Sep 25, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Terrance Gore (4) during the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Darren Yamashita/Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Terrance Gore, a speedy outfielder who played for three World Series champions while spending parts of eight seasons in the major leagues, has died. He was 34.
Chad Funderburk, a family friend who also worked with Gore through his baseball academy, confirmed Gore died Friday night. He deferred to Gore’s family in terms of providing any further details.
While Gore was known for his athleticism, Funderburk said he was “a much kinder human.”
“Just a giving, giving man to so many youth. ... That’s just who Terrance was,” Funderburk said.
Gore, a Georgia native, was selected by Kansas City in the 20th round of the 2011 amateur draft. He batted .216, scored 33 runs and swiped 43 bags in 52 attempts over 112 regular-season games with the Royals, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.
“Terrance was an unforgettable part of our organization with a unique talent that catapulted him to some of the biggest moments in Royals history,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said in a team statement. “While his speed and athleticism were what most people immediately noticed, those of us who had the opportunity to know him also remember his energy, his humility, and the impact he made in big moments on the game’s biggest stage.”
Gore was mostly used as a pinch runner and defensive replacement. He made his debut with the Royals in 2014 and stole 23 bases before he got his first hit, a single to center for the Cubs against Max Scherzer in the ninth inning of a 10-3 loss at Washington on Sept. 8, 2018.
Gore appeared in two postseason games during Kansas City’s championship run in 2015. He played in two regular-season games when the Dodgers won the World Series in 2020. He appeared in one NL playoff game with Atlanta in 2021, and the Braves went on to win the World Series.
“Terrance brought a high level of excitement and anticipation to the game,” former Royals executive Dayton Moore said. “He was unstoppable as a base stealer, and he inspired athletes throughout our country to pursue baseball. He was loved and respected by his very special teammates, who will continue to love his family during this time of sadness.”
Terrance Gore during Spring Training in Phoenix in 2020. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Terrance Gore, a baseball player whose remarkable speed earned him spots on three championship teams, including the 2020 Dodgers, died Friday, the Kansas City Royals announced on social media. He was 34.
The Royals organization drafted Gore out of Gulf Coast State College in Panama City in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, while he was still 19. After several seasons in the minors, he played his first major league game in September 2014.
He struggled at the plate, slipped down to the minors repeatedly, and bounced between teams, including the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs.
But few players were swifter around the bases, and managers enlisted him as a pinch runner in close, late-innings games. He played on three teams that won the World Series — the 2015 Royals, the 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers and the 2021 Atlanta Braves.
Born in Macon, Ga., Gore played 112 regular season games over eight seasons. The Dodgers added him to their roster in September 2020, as it approached a National League Wild Card Series against Milwaukee, although he had appeared in just two prior major-league games that year.
Gore is survived by his wife and three children. USA Today reported that he died from complications of a routine surgical procedure, citing his widow's social media post.
NEW YORK — Paul Goldschmidt and the Yankees have agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations, another move by New York that makes its 2026 roster resemble last year’s team.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.
A seven-time All-Star and the 2022 NL MVP, the 38-year-old Goldschmidt hit .274 with 10 homers, 45 RBIs and a .731 OPS after signing a one-year, $12.5 million contract as a free agent.
He tailed off badly, hitting .287 with eight homers, 36 RBIs and a .776 OPS before the All-Star break and .245 with two homers, nine RBIs and a .631 OPS after. The right-handed-hitting Goldschmidt lost playing time at first to lefty-batting Ben Rice and started just two postseason games.
A seven-time Gold Glove winner, Goldschmidt provides defense and a veteran presence to a team seeking its first World Series title since 2009. He has a .288 average with 372 homers, 1,232 RBIs and an ,882 OPS in 15 major league seasons with Arizona (2011-18), St. Louis (2019) and the Yankees.
Coming off an AL Division Series loss to Toronto, New York has had a relatively quiet offseason. The Yankees’ major moves were re-signing outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger to a five-year, $162.5 million contract, acquiring left-hander Ryan Weathers from Miami in a trade and retaining center fielder Trent Grisham with a $22,025,000 qualifying offer.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 09: Terrance Gore #11 of the Atlanta Braves dives back to first base on an attempted pick-off during Game 2 of the NLDS between the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, October 9, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
I hope that the weekend is treating you well, wherever you are.
Here’s a not-so-random clip. Rest in peace, Terrance Gore.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 06: Relief pitcher Bryce Jarvis #40 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the game against the Kansas City Royals at Chase Field on July 06, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
More right-handed pitchers? Don’t mind if we do! This batch includes some names about which I’m quite excited, with promising youngsters, crafty veterans and someone bidding for their fourth season playing on the Diamondbacks…
Daniel Eagen (80)
There’s a case to be made that Eagen is the team’s top pitching prospect. A third-round pick in 2024, he chewed up High-A pitching last season, with a K-rate of 12.2 per nine innings (including an immaculate inning). He was subsequently named Northwest League Pitcher of the Year. The launching pad of Amarillo proved a reality check, Daniel allowing five home-runs in under twenty frames. But if he can adapt in 2026, his rise should continue. In addition to the interview below, I recommend checking out this episode of the Snakes Territory where Jesse Friedman had a very good in-depth discussion with Daniel.
This pitcher last appeared in the majors in 2022. After that, he tried his luck in Japan, but right distal clavicle lysis – and, no, I’ve never heard of that either – derailed his career there. Returning to the US, he has been in the minors with the Blue Jays, Nationals, Royals and Mets. Most recently, he had four scoreless appearances for Triple-A Syracuse, before spending the winter in the Dominican Republic, pitching for Aguilas Cibaenas. There’s no denying the stuff – Statcast had his sinker averaging 98.7 mph in 2022, and he fanned 57 over 35 AAA innings last year. But control has been an issue, and will likely define whether he’s useful in his time here.
Tom Hatch (43)
The D-backs will be Hatch’s sixth organization: last year was his most active in the majors, tossing 34 innings between the Twins and Royals. Though the results were ho-hum, a 5.82 ERA and 6.02 FIP. Like Fernandez, he moved to Japan for the 2023 season, and it did not go well for him either: a 7.46 ERA in 22 innings. The following year, he went to Korea, but the contract got nixed after his physical. Between that and his poor peripherals last season, this seems more like a depth piece. Unless something changes dramatically, if we see Hatch in the majors, it’ll indicate that something has gone very wrong for the 2026 Diamondbacks.
Bryce Jarvis (40)
Jarvis looked set for a career role as a long reliever in 2023-24, throwing 83 innings with a 3.14 ERA. However, that outperformed his FIP by almost two runs (5.09), and regression to that hit hard in 2025. His FIP was a career-best 4.50; his ERA a career-worst 5.73. He was designated for assignment in December, to make room for Michael Soroka, but went unclaimed and is now outside the 40-man roster for the first time since he made his debut in August 2023. However, there still might be a role for him in 2026, unless the team wants to use a starting pitcher in the long relief role, rather than a specialist like Jarvis.
Derek Law (38)
This is definitely the most experienced pitcher in the group, with 322 major-league games to his name, since Law made his debut with the Giants in 2016. He was very good during his last stab at the big leagues, in 2024. Derek had a 2.60 ERA over 90 innings out of the Nationals bullpen. However, a forearm issue derailed his 2025 campaign before it got going, eventually needing surgery in late July. The estimated recovery time at that point was ten months, so he is highly unlikely to be anywhere near ready by Opening Day. Proving his health will be the first thing, but if he returns to anything close to his 2024 form, Law would be a good pickup when he returns to the mound.
Sep 23, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Lou Trivino (57) throws a pitch during the eleventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The hits just keep on coming.
Free-agent reliever Lou Trivino in agreement with Phillies on minor-league deal with invitation to major-league spring training, source tells @TheAthletic. Ended last season with Phillies.
Instead of being satisfied with their roster, the Phillies continue to add minor league depth to the bullpen. Trivino got into a few games with the team at the end of the season, so he’s familiar with the roster. But for all those that made jokes about the team being happy with where they are at with the construction of the roster, this one’s for you.
1. The Maven is accepting one-worders that best describes the Rangers mess. `Let's start with "disaster." (Got better? Lemme know.)
2. Most fans see through "Blueshirts Alibi Letter," 2025-26 season. Others cannot figure out James Dolan approved what amounts to the Rangers surrendering the current season.
3. Third Most Heard Fan Comment after yet another MSG loss: "It looked like the Rangers didn't even care."
4. Fourth Most: "They're as listless as ever."
5. First Most: "I want a refund."
6. If these Rangers were a Broadway show, it would close after one night.
7. The Maven's premier mind-reader – author George Grimm – believes that something was in the Rangers' players' heads after the Panarin deal. Something like, "Is that all they could get for him?"
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: An aerial view of the Peoria Sports Complex on February 26, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. The Peoria Sports Complex is the MLB spring training home for the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Ariz. will be very busy beginning Feb. 10 as the San Diego Padres begin their 2026 season with pitchers and catchers reporting for physicals before their first workouts on Feb. 11.
The next day, Feb. 12, is the report date for all Padres players who will be participating in the World Baseball Classic. With the addition of three more relievers this past week, the group now totals eight players/pitchers who will be leaving the team early and reporting to their respective WBC teams. Those Padres are:
Manny Machado – Dominican Republic team
Fernando Tatis Jr. – Dominican Republic team
Xander Bogaerts – Netherlands team
Yuki Matsui – Japanese team
Mason Miller – USA team
Wandy Peralta – Dominican Republic team
Ron Marinaccio – Italian team
Alek Jacob – Italian team
There will also be three minor league participants, as well as special assistant Mark Loretta who was named as the third base coach for the Israel team.
RHP Carlton Loewen – Canadian team
LHP Miguel Cienfuegos – Panama team
RHP Josh Mallitz – Israel team
The rest of the team is due to report for their first workout on Feb. 15. Jake Cronenworth stated at Padres FanFest on Jan. 31 that he had heard from many teammates who intended to report early to have more time together due to the WBC.
WBC/MLB exhibitions scheduled
There will be exhibition games played between MLB and WBC teams on March 3 and 4 before the WBC officially begins. The Padres will play Team Great Britain on March 4 at 12:10 p.m. PST in Peoria. There will be 28 games played over the two days at various locations.
The first official WBC games start in the Tokyo Dome on March 4 and 5 with other locations beginning March 6. Team USA plays its first game in Houston, Texas versus Brazil on March 6.
Media access on Feb. 10
Media availability for manager Craig Stammen will be Feb. 10 at 8 a.m. PST with coaches Steven Souza (hitting) and Randy Knorr (bench coach) following Stammen. The clubhouse will be open for media on Wednesday.
Spring Breakout games return
MLB will once again hold Spring Breakout games during Spring Training for teams to showcase their top prospects. Those games will take place March 19-22 with a 16-game schedule. The Padres prospects plays the Chicago Cubs prospects on Saturday, March 21 at 6 p.m. PST. Those rosters will be announced after minor league players arrive in camp.
Spring Training schedule
The Padres play their first Spring Training game on March 20 at 12:10 p.m. PST versus the Seattle Mariners in the yearly charity game played at Peoria Sports Complex. They will then play 30 games (split squad included) and finish on March 23. There are no exhibition games this year after they leave Peoria and return to San Diego. The home opener is March 26 versus the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park.
There are currently 38 players on the 40-man roster with the reported signing of Miguel Andujar not yet official. When that player is added to the roster, the Padres will have one spot available and then will have to make a roster move to add any other players.
Non-roster invites
The organization recently announced 28 players invited to Spring Training who are not on the roster. Those players (NRI’s) include 13 players who were recently added to the organization. There are 13 pitchers, four catchers, seven infielders and four outfielders in the group. It includes the Padres No. 1 prospect Ethan Salas who missed most of the 2025 season due to a stress fracture in his lower back. Following is the full list of NRI:
RHRP Francis Pena and RHSP Triston McKenzie as well as LHSP Marco Gonzales have the best chances to make big impressions from the group of pitchers. There are others who could be taking a step forward but those three have gotten the most mentions.
Catchers Ethan Salas and Blake Hunt should be followed closely. Hunt is presumably in competition for the backup catching job and was originally drafted by the Padres in 2017. He is a defense-first catcher who was most recently in the Seattle Mariners organization, playing in 25 games for the Mariners.
This will be a pivotal year for Salas, he needs to re-establish himself as a highly regarded prospect after struggling in 2024 and missing most of last season.
The Padres signed infielder Jose Miranda to a minor league deal. Entering his year-28 season, Miranda played in 12 games for Minnesota last season with a .417 OPS. He had a .569 OPS in Triple-A in the Twins organization. He is a candidate for a bounce-back year.
The Padres’ most advanced first base prospect, Romeo Sanabria, gets his first Spring Training invite at 24 years old. He needs to take a step forward this season to be considered an MLB player.
Infielder Marcos Castañon appeared to make advances last season and might stand out this spring.
Outfielders Carlos Rodriguez and Nick Schnell could be auditioning as depth pieces for the Padres. Schnell is 26 and Rodriguez is 25, both are left-handed hitters.
New roster additions
Padres fans should also keep an eye on the two new additions to the 40-man roster from the minor league prospect list. Both righty reliever Garrett Hawkins and right-handed starter Miguel Mendez are likely to show well in Spring Training but probably need a little more seasoning in the minor leagues to begin the season.
Mendez would benefit from added bulk to improve stamina and durability. He took a major step forward with command last year.
Hawkins was a standout with his dominant performance last year but was newly returned to baseball after Tommy John surgery. He has the potential to be a dominant late-inning reliever if he continues progressing on his current path.
I am still waiting for a couple more additions to the team from general manager A.J. Preller. The next few weeks should be an exciting time for Padres fans as we near the 2026 season and enjoy the WBC and spring games as we wait.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 15: Matthew Liberatore #52 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Busch Stadium on September 15, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While I believe that many are very satisfied with what Chaim Bloom has accomplished with his many roster moves during the offseason, we’re about to begin the 2026 season with some fear and trepidation about how competitive or not the St. Louis Cardinals will be. Knowing what we know now, what do you think the St. Louis Cardinals win-loss record will be for 2026?
Before I share my guess, let’s look at what the latest professional projections say about the 2026 St. Louis Cardinals team. According to a share a week and a half ago by Fangraphs, the latest ZiPS projections say the St. Louis Cardinals will finish 4th in the National League Central with a record of 77-85 only 3 games ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates. FanDuel and other Vegas odds say the St. Louis Cardinals are only a 70 to 71 win team. Bernie Miklasz shared what several other betting sites were predicting, but this was a week and a half ago and all of these predictions were posted before the Brendan Donovan trade.
I have a difficult time separating my emotions from my mind when it comes to trying to nail down what the St. Louis Cardinals 2026 record will be. My heart is thrilled that the team has finally stopped settling for mediocrity and made big changes to insure the St. Louis Cardinals will be perennial serious contenders at some point in the future, but my mind has to realistically accept the fact that we’re not built to win this year. My prediction is a 76-86 St. Louis Cardinals team that will be fortunate to finish above the Pittsburgh Pirates. I think that will look optimistic once the new projections are done post-Brendan Donovan trade, but I’m overall bullish on this team.
I do think there is a scenario (albeit an unlikely one) where the St. Louis Cardinals surprise everyone and become a .500 or better team this season, but that involves a lot of daydreaming. If Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman both wake up and live up to their potential, this could get interesting. JJ Wetherholt would need to have the type of season where he’s a legitimate rookie of the year candidate. We would need Michael McGreevy and Matthew Liberatore to go next level and the Cardinals bullpen to become something it doesn’t appear to be on paper. This daydream also requires Masyn Winn to remain fully healthy and add impressive offensive pop to his gold glove defense. Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera would also need to backup strong 2025 showings and remain healthy. If all of those elements line up, the St. Louis Cardinals could be much more than the predictions say they will be in 2026, but I think it’s best to embrace what looks like our reality for the next couple of years and that’s not what my heart hopes will happen.
We can revisit this once the St. Louis Cardinals break camp after Spring Training, but as of today, what is your guess of what the St. Louis Cardinals win-loss record will be in 2026 and how do you think they’ll rank in the National League Central?
This will be the last weekend without baseball, potentially until November, with Game 7 of the 2026 World Series scheduled for October 31. The Super Bowl is tomorrow (though we’re going to the RenFair), and football will then be done – mercifully, if you’re a Cardinals fan. The off-season is, effectively, over. So, before players start to show up at Salt River Fields next week, this is your change to say whatever you want. Be that about the Diamondbacks, baseball in general, or even random off-topicness. Though not too off-topic: the usual SnakePit prohibitions still remain in effect!
Open vent thread: Get it all out before pitchers and catchers report!
Have the Diamondbacks done enough? How thin ice are Torey Lovullo and Mike Hazen skating on this season? What is your go-to ballpark food and drink? Is the NL West a pointless procession to another Dodgers title? Why is Zac Gallen still unsigned? Has the way you watch baseball changed over the years? What’s your favorite baseball movie? Feel free answer absolutely none of these questions, and go your own way instead.
Sep 9, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals outfielder Terrance Gore (0) scores the go ahead run during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Terrance Gore, Royals postseason legend and three-time World Series champion, died last night. He was 34 years old. Gore is survived by his wife, Britney, and three children.
We are heartbroken from the loss of Terrance Gore, and send our love to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/qgZFkHRFSx
Gore leaves behind an incredible baseball legacy as one of the greatest baserunning specialists of recent memory. Despite rarely coming to the plate, Gore stole 48 bases across the regular season and playoffs at an 82.7% success rate across his eight-year MLB career. But when playing for the Royals across their 2014 and 2015 campaigns, Gore was otherworldly: during those two years, he stole 12 bases and was only thrown out once. One of those stolen bases came in the best Royals game of all-time: the 2014 AL Wild Card Game.
Gore went on to become a postseason fixture with multiple other teams, lending his legs to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2020 World Series campaign as well as the Atlanta Braves’ 2021 World Series season.
But Gore is equally well known within the game for being a kind and wonderful human. Gore’s wife shared a post on Facebook about Gore, who passed away from complications after a routine surgery.
This post is extremely tough to write. Last night, I lost my best friend/husband from complications after what was supposed to have been a simple procedure. Our hearts are shattered, my babies are shattered. Our whole family is lost. This was so unexpected. Everything Zane does is centered around his dad. Baseball, hunting, fishing. Skylyn said, “I don’t have a daddy anymore, he’s up in heaven in the stars.” I don’t know where to go from here. I feel like I’m living my biggest nightmare and feel so lost. He loved his children with everything in him. He loved coaching the youth and those boys absolutely loved him. Please keep our family in your prayers for the coming days and for the strength to get through this. Life is precious and is too short. What I would do to give you one more hug or kiss. We had so many more memories to make. I love you forever Terrance Gore and I’ll continue to watch over our babies.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: Brusdar Graterol of the Los Angeles Dodgers waves to fans at Dodger Stadium on January 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Our latest roster preview heading into spring training looks at the Dodgers bullpen, which like the outfield was bolstered by signing the best free agent available.
40-man roster relievers
Edwin Díaz
Tanner Scott LHP
Blake Treinen
Alex Vesia LHP
Brusdar Graterol
Brock Stewart
Jack Dreyer LHP
Will Klein
Edgardo Henriquez
Kyle Hurt
Bobby Miller
Paul Gervase
Ronan Kopp LHP
Things to watch
Swimming in the deep end: For the second offseason in a row, the Dodgers spent big on a reliever, signing Edwin Díaz for three years and $69 million, breaking his own record for highest average annual value for a reliever. Much like signing Kyle Tucker to improve the outfield, the Dodgers saw a weakness and plugged the hole with the best-possible (and most expensive) option on this year’s free agent market. Díaz’s ERA started with a one in four of his last seven seasons, and his xERA has been above 2.66 only once in his nine-season career. Díaz over the last two seasons is second among MLB relievers in both strikeout rate (38.4 percent) and strikeout-minus-walk rate (29.7 percent). That’ll play.
Bazooka loading: Since joining the Dodgers in 2020, Brusdar Graterol has been one of the team’s best relievers, with a 2.69 ERA and 3.06 xERA, thanks to a 61.9-percent groundball rate that ranks eighth in MLB in that time among pitchers with at least 150 innings. The problem is Graterol has only pitched 204 innings over the last six seasons, including the postseason. He only pitched 9 2/3 innings in 2024, and didn’t pitch at all in 2025 after shoulder surgery. Graterol is back and healthy now, so expect him to pitch important innings if he’s showing anything near his career norms.
That still leaves three bullpen spots for the inevitable revolving door to fill innings as needed, a must in this current era of pitcher churning. The Dodgers used 39 pitchers in 2023, then set franchise records with 40 pitchers in each of the last two seasons. Expect something near that again this year. But to have seven pitchers listed above all with minor league options, plus starting pitching depth Ben Casparius, Justin Wrobleski, and Landon Knack (before even considering River Ryan and Gavin Stone, each coming off surgery) in the same boat, the cupboard is well-stocked.
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: A detail shot of an Oakland A's hat with commemorative pins prior to the game between the Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
*In an effort to make the nomination voting easier for everyone, I will comment, “NOMINATIONS”, and you may reply to that with your picks and upvote the player you’d like to see on the next nominee list.
Taking the ninth spot on our annual CPL is right-handed pitcher Steven Echavarria. The 20-year-old righty had some bumps on the road during his second full season as a professional pitcher on the lower end of the farm but also flashed his awesome repertoire at times. Echavarria has plenty of work to do in the lower levels of the system as a high-school draftee, especially in the control department, but luckily for him he’s still incredibly young for the level he’s at and could show some serious progress this coming season. The A’s clearly think very highly of him.
Taking the next open nominee spot is right-hander Mason Barnett. Considered the prize of the Lucas Erceg trade to the Royals, Barnett was one of the better pitching prospects in the system last year but has dropped down after a lackluster year at Triple-A and some additions to the system. That said he profiles as a back-end starter that could be a legitimate option for the A’s this coming season. He’s already made his big league debut with five starts in September for the A’s and now that he’s gotten his feet wet in the big leagues the righty will almost certainly be an option for manager Mark Kotsay during the coming summer. Will he be able to solidify a spot in the rotation is another matter, but the team is going to give him that chance at some point. You can count on that.
The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:
Please only vote for one. The player with the most votes at the end of voting will win the ranked spot. The remaining four players move on to the next ballot where they are joined by a new nominee.
In the comments, below the official voting, the community will nominate players to be put onto the ballot for the next round. The format for your comment should be “Nomination: Player Name”.
If a prospect is traded, his name will be crossed out, and all other players will be moved up a space. If a prospect is acquired, a special vote will be put up to determine where that player should rank.
The voting continues! Who rounds out the top ten players in the farm system? Here’s a quick rundown on each nominee— the scouting grades (on a 20-to-80 scale) and scouting reports come from MLB Pipeline.
White’s right-handed power is legitimate and he can hit the ball a long way to all fields thanks to his strength and bat speed. He might be known for his home run totals but he’s a better overall hitter than people think, finding the barrel consistently and limiting strikeouts. His knack for contact can lead to him expanding his strike zone, but he doesn’t swing and miss very often.
It will be White’s bat that carries him to the big leagues. He’s a well-below-average runner who likely lacks the range and tools to stick at third base, where he toiled as a sophomore and junior, earning praise for playing through a shoulder injury at LSU in 2023. He’s likely headed to first base long term, which could give the A’s a glut of serious offensive talent between him and first-rounder Nick Kurtz.
At the plate, Morii features a smooth left-handed swing with tremendous balance. His power stands out, as he clubbed 45 home runs as a high schooler. He is considered an advanced hitter with good barrel control. On the mound, his fastball has been clocked as high as 95 mph and sits around 92-93. He also brings a splitter with nasty movement, a true 12-to-6 curveball and a tighter slider with solid bite and depth, though that offering will probably require some fine-tuning. Having only been pitching with regularity for less than two years, Morii’s arm is relatively fresh as he enters the organization.
Morii’s high-octane throwing arm plays well at shortstop, but some evaluators see a possibility of moving to third base as his 6-foot-1 frame fills out. While scouts see Morii’s long-term future in the batter’s box, the A’s plan on giving him every opportunity to succeed as a two-way player, with excitement already building over his impressive physical traits and desire to become one of the next great players out of Japan.
Taylor shows the potential to become a plus hitter in terms of both average and power while controlling the strike zone. A left-handed hitter with plenty of bat speed and strength, he hits the ball extremely hard and generates power to all fields. He likes to swing the bat but has cut down on his chases this spring. He makes consistent contact and has no problems handling breaking pitches.
The majority of Taylor’s value will come from his offensive production. His speed, arm strength and defensive instincts all grade as fringy, which will limit him to a corner outfield spot in pro ball.
Barnett leads a four-pitch mix with his fastball. Though it may not reach the 99 mph it once did earlier in his career, he can still rev it up to about 96 mph while sitting around 94. His mid-80s slider has evolved into more of a sweeper with good bite and emerged as a strong secondary pitch, providing solid separation in velocity from his upper-70s curve. He also utilizes a mid-80s changeup that is especially effective against left-handed batters.
Listed at 6-foot and 218 pounds, Barnett is showing all the traits of a “bulldog” on the mound who goes right after opposing hitters. He demonstrated strong improvement in his overall strike-throwing ability with his cleaned-up three-quarters arm slot that at times got a little long in the past. If the improvements hold up at the next level, the A’s view him as a long-term starter and believe he could push his way up to the big leagues at some point in 2025.
The A’s were working on some mechanical adjustments with Miller prior to his injury. His electric fastball ticked up to 96 mph in high school and displayed excellent movement down in the zone. The mid-80s slider is a hard breaker and was showing signs of improvement. His low-80s changeup showed some potential as an average third pitch.
There was real excitement within the organization for Miller’s professional debut. His three-pitch mix and large 6-foot-6 frame give off the potential of a workhorse-type starting pitcher in the big leagues. The A’s also loved the competitiveness they saw from him on the mound while scouting him. After an unfortunate delay, he finally got his first opportunity to make an impression this summer.
* * *
Programming Note: Each CPL vote will run for around 48 hours, so don’t delay in making your vote!
Jun 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers (71) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the eight inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
So much has already been written. So much praiseheaped. What more is there to write about Tyler Rogers other than it’s over?
I did my part. I said my prayers each night, wishing the separation would be temporary, that after trading him, we’d re-sign him in the offseason. How could we not? Weren’t there still 8th innings to be pitched in 2026? And batters to be spun like tops? After seven years of scraping his knuckles on our mound, of inspiring a generation of little league submariners from Seaside to Sacramento…the story of Tyler Rogers and us couldn’t just end with a transaction.
But our awkward bullpen bird had outgrown the nest. Rogers found a home in Toronto, bagging the first big contract of his career. Three years, 37 million dollars. Imagine: thousands of dollars for each 80 MPH fastball, for each rising slider, for each awkward swing, for each dink and doink cued off the end of a baseball bat. Worth every penny in my mind. Based on recent events, it’d be easy to feel sorry for Blue Jays fans — but I don’t, just a whole lot of envy and a dash of regret that this didn’t happen sooner. If only they had made a play for Rogers at the deadline…man, they could’ve used him in Game 7.
We all could’ve used him in Game 7. As if Giants fans needed more incentive to pull for Toronto — but to see Rogers sling one of his saucers on the biggest stage in the sport with the game on the line against the hated Doogers would’ve been worth the heartache of watching him depart. A victory for the good guys! A triumph of weird over the forces of obviousness! Rogers would’ve come out on top in a string of hypotheticals. Would Max Muncy have lifted that solo shot in the 8th? No! Would Miguel Rojas have gained count leverage in the 9th? Double-no!
No doubt in my mind, Rogers would’ve sealed the deal — an instant Canadian legend. Those up-northerners probably would’ve named the whole dang stadium after him. It’s got a nice ring to it: The Tyler Centre.
Alas…
Tyler Rogers last appearance as a Giant in 2025 came against Pittsburgh on July 29th. He got billed for the loss, the two earned runs he allowed providing the difference in score. A fitting end in one sense considering the rally mounted against him was a typical soft-contact coup: Five groundballs, four singles with just two of them getting out of the infield.
These have been the kind of fluky frames that have dogged him throughout his career, that have been used as proof rather than an exception to why he could never serve as a true closer. No matter how good he is at attacking the strike zone, at avoiding the barrel and dulling hard-hit rates, at keeping the baseball grounded and in the park, there is a solid underlying belief, grounded in fear of the inexplicable, that how he pitches shouldn’t work, that at any moment the luck will run out, and one of his levitating orbs will serve as a Proustian madeleine to a struggling .600 OPS hitter, and unlock some core memory of smoking wiffle balls in his backyard.
We have seen this happen. Jake Cave in Colorado. Nick Ahmed in LA. That one-percent home run rate is seared into our brain, so much so it’s hard to insist that the results in the aforementioned alternate-2025 would’ve been any different. Rogers is so exciting to watch because he stares into the eyes of logic when he takes the mound. A mix of moxie, forgetfulness, and humor is required for a high-leverage submariner. Let us never forget Dan Quisenberry’s mustache — and the fact that he wrote a book of poetry.
Compare Rogers’s career 4.07 ERA in the 9th to his 2.35 ERA in the 8th, and it seems he himself lost faith in his quirk and frequently looked down on his tight-rope walk when it came to closing out a game. The most opportunities Rogers got in the 9th came in 2021, his breakout year, in which he earned 12 saves over 22 innings and 24 appearances. From late May to early June, Rogers appeared in 8 consecutive games in the 9th, and the team went 7-1 in them, despite a three run whoopsie against the Doogers (that was forgiven by a 3-run homer by Grand POBO Posey off of Blake Treinen). But more crooked numbers allowed against key opponents ultimately swelled his final frame ERA to 5.24. His ERA in the 8th: 1.24. That dominance, and the presence of much more traditional closer options (ex. Jake McGee, Camilo Doval, Ryan Walker), seemed to cement Rogers’s role for the rest of his tenure in San Francisco.
That final appearance as a Giant was the 392nd of Rogers’s career, placing him at 10th on the franchise list for relievers. If he had stayed in San Francisco, his 81 games on the year would’ve moved him past Santiago Casilla, Jeremy Affeldt, and Rod Beck to sixth on the list. His climb up the club rankings is over, but for the man with the rubber arm, it’s not hard to think he’ll keep gobbling up games. He led the Majors in appearances for a second straight year, and his 81 games was a career best (while his 77.1 innings pitched was second to his 81 IP mark set in 2021).
Rogers’s age 34 season was arguably his best. His 1.98 ERA, 2.88 FIP, 0.944 WHIP, and 203 ERA+ were all career marks — and those reflect a bit of a backslide in the second half as a Met. Over 50 innings pitched, Rogers owned a 222 ERA+. His 1.7 bWAR had already surpassed his final marks from the previous three full seasons. He didn’t get one, but he absolutely deserved an All-Star nod.
While the Giants got an impressive package of MLB-ready-or-near-ready talent (RHP Jose Butto, OF Drew Gilbert, and RHP Blade Tidwell) for him, looking ahead to the state of the relief corps in 2026, you can’t help but feel there’s a hole. Erik Miller in the 8th? Joel Peguero? There’s firepower, sure — but just as much inexperience, errant command, and maddening walks in those arms.
For all the perceived unpredictably inherent to his style, Rogers has been consistent for a half-a-decade. We knew this, and we’re going to miss this. Hot take: It’s nice not to have to worry about your game plan in the late innings. Life with a lead is definitely better when there is a plan, rather than having first time manager Tony Vitello be-bop and scat in and out of dicey, late-and-close situations. Re-signing Rogers was an emotional-and-sensical move that didn’t happen. Considering the team’s needs, bringing him back would’ve made a bunch of people inside and outside (Rogers included) pretty happy. Given the brass’s reluctance around handing out a longer-term, six-figure deal for a starting pitcher, Rogers eventually moved out of the club’s determined price-range. Tough beans for the bullpen in 2026. Bittersweet for us fans. Selfishly, I wish he was still our little secret; but damn, I’m happy he’s getting paid. He’ll make nearly $9 million as a Jay next year, then $13.66 million through his age 37 season and be guaranteed $12 million in 2029 if he stays healthy and on the mound in the coming years.
Hey, maybe the Giants will re-sign Rogers then. With his mechanics, he’ll be throwing 70 innings a season well into early 40’s.
TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 02: A Toronto Blue Jays fan reacts after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 in game seven of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on November 02, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Instead of a question, today, we have an open thread to let out all your complaints about the Jays, or about the MLB if you want. (I’ll admit these topics aren’t my choosing, it’s an SB Nation thing).
Hmmm vent….
Well, I would have liked them to sign Bo, but I can’t blame them for not matching what the Mets offered, so that’s not really a rant. I mean, they could have worked harder to make a deal before he reached free agency, but then it takes two. And I wouldn’t have wanted them to go 14 years as they did with Vlad.
I thought the club would sign a closer, but they improved the bullpen. Edwin Diaz would have been nice, still I wouldn’t have tried to beat the Dodgers 3-year, $69 million deal.
I guess I will vent a bunch if MLB forces a stoppage next year.
I am happy that the club is replacing the stupid statue of Ed Rogers with a Joe Carter statue. It is hard to believe how tone-deaf Rogers Corp was in putting up that statue of Rogers in the first place, but someone has finally talked sense into them.
The beer at the park costs too much. There is something I could vent about.
