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.
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….
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!
DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 15: Akil Baddoo #60 of the Detroit Tigers looks on during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Thursday, August 15, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a new member on the team, and his name is Akil Baddoo.
The 28-year-old infielder spent his first five MLB seasons with the Detroit Tigers, but was with the Milwaukee Brewers organization this past season. Baddoo never played in the majors, which means he won’t receive a championship ring, but he is hoping that a fresh start with the Pirates will send his career back on track.
“It means a lot. It was a lot of chaos in a matter of a couple days, but I’m looking forward to it,” Baddoo said via MLB.com reporter Aiden Stepansky. “A new opportunity, a great organization. A lot of character here with the Pirates. A lot of championships, a lot of that championship pedigree and everything, so I was honestly happy and I was looking forward to it.”
Baddoo was originally a top prospect after being selected 74th overall by the Minnesota Twins in the 2016 MLB Draft. After dealing with injuries, he did not make it to the majors with Minnesota, but he was selected as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft by the Detroit Tigers. That led him to make Detroit’s 2021 opening-day roster, and he remained a mainstay with the Tigers for five seasons.
Throughout his career, Baddoo has a .224 batting average, 28 home runs, and 104 RBIs. His numbers don’t pop off the page, but he could be a solid veteran infielder who gives the team some depth going into the season.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Charlie Condon #66 of the Colorado Rockies rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of the spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Purple Row! Here’s what’s going on with the Colorado Rockies and the rest of Major League Baseball.
Charlie Condon remains among the top first-base prospects in baseball, checking in third in Matt Heckman’s projection-based rankings. Heckman’s model projects Condon to develop into a .251 hitter with roughly 29-home-run potential, supported by impressive exit velocities and barrel rates. The concerns are familiar: strikeouts, inconsistent contact and difficulty handling sliders. There’s little doubt about Condon’s raw power, but whether he can make enough contact to consistently tap into it against major-league pitching remains the big question.
Joe Rutland floats Casey Mize as a potential target for the Rockies after the former first overall pick posted a 2.70 ERA with Detroit before unraveling in San Diego. Mize could be a worthwhile gamble for a Colorado rotation desperately needing reinforcements, but his projected two-year, $32 million contract makes a deal seem unlikely. There’s also no indication that Mize has any interest in coming to Colorado. Still, with Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes tasked with rebuilding the pitching staff, the Rockies should be kicking every tire this offseason.
Seth Dowdle explores a potential reunion with Cal Quantrill, who bounced back with a 2.86 ERA over 110 innings for the Rangers in 2026. I remember Quantrill as a fiery competitor during his time in Colorado, and his ability to pitch in multiple roles makes a return worth considering, even if the idea doesn’t generate much excitement. His late-season injury raises some concerns, and there’s no guarantee he’d want another crack at Coors Field. As with any free agent, it takes two to tango, but the Rockies should at least explore the possibility.
The Salt River Rafters had a rough week, losing four of five games, but several Rockies prospects turned in strong performances. Wednesday’s 9-8 victory over Scottsdale featured Jared Thomas hitting a home run and a triple with three RBI, while Jack O’Dowd collected three hits. Sean Sullivan tossed 3.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts, and Fidel Ulloa earned the win with 1.1 scoreless innings.
The weekend also offers some excitement for baseball fans. O’Dowd will participate in today’s Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby at 6:30 p.m.. The Fall Stars Game follows on Sunday, showcasing some of baseball’s top young talent.
Mike Petriello ranks all 30 MLB rosters heading into the offseason using FanGraphs’ projected WAR for 2027, and the Rockies find themselves in a familiar spot: dead last. Petriello acknowledges some encouraging developments in 2026, but pitching remains the organization’s biggest problem. He also points out that improvements to the Rockies’ pitching development process will take time to produce results. That’s a fair assessment, but Colorado can’t afford to sit around waiting for those improvements without aggressively pursuing outside help.
Tarik Skubal is in line for an enormous payday, and Thomas Harrigan takes an interesting look at what history tells us about pitchers entering their 30s after similarly dominant stretches. Of the 11 comparable pitchers examined, seven missed significant time with injuries during the first half of their 30s. The group includes some pretty impressive names, including Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez and Johan Santana, but their careers took very different paths. Skubal is unquestionably one of the best pitchers in baseball, but committing hundreds of millions of dollars to any pitcher comes with plenty of risk.
Longenhagen delivers an extensive look at the Asian professional baseball market, including Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato, hard-throwing pitcher Kaima Taira and NPB strikeout leader Hiroto Saiki, alongside dozens of longer-term prospects. There’s a tremendous amount of scouting information here, including statistics, video and detailed player evaluations. It’s a paid article, but well worth checking out for anyone interested in international talent.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 26: Albert Pujols talks with Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred prior to Game Three of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, October 26, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
How’s this for irony? The very man who once tormented Astros pitching, is now on the cusp of filling out the lineup card along Crawford Street. It’s a head turner, it’s Albert Pujols. Back in the day, this would be the equivalent of letting Mean Joe Greene coach the Oilers or having Karl Malone in a Rockets uniform. Yet here we are. The future first ballot hall of famer is generating some serious buzz and could be introduced as early as next week.
It’s been 38 days since the Astros were knocked out of the playoffs. Now, Jim Crane is looking to deliver a knockout blow of his own. The Pujols resume is stacked, 22 seasons, 703 home runs, a trio of MVPs, with 11 All-Star appearances. Oh, there’s also a pair of titles from 2006 & 2011. On the managerial front, he’s led Leones del Escogido to the Dominican Winter League title in a thrilling seven game series.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has been covering baseball since 1986. He joins us exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes as the rumor mill swirls around Prince Albert.
Q: Was this the plan all along? Identify the GM and then follow it up quickly with a managerial hire?
A: You definitely want the GM to be hired ahead of the manager since the GM will be the manager’s boss. It would have been extremely awkward to have Flores named after they name a manager in the upcoming days.
Q: Is it going to be a tough transition for Randy Flores working under Jim Crane and his various advisors?
A: Every GM wants to win, and the Astros have won as many as any team in baseball over the past decade. It’s a coveted job with owner Jim Crane always aggressively wanting to win. They have plenty of assets to trade, as well, if they choose to go that route. But I would imagine that the Astros will keep the team largely intact from 2026.
Q: Would the Pujols hire energize the masses in H-Town? When we last saw this club, there were several thousand no-shows during the Sox elimination series.
A: The interest is real and the Astros are moving fast. Everyone in that clubhouse respects him and with that, everything else falls into place.
Approximately 90 seconds into Anchorman, The Legend of Ron Burgundy, actor Will Ferrell yells “Cannonball” diving into the pool, making a gigantic splash. This is the Astros “cannonball moment”, and this might be their biggest move yet. It just happens to be the man who crushed 62 career home runs against them during his playing career.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 22: Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on September 22, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’ve played “Take Your Pick” with the Red Sox before, so let’s do it again.
OverTheMonster.com’s Matt Gross took an extensive look this week at the multitude of internal and external rumors about who could be starting shortstop for the Red Sox when baseball ramps up in 2027.
I believe there are four names Red Sox Nation would consider: two external and two internal. Who makes sense? Who can hold down and stay at the position? Who actually elevates the Boston lineup to actually win a playoff series and more?
As has been the story of the majority of his Red Sox career, Story had another gruesome start to 2026 and then found himself back on the injured list. He struggled to ever get going offensively outside of a few nice moments upon his return with Roman Anthony in late August. With the glove, his standout defense that maintained his value a few years ago is regressing before our eyes. It feels risky to run him back out for the final year of his contract in 2027, but can the Red Sox realistically find a trade partner for him? Especially since doing the same for Masataka Yoshida and Jarren Duran is already difficult.
Franklin Arias (Red Sox – Triple-A) 2026 Season (Double-A/Triple-A): 117 games, .323/.400/.557, .957 OPS, 25 HR, 91 RBI
Arias was worthy of attention in the system before last season. Then came a slugfest formerly unknown in his game.
MLB’s No. 2 prospect mashed 25 home runs and made power a greater part of his offensive profile, thus rewriting his ceiling upon his eventual arrival to the big leagues. He can grind out at-bats, consistently took his walks, and now impressed the organization with his newfound ability to do damage and impact the baseball.
He doesn’t have the same publicly tracked defensive metrics like his MLB counterparts, but Arias does feature a 55-grade arm and a 60-grade field tool according to MLB Pipeline.
The Red Sox haven’t gotten what they expected from the “Big Three” in that round of amplifying homegrown talent. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t ride with Arias in 2027. He’s certainly earned the opportunity. Do the Red Sox believe he makes sense over these other candidates?
Elly De La Cruz (Reds) 2026 Season: 143 games, .283/.365/.515, .880 OPS, 30 HR, 79 RBI, +7 OAA, -6 DRS
I’m sure this is going to be the name that lights up the comments. And it should be.
Cruz is an electrifying player with real offensive firepower and a cannon for an arm at shortstop. He had his best season of his career in 2026 and did so in 30-30 fashion. I don’t need to sit here advocating for this move – we know he’s a stud.
Here’s what it comes down to: De La Cruz enters his first arbitration year in 2027 and can go to free agency after 2029. What do the Red Sox have left to trade for him and can they close the deal on an extension with a top-20 player in the sport?
Let’s look at another name that intertwined with the Red Sox at last year’s trade deadline.
Abrams is a dynamic player with solid power and speed. Craig Breslow and Paul Taboni are comfortable trade partners, so another Red Sox-Nationals deal isn’t crazy.
Abrams did have a rather rough defensive season in 2026 and may not stay at shortstop long term. So is he worth the investment of a blockbuster trade package in this era of the run-prevention Red Sox?
UNITED STATES - MARCH 16: A man with a television on his head passes out flyers advertising the launch of SportsNet New York (SNY), the home of the New York Mets, at Sixth Ave. and W. 51st St. The new cable channel will feature a show called "Daily News Live" featuring the News' best sportswriters and editors tackling the issues of the day. (Photo by Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) | NY Daily News via Getty Images
MLB.com broke this year’s crop of free agents into different tiers, with Tarik Skubal unsurprisingly standing alone at the of the class.MLB agents are usually competing against one another for the best deals for their clients, but they are now united in fighting against a salary cap.
Diamondbacks star outfielder Corbin Carroll underwent elbow surgery and expects to be ready for spring training.
The Yankees are losing one of their coaches, with catching coordinator Tanner Swanson heading to Seattle to serve as the Mariners’ bench coach.
With the lockout looming at the end of the month, this offseason appears ready to heat up quickly, as teams are eager to get at least some of their business done before the baseball world freezes at the order of the league owners. While much of the attention has, so far, centered on the free agent market — options exercised and declined, qualifying offers extended, players from Japan and Korea posted — chances are, given Brian Cashman’s history, the Yankees will be just as active on the trade market, if not more so. Over the past decade, he has acquired Ryan Weathers, Cody Bellinger, Juan Soto, Trent Grisham, Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Jameson Taillon, James Paxton, and Giancarlo Stanton in offseason deals. While it’s not yet clear who exactly will be available this winter, as the old saying goes, you have to give something to get something, so we can take a look at which players on the 40-man roster the Yankees might use to swing a deal.
Major League starters
They say you can never have enough pitching, and while that’s true, the Yankees are in the rare position where they have some depth to work with. Between presumptive AL Cy Young Cam Schlittler, 2023 AL Cy Young Gerrit Cole, and a pair of southpaws with multiple top-six finishes in Max Fried and Carlos Rodón, the Yankees starting rotation has quite an extensive resume. Obviously, no team wants to shed too much of its pitching depth — we said much the same thing about the Yankees’ 2025 rotation when they traded Nestor Cortes, only for them to need to turn Ryan Yarbrough into a starter and promote Schlittler mid-season — but still, this category represents the Yankees’ biggest trade chips, and for the right bat, it may very well be worth it…and it becomes a no-brainer if they sign Tarik Skubal as a replacement.
Of the three, Will Warren seems to me to have the most value. While he lacks the ceiling of Ryan Weathers, he does have two things going for him: less of an injury history (he made more than 30 appearances in each of his first two complete seasons, and has yet to miss a start due to injury) and more years of team control (he is entering his third full season, while Weathers will be a free agent after 2028). Ironically, those very same reasons may also be why Weathers is the pitcher the team is more likely to lose. Due to his injury history — he made just one appearance last year, and hasn’t made more than 16 starts since 2023 — the veteran Clarke Schmidt is unlikely to go anywhere on the trade block; honestly, he may even be at risk of a non-tender.
Minor League pitching depth
Three years ago, the Yankees made the biggest non-Shohei Ohtani splash of the offseason by using their minor league pitching depth to swing a deal for the best bat on the trade market, Juan Soto. While it’s not exactly a one-to-one comparison, the Yankees do have a similar amount of depth ammunition in the trio of Luis Gil, Elmer Rodríguez, and Brendan Beck. As the 2024 Rookie of the Year, Gil has the longest track record, but as Andrés noted yesterday, his stuff has not been sufficiently effective in order to overcome his lack of command — in short, whereas he used to be effectively wild, he’s now just wild — and it’s entirely possible the Yankees decide to non-tender him to save the roster spot. Brendan Beck, meanwhile…exists.
The truly valuable minor league pitcher currently on the 40-man is Rodríguez. He turned heads playing for Puerto Rico during the World Baseball Classic, before putting together a strong season in Scranton (8-4, 2.45 ERA in 106.1 innings). While his Major League numbers weren’t quite there — he had a 5.40 ERA in six starts this season, and was only able to make it out of the fifth just once — he’s still young, having turned 23 back in August.
J.C. Escarra
Catcher J.C. Escarra was the feel-good story of the 2025 season. A long-time minor league journeyman who had worked as an uber driver, bounced around independent and affiliated ball, and finally earned a chance to crack a Major League roster, the 30-year-old catcher overcame all odds to earn the backup catcher job out of spring training. Furthermore, he established himself as one of the game’s elite framers, finishing eighth in the league with 5 Framing Runs — tied with Carlos Narváez and Pedro Pagés, who caught 6000 more pitches than he did!
Unfortunately, Escarra was unable to build upon his 2025 campaign. His framing declined to league-average (he was worth exactly 0 framing runs this year), and has shadow strike percentage dropped from 49.6 percent to 47.9. While these numbers aren’t exactly bad, this defensive regression also coincided with an absolutely terrible year at the plate, Escarra posting a .188/.239/.271 slash line in 92 plate appearances. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that the Yankees sent him down to Scranton towards the end of June in favor of the right-handed Ali Sanchez, and never recalled him.
At this point, it’s clear that the Yankees will not be counting on Escarra as a significant contributor to the Major League roster next season. Austin Wells remains slotted in as the starting catcher, and all indications are that the team is looking to pair him with a right-handed backup. And although the Yankees might just keep Escarra around as minor league depth — he is solid defensively and posted a .301/.375/.488 slash line with Scranton last season, and good catching depth is hard to find — those very same reasons might make him valuable on the trade market. After all, Adley Rutschman netted the Orioles three of Boston’s top-five prospects, plus another starting-caliber catcher in Carlos Narváez. Escarra’s definitely not worth the same as a former No. 1 pick, but much like Kyle Higashioka in the Trent Grisham/Juan Soto trade, he could be a valuable secondary piece.
Ryan McMahon
Ok, it might be a tad unfair to call Ryan McMahon a trade chip, as it seems unlikely the Yankees would be able to get anything of value for a weak-hitting third baseman whose defensive performance took a nose dive this season and who will be owed $16 million next season. But, on the YES Hot Stove this week, Jack Curry reported that the Yankees see third base as an area of need, and while it’s entirely possible that the Yankees opt to simply release McMahon — they have shown a willingness to eat dead money on deals in recent years, especially during the last year of the contract — I can’t help but wonder if, like the Sonny Gray and Marcus Stroman situations, the team will try to work the trade market and find a new home for him.
It might seem unbelievable that the Yankees could get anything for a player who Baseball-Reference valued as perfectly replacement level and FanGraphs saw as worth just 0.5 fWAR in 2026, but if the front office is willing to pay down the salary — or even eat the whole thing — they may be able to get a lottery ticket minor league arm from a team desperate for basic competence at third base. It’s not super likely, but not as ridiculous as you might think — nine third basemen with at least 350 plate appearances accumulated less fWAR than McMahon last season.
Jasson Domínguez
Once the darling of the Yankees farm system, Jasson Domínguez has had repeated setbacks as a big leaguer. After an amazing debut at the end of 2023, he tore his UCL and missed the first half of 2024. Defensive struggles in the outfield then kept him from leapfrogging the struggling Alex Verdugo down the stretch, and the Martian played a bench role all throughout the run to the World Series. The Opening Day starter in left field in 2025, he was outplayed by Trent Grisham, and spent the majority of the season as a fourth outfielder primarily playing against righties. He began the 2026 season in Triple-A, was recalled at the start of May, immediately hit the shelf with a concussion after crashing into the wall in left field, and was leapfrogged by Spencer Jones in the depth chart. Given significant playing time in right field due to Aaron Judge’s injury, he posted just a .225/.267/.368 slash and watched his platoon splits flip. He slashed just a meager .194/.241/.333 against righties, while posting a .275/.310/.425 line against southpaws. Looking for more consistency, the team swung a deal for Heliot Ramos at the deadline, and sent the Martian back to Scranton for good.
If the Yankees were to trade Domínguez now, they would be selling low on him, and since the Martian still has an option remaining (assuming the number of options doesn’t change during the CBA, that is), the smart play may be to hold onto him in the hope that he bounces back enough to either become a contributor in the Bronx or a more valuable trade piece. If the right deal were to come across, though, don’t expect to see Domínguez be the reason it falls apart.
Honorable Mention: Dax Kilby
For the most part, I have kept the focus on players who are on the 40-man roster. On a practical level, it’s a limit that keeps this piece at a reasonable length, as there are literally dozens of prospects who could be floated in trades this winter. I will, though, make one exception: top prospect Dax Kilby, who has been drawing a lot of attention this fall with his dominant performance in the Arizona Fall League.
Drafted in the first round of the 2025 draft, Kilby had just 55 professional games headed into the AFL season, split between Rookie ball and Single-A. Despite the lack of playing time, though, he has not looked overmatched — far from it, in fact. Powered by a retooled swing, the 19-year-old shortstop has posted a .295/.357/.623 slash across 15 games, with 12 extra-base hits. While I don’t exactly expect the Yankees to trade him at this point, the San Diego Padres did express interest in him at the trade deadline when the Bombers inquired into Mason Miller’s availability, it doesn’t quite seem like he’s at the “untouchable” status that Anthony Volpe, Domínguez, Spencer Jones, and George Lombard Jr. had at times. If the team is willing to move Kilby, his value may never be higher than it is now.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 05: Managers Carlos Mendoza #64 of the New York Mets and Rob Thomson #59 of the Philadelphia Phillies greet each other at home plate prior to Game 1 of the Division Series presented by Booking.com between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, October 5, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We’re going to find out this coming week who the award winners are for the different awards in each league. Had I had a vote, I’d go:
NL MVP: Pete Crow-Armstrong AL MVP: Junior Caminero NL Cy Young: Jacob Misiorowski AL Cy Young: Cam Schlittler NL Rookie of the Year: Sal Stewart AL Rookie of the Year: Kevin McGonigle
Mostly stock picks, but they were remarkably easy this year to choose from. Maybe some of the different down ballot votes will be more interesting.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 01: Dominic Smith #8 of the Atlanta Braves hits a single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning in game three of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on October 01, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Braves News:
Our 2026 player review series continues with Dominic Smith.
MLB News:
With the lockout looming, what do you think will happen to the Qualifying Offer?
BRONX, NY - AUGUST 23: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees fields the ball during a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 23, 2026 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The offseason moves along, and there’s still a sense that we’re in the calm before the storm. Nothing much has happened yet, but dominos could start to fall at any moment. There wasn’t much hot stove buzz yesterday, but we did learn that Cody Bellinger somewhat unexpectedly won the Platinum Glove, determined by fan voting and given to the top fielder in each league. Bellinger has turned into one of the finest all-around players in the league, and it’s cool to see him recognized for his mastery of the finer parts of the game.
This morning, as we brace for what could be a hectic few weeks before the league locks out the players, John looks at who could be the Yankees’ primary trade chips. Also, Matt appreciates former Yankees broadcaster Jim Kaat on his 88th birthday, Michael provides our weekly Arizona Fall League update, and Peter issues a mea culpa regarding one Cam Schlittler.
Questions/Prompts:
1.Were you surprised to see Cody Bellinger take home the Platinum Glove in the American League? (Pete Crow-Armstrong earned the hardware in the National League).
2. If you could plop one MLB free agent, other than Tarik Skubal, onto the Yankees, who would it be?
