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Well, here we are, at Game 5 of the World Series. Tell a Brewer fan before the series that they’d have a chance to finish it in the fifth game—with Jacob Misiorowski on the mound—and they’d probably feel pretty good. But losses hurt when they happen, so the angst amongst the Milwaukee faithful has been palpable since last night’s walk-off loss. It’s understandable.

Now, this Brewer team will have to show us what it can do with blood in its mouth. Luckily, they get to do so with their ace, Jacob Misiorowski, on the hill. Tampa Bay is also sending an ace to the mound, but one would think that Misiorowski will have the advantage here; Drew Rasmussen will start tonight on just three days rest, having thrown 89 pitches in Saturday’s Game 2. Misiorowski, who started a day earlier in Game 1, threw just 78 pitches in his five innings.

That Game 1 start was encouraging for the Brewers, even if Miz hasn’t been able to capture the Cy Young form that he showcased early this summer. On Friday, he put up a line of five innings, four hits, one walk, and one just one run. With only three strikeouts, we’re witnessing a different version of Misiorowski; his struggles locating his off-speed pitches have turned him into more of a “pitch-to-contact” guy, but having a 102 mph fastball still works heavily to your advantage when you have to pitch to contact. Misiorowski is pretty clearly tired: he has now thrown 188 innings combined between the regular season and the playoffs, after his full-season total last season was 141 1/3, combined between the minors, the major-league regular season, and the playoffs. Can he find the magic one more time at exactly the right moment?

Rasmussen, who came into this series with the best numbers of any pitcher this postseason, struggled on Saturday. He too has now far exceeded his previous career high in innings (196 2/3, after 150 last season), and pitching him on short rest is a little bit of a surprise—the Rays have been vocal about trying to protect his arm, given his history: he’s had two Tommy John surgeries and an internal brace procedure. If the Brewers are on him like they were on Saturday, then the pitch count question may not matter; he was chased in the fourth in that game, and finished with six hits, two walks, and three runs allowed in 3 2/3 innings.

The state of each team’s bullpen is up in the air, too, after last night’s marathon. The off-day tomorrow allows both managers to continue to be aggressive with their bullpen, and Robert Gasser’s big-time performance on Monday means that only Antonio Senzatela has pitched in both games in Tampa for the Brewers. JoJo Romero and Trevor Megill both worked an inning or less last night and figure to be full go tonight; Dustin May figures to be unavailable after his three innings, and keep an eye on Abner Uribe (19 pitches), DL Hall (24), and Aaron Ashby (31), who all pitched more than an inning. On the Rays side, Tyler Wells, Ian Seymour, and Bryan Baker all threw over 20 pitches, and Nick Martinez, who threw two innings and is normally a starter, probably isn’t available.

There may have been some question about Junior Caminero’s availability after the extent to which he was limping at the end of the game, but who knows how much of that was performative—he looked pretty spry when he needed to get from first to third on a base hit. In any case, he’s back in the lineup tonight. On the Milwaukee side, they’ll keep the lineup they used in Game 4, which was the same as the first three games except for the swap between Sal Frelick (batting sixth) and Garrett Mitchell (eighth).

It’s a big night. Milwaukee, who had terrible batted ball luck on Tuesday, will look to keep doing what they were doing at the plate but with a few more lucky bounces. They’ll need to play a clean game defensively. And they’ll hope their young ace can conjure up a little more Cy Young magic this season. If those things happen, the Brewers can lift a trophy tonight.

First pitch is at 7:08 p.m. on Fox and the Brewers Radio Network.

Yesterday, The Athletic put out a list ranking the top 40 free agents with predictions on where each will land. The San Francisco Giants were mentioned at least a few times, and the most prominent one was probably Brandon Lowe, who had a tremendous power season in Pittsburgh (35 homers) to go with a triple slash of .260/.331/.493 (121 wRC+) — gosh, the Tampa Bay Rays could’ve used a hitter like him in the World Series. Anyway, rather than examine all the times the Giants were mentioned, it got me thinking about which hitters the team could target.

I’ve already rundown thepitching market, but rather than make a tiered analysis of the entire free agent group expected to be available, I thought I’d zero in on players who made it through what I think is a pretty reasonable filter, just based on what we’ve learned from this season of Buster Posey’s President of Baseball Operations tenure: contact! The team craves contact! The lineup wants the hit tool, and it’s willing to sacrifice walks for them.

At first, I thought that put Lowe at a disadvantage with a .260 batting average, but the Giants hit just .245 as a team and the sport hit .244; AND, even in that famous May through July stretchwhere the Giants had the 7th-best offense in MLB, they hit .256/.316/.434, so, it’s not like they’re necessarily focused on Luis Arraez types. So, let’s set the bar at .256 and be scrutinize the position mix a little bit. I think the Giants are set at first, short, third, center and right field. Casey Schmitt and Marcelo Mayer are definitely answers for second base (and left field, in the case of Schmitt), but let’s consider those spots upgradeable, with the upgrade pushing one of these two into a firm position. And, just for fun, since Daniel Susac will be optionable in 2027, I included a catcher.

And before you stomp into the comments to declare that only you see the wisdom in the Giants aiming to lose another 97 games, please note that there’s no reason for the Giants to do that. They’ve somehow managed to improve their farm system despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars to produce one of the worst professional sports teams in the world today that’s a total disgrace to the fans in the actual city where they play. Yes, it’s improbable for a team to buy a 20-win improvement, but I’d rather the Giants spend their money on baseball talent. And, who knows, maybe it’s not about buying 20 wins. It’s about buying 7 or 8 and expecting some dead cat bounces and some gradual improvements from the younger players — you know, the same plan as this season lol.

Randy Arozarena — RHH/LF/32

2026: .281/.381/.484, 10.1 BB%, 21.6 K% (151 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Outfield depth

A teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrible outfield defender (-5 Outs Above Average, -11.7 Defensive Runs Above Average) who posted a career year heading into free agency for the first time. This is a classic STAY AWAY free agent hitter profile of a guy who elevated himself in a platform season but is also on the wrong side of 30. The Giants used to be tempted by these types of guys all the time.

On the other hand, Arozarena is energetic and a quality hitter. Sort of like a potential best case scenario for Heliot Ramos. But the prior three seasons (which included being traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle) show a player not far off from the contract run of 2026: .237/.343/.413, 10.8 BB%, 25.7 K%, 120 wRc+. He will absolutely cost the team a win over the full season because of that terrible defense (he’s averaged -11 Defensive Runs in every full season of his career), but his bat makes up for it.

If you put him in left, then Schmitt and Mayer become the second base duo or middle infield backups. Arozarena would be the best of the group that’s only Jung Hoo Lee, Jonah Cox, technically Harrison Bader, Scott Bandura, Turner Hill, Grant McCray, etc.

Still, a Scott Boras client and someone whom Boras-connected media figure Jim Bowden predicts will get a 5 year, $124 million deal (or in that range). I don’t think the Giants would pony up $25 million annually for a hitter who has been 20% better than the league average for his career. He would be a good addition at the right price, and I don’t think that’s necessarily the right price for the Giants.

Mauricio Dubon — RHH/LF-CF-SS-2B-3B/32

2026: .276/.321/.399, 5.7 BB%, 11.8 K%, (99 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Position player depth

Compared to Arozarena, the Giants could spend significantly less to get Dubon (Bowden projects 2 years, $16 million) for similar value (both 2+ fWAR players). He is a lot of batting average with little power (career .118 ISO). A scrappy underdog utility guy who is a plus defender up the middle — +17.1 Defensive Runs Above Average, +19 OAA in Houston last season; +6 in Atlanta this year and that’s with most of the value coming from shortstop and center — might be the kind of veteran steadying force Tony Vitello could use if the injuries pile up again.

The depth chart analysis gets a little trickier because he does sort of rain on Jonah Cox’s parade, since he can play second and center. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Cox struck out 65 times in 169 PA (38.5 K%), Casey Schmitt is often hurt, and Marcelo Mayer has yet to prove himself. Even though all the Giants’ top prospects are middle infielders, again, it’s Dubon’s versatility that adds the value and makes him a good fit. Not as a big offseason move, but as a potentially important one — especially if the Giants fail to upgrade their pitching staff’s stuff and rely again on dudes who pitch to contact.

Seiya Suzuki — RHH/RF/32

2026: .270/.368/.473, 12.8 BB%, 24.4 K% (134 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Outfield depth

Probably because the Cubs’ outfield was pretty amazing, Suzuki’s defense numbers this year look great. He’s +5 Outs Above Average and 88th percentile in outfield defense. He’s got some speed (63rd percentile sprint), but mainly, he has a lot of power from the right side. His .204 ISO ranked 33rd among qualified MLB hitters (just slightly ahead of Arozarena’s .203), so, you’d get heaps of power on top of the average.

Again, because of free agency, he’s on the wrong side of 30, and the projected 5-year deal for $120 million takes him to his age-37 season. Not advisable for a team like the Giants, but he’s closer to 30% above the league average. He’s more like a 3.5-win player to Arozarena’s 2+, so, if you had to choose between just those two guys, Suzuki makes more sense if the money’s about the same.

Also, except for Petco Park (.691), Suzuki has a .760 or better OPS in all the NL West parks. He’s only played right field in his MLB career, so imagine flipping Jung Hoo Lee to left to put Suzuki in right with Cox/Dubon/Gilbert in center.

Brandon Lowe — LHH/2B/32

2026: .260/.331/.493, 9.5 BB%, 28.8 K% (121 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Infield depth

There’s probably a version of this post that makes more sense because I break this down by position. With Casey Schmitt and Marcelo Mayer (and, to a lesser extent, Jonah Cox and Gavin Kilen) in mind, the second base group of free agents worth discussing is made up of Luis Arraez, Jazz Chisholm, and Brandon Lowe. All left-handed hitters, by the way.

Yes, Lowe has played some outfield (160 innings in LF, 171 innings in RF) as well as 1B (155 innings), but he’s basically a second baseman (6,148 innings). He’s also the oldest of the entire bunch of names I’ve mentioned in this blurb. He also has the most power (66 home runs the past two seasons).

But like Arozarena, he really picked it up a notch in his final season before free agency. It wasn’t his career year (that was 2021: 39 homers, 136 wRC+ in 615 PA), but it was his best since 2021. It was also a career high in games played (150).

Meanwhile, Chisholm had a down year offensively (98 wRc+; career: 108) but his defense was still great, putting him in the zone of the 3.5-4 fWAR player he has been throughout his career. He’s also the youngest of this bunch (29) and steals a lot of bases (171 in 716 career games). He’s just a .245 career hitter and he doesn’t need Ron Washington’s tutelage to improve his defense, but he’s like Arozarena in that he’s a charismatic, fun personality type to add to the mix and coming off a down year there might be some value to be had.

Or, the Giants could just reunite with Luis Arraez. The only real problem with that is he’s basically second base and first base, that batting average, while good, is basically it. He can be about as valuable as Chisholm.

If you add any of these players, then Casey Schmitt becomes the de facto left fielder, which I think is probably for the best. He can also be a great fill-in for Matt Chapman for when he gets hurt (as he is entering his IL era).

Austin Hays — RHH/LF/32

2026 season:.280/.305/.400, 3.8 BB%, 25.7 K% (93 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Outfield depth

He actually ended the season with the Padres and hit .316/.344/.456 in 26 games (61 PA). I mention this because, for his career, he’s a .263/.313/.434 hitter (105 wRC+). His career ISO of .171 is just a bit above the league average over the span of his career. The White Sox signed him to a 1-year, $6 million deal before the season and wound up releasing him due to lots of time missed with leg injuries. This would be the depthiest of depth moves for a team that ignored Hays once already in favor of Will Brennan and Jared Oliva. But he fits the contact approach, has been a decent defender at times (according to Statcast) when healthy and has meaningful MLB experience (86 HR in 720 games, All-Star in 2023).

TJ Friedl — LHH/CF-LF/31

2026 season:.172/.255/.255, 8.1 BB%, 23.2 K% (43 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Outfield depth

The diminutive (5’8”) Pleasanton native got MVP votes in 2023 and heading into 2026 had a career slash of .257/.344/.414, a 9.5 BB% and 15.9% strikeout rate (108 wRC+). He’s an okay defender with not as much speed as you’d think — fast, but not elite — and his career batted ball profile is suboptimal: 86.9 career exit velocity. The Reds DFA’d him in September.

But I keep looking at that batting average and that low strikeout rate and I wonder if Hunter Mense could come up with a plan for him and if his age-31 season on the horizon might create a situation where the Giants could get him for a year and for not very much… just to see if there’s something in there they could unlock. Like Hays, it’s some really good MLB experience. It’s not like the Giants need a lot of experience at every position, but this post isn’t advocating for the Giants to get every player mentioned. Like, if they only added Friedl to the hitting group, you could see the reasons why and projected a modest success because of them.

Ryan Jeffers — RHH/C/30

2026 season: .256/.353/.461, 12.5 BB%, 17.9 K% (128 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Catching depth

Now, I’m inclined to believe that Buster Posey can size up a catcher just by looking him in the eye, so, maybe he’s already passed judgment on Ryan Jeffers. But just from an offensive standpoint, he would backstop the lineup in so many ways. Over the past 4 seasons, he’s been about 20% better than the league average albeit in a part-time role (429 games, 1,632 plate appearances). As a catcher, that’s really important. His time as a DH is less important, given the Devers-Eldridge of it all.

But Bowden’s blurb speaks to the downside risk of signing him:

On the defensive side, he’s an average pitch blocker but doesn’t control the running game well.

I would think that if you’re a catcher you have to be able to do one of those things really well and, ideally, be at least “okay” doing the other thing. Susac, for example, is 29th percentile in Blocks Above Average, but 80+ percentile for all of Statcast’s other catching metrics (CS Above Avg, Framing, Pop Time). In 2026, Jeffers was 51st in Blocks, third percentile in CS Above Avg, 37th in Framing, and 33 in Pop Time. Even the blocking number is an illusion because it had never been that high before in his career. Unless the team felt like it could coach up some element of his defense, I fear that his inclusion on this list is a folly on my part.

But what do you think? Should the Giants aim for 95 losses and hope for many more? Or, expect that most of the same hitting group will be as good (for the veterans) or better (for the developing players) if left mostly intact and not worry so much about bringing veteran hitters into the group? Do you think that I’ve misinterpreted that Giants’ emphasis on batting average? What players would you suggest who don’t need to be traded for?

ST. PETERSBURG, FL  — Junior Caminero limped off the Tropicana Field infield past midnight. Less than 20 hours later, he was back in the Tampa Bay Rays lineup.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that his 42-homer third baseman is "fine" and will play in Game 5 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Tampa Bay trails the series 3-1.

"He's been dealing with some lower extremity injuries, but there's a lot of guys that are nicked up right now playing through a lot," Cash said before the game. "(I) know that Cammy will be ready to go today."

Caminero irritated his left foot leading off the bottom of the 12th inning of Game 4, with the Rays down 3-2 and three outs from elimination. He hit a routine grounder to third and ran hard enough to beat Joey Ortiz's errant throw. He pulled up limping at first.

He stayed in the game anyway. When Liam Hicks singled to left-center, Caminero went from first to third.

"Really impressive that he went first and third right there, very instinctual play," Cash said.

As the Yankees enter a long offseason, SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes opens up the mailbag to talk about who could be the manager in 2028 and the impending lockout...

Since Boone is in his last year, who is considered for the manager role in 2028? (And please don’t say they’re drawing Boone a new contract!) – Dyamondphillip on Threads

This is the question I always ask myself when I think about the Yankees moving on from Boone (or even Brian Cashman, for that matter): Who else? 

Certainly, plenty of people would want to run the New York Yankees. But we know that doing so is unlike any other job in sports. The ongoing theory seems to be that running the Yankees requires preexisting understanding of what being a part of the organization is like.

And while Hal Steinbrenner is not as prone to making changes as his father was, managing the Yankees in the age of social media might provide an equivalent stressor: Boone is a constant public punching bag, even when the Yankees are winning. Whatever frustration the public has with that approach, his players respect it and people want to play for the Yankees, in part, because Boone takes the punches for them. So the Yankees need someone who understands the scrutiny, accepts that it is part of the job, and has a deep-rooted plan and personality capable of handling it. I think that list is a lot shorter than it feels sometimes.

Now, if the Yankees are replacing Boone, they are probably looking for someone who does things slightly differently. I would assume maybe a more disciplined approach, whether publicly or behind closed doors, might seem appealing if they have decided Boone’s more player-friendly style is not working.

Who are hard-nosed types with experience who understand what it means to be a Yankee and also want to manage? 

Joe Girardi has already parted ways with this organization once. Alex Cora does not necessarily fit that exact description, and his tendency to speak his mind does not jive with a Yankees front office that is relentlessly buttoned up. Perhaps the Yankees wouldn’t mind that approach if he is still available when it is time to move on from Boone. But he never seemed like the clear-cut fit.

Could a former Yankee fit? Maybe. 

Jorge Posada certainly aired his perspective earlier this week on Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman’s excellent podcast. But he has never managed before, and neither have any of his high-profile late-90s contemporaries. Again, the fit is not obvious.

Certainly, the Yankees could decide someone who hasn’t played for the organization would make sense, as long as they were sure that person could handle all that came with it. Carlos Mendoza is a former Boone bench coach. Luis Rojas has managed in New York before, too. But as Boone disciples, neither would necessarily represent a change in direction.

Obviously, this is all hypothetical, as is the premise of your question. But I do feel that, for all the completely understandable angst around Boone after another playoff failure this year, it is not as easy to replace him with someone who will steer them to the playoffs every year as it might seem. Perhaps that is why the Yankees front office did not prioritize a change ahead of a strange offseason. Perhaps they believe Boone is one of the few people who can handle the job reliably at this unique moment in the history of the franchise.

Is there going to be free agency activity before the lockout? @Buffan1712

Yes. How much? I don’t know. But I would absolutely plan on moves getting made. Last time around, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and others signed massive deals in a flurry before the collective bargaining agreement expired. Certainly, the possibility that this CBA will yield a salary cap might give some teams pause about moving before knowing the rules.

But in talking to people in front offices around the sport, the expectation is that any salary cap would be phased in over many years, rather than be implemented immediately with drastic consequences for those who overshoot its limits. Plus, a cap in any form is no guarantee: The union is vehemently opposed to it. A middle ground of some kind seems like a possible outcome, though no one negotiating could possibly admit that now.

I think some teams will be careful. The Dodgers, for example, might have to have some clarity about the rules before making too many financial commitments simply because they have so many, over so many years, already. The Yankees certainly have their fair share of money committed, too.

Maybe that creates caution in free agency, though frankly, free agency does not necessarily seem like the best way for them to address their needs for a more versatile lineup and some bullpen depth. 

The Mets have enough money coming off the books next year that they likely do not have to wait, either. And remember: the owners talk. Steinbrenner, for example, is on the labor committee. He and others will know what the plan is for negotiations and what they could potentially be looking at in terms of rule changes. And they probably won’t agree to deals or CBA changes that would leave them scrambling when the lockout ends.

Will the World Series matchups and outcome affect the owners' bargaining positions post-2026 season? Will it affect the players association? – jrobelen on Threads

The main impact I think the World Series matchup will have is on public opinion. The owners have been planning to push for the cap for years. They, via their representatives at MLB, have had arguments spun for all scenarios for years, too. The one they will use to address the fact that two small-market teams are in the World Series is as follows: “A small-market team had not won the World Series in over a decade (Kansas City, 2015). Before that? The Marlins in 2003. Is that often enough to constitute true competitive balance?” Again, their argument, not mine.

As for the players association, I do think this World Series will offer some fresh public credibility to the argument they’ve been making all along: That the owners do not care about competitive balance at all, and are instead pushing a cap purely to limit their own expenses and pocket a greater, guaranteed share of revenue so they have more cash in the short term and higher franchise values long-term. Union head Bruce Meyer and his staff have been making that argument for years anyway.

But at its heart, I don’t think this World Series changes much because as it picks apart competitive balance arguments, it exposes the fact that those arguments were never at the heart of these negotiations to begin with.

Obviously, the owners want to make more money. That is their incentive. Obviously, the players association will never want to agree to a salary cap because it limits what their stars can make. That is a huge incentive. So neither side entered these negotiations prioritizing the health of the game, whatever they say to the contrary. They are protecting their right to make money, then trying to frame those arguments in a way that suggests their way is better for the sport.

But remember: The best thing for the sport is not to have a lockout in which players and owners fight over millions of dollars while non-team employees who rely on the sport miss much smaller paychecks and, in some cases, lose jobs. Not to mention the fans who struggle to get by while watching public arguments over millions and billions. The best way to ensure competitive balance is…well, to have competition, not spend the spring arguing in boardrooms.

So no, I don’t think the World Series affects anyone’s positions. If anything, it affects the battle for public opinion, which could matter as time goes on. The owners will push for a cap because it benefits them financially. The players will fight it with all their might because a cap limits their earning power over time. At its heart, this CBA negotiation was never, and will never be, about competitive balance anyway. And I do not think the Brewers or Rays have done anything to change that.

Baseball by June: Agree or Disagree. @lee_w18

Agree. But I have never been less sure of how something will end than I am these negotiations.

On Monday, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic compiled a ten-item list to return the Yankees to the World Series. We shared it on the site as part of Tuesday’s news roundup, and it generated a fair bit of conversation. I thought we could take the time today to comb over the ten recommendations with a critical eye, seeing what aligns and what conflicts with our vision for the team and how to get them back into the Fall Classic.

First, the list:

1. Extend the QO to David Bednar
2. Let Jazz Chisholm Jr. walk in free agency
3. Hold a competition between Anthony Volpe and José Caballero for second
4. Revisit playing Luis García Jr. at second or third
5. Commit to Carlos LaGrange as a reliever full time
6. Sign a right-handed catcher
7. Pursue reliever Adrian Morejon in free agency
8. Check in on Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes
9. Acquire Steven Kwan
10. Don’t overreact to Rays making World Series

Rather than respond to all ten items, I would rather combine elements and sentiments of each to find out how close or far apart Kirschner and I are on our evaluation of the Yankees’ needs and their avenues to address them.

Right off the bat, I’ll say that I agree with points three, five, and ten and don’t have much more to add to what Kirschner wrote. I also want to note the uncertainty over the financial landscape of the league post-CBA negotiations. What we do know based on public comments is that Hal Steinbrenner has been probably the owner most vocal in his support of instituting a salary cap, the most recent offer from the league to the union a $245.3 million cap, $171.2 million floor, and 50-percent revenue sharing. Many fans wondered why the owner of the most valuable franchise in the sport would voluntarily sign away the financial advantage he holds over lower revenue teams, however this presumes his motivations are driven by competitive advantage and not by appreciating his franchise’s value via the greater cost certainty that a cap would bring.

We can agree that Steinbrenner has been consistent in his desire to rein in payroll spending, so as always we have to view future planning through that lens. This affects points one, six, and seven. I certainly agree that the Yankees should extend the qualifying offer to David Bednar. At $23.15 million, the QO sits at the very top of the reliever market by AAV, but with the payoff of just a one-year commitment and possible draft pick compensation should he decline. However, I would simultaneously work towards negotiating a multi-year deal, somewhere in the two-to-three year range to lower AAV, as Bednar finally brought long sought-after stability to the closer role.

That being said, I would not be as willing to commit significant dollars to any reliever beyond Bednar. This includes Morejon, who projects to be the best reliever on the free agent market and a left-handed weapon the Yankees sorely need in their ‘pen. Matt Blake’s continued success in churning out high leverage relievers from pretty much anyone he gets his hands on is an incredible money-saving asset for the Yankees, helping remove the risk of investing substantial money in the most fungible position on the roster.

As for backup catcher, I’m not so much wed to a right-hander so much as literally anyone who’s a viable major league backup after suffering through the dregs of J.C. Escarra and Ali Sánchez. I’m probably more confident than most that Austin Wells is back to himself after recovering from the cervical headaches that plagued his early season — we’ve seen on too many occasions the affect head injuries have had on recent Yankees — and the rehabilitation of his bat along with his ever-elite defense means I’m comfortable with him getting the majority of reps behind the plate. As such, I think you can avoid another expenditure here on an investment in a productive but costly right-handed backup like Carson Kelly or Ryan Jeffers and sign a true second-stringer for a fraction of the cost.

That brings us to the conundrum of second and third base. Here is where I diverge the most from Kirschner. I think the Yankees should bring Jazz Chisholm Jr. back, preferably on the QO. In a league that is scant on high value second baseman and a free agent cupboard pretty bare of impact hitters, Jazz is your best option at the keystone. Even in a down year he generates such a high floor with his solid glove and elite base running, so this is not the same situation as the Trent Grisham QO, who was coming off an anomalous career-year — admittedly with batted-ball data to back it up but worsening defense and hamstrings that were likely already shot. I don’t love the idea of a declining-OBP Luis Arraez in a park that suppresses singles and I’m skeptical that Brandon Lowe is suddenly an able defender at second for the first time entering his age-32 season.

Speaking of defense, I am absolutely not on board with hoping García can man second or third. He is an absolute butcher with the glove at both positions, though proved himself more than capable at first. I would like to see him at first as much as possible given Ben Rice’s struggles at the position with Rice living as your primary DH. This begs the question of what Giancarlo Stanton’s future looks like, and I regret to say that I think there is a strong possibility he could get DFA’d this winter. He’s been my favorite Yankee since joining the team on account of his stoicism in the face of criticism and postseason heroics, but with the Marlins paying $10 million this coming season and the next I could see them eating the remaining $15 million.

Incorporating part of point eight, the two trade targets I believe the Yankees should be pursuing in earnest this winter are Jeremy Peña and CJ Abrams. The Yankees have not had a game-changing slugger up the middle since Robinson Canó and this pair represents two of the best middle infielders in the league. Neither projects long term for shortstop, and their weaker gloves and arms seem destined for second. Kirschner noted Isaac Paredes’ terrible glove and pull-side approach that would suffer without the Crawford Boxes which is why I would stay away from the Astros’ third baseman.

Instead, I’m convincing myself more and more each day on NPB star Teruaki Sato. There are questions about his glove and how his bat would make the adjustment to MLB pitching. However, there were similar questions facing Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto and the pair just put up three-win seasons while slugging well over 30 bombs each. Plus, I would love to see the Yankees reestablish a foothold in the Japanese market when you look at the amount of commercial revenue the Dodgers have reaped and the allure their existing Japanese core has for future signees. An ideal scenario for me would see the Yankees acquire one of Peña or Abrams and one of Jazz or Sato, that resulting pair of players significantly raising the floor of the Yankees infield as it currently stands.

That brings me to the point that I hadn’t considered before reading Kirschner’s list and one that seems like a slam dunk. Steven Kwan and his .357 OBP and elite bat-to-ball skills seems like the perfect profile for a prospective leadoff hitter. He’s always been an able defender and acquitted himself well in his first season as a primary center fielder. While I wonder about the sustainability of the four-point jump up in his walk rate in 2026, he’s still never posted below three fWAR in five seasons with a ceiling as a 125-130 wRC+ hitter. I wouldn’t balk at headlining a potential deal with Spencer Jones despite how impressed I was at his mid-season adjustments and growing comfort at the plate, though I question Jones’ fit in an organization that doesn’t seem to prioritize high power at the expense of low contact.

In all, I’d say I’m in more agreement than not with Kirschner’s vision for the Yankees’ offseason. I’d say I’m a little more wary of the budgetary constraints and therefore reallocated those funds to the areas of the roster I feel are more dire needs, though I’d also say my aims are slightly more ambitious. Despite the sting of the sweep in the ALDS, this team is not that far away from the top of the AL and I hope ownership recognizes this and authorizes the necessary reinforcements to get it there.

Drew Rasmussen will start Game 5 for the Tampa Bay Rays, their second consecutive do-or-die contest in this World Series. 

Rasmussen started Game 2 and will make this start on just three days' rest, a significant departure from his routine during the regular season, when the club often afforded him extra rest. Rasmussen has undergone three major arm surgeries since 2017. 

"Ras is going to take the ball and give us what he can give us," Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters.

Dylan’s Notes

My first impression of the Mizzou softball team was an overwhelmingly positive one. I attended Saturday’s game when they defeated UA Rich Mountain, a community college in Arkansas, 28-1. Here are my key musings from the showdown, and how much can really translate to the spring. 

Disclaimer

Before I get too much into the weeds of the performance, first I must say that this UA Rich Mountain team is nowhere near the level of SEC competition. You could see it in the physical differences and in the talent on the diamond; plenty of mistakes that you’d never see a Top-25 team make. 

While they did finish 37-17 a season ago, most of them were against schools you never knew existed. Two of their wins came against Arkansas State Mid-South; can’t say I have any idea where that school is besides Arkansas.

With that out of the way, I think there’s still some valuable information to see who is ready to step up for this team. Here’s who stood out to me in my observations.

Emma Jackson: 

After transferring in from East Carolina ahead of the 2026 season, Jackson had an underwhelming first year with the Tigers. She only played in 18 games, batting .167 with no homers. In the exhibition, she looked possessed. 

Jackson hit two home runs; a 3-run bomb and a grand slam. She had a patient approach, exploding to the ball when she saw the right pitch with plenty of power. If Jackson can separate herself as a starting outfielder for Mizzou when the season starts in February, that additional bat raises the ceiling of this team.

Stefania Abruscato:

Abruscato enters the season as one of the Tigers’ leaders, both on the field and in the locker room. As the senior catcher, she carries a large amount of respect and backs it up with her play. 

She continued to prove her worth in the exhibition with a grand slam of her own. While Abruscato is the primary catcher, sophomore Gracie Britton spent most of the game behind the dish. Having two catchers helps take the load of your starter, especially during the early season tournaments when you play five games in three days. 

But when it comes down to crunch time and you need your best lineup, Mizzou is going to put its trust in Abruscato.

Nealy Lamb:

In the circle, the South Carolina transfer started to separate herself. In her one season with the Gamecocks, she made 34 appearances, finishing the season with a 4.37 ERA and 47 strikeouts. 

She looked on pace to shatter her strikeout numbers in the exhibition, recording three Ks across six batters. While she did allow two softly-hit singles, there was never a moment where she didn’t feel in control. 

While Abby Carr and Marissa McCann are projected to be the Tigers’ top two starters, there is certainly a role for Lamb to carve out this season, bringing much-needed depth to Mizzou’s pitching staff.

Karen’s Notes

I was on hand on Sunday to watch the team’s fall ball finale against a school we’ve actually heard of, Iowa, who finished last season with a .500 record overall, and 7-17 in the Big 10 with no wins over Top 25 teams. (To be fair, hardly any of the Big 10 teams were ranked.)

After a bit of a slow start, the Tigers started to pile on the runs in the fourth inning, ultimately ending the 10-inning contest, 7-1. The Tigers collected bombs from Stefania Abruscato, who hit a 2-run shot in the third to make it 2-0, as well as Sidney Forrester, who had a solo shot in the fourth to make it 3-0.

While there were a handful of strikeouts from the Tigers, they also showed a good bit of plate discipline, with Madison Uptegrove working two walks, along with one each from Saniya Hill, Abruscato, Emma Jackson and Middle Tennessee transfer Jana Want. Abby Hay, Forrester, Jackson and freshman Katelynn Knight each went for extra bases, and Addy Waits, who came in in the seventh, recorded singles in both of her at-bats.

Pitching Prevails

Marissa McCann looked strong in her seven innings of work, with six strikeouts and just one walk. After allowing a leadoff triple in the first, she didn’t allow another baserunner until the fifth, when the Hawkeyes were awarded a homerun on a play off the top of the left field wall that Saniya Hill couldn’t quite make a play on. McCann also allowed an additional base hit later, but overall, was extremely effective.

Rylee Michalak took over in the circle in the eighth inning for an inning of work, allowing a base hit.

Nealy Lamb entered in the ninth and pitched two innings, allowing two baserunners in her first inning of work before getting out of the jam, and working in a pair of strikeouts. Like Dylan mentioned above, I think she’ll be helpful to the team this year.

Arizona State transfer Mary Peyton Hodge, reliever Natalie Touchet, and Abby Carr (injury) were not used in this one. Carr is expected to be ready for the season, however.

Saniya Hill:
A good day at the plate for the Tigers’ leadoff hitter was good at the plate. She walked and had two base hits (which during an actual game, might have been scored as errors), as well as a run scored. She’s a good bat to have in this Tiger lineup, and I would expect her to be a mainstay come the regular season. She does still need a bit of work on the fielding aspect — I think both the triple and the homerun were playable, but she didn’t perhaps make the correct read.

Emma Jackson, Part 2:

Dylan already mentioned her above, but a season after being a non-factor, I think she’s set to play a significant role in 2027. On Sunday, while she struck out in her first at-bat, she also had a double and walk in this one. Whether she ends up as an outfielder— she was DP in this one— remains to be seen, but I forecast a different season for her than her first in the black and gold.

Newbies:

Katelynn Knight and Hadley Borders (CF) were the lone starters in Sunday’s game to the best of my recollection. Of Knight’s three at-bats, she recorded a double and was caught stealing (it wasn’t close). Borders had a strikeout and a base hit.

Katie Guilliam came in in the seventh and had two at-bats. She did not reach base, recording a groundout and a liner to short which led to a double play.

I do not think we saw Audrey Cathey.

UP NEXT: The real thing, which I expect to kick off in February, likely in the Sunshine State, as per usual. MU Tigers has not offered an updated schedule at this point. Dylan, Aaron Segal and I will be your Mizzou Softball writing team this season, so stay tuned for updates.

The Milwaukee Brewers are one game away. One win from becoming World Series Champions for the first time in team history.

Pittsburgh’s NL Central rival was the best team in baseball throughout the year, winning 103 games and dominating the competition. 

The Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays meet in the “Small Market World Series” conveniently leading into the most tense labor negotiations the sport has seen in over 30 years. At least unlike 1994, the World Series is being played.

In a world where owners are locked and loaded to argue that the sport is unfair for small market clubs and teams with a payroll disadvantage compared to major markets, the smallest market in baseball will be the last team standing. 

Milwaukee is the smallest media market size across MLB. The Brewers rank 19th in payroll ($146 million) while the Rays rank 28th ($95 million). The Cleveland Guardians clinched a spot in the ALCS despite owning the lowest payroll ($74.2 million).

So, it looks like the sport is in great hands! Not so fast.

I’d like to formally welcome you to one of the greatest outlier seasons in baseball since the turn of the century. 

Since 2000, only three teams have won the World Series with an Opening Day payroll outside the top 15: the 2003 Florida Marlins (25th), the 2015 Kansas City Royals (17th), and the 2017 Houston Astros (17th). Both the Royals and Astros moved into the top half by mid-season. 

10 times a team in the Top 5 of payroll won the World Series. The Dodgers and Yankees combined for five. During that span, major markets like Boston (four) and San Francisco (three) built dynasties while Philadelphia and both Chicago teams hoisted the trophy.

Where’s Cincinnati? Where’s Tampa? Where’s Pittsburgh? Where’s Baltimore? Where’s Oakland/wherever the A’s are playing? 

While baseball shifted after the 1994 strike and free agency became an ultimate spending spree without limitations, small markets began to come to light.

Why should New York have such a distinct advantage over Pittsburgh and Cincinnati for players? Shouldn’t the economic playing field be equal for teams?

A salary cap and floor isn’t an immediate fix to all problems; teams like the Cleveland Browns still find ways to get in their own way every year. But it makes the playing field more fair. Isn’t that what’s best for the fans?

If the NFL had baseball’s system, Josh Allen would have had a nice run with the Bills and would be playing for the New York Giants. Remember that Paul Skenes Yankees jersey I captured in the parking lot on Opening Day two years ago? It’s unfathomable to think of. 

It’s ironic that the year before baseball shuts down to argue over a cap and floor system that the smallest market in baseball makes it look easy.

That shouldn’t rewrite the past or make people forget about 

While the Rays, Brewers, Guardians, and other small market teams have had successful regular seasons and some postseason success, it’s all about hoisting the trophy in late October. Up until this season, the last small market team to win the World Series was the Kansas City Royals in 2015.

The Brewers and Rays are proving it’s not impossible to win without a cap/floor system, but it’s significantly more difficult. The Brewers traded ace Freddie Peralta’s expiring contract to the Mets before the season, knowing they wouldn’t re-sign him. The Rays did the same by trading Brandon Lowe to the Pirates and acquiring assets.

Would the Dodgers do that? Yankees? Mets? Rangers? Braves? Phillies? Cubs? Short answer: no. The smaller market clubs must maximize ROI by making smart trades, analytics, and development. 

The most staggering number of all is what the Dodgers spent compared to what Cleveland spent. LA won 100 games with an estimated payroll of $412 million, over $330 million more than the Guardians, who finished with 85 victories. 

They both ended up in the same place, Cleveland, thanks to a very weak American League, but should any league have that type of payroll difference?

A cap and floor system makes the NFL, NHL, and NBA thrive. In the last 10 years, small markets like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers have won back-to-back cups. The Kansas City Chiefs built a dynasty and sustained it. The Milwaukee Bucks and OKC Thunder won titles.

Spare me the idea that a small market World Series changes the game. It doesn’t, and it shouldn’t. 

Multiple things are true. Can small markets compete? Yes. Is it significantly more likely big markets will win? Also yes. Does market size make any difference in other sports? Nope. So why should it be in pro baseball?

When the curtain comes down in 2026, we don’t know when Major League Baseball will play again. But despite what happened in one single postseason, the need for a cap and floor will never change at all. 

Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger has been named the 2026 Philanthropist of the Year by the Players Trust, which is the charitable arm of the MLBPA.

The link above has a summary of some of the charity and community work Burger has done. Burger’s daughter, Penelope, has Down’s Syndrome, and much of the work he has done the past two years has focused on causes and issues related to Down’s Syndrome. When he joined the Rangers, he also changed his uniform number from 36 to 21, as Down’s Syndrome results from an individual having an extra Chromosome 21.

The announcement was made as part of the Players Choice Awards, which were announced today. Headlining those awards was Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was named the 2026 Most Outstanding Player in the National League, as well as the overall Player of the Year. The Astros’ Yordan Alvarez was the pick for the American League,