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Let’s not pretend the split-finger fastball is anything new. It’s been part of baseball’s lexicon for decades, and it’s been a talking point seemingly every postseason for years now. But 2025 was different. Thanks to two World Series juggernauts making deep runs in the playoffs, the splitter was featured more in this year’s postseason (1,047 times) than in the last four combined (1,035). That’s bound to happen when splitter-heavy starting pitchers each make five-plus starts. Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Trey Yesavage, and Kevin Gausman combined to make 22 appearances on the mound, and the latter three each threw the splitter at least 25.4% of the time during the regular season. All four leaned on the pitch even more under the postseason lights. And it’s easy to see why. A good splitter can effectively miss bats when tunneled with a high-velocity fastball, and it can produce weak contact even when tracked by the hitter. Eno Sarris of The Athletic noted in a recent article that damage was limited in this year’s playoffs even when contact was made, and advancements in the pitch’s development have been significant in 2025. “While the slugging was up on the split-finger over the last few years, it was still only .250 for the postseason,” he said. “Our understanding of how the seams create movement took a step forward with Seam-Shifted Wake, and that's part of why Yesavage's splitter is so effective. So teams can create better splitters more effectively now than they could in past years.” With that in mind, teams should look to develop better splitters or add arms that already feature the pitch, as several clubs were lacking in that department in 2025. Minnesota Twins There are plenty of areas where the Twins need to improve as they head into 2026. While their pitching corps isn’t their most glaring need, it could benefit them to find arms that can throw an effective splitter. They’re known for developing significant velocity within their pitching pipeline—now they need to find a way to pair that heat with a true off-speed weapon. The best splitter on the 2025 team belonged to former closer Jhoan Duran before he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Among likely returning pitchers, reliever Cole Sands owned the best version, throwing it 21.6% of the time and allowing only two extra-base hits all season. Simeon Woods Richardson added the split to his repertoire in 2025, throwing it 10% of the time and limiting opponents to a .137 batting average. He could increase its usage going forward in hopes of replacing his lackluster changeup. Joe Ryan was the team’s best overall pitcher this year, but his splitter results dipped; he threw it 11% of the time and allowed a .478 slugging percentage with a notable drop in whiff rate. San Diego Padres Yu Darvish will miss the 2026 season after undergoing elbow surgery this week. He was the only starting pitcher on the roster who featured a real splitter, and even he had mixed results with it. The good news is that Jeremiah Estrada and Yuki Matsui are both set to return to the bullpen, and each threw the splitter at least 23% of the time. Estrada, in particular, found great success with the pitch in 2025, holding hitters to a .127 batting average and just two extra-base hits while using it as his primary put-away offering. Matsui’s splitter was serviceable but led to four home runs and four doubles—far less effective than in his rookie season in 2024. The Padres will surely look to bolster their pitching staff if they hope to remain in contention behind the juggernaut Dodgers. There will be intriguing splitter-heavy arms on the free-agent market, led by Shota Imanaga, who could draw interest depending on price. Milwaukee Brewers The team with the best record in baseball did it without a standout splitter. Shelby Miller and his splitter came over at the trade deadline but failed to make a real impact, posting a 5.59 ERA across 11 appearances with the Brewers. He’s now a free agent and set to miss the entire 2026 season while recovering from UCL surgery. Tobias Myers added a splitter entering 2025 and found success, allowing just a .108 batting average and two doubles. He could have a shot at cracking the Opening Day bullpen. Rob Zastryzny also has a splitter in his arsenal, but he didn’t use it often. If the Brewers hope to build on their 2025 success, it would make sense for them to identify more arms capable of throwing split-finger fastballs—particularly in the starting rotation, where the club is stocked with young, high-octane pitchers. What do you think? Is splitter usage going to continue to grow league-wide? What else should these teams do to be proactive as these trends continue? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section, and as always, stay sweet. View the full article

Baseball America recently released a comprehensive look back at every organization’s top prospects dating to 1983, the first year it began ranking talent across the league. For the Minnesota Twins, the list provides an opportunity to reflect on the organization’s long history of developing and scouting talent. Some names have become franchise legends, while others faded before ever reaching Target Field or the Metrodome. Together, they tell the story of how the Twins have developed talent for more than 40 years. Minnesota Twins' Best Prospects As part of the retrospective, Baseball America created a “Mount Rushmore of WAR” for each organization. These are players who ranked as top prospects for that team and went on to accumulate the highest career Wins Above Replacement in the major leagues, even if that success came elsewhere. For the Twins, that list included Joe Mauer, Kirby Puckett, Byron Buxton, and Jay Bell. Mauer is the most iconic homegrown player of his generation. The former number one overall pick in 2001 was a local legend before he even signed, and his career lived up to the hype. Mauer became the face of the franchise, winning three batting titles, an MVP award, and three Gold Gloves while transitioning from catcher to first base late in his career. His 55.2 fWAR with the Twins cements his status among the greatest players in team history. Puckett’s arrival in the mid-1980s helped shape a golden era for Minnesota baseball. He combined leadership, charisma, and elite performance at the plate and in center field. A six-time Silver Slugger and six-time Gold Glove winner, Puckett’s postseason heroics in 1987 and 1991 are the stuff of Twins legend. Before his career was tragically cut short, he was one of baseball’s true stars and one of the most successful top prospects the organization ever developed. Buxton represents the modern version of that elite homegrown talent. Once Baseball America’s number one overall prospect, he has flashed game-changing ability on both sides of the ball when healthy. Injuries have prevented him from reaching his full potential. Still, his combination of elite defense, power, and speed keeps him in the conversation as one of the most talented players to ever wear a Twins uniform. The fourth name on the list, Bell, might surprise some Twins fans. Bell was the eighth overall pick in the 1984 MLB Draft out of high school, and while he never played a game for Minnesota, his inclusion highlights the ripple effects of prospect development. In August 1985, Bell was traded to Cleveland as part of the deal that brought Bert Blyleven back to Minnesota. Blyleven, of course, played a pivotal role in the 1987 World Series championship. Bell went on to enjoy an impressive big-league career, finishing with 37.9 fWAR, two All-Star appearances, a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger, and multiple seasons of down-ballot MVP consideration. Worst Big-League WAR While some prospects became franchise cornerstones, others failed to meet lofty expectations. Among the Twins’ former top prospects, Bryan Oelkers, Billy Beane, and Dave McCarty posted the lowest big-league WAR totals. Oelkers was Minnesota’s first-round pick in 1982, a left-handed pitcher out of the University of Illinois. He made his debut in 1983 but struggled with command and never established himself in the rotation, finishing his brief career with a -1.7 fWAR. Beane’s name will always be associated with his front office success more than his playing career. Drafted by the Mets in the first round of the 1980 draft, he was a highly touted outfielder who could not translate his tools into consistent big-league results. His -1.7 fWAR as a player is a far cry from the analytical revolution he later spearheaded as an executive with the Oakland Athletics. McCarty, the third overall pick in the 1991 draft, had the type of smooth right-handed swing scouts dream about. Unfortunately, it never translated into sustained major league success. He bounced around several organizations and ended his career with a -2.6 fWAR, the lowest among the Twins’ former top prospects. Names You Likely Forgot Scrolling through Baseball America’s list also unearths names that may only ring a faint bell for longtime Twins followers. Will Bankes, Adam Johnson, and Rich Garces all appeared as top prospects during their respective eras but never made the impact many expected. Johnson, in particular, was a notable case as the second overall pick in 2000, ahead of future stars like Chase Utley and Adam Wainwright. His career unraveled quickly due to injuries and inconsistency. Garces, meanwhile, eventually found success elsewhere as a reliever for the Boston Red Sox, and Bankes’ name has long since faded into minor league obscurity. Two former top Twins prospects, Steve Gasser and Johnny Ard, never reached the majors. Gasser, a right-handed pitcher, was a second-round pick in 1985 but struggled with injuries that derailed his path. Ard, a first-round selection in 1988, had a powerful arm but could not find the command needed to move through the system. Both serve as reminders of how unpredictable prospect development can be, even for highly regarded talents. Looking Back (and Forward) Baseball America’s retrospective offers a fascinating window into the Twins’ player development journey. For every Mauer or Puckett, there have been players who never realized their promise. Yet across four decades of rankings, one consistent thread emerges: Minnesota has a long history of identifying talent capable of becoming elite at the major league level. Whether those players wore a Twins uniform for one day or a decade, their stories all began in the same place, as prospects with big dreams and the potential to shape baseball history. Now the Twins hope Walker Jenkins becomes the next prospect to join their Mount Rushmore. What stands out about Baseball America’s list? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

The Red Sox were able to make the playoffs in 2025 thanks in part to their deep carousel of starting pitchers. Despite losing quite a few to the injured list, the team was able to replace them with their depth right up to the end of the season. However, with the team likely needing to replace a few spots in the rotation for 2026, they may need to explore the free agent market to find a replacement. Last offseason, the Red Sox brought in three pitchers to join their rotation in the form of Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, and Patrick Sandoval. Of the three, only Sandoval failed to get into a game in 2025. Buehler did not make it through the season with the Red Sox, however, being released at the end of August due to poor performance. While the rotation will have Crochet and Brayan Bello in it to begin 2026, the three remaining spots are up for grabs, as it’s likely Lucas Giolito will leave in free agency, and it isn’t certain that young pitchers Payton Tolle or Connelly Early will be able to win a job out of spring training. Options like Kutter Crawford and Sandoval also remain, but there’s no guarantee when they could get into games that matter after their respective injuries. Because of that, the Red Sox may have to turn their attention to the free-agent market to bring in a veteran to replace the innings provided by Giolito. In the same way that they signed Giolito to a two-year deal after he struggled in 2023, the Red Sox could replicate that with another former All-Star and Cy Young contender in Zac Gallen. Gallen, 30, will be two years older than Giolito when the Red Sox originally signed the former White Sox pitcher. In his age-29 season, there is no debate that Gallen struggled mightily, as he went 13-15 with a 4.83 ERA in 33 starts. In that span, he threw 192 innings and allowed 31 home runs while striking out 175 batters. In Giolito’s age-28 season before coming to Boston, he went 8-15 with a 4.88 ERA in 33 starts. The right-hander tossed 184 1/3 innings while allowing 41 home runs. He did, however, strike out 204 batters. The similarities are there, and it could be an interesting discussion for the Red Sox to attempt to sign Gallen to a deal similar to Giolito’s. A two-year deal with a third-year mutual option might entice the right-hander after a rough 2025 may have lowered his value. With that, let’s look at how Gallen could be a fit for the Red Sox rotation in 2026. The Good: Right away, Gallen gives you innings. Since 2022, Gallen has tossed at least 184 innings every year except for his 2024 season where he missed starts. And in 2023, he crossed the 200-inning threshold. A former All-Star and Cy Young contender, Gallen could be the perfect number three or four in the rotation to go out and provide six to seven innings each night while affording the team a chance to win. When it comes to his pitch arsenal, Gallen meets a quality that @Brandon Glick mentioned in his article on the Freddy Peralta and the Red Sox. In it, he mentions about Andrew Bailey and Craig Breslow valuing pitch-tunneling (the ability to hide your pitch while having late movement to force a batter to change their eye level late during the pitch). This can also be created through shape and movement of pitches. Gallen himself has unique movement on all his pitches except for when it comes to his slider and cutter, two pitchers he uses sparingly. His three main pitches are his fastball, curveball and changeup, a similar smattering of offerings to Giolito, who relied on a fastball, slider and changeup. In Gallen’s case, his main three pitches force hitters to change eye level often in an at-bat, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Red Sox to try and alter the shape of Gallen’s slider or cutter to take on a more sweeper shape to help create more horizontal movement. While 2025 was rough for Gallen, the right-hander previously was one of the best starters in the National League from 2022-2024, when he was a two-time top-5 Cy Young Award finisher and received MVP votes while leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to the World Series in 2023. Along with that, Gallen’s ERA and FIP were both higher than expected in 2025, showing that he may have gotten unlucky at times. His expected ERA was 4.39, nearly half a run lower than his 4.83 ERA, and his expected FIP was 4.12, a whole 0.38 lower than his 4.50 FIP. Should Gallen increase his ground-ball rate form 44.4% and lower the amount of home runs he allows, he could see a closer return to his previous performance. The Bad: Simply put, Gallen did not look like the pitcher he had been in prior years. He gave up a career high in home runs, earned runs and walks while having the lowest ERA+ of his career at 89, suggesting that he was a below-average pitcher in 2025. The 31 home runs may have been the worst aspect, as he had a 14.6% home run to fly ball rate (HR/FB) while allowing almost 38% of his batted balls to be fly balls. To get back to his old self, he would need to limit the long ball, especially in a stadium like Fenway Park. Fortunately, Giolito is a template for how the Sox managed to turn a pitcher who allowed a ton of home runs into a more modest amount, going from 41 home runs in 2023 to just 17 in 2025. In a league where velocity is also important, Gallen’s fastball averaged just 93.5 mph with batters slugging .413 off of it. The bigger issue is how his sinker and cutter were hit even harder, as batters hit .294 and .370 and slugged .529 and .761 against the two offerings, respectively. If the Red Sox were to bring him in to join the rotation, it would be important to rework those pitches in his arsenal or to even drop them completely. Beyond all that, Gallen just wasn’t very good at any one thing last season. His strikeout rate of 21.5% was the lowest of his career and led to a career-low strikeout-to-walk ratio of 13.4%. Likewise, he had the worst ERA- of his career at 114, a huge increase from 2024’s being just 88 (the lower the number the better when it comes to ERA-). Of all qualified pitchers on FanGraphs' rankings, Gallen ranked 45th in ERA-. Of all pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched, he would rank 98th. Again, it doesn’t tell the entire story, as Giolito also had an ERA- of 114 before rebounding with Boston in 2025 to the tune of an ERA- of 80. Gallen is someone who could benefit from the same coaching that Giolito went through in 2025. The Verdict: Gallen checks off a lot of boxes that the Red Sox would like to have in a veteran to help the backend of the rotation. He gives you innings, has been mostly healthy throughout his entire career and has postseason experience to help guide the young pitchers. It would be crazy to not check in with Gallen’s camp during the offseason, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Giolito’s return to Boston. The Red Sox do need a true number two to pair with Crochet and while Gallen may no longer fit that profile, signing him would allow the team to then turn its focus to the trade market. While the likes of Joe Ryan, Hunter Greene, and Freddy Peralta are more exciting names, Gallen is also someone who could provide a huge boost if he rebounds from a tough 2025 season. Currently, MLB Trade Rumors has Gallen's value pegged at four years and $80 million, with most experts expecting him to stay on the West Coast. I don’t think it makes much sense to sign Gallen to more than two (guaranteed) seasons given how his 2025 season looked. As mentioned previously, if you can get him on a contract similar to Giolito, it could turn into a steal. Given that he rejected a qualifying offer from the Diamondbacks, his market could drop to a level the Red Sox are comfortable with, especially if they are willing to offer him a short-term deal with a high AAV that would allow him to return to free agency if he bounces back from his recent struggles. View the full article

Shall we play a game? On Thursday, MLB Trade Rumors published their annual list of the top 50 free agents, which includes estimates of the contracts it will take to sign each player. So, it is once again time to invite you to put on your GM hat and play the shopping game! Here are the rules: Let's say the Jays have $50 million to spend on free agents. Assume, for the purposes of the game, that every FA on the MLBTR list can be had for their projected average annual value (AAV). You can also ignore contract length and any other factors (opt-outs, no-trade clauses, etc.). Now that Shane Bieber has opted in for 2026, the Jays are arguably not desperate at any position. But adding a frontline starter would push Eric Lauer back to a #6 role (the first time the Jays have had the luxury of such a solid #6 in some years!). Another top-of-the-bullpen arm (or even two) could give Toronto multiple late-inning options. That being said, internal options exist at most positions, and trades are entirely possible, so it does not follow that the Jays have to fill all of their needs on the free agent market. So, with your $50 million, you could sign one top-end free agent (Kyle Tucker is projected to earn $36 million) plus some supplementary pieces, or two $25 million players, or, say, a $24 million, an $18 million, and an $8 million player. It's entirely up to you, except that you cannot exceed $50 million in total spending. Here are the projected AAVs for some of the top players: Kyle Tucker - $36 million Bo Bichette - $26 million Dylan Cease - $27 million Munetaka Murakami - $23 million Alex Bregman - $27 million Framber Valdez - $30 million Tatsuya Imai - $25 million Cody Bellinger - $28 million Kyle Schwarber - $27 million Ranger Suárez - $23 million Pete Alonso - $28 million Josh Naylor - $18 million Edwin Díaz - $21 million Michael King - $20 million Zac Gallen - $20 million Other players of note include: Devin Williams ($17M), Brandon Woodruff ($22M), Trent Grisham ($17M), Kazuma Okamoto ($16M), Eugenio Suárez ($16M), Robert Suarez ($16M), Shota Imanaga ($15M), Chris Bassitt ($19M), Merrill Kelly ($18M), Brad Keller ($12M), Lucas Giolito ($16M), Raisel Iglesias ($13M), Luis Arraez ($12M), Zack Littell ($12M), Ryan Helsley ($12M), Justin Verlander ($22M), and Cody Ponce ($11M). Just for fun, let’s assume that the players who did not make the MLBTR top 50 (including Walker Buehler, Patrick Corbin, Zach Eflin, Paul Goldschmidt, Kenley Jansen and Steven Matz) could be had for $8 million each. So, what would you do? It is actually difficult to find a position at which the Jays need an upgrade, but Tucker in right field (moving Barger to third, and Springer to primary DH) would make an already strong offense even more formidable. If Bichette returns (perhaps playing second base full-time), his bat would look very good in front of the home run hitters in the middle of the lineup (remember, Anthony Santander should be back and healthy in 2026). Or – rather than splurging on a single uberstar – would you rather gamble on multiple upside plays at much lower prices? Some years back, Ross Atkins spoke about adding to this team "with talent that is condensed in one player and super high impact.” Should that still be the plan? Please post your thoughts in the comments section below. View the full article

For the second time this week, the Milwaukee Brewers have lost a member of their coaching staff. The first move involved associate head coach Rickie Weeks shifting into a scouting role. The second announcement has the hitting coach leaving the organization. David Lesky of Inside The Crown is reporting that Connor Dawson is being hired as the Kansas City Royals' hitting coach. He had been with the Brewers for the previous four seasons. Dawson, who grew up near Kansas City, is making a lateral move to return to his hometown team. The Brewers' offense flourished under his watch, ranking among the best run-producing teams in the league despite limited standout performances. Especially in 2025, the offense had the second-best walk-to-strikeout ratio in baseball. In addition to being analytically minded, Dawson knows that life is bigger than baseball. Stringing together quotes from prior interviews, Dawson shared his philosophy, stating, "The thing I talked about the least with players and coaches is a swing. The thing I talked about the most is how we connect with players. That's what matters, the people matter." He brings that philosophy to a young team that was one of the lowest-scoring teams in baseball. How do you think the Brewers will react to his loss? View the full article

The Minnesota Twins entered the offseason with more questions than answers surrounding their starting rotation. However, the team received an early wave of good news that could help stabilize things moving forward. President of baseball operations Derek Falvey shared positive updates on both Pablo Lopez and David Festa, signaling that two key arms are on track to enter spring training in good health. Lopez is reportedly already fully recovered and preparing for a normal offseason routine, while Festa is expected to start throwing soon and should be ready for the start of camp. After an injury-filled 2025 season that forced both pitchers to miss significant time, their health will be a major storyline as the Twins plan for 2026. Pablo Lopez’s Rebound Opportunity When the Twins extended Lopez before the 2024 season, they envisioned him as a steady frontline starter to anchor the rotation for years to come. While multiple injuries disrupted his 2025 campaign, his performance when healthy reaffirmed Minnesota's optimism. Lopez’s year was bookended by health issues, beginning with a hamstring strain in April and ending with a minor right forearm strain in late September. In between, a shoulder injury cost him much of the summer and led to a stint on the 60-day injured list. When he was on the mound, though, he looked every bit like the ace the Twins hoped for by posting a 2.74 ERA (156 ERA+) across 75 2/3 innings. Some of his underlying metrics took a step back, including a career-low 93 Stuff+ rating and a drop in strikeout rate to 23.4% (down from 24.9% for his career). Those dips can be explained by the start-and-stop nature of his season, which disrupted his rhythm and mechanics. With a full, uninterrupted offseason ahead, the Twins expect Lopez to return to peak form and lead the rotation once again. The 29-year-old remains under contract for two more years at a team-friendly $43 million. That deal makes him both a valuable trade chip and a stabilizing force should the Twins decide to keep him. Falvey and his staff will surely field calls from pitching-needy contenders this winter, but Lopez’s strong recent track record makes him just as appealing as a cornerstone piece for 2026. Outlook for 2026: If Lopez stays healthy, he profiles as the leader of the pitching staff and a potential AL Cy Young contender. Expect him to handle 170-plus innings with strong command, high strikeout totals, and veteran leadership that will help guide a young pitching staff through a transitional year. David Festa’s Chance to Claim a Rotation Spot Festa’s first two seasons in the big leagues have been a mixed bag. The young right-hander has shown flashes of promise, including the ability to miss bats, but he’s also struggled with consistency. Through 117 2/3 innings at the major league level, he has posted a 5.12 ERA and a 4.27 FIP, numbers that reflect both his inexperience and his potential. Festa missed the final month of 2025 with a minor shoulder issue, but the Twins are confident he’ll be fully ready for the start of spring training. His ability to stay on the field and refine his secondary pitches could determine whether he begins 2026 in the rotation or in the minors to refine his arsenal. His overall numbers are likely affected by his attempts to pitch through shoulder issues last season. Festa was only recently removed from being one of the team’s top prospects and still represents one of the more intriguing young arms in the organization. His fastball velocity and developing changeup give him a foundation to build upon, while his competitive demeanor has impressed coaches throughout his rise in the system. With the Twins leaning toward a youth movement, Festa will get a legitimate chance to earn a starting spot in a rotation that could also include Zebby Matthews, Taj Bradley, and Mick Abel. Outlook for 2026: The Twins view 2026 as a key evaluation year for Festa. If he can translate his raw stuff into consistent command and efficiency, he has the potential to solidify himself as a potential playoff-caliber starter. Expect the team to give him a long look early in the season, even if growing pains continue to surface. Rotation Picture Coming into Focus The Twins’ pitching situation has been a puzzle for much of the past year, but healthy updates on Lopez and Festa help provide some clarity. If Lopez returns to form and Festa continues to develop, Minnesota could enter 2026 with a balanced mix of experience and youth on the mound. How the rotation ultimately looks will depend heavily on the club’s offseason strategy. The front office may explore trades involving veteran starters like Lopez or Joe Ryan to restock the system, or they could keep their core intact to remain competitive in the American League Central. Either way, having both Lopez and Festa trending in the right direction gives the Twins a much-needed foundation to build upon. As the offseason unfolds, optimism around the pitching staff feels justified. After a year of frustration and uncertainty, Minnesota’s rotation may finally be ready to turn the corner, one healthy arm at a time. Will Lopez and Festa both be part of the team’s starting rotation on Opening Day? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays will have money to spend this winter and have choices to make on how they spend it. The team will undoubtedly try to bring back infielder Bo Bichette while also targeting pitching. However, a Japanese infielder who was recently posted may also be in the fold. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet has linked the Toronto Blue Jays to Japanese infielder Munetaka Murakami. As of the posting of this, teams will have 44 days to reach an agreement with the superstar from Japan. The 25-year-old Munetaka profiles as a big bat with a decent amount of swing-and-miss. Do you think the Blue Jays should target him? View the full article

The San Diego Padres have had a busy start to the postseason, announcing a variety of moves that will have implications on how they approach the 2025- 2026 MLB off-season. Additionally, they are just days removed from naming Craig Stammen as the team's next manager. Now, they are looking to lock up one of the more influential people in their front office. Dennis Lin of The Athletic is reporting that the San Diego Padres and President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller are discussing a contract extension. He adds that a new multi-year extension could be completed as soon as Monday. Despite reported tension between Preller and team CEO Erik Greupner, the POBO has undoubtedly earned job security, as the Friars have been consistently competitive throughout his 11-plus-year tenure. Under his watch, the Padres have been able to land some of the biggest free agents on the market. Franchise cornerstone Manny Machado is the biggest, and Yu Darvish is another. Moreover, they've been aggressive in the trade market, acquiring superstar, Juan Soto, and starting pitchers, Michael King and Dylan Cease, in recent years. This has resulted in increased revenue from attendance and TV ratings for the organization. Do you think Preller has earned a contract extension? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Every offseason, we offer our You’re The GM! tool to build your ideal Padres roster. This year, we’ve updated and streamlined the tool a bit to improve the experience. The idea behind this feature is to give fans a chance to play the role of General Manager (or CBO or PoBO… you get the idea) for their favorite team, the San Diego Padres. It’s meant to give fans the opportunity to discuss (and, let’s be honest, argue) how they would approach the long, dark MLB offseason. This tool is intended to be informal and fun, so we’ve left it as open as possible. There is a payroll “budget” that loosely resembles the Padres' 2025 payroll, but there is no penalty for going over that number. It’s a guideline, nothing more. Second, you can submit as many blueprints as you like throughout the offseason. As the offseason landscape changes, users often return multiple times over the winter and create new blueprints. Before we get into the breakdown of the tool, you can save your blueprint and come back to it at any time. The only restriction is that you must register an account on the site to create a blueprint (so we can save a draft for you and also post the blueprint for others to discuss). Let’s get into the tool itself. It has four quadrants that work best if addressed in a counter-clockwise order (this tool works much better on a desktop due to its complexity, but it will work on mobile devices if need be). Top Left: The 26-Man Roster We have created a rough guideline for the Padres' 26-man roster today. The roster is flexible; you can add or remove players as you see fit. We’ve also included either guaranteed salaries or, in the case of arbitration and contract options, the recommendations of MLB Trade Rumors. This section is where you build your roster and make changes based on the following two sections. As you make changes to players and salaries, the total payroll number (right side of the screen) will change, allowing you to track your budget on the fly. The bottom field in both columns is for any dead money you assume during the course of your offseason. Acquiring dead money should be uncommon, but we want to give users the option to take on dead salary if it suits their purposes. Bottom Left: Arbitration & Trade Decisions Here, you will find a selection of arbitration options and internal options (usually from the 40-man roster or minor leagues) to assist in building your offseason roster. On the right-hand side of this column, you will see Trade Candidates, a list of the 40 players most likely to be traded this offseason, per MLB Trade Rumors. To help you get up to speed with these candidates, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on trade candidates. Bottom Right: Free Agents Here, you will find the top 50 free agents, again per MLB Trade Rumors. These are sorted by position to facilitate quickly finding your desired free agent and include the recommended salary for that player. Because this is a blueprint for a single year, we only include their projected salary for the coming season, not the number of years or anything else. To help you get up to speed with these free agents, we offer a direct link to the MLBTR write-up on the best 50 free agents available this winter. Top Right: Dead Money, Your Total Payroll, & Commentary The only unalterable field on the page is Dead Money; it is players to whom the team has committed money but has no reasonable way to get out of the contract. Below that, you will see the recommended budget, your current total, and the percentage you are over or under that budget. Again, keep in mind the budget is only a guideline, and you can go above it as much as you like… But defend your choices, coward! The following field is Title, which gives other users an idea of what to expect with your blueprint (e.g., Be Unreasonable, Sign Kyle Tucker!). When your blueprint posts for other users, it will read “Your Username’s 2025 Payroll Blueprint: Be Unreasonable, Sign Kyle Tucker!”. The following field is Your Comments & Explanation, a long-form field meant to type out the rationale behind your decisions. Here is the place to fully explain your trades (including which players are leaving the Padres to bring in new players), why you targeted specific free agents, and any promotions from the minors you advocate or any options you declined to extend to a specific player. This is often multiple paragraphs; you can write up as much detail as you desire. That’s it, you’re done! At this point, you can either publish your blueprint to the forums or save it for later if you feel it’s incomplete. Thank you for joining us at Padres Mission. I hope you enjoy playing the role of general manager, at least for a moment! Start Your Payroll Blueprint Now View the full article

The San Diego Padres had a volatile starting rotation in 2025, mainly due to injuries and inconsistent availability, forcing the organization to continuously adapt its pitching strategy. San Diego relied on a series of spot starters to eat innings before turning it over to their All-Star-laden bullpen. In that context, JP Sears was a capable backend arm who tried to help stabilize the staff during stretches of uncertainty. Originally drafted in the eleventh round by the Seattle Mariners in 2017, JP Sears had a very small sample size with the Padres: 5 Games 24.2 Innings Pitched 5.47 ERA 6.18 FIP 18.0 K% 6.8 BB% 2.6 HR/9 -0.1 FanGraph WAR Sears was traded on July 31 this past season alongside Mason Miller at the trade deadline. His entire season looked like: 27 Games 135.2 Innings Pitched 5.04 ERA 5.21 FIP 20.1 K% 6.2 BB% 1.99 HR/9 0.5 FanGraph WAR Nothing about these numbers jumps out as exciting, which goes along with what most thought of him prior to the trade. His first start for the team against the Arizona Diamondbacks (who were sellers at the trade deadline, trading away pieces like Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez) was ugly, as he surrendered 10 hits across five innings while giving up five earned runs. After this performance, the southpaw was optioned to El Paso, where he would await spot-start duty for the remainder of the year. Sears is entering his first year of arbitration after acquiring enough MLB service time (over three years on a roster). He remains club-controlled through the 2028 season, giving San Diego some much-needed flexibility and depth while navigating a rotation that is set to lose Michael King, Dylan Cease, and Yu Darvish next season. Sears should cost around $3.5M in 2026, according to MLB Trade Rumors. For that price, if he can deliver production near his career average of roughly 0.9 fWAR, then Padres would be getting some value relative to his salary, while preserving payroll flexibility to address other roster needs. The 29-year-old had a 2025 filled with ups and downs, his underlying stats offering promise and caution. His pitch selection changed significantly after he came to San Diego: 39.4% vs 46.3% Fastball 35.0% vs 29.5% Slider 15.4% vs 12.8% Changeup 5.8% vs 9.3% Sinker 4.4% vs 0.2% Curveball 0.0% vs 1.9% Cutter We can see that he introduced a seldom-used cutter into his mix and leaned more heavily on his fastball and sinker, while scaling back his slider and changeup and almost abandoning his curveball. That shift may reflect coaching, or an adjustment made in response to pitch effectiveness. For example, his slider, his second-most used pitch, posted a +6.7 Runs Above Average mark with the Athletics, but dropped to -4.0 after coming to the Padres. Optimistically, that decline could be the product of a new environment or simple variance and sequencing luck. More cautiously, it may suggest hitters adjusted, his command wavered, or his usage patterns became too predictable. While that looks like the start of a decline, his contract profile hints at underlying progress. His hard-hit rate improved from 40.5% to 34.9% post-trade, a promising sign for his future, especially if he can fall into a better groove with his pitch sequencing after a full offseason in Ruben Niebla's pitching lab. With all of that being said, JP Sears is by no means going to lead the 2026 Padres rotation. There are a lot of “ifs” when it comes to his profile, but what we do know is that he will be able to give the team the ability to eat some innings on a consistent basis. That's hardly sexy, but it's of vital importance for a rotation as thin as the Padres'. View the full article

On Thursday it was reported that LaTroy Hawkins will join the reconfigured Minnesota Twins coaching staff as bullpen coach under new manager Derek Shelton. Without doing much research, I would venture to guess that few people in the history of baseball have ever been as qualified for this role, at least on paper. First there is the unparalleled practical experience. He pitched for 11 different teams over his 21-year major-league career and ranks 10th all-time in appearances with 1,042. During his playing days, Hawkins experienced pretty much everything that a modern-day relief pitcher might be dealing with: pressure, failure, success, trades, demotions, transitioning from a starter, and so on. Secondly, there is all the added perspective Hawkins has gained in his post-playing career. He has coached college players and youth of various age groups as part of USA Baseball. He has served as a special assistant in the Twins front office for several years, and has frequently appeared on broadcasts as an analyst. The one thing you consistently hear about Hawkins is how well he blends old-school sensibilities with new-age philosophies, bringing a perpetual curiosity and learning mentality despite his depth of experience in the game. That will be important as the Twins look to forge a new identity under Shelton. Hawkins is going to be tasked with a monumental challenge. Minnesota's front office will be rebuilding its bullpen essentially from scratch after shipping out nearly all of their established relievers at the 2024 deadline. However the team goes about putting together a relief corps next season, it promises to be a big ol' experiment. Gambles on low-cost free agents? Another round of reclamation projects off waivers? Converting marginal minor-league starters into relievers on the fly? It's all in play and each of these avenues is likely to play a role in constructing the 2026 Twins bullpen. What you are not likely to see is the addition of high-profile, established arms that will be plug-and-play. In this context, the presence of a respected, seasoned, deeply knowledgeable voice like Hawk could be massively impactful, making this one of the most commendable moves we've seen from the Twins in some time. You can never predict how a coach is going to take to the job at the MLB level, but the credentials here are nearly unparalleled and as a bonus, it will be nice to see a likable and familiar face back in uniform during what may be a trying season. I have huge doubts about the ability of the Twins to field even a reasonably competent bullpen next year, given how little they have to work with. But the addition of Hawkins and his wealth of experience gives me a little more faith and optimism. View the full article

On Opening Day of the 2003 season, the Royals entered the ninth inning clinging to a 3-0 lead over the Chicago White Sox. The previous year, Kansas City had lost 100 games for the first time in franchise history; a win would be a most welcome sight for Royals fans. Chicago had the heart of a dangerous order coming to the plate. But Jose Valentin lined out. Frank Thomas struck out looking on a filthy slider. And Magglio Ordonez grounded out meekly. Although it was not his major league debut, this was how most Royals fans were introduced to Mike MacDougal. Robert Meiklejohn MacDougal was born on March 5, 1977, in Las Vegas, to parents Tom and Dorothy, both of whom were teachers. Tom had pitched a couple of seasons in the minors before beginning his career in education. After attending Mesa (Arizona) High School, the younger MacDougal was chosen by Baltimore in the 22nd round of the 1996 draft. He decided not to sign and instead attended Wake Forest University in North Carolina. The Orioles drafted him again, this time in the 12th round in 1998. With college eligibility left, he again decided not to sign. It was a good bet. After a successful senior season that included a no-hitter against Duke, MacDougal was named a first-team All-American. The Royals used the 25th overall pick in the 1999 draft to select the lanky right-hander. MacDougal breezed through the minors, with 11 starts in Low-A Spokane in 1999, then 25 in High-A Wilmington and two in Double-A Wichita in 2000. After 27 starts for Triple-A Omaha in 2001, MacDougal was called up to the majors near the end of the 2001 season. Although the Royals had only brought him to Kansas City after Omaha’s season ended to work with pitching coach Al Nipper, a series of injuries led the team to activate him. In his first big-league start, he pitched 4 ⅓ innings against the White Sox, allowing six hits and three runs. His next two starts were somewhat better, and it looked like he would be a candidate for the rotation to start 2002. But a freak accident nearly derailed his career. On October 4, the Royals were hosting Cleveland for their final home game of the season. In the fourth inning, Carlos Beltran lost his grip on his bat while swinging. The bat hit MacDougal, who had been leaning on the dugout railing. Although he never lost consciousness, he was taken to a hospital, where he spent the night in intensive care. He had suffered a fractured skull from the bat, with a crack just above his left temple. Even worse, the injury caused numbness in his right hand, a malady that lasted into the following spring. It’s hard to throw a baseball when you can’t feel it. MacDougal struggled through spring training in 2002, ultimately being optioned to Omaha before Opening Day. Midway through the season, he was bumped down to Wichita. His control started to come back as the numbness subsided, and he was able to make it back to the majors as a September call-up, pitching in relief six times. Following a strong showing in winter ball in Puerto Rico, where he was regularly topping 100 mph on the radar gun, MacDougal earned the closer role with a strong spring training in 2003. He hit the ground running as the Royals got off to a surprising 16-3 start, including a 9-0 run to start the season. MacDougal had 10 saves by the end of April, quickly earning the nickname “Mac the Ninth” and eventually made the All-Star team, although he did not appear in the game. He ended the year with 27 saves, a 3-5 record, and a 4.08 ERA. Again, MacDougal’s health betrayed him. During spring training in 2004, he suffered a stomach ailment that cost him several pounds on an already slight frame and a few ticks off his fastball. He opened the season on the disabled list and wasn’t activated until late April. He was wild and ineffective when he returned, and was demoted to Omaha just a few weeks later. Then the elbow soreness started. After some more struggles, he was demoted again, this time to Wichita. Here, he seemed to regain his fastball and his control, and was again a September call-up. Although he did not resume closing duties, he was effective in eight games, salvaging something from a disaster of a season. MacDougal enjoyed a much better 2005 season. He did not begin the year as a closer, but reclaimed it in late May after injuries to Jeremy Affeldt and Ambiorix Burgos. It was another terrible year for the Royals, but MacDougal picked up 21 saves to go with a 5-6 record and 3.33 ERA. His role in 26 wins meant he played a part in nearly half the team’s total of 56. Stop me if you’ve heard this before: MacDougal headed to spring training as the presumptive closer, and then the injury bug got him again. This time, it was a strained right shoulder —a teres muscle injury, rather than the dreaded rotator cuff. But it was enough to cost him half of the 2006 season. In his second outing, he picked up his 50th career save as a Royal. It was also his last. Two weeks later, MacDougal was traded to the White Sox for two minor-league pitchers (Tyler Lumsden and Dan Cortes) as Chicago sought to upgrade their bullpen depth. MacDougal finished his time in Kansas City with a 10-14 record, those 50 saves, and a 3.88 ERA in 163 games. He remained in Chicago for nearly three seasons before the White Sox released him in 2009. He soon caught on with the Washington Nationals and wound up leading the team with 20 saves despite not joining them until early May. A free agent after the season, he signed with Florida but was released during spring training. He then began the bouncing-around phase of his career, going back to Washington’s organization, then to the St. Louis Cardinals, and finally to the Los Angeles Dodgers. When LA released him in May of 2012, his major-league career came to an end, although he would pitch in the minor leagues for two more years and five different franchises. In his post-playing days, MacDougal seems to be participating in a community outreach program run by his father-in-law’s waste management company near Philadelphia. He works with youth, sharing his story of returning to the majors after his skull fracture. He was also inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. View the full article

What have we seen from these three players to earn themselves a spot in the Fall Stars Game? Acknowledging that there is definite small-sample noise built into the results to this point, have they shown anything new, or anything that changes their future projections? OF Josh Adamczewski: 14 G, 74 PA, .283/.405/.550 (.955 OPS), 4 Doubles, 4 HR, 15 K, 12 BB, 1 Sac Fly, 4 SB, 1 CS Adamczewski has had one of the more visually appealing swings in the system since he was drafted as a 15th-round pick in 2023. An adjustment that Adamczewski made to his hands this past offseason helped him elevate the ball more consistently, which has been a big part of his success in the Fall League to this point. After only hitting six home runs in 308 regular-season plate appearances this year, Adamczewski has hit four in only 57 plate appearances in the AFL. His 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.5 MPH puts him in the 78th percentile for the league, and his barrel rate of 14% is in the 85th percentile. He is making consistently hard contact, and he’s pulling it in the air at a solid clip as well, as his 11.4% Pull Air% is in the 72nd percentile for the AFL. Adamczewski’s whiff rate of 34% is undoubtedly higher than you would hope to see, but that has been coming down over the course of the fall. In fact, five of his 15 strikeouts occurred in his first two games. He is making fantastic swing decisions, only chasing 15.5% of pitches and swinging at 72.4% of pitches in the zone, both of which are well above average. Playing mainly left field as he works outfield into his defensive repertoire, Adamczewski has shown some athleticism, though he is unsurprisingly raw in his routes and jumps out there. His bat will always be his calling card, but showing he can handle left field defensively would go a long way toward clearing his path to the big leagues. UTIL Dylan O’Rae: 8 G, 28 PA, .302/.388/.395 (.783 OPS), 4 Doubles, 15 K, 5 BB, 1 HBP, 6 SB, 1 CS The Brewers' 2022 third-round pick missed all of 2025 due to injury, so this is the first official action he has seen in over a year, and he has re-acquitted himself well. Known as a speedster—he stole 62 bases between High-A and Double-A in 2024—O'Rae has registered six steals in seven attempts so far in the fall. His speed has also helped him stretch a couple of singles into doubles, which will be important for him as he moves forward, with power being a clear hole in his profile. O'Rae is small in stature, standing only 5'7" and listed at 160 pounds post-draft, though he appears to have bulked up since then, and that weight is most likely no longer accurate. Even with some added bulk, O'Rae has struggled to impact the baseball with much authority. This has held true early in his AFL stint, with a fourth percentile max exit velocity of 104.2 MPH. However, his average exit velocity of 87.1 MPH, placing him in the 21st percentile, is more palatable when you factor in how often he's been elevating the ball at ideal launch angles, currently in the 95th percentile for "launch angle sweet spot %" in the AFL. After a slow start in terms of making contact, he's been getting the bat to the ball more consistently over the last couple of weeks, allowing him to put his speed and athleticism on display. O'Rae has spent some time in the outfield in the past, but he has played all 13 of his AFL games at second base, where he has consistently projected as an above-average defender with a below-average arm. His versatility could prove helpful as he progresses through the Brewers' system. A Brandon Lockridge-type profile is likely what you are hoping for, but with added infield versatility. For now, seeing him on the field and performing well is a big-time positive after missing the 2025 regular season. He will likely return to Double-A in 2026. LHP Jesús Broca: 4 G, 1 GS, 9 IP, 15 K:5 BB, 1 HBP, 2 ER, 2.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP Broca caught our attention near the end of the season, due in part to a velocity jump he made as the season progressed. At 19 years old, Broca was signed by the Brewers out of Mexico in 2023 and will be Rule 5-eligible in 2026. He performed well in High-A after an early-season promotion and even finished his season in Double-A. He has carried over his regular-season success to the AFL, where he is striking out 39.5% of the hitters he has faced, recording 15 strikeouts in just nine innings. Broca's delivery was already helping the velocity play up a bit above what the gun was reading, as he hides the ball well, and his release point appeared to be tough to pick up. Therefore, a jump from 89-91 to sitting 92-94 MPH, and touching up to 96 MPH this year, is even more encouraging. He uses both a sinker and a four-seam. The sinker helps him generate ground balls at a high level, and the four-seam is used more as a put-away pitch above the zone. In the AFL, batters have only managed a .103 xwOBA against the sinker. The four-seam has not seen similar success in the limited sample, with a 1.125 xwOBA against it. The sinker is a solid pitch, but Broca's best offerings are his secondaries. His slider has generated a 41% whiff rate in the fall league, a substantial number on its own, especially impressive given it's his most often-used pitch and he is throwing it in the zone 56% of the time. His changeup has also generated a 33.3% whiff rate, though the contact against it has been a bit loud at times. Broca is only 22 years old and has already made his way up to Double-A and is following it up with a strong AFL stint, earning a well-deserved nod to the Fall Stars Game. He is worthy of some attention heading into 2026, especially if they attempt to stretch him out as a starter. What are your thoughts on the players representing the Brewers in the Fall Stars Game? Did Luke Adams deserve a nod? Let us know! View the full article

With just two relievers penciled in for Opening Day, the Minnesota Twins face a familiar offseason challenge: how do you rebuild a bullpen on a budget? Following the outrighting veteran relievers Michael Tonkin, Thomas Hatch, Génesis Cabrera, and Anthony Misiewicz off the 40-man roster, declining Justin Topa’s $2 million team option, and losing Cody Laweryson off waivers to the Los Angeles Angels, only two relievers can be penciled in as anticipated members of the club’s Opening Day bullpen: Cole Sands and Kody Funderburk. Young, inexperienced right-handed arms Travis Adams, Pierson Ohl, and Marco Raya are strong candidates to inherit three of the open spots entering next season. Still, with the bullpen thin on depth and experience, Twins decision-makers will need to acquire multiple veterans to fill out the eight-pitcher unit. What veterans could they bring in to help bolster first-time bullpen coach LaTroy Hawkins’s group? Let’s take a look. Tyler Kinley Selected with the 13th pick of the 2017 Rule 5 Draft, Kinley pitched 3 ⅓ innings over four games for the 2018 Minnesota Twins, generating an uninspiring 24.30 ERA and 12.15 FIP over that stretch. Unsurprisingly, the then-27-year-old was returned to the Miami Marlins, where he spent one-and-a-half seasons before being traded to the Colorado Rockies. Given his home ballpark and the overall ineptitude of the organization he pitched for, the hard-tossing righty surprisingly mustered moderate success during his time in Denver, generating a 5.05 ERA, 4.26 FIP, and a 261-to-110 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 246 innings pitched over five seasons. The now 34-year-old was rewarded for his services by being traded to the Atlanta Braves during the 2025 trade deadline, where he generated an eye-popping 0.72 ERA, 2.74 FIP, and a 17% K-BB rate over 25 innings pitched. Atlanta declined Kinley’s $5.5 million team option earlier this month, making the wily veteran a free agent this winter. Throwing his plus slider 64% of the time while using his four-seam fastball as his primary secondary pitch (a combination Twins decision-makers often seek out in relievers), Kinley excelled with Atlanta last season by suppressing hard contact and missing bats. The former Twin likely won’t pitch like one of the best relievers in baseball next season as he did with Atlanta in 2025, yet he should be able to immediately insert himself as a high-leverage right-handed arm at a price tag hovering around $2-3 million. Given how thin Minnesota’s bullpen is currently constructed, Kinley would be the favorite to receive the bulk of save opportunities if he returned to the Twins. Hoby Milner Signed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract by the Texas Rangers last December, Milner performed admirably for the playoff-missing Rangers, posting a 3.84 ERA, 3.81 FIP, and a 58-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 70 ⅓ innings pitched. Interestingly, Minnesota was in on Milner before he signed with Texas last offseason, signaling that the Twins could again pursue the soft-tossing lefty this winter. As noted earlier, fellow southpaw Funderburk is slated to be part of Minnesota’s Opening Day bullpen, meaning Milner would be the club’s second left-handed option. Traditionally, Twins decision-makers have shied away from carrying two lefties in the bullpen, yet given Milner’s strong performance last season, the club would be pursuing the 34-year-old based on skill rather than handedness. Milner, like Kinley, would immediately step in as one of Minnesota’s most experienced relievers, likely receiving high-leverage opportunities early next season. Sporting a sweeper-sinker mix, the former Brewer is more effective against same-handed hitters, evidenced by allowing a .224 wOBA to left-handed hitters compared to a .353 wOBA to right-handed hitters in 2025. Still, the established veteran can hold his own against hitters from either side while generating a high number of ground balls, an archetype the current bullpen is missing. Milner should net another one-year deal in the $2-3 million range, a price tag even the salary-restricted Twins could afford. Shawn Armstrong Speaking of relievers who pitched for the 2025 Rangers, the final reliever on this list is Armstrong. Sporting three fastball variations (four-seam, sinker, and cutter) and a near-elite sweeper, Armstrong pitched like one of the AL’s most effective late-inning arms in 2025, recording a 2.31 ERA, 3.07 FIP, and a 74-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 74 innings pitched for Texas. The now-35-year-old broke out with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023, generating a 1.38 ERA over 52 innings pitched. Yet, his 2025 campaign, where he also netted nine saves, was arguably his most impressive. Given his strong performance last season, the veteran will be one of the more expensive relievers on the market, likely commanding a one-to-two-year deal worth $5-6 million annually. That being the case, he is the least likely of the listed candidates for Minnesota to pursue this offseason. Still, if Twins decision-makers were to take a modest, high-upside swing in the free-agent reliever market this winter, Armstrong is the most plausible candidate for them to invest in. If signed, Armstrong would step in as the club’s closer heading into 2026, potentially serving as a mentor for the aforementioned inexperienced right-handers Adams, Ohl, and Raya. Also, if Minnesota falls out of contention come the 2026 trade deadline, the front office could trade Armstrong, netting a return package similar to what they received for Brock Stewart or Danny Coulombe last July. Regardless, Minnesota needs to address the bullpen in some capacity this offseason. Signing elite late-inning arms like Edwin Díaz or Robert Suarez is an unrealistic proposition given the club’s current self-imposed spending limitations. Yet, there is reason to believe the front office could unearth strong value in veteran arms like Kinley, Milner, Armstrong, or others. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs have quite the shopping list this offseason if they want to remain contenders in 2026. They’re set to lose key contributors in the rotation (Shota Imanaga), bullpen (Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, and Andrew Kittredge), and the middle of the lineup (Kyle Tucker). The looming CBA negotiations will affect their approach to roster construction, and certainly, their payroll going beyond 2026. One area that was a cause for concern prior to the 2025 season was third base. The dominos started to fall at the 2024 trade deadline when the Cubs shipped third baseman Christopher Morel to the Rays for Isaac Paredes. After a subpar two months in Chicago, Parades was included in the package that also sent third base prospect Cam Smith to Houston for Kyle Tucker. This left a hole at third base that ended up being filled by 2023 first-round pick Matt Shaw. Although the team lazily pursued Alex Bregman, Shaw seemed to be Plan A without any solid fallback. Even at the time, handing the job to a rookie seemed risky for a team intent on competing. Shaw had a few hot streaks, but he looked largely overmatched in his first season. His .690 OPS is encouraging enough for his long-term outlook, but the Cubs cannot afford another year of growing pains for the 23=year-old. If Owen Caissie is the Cubs’ plan to fill Tucker’s spot in the outfield, they need a dependable bat to fill in somewhere else. If they choose to add another third base option, here are the most intriguing free agent options available:. Alex Bregman Last season, the Cubs were listed as one of the three finalists for Bregman alongside the Red Sox and the Tigers. Bregman opted to go with the short-term, high-AAV contract with Boston that included a few opt-outs. He spent some time on the IL in 2025, but outside of that, he was a key contributor on a playoff-bound Red Sox team. Bregman made his third All-Star team, and ended the year with 3.5 WAR and an .821 OPS across 114 games. The Boras client will be seeking long-term security this winter, and for the soon-to-be 32-year-old, the magic number seems to be six years and about $150 million. Even at 32, Bregman is the type of player that should age well. He has excellent knowledge of the strike zone, and has a lengthy track record of putting the ball in play with high exit velocities. Defensively, he won his first Gold Glove in 2024 and has put up above-average defensive numbers throughout his career. Why he makes sense for the Cubs: In a lineup that has a bit of swing and miss, Bregman is the type of hitter the Cubs desperately need. He likely won’t be leading the team in home runs, but he should be able to challenge Nico Hoerner for the team lead in batting average. Outside of his personal success, Bregman knows how to be part of a winning ballclub. The Astros have been a mainstay in the playoffs since Bregman’s first full-time season in 2017, and Boston made their first playoff appearance since 2021 after they signed him as a free agent. Depending on how you feel about Matt Shaw, this might be good news or bad news, but Bregman would likely make Shaw expendable. The Cubs can sign Bregman, and use Shaw as part of a package to get a high-end starter off the trade market. In an offseason where there are few impact free-agent starters after Dylan Cease and Framber Valdez, this might be a path worth exploring. Why he doesn’t make sense for the Cubs: Like I just mentioned, replacing former first-round pick and top prospect Matt Shaw after a subpar rookie year might be an overreaction. Bregman and Shaw had similar prospect profiles, so an optimistic Cubs fan or frugal ownership might believe that Shaw can replicate Bregman's production eventually. The CBA negotiations are also a knock against signing him. If the 2027 season is affected in any way, likely by a reduction in games, whoever signs Bregman could be paying him for a lost season. That would be a huge blow for a player in his age-33 season. Most of Bregman’s production will likely come in the front half of his contract, and with the uncertainty beyond 2026, it adds an extra layer of risk. Kazuma Okamoto It's official. The Yomiuri Giants of the NPB are posting their star corner infielder. Since becoming a mainstay in the Giants' lineup in 2018, Okamoto has shown a plus ability to hit for both power and average. From 2018-2023, he hit over 30 home runs each season (41 in 2023). His career batting average in the NPB is .277 with an OPS of .882. He has shown an ability to draw more walks and limit strikeouts as his career progressed overseas. His projected contract, according to Bleacher Report, is four years at $64 million. He has a chance to be an impact bat without breaking the bank. Why he makes sense for the Cubs: Since Hee-Seop Choi in 2002, the Cubs have always been a popular destination for Asian imports. Whether it be from the NPB or KBO, the Cubs do a decent job at turning these players into solid major leaguers. Okamoto’s ability to hit for average as well as power makes him a fit in a lineup that currently lacks in both of those departments. Some see him transitioning to the MLB as a first baseman rather than a third baseman, but even if first is his best defensive position, there will be playing time with the way the roster currently sits. He can rotate between DH, third base, and first base when Michael Busch needs a break. Why he doesn’t make sense for the Cubs: With so many question marks in the Cubs lineup, it would make more sense to target someone who has produced at a high level in the MLB before. When it comes to position players, the Asian market has a far less spectacular track record in the MLB than the pitchers do. FanGraphs' Eric Longenhagen notes that Okamoto struggles with fastballs above 93 mph. With the average MLB fastball sitting just over 94 mph, this is a glaring area of concern. We have seen some of these imports make the necessary adjustments to square up a MLB fastball, but it seems like there are more failures than success stories. Over the last decade, we have seen numerous flops coming over from Asia with a similar profile to Okamoto: Jung Ho Kang (PIT), Yoshi Tsutsugo (TB), and Hyun Soo Kim (PHI), to name a few. Okamoto would be quite the gamble, and the Cubs should probably stop gambling and sign a proven big leaguer. Munetaka Murakami The 25-year-old NPB slugger has been on the minds of MLB organizations and fans alike for a few years now. His 80-grade power from the left side draws comparisons to fellow countryman Shohei Ohtani and Cub-that-got-away Kyle Schwarber. Although the two-time NPB MVP has a triple crown to his name and 246 home runs, his strikeout concerns are on the same level as Adam Dunn and Joey Gallo. In his two MVP seasons, Murakami had a 21% strikeout percentage. Since then, it has increased to over 28%, a troubling trend since NPB players don’t usually tend to strikeout less after coming stateside. Why he makes sense for the Cubs: When it comes to a dependable left-handed power bat, the Cubs only have Michael Busch. Maybe Pete Crow-Armstrong reverts back to the player he was in the first half of 2025, but it's possible we won’t see those offensive numbers from him again. There are also few left-handed power bats on the market. Tucker, Schwarber, and Cody Bellinger likely won’t be pursued too aggressively by Chicago. First basemen Ryan O’Hearn and Josh Naylor don’t have a place on the current roster either. Nonetheless, Murakami has more raw power than all of those guys outside of Schwarber. One might think it doesn’t make sense for the Cubs to pay Murakami when Schwarber is on the market, but Schwarber has made it clear he would love to stay in Philadelphia, and is seven years older than Murakami. The Japanese phenom would be part of the long-term future, as his projected contract is eight years and $180 million. Would Jed Hoyer want to give one of the largest contracts in franchise history to a guy who has never played in the MLB before? I think we know the answer, which should temper fans' expectations. Why he doesn’t make sense for the Cubs: There are questions surrounding Murakami’s defense at third base, which is good news for Matt Shaw. If the Cubs do pursue him, he will likely get a bulk of his at bats at the DH position. He can also be the second-string first baseman after Busch. If the bat plays like many think it will, the Cubs have the flexibility to get him into the lineup. This is still a massive gamble, much more than Okamoto due to the length and value of the contract. When a player doesn’t have a real defensive home, the expectations for the bat are very high. If the Cubs had a rich lineup of established sluggers, they could afford to take a risk on a player like this, but they don’t have that kind of long-term stability. There will be immediate pressure on Murakami to lead the offense immediately. To put it into perspective, he could sit comfortably in the six-hole if he signs with Dodgers, but if he goes to Chicago, he will likely be hitting in the two or three spot on Opening Day. Eugenio Suarez After seeing the package Arizona received from Seattle at the trade deadline, it’s hard to believe that Hoyer even gave Mike Hazen and the Diamondbacks a call about Suarez. This should be considered another example of blatant malpractice, but the Cubs have another chance to acquire the slugging third baseman fresh off a 49 home run season. Although he hit only .189 in the regular season after the trade, he still bashed 13 home runs, and an additional three in the playoffs including an absurdly clutch grand slam. Why he makes sense for the Cubs: Suarez might be the cheapest way to get elite, bankable power on the free-agent market. Bleacher Report has his projected contract around three years and worth $63 million. Other plus power hitters like Schwarber, Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger, and Tucker are all projected to earn at least double the money that Suarez is looking at. Suarez is turning 35 next July, and has seen his defensive ability decline over the past few seasons. However, if Suarez plays half his games at DH, Shaw will still get enough playing time to hopefully prove to fans that he is the long-term answer at third. Why he doesn’t make sense for the Cubs: Ample due diligence is required to hand out a multi-year deal to a player in his mid-30s. He strikes out a lot, and that is an understatement. In 2019, 2022, and 2023, he led the league in strikeouts. which could be a problem for a Cubs team that already struggles with giving up free outs. Since the end of the Joe Maddon days with the previous core, we have seen the Cubs' offense consistently live and die by the home run. It may make sense to target more of a table setter, but when you remove Tucker’s power from the lineup, it needs to be replaced somehow. Paul DeJong I truly hate to say it, but this seems like the most believable option here, considering the way the front office operates. DeJong only played in 57 games with the Nationals in 2025 due to injury, but he launched 24 home runs in 2024, mostly with the White Sox. At this point in his career, the 32-year-old is not an everyday player, but his pop and ability to play all four infield positions will make him an attractive bench piece. In 2025, his one-year deal with Washington was worth $1 million, and he did not exactly raise his stock, so a similar deal should be in play this season. Why he makes sense for the Cubs: DeJong will allow the Cubs to roll Shaw out there for the bulk of the season. He will assume a utility infielder role as well as the go-to right-handed pinch hitter job off the bench. Should Shaw struggle again, DeJong is a better fallback option offensively than the light-hitting backup options we saw in 2025. Why he doesn’t make sense for the Cubs: If the Cubs go out and sign an impact bat as well as DeJong, this would be a great fit, especially if Chicago can get him on a minor-league contract. If Plan A is Owen Caissie in right field, with DeJong and Shaw splitting time at third base, that will be quite the uninspiring attempt at filling the Tucker-sized hole in the lineup. DeJong would only be a poor addition for the Cubs if he is the only addition. Yoan Moncada Similar to DeJong, Moncada is best used as a part-time player. The 2025 campaign was his first season away from Chicago, and he posted a solid .783 OPS in 84 games. He hasn’t been too much of an offensive contributor outside of his 2019 season where he hit .315 with 25 home runs, but he has still shown an ability to hit at a decent clip a few times since then. Outside of his rookie season and 2022, his OPS has been above .700 every year. It's also never a bad thing to add another switch hitter to the lineup. Why he makes sense for the Cubs: Although he doesn’t have the power and defensive versatility as DeJong; he’s still a former generational prospect who is used to playing in Chicago. Maybe the Wrigley Field vibes help the 30-year-old turn back the clock and become a bit more like the player the White Sox thought they had. Why he doesn’t make sense for the Cubs: Moncada doesn’t move the needle much. He is another Plan B option behind Matt Shaw. If there is a bigger move made in conjunction, like signing a top free agent outfielder or DH, Moncada would be a fine depth signing. Counting on him for anything more would be a non-competitive move. View the full article

Shane Bieber's decision to opt in for the 2026 season with the Toronto Blue Jays strengthens the starting rotation. He'll rejoin Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, and José Berríos, although Berríos's 2026 status remains uncertain. The righty missed the postseason after being shut down in September due to an elbow issue, leaving his availability for next year's Opening Day in question. If Berríos will be sidelined at the start, the Blue Jays absolutely need to find a free agent arm. But if he's healthy, could Eric Lauer, Bowden Francis, or Easton Lucas fit as the fifth starter? Lauer spent 2024 in the Korea Baseball Organization but returned to MLB this past season. The Blue Jays relied on him heavily, especially after Francis struggled and sustained a shoulder injury. Lauer pitched in 28 games (15 starts), with a 9-2 record, a 3.18 ERA, and a 102:26 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The lefty began the season as a long reliever before moving into the starting rotation to fill the gap left by Francis. This move placed a heavier burden on Brendon Little, who saw his workload jump to a career-high 79 games as the bullpen's sole reliable left-hander. Mason Fluharty and Justin Bruihl stepped in as extra left-handed bullpen arms during the regular season, but struggled. Fluharty had a 4.44 ERA in 52 2/3 innings, though he rebounded with 5 1/3 scoreless September innings before struggling again in October. Bruihl posted a 5.27 ERA in 13 2/3 regular season innings and gave up another two runs in one outing in the playoffs. Currently, FanGraphs has Lauer as the fifth starter. If Fluharty continues to struggle, will the Blue Jays risk another career-high workload for Little, or return Lauer to the bullpen and hope for a bounce-back from Francis or Lucas? Francis excelled in his 2023 debut (excluding his 2/3 innings in 2022). He pitched 36 1/3 innings out of the bullpen, posted a 1.73 ERA, and tallied a 35:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In 2024, he added another impressive campaign, posting a 3.30 ERA over 103 2/3 innings and recording a 92:22 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He started his last 10 appearances of the season, producing a 2.92 ERA in 77 innings and holding opponents to a .166 average as a starter. The Blue Jays rode this success into 2025, but Francis struggled. He posted a 6.05 ERA over 64 innings. Control caused significant issues for the 29-year-old, who produced a 54:27 strikeout-to-walk ratio and surrendered 19 home runs. Opponents hit .283 off him. The team placed Francis on the injured list on June 17 with a right shoulder impingement, causing him to miss the rest of the season. Lucas, with only 42 2/3 MLB innings and an 8.02 ERA over three years, must impress in spring training to make the 26-man roster. So, the Blue Jays' best option could be to test Francis in spring training, evaluating the impact of his past shoulder injury. If Francis rebounds, Lauer can remain in the bullpen, where he posted a 1.76 ERA over 30 2/3 innings in 2025. This roster alignment would support both rotation stability and bullpen depth. View the full article

Trevor Story opted into his final two seasons with the Boston Red Sox a month after finishing out the best season of his Beantown tenure. Story will receive $25MM per year in 2026 and 2027, along with a $25MM club option in 2028. It’s unlikely that Story would have gotten more than that in terms of AAV in free agency, but he very well could have signed a longer-term contract than the two years he will get, with a very unlikely-to-be-activated club option. Is his 2025 repeatable, and do the Red Sox need to make any changes regarding Story’s spot on the team? Trevor Story in 2025 Before we begin talking about the future, let’s think back on the year that was. Story blew expectations out of the water for the majority of Sox nation, putting together a .263/.308/.433 slash line, on top of his 25 HRs and 31 SBs. In MLB history, only three other shortstops have achieved at least a 25+ HR and 30+ SB season after age 30. Those three are Barry Larkin, Francisco Lindor, and Trea Turner, well regarded players to this day. This production came despite his performance—or lack thereof—in May of this past season. Story hit an ice-cold .158/.200/.232, striking out 35 times, and sporting a wRC+ of 14. That wRC+ figure was the 16th-worst month in 2025 for a player with at least 60 plate appearances. Talks of a DFA were ringing loudly across the Twittersphere as he continued to dig himself a deeper and deeper hole. That was until May 30 against the Atlanta Braves, when Story went 1-for-4 with a solo shot and followed up with a 2-for-4 day with three RBIs, accounting for all of the Sox's runs in a win. Once June hit, it was all gas and no brakes for TS10, with the shortstop dropping his strikeout rate month after month, finishing September/October at 21.8%. He also never had a month with a wRC+ below 117 or an OPS below .795 after his abysmal May. And, before an A’s game in mid-September, Story had not been caught stealing in 30 attempts. MnJPNXdfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0RnaFZVMUpTQUZBQUFWTURBQUFIQ0ZSU0FBQUdBUU1BVmx3QlZBc0hDRlpTQ1FaVg==.mp4 In the postseason, Story recorded at least one hit in each of the three games, including a two-run single and a clutch solo homer in Game 2 against the New York Yankees. Health Makes a Difference Arguably, the most important piece when talking about Story in 2025 was his clean bill of health. After not surpassing 100 games played in any season for the entirety of his Red Sox contract, Story went out and played in 157 games, 160 including postseason. There had always been talk that the Sox were a healthy Story season away from the playoffs, and that sentiment proved correct when he tied his career high in games originally set in 2018. Trevor Story’s, well, story of the 2025 season is one of a deep valley followed by a consistent peak that never trailed off. That momentum continued all the way through the playoffs, as he was one of the only consistent bats the team could count on as the weather got colder. Breaking Down the Numbers FanGraphs just recently dropped their Steamer projections for 2026, which are the first set of projections released as the offseason begins. The projection system factors in injury history and the natural age curve, and thus portends some serious regression in terms of HRs, SBs, and games played for Story. The projection came in as follows: 100G, 433 PA, .246/.297/.412, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 15 SB, 26.7% K%, 6% BB%, 1.2 WAR In short, Steamer expects regression but not a full collapse, a version of Story that’s still an above-average regular if healthy. These numbers are a steep drop from his previous season, but looking at his Baseball Savant page, it adds up. The page is ice-cold, especially in the contact stats. Story ended up 20th percentile or worse in Whiff% (20th, 29.3%), Chase% (12th, 35.3%), K% (12th, 26.9%), and BB% (10th, 5%). It’s hard to maintain a .263 average or provide $25MM of value if you can’t make contact the way Story struggled to last season. Despite these struggles, Story still tucked 25 balls into the seats, largely due to the highest average exit velocity of his career, 91.4 mph, and the highest HardHit% of his career, 47%. A 25+ SB/HR season is not an unrealistic goal for Story, depending on his health. He can easily be a 2.5-3 WAR player if he stays on the field. A Smart Move for 2026 and Beyond One way to potentially ensure clean health going forward is to move Story off shortstop. For every jump throw in the hole, there was another ball he simply couldn’t get to anymore. Story had -9 Outs Above Average (OAA) this year, fourth-worst in MLB for the shortstop position. OAA essentially measures the effective range relative to an average player, or what the expectation is for that play to be made. Fortunately for the Red Sox, they have a clear, albeit also injury-prone, replacement in Marcelo Mayer. If we assume that the Red Sox bring Alex Bregman back, which many in the industry surmise will happen, playing Mayer out of position will not help his development. Ever since Dustin Pedroia left the Sox, second base has been a black hole, and this season the Red Sox have led the majors in errors at that position. Story committed the third-most errors at shortstop in baseball, with the majority of those errors being throwing errors. A move to second would take the stress off of needing him to maximize his range, and the throws would be significantly easier to make from game to game. In his lone season at second for the Sox, Story committed six errors, 15th in MLB, and it was his healthiest season up until this one. It was also his best defensive season in Boston by a mile (10 OAA, six Defensive Runs Saved). Final Thoughts Ultimately, if we are talking dollars-to-WAR value, this can become a bad contract for the Red Sox and fast if Story can’t stay on the field. If he can, the Sox have secured a clubhouse leader whom Roman Anthony and Mayer have cited as a stable presence throughout the season, along with all the on-field production he’s shown he is capable of. The smart thing to do is move Story over to second base and try to keep him as healthy as possible for the next two seasons. Finally, I will leave you with a quote from the 310 to Left podcast from Story himself: “To me, it’s pretty simple. There’s not another organization I want to be a part of. I’m just in love with the place, and got some unfinished business.” “I came here for a reason, and we’re finally good. I’m not going to leave when it’s time to start skyrocketing.” “Also, just with the resources that we have being the Red Sox, we know that [the front office] and ownership are going to keep adding to the group. All things considered, it just feels like a rocket ship is about to take off.” I can’t imagine better words for fans to hear, coming off the season he and the Red Sox had. If 2025 was the redemption chapter, 2026 could be the season that defines Trevor Story’s legacy in Boston. The future feels bright in Beantown, and Story will be an essential piece of their next push for championship glory. View the full article

Byron Buxton has been one of the most talented players in baseball over the past decade, full stop. He has the hardware to prove it. On Thursday night, the Twins announced that Buxton received one of the league’s three Silver Slugger Awards given to American League outfielders, alongside MVP hopeful Aaron Judge and rising star Riley Greene. Buxton ranked fifth in home runs (35), sixth in batting average (.264), second in slugging (.551), third in runs (97), seventh in stolen bases (24 of 24), and most importantly, second in OPS (136 OPS+) among AL outfielders, trailing only Judge. It wasn’t a sure thing, but it was certainly deserved. Eight seasons ago, the two-time All-Star also brought home hardware, but instead of with his bat, it was with his glove. Buxton was awarded the Gold Glove in 2017, his first full year as a pro, as well as the even more exclusive Platinum Glove, awarded by Rawlings to the single top defender in each league regardless of position. Buxton’s 2017 defense registered 27 outs above average per Statcast, the most value accrued by an outfielder since its inception in 2016 and the third most at any position. Think about that for a moment. Buxton once had the ability to be the best defender in baseball, and now he’s among the league’s best hitters (his .878 OPS was the fourth-highest in the American League and ninth-highest in MLB). And he’s still playing an admirable center field, one of the toughest positions to cover in baseball. In total, 21 other players have won both a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove in seasons primarily playing center field. This includes those who, like Buxton, did not win both awards in the same season. Admittedly, most of them did; 12 of the 21 won their first center field Silver Slugger and Gold Glove in the same year. Buxton is tied for the longest drought between the two awards with Torii Hunter, who won his first Gold Glove in 2001 but had to wait until 2009 for that elusive Silver Slugger. Here’s the full list of players to win both awards as center fielders, in alphabetical order: Carlos Beltrán, Ellis Burks, Eric Davis, Andre Dawson, Jim Edmonds, Jacoby Ellsbury, Ken Griffey Jr., Tony Gwynn, Torii Hunter, Adam Jones, Andruw Jones, Matt Kemp, Andrew McCutchen, Willie McGee, Dale Murphy, Kirby Puckett, Grady Sizemore, Ichiro Suzuki, Andy Van Slyke, Vernon Wells, Bernie Williams. It's a good mix of Hall of Famers and “that dude was cold.” Some takeaways from that group are below. Griffey leads the group in total awards with 17, tying Andruw Jones for the most with 10 Gold Gloves and leading the group in Silver Sluggers. Second in Silver Sluggers was Puckett with five. Other players who, like Buxton and Hunter, had to wait to obtain both were Edmonds and Andruw Jones (both seven years) and Williams (five). Buxton joins Burks, Ellsbury, Gwynn, and Suzuki as the only players with exactly one of each, though the other four won both of theirs in the same season. Also, Gwynn and Suzuki were not primarily center fielders, but both had one season in the middle of their primes during which they played primarily center field (Gwynn just 86 games, but we'll count it), and both took home both awards. Fun! There are a few extra players who have won both awards, but one was at a different position, such as Robin Yount winning a Silver Slugger in center field but a Gold Glove at shortstop, or Cody Bellinger winning a Gold Glove as a right fielder and a Silver Slugger as a center fielder. It should be noted that Silver Sluggers are awarded to outfielders generally, which puts center fielders at a disadvantage, given that the position is typically filled by players known more for their gloves. Winning the award means they outhit not just other center fielders but also the more offense-focused corner outfielders. Another aspect to keep in mind is that from 1961 to 2010, Gold Gloves were similarly given generally to outfielders, which often resulted in only center fielders receiving the award. There were seasons in which, if you were a starting center fielder, you had a 25% chance of winning a Gold Glove. Of the list given, only four received their award after center field was singled out in the voting (Ellsbury, Adam Jones, Kemp, McCutchen). But this accomplishment has a bit of a cloud over it. As noted, Buxton is tied with Hunter for the longest gap between first Gold Glove and first Silver Slugger. Hunter, though, won eight Gold Gloves in those eight years. Jones racked up seven during his seven-year wait, and Edmonds had six during his seven-year wait. Buxton still doesn’t have another Gold Glove. He won his Gold and Platinum Gloves in his first full season in the big leagues, but that was also his final full season in the big leagues until 2025—eight years later. It’s hard not to play the what-if game. Obviously, he wasn’t hitting enough at 23 to compete for a Silver Slugger, but his 136 OPS+ this season is quite close to the 131 OPS+ that he’s carried for the past seven seasons, since the start of 2019. That’s good enough to compete for a trophy, and his defense was elite for much of that stretch. But we know why that gap exists. Buxton averaged just 89 games between 2019 and 2024, even prorating 2020’s truncated season. And although he put up flashy rate stats, you can’t win a Silver Slugger with 19 homers and 32 RBI, even if a 1.005 OPS and 4.9 bWAR accompany it in 61 first-half games (can we please take a moment to marvel at Buxton's 2021?). Apparently, it wasn’t even worth an All-Star nod. It’s hard not to dream about what that gap could have contained had Buxton stayed healthy. At age 23, he was the best defender in baseball. At age 31, he was one of the handful of best hitters in baseball. And we saw flashes of both between them, but not enough to take home any hardware. From another point of view, though, it’s actually remarkable—in a positive way—that he’s been able to put together a rebound like this. Just two seasons ago, this player didn’t play a single inning in center field due to health reasons. From 2018 to 2023, 92 games was his high-water mark. He had hand, knee, hip, and brain injuries that kept him from the field for months at a time. And after all that, as a 31-year-old, he was still one of the top offensive assets in the game while playing an admirable center field at an age when even great center fielders get moved to a corner position. Heck, many fans just two years ago pleaded for him to retire for health reasons. Buxton is a marvel. If you can’t see that, I don’t know what to tell you. Congratulations, Buck. View the full article

The AL Silver Slugger Award winners were announced on Friday, with George Springer taking home the prize at DH. This is his third career Silver Slugger, after previously winning in 2017 and '19 with the Astros. Springer led the AL's primary designated hitters in home runs (32), runs scored (106), stolen bases (18), and FanGraphs WAR (5.2). His victory over fellow finalists Yandy Díaz and Brent Rooker comes as little surprise. Springer was also a finalist for a Silver Slugger as an outfielder but lost to Aaron Judge, Riley Greene, and Byron Buxton. Toronto's other two finalists, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, came up short as well, with Nick Kurtz claiming the honors at first base and Bobby Witt Jr. winning at shortstop. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays lost the Silver Slugger Team of the Year Award to the Yankees, who won for the second year in a row. Featured image courtesy of John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images. View the full article

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Major League Baseball announced the National League Silver Slugger winners, and one San Diego Padres player will need to make room in his trophy case. Third baseman Manny Machado won his third career Silver Slugger and second in as many seasons. His first Silver Slugger came in 2020, his second season with the Friars. Machado finished the year with 27 home runs, 91 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. His final slash line was .275/.335/.460, resulting in an OPS of .795, a wOBA of .341, and a wRC+ of 123. He was especially effective with runners in scoring position, posting an .832 OPS and 16 extra-base hits. Additionally, his .663 OPS when in a two-strike count was 28th best in all of baseball. The Silver Slugger Award is an award that recognizes the best offensive player at each position in both leagues. It is voted on by managers and coaches around baseball. Will he earn the three-peat in 2026? Let us know what you think in the comments! View the full article

The power of friendship is worth millions, literally. Shane Bieber opted in to his $16 million player option with the Toronto Blue Jays for 2026 on Tuesday, and it’s actually a huge deal, and a surprisingly wholesome one, too. Everyone (and we mean everyone) is opting out This offseason, most stars are choosing chaos. Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, Edwin Díaz, and Cody Bellinger all decided to test free agency. Alonso made headlines for saying he would opt out minutes after the Mets lost their last game of the season to the Marlins, indirectly handing the Cincinnati Reds a spot in the Wild Card round. Bieber, on the other hand, is running it back with the boys in blue (the Canadian ones, of course). Why is this a surprise? Bieber could’ve declined the option, taken a $4 million buyout, and made more on the open market. The right-hander had a solid regular season in 2025 coming off Tommy John, posting a 3.57 ERA in 40.1 innings pitched with 37 strikeouts and a 1.02 WHIP. In the postseason, he delivered a 3.86 ERA over 18.2 innings while striking out 18 batters. Eli Ben-Porat of Baseball America projected Bieber would earn a $150 million contract, noting, “There’s an argument to be made that Bieber is the best available starting pitcher in this year’s class.” But instead, Bieber locked in $16 million to stay in Toronto. For a couple of reasons, it makes perfect sense: Health first. Bieber’s coming off Tommy John surgery. Taking the guaranteed money gives him another year to prove his arm’s fully back before chasing a long-term deal. The vibes are immaculate. This Blue Jays team isn’t just talented; they actually like each other. Each interview through the postseason proved this Jays team enjoyed playing together, and they clearly want to continue playing as a unit. Toronto benefits big-time. With Bieber locked in, the Jays have the majority of their starting rotation set. They can set their sights on big free agents, re-signing Bo Bichette, addressing gaps in the bullpen, and making another run at the World Series. So what does this mean for Toronto? It’s a signal. One that Toronto desperately needed. When a Cy Young winner says, “I’ll stay,” it tells the rest of the league that Toronto isn’t just a contender, it’s a place people want to play. One could even say it’s a place where people ‘finally’ want to play, given that just last year an anonymous player slipped that the Blue Jays organization is a "f*cking shitshow," That matters for recruiting free agents, keeping stars, and maintaining that culture everyone’s raving about. And if you’re a fan, you’ve got to love this: The Jays were two outs away from a championship, and now they keep one of their top arms and a good chunk of their core intact. That’s continuity. That’s chemistry. That’s… maybe finally the year? The takeaway Some players chase the biggest check. Shane Bieber chose stability, health, and the squad he clearly believes in. He left some cash on the table, but he gained something that’s apparently priceless in this game: a team that feels like a family. And for the Blue Jays? The friendship era continues. MegzMurr (@megsknowsball) • Instagram reel View the full article

With the World Series done and dusted, the offseason can finally begin. The first order of business for many teams is to make decisions on their arbitration-eligible players. For those who don’t know, arbitration is a salary negotiation for players with at least three years of playing time (but fewer than six) who are not yet free agents. If they and the team can’t reach an agreement, an impartial arbitrator hears both cases and decides which number is fairer. The Royals have a whopping 15 players eligible for arbitration; only the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays have more. The Royal originally had 16, although Lucas Erceg barely missed the cut due to Super Two arbitration rules. There’s a case to be made for keeping every player; some have better cases than others. Let’s go over them, shall we? Keep: Vinnie Pasquantino ($5.4M) Maikel Garcia ($4.8M) Kyle Isbel ($2.7M) Kris Bubic ($6M) Three of these players are no-brainers to keep around. The Pasquatch is coming off a career year, putting up his best numbers in terms of hits (164), home runs (32), RBIs (113), and slugging percentage (.475). Garcia also had a breakout campaign, finishing second on the team in WAR (5.8) and earning an All-Star nod. Both players are under consideration for extensions. Bubic was an All-Star and could've been in consideration for the AL Cy Young if it weren’t for a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. I expect him to be back in the rotation for 2026, unless the Royals use him as trade bait. Isbel, on the other hand, should stick around, but I don’t plan on him being the starter in center field for much longer. His fielding value is one of the best in the league, as he was nominated for a Gold Glove, but his triple slash of .255/.301/.353 doesn’t raise too many eyebrows. If the Royals are serious about contending, President of Baseball Operations JJ Picollo might want to look for a better-hitting outfielder to fill that gap. On The Fence: Taylor Clarke ($1.9M) John Schreiber ($3.8M) Jonathan India ($7.4M) Kyle Wright ($1.8M) Daniel Lynch IV ($1.3M) Michael Massey ($2M) Angel Zerpa ($1.2M) Many of these players have valid reasons to stay with the team. However, most will likely end up either non-tendered or signed to one-year deals. Pitchers like Lynch IV and Clarke had good but uninspired seasons, with ERAs under 3.30. However, Clarke had a low walk rate (1.5), while Lynch IV had the best year of his career. The same goes for Schreiber and Zerpa, both of whom are really solid but didn’t set the world on fire. Both players should be back for 2026. Kyle Wright (who just got non-tendered as I'm writing this) could be a good bounce-back candidate if he manages to stay healthy; however, he hasn't pitched a single game for the Royals, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they let him go. Now to the tougher calls: Michael Massey and Jonathan India. Both are second basemen coming off underwhelming seasons. Massey had a strong 2024 and hoped to carry that momentum forward, but injuries and inconsistency derailed him. India, brought in via trade to help “set the table” for Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Pasquantino, failed to meet expectations. He put up one of the worst lines of his career (.233/.323/.346) and lost playing time to Adam Frazier down the stretch. That’s not great for a player making the most money of all arbitration-eligible Royals. I don’t expect the Royals to sign either to an extension, but whether they pick one, both, or neither is up to the front office. No Thanks: Bailey Falter ($3.3M) MJ Melendez ($2.65M) Sam Long ($950) James McArthur ($800K) It’s safe to say these players have overstayed their welcome. Falter and Long were among the worst pitchers on the staff, each recording a -0.7 WAR. Falter allowed 15 runs in just 12 innings (an 11.25 ERA), while Long had a disastrous start but recovered to post a 2.89 ERA after the All-Star break. McArthur was solid in 2023, but his 2024 season was a train wreck, and his 2025 campaign ended before it began due to an elbow injury. With better arms available both on the roster and in the minors, the Royals will likely move on from those three. There was a time I believed in Melendez. Sure, he was one of the most inconsistent players the Royals had, but he showed flashes of the player he could be. Unfortunately, that’s all they were, flashes. Melendez made the Opening Day roster but was promptly optioned to Omaha in April after a rough showing in the majors. He did rebound there, even hitting for the cycle, but the sun has likely set on his time in Kansas City. With Jac Caglianone being the starter for the near future, he will almost certainly be non-tendered. View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers' offseason has already gotten off to a fast start. The organization has made or been informed of multiple option decisions, and yesterday tendered a qualifying offer to Brandon Woodruff. They also announced changes to the coaching staff and the organization. Per a post from their official X account, Rickie Weeks will transition to a Special Assistant - Baseball Operations and Domestic/International Scouting. He served as the team's associate manager over the last two seasons. In a statement, Brewers President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Matt Arnold said, "This new role is an opportunity for Rickie to advance his career and broaden his experience, building off what he has accomplished already as a player, coach, and baseball operations executive." Weeks will now adjust his focus to evaluating draft-eligible and international players. He will also work with the Ops team to assess and recommend changes that impact on-field competition. It is not expected that the now vacant associate manager role will be filled. How do you think Weeks will impact that scouting department? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

When the Minnesota Twins introduced Derek Shelton as their new manager on Tuesday, all the questions centered around roster construction, coaching hires, and other baseball ephemera. In another case of the media failing to ask the truly tough questions, at no point did anyone ask, “Derek, are you also the lead singer of The National?” Allegedly, Matt Berninger is the vocalist for the New York-based alt-rock band. But the resemblance between Berninger and Shelton demands answers, one that only an independent outlet like Twins Daily is brave enough to uncover. Here’s what we know so far: They both have graying hair and full beards. They both wear chunky black glasses, which really heightens the resemblance. Shelton appears burlier than Berninger, but with the rise of Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs, that's hardly negative proof. Shelton has never denied being in The National. Berninger has never denied being the former bench coach for the Minnesota Twins. They both, when dressed in street clothes, look like they have opinions on bourbon, cologne, and red wine. Shelton is a baseball lifer. Berninger writes his songs on baseballs. The National is known for Berninger’s dark, enigmatic lyrics, which have earned them the tag of “Sad Dad” music. Derek Shelton managed the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have made Pennsylvania dads incredibly sad for the last few decades. This last connection (or lack thereof) is why I think there’s something to the story. The National is perhaps best known for collaborating with Taylor Swift. Shelton has never made his opinion on Taylor Swift publicly known, which frankly raises more questions than it answers. Even people who don’t listen to music have an opinion on Taylor Swift, usually about how seeing her during a football game makes them upset for some reason. What is he hiding? I have a pretty good idea. In conclusion, if you notice the National only touring from November (ok, October) through early February, or Shelton taking a leave of absence during the season for “a personal matter at an upstate New York recording studio,” you’re not alone. You're not crazy. You might just be seeing through the lies. Image license here. View the full article