McLellan told reporters that interim general manager Shawn Horcoff would explain why. No update was given as of 1 p.m. ET. The Red Wings' home game begins at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Larkin, 30, had missed Wednesday's practice, but the team later said it was a maintenance day.
The center had requested a trade following the end of last season after the Red Wings' playoff drought hit 10 seasons, though he hasn't revealed his reason.
He agreed to report to training camp but was stripped of his captaincy. He missed the start of camp with an injury and was booed by fans during introductions at the home opener. But he has played since returning from the injury and has six points in 10 games.
Larkin, who originally had the Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights on his trade list, has expanded that list to 10 teams.
That includes the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals, according to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. ESPN reported on Oct. 20 that the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils and Utah Mammoth were added to the list.
Without much surprise, Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell were among the Penguins' players on Kypreos' trade board. It is understandable, as both players have been in the rumor mill for a while.
Yet, Kypreos also included a new Penguins forward on his trade board: Justin Brazeau.
"Big and strong with a set of hands, Pittsburgh will try to sell Brazeau off based on the production he had during the first half of last season. With so many prospects in the system, look for the Penguins to potentially use him as a trade chip, though he needs to get healthy first. Brazeau has not played a game this season," Kypreos wrote.
Brazeau has not been discussed very often as a trade candidate. Yet, with the Penguins having a surplus of NHL forwards and Brazeau being in the final year of his contract, it is fair to wonder about his future in Pittsburgh.
Brazeau was recently activated off injured reserve and assigned on a conditioning loan to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. With this, the big winger is inching closer to returning for the NHL club.
Brazeau could generate some interest from teams looking to boost their forward group. When playing at his best, he has shown that he can be a solid power forward. This was certainly the case last season, as he set career highs with 17 goals, 17 assists, and 34 points in 64 games for Pittsburgh.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Penguins end up moving Brazeau at some point this season.
The Chicago Blackhawks are already involved in trade rumors. 18 teams had scouting representatives at the United Center for Chicago’s match vs the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, and a total of 25 teams out of 32 have been there since Sunday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Frank Seravalli has reported that the Blackhawks are looking to add a big scoring winger during all of this as well, which has added to the rumor mill.
Kyle Davidson has been actively looking for "shoot-first, scoring wingers with size." If the Blackhawks slide continues, "count on something bigger perhaps in the works." pic.twitter.com/zIOZngJ5aS
The conversation around a trade like that includes centers like Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore. Teams around the league want centers, which is an area where the Blackhawks have a surplus. There is development left to go for most of Chicago's young centers, but the upside is there to intrigue teams.
Rumors of Teuvo Teravainen and Kevin Korchinski being moved have also swirled. With the Blackhawks being 4-8-0 through their first 12 games of the season, it isn’t surprising to hear these names in the rumor mill as the team looks to shake things up before going the route of firing anyone.
If Moore and Nazar both stick with Chicago in the long term, one of them is likely going to have to make a full-time transition to the wing, and neither would say that is their first choice of position.
In the case of Kevin Korchinski, he is a young defenseman who doesn't get the playing time he needs in order to further his development. Sending him to the AHL would require waivers, and the Blackhawks would almost certainly lose him for nothing.
As for Teravainen, it would depend on another team taking him at this stage of his career. He went from being a healthy scratch on opening night to running their top power-play unit in the absence of Bowen Byram, which does give him value. On a contender, he'd make a wonderful secondary playmaker in the middle of a lineup.
Anything can happen, as it is all just rumors right now, but there can be fire where there is smoke in the NHL. Connor Hellebuyck was already traded from the Winnipeg Jets to the New Jersey Devils. Next is almost certainly going to be Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings. After that, the trade market may open up in a big way.
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It didn't take long for former Winnipeg Jets defenceman Jack St. Ivany to make an impression with his new club.
Just four days after being claimed off waivers by the Washington Capitals, the 27-year-old recorded two assists and earned third-star honours in his Washington debut Wednesday night, helping the Capitals to a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Photo by Charles LeClaire/USA Today
St. Ivany made his presence felt almost immediately, picking up a helper on Alex Tuch's opening goal just 1:50 into the first period. He added another assist later in the contest, finishing with two points, a plus-two rating and 14:44 of ice time.
The performance came less than a week after the Jets placed the 6-foot-4 blueliner on waivers Friday, with Washington claiming him the following afternoon.
Winnipeg had acquired St. Ivany from the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 29 in exchange for forward David Gustafsson. He appeared in four games with the Jets to begin the 2026-27 season, recording no points, six hits and five blocked shots while averaging 13:31 of ice time.
He joins Johnathan Kovacevic, Eric Comrie, Luca Sbisa, Jansen Harkins and Declan Chisholm as players the Jets have lost via Waivers since returning to Winnipeg.
The California native had previously spent parts of three NHL seasons with Pittsburgh, including a career-best seven-assist campaign over 20 games in 2025-26.
Washington's decision to claim St. Ivany came as the Capitals dealt with injuries on their blueline, including the absence of Vincent Desharnais, who is recovering from an appendectomy, Rasmus Sandin and Winnipegger Dylan McIlrath.
St. Ivany was paired with rookie Cole Hutson for Wednesday's matchup, giving Washington another right-shot option on defence.
Originally selected by Philadelphia in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Draft, St. Ivany enjoyed his memorable Capitals debut against the very organization that drafted him.
With two assists in his first appearance, St. Ivany has already surpassed his offensive production from four games with Winnipeg this season, making an immediate case for an extended opportunity in Washington's lineup.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 22: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) looks on during the second period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Florida Panthers on October 22, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Over the past couple of years, defenseman Kris Letang seemed to be the one member of the Pittsburgh Penguins big-three that had slowed down the most. Not only in terms of offensive production, but just general, overall impact. Father time was catching up, and the adjustment to that did not seem to be going well. There were even more signs of that over the first couple of games of the 2026-27 season.
But over the past couple of weeks there are some encouraging signs that maybe Letang still has some game left, and that maybe he is adjusting to his new limitations and what he can and can not do.
That has especially been the case since he has not been paired up with Trevor van Riemsdyk, an early-season pairing that just did not seem to click the way the Penguins might have hoped.
While Letang has not really made a significant contribution offensively with just six asssists (and zero goals), his defensive impacts have been shockingly strong.
When he has been on the ice during 5-on-5 play, the Penguins have allowed just four goals in 198 minutes of hockey, and only 1.96 expected goals per 60 minutes.
That expected goal number is the lowest among the team’s defensemen (minimum 100 minutes played), and the third-lowest of any player on the team (trailing only forwards Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte).
Among 186 defensemen across the NHL, it is 11th.
Those are promising numbers. The Penguins do have an extremely high save percentage with Letang on the ice (over .940) which is probably not a sustainable number, so there might be some additional goals against to come his way just through some regression, but the fact there are not a lot of chances being allowed is an encouraging sign that could help mitigate that somewhat.
It is also eye-opening how much more effective he has been paired with literally any other defenseman on the roster outside of van Riemsdyk.
There are some small sample sizes here with each of these pairings, but the overall performance is pretty consistent among the pairings.
Pairing
Minutes Played
GF
GA
xGF/60
xGA/60
xGF%
Kris Letang-Trevor van Riemsdyk
57.57
1
1
2.32
3.39
40.7
Kris Letang-Spencer Stastney
53.52
1
0
2.70
1.03
72.3
Kris Letang-Ilya Solovyov
36.58
1
0
1.61
1.49
51.9
Kris Letang-Sam Girard
16.27
0
2
3.23
1.59
67.0
Kris Letang-Declan Carlile
16.16
1
1
5.12
1.59
76.2
I am going to chalk this up to three things that are likely working in harmony here to produce these results.
Early season small sample size noise that is, to some degree, driven by on-ice save percentage. You can’t just ignore that possibility, especially given the larger sampling of of performance we have had from him over the previous year or two. Even though there have not been a lot of chances against, some of those pucks that are getting through to the goalies are going to find their way in the back of the net at some point. The expected goal against numbers are highly encouraging, but I think we do need to see more of that over an extended period of time before we can say for certain that it’s a for-real improvement.
Less is more. And by that I mean, less ice-time. A smaller role. He is averaging just a little more than 20 minutes of ice-time per game, which is the lowest number since his rookie season. Even as recently as two years ago the Penguins were asking him to play 23 minutes per game. In the first half of the 2025-26 season, that number was still up in the 22-23 minute per game range. He’s a borderline Hockey Hall of Famer. He has had the best career of any defenseman in a Penguins uniform. He’s been great for a long, long time. But at some point you are not capable of playing that sort of role anymore. Everybody needs to adjust to that. He needed to adjust his game. The Penguins needed to adjust their expectations and role for him.
Just getting him with the right partner. Or in this case, not putting him with the wrong partner. I liked the idea of signing van Riemsdyk in free agency because he has been such a solid defender throughout his career. Nothing flashy; just steady. But even when Letang was at his peak and one of the best skaters in the league, he never, ever, at any point, played well next to defenders like van Riemsdyk. The Brooks Orpik-Rob Scuderi pairings never worked well. The idea of putting him with “a safety net” never played out. He was always at his best next to players that could skate well, move the puck, and could complement his style of play. Stastney, Solovyov, Girard and even Carlile to some extent are significantly better at playing that style of game than van Riemsdyk is.
If nothing else, it is an encouraging development to see from a player that the Penguins are going to need to play well. Let’s see how it plays out.
Washigton Capitals legend Alex Ovechkin is starting slowly in his 22nd and final season. The Colorado Avalanche haven't shown last season's dominance and the Pennsylvania teams have struggled, along with Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram. Plus, there's no contract extension for Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes.
Is it time to hit the panic button? USA TODAY takes a look.
Alex Ovechkin showing his age?
Ovechkin, 41, entered this season needing 11 goals to break Wayne Gretzky's record of 1,016 combined regular season and playoff goals. He needed five assists to break Nicklas Backstrom's team record of 762 career assists. But he's at one goal and three assists after 11 games, the worst start of his career.
A couple things have been working against Ovechkin. He was injured heading into training camp and the Capitals' offseason acquisitions have cut into his ice time. He's no longer playing all two minutes of the power play and is averaging a career-low 13:47 per game. According to NHL Edge, his hardest shot is down 4 mph from last season and his fastest skating speed is down 2 mph. He's on pace for a career-low 122 shots.
Ovechkin has a history of starting slowly, so it's a matter of waiting to see if he'll break out again.
Colorado Avalanche off to slower start
The Avalanche were sitting at 6-5-1 heading into Wednesday's game after winning the 2025-26 Presidents' Trophy.
They are built around Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Martin Necas but they dealt away some of their depth before giving Makar a record contract extension.
Valeri Nichushkin, Ross Colton and Jack Drury were traded. The Avalanche signed free agent Jaden Schwartz, who had six points in his first four games before going without a point in his next five games.
MacKinnon, Makar and Necas are doing their part, but they'll need more depth scoring to push for another division title. They got a start on Wednesday, Oct. 28, when Schwartz, Parker Kelly, Nazem Kadri and Gabriel Landeskog joined MacKinnon in scoring in a 5-2 win against the New Jersey Devils.
But slow starts leave the Penguins and Flyers at 14th and 16th, respectively, in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers were sunk by a team-worst 0-6-3 start in which they struggled to score. Penguins forwards Andrei Kuzmenko (death of his father) and Ben Kindel (vasovagal episode) have missed time.
One highlight for the Flyers is that Matvei Michkov, who struggled last season, has picked up nine goals in October.
Blackhawks' Bowen Byram has disappointing start
Byram was stuck behind Makar and Rasmus Dahlin early in his career, and the Blackhawks made a big bet he'd be a productive No. 1 defenseman if given the opporunity.
The Blackhawks sent the fourth overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres in a trade for Byram and gave him a $12.5 million-a-year contract extension.
But Byram has one point in six games and is a minus-7. Several things have worked against him. The Blackhawks were without injured top player Connor Bedard at the beginning of the season and Byram missed a game to fly home for the birth of his twins. He played one game with Bedard, picking up his lone point, then has been out with an upper-body injury. He's considered day to day.
Quinn Hughes hasn't signed extension
The Minnesota defenseman is off to another tremendous season, but he has yet to agree to a contract extension in the final year of his contract. He gave a positive update recently.
"My two feet are planted in Minnesota and, you know, something could happen soon. I'm not really too sure," he told reporters on Oct. 24. "I'm really enjoying playing here."
GM Bill Guerin addressed Hughes' contract situation Wednesday on "The Chad Hartman Show," saying he hasn't talked to Hughes' agents recently.
“There’s nothing really to talk about right now," he said. "What am I going to do? Like going, ‘Please, please, please, please.' This is a unique situation. I think Quinn needs to wrap his head around a couple things. ... Quinn's situation will resolve itself at some point in time. This does not keep me awake at night."
Guerin said there's no date for Hughes to sign or for the GM to consider other options.
"At some point in time, I'll have to try to figure things out and see what's best for the team," he said. "I know one thing for sure. Having Quinn on our team is what's best for the team. ... I don't know what's gong to happen. I don't know what I'm going to do."
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 24: Baltimore Orioles pitcher Keegan Akin (45) pitches during the Cleveland Guardians versus the Baltimore Orioles on June 24, 2024 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As a player who arrived in the organization in the 2016 draft, Keegan Akin is one of the longest-tenured Orioles. We have been hearing about him as a prospect and then seeing him as a major league player for more than a decade. After all of that, Akin came into 2026 as a platform year heading into free agency. His up-and-down Orioles tenure is likely ending on a down note after a season where he was pretty bad until a June injury turned out to require season-ending Tommy John surgery.
One thing that I take as a given when considering relievers in general is the concept of year-to-year volatility. At least one guy is going to be better than people thought, and at least one guy is going to be worse than people thought. You might be able to make an educated guess which ends up being which, but you never really know. The same guy can fit both of these descriptions across multiple seasons.
Akin, over his time with the team, has embodied this about as well as anybody. After he failed his way out of the rotation in 2021, he was a speculative reliever conversion heading into 2022. He was pretty good! Then, out of nowhere, he was terrible in 2023, all while keeping pretty good peripheral stats. Akin returned to good results in 2024 – though the team had zero trust in him and was almost fanatical in only using him in low-leverage situations – and was also good in 2025, with concerning peripherals last year making him more of a question mark heading into 2026.
The alarm bells that were sounding in his under-the-hood metrics a year ago turned out to be for real. Akin missed the first month of the season due to a groin strain, then as he made his way back from the injured list, he showed how his season was going to go by giving up six runs in the span of an inning during a 17-1 blowout loss to the Red Sox on April 25. That was the first that we saw of Akin this season. What a disaster.
Every fan has their guys where what you mostly remember about them are the times that they stunk. I’ll be honest with you: Akin is one of those guys for me. The idea that Akin had three separate seasons where he had an ERA of 3.41 or lower escapes from my brain every time it goes in. I remember all of the times that he was bad. Akin giving up six runs in an inning is basically what I expected every time. He did it again this year, turning a close contest against the Nationals on May 16 into a 13-3 laugher by giving up six runs while getting only one out.
In a classic of the “Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?” genre, Akin was fine if you take out those two outings. He pitched 22 other games and allowed just four earned runs in those games. Maybe if he had July, August, and September to keep pitching, he would have been able to turn around the unsightly 5.68 ERA.
The Orioles probably would have given him chances to do that, following the pattern they established over multiple years with Cionel Pérez, who bombed early on only to keep sticking around on the roster and salvage his numbers somewhat. There are some good things on his Statcast page, namely that batters weren’t hitting the ball hard off of him because they were so infrequently squaring him up. There are also some not-so-good things: Akin was not making batters swing and miss, posting the lowest K/9 of his career, just 6.0. Some relievers can do well without that many strikeouts; teammate Albert Suárez is one of them. Many do not do so well.
Akin did not get to pitch the last three months to see whether he could improve things. His season was cut short when he injured his elbow at the end of June. This led to mid-July Tommy John surgery that will probably knock him out of action for nearly all, if not all, of the 2027 season as well. Akin will be 33 years old by the time he gets to seriously pitch again.
The injury in combination with the poor 2026 performance probably means that Akin will not end up ever getting the opportunity to get a real free agent contract. That was rough luck for him. Even one year for a few million would have been better than he got for most of his arbitration seasons.
Some team will probably at least extend Akin a minor league contract with a spring training invitation when 2028 rolls around. Maybe it will even be the Orioles. If he really liked it here, he might take it. There’s not much risk in handing out spring training invitations to see whether a guy has something left in the tank, as long as you correctly assess what he’s got in the tank before potentially giving him a big league roster spot again.
By season’s end, the role that the Orioles went into the season thinking would be Akin’s had been taken over by a completely different age-31 lefty, Josh Walker. Camden Chat colleague Andrea wrote about Walker yesterday. Somebody stinks or gets hurt or both and the roster moves on. Akin ended up on the wrong end of that for 2026 and that may be the final memory that we have of him as an Oriole.
San Diego Padres SP Randy Vasquez (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In 2026, the San Diego Padres’ starting rotation was the roster’s weakest link. The group ranked 21st in the majors after posting a 4.40 ERA, a 1.335 WHIP, and 37 quality starts. Among the Padres’ top starters was Randy Vasquez, who emerged with a breakout season.
Vasquez exceeded expectations
The right-hander recorded his first double-digit win total, finishing 10-6 with a 3.90 ERA in 32 appearances. The biggest difference from prior seasons was a rising strikeout rate and a declining walk rate.
Vasquez raised his strikeout rate from 13.7% in 2025 to 14.8% this season. This shift allowed the young starter to shave his walk rate from 9.1% to 6.3% in 2026. The result left his strikeout-to-walk ratio at 2.35 for the season.
Becoming a more complete starting pitcher
Another area of growth for Vasquez was shifting away from a cutter-heavy pitching approach to throwing more high-velocity four-seam fastballs. He paired it with a heavy sinker; together, they accounted for 50% of the pitches thrown in starts.
The starter’s four-seamer became his go-to out pitch to end potential scoring threats. A velocity jump (mid-90s) convinced him to rely on the pitch more frequently. Still, Vasquez found himself in tight scoring jams when the velocity of his four-seamer waned. His sinker was terrific in bailing him out and limiting damage.
It turned into a dominant secondary pitch, inducing ground balls at a 39.1% rate in 2026. His baserunner strand rate was strong (81.5%) at the start of the 2026 campaign, but it dipped to 77.4% by season’s end.
He scaled back his cutter usage but found great success throwing the pitch away and outside the strike zone. The sharp movement kept hitters out in front, consistently yielding strikeouts or weak ground-ball outs.
The lone negative was that opposing teams’ batting average against him rose from .247 to .262 in 2026. However, Vasquez kept the ball inside the park. His home run rate went from 2.8% to 2.7% this season. Both numbers are well below the major league average of 3.1%.
His breakout 2026 campaign has vaulted Vasquez into a primary role for the Padres’ starting rotation next spring. To prove last season was no fluke, he must sustain this level of consistency on the mound.
Padres News:
Freddy Fermin came to the Padres as a much needed upgrade at the catcher position. However, in 2026 he struggled at the plate and became a defense-only backstop. See how Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball graded Fermin’s season.
Ryan Yarbrough’s four-seam fastball averaged 87.1 mph in 2026, in the 1st percentile of all major leaguers. His strikeout and whiff rates are also mediocre. Chase and groundball percentages? Also blue in Statcast. Yet the left-hander managed to post a 3.69 ERA in 63.1 innings for the Yankees in 2026.
Yarbrough got a much-deserved B in our Report Cards this season, although it arguably could have been a bit higher because it was also a B in 2025 when he posted a 4.36 ERA and a 5.04 FIP. The southpaw is who he is at this point, but he has found a home with the Yankees as the organization has encouraged him to pitch to his strengths. And it has worked.
Despite limited velocity and bat-missing ability, Yarbrough excels at one thing: contact management. Hitters just can’t find the barrel of the bat against him with any semblance of consistency.
Yarbrough ranked in the 96th percentile with his 3.6 percent barrel rate this year, and led the league with his 25 percent hard-hit rate. A whopping three-quarters of his batted balls left the bat at 94 mph or lower and, as you can imagine, it’s much easier to field an 84 mph soft liner than a 102 mph line drive.
The contrast between his average fastball velo (and percentile ranking) and his average exit velocity is one of the funniest things you will see today:
How does Yarbrough get away with such an underwhelming repertoire velocity-wise? Smarts. Command. Pitching know-how. Good coaching. A plan and perfect execution. A varied arsenal. And so on.
The left-hander uses five pitches almost evenly: a cutter (28.7 percent), changeup (22.7 percent), sweeper (19.8 percent), four-seamer (15.6 percent), and sinker (13.1 percent). The one chosen for every occasion will depend on a number of things, but only the ‘heater’ had a wOBA over .312 at .446, and it had a much lower .352 xwOBA. Every offering serves its purpose, and nothing goes to waste. That sums up his pitching philosophy of maximizing resources to get hitters out.
As things stand today, Yarbrough will enter the 2026-27 offseason as a free agent after the one-year, $2.5 million deal he signed before the 2026 campaign expires following the conclusion of the World Series. It will certainly not be a normal winter in baseball, but regardless of the looming lockout and what happens with the next CBA, a reunion makes sense for both the pitcher and the organization.
Will they reach a new agreement to extend Yarbrough’s stay in the Bronx? Nobody knows, but the Yankees should entertain the possibility. He is New York-proven, cheap, and highly effective in his multi-inning relief role. He is also highly versatile, having shown through the years the ability to adapt to various roles ranging from starter to a traditional one-inning bullpen piece.
Yarbrough won’t get you a strikeout per inning or triple-digit velocity. Heck, he won’t even crack 90 mph on the radar gun. But he performs, and he delivers when needed. That kind of profile deserves a spot on the roster.
See more of the Yankees Roster Report Card series here.
Signing free agents is the easiest way to fill holes on a team, and the Yankees have plenty of them.
However, with most of the starting positions on the 2027 roster locked in, where can the Yanks look to improve? The bench needs a boost, and there are still questions surrounding second base and third base.
Not to mention the annual bullpen rebuild New York has become known for.
While the Yanks should be looking to bring back some of their own free agents, like David Bednar and Paul Blackburn, we'll make this list more interesting by including only players who were not in pinstripes this past season, starting with the bullpen, then catcher and finally the infield.
Raisel Iglesias
The Braves' closer for the last four seasons, Iglesias would make a great Bednar replacement if he were to get away.
Despite putting up 30-plus saves every season as Atlanta's closer, he was a first-time All-Star in 2026 while pitching to a 2.55 ERA -- his third sub-3.00 ERA in the last four seasons -- with 34 saves and a 1.08 WHIP.
The 36-year-old did miss some time this past season with shoulder inflammation, which isn't great, but he finished strong, helping the Braves win the NL East and make it to the NLDS.
Adrian Morejon
The name seemingly on every team's lips. Morejon has dominated in his time with the Padres, especially most recently setting up for Mason Miller.
Morejon pitched his third consecutive season with a sub-3.00 ERA and while he wasn't as unhittable as he was in his lone All-Star season in 2025, he had a career-high in strikeouts (107) and in K/9 (11.2).
With Brent Headrick already in the bullpen, Morejon would be a luxury as a southpaw, but would serve nicely as the setup man for whoever closes for the Bombers in 2027 and beyond.
Alex Vesia
A pursuit of Vesia should not be impacted by potential pursuits of Blackburn and Bednar.
Tim Hill, the once lockdown lefty specialist in the 'pen, is going to hit the market and Vesia would be an upgrade. Vesia pitched to a 2.64 ERA and struck out 74 batters across 58 innings for the Dodgers in 2026. The one bugaboo about him is his walk rate, as he averaged five walks per nine in 2026 and has a career walk rate of 4.3 per nine.
But the Yankees could perhaps overlook it, especially if you consider his postseason numbers. Vesia pitched 3.1 scoreless innings this postseason and was dominant in 2024, allowing just two hits and two walks across 5.2 scoreless innings, en route to a World Series title over the Yankees.
Pete Fairbanks
This would be a reclamation project. Fairbanks had a down 2026 with the Marlins, pitching to a 6.31 ERA (4.42 xERA) and a 1.35 WHIP after a magnificent 2025 with the Rays, when he locked down 27 saves and pitching to a 2.83 ERA.
The right-hander was also injured, missing a few weeks due to a shoulder issue, but he should be looking for a prove-it, one-year deal and the Yankees could use him after the departures and question marks surrounding some of their relievers.
Fairbanks' velocity was still in the 90th percentile per Baseball Savant, and he struck out batters at a 31.1 percent clip, so the stuff is there -- he just needs to execute. His 11.5 percent walk rate was his highest since 2020.
Jul 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (37) on deck in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Tyler Stephenson
The former first-round pick of the Reds is heading to free agency. While Cincinnati could extend the qualifying offer, the Yankees should still do their due diligence and see if Stephenson would be right for their club.
Stephenson's overall offensive numbers have declined, but he is still elite when he barrels up the ball. In 2026, he was in the 82nd percentile in barrel percentage, 80th in exit velocity and 71st in hard-hit percentage.
The 30-year-old is a good blocker behind the plate, but he isn't great at framing or holding runners on. It may be a necessary trade-off to get a competent bat.
Ryan Jeffers
The biggest name among the free agent catchers, the Yankees looked into acquiring Jeffers at the deadline, but the Twins weren't willing to trade him. Now with Jeffers on the market, the Yanks can pursue Jeffers to bring that pop from the right side.
Although Jeffers, like Stephenson, isn't the strongest behind the plate, the offense is a must. If the Yankees can get him at a reasonable deal, it would be worth it.
Alec Bohm
Made the pitch in our third base candidates list, but Bohm gives the Yankees a right-handed bat to play the hot corner on most days -- with McMahon coming in for late-game situations for defense -- and could replace Paul Goldschmidt, who is also a free agent,as the right-handed first base option.
Sep 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (5) hits a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at PNC Park. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Bohm is durable, playing in at least 140 games in four of his last five seasons, and has been solid at the plate. He's one of only seven right-handed hitters to drive in at least 85 runs in three of the past four seasons.
While his defense leaves a lot to be desired (-11 OAA playing third and first in 2026), it may be a worthy sacrifice to round out the lineup.
Eugenio Suarez
Another third base candidate from our list, Suarez could be the power option the Yankees could grab on the cheap after the veteran had a down season with the Reds.
Suarez's 2026 was so down that no team wanted him when he was put on waivers toward the end of the season. Perhaps that can motivate Suarez to recapture some of his prolific power. Suarez hit 26 bombs a season after smashing 49, but slashed .212/.307/.433 with an OPS of .740. It could be worth the risk for the Yanks if the money is right.
Like Bohm, Suarez's defensive metrics are not great. He played 50 games at third base in 2026 and had -7 OAA. His arm strength is also in the bottom 25 percent in the league, so a straight platoon with McMahon would be a must.
Luis Arraez
Speaking of players who can round out a lineup, Arraez is a hit machine, one the Yankees can surely use.
Arraez has improved defensively at second base, so that would be the only worthwhile position for him, so admittedly, this would be a luxury signing. His left-handed bat would replace Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s, but his market could be more robust than in years past.
If the Yanks can swing a one-year deal for Arraez's services, it can change the lineup and even influence other hitters to be more contact-oriented.
Brandon Lowe
Lowe was arguably one of the best acquisitions last offseason. Coming from the Rays after an All-Star 2025 season, the veteran infielder helped the Pirates become one of the more prolific offenses in baseball in 2026.
Now a free agent, Lowe could be the low-key steal of the offseason for the Yankees.
His offensive numbers were better across the board from his All-Star season, as he slashed .260/.331/.493 (.824 OPS) to go along with his 35 home runs and 96 RBI. And his defense is pretty solid at second base. He posted a career-best +12 OAA, playing 138 games at second in 2026. While not as athletically gifted as Chisholm, he has proven he can handle the position.
Lowe's career splits against left-handers (.220/.274/.410) are similar to Chisholm's, so the same pitfalls that made the Yankees susceptible to southpaws are there. But it could be worth it for the production Lowe brings, especially if they feel Luis Garcia Jr. isn't a fit to play second base.
McDermott: ‘It’s a difficult situation to negotiate’
The England head coach, Brian McDermott, has urged his side to keep their nerve as they attempt to hold up their end of the bargain on Friday and secure what would be a remarkable qualification for the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup.
Defeat by Tonga in their opening group game a fortnight ago appeared to all but consign England to an early exit, owing in no small part to a complex and shortened format, with the tournament reduced to 10 teams. However, the margin of their 82-0 win against France last Saturday means qualification is still possible, albeit unlikely.
Tonight’s matchup between the Vancouver Canucks (3–10–1) and San Jose Sharks (6–6–1) will feature the tale of two rebuilds. Vancouver, obviously just entering theirs, comes into tonight’s match riding the high of a 6–5 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, which saw them end a 10-game losing streak that started on October 4. The Sharks, who seem to have put their rebuild in the rear-view, have something to prove heading into tonight’s matchup, as they were shut out by the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday and have dropped their past two.
The Canucks team that enters SAP Center for tonight’s matchup is undoubtedly at the beginning of their rebuild. They have their young talent in players like Zeev Buium, Tom Willander, and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, though most of the recent high-end prospects they’ve acquired are still developing in other leagues. From both a team and individual perspective, there’s still lots of room to grow.
San Jose, on the other hand, boasts a lineup that has seen their fair share of losing seasons and been rewarded greatly for it. Four of their current rostered players — Will Smith (4th-overall, 2023), Macklin Celebrini (1st-overall, 2024), Michael Misa (2nd-overall, 2025), and Ivar Stenberg (2nd-overall, 2026) — were picked within the top-five of the four most recent NHL Entry Drafts. While they’re still a young team, it’s clear their contention window is just beginning to open.
Players To Watch:
Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Jonathan Lekkerimäki was one of the Canucks’ strongest players on Tuesday night, scoring his team’s fourth and fifth goals with less than four minutes in regulation to earn the tie and send the game to overtime. His effort in the win propelled him to a tie for second on his team in points with 12. Given his performance on Tuesday, which saw him skate in a career-high of 19:55 minutes, it will be interesting to see if Lekkerimäki ends up being rewarded with an increased role or a boost in ice time compared to his averages on the season.
Ivar Stenberg
Tonight’s matchup will provide the Canucks with a first NHL-look at the second-overall pick of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. While he’s still only 19, Stenberg appears to be fitting into the NHL well. His three goals and six assists currently tie him with Tyler Toffoli for second on their team in points. He also sits tied for second in the NHL’s rookie scoring race for points, with only Gavin McKenna ranking ahead of him.
Vancouver Canucks (3–10–1):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 4–11–15
Jonathan Lekkerimäki: 6–6–12
Brock Boeser: 4–8–12
Filip Hronek: 1–9–10
Linus Karlsson: 3–6–9
Goaltenders:
Leevi Meriläinen: 2–3–1
Kevin Lankinen: 1–7–0
San Jose Sharks (6–6–1):
Points:
Macklin Celebrini: 5–10–15
Tyler Toffoli: 4–5–9
Ivar Stenberg: 3–6–9
Will Smith: 4–4–8
Jacob Trouba: 2–6–8
Goaltenders:
Alex Nedeljkovic: 3–1–1
Yaroslav Askarov: 3–5–0
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: SAP Center
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: KiSS West Coast
Apr 11, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Dmitry Orlov (9) and Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (40) battle for control of the puck during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 28: Fans of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after the Brewers won the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One in Game Five against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Well, the Brewers won the final game of the 2026 MLB season. Now, it’s the offseason.
What does that mean for you?
Maybe you’re looking forward to pre-lockout free agency and similar activities. I imagine they’ll be very muted as teams await a new Collective Bargaining Agreement that they anticipate reshaping spending, but I could be very wrong and maybe there’ll be a flurry of meaningful pre-lockout activity.
Maybe you’re a sicko who loves MLB labor relations discourse. I can’t help you if that’s the case.
Maybe you need a break from baseball.
Maybe you’ve been dreading the lockout and related stuff so much you’re happy that it’s now rushing upon us in a way that will ultimately, eventually, get resolved.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout prior to Game Four of the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The World Series ended on Wednesday, which brings the official start of the offseason. First up was 6 a.m. PT on Thursday, with scores of players across the sport now officially free agents. Nine Dodgers are free agents, headlined by ace pitcher Tarik Skubal.
Because Skubal switched teams during the season, he’s not eligible to receive a qualifying offer from the Dodgers. Same goes for Eric Lauer and Kris Bubic, but they weren’t going to get a qualifying offer anyway.
The Dodgers got Lauer from the Toronto Blue Jays in May to fill in once Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell made their annual stops on the injured list. Lauer lasted six innings in seven of his first 11 games with the Dodgers, and didn’t allow more than three runs in each of his first nine appearances before fading. In all, Lauer had a 4.50 ERA in 14 games, including 12 starts, with 46 strikeouts and 19 walks in 72 innings with the Dodgers.
Bubic was an All-Star starting pitcher in 2025 with the Kansas City Royals, but this year missed three and a half months on the injured list, first with elbow soreness then with shoulder soreness suffered while on rehab, and was acquired by Los Angeles on August 3. The left-hander joined the Dodgers in September and pitched 5 2/3 scoreless frames in his six appearances. Bubic pitched twice in the postseason and gave up a run both times, taking the loss in Game 2 of the NLDS and surrendering the tying run in Game 2 of the NLCS.
Bullpen mainstays now free
Vesia led the Dodgers with 72 appearances and put up a 2.64 ERA and 2.68 xERA with three saves, 74 strikeouts and 32 walks in 58 innings. After appearing in five games for the Miami Marlins in 2020, the Dodgers acquired Veisa that offseason and he’s spent the last six years as a stalwart in the back end of their bullpen, with a 2.66 ERA while averaging 61 innings, 54 2/3 innings, and 73 strikeouts.
“Looking back, getting drafted was a very big goal for me, and obviously Miami took a chance on a kid in the 17th round, and then the Dodgers liked what they saw. I definitely give a lot of credit to the coaching staff and the players and personnel in this room,” Vesia said on October 15. “I would not be where I’m at if it wasn’t for all of them. I’ve had very hard conversations, very happy conversations, a lot of great conversations that molded me into who I am and how I go about my business. The standard that is set here, to be great day in and day out is something that’s very motivating, and it’s been a great journey.”
Treinen has been with the Dodgers for seven years, with each of the last five years interrupted by injuries. In 2026 Treinen missed two and a half months with elbow inflammation, then suffered a shoulder injury during the last weekend of the regular season that removed any possible temptation for manager Dave Roberts to use Treinen in key situations this October. In between, Treinen had a 3.64 ERA and 5.07 xERA in 36 games, with 31 strikeouts and 13 walks in 29 2/3 innings. He turns 39 next June.
Brusdar Graterol has been with the Dodgers since 2020 but hasn’t pitched since 2024, missing most of that time after shoulder surgery. This year Graterol made four rehab appearances in May before getting shut down with a back injury that eventually required surgery.
Treinen, Graterol, Vesia, and Phillips were the four longest-tenured pitchers on the Dodgers 40-man roster. With all four now free agents, that distinction currently belongs to Gavin Stone, who debuted three weeks earlier than fellow 2020 draftee Bobby Miller.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen to me personally moving forward for next year, but this team is well-positioned to keep winning, keep competing until October,” Hernández said on October 15. “Not only is this locker room very talented, but there are a lot of guys in the minor league system that can really be impactful players. The organization is in good hands.
“I love this place. I’ve played for three other teams, but every time I look at my career, I kind of obviously go back to this place,” Hernández said. “I hope I get back, I feel I have a lot left to serve.”
With the Mets seemingly set at all three outfield positions, shortstop, third base (if Bo Bichette opts in), and catcher -- and with the long-term answer at second base likely coming soon in the form of one of their top prospects -- it's not the worst thing in the world that this year's free agent market is quite weak when it comes to position players.
If the Mets pursue a full-time first baseman, the selection will be limited. But it's possible the biggest noise by New York this offseason will be made with starting pitching additions -- whether they come via free agency, trade, or both.
On the free agent market, one of the best starting pitchers in recent memory is available. There are also a handful of strong rotation anchors a tier below that, and plenty of middle of the rotation starters as well.
There are some high-upside relievers available, too, and the Mets could certainly use one of them.
With free agency set to begin soon, there's every reason to believe there will be a spending frenzy over the next month with the lockout looming on Dec. 1 when the CBA expires. So the Mets, and every other team, could be in a race to that theoretical deadline.
Here are the 10 players the Mets should have highest on their list of targets, ranked:
10. Bryan Abreu, RHP
Abreu has been a stalwart in the Astros' bullpen since 2022, with a 2.56 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 12.4 strikeouts per nine over 344.1 innings. In addition to generating strikeouts at a huge clip, Abreu has been adept at limiting hits, with a H/9 of 6.8 or better each of the last five seasons.
Walks were an issue for Abreu in 2026, but that might have been a one-year blip given his steady walk rates in recent seasons.
9. Alex Vesia, LHP
With Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter set for free agency after this season, the Mets traded both of them ahead of the deadline as part of their bigger summer sell-off. Once Raley and Minter were gone, left-hander Nate Lavender made his MLB debut and excelled, showing that he deserves a spot in the 2027 bullpen. But New York should be seeking another left-hander to pair with him.
To that end, Vesia -- who has spent the last six years dominating for the Dodgers -- would be a strong fit. Vesia will be entering his age-31 season in 2027 and is coming off a year where he posted a 2.64 ERA and 1.06 WHIP while continuing to miss bats at an elite rate. In addition to his effectiveness, Vesia has been extremely durable, pitching in 56 games or more five seasons in a row, including a career-high 72 appearances in 2026.
San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France (25) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a one run home run during the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park. / David Frerker - Imagn Images
8. Ty France, 1B
As is noted above, the group of position player free agents is not terribly strong. That includes the first base options, which feature some platoon guys (Paul Goldschmidt among them) and two players who are coming off late-career breakouts. One of them is Jake Bauers, who had a .675 OPS in eight seasons as a part-time player before erupting to smack 26 homers with an .874 OPS this season for the Brewers. The other player who had a breakout is France.
Unlike Bauers, France had excelled in a regular role before, from 2020 to 2022 with the Padres and Mariners. Following a few down seasons offensively, France slashed .295/.363/.502 (.865 OPS) in 133 games in 2026. France, who won the Gold Glove award at first base in 2025, continued to excel defensively this season, landing in the 93rd percentile in OAA.
France also hits from the right side of the plate, which could be a plus for a lefty-heavy Mets lineup that includes Juan Soto, Carson Benge, and A.J. Ewing as key cogs.
7. Jonathan Loaisiga, RHP
After becoming one of the key pieces in the Yankees' bullpen, Loaisiga's seasons in 2023 and 2024 were seriously impacted because of Tommy John surgery. He returned for the Yanks in 2025, but didn't round back into form until this past season.
In 67.0 innings for the Diamondbacks in 2026, Loaisiga had a 2.42 ERA (2.88 FIP) and 1.03 WHIP while allowing just three homers all year and walking a minuscule 1.7 batters per nine. Loaisiga relies mainly on a sinker that averages a tick under 98 mph and a changeup that averages 91 mph. He doesn't strike out a lot of batters, but is phenomenal when it comes to limiting hard contact and generating ground balls.
In 2026, Loaisiga was in the 93rd percentile or better in average exit velocity allowed, chase percentage, barrel percentage, hard-hit percentage, and ground ball percentage.
One of those two main rotation adds should be an ace, with the other filling more of a mid-rotation role -- something that Gausman profiles in at this point of his career. Gausman's ERA was a tick high in 2026 (4.51), but his FIP (3.74), WHIP (1.27), walk rate (2.4 per nine), and strikeout rate (9.3 per nine) indicate he's still a quality starter. He is also one of the most reliable pitchers in the majors, having pitched 174.2 innings or more six seasons in a row.
Ahead of his age-36 season, Gausman -- who has hinted at retiring soon -- could possibly be had on a one-year deal.
Apr 10, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) delivers a pitch against the Athletics during the first inning at Citi Field. / Gregory Fisher - Imagn Images
5. Clay Holmes, RHP
Holmes is one of David Stearns' biggest free agent hits, with him excelling in the rotation after the Mets signed him and transitioned him back to being a starting pitcher. Before he was traded to the Cubs at the deadline in the deal that brought top infield prospect Jefferson Rojas to New York, Holmes was viewed as one of the clubhouse leaders.
Given Holmes' ability, clubhouse presence, and familiarity with the New York market, it should be a no-brainer for the Mets to consider a reunion -- something SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes recently reported Holmes would be open to.
Since Holmes is about to enter his age-34 season, it's possible he can be snagged on a two- or three-year deal.
4. Michael King, RHP
It feels likely that King will opt out of the final two years of his deal with the Padres and attempt to cash in this winter -- something that would be wise coming off a huge 2026 season.
In 32 starts over a career-high 185.0 innings, King had a 3.21 ERA and 1.17 WHIP while allowing just 148 hits. King's strikeout rate was down this past season, but his stuff -- a five-pitch mix that includes a sinker, changeup, and sweeper -- graded out near the top of the sport.
There have been some serious injury issues during King's career, including a thoracic nerve issue that impacted him in 2025, but he was healthy for all of 2026. And a healthy King is a top of the rotation starter.
Another plus is that King grew up in the Northeast and has familiarity with the New York market, having played with the Yankees from 2019 to 2023.
But even if the Mets are confident Williams will bounce back and envision Senga back in the bullpen, they should still be attempting to bring in a dominant force to close -- or to at the very least step in for Williams if it's deemed he's best suited for a setup role.
Enter Morejon, who will be in his age-28 season in 2027 and has been pretty much injury-free since 2023. Over the last three years, Morejon has a 2.58 ERA (2.46 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP in 223.1 innings while striking out 248 (a rate of 10.0 per nine). In 2026, Morejon was in the 90th percentile or better in hard-hit percentage, xERA, average exit velocity against, xBA, fastball velocity, chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, barrel percentage, and ground ball percentage.
One downside here is that Morejon will almost certainly be saddled with the qualifying offer.
Mar 15, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Hanshin Tigers right fielder Teruaki Sato (8) poses for a photo after defeating the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome. / Darren Yamashita - Imagn Images
2. Teruaki Sato, INF/OF
Speaking shortly after the season ended, Stearns said the expectation was that the team would look externally for first base help.
Whether that means a platoon partner to share time with Jared Young or someone who profiles as a full-time player remains to be seen. But if the Mets are searching for a regular first baseman whose presence would slide Young to a bench role (they should be), Sato would be the most logical choice.
The Mets haven't made a splash with a Japanese position player since they signed Kaz Matsui ahead of the 2004 season, and the club didn't seem terribly interested in either Munetaka Murakami or Kazuma Okamoto last offseason. So a strong pursuit of Sato would be a bit of a surprise. But that doesn't mean it wouldn't make sense.
Primarily a third baseman in Japan, the belief of many experts is that Sato profiles as a first baseman in the majors. And he has thunder in his bat, having won the Central League MVP in 2025 and the Triple Crown in 2026. In 143 games this past season for the Hanshin Tigers, Sato hit .306/.383/.609 with 39 home runs, 40 doubles, 100 runs scored, and 106 RBI.
There are some strikeout concerns with Sato, but his upside is sky high, the Mets have a glaring need at first base, and it's time for them to take a swing.
1. Tarik Skubal, LHP
Surprised?
With a young starting staff that includes Nolan McLean and Christian Scott, and could also feature Zac Thornton and eventually Jonathan Santucci, the Mets need a finishing piece -- a true ace who slides in at the top of the rotation. Skubal should be that guy.
And it can be argued that the stars are aligning for Skubal to the Mets.
There's the aforementioned need, the fact that Skubal won't be attached to a qualifying offer, the fact that the Mets have a huge chunk of money coming off their payroll after 2027, and the likelihood that there will not be another starting pitcher like this hitting the free agent market until after 2029 -- when Paul Skenes could theoretically be available.
Put that all together and the question becomes this: If Stearns isn't willing to make an exception for Skubal, it's fair to wonder if the Stearns-led Mets will ever bend their philosophy when it comes to megadeals for "older" starting pitchers. And if they don't, they'll continue to be left out in the cold.
