewey and Max Soriano were hung in effigy at a downtown mall. Max Soriano later explained that the club “was too embarrassed to ask a bank for additional funds.” It probably didn’t matter, though. “No banker in his right mind would loan the Pilots additional money," Campbell noted. In Milwaukee, a storm dumped four inches of snow on the ground and groundskeepers at County Stadium were hard at work to get the facility ready for a potential Opening Day contest against the California Angels on Apr. 7. Volinn listened to testimony on Mar. 30, but after a long day in court, decided to continue proceedings the following day. “I realize the onset of the baseball season is here and there is an atmosphere of haste,” Volinn said. “But the court will take all the time necessary in order to receive all the evidence that is necessary to make a decision in this case.” A couple of issues Volinn was considering: the Pilots couldn’t pay their debt of $8.13 million, and would not be able to survive a second season; and it would be unfair to make the league keep the franchise afloat. As spring training ended, the team’s equipment truck drove north from Tempe, Arizona to Provo, Utah and waited at a rest area along I-80 north of Provo. They were waiting to hear whether to head west to Seattle or turn east and make the long drive to Milwaukee. The following day, it became official: The Seattle Pilots would become the Milwaukee Brewers. The driver started his truck and turned east on I-80, starting the long 1,500-mile drive to Brew City. Milwaukee finally got its team! On Apr. 7, 1970, in front of a crowd of 36,107 fans at Milwaukee County Stadium, the Milwaukee Brewers era started with a 12-0 loss to the California Angels. Sources Wikipedia Everett (WA) Daily Herald Spokane (WA) Spokesman-Review Spokane (WA) Chronicle Minneapolis Star Tribune Madison (WI) Capital Times Green Bay (WI) Press-Gazette Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent New York Times Milwaukee Sentinel Olympia (WA) Olympian View the full article

The Minnesota Twins may have made one of the more overlooked moves of the offseason when they signed Josh Bell. On the surface, it didn't make a huge splash. But the underlying numbers tell a much more intriguing story. In this video, we break down why Bell’s 2025 profile points to a hitter who could be far more impactful than headlines suggest. View the full article

Ethan Conrad is the Cubs' first-round pick from the 2025 MLB Draft. The Marist/Wake Forest alum brings a well-rounded approach, as he flashed with 13 triples in his 2024 season. Already being rated as the no. 5 prospect in the Cubs system, Conrad projects to be the team's future outfielder in just a couple of years' time. Will he take Seiya Suzuki or Ian Happ's spot, and will either be around after their contracts expire after this season? We dive into it all here on North Side Baseball. View the full article

Ethan Conrad is the Cubs' first-round pick from the 2025 MLB Draft. The Marist/Wake Forest alum brings a well-rounded approach, as he flashed with 13 triples in his 2024 season. Already being rated as the no. 5 prospect in the Cubs system, Conrad projects to be the team's future outfielder in just a couple of years' time. Will he take Seiya Suzuki or Ian Happ's spot, and will either be around after their contracts expire after this season? We dive into it all here on North Side Baseball. View the full article

Thinner than a rail all offseason, the San Diego Padres' rotation now has a glut of options. The most recent addition is former Colorado Rockies ace German Marquez, who reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2027. He brings the number of pitchers in camp competing for the last two spots to at least eight. San Diego isn't getting anything near the All-Star version of Márquez. The 30-year-old was hit hard last year after missing close to two full seasons because of elbow problems. In 126 1/3 innings over 26 starts, he posted full-season career worsts across the board: a 6.70 ERA/5.47 FIP, 5.9 strikeouts per nine innings, a .545 slugging percentage against and a .923 OPS against. He allowed 168 hits and 23 home runs. Our series on rotation candidates continues with Marquez. Should he be in the Friars' rotation, work out of the bullpen, or go down to Triple-A El Paso to begin 2026? Germán Márquez's Stuff In terms of results, Márquez's best pitch last year was his knuckle curve. It was well below-average in both movement and drop, but it had above-average spin (64th percentile). It served as Marquez's out pitch: opponents batted .208 with a 33.9 percent K rate against it. Despite that, it produced a negative-6 run value. Marquez's fastball velocity was league-average -- 94.8 mph on his four-seamer, 94.2 mph on his sinker -- but both pitches were about one mile per hour slower than his fastballs in 2022 and continued to have below-average spin (24th percentile). The four-seamer did have above-average horizontal movement, with 10.9 inches of arm-side run (in to right-handed batters, away from left-handed batters). And yet, hitters feasted on it, slugging .642. The pitch had a negative-24 run value. Opponents punished the rest of the repertoire, too. Marquez's sinker, slider, and changeup produced respective SLG's of .545, .565, and .556. Each of those pitches flashed below-average movement. There were plenty more ugly peripherals to go around. Marquez's ground-ball rate plummeted to a career-low 36.6 percent and his air rate soared to a career-high 63.3 percent. His 91.7 mph average exit velocity was more than two miles per hour higher than his career norms. His 11.1 barrel rate was the second-worst of his career. He allowed a 1.057 OPS after falling behind 1-0 in the count. There is a Coors Effect in Marquez's career splits, but it shows up in hits allowed rather than home runs allowed. He has averaged 9.99 hits per nine at Coors, compared to 8.53 per nine outside Denver. That speaks to the fact that lots of hits fall in at Coors Field because of the park's spacious outfield. His home run rates are 3.44 percent at home and 3.29 percent on the road. For what it's worth, Petco Park has been a good place for him. His career numbers there are skewed by two poor outings last year -- 12 earned runs in seven innings. Prior to that, he had a 3.64 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 10 games (nine starts). German Marquez's Arsenal Márquez was essentially a three-pitch pitcher last season. He threw the four-seamer 35 percent of the time, a knuckle curve 32 percent of the time, and a sinker 20 percent of the time. He also made use of slider (11 percent) and changeup (2 percent), though they were seldom featured. Of note: He threw his slider 21 percent of the time in 2022, his last full season prior to 2025. His knuckle-curve made up that 10-point difference last year. As usual, there was a narrow gap between the fastballs and his secondary pitches: 9.3 mph between his fastest (four-seamer) and slowest (knuckle curve, 85.5 mph). That was in line with his career averages. His slider (88.8) and changeup (88.5) were thrown at almost the same speed. The use of his fourth and fifth pitches was based almost strictly on batter handedness. He threw 196 of his 226 sliders to right-handed batters and 49 of his 50 changeups to left-handed batters. What Should German Marquez's Role Be in 2026? Márquez's 2025 season says that he shouldn't be guaranteed anything, but his history and contract say that he will begin the year in the rotation. How long he stays in it will depend on performance. The Rockies kept running him out there last year to eat innings. The Padres will have a fraction of that patience in 2026. If Márquez is eventually moved to a long-man role, it would be his first relief work since 2016, when he was a rookie. Again, because he's signing a major-league deal, it's almost certain that the Padres would keep him around as the 13th man on the staff. El Paso feels very far away, despite the recent results. View the full article

JUPITER, FL—On a beautiful Monday morning in Jupiter, 72 Miami Marlins players (32 non-roster invitees) reported to camp ready to make their mark and build on a very encouraging 2025 season in which the club won 79 games—a 17-win improvement from the year before. Principal owner and chairman Bruce Sherman, standing in front of the newly renovated Jupiter Academy, addressed the media prior to the team’s first full-squad workout. The 2026 season will be the ninth under Sherman’s ownership. “Our expectations are to be extremely competitive and to continue on this path of being successful every single year,” Sherman said. “We measure it by getting to the playoffs consistently, and that will be the standard for our organization and our front office. That’s what the Miami Marlins are going to be all about.” Ownership’s message to players early Monday morning differed from last spring, when patience and development were emphasized. As exciting as the 2025 season was for a team with limited big league experience and modest expectations, this year’s message was clear: it wasn’t enough, and expectations are higher following investments in both payroll and infrastructure. “This investment we made in free agency—four players and over $20 million—was done with extraordinary care by Peter Bendix and his entire staff,” Sherman said. For the first time since 2016–17, the Marlins signed at least four major league free agents in a single offseason. Despite those additions, Miami’s payroll for 2026, according to Roster Resource, is projected to be approximately $73 million, the lowest in Major League Baseball. Sherman feels that he's spending an appropriate percentage of the franchise's revenue, particularly when accounting for the aforementioned facility renovations. “I’m not in this for profit at all. We haven’t taken a nickel out of this in eight years; we just keep putting money in, and ownership is pleased to do that. We want to win. W-I-N. Period.” How do the Marlins plan to compete against division rivals such as the Phillies, Mets, and Braves, whose player payrolls are several times the size? “We don’t care what other teams are doing—we’re trying to beat them,” president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said. That message was reiterated to both established major leaguers and top prospects expected to contribute this season. “We were told to have faith in ourselves and in each other, and that we’re going to prove a lot of people wrong again,” No. 1 prospect Thomas White told Fish On First. “We’re not worried about what other teams are doing. We’re focused on what’s happening in our clubhouse and trying to do something none of us have done before—reach the playoffs.” When asked about the overall goal for the upcoming season, manager Clayton McCullough emphasized development and culture. “Seeing growth across the board from players and coaches,” McCullough said. “We want to create a culture here and a group that puts us in position every year to compete for a championship.” The 34th season of Marlins baseball begins March 27 at home against the Colorado Rockies. Before that, the club opens Grapefruit League play this Saturday in Port St. Lucie against the Mets. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals had a goal this offseason of adding depth and improving their talent floor. While they won 82 games last year, the second time they've had a winning season since the 2015 World Series, they also missed out on the postseason after winning 86 games in 2024. Under owner John Sherman and President of Baseball Operations JJ Picollo, the Royals aim to be a frequent playoff contender, like other small-market franchises such as the Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Milwaukee Brewers. That said, Kansas City also faces financial limitations as a small-market franchise. While this team has been more prone to spending money under Sherman than in years past, they are not going to acquire big-name free agents like Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, or Kyle Tucker (which was the case again this year). Furthermore, Picollo also doesn't want to "sell" the farm in trades either. There were plenty of rumors this offseason tying the Royals to players like Boston's Jarren Duran and St. Louis' Brendan Donovan. However, they were unwilling to part with key players (Cole Ragans) or key prospects (Blake Mitchell) to make such deals happen. We will see if Picollo was right to wait, or if they missed an opportunity for a big-name player this offseason. Still, while this offseason wasn't "eye-popping" by any means, the Royals did a lot to improve the roster, whether through trades or free agency. In this post, I will break down all the trades, extensions, MLB free-agent signings, and Minor League signings the Royals made this winter, give grades to each category, and then rate the Royals' offseason as a whole. Trades OF Kameron Misner for a PTBNL/Cash Considerations The Royals were active early this offseason, acquiring outfielder Misner, a Mizzou product, from the Tampa Bay Rays for a PTBNL/Cash Considerations. Misner has been so-so at the Major League level, as he hit .213 with a .618 OPS in 217 plate appearances with the Rays last season. He did have five home runs, but he also struck out 31.8% of the time and didn't have great batted-ball percentiles either. When it comes to his Statcast profile, he didn't show great batted-ball metrics, and he chased a lot with the Rays. Those are two aspects the Royals already have plenty of in Triple-A, which makes the acquisition a little puzzling at the surface level. It's likely that Misner provides some depth in Triple-A Omaha, and he carries a Minor League option, which is valuable to have for a player who likely is more of a "fill-in" at the Major League level (i.e., a guy who comes up when a regular outfielder goes on the IL). He did show some promise in Triple-A Durham last year, so perhaps he can tap into that in his new surroundings in Kansas City. Grade: C+ RHP Mason Black for RHP Logan Martin The Royals acquired Black from the San Francisco Giants for Martin, who pitched in the Arizona Fall League this past autumn. Martin was a nice piece for High-A Quad Cities, as he posted a 3.45 ERA in 22 starts and 91.1 IP for the River Bandits. However, he was a college arm who had a low ceiling. Black was a former Top-10 prospect in the Giants' system who hasn't quite put it all together at the Major League level. He mostly pitched in 2024, but the numbers weren't good in a 36.1 IP sample. He posted a 6.44 ERA, 5.45 FIP, and 9.5% K-BB%. He produced solid extension that season, but his TJ Stuff and Statcast percentiles were pretty underwhelming, as illustrated below. He only made one appearance with the Giants in 2025, as he mostly spent last season in Triple-A Sacramento. He posted a 5.81 ERA and 5.64 FIP in 119.1 IP with the Rivercats. Acquiring a pitcher like Black is a nice gamble for the Royals, especially for a Minor League arm like Martin, who is good, but not great. It will be interesting to see if the Royals perhaps move Black to the bullpen, hoping that his stuff plays up better in shorter innings. At the very least, he provides some nice starting depth in Omaha, which is something they missed a season ago. Grade: B- OF Isaac Collins and RHP Nick Mears for LHP Angel Zerpa The Royals wanted to improve their bullpen and their outfield this offseason. They accomplished that somewhat in one trade, as they acquired Collins and Mears for Zerpa, the Royals' primary left-handed reliever last season. Losing Zerpa is tough, but his ERA rose from 3.86 in 2024 to 4.18 in 2025, and his HR/FB% also rose from 14.3% in 2024 to 15.9% in 2025. The Venezuelan lefty was certainly expendable, though Milwaukee certainly is a nice landing spot for him. In return, the Royals got an on-base machine in Collins, who posted a .368 OBP and 0.61 BB/K ratio in 441 plate appearances. Collins did lose some playing time at the end of the season, but he's the kind of multi-positional outfielder who gives the Royals the plate discipline and versatility that they've desperately needed. Collins doesn't hit the ball all that hard or barrel balls that much, but he doesn't chase, and he pulls the ball effectively, two qualities that the Royals were looking for this offseason. As for Mears, he had an interesting season, especially when compared to 2024. That season, he sported a 5.93 ERA in 57,2 IP. However, his FIP was 3.39, and his K rate was 29.3%. Last year, his ERA was better at 3.49 (in 56.2 IP). Conversely, his FIP was higher at 3.86, and his K rate dropped to 20.8%. Mears had trouble finishing batters off last year in his first full season with the Brewers. That said, he still showed solid TJ Stuff+ metrics and an ability to make batters chase. Mears is a two-pitch pitcher, which may explain why he struggled with K% after succeeding in 2024. Hitters may just have a better scouting report on him now. However, the Royals' pitching coaches have had success helping pitchers add another pitch and maximize their repertoire. Mears could be another success story in 2026. Grade: A LHP Matt Strahm for RHP Jonathan Bowlan Picollo mentioned early in the offseason that they wanted to add a left-handed reliever who could pitch in high-leverage situations. After they traded Zerpa to Milwaukee, the need heightened even more. Thankfully, they found an excellent lefty in Strahm, who was originally drafted by the Royals in the 21st round in the 2012 MLB Draft. Strahm was excellent with the Phillies, posting ERA marks of 3.29, 1.87, and 2.74 from 2023 to 2025, respectively. His FIP marks also remained within the same range, at 3.24, 2.29, and 2.99, respectively. He's also thrown 60+ innings in each of the past three seasons and posted K-BB% marks of 24.8%, 28.7%, and 19.5% over that span. The strikeouts went down a bit, and the walks went up a little in his last season in Philadelphia. He also generated fewer whiffs, and the fastball velocity ranked in the bottom percentiles. Still, his TJ Stats profile shows Strahm to be a reliever who can be relied upon in high-leverage situations. Strahm's four-seamer and slider were above-average offerings last year on a TJ Stuff+ end. His cutter and sinker? Below average, unfortunately. It will be interesting to see whether Brian Sweeney and Mike McFerran encourage any tweaks to improve his pitch quality in Kansas City, though given his batted-ball metrics, that may not be needed. What prevents this deal from being a home run is that the Royals gave up Bowlan, who was starting to become a reliable reliever for Kansas City last season. The former Memphis product posted a 3.86 ERA in 44.1 IP and also sported a 16.1% K-BB%. He also posted excellent Statcast metrics and three above-average pitches, according to TJ Stuff+. The issue with Bowlan? He struggled with finding the strike zone at times, walked more than he should've (12th percentile BB%), and gave up a lot of barrels as well as home runs (15.4%). Thus, with no Minor League options remaining, I can understand why the Royals were willing to part with Bowlan to acquire Strahm. Still, I would've been curious to see what Bowlan could've done had the Royals left him up for a full MLB season instead of constantly shuffling him between Kansas City and Omaha. Grade: B+ RHP Mitch Spence for RHP A.J. Causey The Royals acquired Spence last week in an effort to improve their pitching depth at both the Major and Minor League levels. Spence was a 2024 Rule 5 pick by the Athletics. He was a target of the Royals, who had the pick after the Athletics, but they ended up selecting fellow Yankees pitching prospect Matt Sauer instead (who was returned to New York early in the 2024 season). Spence had a good 2024 with the Athletics, posting a 4.58 ERA, 4.21 FIP, and 1.3 fWAR in 151.1 IP. He wasn't perfect by any means, but he proved to be a durable pitcher who could pitch as a starter or out of the bullpen. Unfortunately, things got tougher for Spence in 2025 in the move to Sacramento, as he posted a 5.10 ERA and FIP in 84.2 IP. It seemed like the new park dimensions of Sutter Park in Sacramento had an effect, as his ERA was much higher at home than on the road. Those splits probably explain why the Royals were willing to take a chance on Spence. Losing Causey was a tough blow, especially since the 2024 5th-round pick posted a 1.72 ERA and 2.28 FIP in 73.1 IP between High-A Quad Cities and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. However, Causey was solely a reliever, and he had an uneven AFL campaign, which probably explains why the Royals were willing to part ways with him in exchange for Spence. Spence will likely start the year as a starter in Omaha, which is needed with Alec Marsh again starting the year on the 60-Day IL after missing all of 2025 due to injury. Grade: B Extensions C Salvador Perez: Two years, $25 million The Royals were never going to part ways with their captain and future Royals Hall of Famer (and maybe Cooperstown Hall of Famer). The extension saves the Royals about $2 million per year, as his option on his last contract was for roughly about $14 million. Perez also defers about $12 million from his current deal, giving the Royals some payroll flexibility. This is a good, though not earth-shattering, deal given the high likelihood of Perez returning. That said, it was nice to see Picollo be proactive to keep the franchise legend happy. Grade: B+ 3B Maikel Garcia: Five years, $57.5 million One had to wonder whether Picollo would ink any of their young core to extensions after solid 2025 campaigns. Garcia was the first domino to fall this offseason, and it was well worth it, especially after Garcia posted a 5.6 fWAR and 121 wRC+ in 666 plate appearances. After a down season, the Royals put their faith in Garcia to be their regular third baseman in 2025, and he ended up making good on that confidence. Not only did Garcia make his first All-Star game, but he also earned his first Gold Glove and was a Silver Slugger finalist. By extending Garcia, Kansas City has guaranteed the left side of its infield until at least 2030. Grade: A 1B Vinnie Pasquantino: Two years, $11.1 million The Royals and Pasquantino didn't reach a deal before the initial arbitration deadline. They were roughly $500,000 apart, so it seemed an agreement was imminent and a hearing wouldn't be necessary. The Royals avoided the hearing not only by reaching an agreement with Pasquantino but also by securing a two-year extension. Honestly, I get why the Royals did it. He's a leader in the clubhouse and holds so much weight with the Royals community, including the fanbase. That said, he's a hitter-only first baseman who doesn't offer any value on defense or the basepaths, and he's already 28. It feels like Kansas City did this deal because they had to, not because they wanted to. Grade: C+ Major League Free Agents OF Lane Thomas: One year, $5.25 million Thomas' stats were bad last year, as he posted a -0.5 fWAR and 48 wRC+ in 142 plate appearances. That said, he wasn't healthy, as he played only 39 games due to various injuries. The 30-year-old outfielder showed that when healthy, he can be a solid presence in the lineup and in the field, defensively. He posted a 99 wRC+ and 1.4 fWAR in 2024 with the Nationals and Guardians, and he had a 109 wRC+ and 2.9 fWAR with the Nationals in 2023. He also hit 28 home runs and stole 20 bases in 2023 and hit 15 home runs and stole 32 bases in 2024. Thus, there's some power and speed potential here if he can get back to full health in Kansas City. When looking at his Statcast percentiles from 2024, Thomas showed a strong ability to avoid chasing out of the zone, which is what the Royals were looking for in targets this offseason (like Collins). For a one-year, $5.25 million deal, the Royals got a nice bounce-back candidate who can play all three outfield positions and give them the pop and speed that they need at the bottom of the batting order. That's a nice weapon to have (if healthy), especially for a manager like Quatraro who likes to play matchups. Grade: B RHP Alex Lange: One year, $900,000 The Royals acquired Lange after he was designated for assignment by the Tigers. They swooped him up on a cheap $900K deal, and they have control of him until 2029 (he isn't arbitration-eligible until 2027). Lange is a local product, as he went to Lee's Summit North High School. It wasn't too long ago that Lange was the closer in Detroit. In 2023, he saved 26 games and posted a 3.68 ERA. However, the combination of injuries and inconsistency has derailed him a bit since then. He has only pitched 19.2 innings since his 26-save season. He mostly spent time in Triple-A last year, and while he generated strikeouts (30.2% K%), he still had a 4.62 ERA (though his 3.88 ERA was much better). In his TJ Stats profile, his zone and walk rates weren't great (second- and fifth-percentile ranks, respectively). However, everything else was solid, both on the batted-ball and swing-and-miss end. Lange is a sleeper who could solidify the middle of the Royals' bullpen and give them a high-velocity arm that can generate strikeouts in that spot. They missed that last year, as it seemed like they didn't have a ton of arms in the bullpen who could get strikeouts when needed. He also has an option, so they don't need to rush him to the Majors this year if he's not fully recovered. Grade: B+ Minor League Free Agents Pitchers Jose Cuas, RHP Helcris Olivarez, LHP Hector Neris, RHP Aaron Sanchez, RHP Eli Morgan, RHP The only deals that stick out are Morgan and Neris, who both have legitimate shots to make the MLB roster. Neris isn't what he was in years past, as he posted a 6.75 ERA in 26.2 IP with the Braves, Angels, and Astros. However, he still can generate whiffs, chase, and strikeouts, as illustrated below in his TJ Stats profile. Morgan is another intriguing non-roster invitee, as Royals fans may be familiar with him from the Guardians. His best season came in 2024 when he posted a 1.93 ERA in 42 IP. He was traded to the Cubs in 2025 and only made seven appearances due to an elbow injury. While the overall numbers with the Cubs weren't good in his small sample, Morgan generated chase (100th percentile O-Swing%), limited hard hits (94th percentile), and didn't give up a lot of walks (77th percentile). If he can get back to form, he may be the kind of middle-innings reliever who could handle medium-to-high leverage situations in a pinch, especially if one of their other relievers is unavailable. Of course, he needs to make the active roster first. Grade: B Position Players Connor Kaiser, INF Kevin Newman, INF Abraham Toro, INF Elih Marrero, C Jorge Alfaro, C Josh Rojas, INF Luke Maile, C (Pending) Maile is dealing with a personal issue, so who knows when (or if) he'll make his way to camp in Surprise. Alfaro is also having visa issues and has not been in camp either. That said, both were longshots anyways to make the MLB Opening Day squad. Kaiser is a local guy, but he seems more like an everyday Triple-A infielder than one who could legitimately contribute to the MLB squad. Thus, that leaves Newman, Toro, and Rojas as the main candidates to make the Opening Day roster, though their odds seem long with the Royals already having so much depth in the infield. If the Royals want that veteran right-handed infielder, Newman may fit the bill, especially if Nick Loftin struggles (again). Newman can play all over the infield, and while he doesn't hit the ball hard, he doesn't whiff either. If the Royals want one from the left-hand side of the plate, then Rojas may be their answer. That said, his profile is more similar to that of former Royal Nicky Lopez, which is serviceable, but not exactly endearing for a team with postseason aspirations. There isn't a ton of difference in Newman and Rojas' TJ Stats profiles from a year ago, though Rojas chases much less than Newman. To be frank, it's hard to envision either Newman or Rojas or any of the non-roster position player invitees making the Opening Day roster, barring an injury in Spring Training. Grade: C+ Final Grade The Royals made a number of smart moves this offseason to improve. The Collins and Mears move was the best of the bunch this offseason. The Garcia extension was the best internal move they made. Strahm and Lange were solid moves that aren't perfect, but still considerably improve the bullpen without breaking the bank. Thomas has the same value, but on the position player end. Still, it was a bit disappointing that the Royals couldn't swing that "big" deal that could've made them the favorites in the AL Central. The Royals look good across many metrics and projections, with PECOTA actually projecting them to have the best record in the AL Central (which is NOT common for this franchise). Thus, it would've been nice to see the Royals make one big move to help them get over the top (or, at least, theoretically). That said, Picollo is not the kind of GM to sit on his hands during the season. It's entirely plausible that a big move is on the horizon, but it will come at the Trade Deadline instead. Grade: B View the full article

The trade to bring Carlos Narvaez to the Boston Red Sox completely flew under the radar before last season. The deal was completed almost immediately after the team traded for Garrett Crochet, and the most anyone said about Narvaez was, essentially, “well, he’s a rookie backup catcher.” How wrong we all were. Narváez burst onto the scene in 2025 as he filled in for an injured Connor Wong. He stepped into the starting role with confidence and never looked back. While no player should lose their position due to injury, Wong proved that he was incapable of playing starting quality baseball upon his return and the year of Narvaez was born. Narvaez worked a .240/.307/.413 slash line last season with 15 home runs, 50 RBIs, .315 wOBA, a 97 wRC+, and 2.7 fWAR. He wasn’t an offensive juggernaut by any means, but to begin the season he was one of the best hitters on the team and likely should have been named an American League All-Star reserve. He was the preferred catcher for the majority of the starters last season and proved that he could call and manage a game like a veteran backstop. That ability on the defensive side of the baseball is where Narvaez shined. He led the league in caught steals with 24, was in the 88th percentile in blocks above average, 87th percentile in framing, 80th percentile in pop time, and the 98th percentile in caught stealing above average. Defensively, he was a top-tier catcher no matter how you slice it. What makes those numbers even more impressive is that he played the entire season with an injured meniscus that should have required surgery in July. Narvaez held off on the surgery until the season concluded in October and has reported to spring training feeling great, according to Alex Cora. If Narvaez was able to play like that on an injured meniscus, which acts as a shock absorber between the femur and tibia while providing stability in the joint and help to provide lateral movement, then oh boy. With a healthy knee, expect Narvaez to improve his offensive output across the board. He has a swing that plays incredibly well at Fenway Park and with more stability in his lead leg, he should be able to generate more barrels and up his hard-hit rate, which clocked in at 45.5% last season. Where he could stand maybe the most improvement though, is in his strikeout habits. He posted a 25.4% K% last season to go along with a manageable 8.7% walk percentage. If he can cut down on his strikeouts, either by walking more or making more contact, then his offensive numbers will continue to climb. Posting even better numbers while being one of the top defensive catchers in the game will help set the Red Sox up for success, not only in 2026 but in every season that Narvaez is the starter behind the dish. We already have seen what kind of defensive wizard he is, and his ability to handle the pitching staff is fantastic, but should his offensive numbers start to catch up? Watch out because he’s going to be a big, big problem. His FanGraphs 2026 projections are fairly tempered. He’s expected to slash .228/.311/.375 with 11 home runs, and there likely is going to be some regression at some point in the season, but those are some conservative estimates for a rookie who played hurt all of last year. Barring a sophomore slump, fans should fully expect an improvement at the plate for one the game's best behind it. Carlos Nárvaez was an incredible bright spot for the Red Sox in 2025 and figures to be a massive part of the team for the next handful of seasons. Alex Cora recently, and expectedly, named him the starting catcher for the team and Gabrielle Starr spoke to Narvaez about that and a possible extension. While it hasn’t been discussed, Narvaez said that his goal is to be a member of the Red Sox ‘forever’ and he would like to retire with the ballclub. A bit of lip service? Perhaps, but there's real belief from both sides. After all, it’s hard to luck your way into trading for a catcher that has the makings of a foundational piece of the organization. View the full article

Enjoy new episodes of our Miami Marlins livestreams throughout 2026 spring training. Every week, Fish On First staffers answer your questions and provide in-depth analysis of the team leading up to Opening Day. Monday's show was hosted by Ely Sussman and featured panelists Jeremiah Geiger, Isaac Azout, Alex Carver, Kevin Barral and Daniel Rodriguez. The following topics were covered: Annual start-of-spring press conference with Bruce Sherman and Peter Bendix Takeaways from the first full-squad workout The end of Josh Simpson's Marlins tenure Ely's Opening Day roster projection, going deep on Owen Caissie, Max Meyer and others You can find Fish Unfiltered and Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. Designated for assignment by the Marlins last week, Simpson was traded to the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations. The 28-year-old left-hander had spent his entire professional career in the Marlins org. In 31 MLB relief appearances in 2025, Simpson posted a 5.35 FIP (7.34 ERA) in 30 ⅔ innings pitched. View the full article

The Blue Jays like them some versatility. Ernie Clement makes highlight-reel plays all over the infield. He was arguably the best utility player in baseball last season. Addison Barger is the first player in MLB history to play at least 25 games at third base and right field in each of his first two years in the bigs. Even George Springer is hoping to contribute on defense in 2026. Given his age, injury history, and how well he swung the bat last year, no one would be mad if he were a full-time DH. But according to John Schneider, he's a legitimate option in the outfield too. Then there's Andrés Giménez; the Jays acquired the Platinum Glove-winning second baseman because they knew he could also play a good shortstop. And after Toronto signed Kazuma Okamoto this winter, both Ross Atkins and Okamoto himself acknowledged he could take the field at multiple positions. According to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith, the organization sees him as a capable third baseman and an above-average first baseman. He also has experience in the outfield. There's one more name I should have mentioned by now, and you might be surprised I haven't. Davis Schneider is one of only three active players to have appeared in at least 100 games at second base and in left field over the past three seasons. Funnily enough, the other two are both winners of the utility Gold Glove Award: Brendan Donovan and Mauricio Dubón. The defensive metrics will tell you Schneider has done just fine at each position, albeit in a small sample. He owns a -1 DRS and +1 FRV in 636.1 innings at the keystone and a -1 DRS and +1 FRV in 996.2 innings in left. In theory, all this versatility should allow John Schneider maximum creativity as he fills out his lineup card. The most frequent swap-outs will likely be the righty-batting Davis Schneider and Myles Straw replacing the lefty-batting Barger and Jesús Sánchez for the sake of platoon matchups. Sánchez has been unplayable against southpaws throughout his career. Barger has struggled against lefties too, though the Blue Jays haven't given him much of a chance to improve against same-handed pitching. On that note, I'd like to see Barger in the lineup more often against left-handed starters, at least early in the year. He deserves a chance to prove he's more than a platoon bat. I'm hopeful John Schneider is on the same page. When camp opened, the skipper suggested the everyday right field job was Barger's to lose. Presuming Barger is starting regularly against lefties, the Jays only need one righty-batting outfielder to platoon with Sánchez. If Straw can be that guy, it would free up Schneider as an option at second base. In such a scenario, Clement would slide over to shortstop to give the lefty-batting Giménez a day off. And in case that last paragraph was confusing, here's the lineup I'm proposing: Position Starter vs. LHP C Alejandro Kirk (R) 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 2B Davis Schneider (R) SS Ernie Clement (R) 3B Kazuma Okamoto (R) LF Myles Straw (R) CF Daulton Varsho (L) RF Addison Barger (L) DH George Springer (R) To be clear, I'm not suggesting this should be Toronto's go-to group against all left-handed pitchers. I'm just saying it's an option if the Jays want to maximize offense when they're facing a tough southpaw. This lineup includes every right-handed hitter on the team's projected 26-man roster, as well as Barger and Daulton Varsho. The only realistic alternative is to put Schneider in the outfield and keep Giménez at shortstop. The configuration with Giménez would be stronger defensively, but I think the version with Barger and Varsho would score more runs. Some days, offense is going to be the priority. Or... maybe not. See, I'm not sure how much time Davis Schneider is actually going to see at second base. RosterResource has him taking 161 of his 322 projected plate appearances at second. I think that's ambitious. During the playoffs last year, when every game, every inning, every play mattered more, Schneider appeared in eight games. He started five, all in left field. Meanwhile, Isiah Kiner-Falefa took the field in 15 of Toronto's 18 contests. He played 91 defensive innings, exclusively at second base. Sometimes he came on as a defensive replacement, sometimes he was the one replaced. But by and large, he was the player John Schneider and the Blue Jays wanted in the infield (when it couldn't be Bo Bichette). Kiner-Falefa had a 75 wRC+ in 2025. He has an 82 wRC+ for his career. Conversely, Schneider posted a 127 wRC+ last season, while his career mark is 109. Simply put, Schneider is a vastly superior hitter. There's no debate. According to FanGraphs, Kiner-Falefa has been worth 22.8 offensive runs below average over the last three years and 62.1 below average in his career. Schneider has produced 9.0 offensive runs above average since his debut in 2023. Moreover, IKF gave the Blue Jays next to nothing at the dish throughout the playoffs. He went 6-for-37 (.162) with two doubles, one walk, and a 7 wRC+. That's 93% worse than league average. My aim is not to denigrate Kiner-Falefa. Rather, I'm trying to point out that the Blue Jays watched all that and still decided they wanted to run out a lineup with Kiner-Falefa at second base instead of Schneider. They decided Kiner-Falefa's glove was that good (or Schneider's that bad) for the offensive trade-off to be worth it. To be fair, sometimes Schneider was busy in left field while IKF was manning short, but there were plenty of moments the Jays stuck with Kiner-Falefa while Schneider was sitting on the bench. The Blue Jays played 18 postseason games. Kiner-Falefa and Schneider were only ever in the same starting lineup three times. So, what does all this mean for 2026? Kiner-Falefa is in Boston now, but Toronto still has a pair of excellent defenders up the middle in Clement and Giménez. If the 2025 playoffs are any indication (and I don't see why they wouldn't be), John Schneider and the Blue Jays vastly prefer to have a great glove at second base, even if it means sacrificing some offense. The hypothetical, bat-first lineup I proposed as an option against tough left-handed starters might be just that – hypothetical. Davis Schneider couldn't steal a start from a slumping IKF in the playoffs, so I don't see many starts at second base in his future either. View the full article

Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton provides an update on Pablo Lopez and discusses the team doing the little things on day one to be successful. View the full article

The incredible postseason run the Chicago Cubs went on in 2016 that resulted in their first World Series championship in 108 years is quickly approaching its ten-year anniversary. There were so many moments and decisions that led to breaking the “Curse of the Billy Goat” that played a role in securing the title. Arguably the biggest in-season move the Cubs' front office made that year was going “all-in” at the trade deadline by giving up a four-player haul to the Yankees in order to acquire All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman. Chapman played lights out that season for both franchises, finishing the year with a 1.55 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 58 innings, to go along with 36 saves. His production during his time with the Cubs was remarkable. He posted a 1.01 ERA, 46 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings, and 16 saves. The Cubs traded for Chapman on July 25, 2016 and at the time, the team had the best record in baseball. They were 20 games above .500 with a 7.5-game lead over the second-place St. Louis Cardinals within the Central Division. The belief that 2016 could finally be the year skyrocketed within the organization and fanbase alike. The best team in baseball added one of the most dominant closers in baseball. I get fired up just reminiscing about that trade and it got me wondering: Could 2026 be the year the Cubs make a splash move at the trade deadline again in an attempt to put everything on the line to win another championship? If they do, what would a similar trade cost them? There has been a buzz and excitement around this year's Cubs team with the additions of Edward Cabrera (RHP) and Alex Bregman (3B) to a roster that returns most of the players that defeated the San Diego Padres in the playoffs last year before exiting in the National League Division Series. It is not unreasonable to think that the 2026 North Siders could find themselves positioned for a deep postseason run by the trade deadline again this year as they did in 2016. They will have to compete with the other top-tier teams in the National League, most notably the Los Angeles Dodgers who are coming off back-to-back championships, in order to even reach the World Series. A big move at the deadline could add to the depth and confidence of this year’s team. The package of players that the Cubs sent to the Yankees for Chapman was considered a very steep price for a reliever that was in the final year of his contract. They gave up prospects Gleyber Torres (INF), who was the team's top prospect at the time, Billy McKinney (OF), listed as their sixth-best prospect, and Rashad Crawford (OF) along with bullpen arm Adam Warren (RHP). The Cubs were willing to ship out potential long-term contributors for a player that would be on the roster for only a few months. It was 100% the right decision in hindsight. Gleyber Torres was the only player from that group to have sustained high-level success over a long MLB career (career stats: .264 BA, 1006 H, 515 RBI, and 154 HR). He became a two-time All Star during his time with the Yankees and is still in the league today with the Detroit Tigers. It is challenging to predict the exact positions that the Cubs may target at the trade deadline in 2026 if they are in the playoff mix, since injuries or lack of production from current players could factor into that decision. As it stands today, adding another dominant arm (similar to the Chapman trade in 2016) or bat-first slugger seem like the most likely areas they may focus on. If they attempt to acquire a fate-changing player such as Kris Bubic (LHP) of the Kansas City Royals, Pablo Lopez (RHP) of the Minnesota Twins, or Yandy Diaz (INF/DH) of the Tampa Bay Rays, it will require a willingness to part ways with young talent within the organization again. The Cubs have already dealt some of their talented minor-league players in order to acquire Edward Cabrera this offseason. They sent Owen Caissie (OF), Cristian Hernandez (INF) and Edgardo De Leon (INF) to the Miami Marlins, but there are still plenty of players that would certainly intrigue other teams looking to add multiple young players in exchange for a transformative veteran player. A trade of this magnitude would most likely require at least one of their top four prospects, which include Moises Ballesteros (C/DH), Jaxon Wiggins (RHP), Jefferson Rojas (INF), or Kevin Alcantara (OF), along with a couple other quality pieces with upside. Players such as James Triantos (INF) or Kaleb Wing (RHP) could be coveted as well. Will Jed Hoyer decide this season is the right time to take another big swing? Only time will tell, but his aggressiveness this offseason seems to demonstrate a belief that this Cubs team is ready for a deep playoff run. The farm system no longer features a plethora of Top-100 prospects like it has in recent years, so they should feel some urgency to maximize the potential that this lineup is capable of now, rather than looking to the future. As antithetical as that may seem to this front office's M.O., remember that this is the final season before the expected 2027 lockout. Cost and revenue certainty is valuable for any organization, and in Major League Baseball, that ends in 2026. It will be exciting to monitor all of the action this year in July as the trade deadline approaches if the Cubs can position themselves as buyers for another push in the postseason. Adding Aroldis Chapman was a massive shot in the arm to a loaded Cubs team in 2016. Here's to hoping we as fans get that same jolt in just a few short months. View the full article

As the Minnesota Twins opened camp this spring, a noticeable theme echoed throughout the organization. After a season defined by transition, youth, and growing pains, this group is searching for something that does not show up on a stat sheet. Leadership has become one of the most talked-about needs inside the clubhouse as Minnesota prepares for the 2026 season. Fortunately, that leadership may already be in place. Byron Buxton is coming off arguably the best big-league season of his career and remains the best player on the roster. His impact has long been measured by highlight-reel defense, game-changing speed, and middle-of-the-order production. Now, the Twins are looking for something more from their franchise cornerstone, as a new wave of young talent continues to arrive in the clubhouse. Leadership, according to Buxton, can mean quite a bit. “A lot. Like, we thought quite a bit this offseason, just because we had to. So it's one of those where we know what we're trying to get to," Buxton said. "We know what we're striving to. And it's gonna take us veteran guys, to kinda lead these young guys to get to where we want them. We've been here to know how to play baseball the right way, play the game the right way, put in the effort. It's all about showing them the right way, how to do things.” For a roster that continues to look for young players to take the next step, leadership is about more than just setting the tone during games. It becomes the connective tissue between experience and potential. Veteran players who have endured postseason battles, slumps, injuries, and the daily grind of a 162-game schedule can provide a blueprint for younger teammates still learning how to navigate the league. In Buxton’s case, that blueprint is not going to look dramatically different from years past. “Nope, be myself, go about my business the same way I went," he told reporters in Ft. Myers. "Come in and play ball, that's it. Like, I'm a dad at the end of the day, and I'm a husband. I'm like, this is my job, this is a game. I know what I'm supposed to be doing when I'm here, but when I leave, this is over with. So, enjoy this while I'm here.” That authenticity has stood out immediately to manager Derek Shelton. “The thing that stuck out to me the most was just how mature he is. When I was here before, he was a young player trying to establish himself," Shelton said. And now? "He's a superstar. You don't play center field for Team USA in the WBC if you're not a superstar. You don't do the things that he's done. There's nothing that specifically he said stood out. The way he walks in a room now is different. When you're around great players and they walk in the room, you know it. When he walks in the room, you know it.” Shelton also emphasized that leadership within a clubhouse rarely looks the way fans expect it to from the outside. “Leadership is organic. When Byron—and I saw this from him before in '19—the guys he came through the minor league system with, they gravitate towards him, because they know the expectation he has on himself. “When leaders show the expectation they have of themselves, it doesn't matter how the leadership manifests outwardly, whether it's loud, whether it's quiet," Shelton continued. "I know everyone expects, not just in Buck's case, but in any case, 'This guy has to be loud.' “There's only very few people that know how conversations happen within a room when no one is there. That's leadership. That happens organically, and I think he does it in his own way. The expectation anybody would change how they go about that, I don't think that's fair to that person or to the rest of the group. It will come out organically.” If the Twins are going to take the next step in 2026, they will need production from their young core. Just as importantly, they will need guidance from the players who understand what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Buxton has already established himself as the face of the franchise on the field. This season, his influence away from it could prove just as valuable. Can Buxton’s organic leadership style help the Twins to be successful in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

People love to talk about the Milwaukee Brewers' payroll. People also like to talk about the on-field success the Brewers have, with postseason appearances in seven of the last eight seasons. Sure, there are only two postseason series victories in that span, but a short series (one, three or five games) can be determined by luck, as much as talent or even teamwork. Thus, Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold sought to keep the train on that track this offseason. The Brewers appeared to be in good shape entering the winter, with no glaring holes to patch. More power from the starting lineup would be nice, but some of that could be achieved from what the Crew already had. Is outfielder Jackson Chourio capable of 30 homers? How about 20 from second baseman Brice Turang? Over a full season, first baseman Andrew Vaughn can crank out 30, right? And what can the Brewers get from a healthy Garrett Mitchell, who remains toolsy and tantalizing despite all the missed time? Believing positive answers to those questions await, Arnold focused on amassing maximal pitching depth this winter. With camp underway in Phoenix, it is time to assess what Arnold did this offseason. In a winter that didn't need a lot of news to be made, Arnold created enough headlines to keep things interesting, but didn't acquire enough talent to impress projection systems, which once again make the Cubs the favorites in the NL Central. Will the Brewers prove them wrong again? It will take 162 games to figure that out. For now, let's review the six moves made that affected the MLB roster before pitchers and catchers reported to Phoenix. That doesn't include Friday's addition of Luis Rengifo, who plugs a hole that Arnold created just four days earlier, but that move feels relatively minor, anyway. Grading Every Brewers Move This Offseason Free-Agent Signing: RHP Brandon Woodruff to 1-year, $22.025 million contract While some fans were surprised that the Crew would actually hand out a qualifying offer, it was the right thing to do. If Woodruff were to sign elsewhere, they needed to at least get a draft pick to compensate for the loss. Instead of testing the free-agent market beyond his three-week trial period, Woodruff accepted the offer and will stick around for (in all likelihood) a final season in Milwaukee. This came after Woodruff declined his end of a mutual option that would have paid him $20 million in 2026, instead receiving a $10-million buyout. That $10 million was figured into the Brewers' budget for 2025, when Woodruff nominally made just $5 million, so the raise here is not as drastic as it might first appear, but it's substantial. The biggest reason Woodruff accepted the QO was the shoulder injury that (again) ended his season. The right-handed starter, who has been in the organization since being drafted in the 11th round out of Mississippi State in 2014, missed the last two weeks of the regular season and the postseason due to a strained lat. This followed his return from surgery in September 2023 on his right shoulder, from which it took him 21 months to fully return. When he did come back, though, it was like he never missed a beat. The two-time All-Star posted a 3.17 FIP in 12 starts, with career bests of a 5.4% walk rate and a 32.3% strikeout rate. He appears to be fully healthy at the start of spring training. Arnold said Woodruff's return played a role in the trade of Freddy Peralta. Grade: A Free-Agent Signing: OF Akil Baddoo to 1-year, $1.25-million contract Given all the outfield depth the Brewers already had, Baddoo was a curious addition. He signed a split contract that will pay him less while he is in the minors, which is probably where he'll spend most of the campaign. The left-handed-hitting outfielder, who mainly plays left, was a success story as a Rule 5 pick before the 2021 season. Baddoo ended up starting 107 and appearing in 124 games for a Tigers team that went 77-85. He put together a .259/.330/.436 line in 2021, hitting 13 homers, driving in 55 runs and stealing 18 bases in 22 attempts. But those numbers plummeted over the next four seasons, as he put up a combined .201/.288/.323 mark with 15 homers, 49 RBIs and 25 steals in 223 games. He was designated for assignment by the Tigers after the 2024 season, but returned on a minor-league deal and played in just seven MLB games in 2025. Baddoo is simply a depth piece, in case injuries take their toll on the outfield. Grade: C- Trade: LHP Ángel Zerpa acquired from Royals for OF Isaac Collins and RHP Nick Mears This deal had fans scratching their heads. Collins is coming off a surprising 2025 in which he finished fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, but also wasn't a big part of their postseason lineup, getting 10 plate appearances over seven games. Mears had arguably the best of his six MLB seasons, with a career-high 63 appearances and career-low 0.97 WHIP to go along with a 3.86 FIP (3.49 ERA). But in Zerpa, the Brewers saw a left-hander who could either relieve or start and had an additional year of control over Mears. Unlike Mears, Zerpa can also be optioned to the minors. Collins, a superb defender perhaps squeezed out of regular playing time with a healthy Mitchell, still has five more years of club control, but probably wouldn't have been in the team's plans for more than two of those years. Zerpa has 129 appearances over the last two seasons with the Royals, with FIPs of 3.97 in 2024 and 3.86 in 2025. With some fine-tuning, perhaps more can be unlocked with Zerpa. As a sinkerballer, he should work well with the Brewers' stellar infield defense. Zerpa could work his way into a role as the top lefty in Pat Murphy's bullpen, pending the roles, health and performance of Jared Koenig and Aaron Ashby. Grade: B- Trade: IF-OF Jett Williams and RHP Brandon Sproat acquired from Mets for RHP Freddy Peralta and RHP Tobias Myers This was the headline move of the offseason, and one on which speculation began just hours after the Brewers were eliminated from the postseason by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Losing Peralta is a tough blow to the team in general and the rotation, specifically. Peralta grew from a fresh-faced rookie with braces to a clubhouse leader and two-time Opening Day starting pitcher who led the NL in wins in 2025. Those are the attributes that also made him attractive to other teams, augmented by the fact that he's set to make a very affordable $8 million in 2026. Myers didn't have a guaranteed spot on the big-league staff, as a starter or reliever, so his loss is minimal—especially given the other notable move the team made, after this one. In exchange, Arnold extracted two of the Mets' top five prospects, in infielder-outfielder Jett Williams and right-handed starter Brandon Sproat. While Williams is the better (at least more highly rated) of the two prospects, Sproat will get most of the attention immediately; he's in competition for the rotation spot vacated by the very trade in which he arrived. A specialist at inducing grounders, Sproat is seen more as a No. 3-type starter than as a potential ace, but the team seems fine with that. H made his big-league debut in 2025, with four late-season starts for the Mets. Williams, however, is more dynamic. Think of a right-handed-hitting Sal Frelick with a bit more power and more of a threat to steal bases, while being able to play either middle-infield spot or center. Williams had 34 games at Triple-A in 2025, so he probably needs a bit more seasoning before joining the parent club. That also suits the Brewers, as they don't have a need up the middle at the moment. Williams is likely to get some work at third base following the Caleb Durbin trade, though they've also patched the hole that move briefly created. Grade: B+ Trade: LHP Kyle Harrison, IF David Hamilton and LHP Shane Drohan acquired from Red Sox for 3B Caleb Durbin, IF Andruw Monasterio and IF Anthony Seigler This one hit like a surprise snowstorm in late April (or, I guess, a heat wave in February). The Brewers took Durbin, the third-place finisher in last year's NL Rookie of the Year voting, and two spare-part infielders, and acquired a similar utility player and two left-handed starting pitchers who have a ton of potential. Durbin was the guts of the return in the Devin Williams trade with the New York Yankees following the 2024 season. He was bypassed in spring training by Vinny Capra and Oliver Dunn, partially because Capra was out of options but partially, too, because it didn't look like Durbin could handle third base defensively. But it was Durbin who was one of the underlying stars of the Brewers' run to an MLB-best 97 wins, making leaps and bounds with the glove and being enough of an offensive contributor to keep the line moving. His departure left a gap at the hot corner just days before pitchers and catchers were to report. Monasterio was a solid backup infielder, but his days were numbered, anyway. Seigler was a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency guy, with more versatility than real utility. Getting Harrison is the initial headline of this deal. He was part of the four-player return the Red Sox got in the Rafael Devers trade with the San Francisco Giants—three of whom are now with yet another organization. Harrison, just two years removed from being the Giants' No. 1 prospect, still has five years of club control, though he's already made 37 MLB starts and five relief appearances since debuting in 2023. He has a career 4.43 FIP and, like Zerpa, could benefit from Milwaukee's strong developmental infrastructure, though he already benefited from Boston's, too. Hamilton returns to the Brewers' organization (he was shipped, along with Jackie Bradley Jr. and another prospect, to the Red Sox for Hunter Renfroe after the 2021 season), and is the favorite to be the Monasterio replacement as the backup infielder. Drohan is the piece in this deal to keep an eye on. He has battled some injuries, but had a nice stint at Triple-A in 2025 to increase his value. Was this a deal that needed to be made? No. Was it one that could pay off handsomely for the Crew? Most definitely, especially if you believe that what Durbin showed in 2025 was close to his ceiling. Grade: A- Free-Agent Signing: C Gary Sánchez to a 1-year, $1.5 million contract Sánchez returned a day before pitchers and catchers reported, for a minimal price. He figures to get most of his action as a pinch-hitter, as William Contreras hates taking a day off and Christian Yelich seems locked into the designated hitter role. Sánchez can still provide the long ball and is a solid backup catcher, as the Crew found out in 2024. It might be that Contreras finally plays less this year, whether he likes it or not. Grade: B- Conclusion The moves executed by Arnold and his front office this offseason felt like efforts to optimize the team's chances in the medium term, even if that meant getting very slightly worse in the short term. However, the underlying logic of each move seems sound. The best move of the offseason could be bringing back Woodruff to sit atop the rotation. He is likely to be the Opening Day starter for the third time (2020, 2021), as long as he truly is healthy—even if that honor is conferred more out of deference to his veteran bona fides than because he's expected to be the ace. If he can stay in the rotation for the whole season, the signing will stand out. But it also could stand out for the wrong reasons, if Woodruff's shoulder has more issues. Zerpa, Harrison and Sproat are the newcomers likely to have the most impact in 2026. While fans might have rather seen Peralta sign an extension and Durbin still holding down third base, this is what the Brewers do, and why they have won three straight NL Central championships. Final grade: B View the full article

JUPITER, FL—Kyle Stowers drew attention during his first spring training in the Miami Marlins organization, but for the wrong reasons. In Grapefruit League games, he went 7-for-40 with a .540 OPS and looked like a candidate to be optioned to the minor leagues. It was a continuation of the 2024 season in terms of being unable to unlock the raw power that the Marlins desperately needed to add to their lineup. One year later, as Marlins position players reported to camp for Monday's first full-squad workout, Stowers was surrounded by reporters at his clubhouse locker and by fans once the workout began. That's what happens when you slash .288/.368/.544/.912 with 25 home runs, 73 RBI and a 149 wRC+ in what was an All-Star-worthy 2025 season. "I think the good news is, if I played poorly in spring, everyone would be like, 'Oh, he's right on pace with last year,'" Stowers said jokingly. "Kyle just went out there and continually made adjustments," said manager Clayton McCullough. "And he's gonna have to make adjustments again this year...If you don't adjust in the major leagues, you won't last long." Stowers and the Marlins were engaged in contract extension talks this offseason. The Athletic reported that the sides were far apart, with Stowers' camp asking for about $100M and the Marlins valuing him closer to $50M. The 28-year-old outfielder confirmed that no formal offer was made and disputed the $100M figure. "I'm just so focused on this year," said Stowers. "I got four years of control left. I understand it and you have every right to play my control out. I'm just so excited to be here, so grateful to be in this organization. Was bummed we didn't get something figured out. Would love to someday, but at the same time, let's take care of this year and we'll go from there." Stowers missed the final quarter of the season due to an oblique strain, but comes into camp 100% healthy. He will not let himself "lose the competitive side of things" just because his roster spot is more secure entering 2026. Marlins principal owner Bruce Sherman applied some extra pressure during his Monday morning press conference, saying that "our expectations are really high for him." Becoming a father for the first time earlier this month gives him even more motivation to avoid complacency. "I've gone into every single spring training my entire career to compete for a job...It's not a passive process. I don't want to lose that edge." Stowers expects his teammates to adopt a similar mentality despite the Marlins' 17-win improvement from the year before. "The reality of it is all 30 teams are trying to get better. From the Dodgers to the last-place team, every single team at the end of the season looks to improve," said Stowers. "The notion that because we won however many games one year, then that many the next, there's not going to be that same guarantee of increase, and we know that. You got to have hunger to go earn it and continue to get as much as we can out of each day." Quick Notes - Miami Marlins chairman and principle owner Bruce Sherman and president of baseball operations Peter Bendix addressed the media. - All 72 players who were invited to Marlins camp have reported on time, per Clayton McCullough. - The following pitchers threw on Monday: Braxton Garrett, Eury Pérez, Pete Fairbanks, Garrett Acton, Michael Petersen, Bradley Blalock, Patrick Monteverde, Thomas White, Josh White, Dale Stanavich and Karson Milbrandt. - Monday was also our first opportunity to see Griffin Conine and Christopher Morel participating in defensive drills as first basemen. Neither of them have any prior professional experience at the position. View the full article