Hey everyone, my name is Dave Gasper and I’m incredibly excited to be joining the staff at Brew Crew Ball ahead of the 2026 season. Prior to this, I spent seven years as the Editor-in-Chief over at Reviewing the Brew, covering the team from the 2018 run to Game 7 of the NLCS through so many more moments that this team has made over the years. I’ve always strived to be a trusted voice on the Milwaukee Brewers, bringing in-depth analysis from my knowledge of the game and passion for this organization.
You may also know me from my work on what was formerly 97.3 FM The Game here in Milwaukee and state-wide on The Game Radio Network of stations. There I was the producer of No BS with Billy and Armen and then co-host and producer of D.N.D. in the mid-days.
Growing up, going to Brewers games with my dad, my Brewers fandom started in the lean years of the early 2000s, watching Richie Sexson and Geoff Jenkins be the best players on some really bad teams, losing 100 games a year. That’s made this run of success the team has had over the last several years that much more enjoyable not only to watch but to be able to cover as a member of the media.
I’m excited to bring you content going inside the Brewers clubhouse as well as diving into the farm system and providing my prospect rankings.
I’ve covered this team and been in the clubhouse through a couple of champagne celebrations already the last few years and hopefully there are a couple more champagne celebrations this year.
Feb 13, 2025; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cade Povich (37) and teammates pitch as they practice during spring training workouts at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
You wouldn’t know it from the current weather on the East Coast, but baseball season is fast approaching. In just one week, all Orioles pitchers and catchers will have reported to Sarasota for the start of spring training. The first workout is in eight days. Soon we’ll be inundated with reports of how every Oriole is in the best shape of his life and that it’s a great group of guys and the team is destined for glory. It’s the time of year that optimism abounds and there’s no evidence to the contrary (yet).
Even with the start of camp so close, it doesn’t feel like the Orioles are done tinkering with their roster, nor should they be. The bullpen, in particular, is one unit that doesn’t currently inspire confidence. The O’s did jump early this offseason to fill their closer spot, signing former All-Star Ryan Helsley, and reacquired Andrew Kittredge after dealing him last July. But ever since the Helsley signing, which was more than two months ago, the Birds have yet to add any other notable relievers.
The O’s, at the moment, seem set to rely on many of the journeymen and unproven arms who comprised their bullpen after the trade deadline last season. And that’s a major risk. Can the Orioles rely on the well-traveled Dietrich Enns and Rico Garcia to be as effective this season as they were in a two-month sample size last year? Will a guy like Kade Strowd take a step forward or be overexposed in regular duty? What happens if Helsley gets hurt or pitches like he did with the Mets (7.20 ERA)? Who would replace him as the closer? If Kittredge is injured or ineffective, who takes over the eighth-inning role? The Orioles might not be prepared for every contingency, but bringing in another reliable arm or two would go a long way to strengthening the whole bullpen.
The Orioles’ offseason got off to a fast start but has slowed to a halt as spring approaches. There’s still a little bit of time for Mike Elias and his staff to acquire a reliable reliever or starting pitcher. But if they want a new pitcher to be able to have a full spring training of preparation, they’d better act sooner rather than later.
Rich Dubroff maps out a potential Opening Day bullpen, and it reinforces the point I was just making. If Yennier Cano is penciled in for a spot, then I’m sorry, but that’s not a particularly good bullpen.
The key word here is “upside.” If either or both of them play like they’re capable of, the O’s could have the best catching situation in the division. But their 2025 performances for the Orioles don’t exactly inspire confidence.
Update: Framber Valdez still is not an Oriole. Will the O’s pivot for someone like Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt, or Lucas Giolito, or will they roll the dice with the pitchers they’ve already got?
Are you planning to attend O’s spring training but don’t know where or when the Orioles play or who’s on the team? That’s…a little weird, frankly, but this article will answer your questions.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Seven former Orioles were born on Feb. 3, including second baseman and vibes guy Rougned Odor (32); right-handers Brooks Kriske (also 32) and Don Welchel (69); outfielder Fred Lynn (74); and the late righties Scott Klingenbeck (b. 1971, d. 2025) and Harry Byrd (b. 1925, d. 1985) and outfielder Jim Dyck (b. 1922, d. 1999).
On this date in 1994, the Orioles re-signed reliever Mark Williamson. The righty had spent his first seven years with the Orioles as a workhorse in the bullpen, throwing more than 80 relief innings in six of those seasons, including 100+ each from 1987-89. His career lasted just one more year, with 28 appearances in 1994.
And on this day in 2021, the O’s signed Mariners legend Félix Hernández as a minor league free agent. The former Cy Young winner, who hadn’t played since 2019, was a favorite to break camp in the Orioles’ rotation, but he got injured in his final spring training start and never pitched again. He became Hall of Fame eligible in 2025 and received 20.6% of the vote in his first year followed by 46.1% in his second, so he seems to be making progress toward induction.
On this day three years ago, White Sox farmhand Theo Denlinger packed his hammer and anvil and set off for Boston. | (Photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
1988 Helping to spur an upset in the 1988 Caribbean Series, José DeLeón started the Series-opening win for his Escogido Leones. Just six days later, the White Sox traded the right-handed workhorse to St. Louis for Lance Johnson, Ricky Horton and cash.
1996 To help fortify a comically-thin rotation (of the four core starters in 1995, just Wilson Alvarez and Alex Fernandez would remain with the team/stay healthy through 1996) the White Sox signed righthander Kevin Tapani to a one-year, $1.5 million deal.
After seven years in Minnesota compiling 19.1 WAR, Tapani was dealt to the Dodgers to help a playoff run. However, Tapani was horrible in the stretch for L.A., culminating in an NLDS that saw him appear in two games with just one-third of an inning pitched, scarred by three earned runs and four walks.
With Tapani’s value at low ebb, the White Sox struck with an extreme value signing — and it paid off wonderfully, as the righty put up a 13-10 record and a 3.2 WAR (tied for second-best of his career) in spite of some sloppy peripherals (4.59 ERA, 4.85 FIP, 1.385 WHIP).
Tapani’s relative success as a White Sox reclamation made the path forward even more curious. Despite not missing a start (he had 34, while No. 1 and 2 starters Fernandez and Alvarez finished with 35) and once pitching on three days’ rest, Tapani was accused of faking a hand injury by GM Ron Schueler, assuring the starter would not return.
Driving away Tapani and even the higher-profile hit of losing Fernandez to the Florida Marlins in free agency forced what would become the worst free agent pitcher signing in White Sox history: Jaime Navarro for four years and $20 million.
Tapani ended up signing a five-year, $23.5 million deal with the Cubs and put up a modest 7.2 WAR over the contract. Navarro would last just three years with the White Sox, compiling a catastrophic -3.7 WAR.
2011 The White Sox announced the signing of Alexei Ramírez to a four-year, $32.5 million contract extension covering 2012-15, with a team option for 2016.
Ramírez was coming off of what would stand up as his greatest MLB season in 2010, with 5.6 WAR and his first career Silver Slugger. His defense comprised almost half of his WAR value; Derek Jeter winning the Gold Glove at shortstop that season further cemented the need for a change in the determination process there.
The Cuban Missile would go on to have four very productive seasons of the five his extension covered, making this a rare “perfect” meld, where performance largely matched compensation.
2023 In a trade that stuck a blow against the Chicago trades, the White Sox sent reliever Theo Denlinger to Boston for reliever Franklin German. German had thrown in five games for the 2022 Red Sox, getting blown up for an 18.00 ERA. The 25-year-old nudged that ERA down a smidge in Charlotte for nine early appearances (7.15 ERA) but was waived on May 8; though catching on with the Reds and then again the Red Sox later that year, 2023 would be German’s last season of pro ball.
Denlinger, a blacksmith, struggled in Double- and Triple-A for the Red Sox and was released during the 2024 season. He surfaced for the Tecolotes de Los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League in 2025, putting up a 6.46 ERA there.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 24: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with teammates prior to a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 24, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Last week’s question asked about the record for the Buccos. The last time the Pirates were .500 or better was 2018. However, the Bucs have one the league’s best pitching staffs, and after finally adding some offense, the Bucs seem poised to actually score some runs this season as well. Will all of that add up to finally getting over the .500 hump? Here’s what you had to say:
A full two-thirds of voters are taking the over .500 for the Bucs. Add in the 10 percent of you who think the team finishes right at .500, and that’s 77 percent of voters who think the Bucs will be .500 or better this year. That’s more optimism than we’ve had in a long time. Let’s hope the Bucs can meet our expectations.
Thanks for voting. We’ll be back soon with more Reacts.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Orion Kerkering #50 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning in game three of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello everyone! Welcome to our new Daily Question series for the month of February. With Spring Training around the corner, we want to hear what you think 2026 holds for your Minnesota Twins. Let’s get excited for baseball!
Here’s the problem with trade articles. Because you can target nearly anybody, I end up spending hours just going through realistic possibilities. Rather than doing that this time around, let’s leave it up to you and see who you have in mind.
The way I see it, the Twins have two main needs with a few weeks to go. The bullpen is the glaring and most obvious one, but they also need a right-handed outfielder to pair with their bevy of lefties incapable of hitting a left-handed breaking ball.
Last note! Ideally, these trades need to remove some assortment of Trevor Larnach, James Outman, Matt Wallner, or Alan Roden from the roster. Those four are incredibly redundant and each has different strengths, but they all have the exact same weakness: they can’t hit lefties. Larnach is the one most likely to go, but Wallner has good trade value and could be the centerpiece for a team that is low on outfield power. Outside of that, you’re probably looking at a deal centered around a starting pitcher (or two) with one of the outfielders as a throw-in.
I’ll cover the more boring, but still distinct upgrades, options first. Here are a few teams and players that could work as trade partners off the top of my head:
Boston Red Sox: they’ve had their eye on Joe Ryan for months, but maybe there’s a smaller trade to be worked out for one of the Twins’ lower level starters. Romy Gonzalez is a lefty masher who can play anywhere and they have some intriguing relief options as well.
Tampa Bay Rays: They could use some offensive production and rotation depth to back up their quality top end of the roster. Something like Larnach and a lower-end (but MLB ready) pitching prospect could fetch the Twins either Edwin Uceta or Bryan Baker in the bullpen.
Colorado Rockies: The Rockies, famously, are not a well run baseball team. Could we trick them into giving up Victor Vodnik?
Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies have maybe the worst projected starting outfield for a bonafide contender. Larnach would be a distinct upgrade for them and they have two excellent right-handed utility men that would be an upgrade for the Twins in Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp. If you want to get crazy and kill two birds with one stone, Wallner and Marco Raya could probably fetch you Orion Kerkering and one of the utility guys.
Los Angeles Angels: my dream trade that won’t happen for various reasons is Zach Neto, who has quietly emerged as one of the best young shortstops in baseball over the past two seasons. It would cost a lot prospect-wise, but picking up Neto and bumping Brooks Lee into the Willi Castro-esque super utility everyday player would solve a lot of issues for this roster.
Let’s hear it: who (realistically) do you want the Twins to trade for? Dream big. Or small. The world is your oyster, and hopefully Jeremy Zoll’s too.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 02: Will Warren #98, Luis Gil #81, Gerrit Cole #45, Max Fried #54, Carlos Rodón #55, Cam Schlittler #31 and Clarke Schmidt #36 of the New York Yankees celebrate in the clubhouse after winning Game Three of the American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on October 2, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re three days into February, and by now you’re likely familiar with our new format to kickstart our days. The Yankee rotation was one of the focal points of the offseason right after the No. 1 priority of dealing with the outfield, and while they ultimately didn’t do much outside of adding some depth arms the starting staff will look a little different in 2026.
So with that being said, who will end up performing the best out of all of the Yankees’ options to start this season? They’re getting back their staff ace Gerrit Cole who could theoretically slide right back into the role, but there’s a couple of caveats. First, Cole is coming off of Tommy John surgery that cost him the entirety of last year, and he missed the first half of 2024 as well — you can hope that he merely avoided the surgery that he inevitably needed the next year, but none of that bodes well for Cole’s durability in the back half of his contract. So Cole is entering 2026 needing to get back into game form after a long time on the shelf, and he’s also going to miss at least the first month of the season to complete his recovery. That isn’t going to help his counting stats for an end of the year comparison, even if he does jump right back into Cy Young form when he does return to the mound.
That gives Max Fried a decent shot at taking the mantle for another year. The team’s big offseason signing last year delivered in Cole’s absence, finishing in fourth-place in the Cy Young voting after posting a 2.86 ERA and 4.8 fWAR over 195.1 innings. He’s the frontrunner to be the most valuable arm on the staff again as he enters 2026 healthy, though his performance last year was just a touch below the best of his career so it may be difficult for him to replicate that level of success in back-to-back seasons.
Similar to Cole, Carlos Rodón is starting the year on the shelf, giving him a bit of a disadvantage after he needed surgery in the offseason to remove some bone spurs. He is coming off of his best year in pinstripes in 2025, however, so he can’t be fully discounted should momentum carry him to new heights in his fourth season in the Bronx. Finally, the dark horse candidate to showcase a monster year is Cam Schlittler, the team’s breakout star at the end of last season. Schlittler impressed in his rookie campaign, posting a 2.96 ERA and earning 1.3 fWAR in just 73 innings of work, and his big coming out party came in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series where he delivered eight shutout innings to secure the victory. With the prospect of a full year on the roster coming up, Schlittler is poised for a strong sophomore season, and the delayed starts for some of the stalwarts of the rotation could guide him to the top should he remain healthy.
There’s no bad answer to have as your No. 1 entering October based on the resumes we’ve seen from each of them, but the tantalizing potential of a homegrown ace makes me lean me towards predicting Schlittler to top the list. Who would you say has the best chance to lead the pack this year? Let us know below.
On the site today, we’ve got Nolan running through the state of the Yankees’ outfield depth entering this year, with the scale tilting heavily towards the major league and upper minors side of the system. Matt wishes a happy birthday to a man with an incredible name in Chicken Hawks, Jeff previews Cody Bellinger’s season with him back in the fold in left field, and Peter reflects on the strange circumstances that led to Rafael Soriano’s signing with the Yankees after the 2010 season.
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt throws to first base during spring training on February 17, 2025, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. | Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Continuing our February Daily Question series, we’re beginning today’s conversation with the question, “Which prospect are you most looking forward to seeing this spring?”
While everyone will certainly be watching to see how Made matches up with other big leaguers, is he the prospect you’re most looking forward to seeing? Or is there another name on the list — Luke Adams, Tate Kuehner, Luis Lara, Brock Wilken, Cooper Pratt, and Jett Williams, just to name a few — who you’re more excited about?
What about players on the 40-man roster who we haven’t seen yet? Jeferson Quero? Brandon Sproat?
There are plenty of names to keep an eye out for come spring training in a few weeks. I personally am most excited to see Pratt and Lara, specifically for their defensive prowess.
Weigh in in the comments, and join us throughout the month as we keep these conversations rolling into spring training. Have a question you’d like to ask in a future BCB Daily Question? Drop one in the comments and we may use it later this month.
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 22: Ty France #2 of the Toronto Blue Jays poses for a photo during the 2025 World Series photoshoot at the Rogers Centre on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
CBS Sports | R.J. Anderson: The Yankees are one of several teams interested in Ty France, per MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. The Red Sox, Mets, Padres, and Diamondbacks are among the first baseman’s other suitors. France slashed .257/.320/.360 last year in 138 games with the Twins and Blue Jays. This report comes on the heels of rumors that the Yankees have entertained a reunion with Paul Goldschmidt, indicating that adding a veteran, right-handed bat at first base to split time with the left-handed Ben Rice is a priority heading into spring training.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: With spring training fast approaching, Hoch provides an FAQ for the Yankees’ preseason operation. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on February 11th, with position players following on February 15th. Fans can attend workouts at Tampa’s George M. Steinbrenner Field free of charge. Several promising youngsters will receive an opportunity to showcase what they can do against major-league talent, including the team’s consensus top prospect, George Lombard Jr., right-handers Elmer Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange, and outfielder Spencer Jones. Spring games will begin on February 20th and, over the course of spring training, 25 matchups will be broadcast on YES Network or the Gotham Sports app.
Bronx Times | Keke Grant-Floyd: Through his namesake foundation, Jazz Chisholm Jr. has funded the development of a computer lab at an elementary school in the Morrisania neighborhood of the Bronx. The Yankees’ All-Star attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the lab at Community School 55, also known as the Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, where he explained the genesis for this endeavor. “I was raised in public school, and I’m a kid from the hood that didn’t really get as many opportunities as anybody else,” Chisholm said. “I want to be able to give kids all the opportunities that I can help with.” The Jazz Chisholm Foundation supports youth in New York, Florida, and the Bahamas.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 06: Brandon Gaudin (L-R), Tom Glavine and Big Boi pose for a photo in the Bally Sports booth during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers at Truist Park on August 6, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is not that surprising, as some MLB teams in the biggest markets/with the biggest fanbases have done the same in the recent past. Though the details are still unknown, the logic behind this move is a simpler setup for the Braves to get access of their games to the fanbase with a bigger part of the profit coming their way. Stay tuned for more details as they come, but this could be win for everyone in time.
The Braves are officially moving all their Spring Training necessities to Florida in anticipation for Spring Training. Plus, more information on the promotion schedule for the 2026 season.
MLB News
Brendan Donovan, one of the more notable bats on the trade market this offseason, found a new home with the Seattle Mariners via a trade with the Cardinals on Monday.
DENVER - OCTOBER 27: Infielder Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies fields a ground ball out against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning of Game Three of the 2007 World Series at Coors Field on October 27, 2007 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB via Getty Images) | MLB via Getty Images
Yesterday in The Feed, porter_engle asked the question “Name the Rockies draft pick you wish had turned out better.” They then identified Kyle Hancock as their pick, and asked the community to weigh in.
I’d like to spin that off this evening in the form of a different question:
Who’s a player whose Rockies career you wish wasn’t cut short, either due to injuries, being traded/released, walking in free agency, etc.?
For me, it’s always going to be Troy Tulowitzki. He was my first favorite Rockie, and he was on a potential Hall of Fame trajectory if his entire baseball career wasn’t marred by injuries. And then, of course, he was also traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, which left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth for a very long time.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 09: Matt Shaw #6 of the Chicago Cubs throws to first base during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field on October 09, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a new week here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad you decided to stop by. Come on in out of the cold. We’ll waive the cover charge for you. Let us take your coat. The hostess can take you to your table now. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last week, I asked you which Cubs corner outfielder should the team sign to an extension. Your choice was Seiya Suzuki with 49 percent of the vote. Ian Happ only got 21 percent, which affirms my belief that Happ is the most underrated Cub of the 21st Century. Nineteen percent of you did want to sign both players to an extension.
Here’s the part where we listen to music and talk movies. You’re free to skip that if you’d like. You won’t hurt my feelings.
Tonight we’re featuring Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias in New York in 2011 playing “Samba Triste.” Joining her are Marc Johnson on bass and Satoshi Takeishi on drums.
You voted in the BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic and like most things that decide to go up against Godzilla, The Day the Earth Stood Still got crushed. I would have thought Gort would have been able to put up a better fight with all his alien technology, but that’s what people thought about Mechagodzilla as well.
Today we’ve got another third round matchup to decide which film will face off against Godzilla in the semifinals. It’s director Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey and the film with one of the most famous endings of all time, Planet of the Apes (1968).
2001: A Space Odyssey.(1968) Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Starring Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood.
Here’s the “hunt” scene where Taylor (Heston) and his crew are captured by the Apes.
Reading back what I wrote about these two films, I don’t really have a lot more to say. Both of them kind of defy criticism anyways, but in very different ways. I also assume that all of you who have been following along have already seen both of these movies, so I don’t need to tell you a lot.
So you might as well vote.
You have until Wednesday to vote. Up next, Alien takes on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. I’m wondering if we won’t get Alien versus Godzilla in the final, which would no doubt give some producer an idea for a new film series.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.
The Boston media and Red Sox fans have been going nuts since the Cubs signed Alex Bregman. Even the few Boston fans who didn’t think the Red Sox should re-sign Bregman are upset because the team has too many outfielders and not enough infielders. Marcelo Mayer is pencilled in for third base and while he was a highly-regarded prospect coming into last season, he didn’t exactly set the world on fire in his first go at the major leagues. He also struggled badly against left-handed pitching, so he probably needs a platoon partner. That’s no reason to give up on Mayer, but it is a risky spot to be in for a team that has title aspirations.
The situation for the Red Sox at second base is even worse. Romy Gonzalez did very well at the plate last season—..305/.343/.483 in 96 games, but most of that damage was done against left-handers. Basically, he’s a good platoon partner for Mayer at third base and he can’t play second and third base against left-handed pitching at the same time.
Another option the Red Sox have at second base is Kristian Campbell, who was poor in his rookie season, hitting .223/.319/.345 over 67 games. There’s also David Hamilton, who was even worse.
The situation is so desperate that the team is apparently kicking around is moving center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela to second base. Rafaela was a good defensive infielder before the Red Sox moved him to center field and he could probably handle the position well should they move him back. The problem is that Rafaela is an elite center fielder who may be the only outfielder in Pete Crow-Armstrong’s class as a defender. So that might solve the Red Sox problem of too many outfielders and not enough infielders, but it comes with a big cost.
One thing that has been suggested a lot by Red Sox fans is to trade for one of the Cubs infielders, in particular Nico Hoerner or Matt Shaw. The idea is behind Hoerner is that the Cubs have one too many infielders and Hoerner is a free agent at the end of the season. If the Cubs aren’t planning to sign him to an extension, they might be better off getting something for him in trade.
Honestly, I don’t see the Cubs trading Hoerner. The Cubs also consider themselves playoff contenders and Hoerner is one of the best all-around players on the team. For the Cubs to trade Hoerner, they would have to get something back that would give them equal or better production this year. If the Red Sox had that to trade, they wouldn’t need Nico Hoerner.
Matt Shaw is a more interesting question. Shaw got off to a poor start to his rookie season last year, but he really turned it on in the second half. He also was surprisingly good at third base, but with Alex Bregman under contract, he doesn’t have a full-time job. The Cubs have made it clear that they’d like to use Shaw as a “supersub” all around the diamond, but for 2026 at least, Shaw is a luxury rather than a necessity. It’s also escaped no one’s attention that Shaw is from Massachusetts and grew up a Red Sox fan.
Most of the trade offers I’ve seen out of Boston for Shaw is along the lines of “here’s a bunch of players we don’t want for a Cub we very much do want.” Sorry, but trades don’t work that way. The Cubs have no reason that they have to trade Shaw. The Cubs need a strong bench and he’s the backup plan for 2027 should Hoerner leave as a free agent. On top of that, I believe that even though Hoerner is the better player, Shaw has more trade value than Hoerner. He was the 35th-ranked prospect according to Baseball America coming into last year. Keith Law of The Athletic ranked him as the 14th-best prospect. While he didn’t set the world on fire his rookie season, he’s still young and promising. On top of that, he has five years of team control left instead of just one for Nico.
So sorry Red Sox fans. If you want Matt Shaw, it’s gonna hurt. Boston will definitely have to give up something they don’t want to give up if they want Shaw.
Fortunately for them, they do have two prospects the Cubs might covet. The Red Sox have two young (23 years old) starting pitchers who are major-league ready this season: left-handers Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. Baseball America ranked Tolle as the 17th-best prospect in the game. They ranked Early 52nd. Law ranked Tolle 40th and Early 64th. Both have already made their major league debuts. Early and was very good (2.33 ERA) over four starts. Tolle wasn’t nearly as effective out of the gate with a 6.06 ERA over three starts and four relief spots. But the important thing is that both pitchers are ready to pitch in the majors this season.
Here’s a little of what Baseball America said about Tolle
He . . . averaged 96.6 mph in his big league cameo and hit triple digits for the first time in his life on a pitch that averaged 16.7 inches of ride and 6.7 inches of armside run. Tolle reshaped his secondary mix throughout the season, most notably with the introduction of an 88-90 mph cutter in August that immediately surpassed his gyro slider,
And here’s a little of what they said about Early.
He paired the [93-94 mph] fastball with an excellent mid-80s changeup with sink and fade to his arm side as well as a slider and curveball against righties, while crushing lefties by mixing his four- and two-seamer with a low-80s sweeper that produced a 100% whiff rate—not a typo—on 10 regular-season swings.
To be clear, while all the rankings I’ve seen have Tolle ranked higher, presumably because of his greater velocity, I have read some people saying they think Early is the better prospect and will be the better pro. He was certainly better in his cup of coffee last year than Tolle was. In any case, this isn’t a situation where one pitcher is obviously superior to the other. There’s a general consensus that Tolle is better, but reasonable teams could think otherwise.
The Red Sox would have to give up one of those two to get Matt Shaw and probably another lesser prospect as well. As I said, it’s going to have to hurt if they want Matt Shaw. I’m not going to speculate on who that might be (I don’t know the lower reaches of the Red Sox system at all) and maybe if the Cubs took Early they’d get a slightly better second prospect than with Tolle.
I’m not saying that the Red Sox would make this deal. They may not want to part with either pitcher. But what I am saying is that this is the type of offer they would have to make for the Cubs to consider dealing Shaw.
To be clear, such a trade would be risky for the Cubs as well. Shaw is pencilled in for a major bench role in 2026 and if someone gets hurt, he’s likely going to have to play a lot. On top of that, if the Cubs were to trade Matt Shaw, they’d be operating without a safety net with Nico Hoerner. If Hoerner leaves at the end of the year, then the Cubs would be without a second baseman if they trade Shaw. Maybe another minor league infielder like Jefferson Rojas, Pedro Ramirez or James Triantos will establish themselves this year as an alternate heir apparent to Hoerner. But there’s no guarantee of that.
So with the understanding that the Red Sox may not be willing to make the offer, would you be willing to part with Matt Shaw for either of these packages?
Thanks for stopping by tonight. It’s always good to start the week with friends. Please get home safely. Stay warm and dry out there. Tell your friends about us. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again next time for more BCB After Dark.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 20: Alanna Rizzo of the MLB network reports as part of the first all female broadcast on Youtube during a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on July 20, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Tampa Bay Rays announced today that Major League Baseball will take over production and distribution of local television broadcasts beginning with the 2026 season. The partnership ensures that fans across Florida will be able to watch Rays games through their cable or satellite provider and through MLB’s direct‑to‑consumer streaming service.
“Since our first days of taking ownership of the club, we’ve been committed to delivering a world‑class fan experience,” said Tampa Bay Rays CEO Ken Babby. “This transition reflects that commitment. With MLB’s best‑in‑class streaming platform, Rays fans in our home market will finally be able to stream games on the MLB app without local blackouts. And just as importantly, fans who prefer the tradition of watching Rays baseball on television will continue to find our games on cable and satellite. Every decision we make is done first and foremost with our fans in mind.”
Fans in the Rays home market will be able to access games on participating cable and satellite systems, with provider details and channel lineups to be shared soon. Streaming access will be available for purchase on MLB.com and the MLB app once subscriptions go on sale in February.
The Rays join a number of MLB clubs already partnering with the league for local broadcasts. All 162 regular‑season games in 2026 will be available either through local distribution or MLB’s national broadcast partners.
Additional details will be shared in the coming weeks.
Brendan Donovan looks to make a play during the Cardinals' September 2025 game.
The Mariners are bringing Brendan Donovan to the Pacific Northwest as part of a trade that includes the Cardinals and Rays.
The Cardinals are getting right-hander Jurrangelo Cijntje, center fielder Tai Peete, outfielder Colton Ledbetter and two competitive-balance Round B picks, and the Rays will get third baseman Ben Williamson, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported.
Donovan hit .287 — a career best — last season while recording 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 118 games.
Brendan Donovan looks to make a play during the Cardinals’ September 2025 game. Getty Images
He also had the team lead in doubles, with 32 and WAR, with a 2.7.
He has played four seasons in the big leagues, all of which have been with the Cardinals. Donovan was an All-Star for the first time in his career last season.
The Cardinals had been looking at signing Donovan to a long-term deal, but the sides never came close to a new contract, ESPN reported.
Donovan brings versatility to Seattle that will help as it looks to address questions at second and third base, both positions that Donovan has played.
In fact, Donovan had mostly spent time at second base last season and has more than 100 career innings at third base, shortstop, third base and right field under his belt.
Brendan Donovan swings during the Cardinals’ June 17 game. Getty Images
And in 2024, he could usually be found in left field.
It also gives the Mariners another player at the top of their order who has been an All-Star over the previous two seasons, a list that includes Josh Naylor, Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodríguez.
The Mariners are coming off a season in which they just missed out on making it to the World Series.
Seattle took the Blue Jays to seven games in the ALCS before Toronto escaped to the Fall Classic.
The deal helps make the Mariners a team to watch once again going into 2026.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 12: Gabriel Moreno #14 of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks on against the Minnesota Twins on September 12, 2025 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier tonight, MLB Now’s Top 10 Catchers Right Now countdown was announced, hosted by Brian Kenny with MLB Network analyst Alex Avila. The Diamondbacks had Gabriel Moreno ranked sixth on the list. That’s up one place from last year, and marks his third year in a row being ranked, having come tenth in 2024.
The complete ranking for MLB Now’s top-10 catchers is listed below:
Top 10 Catchers Right Now
Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves
Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays
Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks
Yainer Diaz, Houston Astros
Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves
Iván Herrera, St. Louis Cardinals
Shea Langeliers, Athletics
The 16th season of each Top 10 Right Now ranking considers player performance over multiple seasons, offensive and defensive metrics, both advanced Statcast data and traditional numbers, and expert analysis by the MLB Network research team.
The offseason rankings will continue tomorrow, February 3 as Kenny and Chris Young count down MLB Now’s Top 10 Right Fielders Right Now at 7 p.m. ET. I’m pretty sure I’ll be back with another entry then, because Corbin Carroll will certainly be listed high in that category.
Adolfo Sanchez and his bag o’ tools was voted the #14 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds system for 2026 by you, the voters and participants in this year’s Community Prospect Rankings. Now, we turn our eyes to spot #15!
Per usual, you can find the link to the Google Form for voting right here, yet it’s also embedded at the bottom if you want to read through first and not have to embark upon the painstaking process of scrolling all the way back up here. Both link and embed will be removed once voting closes so you can’t stuff the ballot post facto, however, so be advised that this paragraph will make zero sense if you stumble back across it a year from now.
Here’s how the list has materialized so far:
Sal Stewart
Alfredo Duno
Rhett Lowder
Hector Rodriguez
Edwin Arroyo
Cam Collier
Steele Hall
Tyson Lewis
Chase Petty
Arnaldo Lantigua
Jose Franco
Zach Maxwell
Leo Balcazar
Adolfo Sanchez
A large list of talented names exists below for spot #15. Have at it with the votes!
Aaron Watson, RHP (19 years old)
2025 at a glance: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Trinity Christian Academy (FL); signed overslot $2.7 million bonus to forego commitment to the University of Florida
Pros: 6’5” frame; potential 60-grade slider; fastball that runs up to 96 mph from a three-quarter arm slot and already has a solid three-pitch mix with his change rotated in
Cons: Did not pitch professionally after being drafted, so he’s a complete unknown
One glimpse of Watson on the mound and you immediately think yep, I bet that guy can turn into a pretty dang good pitcher. He’s got an ideal frame to produce downhill offerings, and his fastball/slider mix is already something on which he can hang his hat.
However, command of all three of his pitches – specifically a very developmental changeup – will be what he needs to work on to begin to move quickly through the ranks. He possesses a good ‘feel’ at the moment in terms of what pitches to throw, which part of the zone to attack vs. which hitters, etc., but how well he can build in more deception with his offerings will be vital.
Carlos Jorge, OF (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: .251/.342/.355 with 6 HR, 40 SB in 469 PA with High-A Dayton Dragons (Midwest League)
Pros: Plus speed; former infielder moved to CF in 2023 and in 2025 looked like a natural there; plus speed; shaved 12.5% off K-rate from down 2024 season; 60-grade arm strength a weapon in CF
Cons: ISO declined for third straight year, this time precipitously; prone to extreme streakiness
If you threw out every other stop of Carlos Jorge’s pro career and just focused on the good ones, he’d already be ranked by now. The good parts of the best of his years have been quite tremendous, all told. He’s flashed great speed (40 steals in 2025), good pop for a small-ish CF (12 HR in 2023 and 2024; .483 SLG in the cavernous Florida State League in 2023), and the ability to play pretty elite CF defense (as recently as 2025).
However, he’s added some real clunkers in there, too. He hit just .220/.291/.394 with a K-rate over 31% at Dayton in 2024, and that came on the heels of hitting just .239/.277/.398 in 23 games once he reached Dayton at the end of 2023.
Maybe it’s just Dayton, where he was again in 2025 in a much better all-around year, even though his power dried up again. He’ll surely begin with AA Chattanooga of the Southern League in 2026, and at 22 (with his position in CF now settled) the former 2B might finally have a one-track shot to focus on his all around game in a new locale. After acing his move on defense, shaving off a ton of strikeouts, and bumping his walk rate back up over 11.1% (where it’s been for most of his career), perhaps 2026 will have a lot more in store for him.
Liberts Aponte, SS (18 years old)
2025 at a glance: .247/.368/.461 with 7 HR, 9 SB in 193 PA for DSL Rojos (Dominican Summer League)
Pros: 29/35 K/BB showed greatly improving strike zone awareness; already a plus defender at short where he projects to be excellent both with range and arm long-term
Cons: Still not viewed as a potential plus with the bat, though early returns are already better than original scouting reports; has a long way to go in terms of physically maturing
The Reds doled out $1.9 million to sign Aponte last January, and that marked the single largest contract they doled out in that particular international signing window. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the #18 player overall in that class, noting he was ‘one of the most skilled defenders in his class’ and ‘offers solid wheels’ with ‘magic in his hands’ while doling out a 65 grade on his fielding ability.
The rest, we knew, would take time, as he was just liked at 6’0” and 160 lbs, and that even felt like a slight exaggeration. To his credit, though, he mashed 7 homers as a 17 year old in DSL play while showing more power than anticipated, and if that aspect of his game grows to match what’s already known the Reds have found themselves a gem.
It will be interesting to see if the Reds push him up to Arizona Complex League play at all in 2026 or give him another year in the DSL seeing as he just turned 18 years old in November.
Luke Holman, RHP (23 years old)
2025 at a glance: ER, 2 H, 10 K, 4 BB in 9.0 IP with Daytona Tortugas (Class-A Florida State League
Pros: Two plus breaking pitches (slider, curve)
Cons: Not a ton of velocity on his fastball, which sits 91-94 mph
Luke Holman threw 109 pitches for LSU in a 6-2 loss to North Carolina on June 1st, 2024, a game in which he yielded 4 ER in 6.2 IP with 7 H, 11 K, and a lone walk. Since then, he’s thrown just 9.0 IP on a mound, total.
Holman, Cincinnati’s 2nd round pick in 2024, sat out the remainder of 2024 after being drafted, finishing his calendar year with 91.2 IP of 2.75 ERA ball that included a wonderful 0.98 WHIP and 127/33 K/BB. When his 2025 began in Daytona, all signs looked promising in his first pair of starts only for an elbow issue to subsequently sit him down and require Tommy John surgery, and we’ve not seen him since.
He sat 91-94 with his fastball (and touched 96) before, and has a pair of wicked breaking balls that he uses as his out pitches. If he returns to form in 2026 the way he ways before (or even better!), he still profiles as a back-end starter who should move quickly through Cincinnati’s system after dominating SEC play in stints first with Alabama and later with LSU.
Mason Morris, RHP (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: 9.00 ERA, 7/1 K/BB in 4.0 IP with Class-A Daytona Tortugas; 3.29 ERA, 78/31 K/BB in 54.2 IP with University of Mississippi
Pros: Fastball that can touch 100 mph; four-pitch mix
Cons: Lack of experience
Mason Morris landed with Ole Miss in 2023 primarily as a corner infielder, and the now 6’4” 225 lb righty only recently became a full-time pitcher prior to the Reds selecting him with their 3rd round pick in 2025. He’s got projection through the roof, though, with a 100 mph heater, plus cutter, and a pair of other breaking balls that look like they’ve also got the juice.
The question, though, is how Cincinnati plans to use him.
Morris only got a pair of outings as a pro after being drafted, and it appears the Reds have intentions on seeing if he can develop into a starting pitcher. That’s something he’s never really done before, however, and he’ll turn 23 years old in August of 2026. So, we’ll see how long of a leash the Reds give him with that avenue, since if they want to simply keep him in the bullpen there’s very little reason why he shouldn’t rocket through the minors and give them a legit relief arm at the big league level in short order.
Julian Aguiar, RHP (25 years old)
2025 at a glance: Did not pitch
Pros: Four-seam fastball that flirts with 100 mph; five-pitch pitcher with a pair of breaking balls and potentially plus change-up
Cons: Missed all of 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery; roughed up in 31.2 IP in MLB debut in 2024 (22 ER, 8 HR)
Julian Aguiar has risen quietly through the ranks of the Reds after being a 12th round pick out of Cypress College back in 2021, and his 2024 season saw him rocket from AA Chattanooga all the way through AAA and then to the Reds. Unfortunately, his short stint there ended with him requiring Tommy John surgery, and he missed all of 2025 while recovering.
He’s got plus potential with at least three pitches, and has another two that are still passable to keep hitters off-keel. His 360/93 career K/BB in 346.1 IP across the minors shows he’s got good strikeout stuff and a passable ability to keep hitters from free passes, and if his command returns as quickly as his velocity does post-surgery he should be in the mix to get big league batters out in some role as early as Opening Day. My best guess, though, is that he’ll be slated for AAA Louisville’s rotation to re-establish himself as a starter first, and he won’t actually turn 25 until June.
Mason Neville, OF (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: .247/.333/.442 with 1 HR, 2 SB in 90 PA with Class-A Daytona Tortugas (Florida State League); .290/.429/.724 with 26 HR, 9 SB in 280 PA with University of Oregon
Pros: 60-grade power with potential plus arm and plus speed & baserunning; chance to stick in CF, though still profiles as a solid RF if moved to the corner; led Division I with 26 HR in final season at Oregon
Cons: Lots of swing and miss in his game, at times, including a 34.4% rate in his short sample with Daytona
The Reds clearly love Neville, as they drafted him in the 18th round out of high school 2022 only to watch him initially attend the University of Arkansas. After transferring to Oregon and swatting more dingers than anyone else in 2025, the Reds went back to him in the 4th round of the most recent draft.
Neville is incredibly toolsy, his left-handed swing producing significant power when he makes contact. He’s good at working walks despite his swing-and-miss proclivities, and posesses the kind of athleticism and speed to be a legitimate CF.
His tiny sample with Daytona has some red flags with the Ks, but it’s such a small sample that it’s hard to take it with too much certainty. For instance, he hit .298/.365/.526 through his first 17 games there only to go 2 for 20 with 9 Ks across his final 6 games – that could, and likely is, all small-sample noise.
Big tools, that Neville. He could well be the steal of the 2025 draft.
