Baseball: Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr. (7) stands in the dugout vs Los Angeles Dodgers during a game at Dodger Stadium Los Angeles, CA 8/12/2026CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164936 TK1)
Created by the MLBPAA in 2005, the Heart & Hustle Award recognizes an active player who demonstrates a passion for baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game. Each of the 30 teams has one nominee selected by a committee of former players, with fans, alumni and active Major League players voting to determine the overall winner.
Witt has been Kansas City’s nominee in each of his first five Major League seasons, establishing himself as one of the game’s top all-around players while also making an impact in the clubhouse and community.
He’s very big on pre-pitch planning. Go to the plate with a plan, and it’s much easier to execute than without one. That lets a hitter jump into good counts or lay off the pitch they should lay off. With that, he’s done an excellent job throughout his career of helping hitters with a variety of swings because the 3-0 swing shouldn’t be the same as the 0-2 swing, which shouldn’t be the same as the 1-1 swing. Situational awareness is the biggest thing.
I didn’t have much conversation about Mense after the hire was announced, but I did talk to a couple of people who noted how great he is on the mental side of the game. That probably shouldn’t be a surprise given that he has a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in sport psychology. It’s an interesting profile given that the Royals chose to reassign Melissa Lambert, the previous director of behavioral science/Major League mental performance. I’m still under the impression they plan to hire someone else for the dugout for that role, but the fact that Mense has that educational background is interesting to me.
Ward is another player who took a major step back in production after being traded and is the 67th-ranked free agent. Ward posted an 117 wRC+ in Baltimore, which fell to 23 with the Mariners after the trade. Even before his disastrous trade, Ward’s power had evaporated. After hitting 36 home runs in 663 plate appearances in 2025 with the Angels, Ward hit only seven homers in 506 PAs with Baltimore (and at a more homer-friendly ballpark) and zero homers in Seattle.
Interestingly, despite his dip in home runs, his .336 wOBA in Baltimore was roughly the same as his .339 wOBA in 2025. This was largely due to his increase in walk rate from 11.3% to 16.3% and a decrease in strikeout rate from 26.4% to 20.4%. If Ward can combine his increased plate discipline with a revival of his power, he could be a valuable addition to the Royals, especially as a right-handed batter. He would likely also be willing to sign a one-year prove-it deal to increase his value, and the Royals could be beneficiaries of this opportunity.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: Jacob Young #30 of the Washington Nationals celebrates after the Washington Nationals defeated the New York Mets at Nationals Park on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hello my friends and welcome to the weekend!
Let’s get you caught up on the latest from around baseball.
Over at The Feed, commenter Suburban Shocker shared a text they received from a former colleague of Jason Kanzler about why they think the Mariners made the right decision in their managerial hire.
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 06: The Colorado Rockies host an end-of-season press conference with club President Walker Monfort, left, and President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta at Coors Field on Tuesday, October 06, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies have never seemed to be particularly enthusiastic about free agency. The organization has a reputation for being insular, holding on to familiar players, and generally preferring to do things its own way.
But just how different is Colorado’s approach from the rest of the NL West?
It’s one thing to avoid spending like the Los Angeles Dodgers, but what about the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and Arizona Diamondbacks? Are the Rockies really that far behind their division rivals when it comes to bringing in outside talent?
I wanted to find out, so I went through seven years of FanGraphs’ RosterResource transaction records to compare major- and minor-league free-agent activity across all five teams.
The results weren’t particularly flattering.
Seven years of free agency
From 2020 through 2026, the Rockies recorded just 90 major- and minor-league free-agent agreements. Every other NL West team recorded at least 137.
Colorado recorded approximately 44% fewer agreements than the average of its four division rivals. While I expected the Rockies to trail the Dodgers, I wasn’t expecting them to finish this far behind everybody else.
At the major-league level, Colorado recorded just 23 agreements, compared with 40 for San Diego, the next-lowest team.
Three of Colorado’s agreements brought back Jhoulys Chacín, José Ureña and Jacob Stallings.
Not exactly a reunion tour anyone was demanding.
Of course, players have to agree to sign, and Colorado isn’t always an attractive destination, especially for pitchers considering Coors Field. Franchise reputation and a team’s competitive outlook can influence those decisions.
But money matters, too. If another organization offers a pitcher $10 million a year, the Rockies could offer $13 million. That doesn’t guarantee he’ll sign, but it’s a pretty good reason to answer the phone.
When the Rockies spend
I also wanted to see what each NL West team received from its biggest free agent contracts.
Using Spotrac, I identified each team’s ten highest-average-annual-value (AAV) outside free agent agreements whose playing periods began between 2020 and 2026, including contracts tied at the tenth-highest AAV. I then used Baseball Reference to calculate the rWAR accumulated under those agreements through the 2026 season.
Some agreements remain active, so the totals will change as those contracts continue. For the financial comparison, I counted only the contract value attributable to seasons through 2026 rather than including future seasons that haven’t been played.
Combined guarantees and rWAR from each team’s highest-AAV free-agent contracts
Team
Combined Contract Guarantees
rWAR
Cost per rWAR
Dodgers
$1,892.5 million
+68.6
$11.4M
Padres
$497.0 million
+39.7
$6.2M
Giants
$616.5 million
+24.4
$12.7M
Diamondbacks
$457.5 million
+14.0
$24.4M
Rockies
$239.0 million
-3.5
–
Sources: Spotrac contract terms and Baseball-Reference rWAR. Production is limited to the specific qualifying contracts through 2026, excluding subsequent extensions or new agreements.
The Rockies are the only team in this comparison with a negative combined return from their largest free-agent agreements.
Kris Bryant has contributed -1.6 rWAR since signing his seven-year, $182 million contract before the 2022 season. Michael Lorenzen produced -1.7 rWAR on his $8 million agreement in 2026, while Jurickson Profar finished at -1.6 rWAR after signing for $7.75 million in 2023.
There have been some positive returns. Tomoyuki Sugano contributed 1.8 rWAR in 2026, Willi Castro added 1.1 and José Quintana produced 0.4.
Now consider Los Angeles.
Freddie Freeman has produced 23.7 rWAR under his six-year, $162 million contract through 2026. Shohei Ohtani has contributed another 18.9, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto has accumulated 12.7.
That’s 55.3 rWAR from three players, compared with a negative combined return from Colorado’s entire qualifying group.
Of course, the Dodgers spent considerably more money to get those results. Their qualifying contracts account for approximately $784 million in salary through 2026, or $11.4 million per rWAR.
San Diego has been even more efficient, spending roughly $246 million while generating 39.7 rWAR, or about $6.2 million per win. Ha-Seong Kim alone contributed 15.1 rWAR under his four-year, $28 million agreement.
San Francisco received 5.2 rWAR from Carlos Rodón and 7.1 from Matt Chapman under their original agreements.
Every organization has expensive contracts it would like to forget. Arizona certainly didn’t get what it hoped for from Madison Bumgarner or Jordan Montgomery, and even the Dodgers have made costly mistakes.
Colorado, meanwhile, spent approximately $184 million on its qualifying agreements through 2026 and received a combined -3.5 rWAR.
A positive return would have been nice.
Down on the farm
Both Colorado and San Diego brought back roughly 16% of their recorded minor-league free-agent agreements from 2020 through 2026. But the Padres recorded 128 agreements compared with just 67 for the Rockies.
During 2024 and 2025 alone, San Diego recorded 50 minor-league agreements, followed by San Francisco with 39, Los Angeles with 31 and Arizona with 28.
Colorado recorded just 20.
Minor-league free agency offers relatively inexpensive opportunities to build depth, create competition and find players who might benefit from different coaching or a change of scenery.
For a team that has struggled to develop pitching, that seems like a market worth exploring.
Signs of life in 2026
Free agency is only one part of roster construction, and Colorado’s lack of activity appears to have extended beyond it.
During 2024 and 2025, the Rockies recorded just 14 acquisitions through trades and cash deals, fewer than every other NL West team. They also traded away only eight players, compared with 46 for San Diego and 38 for Los Angeles.
In 2026, however, the Rockies recorded 15 acquisitions through trades and cash deals, six waiver claims and 12 players traded away.
Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes have also shown a willingness to pursue outside starting pitching. During their first offseason, ahead of the 2026 season, they signed Michael Lorenzen, José Quintana and Tomoyuki Sugano to major-league contracts.
The Rockies pursued a different type of player in 2026, but their overall free-agent activity remained relatively unchanged. Colorado recorded just 15 combined major- and minor-league free-agent agreements, still fewer than any of its division rivals.
More activity, better results?
So which has hurt the Rockies more? Their reluctance to participate in free agency, or their inability to identify the right players when they do?
Maybe the Rockies would have been just as bad if they’d signed twice as many free agents. Given the returns on some of their biggest contracts, I wouldn’t rule it out.
Signing more players won’t help much if the Rockies can’t identify and develop the right ones. But free agency offers opportunities to add talent without surrendering prospects, and the market is open.
For now, I’d settle for more activity. After years of watching a moribund organization, a little movement would be welcome.
After all, seven years of relative inactivity haven’t produced much worth protecting.
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong won his second straight Gold Glove earlier this week, perhaps the second of several such awards.
Friday night, PCA received another defensive award, this time the Platinum Glove for the best overall fielder in the National League. Here are some of the numbers that got him that award:
PCA is the second Cub to win the Platinum Glove (also Anthony Rizzo in 2016). In addition, the Cubs won the team Gold Glove for 2026:
That’s the power of glove 😮💨
Congratulations to the @Cubs, winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Team Award as the Best Defensive Team in the National League for the second year in a row! pic.twitter.com/zRyJcXaPi5
The Cubs have proven over the last couple of years how much defense matters. They also put together the best offensive team in MLB in 2026. If only the pitching staff had matched the hitting and defense, we might be talking about a Cubs World Series appearance this year. That’s the job of Jed Hoyer this offseason — to put together such a pitching staff.
Congratulations to PCA and the Cubs team on these defensive awards. Here are six and a half minutes of PCA defensive highlights:
PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll had surgery this week to remove loose bodies in his right elbow and should be ready for the scheduled start of spring training in February.
The team confirmed the surgery on Friday. A full recovery is expected to take about eight weeks.
The three-time All-Star hit .239 with 22 homers, 78 RBIs, 33 doubles and a league-high 17 triples last season despite battling multiple injuries, including hamate bone surgery that caused him to miss much of spring training. He also dealt with back soreness during the last few months of the season, which was part of the reason he struggled in the second half after a hot start.
The 26-year-old has been one of the D-backs’ best players since he won NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2023 and led the team to a surprise World Series appearance. He was awarded his first Gold Glove earlier this month for his work in right field.
Carroll’s elbow surgery was first reported by The Arizona Republic.
Oct 28, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) celebrates with the MVP trophy after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in game five of the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Since his arrival in a trade with Atlanta during the 2022-2023 offseason, William Conteras has been a rock-solid catcher for the Brewers. He has been one of the league leaders at the position for the past four seasons, earning two All-Star appearances and receiving MVP votes in 2023 and 2024. While his 2026 season took a bit of a hit, his leadership and play in the postseason were critical to the World Series run, culminating in him being named the World Series MVP this season. He is approaching free agency in 2028, and with the Brewers looking for a future catcher from there and beyond, an extension for Contreras has to be in play.
Entering 2027, Contreras is under team control for one more year. While he would have been arbitration-eligible, the Brewers signed him to a one-year contract with an option last offseason. They immediately picked up the option after the season was over, and he will make $15.5 million in 2027. The Brewers may have been able to save a little money by declining the option and heading to arbitration, but they elected not to go that route this time. That also sets up a baseline for what an extension would cost. At minimum, any extension would need to be above that $15.5 million in average annual value.
While the general expectation with the Brewers would be to prep for the next prospect, the state of the Brewers’ farm system means that isn’t a viable option. Jeferson Quero was the prospect that they were hoping would take over at catcher following Contreras, but injuries have derailed that plan. In 2026 for Triple-A Nashville, he played just 48 games at catcher while serving as the designated hitter in 71 games. From July on, he only caught a total of three games for Nashville. Looking further down the minors, Marco Dinges is ranked No. 14 in the Brewers system on MLB Pipeline. However, he also faced similar problems, and served as a DH for most of the season between High-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi. He also only caught three games from June on, and his season ended early on August 12.
That puts the Brewers in a tough spot at catcher. They don’t have a ready catcher waiting in the minors, and anyone they bring up would need time to develop. The only other option currently on the roster is Bo Naylor, who the Brewers acquired at the trade deadline from Cleveland. He spent a month in Nashville before spending September on the Brewers’ bench, barely playing at all. While he could be the Brewers’ backup catcher in 2027, he likely won’t be much more than that.
What that means is the Brewers will have to spend heavily in the near future at catcher. That could mean signing Contreras to a long-term extension, and hopefully find their future catcher during that time. It could also mean spending heavily with their prospect capital, trading players in their system to get a highly-ranked catcher. Even if the Brewers do that, whoever they bring up will still need some time to develop. They could also look at acquiring an established major league catcher by trade, but that would also require a high prospect cost, and potentially even higher than bringing in a prospect.
The pending lockout further complicates the situation as well. Even if the Brewers do acquire a catcher by trade, that catcher will likely need time to develop. For a minor-league player, it would be better to spend a season with Contreras in the majors. However, if the 2027 season is shortened due to a lockout, that takes away valuable development time. Depending on how much it is shortened, any prospect could be thrust into the primary role once Contreras becomes a free agent. This would be lessened by acquiring a major-league ready catcher, but there’s still the consideration of time to integrate with the pitching staff. It’s less of a time concern, but there still is one.
The solution that would be the most optimal is keeping Contreras around long-term. He can hold down the position for the next few seasons while the Brewers continue to search for that future catcher. Once they find him and he’s had time to develop in the minors, he can serve as a backup to Contreras for a year or two. As the contract hits the later years, and Contreras starts to feel the age from playing the position so long, he could transition to another position (likely DH or first base) while the new catcher takes over. Contreras can still serve as a mentor while providing value in the lineup to finish up the contract.
Looking at the extension, we have a baseline for Contreras at $15.5 million from his last year of arbitration. Here’s a look at the current top contracts at catcher around the league (contracts from Spotrac):
Cal Raleigh (Mariners): six years / $105 million ($17.5 million AAV), signed in 2025 through 2030 with $20 million option for 2031
J.T. Realmuto (Phillies): three years / $45 million ($15 million AAV), signed in 2026 through 2028
Will Smith (Dodgers): 10 years / $140 million ($14 million AAV), signed in 2024 through 2033
Salvador Perez (Royals): 2 years / $25 million ($12.5 million AAV), signed for 2026 and 2027
Sean Murphy (Braves): six years / $73 million ($12.17 million AAV), signed in 2023 through 2028 with $15 million option for 2029
Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays): five years / $58 million ($11.6 million AAV), signed in 2026 through 2030
Samuel Basallo (Orioles): eight years / $67 million ($8.375 million AAV), signed in 2026 through 2033 with $18 million option for 2034
Contreras’ option for 2027 will already make him one of the highest paid catchers in the league. It puts him ahead of Realmuto at $15 million, and Raleigh’s highest earning years come later in his contract (he will earn $12 million in 2027 and $23 million in 2028). Smith will earn just $8 million in 2027, but he also has a total of $50 million in deferred money in his contract. By cash paid out, Contreras currently will earn the most of any catcher in 2027, pending any other deals this offseason. Raleigh is the player to beat here, with his 23.5 fWAR leading the position over the last five years. Contreras is 2nd in fWAR at catcher, posting a 19.5 fWAR in the last five years.
With that in mind, it’s reasonable to see that a contract approaching nine-figures may be needed to keep Contreras long-term. There is no chance he would sign a deal with a lower AAV than the $15.5 million he is making this season. Spotrac posted earlier this offseason that Contreras projects towards a six year, $86 million contract, but that is too low for an extension. It would only be an AAV of $14.33 million, and it’s highly unlikely that Contreras signs an extension with an AAV lower than what he’s making in 2027.
Pushing his AAV ahead of Raleigh might be enough to get it done. The team might have to push towards a nine-figure contract to make it happen. Six years at $110 million ($18.33 million AAV) would put him ahead of Raleigh in AAV, but the Brewers can also structure it to be more reasonable. With an infusion of money from the postseason run, it may make sense to include a higher signing bonus and lower the yearly salary. That would take him through his age 35 season, and by then there would be concerns on if the long career as a catcher is taking its toll.
Contreras has been an integral part of the Brewers for the last four seasons. He has become one of the best catchers in franchise history and one of the best currently in the league. With one more year until he becomes a free agent, the Brewers will need to make a significant investment at some point in the near future. Whether that is a big contract or a major trade, that moment is coming soon. Investing in Contreras may be one of the smarter moves they can make.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach, Mike Brown of the New York Knicks reacts during the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on November 04, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We were in the middle of a good, slow late-week break…
…only for Tyler Kolek, of all people, to force the Knicks PR into releasing a statement.
Here’s that and more before the Knights host the Knickerbockers tonight.
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ strong start and the areas where he still needs to improve:
“I say those two things because he’s been doing so many things well for us. He’s rebounding, he’s running, he’ s shooting the ball well from 3, he is passing when he doesn’t go for the home run ball, he’s communicating. The energy he’s bringing is great.”
On Towns’ professionalism amid his contract situation:
“Yeah, I didn’t have any doubt on it, you know? And obviously the contract stuff, that’s something that Leon [Rose] and at the end of the day, Jim [Dolan], will handle. But for me as his coach, I can’t even tell. I can’t tell. He’s played really well and not just during the games, but practices, too.”
On Towns’ pick-and-roll defense, turnovers and overall performance:
“Man, I tell you what, KAT’s been great. He has been great in practice. Really everything. It would be easier for him to say the areas that he needs to be better in. And the first one is just putting his chest in front of the ball in pick-and-roll situations and activity in that regard. And then not looking for the home run pass all the time when he has the ball as our hub. And I say those two things because he’s been doing so many things well for us.
“He’s rebounding. He’s running. He’s shooting the ball well from three. He is passing when he doesn’t go for a home run all the time. He’s communicating. So there’s the energy that he’s bringing that’s great . . . So I’m really pleased with the way that KAT is playing overall.”
On unexpectedly giving Dalton Knecht playing time against Chicago:
“It’s just a gut feel. Like, [Knecht’s] on my, quote-unquote, minutes sheet. He’s down for zero minutes, you know?”
Knicks spokesperson: “Taylor Swift has been a Knicks fan for many years, has a long history with Madison Square Garden, and we are incredibly appreciative of her support of the organization” pic.twitter.com/r7ZGZzlgG6https://t.co/4ZbEt7R8sF
On Dalton Knecht’s impressive debut and encouraging him to play aggressively:
“He played great. I think the way he was rebounding and getting out in transition, and just telling him to be aggressive no matter what the situation is. And whether you know a player or not, being aggressive is important. And so aggressive mistakes are fine, so just stay aggressive, and he hit a big shot in the second quarter. He’s going to be comfortable, and once he is, he’s going to play even better.”
On the Knicks’ title defense and his motivation to win another one:
“I came into the season wanting to defend the championship at all costs. Like I said before, the city hasn’t seen that trophy here in New York for 53 years, and all of us in this locker room, especially myself, don’t intend for it to leave.
“Being the No. 1 pick, [reaching] the Finals and getting your title, and having to go out there and try to figure out how to do it again, that’s enough motivation for me.”
On his rebounding numbers and compensating for Mitchell Robinson’s departure:
“I just always want to impact winning, and I always try to get every rebound possible for our team so we don’t give up any second-chance points or we give ourselves more chances at second-chance points on offense.
“Obviously, with [Mitchell Robinson] gone, I had to pick up the effort, especially the rebounding effort. When you have one of the greatest offensive rebounders the NBA has ever seen in Mitchell Robinson, it’s a team effort. I just want to do my part to help with rebounding.”
On putting the Knicks ahead of his contract situation and personal interests:
“Me and Jalen [Brunson] are here to lead the team. I want to do my part as best as I possibly can. I can’t allow outside distractions and ego to get in the way.
“We won last year because we put our egos to the side and we did what’s best for this city, best for this team, this organization, and we sacrificed, and I’m always going to be willing to sacrifice for my brothers and this family that we’ve built here.”
On focusing on winning rather than his contract and individual statistics:
“I want to do my job as the best possible way and I want to impact winning. And every single time I put that jersey on, I step on the court, I want to impact winning and help my team be the best they could be. So, you know, obviously I’ve got more work to do so I could help our team more. But I’m happy that right now recently, especially last game, we showed glimpses of that team from last year.”
Q “Who’s the fakest celeb fan you’ve seen courtside?”
Tyler Kolek “Maybe Taylor Swift?”
Deuce McBride “I would agree…Swifties not gonna like that answer”
Kolek “I’m gonna get some hate…I guess she’s got a lot going on…can’t come all the time…but it’s a little performative” pic.twitter.com/r7v4AJBK04
“At the Knicks games, I would say it’s very performative. Because they just want to be seen at the game. They’re not necessarily fans.”
On the absolute fakest Knicks celebrity fan:
“Maybe Taylor Swift? I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games. I guess she has a lot going on so she can’t come all the time. But it’s a little performative.”
On the truth of it all:
“I’m going to get some hate from the Swifties.”
My baby cousin Darius “Cheeks” Acuff Jr dropped 40pts and 8ast playing with 8th graders yesterday. This little dude so much better than me it’s ridiculous 😂me and his dad argue about this but man he’s like a miniature Greg Anthony from Oak Hill. The next Detroit PG. Talk soon. pic.twitter.com/3SOBpCMIuw
The last full week of games for the AFL finished Friday with the Peoria Javelinas playing to a 3-2 record after having their Monday game cancelled due to unplayable field conditions. The Javelinas finished the week with a 16-10 record, first in the league and a half-game up on the Surprise Saguaros.
All six teams begin the playoffs next Thursday but the Javelinas have a first-round bye due to their record. The two top finishers get to take Thursday off after all teams complete the regular season on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The six teams play a round-robin tournament that finishes with the championship game on Nov. 14.
HR Derby
The Fall League Home Run Derby begins today at 5:30 pm PST and will stream on MLB.com. Eight hitters from the six teams will compete, including three from the Javelinas.
Outfielder Alex McCoy, the Padres No. 26 prospect, joins two other sluggers from Peoria. McCoy is currently tied for second in the home run lead in the league and is first on the team (5). His 16 RBI is tied for second on the team. He also has the hardest hit ball of the Fall season so far, at 118.2 mph, and it traveled 435 feet.
The derby consists of three rounds, and each hitter has three outs for each round, with the top achievers advancing.
Fall Stars Game
The Fall Stars game will be played on Sunday at 5 pm PST on MLB Network and MLB.com. Ten of the top 100 prospects per MLB Pipeline will be playing in the game. The two teams, representing the National League and the American League, will face off at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
Outfielder Alex McCoy and RHP Kannon Kemp will represent the Padres and the Javelinas in the contest. McCoy will be one day removed from participating in the Home Run Derby. There are six Javelinas on the roster for the NL team.
Like the MLB game, the AFL game has the Final Two pick before the final roster is released. Padres prospect, infielder Justin DeCriscio, is one of the three NL players in the final vote. That winner will be announced on Saturday after fans were able to vote until yesterday.
The final AFL report for the 2026 season will come after the championship game next weekend.
Winter Leagues
The Latin Winter Leagues began in mid-October but no MLB or MiLB players joined in until after the end of the 2026 season. Multiple Padres minor leaguers are involved and Padres free agent outfielder Ramón Laureano is playing for Escogido of the Dominican Winter League.
A weekly update on the Winter Leagues will begin after the AFL season is complete.
Padres News:
Mason Miller was a lights out closer for much of the season, but he had some struggles. What grade did he receive from Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball?
AJ Cassavell of Padres.com breaks down how Craig Stammen fared in his first season as Padres manager.
Nov 6, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts to his three point basket during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Despite being hundreds of miles away from Boston, Jayson Tatum had no trouble feeling at ease in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday night. For a moment, the Spectrum Center even began to sound like TD Garden.
Chants of ‘Let’s go Celtics’ began filling the arena. In response, the Hornets began turning up the volume on their signature buzzing sound effect in an attempt to drown out the Celtics fans taking over Charlotte. It didn’t work. When Tatum arrived at the free-throw line in the third quarter, he was greeted by a chorus of loud ‘MVP’ chants.
“It definitely feels like home,” Tatum confessed after Boston’s 119-80 NBA Cup win, per CLNS Media.
Tatum found his footing and began painting his latest masterpiece early on. He scored or assisted on 30 of the Celtics’ first 40 first-quarter points, which tied Paul Pierce for the most 15-point first quarters (106) in the franchise’s play-by-play history, according to ESPN Insights. By halftime, he had reached 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, surpassing his combined 3-point makes from his three previous games.
If he wanted to, Tatum could’ve pursued his career-high (60 points). But instead, his night was called off after three quarters as the Celtics held a 96-57 runaway lead.
At that point, the damage was already done. Tatum only needed three frames to finish with 34 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, falling a hair shy of securing his first triple-double of the season. He earned a fourth quarter of rest, watching from the bench as head coach Joe Mazzulla allowed reserves including Luka Garza, Mike Conley, and Ron Harper Jr. to get their reps in until the final buzzer.
The Celtics found a way to turn a trip to Charlotte into a home-away-from-home experience. For Tatum, as uplifting as the Boston fans in attendance may have been, the 28-year-old had other reasons to feel comfortable in North Carolina, dating back to his teenage years.
“I have a lot of connections here in this state, this area,” he explained. “I came here as an 18-year-old kid, my first time spending real time away from home. I was here for a little under a year, and obviously the connection I have here with Duke and the relationships that I’ve been able to build. I always love coming back to North Carolina and love playing here. A lot of Celtics fans, a lot of Duke fans. It’s always a good time coming back.”
Throughout his career, Tatum has always flipped the switch in Charlotte. He’s averaged 29.9 points with eight rebounds and 3.7 assists across 15 career games — not including Friday nights — against the Hornets on the road.
CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 6: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game against the Charlotte Hornets during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on November 6, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For as many ‘MVP’ chants as Tatum has drawn and will continue to draw this season, this performance certainly lived up to the billing. He did everything. He entered the night shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 22.9 percent from three before going 56.3 percent and 62.5 percent, respectively, in Charlotte.
“It was a pretty damn good night,” Payton Pritchard told reporters, per CLNS Media. “34 is pretty good.”
Tatum unleashed his dominance, both as a scorer and as a playmaker. He was the undisputed leader, carrying out a belt-to-backside thrashing that took Hornets head coach Charles Lee’s group out of contention well before the game had reached its end.
He also got to the line plenty, going a perfect 11-for-11 from the charity stripe.
Pritchard continued: “He plays the right way, and he makes great decisions and [he’s] one heck of a ball player for sure.”
In each of his first eight appearances this season, Tatum has recorded six-plus assists.
It’s been only eight months since Tatum returned from his ruptured Achilles tendon last season, which is much more recent than it might sound. He’s still working toward completing his first full season since returning, and as much as he’s continued to pass the eye test, Tatum still doesn’t consider himself 100 percent just yet.
“Hell no,” Tatum told CelticsBlog’s Noa Dalzell. “I wish. I’m getting there, but no. How I felt before I got hurt was really, really good. I don’t feel too far, and again, I still only played less than 40 games since I’ve been back, so still in the quote-unquote rehab phase of returning to play.”
Still, he isn’t discouraged by the process.
“We’re gonna get there, though,” Tatum added.
On Wednesday, the Celtics survived letting go of a 22-point lead against the Milwaukee Bucks as Tatum rested on the sidelines. In Charlotte, they witnessed Tatum make the most of his additional rest and take another step toward becoming the leader Boston will need this season.
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 27: Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Izzy Rincon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Happy Saturday, everyone, here’s a quick little weekend news roundup. Things have still been quiet on the Tigers front with some minor news updates about award finalists and coaching staff that we’ll touch on below, and then of course some updates on free agency and the looming lockout. So lots of fun stuff to keep you busy on a weekend morning. And of course, the BBWAA has selected none other than Kevin McGonigle as the Tiger of the Year, as if there was any other option.
So grab yourself a coffee and just peruse some fun baseball links to get your day going.
Detroit Tigers News
In case you missed our article about it, the Tigers unveiled their 2027 coaching staff.
The Tigers have finalized their 2027 coaching staff. Kyle Hudson and Martín Maldonado are the only new additions. Ryan Sienko becomes bullpen coach in addition to his duties as catching coach.
Scott Peters is the new medical director. Jeremiah Randall is head athletic trainer.
“Trying to find those things that keep you grounded help drive you throughout the season.”
From growing his love for sports at home to becoming a dad himself, Dillon Dingler's family has played a big role in his MLB journey.#DNMW@RocketOTDpic.twitter.com/CNRe9Zltyx
Was browsing Facebook and saw that there will be fake Phillies team in the Tom Hanks movie “The Comebacker” out next summer. pic.twitter.com/unkgEa3Zbk
Brewers are already getting poached by other teams.
The Athletics are hiring Cam Castro away from the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers as their general manager under new president of baseball operations Taylor Smith, league sources tell The Athletic.
Aug 27, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) walks back to the dugout after striking out against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Good morning Birdland,
There is very little “real” news around baseball right now. The GM meetings take place next week, so perhaps some interesting nuggets will come out of that. But for now, we are in a holding pattern.
While big moves rarely occur during those meetings, they can lay the groundwork for seismic happenings later in the offseason. It has been reported that the Orioles are open to trading just about anyone on the roster, so you would assume that they will be particularly chatty.
Back in the summer it was reported that the Orioles had discussed deals involving Jackson Holliday and Colton Cowser. This was prior to when the team ended up trading away Adley Rutschman and Taylor Ward, so perhaps they were just keeping options open. But little has happened since then to indicate that they should be committed to any one on this team. They have underperformed for more than two years. Change of some significance is needed.
While it has been reported that the team is open to dealing anyone outside of Pete Alonso, that doesn’t mean that everyone is equally easy to move. Gunnar Henderson, for example, would command a huge return. Yes, he has not lived up to his MVP-level talent recently, but he is still a Top 10 shortstop in MLB with two years of team control remaining. The likelihood he is dealt seems small. The same is true for guys that recently got extensions, like Samuel Basallo, Shane Baz, and Kyle Bradish. These are players you believe in, and you just gave them big raises. Moving on now wouldn’t make much sense.
Then there is a chunk of the roster that would be broadly unappealing in a trade of any import. Tyler O’Neill, Ryan Helsley, Jeremiah Jackson, Christian Franklin, and Rece Hinds, among others, aren’t going to be particularly interesting to good teams. They could be traded, sure, but that would be more about clearing space on the roster than attempting to get better in 2027.
Of course, there is a group of moveable players with upside that could be involved in a bigger deal. This group probably includes guys like Cowser, Blaze Alexander, and Coby Mayo. Not perfect players by any means, but with skillsets that would help most teams. If the Orioles want to upgrade in the outfield or on the mound, they may be able to package a major league talent like that with some minor leaguers to get a deal done, even if it hurts them in other ways.
But the type of player that seems most likely to be traded away is the one that might just need a new kind of scenery. They have been given some playing time, but it’s not working out. They are viable on the big league stage, but underwhelming. And the team might feel like they have some internal options to step in already. That is the bucket where Holliday would seem to fit.
The team has infield options in-house to replace Holliday. Alexander or a returning Jordan Westburg could probably step in at second base. At the same time, he has top prospect pedigree and has flashed enough to be worth something in a trade. Holliday alone won’t net the O’s an upgrade somewhere else on the roster, but he could be a reasonable starting point in a deal.
The Orioles do seem poised to move a big name player this offseason. There is no guarantee it will be Holliday. But he certainly seems like the most obvious candidate.
Looking at Orioles’ priorities for November | Baltimore Baseball I do not expect much to get done in November, not just in Baltimore but everywhere. Teams don’t really know what the rules are going to be for 2027 yet, so how can then make moves of any significance? Seems tough!
Scouting Players From Asia: 2026-2027 Offseason Update | FanGraphs The Orioles have not been too active in this market under Mike Elias’ guidance. But they did sign Tomoyuki Sugano a couple of years ago, and had Shintaro Fujinami for a bit, so it can be helpful to get familiar with these names.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Roansy Contreras turns 27 today. He pitched in one game for the Orioles in 2025.
Dariel Álvarez is 38 years old. The outfielder played in 14 games for the O’s between 2015 and ‘16.
Kris Benson is 52 today. He spent one season with the Orioles in 2006, tossing 183 innings and accumulating a 4.82 ERA.
The late Bob Hale (b. 1933, d. 2012) was born on this day. From 1955 through ‘59, he was a bench bat for the O’s.
This day in O’s history
1989 – Gregg Olson becomes the first relief pitcher to win AL Rookie of the Year. He finishes ahead of Tom Gordon and Ken Griffey Jr. in the voting.
2023 – Mike Elias is named major league Executive of the Year after the Orioles finish the season with the best record in the American League.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran #59 looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays on September 25th, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This is based on nothing but pure speculation. The team gave up what at the time looked like a large haul to acquire the closer that has stabilized the back of their bullpen and probably wouldn’t be too enthused to move him again.
Yet as the price for elite relief pitching is probably going to keep climbing higher and higher, so moving someone like Duran to help other areas of need is at least something worth talking about. Should the Phillies move Jhoan Duran this offseason?
For me, the answer is two fold. First, there is no reason to move him in the offseason as they still have the roster to make something happen in the playoffs. Losing their best reliever is shooting themselves in the foot for no real reason. Second, the idea for moving Duran probably rests with the ideas that someone like Alex McFarlane could step into the role of closer with the Phillies and be at least 85% of what Duran delivers, something that seems doubtful right now. There is the other idea that moving Duran would net the Phillies at least one top prospect that their system actually needs right now. As one of the worst farm systems in the game, they could use an infusion of talent, but the cost of doing so simply isn’t worth it for a team with desires to make and compete in the playoffs.
Now, if they are doing poorly at the trade deadline, this question gets asked again….
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 06: Brayden Burries #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket on Allen Graves #22 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half of the Emirates NBA Cup Group Play at Fiserv Forum on November 06, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In their first NBA Cup game, the Milwaukee Bucks followed a terrific first half with a disappointing second half and lost to the wounded Toronto Raptors, 121-107. The Bucks led most of the game and at one point were up 15; their first-half defence was great, which let them get out and score easily in transition. However, the second half, in which the Raptors scored 70 points, was what got the home side. Now, it doesn’t take much for me to get invested in the Bucks—whatever stage they’re at—but for whatever reason, this loss made me feel pretty damn bleak. Against a team without most of its primary offensive engines, Milwaukee should have been able to pull it out, and losing was really disheartening. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Annnnnd we’re back to the bad version of Rollins. The issue in this one was obviously his turnovers; the Raptors like to apply heaps of pressure to the ball handler, so you have to stay composed with the ball. Rollins was rushed and, at times, just plain nonchalant; I mentioned in the Rapid Recap one instance in the fourth where he threw a left-handed whip pass across the middle of the floor that ended up in a layup down the other end. The other problem was Rollins’ defence. There were a few instances where his positioning was off, and he allowed his man to reject the screen and knife into the lane; Jenkins threw his hands up in disgust on one of them.
Herro’s best playmaking game as a Buck, with five assists in the second quarter alone. The team had much more direction and flow when Herro was on the floor—evidenced by him being one of just two Bucks without a negative plus/minus—which they completely lost when he was off the floor.
Jaquez started like a house on fire, scoring half of his points in the first few minutes of the game. I liked his use of “stampede cuts” in this one as well, where the player starts moving to the rim before the ball reaches their hands, catching their defender off guard. Jaquez had a few nice instances using stampedes to get into the lane and create. Unfortunately, his three-point shooting failed him for the most part.
Overall, Kuzma played a solid game and, in particular, a great first half; he scored all 13 of his points on 5/6 shooting in the first, which included some very instinctive tip-ins. I liked how active he was as a screener, sprinting into the screen and getting himself in the right spots to receive the ball and finish around the rim. Additionally, Kuzma was basically their only credible defender for RJ Barrett, and for the most part, he did a good job with that assignment. BUT, as I seem to say every game, Kuzma did some enraging stuff too. He did his nightly drive to the rim with no vision for what else was going on, and most of his turnovers seemed to be live-ball. Moreover, I’ve noticed a trend where he makes a mistake and then gets pissy at his teammates for some reason, as if it were their fault.
Good golly. I don’t know, man, sometimes I want to shake Turner, but as Zac replied to me, “He’d probably break; his hands seem to shatter on every rebound or catch attempt.” Like, why is it so hard for a seven-footer like him to play more physically? The Raptors made Turner look like a child last night, which I was hoping wouldn’t happen because Toronto was meant to be one of the trade suitors for him! Myles, this was your audition, SMH.
Another rough game for Ware, who seemingly can’t hit a three in a Bucks uniform, down to 20% on the year. Also not great to see him throw a fit on the sidelines after getting subbed off.
Kind of a nothing-y game from Jakucionis. Again, he didn’t do much wrong, but his niche of finding angles and getting into the lane looked harder against a gritty squad like the Raptors. KJ did make a great cut in the first half for his only field goal, though, which I loved.
Burries had his “I’ve arrived” game. I mean, we can talk about the scoring and athleticism around the rim, but I’m more interested in how he seems to grab every rebound in sight. It’s surreal to watch. Grabbing six boards in the first quarter, Burries had this “I’m not losing tonight, so jump on my back” vibe about him. The kid just has this nose for the ball and a will to pursue it like very few players I’ve seen. Burries is showing he’s a winner, and I can’t wait for him to gain confidence from this game and give us more like it in the future.
Whenever the Raptors looked like they were about to get the game out of reach, Green would hit a three. One thing I will always appreciate about Green is that, despite his unassuming nature, he is never scared of the moment. Hit two huge ones in the fourth.
Grade: B
Nate Ament
15 minutes, 7 points, 1 block, 3/5 FG, -11
Ament got two of his three buckets in transition, while the other came on a nice baseline cut where he smartly waited for the defender to jump, then calmly put in the and-one. Not many other notes, other than that I thought Ament’s minutes were generally quite positive.
Grade: B-
Jericho Sims
7 minutes, 0 points, 0/0 FG, -7
Sims was forced into extended minutes because Turner had early foul trouble and Ware looked borderline unplayable at times. He did his job defensively, but you could tell the Raptors were happy to double all on-ball screens Sims set because they didn’t trust his decision-making out of the short roll, which is a strategy we saw from opponents last year too.
Grade: C
Taylor Jenkins
Based on Jenkins’s postgame comments, the team clearly wasn’t doing much of what they had been instructed to do in practice. His decision to close with no centre was the right one, but that then made it tough to rebound. Part of the issue is that the Bucks are leaning on flawed veterans; you don’t want to turn to Kuzma to close as a two-way wing, but there aren’t many other great options, especially when you needed someone beefy enough to deal with Barrett. Jaquez is a fine player, but he’s a seventh man on a good team. Turner is a great locker room guy, but he drives you mad with his lack of physicality. I say this to reiterate that Jenkins is working with a rough set of cards right now, and I struggle to think another coach could have got a different result with this same group of personnel.
Grade: C
DNP-CD: Ousmane Dieng, Caris LeVert, Gary Trent Jr.
Inactive: Kam Jones, Cormac Ryan, Pete Nance, Bogoljub Markovic,
What We Learnt
Milwaukee’s centre rotation might be the league’s worst when both play poorly.
Bonus Bucks Bits
Jenkins was hot in his postgame presser, cutting off a reporter’s question about what he saw from his struggling offence in the second half: “We were getting stops in the first half. We were playing fast. We didn’t have to call sets. But then we just gave up second-chance opportunities, fouled them way too much, and they were taking the ball out of the net, so we couldn’t play as fast as we needed to.”
Jenkins also mentioned that the Bucks didn’t “tag up,” which means that when the shot goes up, all five players get to their man, which, when done right, impedes the opponent’s ability to advance the ball up the floor and score in transition.
Jenkins said that after the game, Turner owned his bad performance to the group.
The broadcast showed a stat that over the last three games, Herro had scored 0 points in the first quarter and 62 in all other quarters. Crazy.
Speaking of Herro, I noticed he subbed back in earlier than usual in the fourth, which resulted in him breaking the ~30-minute pseudo-limit he had seemingly been operating under previously.
Up Next
The Bucks return to Fiserv on Sunday night to face the Boston Celtics. Watch at 7:00 p.m. CST on MY24.
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27, 2025: Runners climb one of the many hills during the 5K run during the Los Angeles Dodgers 12th Annual "Sunset Run" around Dodger Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Dodgers this week hired a new chief operating officer, bringing aboard Caroline Perry as an executive vice president with the team after 16 years with the San Diego Padres. Perry will take over on November 30 for retiring COO Bob Wolfe.
Perry was instrumental in negotiating with the City of San Diego in bringing the All-Star Game to Petco Park in 2016; in the development of Gallagher Square just outside the stadium; and in sales of the Padres in both 2012 and 2026.
“It is a tremendous honor to join the Dodgers,” Perry said in a statement. “On the field, they have set an unparalleled standard of excellence in baseball under the current leadership. Off the field, their historic legacy, passionate fan base and service to the community speak for themselves. While I am incredibly grateful for my time with the Padres and for the colleagues who made those years so meaningful, I am excited to take my place with the Dodgers and to contribute to their continued success. Thank you to Mark Walter, Stan Kasten and the entire Dodger family for welcoming me.”
Perry has noted significant progress in her 14 years in sports when it comes to who’s in the room. “We’re right on the cusp of seeing so many of these young women start to move into more senior roles in sports, which is really great to see,” she says. “You never want to create that world where women feel like there’s only one spot and so everyone’s got to fight for it and you’ve got to tear other people down on your way to try and get it. That’s not how we grow as a sport, as an industry. We grow by creating more opportunities.”
Links
Pitcher Hideo Nomo, whose signing with the Dodgers in 1995 helped usher in a wave of Japanese players coming to Major League Baseball, was honored with a sports pioneer medal by the Asian Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday. Mark Langill at Dodger Insider has more on the honor.
Former infielder Andre Lipcius, who spent 12 days on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster during 2024 spring training and played that season for Triple-A Oklahoma City, retired as a player this year. Now the 28-year-old has a new role in baseball, as game-planning coach for the Colorado Rockies, working with general manager Josh Byrnes, who was in the Dodgers front office in 2024. J.P. Hoornstra at Sports Illustrated has more on Lipcius and his new career.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run in the first inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Saturday, September 12, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Continuing on in our series looking back at some of the highlights of the 2026 San Francisco Giants’ season, I would be remiss not to include this excellent video that the team’s social media team put together of all 37 of Rafael Devers’ home runs!
And that is why I picked Devers as my Player of the Year!
