TALKING STICK, AZ - OCTOBER 06: Angeibel Gomez #18 of the Surprise Saguaros bats during the game between the Surprise Saguaros and the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 in Talking Stick, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
We’ll start with the guy people will ask about first. Gomez is a tapered 6-foot-2. While he isn’t a freaky athlete in the Elly De La Cruz mold, he’s limber and has a fast bat for a kid his age. Facing some of the best stuff of his life, his feel for hitting stood out. Gomez is athletic in the box, and he was able to fight off above-average velo on the hands, turn around 97 above the belt, and flatten the bat and hit a line drive on a hard fastball up, all while holding his own versus spin. He fouled off a couple tough sliders and took one just beneath the zone. He wasn’t perfect — he expanded the zone a few times and chased a curve in the dirt — but it was a really impressive showing in context.
Where does this go from here? To my eye, Gomez doesn’t look like an early-mature guy, but he also isn’t someone who screams “physical projection” in the way that, say, Sebastian Walcott did at his age. Gomez already has average measurable power, and while there’s room for him to grow into more, my projection leans closer to “comfortably plus” than “80.”
Recently named in MLB Pipeline’s All-Rookie first team, Jensen showed the world that he could be a dominant hitter over the course of a full season. He had posted some impressive numbers in a brief 20-game cameo in 2025, with a .300/.391/.550 line and a 152 wRC+ in 69 trips to the plate.
Well, he hit a solid .239/.323/.467 with 27 home runs, 80 runs, 81 RBI, a 116 wRC+, and 3.7 fWAR while splitting time behind the plate and at the DH spot. Oh, he also contributed 35 doubles and two triples, and ranked 15th in the majors with 64 extra-base hits. Not bad for a catcher, huh?
One ordinance, approved unanimously on Thursday, rezones 68 acres of the stadium development area, a key step for the $2 billion project to move forward.
The second ordinance authorizes more than $615 million in bonds, $537 million of which will pay for the construction of the ballpark, team offices and infrastructure improvements.
The third ordinance approves a tax increment financing plan that creates a so-called “stadium impact area” that stretches from Interstate 670 and the state line to 31st and Campbell streets. The law uses the taxes collected from that area in 2025 as a baseline, and redirects much of any revenue above that amount for the next 30 years to help pay the stadium construction debt.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 07: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I usually write serious articles. This is not one of them.
No team deserves to be trash-talked like the team that ruined baseball.
Last year, I wrote a series of satirical articles poking fun at each of the NL Central teams, including the Brewers. Then the Brewers broke the franchise record for wins in two straight seasons, and it felt like bad taste to keep kicking division rivals who were already down. So I retired the series… until now, because Milwaukee is facing the New Evil Empire in the NLCS for the third time in eight years.
The guiding principle behind the original series still applies; as a baseball fan, you probably talk at least a little trash. Even the most mild-mannered Brewers fan has said something less than kind about an umpire, or Jesse Winker, or Manny Machado. I know it’s always better to take the high road, and I encourage you, reader, to take it as often as possible.
However, if you’re going to talk trash, do it well.
This guide is for every Brewers fan who’s had to hear that the Dodgers “earned” their titles, and for anyone whose buddy from college moved to LA and bought an Ohtani jersey but can’t name five other players. Next time someone tells you the Dodgers are “just a well-run organization,” come back and find this article. I promise it’ll inspire you.
And to the impartial baseball fan: read this, then tell me you want the Dodgers to win.
This is the Haters’ Guide to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Owner:
The Dodgers’ current dynasty is, indirectly, thanks to former owner Frank McCourt. McCourt fired his wife from the Dodgers, kicking off what Business Insider — an outlet known for its dramatic, sensationalized headlines — called “The Nastiest Billionaire Divorce Ever.” The ensuing legal battle led to allegations of fraud, embezzlement, and tax evasion, and eventually a reported $130 million divorce settlement. In 2011, then-commissioner Bud Selig stepped in and took control of the team, and McCourt responded by filing for bankruptcy.
McCourt eventually sold the team to a group led by Mark Walter, who acts like the Dodgers are still bankrupt. Walter has built this current dynasty largely on IOUs, deferring over a billion dollars in guaranteed money to players in what is essentially a super-Bobby Bonilla situation. The Dodgers will be paying star players like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Edwin Díaz through the 2040s. In both 2038 and 2039, they’ll owe $102.3 million in deferred payments. Seems super sustainable. When the payments end in 2047, Walter will be 87, so he probably doesn’t care.
So, how did Walter get the money to buy the Dodgers? That’s a great question, one that federal investigators also want to know; Walter and his companies are under investigation for potential fraud by federal prosecutors and the SEC, even having his phone and computer seized by the FBI.
Investigators are looking into whether Walter’s insurance companies invested large amounts in Walter’s own businesses through private loans and failed to label them as “related-party” deals, transactions between entities with shared ownership that require extra disclosure and scrutiny. Delaware Life, one of those insurers, originally said about 3% of its investments were tied to Walter-linked companies. After it was subpoenaed, that number turned out to be roughly 39%, or about $17 billion.
In layman’s terms, the feds want to know whether he’s been using his insurance customers’ money as his personal piggy bank. That’s a big deal because, according to the Wall Street Journal, that insurance-funded investment strategy is what gave Walter the financial firepower to buy the Dodgers in the first place. Everything here seems totally above board. Where’s Pablo Torrewhen you need him?
Walter also sold the naming rights to the field at historic Dodger Stadium, which is now confusingly known as “UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.” This might be the most unforgivable thing he’s ever done. Someday, maybe I’ll get to go to a game at Banana Republic Field at Fenway Park.
The President of Baseball Ops:
Andrew Friedman, who’s been in the position since October 2014. Before baseball, Friedman was an analyst at Bear Stearns, which collapsed in the 2008 financial crisis. So, to recap: the Dodgers’ baseball operations are run by a Bear Stearns alum, and the owner’s finances are under federal investigation. The jokes literally write themselves.
The highlights: Friedman traded for Mookie Betts and signed both Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. But to be fair, getting paid egregious amounts of money to live in Los Angeles kind of sells itself. I could have signed those guys.
The lowlights: Friedman let 2023 World Series MVP Corey Seager walk in 2021 and non-tendered 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Cody Bellinger in 2022. He also signed Trevor Bauer, kept Julio Urías around after his first arrest, and — again — worked for Bear Stearns, so it’s not like his judgment is infallible.
Roberts is the only person worse at bullpen management than Craig Counsell. That’s why the Dodgers carry roughly 12 All-Stars on the pitching staff. It’s the only way to Roberts-proof a bullpen.
Position Players Worth Mentioning:
The Dodgers’ catcher is named Will Smith (not that Will Smith though). At least actor Will Smith has a heart; what kind of monster leaves Randy Arozarena hanging?
Smith is due to make $50 million in deferred money from 2034 to 2043, so he’ll probably out-earn post-Oscars Will Smith just sitting on his couch. Good for him, I guess.
Their backup catcher for most of the season was Dalton Rushing, who didn’t even make the playoff roster. Still, he’s earned a spot here thanks to the long list of controversies he racked up in his sophomore season. In the span of two months, Rushing:
Fat-shamed Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya.
Made me defend a Cub.
Allegedly said “F— him” in reference to Jung Hoo Lee while Lee lay on the ground writhing in agony.
Said the video of him saying “F— him” was taken out of context.
Did his best Manny Machado impression sliding into Jared Triolo.
Baselessly implied the Rockies were cheating, because that’s apparently the only way the Rockies could beat the Dodgers in a random April game.
Gave a whole speech about how he’s misunderstood to The Athletic: “I think guys have started to like, give me the label of (villain)… I just think that’s me competing at the highest level and not allowing any outside source to kind of get in my way.”
Andy Pages, the only affordable player on the roster, put up 6.0 bWAR this season, making him one of the Dodgers’ best players. Can’t imagine how much it sucks to be better than your coworkers at your job, but all of your coworkers make $20 million a year. On the opposite end of the spectrum is prized offseason acquisition Kyle Tucker, who the Dodgers are paying $55 million this year to provide exactly 0.7 bWAR.
Shohei Ohtani didn’t notice his interpreter and best friend stealing roughly $17 million from his bank account. I hate when I lose track of $17 million. Ohtani posted a .666 OPS over his last 29 regular-season games while dealing with biceps and knee injuries, so hopefully that’s a sign that his deal with the devil is finally up.
Mookie Betts hit .257 with an OPS of .780 this year. Joey Ortiz hit .270 with a .730 OPS. Mookie Betts made north of $20 million dollars this year. Joey Ortiz made $790,400 this year. Mookie Betts is certainly not 25x better than Joey Ortiz. At this point in his career, he might be a better bowler than a baseball player.
Top prospect Josue DePaula wasn’t on the 40-man roster on September 1, but he’s on the playoff roster anyway because the Dodgers need all the help they can get.
Miguel Rojas, the oldest player in the oldest lineup in baseball, missed the last game of the NLDS with back pain. Again, the jokes write themselves. I feel you, Miggy.
Pitchers Worth Mentioning:
Shohei Ohtani (total contract value; $700 million) isn’t pitching this postseason, but it doesn’t really matter because the Dodgers already went and got the best starter in the American League, Tarik Skubal.
Skubal, who’s making $32 million this year, bought his former team, the Tigers, a really nice coffee machine. Then, when he was traded to the Dodgers, he took it with him. When the news broke and Skubal faced (understandable) backlash, he blamed it on his wife:
“That was my wife,” Skubal said Friday, per The Athletic. “I wanted to leave it and get a new one, but she wouldn’t let me. My wife was like, ‘That was too expensive to just run the charge back.'”
Even if your wife did make you, Tarik, you don’t ever actually blame your wife, you just own it and wipe your tears with your millions of dollars. Super classy.
Skubal might not even be the best pitcher on his new team; that’s not a knock on the back-to-back AL Cy Young winner, but a comment on the fact that the Dodgers have assembled the pitching Avengers. Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($325 million) is the only player on the Dodgers who I can’t hate on, simply because all he does is show up and pitch till his arm falls off.
Blake Snell ($182 million) also won two Cy Young Awards, then the Dodgers signed him to the best deal in sports. From March to August, Snell hangs out on the IL and works full-time as a Twitch streamer. He comes back in September to warm up, dominates in October, then heads back to the IL until the next postseason.
Former Ray Tyler Glasnow ($136 million) left Florida, but the Florida never left him. Glasnow has a longer IL history than Snell, but he’s usually healthy in October for some reason. And they say the Brewers are the team with devil magic on their side.
Another player the Dodgers have added since last year is Edwin Díaz ($69 million), who famously tore his patellar tendon celebrating at the WBC. Díaz is back and ready to ardently participate in all of his favorite pastimes, like blowing saves against the Brewers and cockfighting. Yeah, you read that right. You know how baseball is America’s pastime? Well, according to Díaz, cockfighting is Puerto Rico’s:
“It’s a pastime I’ve followed since I was a child,” Díaz told El Nuevo Día in March. “It’s legal in Puerto Rico, thank God.” Cockfighting is, in fact, illegal under federal law in Puerto Rico.
Back in 2018, Díaz also compared his pitching to his roosters’ fighting abilities: “My rooster went down dead and got up to fight, doing what my roosters know how to do: finish fights. He did what I do when I come in to pitch in the ninth: to close out the game.” If this season was any indication, he’s almost out of roosters.
Roki Sasaki throws 100 mph with a filthy splitter; he’s the Dodgers’ third-best Nippon Professional Baseball star, and he isn’t even in the rotation. Los Angeles will probably extend him anyway since they can just defer his salary until 2060.
The Manny Machado “Former Dodgers Worth Mentioning” Section:
There’s nobody Brewers fans hate like Manny Machado. Well, maybe Jesse Winker. I considered giving him his own section, but that felt like giving him more respect than he deserves. Here’s a complete timeline of why we hate him so much:
The Orioles Years:
Threw his bat at Oakland A’s third baseman Josh Donaldson.
Instead of denying he did it, said he “let his emotions get the best of him.”
Was suspended five games.
Charged Yordano Ventura (RIP) after Ventura hit him because, in the words of the Kansas City broadcast team, “apparently it’s Ventura’s job to just throw it right down the middle.”
Didn’t run out a grounder in the 2018 NLCS. When asked about it by the media, responded with this gem: “Obviously I’m not going to change, I’m not the type of player that’s going to be ‘Johnny Hustle,’ and run down the line and slide to first base… That’s just not my personality, that’s not my cup of tea.”
Spiked Brewers first baseman Jesús Aguilar’s foot while, for once, running out a routine grounder. Can’t blame him for this one; he hadn’t run out a grounder since high school, so he probably just forgot where the bag was.
Threw a ball at the Dodgers’ dugout during the 2024 NLDS, which Dave Roberts took as aimed at him.
Pretended to toss a ball to a Dodgers fan, but flipped him off instead and kept the ball.
Railed against analytics, saying, and I quote, that there’s “too many numbers” in baseball. He was hitting .175 with a .617 OPS at the time. Bet he wouldn’t have said that back when he was an MVP candidate.
At least Machado doesn’t use steroids, unlike the other Manny.
Machado isn’t the only former Dodger who understood the value of a good old ridiculously dangerous slide into second base. As bad as the Aguilar and Pedroia incidents were, neither qualifies as the dirtiest play by a former Dodger in recent history. That honor goes to Chase Utley, who broke Rubén Tejada’s leg in the 2015 NLDS with a slide so dirty it led to the implementation of the “Utley Rule.”
Machado also might not even be the worst human to play for the Dodgers. That honor could also go to Trevor Bauer, whom Friedman signed to a $102 million contract in early 2021. Yeah, you read that right: $102 million committed to what turned out to be half a season of Trevor Bauer. No wonder they have to defer all their contracts now.
I’m leaving the sexual assault allegations out of this, because they aren’t a joke. Luckily for this column, Bauer gave us plenty of other material.
In 2018, while with Cleveland, Bauer hinted on Twitter that Astros pitchers were using sticky substances to boost spin rates. His first tweet was 36 thinking-face emojis, then a sarcastic follow-up about wishing there were a quick way to increase spin rate. He also said sticky stuff gave pitchers a “bigger advantage than steroids.” Alex Bregman, then an Astro, weighed in by calling him Tyler.
Then, his own spin rate jumped 300+ RPM in 2020. In his second start as a Dodger, in April 2021, umpires pulled several of his baseballs for having visible marks and being sticky and sent them to MLB for inspection. He responded by mocking “national gossip bloggers” on Twitter.
Last year, Bauer put up a 4.51 ERA in Japan; I don’t think even sticky stuff can save him now.
Other notable Bauer incidents include:
Before his start in the 2016 ALCS, he cut his finger playing with a drone. Said finger started bleeding on the mound during the first inning and Terry Francona had to pull him. It’s probably the only time a foreign substance on Bauer’s hand wasn’t his fault.
In 2019, Francona came out to take him out of the game. Bauer responded by launching the ball over the center field fence. Not a great way to respond when your manager tells you you can’t throw strikes. Cleveland immediately traded him.
Another player involved in that trade was Yasiel Puig, who ended the Brewers’ season in 2018 and was as annoying as humanly possible about it. Since I’m nearing my word limit, here’s the CliffsNotes on Puig:
Shoved catcher Nick Hundley, starting a brawl that he was later suspended for.
Unlike Ohtani, didn’t need an interpreter to rack up gambling debt. Funnily enough, Puig’s defense team blamed… the interpreter.
Clayton Kershaw, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, spent his entire illustrious career with the Dodgers. For much of that career, he was also known as a playoff choker. He retired having allowed Brandon Woodruff, a pitcher, to hit .500 against him in the playoffs, including a homer.
Since Rafael Furcal also played for the Dodgers, I get to reuse this one from the Cardinals article:
Rafael Furcal just got arrested on a felony charge for “throwing a missile” at someone in a Publix parking lot. Yes, this happened in Florida. The guy Furcal assaulted allegedly beat him up afterwards, proving that — like most Dodgers fans — he doesn’t stand a chance in a fair fight.
The Ballpark:
Now known as UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium. Very Dodgers to sell the naming rights to the grass and dirt but keep the stadium name. Selling out halfway is kind of their thing — just ask all the fans who leave before the game ends.
UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium (I just wanted to say it again) is the third oldest stadium in baseball. I went to college in LA, so I’ve been to a few games there, and it’s honestly a great ballpark. What takes the fun out of the experience is getting there.
I lived 15 minutes away without traffic. That means I lived an hour away. If you want to Uber, be prepared to spend $60 each way. If you want to drive, you have to spend $60 to park roughly two miles away and walk up a bunch of hills.
Dodger dogs are overrated.
The Fans:
Leave before the game ends. Half the stadium thinks a “walk-off” is when you leave in the seventh to beat traffic. Dodgers fans can name every celebrity at the game but think the infield fly rule is a Delta policy.
True story: I have a buddy from LA, a self-proclaimed lifelong Dodgers fan, who asked me when I thought Kershaw would pitch against the Braves. In the 2026 NLDS. Kershaw retired last year.
The only relievers he could name were Tanner Scott and Edwin Díaz. Which is weird, because Dave Roberts uses his entire bullpen every night.
The City:
There’s a reason everyone wants to live in LA. It has the best weather in the country, except for San Diego. That’s it; that’s the reason.
Unlike in San Diego, most people live nowhere near the beach. Unlike in San Diego, you have to spend an hour in the car if you want to leave your neighborhood. At least if you’re Ohtani-level rich, you can just hire a driver — just make sure he doesn’t have your bank password and a crippling gambling addiction.
Just like in San Diego, you can’t buy a coffee for under $8 or rent an apartment for under $2,000 a month. And just like in San Diego, the fans expect to win the World Series every year. The difference is the Dodgers fans are usually right, which is so much worse.
COLUMBUS, GA - AUGUST 21: Owen Carey #17 of the Columbus Clingstones bats during the game between the Montgomery Biscuits and the Columbus Clingstones at Synovus Park on Friday, August 21, 2026 in Columbus, Georgia. (Photo by Lyndon Terrell/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
As the major league postseason churns on, a handful of Braves farmhands are making an impact in the Arizona Fall League. Let’s dive into Friday’s action.
(1-5) Glendale River Dogs 9, (5-1) Salt River Rafters 13
Briggs McKenzie made his second start of the postseason, but it unfortunately did not go all that well for the lefthander.
While his first start a week ago was fairly solid despite a few command issues, McKenzie was tagged for eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and a pair of walks before being pulled with two gone in the third inning.
On the one hand, the baseline numbers weren’t great Friday. On the other hand, the underlying metrics were still impressive for McKenzie.
Overall, he registered seven whiffs on the night, while his fastball generated four of those, which was good for a 33.3% clip.
The biggest issue for McKenzie was the fact he left a good number of changeups and sliders up in the zone, which doesn’t bode well for a guy who needs the upper part of the zone for his fastball to be effective.
It’s probably just a blip on his resume given the fact he hasn’t pitched since late June, and it’ll be interesting to see how his next start goes.
On another pitching note, reliever Tyler LaPorte came on to toss the final inning for Glendale and pitched a scoreless frame while striking out a pair. Overall, LaPorte has yet to allow a run during his AFL stint.
At the plate, Owen Carey came through with an RBI by lacing a two-out single into right centerfield to tie things up at 1-1 in the top of the second.
On the season, albeit a short stint, Carey is hitting an even .300 with a .762 OPS.
Later in the game, Isaiah Drake came on as a pinch hitter and managed to register an infield single as well.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 27: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Andrew Ritter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hello everyone and welcome to the weekend!
Yesterday was an off-day for the lone remaining Division Series. The Guardians and White Sox will face off in a do-or-die Game 5 tonight with first pitch slated for 5pm PT.
Mets infielderRonny Mauricio's relatively small taste of the majors in parts of three seasons can be summed up pretty easily: His chances have been sporadic and his performance at the plate has been largely ineffective, but he has displayed enough eye-popping exit velocities and light-tower power to keep your eyebrow raised just a bit.
Still just 25 years old, Mauricio has also been bitten by the injury bug.
He missed the entire 2024 season and a chunk of the 2025 campaign after tearing his ACL while playing winter ball.
This past season, when it looked like Mauricio would get a long look at shortstop while Francisco Lindorrecovered from a serious calf injury, he fractured his left thumb on a headfirst dive into first base.
Given a chance in the last two games of the 2026 season, Mauricio went off, going 4-for-7 with three homers, six RBI, and a walk. Mauricio's two home runs on Sept. 26 put an exclamation point on New York's final victory of the season, and his blast in Game 162 the next day gave the team something more to think about heading into the winter.
With Mauricio out of minor league options, it's now or never for him to stick.
Will the Mets move on from him ahead of the 2027 season? Should they?
Apr 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets third baseman Ronny Mauricio (0) singles during the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO MOVE ON FROM MAURICIO
Three years removed from his MLB debut, Mauricio is still the same kind of offensive player he was back in 2023.
In 107 games spanning three seasons (he missed 2024 due to the ACL injury), Mauricio has never had a batting average over .248. He has never had an on-base percentage higher than .296. He has never had an OPS+ that was even league average.
Some of that can be chalked up to inexperience and infrequent chances at the big league level, but it also has a lot to do with Mauricio's inability to lay off pitches outside the strike zone.
"He missed a lot of time, that was a nasty knee injury," Mets manager Andy Green said when discussing Mauricio after the 2026 season ended. "He’s come back and the athleticism has returned. I don’t see any residual effect from that -- from my vantage point, people come back from injuries all the time.
"Does it make life harder? Sure. Does he have every opportunity to still turn this into a good career? Sure, he does. The path forward for him is to impact the baseball consistently, and if he can, minimize the chase."
When it comes to the chase issue, Mauricio was near the very bottom of the league in 2023, 2025, and 2026 in chase percentage while unsurprisingly also being near the bottom of the league in strikeout percentage. The strikeout rate has actually ticked up each of his first three seasons, from 28.7 percent to 29.3 percent to 32.3 percent.
While bouncing around the infield and getting starts at third base, second base, and shortstop, Mauricio's defense has been a mixed bag. He might not be the best fit to play shortstop regularly, but that wouldn't be an issue with the Mets because of the presence of Lindor.
What could impact Mauricio, though, is that the Mets will be set on the left side of the infield if third baseman Bo Bichette opts in. At second base, New York has three highly thought of prospects at the upper levels of the minors -- Jefferson Rojas, Mitch Voit, and Émilien Pitre -- who could push Marcus Semien for the job early next season.
/ IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP MAURICIO
When Mauricio squares a ball up, it often explodes off his bat.
In his three seasons in the bigs, Mauricio has consistently posted elite exit velocities with impressive bat speed to match. During Mauricio's 20-game look in the majors this past season, his barrel percentage was elite.
To drill down a bit more, here's a deeper dive on Mauricio's big league home runs over the last two seasons:
As far as Mauricio's potential fit, it could come as a backup infielder and designated hitter option.
Brett Baty figures to be in New York's plans in 2027, and could be in a super utility role. Beyond Baty, though, no one on the 40-man roster stands out as a clear backup infielder who can also be part of the DH mix.
Jared Young could be the backup first baseman or part of a timeshare situation at the position, and Jorge Polanco profiles best as a DH -- but Polanco being a contributor in 2027 is health-dependent. When it comes to Mark Vientos, it feels like his days as a Met could be coming to an end.
Regarding Mauricio's contract status, he is under team control through 2030 and won't be eligible for arbitration until 2028.
New York Mets shortstop Ronny Mauricio (0) is congratulated by shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) after hitting a home run against the New York Mets during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. / Brad Mills-Imagn Images
VERDICT
The Mets don't have to be in a rush when it comes to making a decision on Mauricio.
Unless there's a team out there that views Mauricio highly via trade, New York can simply have him come to spring training (whenever it begins, given the expected lockout) and take things from there.
It's possible a crowded 26-man roster situation could squeeze Mauricio out, but that would likely mean that Young is on the bench, Baty is on the bench, and Polanco is healthy (along with every other expected Opening Day position player).
The likeliest outcome with Mauricio is that he doesn't seriously reduce his tendency to chase, resulting in him never being an average or better offensive performer in the majors.
But a 25-year-old switch-hitter with this kind of power potential should be given every last opportunity to reach his ceiling before the Mets move on.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 07: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after a strike out against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The watching Braves baseball portion of our year has ended. Now it’s the offseason. We’ll watch the rest of MLB’s postseason with you here. But outside of that, we will be into offseason programming. We’ll have player reviews soon. We’ll slowly perform an autopsy of the season. After that, it’s a lockout. The owners seem determined not to start the season on time. I would expect them to start at least a month late, then have an abbreviated Spring Training. Heh, if we get a shorter Spring, then maybe it won’t be terrible.
I guess I’m asking what would you all like to do in the meantime. I have some ideas for spending the time while we wait on the lockout to end:
Let’s start the Community Prospect List selection. This has been a tradition for a decade, but during 2025 no one was interested. Does anyone want to run it this year? I don’t mind, but I would rather someone else run with the ball on this one. It consists of setting up a Feed post asking who should be ranked number one. You tally the vote by recs, then continue until you reach number 25 or 30. If you’re interested, we may be able to set you up so that you have access to create polls in the Feed, which mere commenters can’t do.
While we’re voting, does anyone want a Commenter of the Year contest? I’ll organize that, if so.
I know lots of you like the version of football that is played on Saturday. Does anyone want an official Battery Power Alleged College Football Pick’em?
I have been kicking around starting a series on random/forgotten Braves over the years. I was thinking about a daily-ish Braves interesting post from years before. I may be hitting the Feed with that soon.
That’s what I have unless you guys want to play Yahtzee.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 01: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during Game Three of the National League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Thursday, October 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Let’s say there is a scenario in which the Phillies had an offer on the table to improve their moribund offense. That incoming player was a guaranteed 3-4 WAR player at a position of need – third base, outfield, pick your poison. The only catch is that there had to be something of value going back to the trading team, and that something of value was from a position they did not want to move from.
Would you trade one of Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez or Jesus Luzardo in order to get a piece for the offense that improved it substantially?
There needs to be some creativity this offseason to get the Phillies back into a position where they are fighting for a World Series title. Maybe this is the creativity that is required.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 12: Luke Williams #37 of the Atlanta Braves stands ready in the ninth inning during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No, this isn’t a post that was delayed four months.
That Atlanta Braves have begun their off-season roster machinations with the team’s transaction page showing that utilityman Luke Williams has been designated for assignment while left-handed reliever Danny Young has been selected to the roster.
This follows a slew of transactions on October 8 to activate players from the IL and recall players on the 40-man roster.
Williams has seen action with the big league team since being acquired by Atlanta in 2023, but only appeared in two games this season – walking in his only plate appearance – although he was on the team’s Wild Card Series roster. He spent most of the season with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Young appeared in 16 games with Atlanta this past season after seeing action nine times across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. After a solid start as a low-leverage option in the bullpen, he allowed nine runs in his final four appearances with Atlanta and was designated for assignment in mid-August.
With a lockout likely by December, there may be a small window for trade and free agent activities after the World Series.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 15: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his RBI triple next to Andrew Vaughn #28 of the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning at Dodger Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Off the field, owners and players are digging in for what promises to be a painful and shameful labor dispute. But before we get to that, we still have some action to settle on the field. Specifically, an NLCS matchup that almost perfectly prepares us the imminent conflict.
Yes, in classic baseball fashion, the sport has once again found a way mirror the issue of the day. Namely: Does MLB need a salary cap?
In one corner, we have the Dodgers and their Pacific rim empire. They have all of the money, all of the stars, and are gunning to become the first three-peat champions of this century. Just as importantly, a large segment of MLB fans from coast to coast believe the only reason they’re this close to a three-peat is because they have all of the money and all of the stars. This means — whether these beliefs are true or not — the Dodgers also might hold the keys the owners need to sell a salary cap to the fans.
That may sound crazy at first glance, but if the Dodgers don’t win, we instantly morph into an entirely different landscape. Consider the following:
1) The three American League teams to enter the season with the lowest payrolls were the Guardians, White Sox and Rays. They are now the last three teams standing on AL side of the board. (In other words, you’re guaranteed to have at least one small market / low payroll team in the World Series.)
2) The Mets spent over $350 million this year and finished in last place. (In a vacuum, a strong case that Dodger level spending isn’t necessarily an automatic ticket to success.)
3) The Brewers play in Milwaukee, which is MLB’s smallest market.
Could the stakes be any higher for the owners and players in terms of how the upcoming winter work stoppage is going to play with the general public? If the Brewers win, you’re guaranteed an all small market/low payroll World Series. Any rational argument for a salary cap is dead on arrival (although the owners will still be trying like hell to implement one). In short, the owners could be picking the worst possible year to make their case for a cap.
But if the Dodgers win, the owners can and will sell the following narrative to a receptive and captive audience: “It’s not fair! The big bad billionaire behemoths are blowing everybody out of the water.” In short, a third straight Dodger World Series win would make the owners’ case for a cap in the name of maintaining competitive balance — Even though we know the real reason is they just want more money.
I’m of course oversimplifying things, but those two scenarios are very different worlds. Right or wrong, the outcome of Brewers vs. Dodgers will change the public perception on this issue, and which side the public puts more pressure on during the stoppage matters.
Make no mistake, a lockout is coming no matter what. Both sides are going to draw a line in the sand and retreat to their trench. However, whether that happens in a world where the Dodger dynasty is at the peak of its power or in a world where two small market teams prove you can win on limited resources might tip the scales. It’s basically the difference between starting a war on a sunny day or starting a war trying to invade Russia on the first day of winter.
The background conditions will play a huge roll in the upcoming negotiations, and while fans have no seat at the table, it looks like the baseball gods will get to decide which way the wind is blowing when the owners and players fully engage in their pissing match.
I try very hard to fight back against apathy. In politics, the economy, media, the world begs for your apathy. Don’t make a fuss, let it all just happen. It’s all going According to Plan. The state apparatus depends on your apathy. Do not give them that gift.
And yet, not quite 48 hours after the Yankees once again lost in the ALDS, lost to a team seeded higher than them, lost to a team that is just so fundamentally annoying that thinking about them raises my blood pressure a point or two…I don’t feel much at all.
I’ve always tried to hedge my reactions to bad sports news. The Don LeGreca-style rants make for good radio and some of the longer, more unhinged comments we get here are fun to scroll past, but at the end of the day I consume baseball for my own entertainment. Letting yourself get mad over something you say you enjoy while having 0 control over it hasn’t made a whole lot of sense to me. Let sports lift you up, not press you down.
And true to form, I’m not mad about the 2026 Yankees. I’m beige. The Yankees dogwalked the Red Sox last week only to find themselves canine-ized by the Rays, swept out of the ALDS in what’s actually a worse result than last year. (They lasted a whole four games against the Blue Jays!) Aaron Boone put the worst leadoff hitter in baseball atop the lineup, telling us that he liked the potential for action on the basepaths ahead of the only batter who showed up in the series, and that leadoff hitter went 0-for-5 as the team died—with him as the final out—because of course he did.
I don’t quite know why I’m so numb to all of this. The Yankees won 93 games, the second-best record in the AL, without the game’s best player, while actively rehabbing three pitchers in their starting rotation, while Austin Wells was locked in the trunk of a car for four months, while shortstop was an open question until the season’s final few weeks. It should be kind of remarkable that they were even in the dance in the first place?
But the AL was so bad, the table so uncompetitive, that the Yankees didn’t really outrun the other guy being chased by the bear. There was no bear at all. The team wasn’t good enough to chase down the Rays, dooming themselves to an additional two playoff games while the Rays got to rest, prepare, and welcome the Yankees to the Trop for the start of the series. The same offense we’d seen sleepwalk through the year for weeks at a time showed themselves, they lost, and I don’t really care.
Supposedly at the staff level the organization is starting to pick at itself like an under-stimulated pet bird. This annual tradition of “just be good enough to make it before 26 people who should be among the best in the world at what they do collectively forget what their jobs are” might finally be sinking in. At the top level though we’ll be told not to worry, There is A Plan, these guys are having good at bats actually, it’s right in front of us.
Congratulations to the New York Yankees. You’ve managed to accomplish something my government and AI companies haven’t. Sure, man, whatever you say, I shrug my shoulders and I walk down the street.
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 07: A general view of Rate Field during Game Three of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Teruaki Sato, NPB’s first Triple Crown winner since Munetaka Murakami, could make the jump to MLB next season, and he’s been linked to the Mets.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 14: Enrique Hernández #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers slides safely into home plate to score off an RBI double hit by Andy Pages (not pictured) in the second inning during Game Two of the National League Championship Series presented by loanDepot between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Here are a few other postseason notes, as we wait for Saturday night’s finale of the Division Series, with the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians deciding their ALDS vying for a shot at the Tampa Bay Rays.
“The Brewers will be fresher than they were a year ago, when the Dodgers swept an exhausted team. In this rematch, Milwaukee will also feature the sport’s most disciplined offense, the hardest-throwing pitching staff and, after Wednesday’s smothering of the Padres, the belief they can win big games on the road.”
Scoring has been down this postseason, with both teams scoring at least four runs in only one of 24 games thus far (Game 4 of Guardians-White Sox on Thursday). Bradley Woodrum at Baseball Prospectus looked at the reasons behind the low scoring and the numbers behind the “magical fourth run.”
There are a few known and lesser-known Cubs prospects in this entry of Cub Tracks.
Go, Clevelanders!!! The Guardians are one game from advancing to the ALCS. We owe the fans of Cleveland for 2016, when they became the organization with the WS longest drought. Go Everyone Associated with Cleveland!
Iron Mike (RIP):
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Lockout on Everyone’s Mind:
Matthew Nethercott (Diamond Centric): Here’s Why MLB Owners Will Avoid A Lengthy 2027 Lockout. “Baseball’s looming labor dispute could threaten the 2027 season, but a little-discussed provision involving MLB’s television contracts may give owners a powerful incentive to reach an agreement.”
Matthew Nethercott (Diamond Centric): MLB Owners Propose Major Changes to Regular Season & Postseason Format. “A 154-game regular season, seven-game Division Series and a new system allowing teams to select playoff opponents are among the proposed changes tied to a salary cap agreement.”
Minors/Pipeline:
Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): MLB Pipeline Names Its Cubs Prospects of the Year. “Ayers’ breakout year certainly deserves the nod, but so does that of Josiah Hartshorn and his incredible pro debut. My guess was that we would see various platforms go in either direction.”
Cory Sparks (North Side Baseball): Cubs Farmhand Miguel Useche is Surging, Against All Odds. “From independent ball to Double-A, Miguel Useche has already come a long way. Can he complete an improbable journey to the big leagues?”
Free Agents/Arbitration:
Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Ranking the Cubs’ Contract Option Decisions, from Easiest to Toughest. “Eight members of the Cubs have options in their contract for 2027. Most of them will be declined, in one way or another, but for the team, the decisions break in each direction—and, mostly, they figure to be pretty easy.”
Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): How Cubs Should Handle Their 11 Arbitration-Eligible Players This Fall. “The Cubs won’t have to fork over big money for their fistful of arbitration-eligible players this offseason. That’s the good news. The bad news is, they’d really love to have to pay some of them more.”
Carson Wolf (Just Baseball): Where the Cubs Stand After an Abrupt End to the 2026 Season. “The Cubs’ 2026 season ended abruptly after entering the postseason with World Series aspirations. Now, several questions need answers this offseason.”
Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Nico Hoerner on What the Cubs Can Take Away from a Two-Game Wild Card Sweep. “Among the topics about which I most wanted to hear is the dichotomy between the playoffs being THE PLAYOFFS, and also being just two games. How much can a player take away from something like that?
In the early 1960s, Butterfield met aspiring blues guitarist Elvin Bishop. Bishop recalled:
He [Butterfield] was playing more guitar than harp when I first met him. But in about six months he became serious about the harp, and he seemed to get about as good as he got in that six months. He was just a natural genius. This was in 1960 or 1961. By this time Butter had been hanging out in the ghetto for a couple of years, and he was part of the scene and getting accepted.
Eventually, Butterfield, on vocals and harmonica, and Bishop, accompanying him on guitar, were offered a regular gig at Big John’s, a folk club in the Old Town district on Chicago’s near North Side. With this booking, they persuaded bassist Jerome Arnold and drummer Sam Lay (both from Howlin’ Wolf’s touring band) to form a group with them in 1963. Their engagement at the club was highly successful and brought the group to the attention of record producer Paul A. Rothchild.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Baseball: NL Wild Card Playoff: MLB commissioner Rob Manfred with Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort on field before game vs Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Chicago, IL 10/2/2018 CREDIT: Jeff Haynes (Photo by Jeff Haynes /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X162181 TK1 )
Good morning, Rockies fans!
Major League Baseball is apparently interested in giving us a little less baseball.
On Thursday, MLB unveiled its latest proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement, including a reduction of the regular season from 162 games to 154 beginning in 2029. The 154-game schedule was once baseball’s standard, before the American League expanded to 162 games in 1961 and the National League followed in 1962.
For the Colorado Rockies, that would mean 77 home games at Coors Field and 77 on the road, instead of 81 each. That, of course, would also make a .500 record 77-77 instead of 81-81.
The number of games isn’t the only proposed change. MLB also wants a scheduled weekly off-day, generally on Mondays, and four doubleheaders against division opponents, further reducing the number of days teams would take the field. The additional rest could benefit Colorado’s pitching staff, although those doubleheaders could create their own challenges.
So, just how important are eight games?
The Rockies have never won the NL West. The closest they have ever come was in 2018, when they finished tied with the Dodgers for first place after 162 games, only to lose Game 163.
After Game 154, Colorado was 84-70 and 1.5 games behind Los Angeles. The Rockies then won seven of their final eight games to force the tiebreaker.
Of course, for a franchise accustomed to looking up at the rest of the division, a shorter season might just mean eight fewer games spent doing so.
Despite a fourth consecutive 100-loss season, Maddy Dickens believes the Rockies have enough encouraging pieces to justify an aggressive offseason. With Hunter Goodman leading an improving offense and some positive developments in the bullpen, Dickens argues that addressing the starting rotation should be a priority for Paul DePodesta. It’s an optimistic assessment of where Colorado stands heading into 2027.
With Paul DePodesta preparing for his first full offseason leading the Rockies, changes to the roster seem inevitable. Sports Illustrated’s Ben Fisher examines which Colorado player could be on the move as the organization looks toward 2027. The question isn’t simply who might be available, but what kind of return the Rockies could get as they reshape the roster.
FanGraphs’ Brendan Gawlowski included Rockies prospect Andy Perez in his Arizona Fall League scouting notebook. Perez’s bat-to-ball skills caught his attention, but so did his aggressive approach at the plate. The ability to make contact is there, though improving his swing decisions could go a long way toward determining how much offensive value he ultimately provides.
Jared Thomas is making some noise in the Arizona Fall League. The Rockies’ No. 10 prospect launched his first home run for the Salt River Rafters, sending the ball 417 feet. After an injury-interrupted season, Thomas is getting some valuable extra playing time this fall, and this is a pretty good way to make use of it.
The White Sox and Guardians have spent all season battling for supremacy in the AL Central, and now it comes down to one game. In their 17 meetings this year, eight have been decided by a single run, including four walk-offs. Will Leitch looks at the biggest storylines heading into Saturday night’s winner-take-all Game 5, including José Ramírez’s resurgence and Chicago’s unconventional pitching strategy.
Following an entertaining Division Series between the Brewers and Padres, Matthew Roberson takes a look back at the best Division Series in MLB history. Since the format became a permanent part of the postseason in 1995, there have been plenty of memorable October moments. Roberson ranks the ten best series, giving baseball fans something to debate while we wait for the next round.
J.J. Cooper examines how the Brewers and Padres combined for the hardest-throwing game of the pitch-tracking era, averaging 95.3 mph across all pitches on October 3. It’s an interesting look at how much velocity has increased across baseball.
Should a team save its ace for a potential Game 7, or use him earlier to improve its chances of getting there? Ben Clemens examines the math behind postseason pitching decisions and whether teams are better off using their best starters early or saving them for the biggest possible moments.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 03: A general view of Progressive Field prior to Game One of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Leigh Bacho/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The 2026 MLB Playoffs continue today, and it looks like my complaining from yesterday paid off, because we’ve finally got a Game 5! The American League Division Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians will conclude tonight, one way or another.
As of the time this is being written, only the White Sox have announced a starting pitcher, which will be right-hander Sean Burke.
Tonight’s game starts at 5:00 p.m. and will air on TBS/HBO Max, with national radio coverage available on ESPN Radio.
Personally, I think I’m rooting for the White Sox still, although it was brought to my attention that Cleveland hasn’t won a World Series since 1948. So I don’t think I’ll be unhappy with either result, since I don’t actually have a vested interest in either team.
