MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 21: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers poses for a photo during the 2026 World Series photoshoot at American Family Field on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s Game 1 of the final series of the season, the World Series. At the end of it, possibly on Halloween Night, one of these teams will hoist the World Series Championship Trophy for the first time in Franchise history. This is the first time since 1980 that that could be said at the start of the World Series. Pretty cool stuff.
The Brewers have decided to make the obvious choice and start NL Cy Young Award presumptive Jacob Misiorowski in the opener. The Rays have decided to buck tradition and go with their third- or fourth-best starter in Nick Martinez. Now Martinez was spectacular in his start against the Guardians last week, but he’s clearly not the best pitcher on the team. Is this a clever ploy by the Rays to try and sneak an advantage by having their best two pitchers – Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta – get to start against pitchers other than The Mis? If so, it’s a bold strategy, Cotton. We’ll see if it pays off.
I just really, really hope it’s not some kind of indication that Rasmussen is hurt.
Yandy Diaz – DH Jonathan Aranda – 1B Chandler Simpson – LF Junior Caminero – 3B Liam Hicks – C Jonny DeLuca – CF Victor Mesa – RF Ben Williamson – 2B Taylor Walls – SS
SP: Nick Martinez – RHP
Brewers lineup
Jackson Chourio – LF Jake Bauers – 1B Christian Yelich – DH William Contreras – C Brice Turang – 2B Garrett Mitchell – CF Cooper Pratt – SS Sal Frelick – RF David Hamilton – 3B
SP: Jacob Misiorowski – RHP
Broadcast info
Time: 8:00 PM EDT TV: FOX / FOX ONE, Fox Deportes Radio: ESPN Radio
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 21: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers poses for a photo during the 2026 World Series photoshoot at American Family Field on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tampa Bay Rays (0-0) at Milwaukee Brewers (0-0)
Time/Place: 8:00 p.m. ET, American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Forty-four years later, Milwaukee gets another chance to celebrate and possibly forever remove the Brewers from a list that nobody in baseball wants to be a part of. The Brewers are facing off against the Tampa Bay Rays, another of those teams that have never won a World Series championship. It's the first World Series between franchises that are vying for their first title since 1980 when the Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals faced off.
Five MLB franchises have never won a World Series, but by Halloween it will be an exclusive group of four. So who's closest? Here's how the five rank, from furthest to the closest to a first championship:
The Rockies have something to build on. Colorado scored 752 runs – its most since 2019 – and ranked in the top seven in MLB in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging.
But their pitching has always been the issue. The staff finished last in baseball with a 6.28 ERA, and the Rockies went 58-104 for their fourth consecutive season with at least 100 loses.
Paul DePodesta, heading into his first full offseason as president of baseball operations, says the club will act early to find starting pitching. That's if he can find pitchers willing to pitch at that altitude. The franchise's only World Series trip ended in a sweep by the Boston Red Sox in 2007, and any route back goes through the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in that National League West.
A year ago, Seattle was just outs from reaching its first World Series before George Springer's three-run homer in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series sent Toronto instead. The Mariners entered 2026 with the best World Series odds in the AL, according to FanGraphs. They finished 76-86.
Nearly everything broke bad for them. Brendan Donovan missed 84 games with a groin strain. Relievers Matt Brash, Cooper Criswell and Carlos Vargas missed 311 games combined. Julio Rodriguez hit .250 with a .718 OPS – both career lows. Cal Raleigh was batting .156 in August. They fired manager Dan Wilson at the end of the season.
The good news for them is that the Astros won the division with a .500 record, so the lane is open for them to get back into position.
San Diego Padres
The Padres won 91 games and made the playoffs for the third consecutive year – a first for the franchise. In the eighth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series in Milwaukee, Manny Machado drove a ball 406 feet. Garrett Mitchell caught it at the wall, and San Diego went home.
Machado is 34. He just posted a .711 OPS, the lowest of his career, and he's owed more than $39 million a year through 2033. Xander Bogaerts, also 34, hit for a .676 OPS and is signed through 2033, too.
Most of the rotation is about to hit free agency. New owners Kwanza Jones and Jose E. Feliciano paid $3.9 billion for the team this year, and nobody knows yet how much they'll spend to keep the Padres at the top.
Fernando Tatis Jr., 27, and Jackson Merrill, 23, give manager Craig Stammen something to work with. San Diego has been to two World Series. It lost to Detroit in five games in 1984 and got swept by the Yankees in 1998.
Junior Caminero hit 42 homers this season. He is just 23 years old.
The Rays won 98 games and the American League pennant with a $95.6 million payroll – ranked 28th in baseball. Their starters have a 1.98 ERA this postseason, best among the 12 playoff teams. Their hitters struck out just 18.8% of the time in the regular season, the lowest rate in MLB.
Contact hitting now meets Jacob Misiorowski, whose fastball averaged 100.6 mph this season. Tampa Bay ranked 29th in OPS against pitches 98 mph or faster.
A loss would be their third in a World Series in 18 years, and ALCS MVP Freddy Peralta can be a free agent this winter. But Caminero is back and Kevin Cash, the longest-tenured manager in baseball with his current club, just keeps getting the Rays back to October.
Last October the Dodgers swept the Brewers in the NLCS. This October, Milwaukee returned the favor.
The Brewers won 103 games – a franchise record and the most in baseball this season – and they're the favorites to win this series. Their best players are kids. Misiorowski, 24, led the majors with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts. Jackson Churios is 22. Shortstop Cooper Pratt made his debut this June.
Pat Murphy has won NL Manager of the Year twice in a row, and Milwaukee has made the playoffs in eight of the last nine seasons. Losing this World Series would hurt a franchise that has waited 57 years.
But it wouldn't knock the Brewers off this spot as most the likely to win a World Series of the five franchises that have never won one.
Can’t really add anything to that other than I’m hoping for a seven-game series because, well, more baseball is always good and after it’s over, we don’t know when we will next see MLB players on the field because of the looming owners’ lockout.
Enjoy the games.
7 p.m. CT: Rays at Brewers
TV: Fox-TV. Announcers: Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 04: Nick Martinez #28 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on September 04, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is World Series time!
The Rays play in Milwaukee against the Brewers. Jacob Misiorowski pitches for the Brewers, while our old friend Nick Martinez pitches for the Rays.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 01: Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers steals second base as Ben Williamson #15 of the Tampa Bay Rays takes the throw in the second inning at American Family Field on April 01, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Milwaukee Brewers, October 23, 2026, 8:00 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are back on the couch once again for the start of the World Series, featuring two teams searching for their first title in franchise history.
The Tampa Bay Rays will travel to American Family Field to take on the Milwaukee Brewers in a Fall Classic that will celebrate the small market.
Both teams finished atop their respective leagues and made it through the first two rounds of the postseason. The Brewers took care of the San Diego Padres in four games before sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS to get payback for last year.
Meanwhile, the Rays swept their division rival, the New York Yankees, before dismantling the Cleveland Guardians in six games in the ALCS.
Both teams have slight connections to the Pirates, as the Brewers are a division rival of theirs. The Pirates won the season series against the Brewers 7-6, so that should say something about Pittsburgh and their slow, meteoric rise in the NL Central.
The Rays made a big trade with the Pirates in the offseason, where Tampa sent relief pitcher Mason Montgomery to the Bucs.
Be sure to check out our sister sites for coverage of the World Series: DRaysBay and Brew Crew Ball.
Location: American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Broadcast: FOX, FOX One app
Pitching Matchup: Nick Marinez vs. Jacob Misiorowski
BD community, this is your gameday thread for Game 1 of the 2026 World Series. Chime off in the comments section below.
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 01: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays met during the opening week of the 2026 season. Now, nearly seven months later, they’ll meet again with both franchises chasing their first World Series championship.
Taking the mound for Milwaukee in Game 1 is Jacob Misiorowski, the presumptive National League Cy Young Award winner. The 24-year-old posted a 1.80 ERA with 252 strikeouts in 174.2 innings during the regular season, relying heavily on a four-seam fastball that averaged 100.6 mph. Misiorowski faced Tampa Bay on April 1, allowing two runs over six innings while striking out seven.
Misiorowski’s four-seam fastball has seen its whiff rate drop from roughly 40% during the regular season to just 16% this postseason, leaving his breaking pitches to do more of the work. Still, he has recorded 11 strikeouts in 8.1 innings across two starts.
The Rays counter with veteran right-hander Nick Martinez, who posted a 3.10 ERA over 180 regular-season innings while walking just 3.6% of opposing hitters. Martinez relies on a six-pitch mix and exceptional command. He also faced the Brewers during the opening week, allowing two runs over six innings on March 30.
Martinez has leaned more heavily on his cutter this postseason, his most effective pitch by run value during the regular season. Unfortunately for him, it’s also a pitch that two of Milwaukee’s most dangerous hitters, Brice Turang and William Contreras, have handled especially well.
Neither starter has pitched particularly deep into games this postseason, and both offenses have a way of making pitchers work. That means the two teams’ very different bullpens could play a major role in the series.
Tampa Bay Rays (0-0) at Milwaukee Brewers (0-0) – 6:00 PM MDT
Pitching Matchup: RHP Nick Martinez (1-0, 3.00 postseason ERA) vs. RHP Jacob Misiorowski (0-0, 3.24 postseason ERA)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 22: World Series signage is seen during a workout day prior to game on of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A game 44 years in the making. At long last, Game 1 of the World Series is finally here. The Milwaukee Brewers will face the Tampa Bay Rays to determine who will be the champion in 2026.
Both teams are seeking their first World Series title. The Rays have been here twice before, in 2008 and again in 2020. The Brewers have been just once before, all the way back in 1982.
Both teams were the best in their league this year. The Brewers ran through the National League with a 103-59 record, winning the NL Central by 14 games. The Rays won the AL East by 4.5 games. In the LDS, the Brewers dispatched the San Diego Padres in four games, while the Rays swept the New York Yankees in three. Then in the LCS, the Brewers swept the Dodgers in four games while the Rays fell behind to the Cleveland Guardians 2-1 through three games, but then rattled off three wins in a row to beat Cleveland in six.
The Rays have had three full days off since their last game. The Brewers have had a week off. Finally, after all the anticipation, we are back to baseball.
Also back to baseball is Brewers veteran ace Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff hasn’t pitched in a game since the 4th of July, but he has recovered from a shoulder injury and after throwing live BP to the Brewers top hitters during the week, Woodruff was put on the 26 man roster for the World Series.
“I expressed how I felt about things and kind of where I was and I was very truthful and very open. It came down to I want one thing, whether I was on the roster or not, and that’s to win. So whatever was decided, I was good with.” Woodruff said.
“We feel like there’s a window where he can help us. That was the whole decision. This isn’t a wow, we love Woody, he’s great for the organization, because he already said to us, I don’t want to be a sympathy pick. I want to be a pick because I can help the team. Then you go through all the things and say, can he help us? The answer is yes, he can definitely help us.” Pat Murphy said.
The Brewers removed Chad Patrick to make room for Woodruff. Patrick had not pitched in either the NLDS or NLCS.
Woodruff will not be starting Game 1, however. That honor, unsurprisingly, belongs to Jacob Misiorowski. Misiorowski has started each Game 1 of the postseason for the Brewers. He hasn’t been his usual sharp self that he was during the regular season, which can partially be attributed to fatigue after a long year with more innings than he’s ever thrown in his life. Even though he hasn’t pitched as deep into games or been as sharp, he’s still kept the Brewers in those games and the Brewers have won both of his starts.
On the flip side, the Rays will have Nick Martinez on the mound, allowing an extra day of rest for Tampa’s aces Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta. Martinez had a 3.10 ERA in the regular season. In his two starts in the postseason, Martinez went 3.2 IP and allowed two earned runs in his start against the Yankees. Then in the ALCS, Martinez went 5.1 IP, allowing just two hits and one run.
The Brewers are shaking things up a little with their lineup. Jackson Chourio remains in the leadoff spot, that’s unchanged. But following him is Jake Bauers batting second and Christian Yelich batting third. Then William Contreras is batting cleanup, followed by Brice Turang and Garrett Mitchell. Cooper Pratt is at shortstop batting seventh while Sal Frelick and David Hamilton round out the bottom of the order. That’s three righties in the lineup each with two lefties in between them.
The Rays lineup is also intriguing. Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda are batting 1-2 atop the order. That’s not new. But Chandler Simpson, the speedster, with a whopping zero career home runs in his two years in the league, is batting 3rd, a traditional power spot. His role is to get on base for the real power hitter batting cleanup, Junior Caminero. Liam Hicks and Jonny Deluca fill out the rest of the middle of the order. Then Victor Mesa Jr, Ben Williamson, and Taylor Walls round out the bottom of the lineup.
It’s the Brewers and the Rays in the 122nd World Series. Here we go.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 22: World Series signage is seen during a workout day prior to game on of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here we go everyone! The moment all baseball fans have been waiting for. The World Series! It all begins tonight as the Tampa Bay Rays arrive in Milwaukee for the first game of the Fall Classic. One of these teams is going to win their first World Series. Who wants it more?
Rays at Brewers (5:00 PST)
The Rays have right-hander Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA) on the mound tonight for Game 1. The one-year deal they dished out to him last offseason has more than paid off, but now they’ll up the stakes asking him to help the squad go up 1-0 in the World Series. It’s easily the biggest start of his career. How will the veteran do on the biggest stage in the sport?
The Brew Crew meanwhile have ace right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (16-5, 1.80 ERA) getting the call for this epic contest. Considered the overwhelming favorite to win this year’s NL Cy Young, Misiorowski is the best pitcher in the sport today and you literally can not ask for a better starter to take the ball for the first game of the World Series. The Brewers have to feel confident with their starter today.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 23: Milwaukee Brewers mascot, Bernie Brewer, is seen prior to game one of the 2026 World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first time since 1980, two teams who have never won the World Series are about to face off in the fall classic. The winner gets to celebrate the greatest moment in franchise history, and the loser gets stuck on a shrinking and increasingly ignominious list with the Rockies, Padres and Mariners.
Despite these teams not being associated with historical success, they were clearly the class of the field this year, with the Rays winning an AL leading 98 games, and the Brewers winning an MLB leading 103. This, along with the brand of baseball typically displayed whenever these squads take the field, gives us hope that the World Series will produce something far more compelling than anything else we’ve seen to this point in a postseason that’s lacked the top shelf drama we often see in October.
Out of the gate, the flame throwing Jacob Misiorowski will be the big topic of conversation, but as it always the case in the World Series, many other storylines we can’t even imagine are about to unfold. So let’s get to the lineups and the game thread where we can watch them unfold together below.
Today’s Lineups
RAYS
BREWERS
Yandy Diaz – DH
Jackson Chourio – LF
Jonathan Aranda – 1B
Jake Bauers – 1B
Chandler Simpson – LF
Christian Yelich – DH
Junior Caminero – 3B
William Contreras – C
Liam Hicks – C
Brice Turang – 2B
Jonny DeLuca – CF
Garrett Mitchell – CF
Victor Mesa – RF
Cooper Pratt – SS
Ben Williamson – 2B
Sal Frelick – RF
Taylor Walls – SS
David Hamilton – 3B
Nick Martinez – RHP
J. Misiorowski – RHP
⚾️ First Pitch: 8:00pm — American Family Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 22: First baseman Jake Bauers #9 of the Milwaukee Brewers looks on during a workout day prior to game on of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It begins tonight. Game 1 is in Milwaukee and both teams are ready.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 25: Nick Martinez #28 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays at Great American Ball Park on July 25, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 World Series commences on Friday night in Milwaukee as the Brewers play host to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 at American Family Field. It’s still Miller Park, but you get it.
The hosts will turn again to fireballing Jacob Misiorowski as their starter for the evening, so be prepared for the adrenaline to push over some 105 mph heaters to begin the Top of the 1st. Tampa, meanwhile, will counter with former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Martinez, who’s fresh off a year that would’ve been very, very nice to still have on the Reds roster.
The roof will apparently be closed for this one. First pitch is set for shortly after 8:00 PM ET, as it will be for each and every game of the series. FOX will be doing the broadcasting, unfortunately, meaning you’ll be forced to listen to John Smoltz throughout.
One of these generations it would be nice to see the Reds again on this stage. Alas.
Here’s how both clubs will line up to start Game 1:
Feb 21, 2025; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan (41) takes photos during media day. Mandatory Credit: Chris Tilley-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Earlier in the week, I went through the pure free agents coming up this offseason. Now, why didn’t I speculate about those with opt-outs and options? Well, it’s because with a potential salary cap I think maybe some of these club options become more valuable, and maybe some of the player options, too. A salary cap is likely to suppress salaries going forward, but these recent market rate deals might help teams make a floor or fit into under a cap, especially if the deal is from 2-3 free agent markets ago — inflation counts! The Giants can, of course, afford every free agent, but they can easily afford any of these options, too. They even have the trade capital!
So, this is another long list of obvious targets. I don’t know what names Zack Minasian has on his pro scouting ledger who might prove just as valuable (your Anthony Molinas and Cesar Perdomos) or who the Giants might be considering to plug into the rotation next year at some point (Jackson Flora? Jacob Bresnahan?) but, this is a little bit different from that list of pure free agents.
Rather than looking at 2 or even 3 starters who could provide a minimum of 100 quality innings (again, think like the Justin Verlander deal in 2025), I think a trade would necessarily involve a pitcher who could be projected to provide more than that and over a longer term, not only to pair with Logan Webb — as the team has done or at least tried to do since 2022 — but also to possibly succeed him when they let him walk after 2028. I also think a combination of a pure free agent and a trade would be the most effective way to build up the rotation again, and a stronger rotation ought to make it easier to make the bullpen better in a hurry.
So, let’s look at some guys who are plausibly available via trade and, therefore, starting pitchers the Giants could acquire who could stick around for more than a season. But! Some of these players are likely to simply have options declined or opt out, making them free agents.
So, they’re no slouches on the payroll tip, but in each of those three seasons they’ve carried, effectively, dead money thanks to starting pitching injuries. In 2024 & 2025 it was the injured corpse of Jordan Montgomery (~$40 million), and in 2025 & 2026, it was the TJ’d husk of Corbin Burnes (~$62 million).
Following a successful run as a Brewer (45-27, 3.26 ERA in 709.1 IP from 2018-2023) and Oriole (15-9, 2.92 ERA in 194.1 IP in 2024), he’s thrown just 74.2 IP for the Diamomdbacks across two seasons and 14 starts.
His post-surgery rehab schedule made him available by this season’s end, and Arizona tried him out to see if he might be able to give them some innings and possibly get them into the postseason. It didn’t pan out. After a solid start (0 runs, 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts; 57 pitches in a 3-inning appearance on September 8th), he came apart, allowing 9 runs (all earned) in 7.1 IP in just two more appearances. Five home runs allowed. His season ended on the IL with shoulder inflammation.
He will not opt out of the final four years on his deal ($32.91 million AAV, $24 million in real money annually with $11 million a year deferred to 2033-2036). It’s likely that Arizona will seek some salary relief if only to move some of that money around to help other areas of their roster. The Giants kicked the tires (briefly) when he was last available.
So, look at this as a 4-year, $96 million deal for the age 32-35 seasons of a guy who hasn’t yet cracked 1,000 innings — although, that’s because he’s run into the injury bug as he’s approached that threshold. Still, before he landed in Arizona, he had five straight seasons of receiving Cy Young votes and even won it back in 2021. Of course, the Giants are coming off a terrible year of arm injuries for their pitchers and might not be interested in taking on another patient.
Michael King
Now, I’m going to say that I think the chances of there being a salary cap are still probably well below 50%, but he’s the exact type of player likely to be impacted by it in the short-term. He has a very interesting pair of opt outs he can exercise after this or next season. If he doesn’t opt out this offseason, he’ll make $28 million in 2027. If he opts out this offseason, the Padres will pay him $5 million as a buyout. And if he opts in, he can opt out again or stick around for 2028 and earn $30 million (no buyout if he opts out). A very tricky decision. Less because of the potential salary cap and more because he’s, essentially, contracted for his age 32 and 33 seasons for $58 million — if he wants that. Is he going to be able to get a 4-5 year deal, cap or no cap? If we just double it, does he get a 4-year, $116 million from somebody?
King has been good for San Diego (they got him in the Juan Soto trade with the Yankees) with a 3.15 ERA (3.86 FIP) in 78 games (77 starts) and 432 IP. Left knee inflammation ate into his 2025 season (just 73.1 IP), but he has been their ace. It’s unclear if he’ll opt out (though, admittedly, likely) and, despite the Robbie Ray deal, it’s unlikely the Padres would trade their current ace to the Giants. The Padres have new, young owners who spent a lot of money to get the team. They might want to keep the stadium full, but they also might want AJ Preller to curtail spending a bit. He could be on the trade block even if he does opt in.
Clay Holmes (technically, a player option)
He made $13 million this season but his player option is for $12 million, which might be reason enough for him to decline it. But, heading into his age-34 season and coming off a post-acquisition performance (the Mets traded him to the Cubs for their playoff push) that was simply not good (4.25 ERA /4.09 FIP in 48.2 IP, 6.1 K/9, 4.4 BB/9), it’s plausible that he uses it and becomes a trade chit for Chicago. He is, basically, a lesser version of Logan Webb. He has a higher career groundball rate than Webb (62.3% vs. 56.3%) but he walks way more (3.89 BB/9 vs. Webb’s 2.14 career). But, he has the 93 mph sinker-sweeper combo that’s similar. He has three inches and 20 pounds on Webb, too, and has only gone back to starting pitching recently (he was a reliever from 2018-2024) so his innings count is low. It’s unclear if he will opt out.
Luis Severino (technically, a player option)
I’m sure he wants to get far away from West Sacramento — 4.43 ERA in 225.1 IP overall in his two seasons with the Athletics, but a 5.85 / 3.14 Home/Road ERA split — and there’s still plenty of stuff in his arsenal (96-98 with two fastballs, a great sweeper and an effective-ish cutter), but he might find it difficult to match or beat the $22 million he’ll be owed in 2027 ($22.333 CBT figure) even in his age-33 season. He’s another guy who’s running into the injury bug as he crosses into his 30s and exceeds 1,000 innings, and his 2026 season ended in a somewhat alarming way with a right shoulder strain impacting the shoulder capsule and subscapularis muscle. In terms of a Giants-Athletics trade, I think at this point, neither organization gives a heck about optics. He is unlikely to opt out, but the Athletics will almost certainly be willing to trade him.
José Berríos
He will not be opting out because he’ll be recovering from Tommy John surgery throughout 2027 for $24 million. He’ll also be owed $24 million the following season. I’m sure Toronto would love to move the salary.
Tatsuya Imai
Not that long ago, he was a highly sought after starting pitcher. He did not finish the season in Houston’s rotation and hit the IL in April due to arm fatigue. Another foreign league transfer to flop or first year jitters combined with misuse and poor development from a franchise that’s very much at a crossroads? I’m inclined to go with the latter. First, though, he will not opt out of his 2 years and $36 million remaining. He is unlikely to improve upon that in free agency, cap or no cap.
Would the Astros trade him is the question? After all, he did get a lot better once they stuck him in the bullpen (2.00 ERA in 18 IP with 25 K against 11 strikeouts and only two extra base hits allowed — a pair of doubles). I’ve got to believe they’d be open to it, in which case there’s a case to be made that he’d be an intriguing addition to the Giants’ rotation. That’s not a terrible AAV ($18 million) for just two seasons and a guy’s age-29 and age-30 seasons. It’d sync up with Logan Webb’s remaining time, too. They have some similarities: a sinker-slider combo (though, Imai has more velocity).
Just looking at Statcast, he seems to use his four-seamer to try to get a strikeout, but his two most effective pitches are his sinker (.182 batting average against) and slider (.167, 39.7% Whiff rate). But, he also threw a splitter, a changeup, and curveball. He stopped throwing his sinker mid-season, too, and that was after he came off the IL. Could that be because the Astros had one of the worst defenses in the sport and wanted to limit balls in play? Unclear. So, there’s an effective pitch mix in here. And, it’s worth noting that Statcast, based on his velocity and movement, compares him to these Giants-y pitchers: Luis Castillo, Cal Quantrill, and Adrian Houser.
Club options
Drew Rasmussen
Because he managed to stay healthy, the 30-year old righty has increased the Rays’ 2027 option to $20 million. The Rays recently declined options on some players we figured they’d trade so maybe there is a change in their decision-making giving revenue streams and the risk of an increased budget if they can’t find a trade partner or whatever, and I doubt this World Series appearance will meaningfully impact that, but it’s worth pointing out that Rasmussen was the seventh-most valuable starting pitcher in MLB this season. His 5 fWAR trailed The Miz (6.6), Cristopher Sanchez (6.2), Cam Schlittler (6.2), Chris Sale (5.8), Jesus Luzardo (5.5), and Dylan Cease (5.5). The Rays will be picking up this option. It’s also only for 1 year, and the Giants will (and should) want to trade for players who’ll be around for multiple years.
Nick Pivetta
Because he spent more than 130 consecutive days on the IL (right elbow flexor strain), his opt out converted into a $14 million team option! I could envision the Padres trading King or Pivetta, but not both, and then it comes down to the risk appetite for a 34-year old coming off elbow problems that persisted into his rehab. The Padres will pick up his option, but the Giants shouldn’t be interested. They had their chance to sign him last offseason (he was one of the last free agents standing).
Sandy Alcantara
It’s a reasonable $21 million option for a former ace who has returned from Tommy John as a #2 or #3 type. He pitched an MLB-leading 214 innings in 2026, averaged 97.6 mph with his fastball, but struck out just 6.4 per 9 (though walked just 2.5 per 9). A 3.87 ERA (4.08 FIP) and 3.2 fWAR. Slightly undervalued by that contract by a few million, but otherwise, a good trade candidate, since the Marlins will pick up his option and try to move him. But with just one year on the deal, the Giants ought to be out.
Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss these one-year deals, though. There’s certainly utility in trading for them if they’re a part of a larger haul or a three-team deal, or even if another team is just wanting to do a bit of a salary dump/reconfiguration. The Giants, who have no expectations, are in a great position to explore every avenue for acquisition. Speaking of…
Colin Rea
The Cubs have a $7.5 million club option on the righty (with a $1 million buyout), who will play his age-36 season in 2027, both of which seems not terrible for an innings-eater type; but, fellow SB Nation site Bleed Cubbie Blue readers said “No” to that option in this poll and so I’ll go with the wisdom of the crowd here to say he’ll be available. Plus, the Cubs need to improve their pitching significantly if they’re going to be meaningfully competitive in the next couple of seasons and, despite printing money, they’ll likely prefer moving some of their current budget around to achieve their goals rather than increase it.
But the Giants? They’re just marking time until they win the talent lottery and all of the usual competition gets worse. He might be a perfect back-end starter for a team that’ll need starting pitching innings. Since returning from Japan in 2023: 124.2 IP, 167.2 IP, 159.1 IP, and 137 IP. The Cubs probably won’t pick up his option, which means the Giants wouldn’t have to trade for him — so, why is he on this list at all? Well, what, you’d rather I put him as a free agent? What if I’m wrong?
Mutual options
Now, most mutual options are not picked up. They are almost always sops to the player from the front office to show that they’re interested in the player to a degree but are hoping that the player can see the writing on the wall by the time the mutual decision must be made. So, these are most likely just pure free agents who have to go through one extra step to get there, but I’m including them in this post because you never know! The threat of a lockout and the short-term nature of these options might just compel players and teams alike to seek a bit more certainty.
Sonny Gray
It’s a $30 million mutual option with a $10 million buyout, which I assume only comes into play if Boston declines it. If that’s the case, then Gray has to pick up the option on his end, right? He would have the chance to get $10 million plus whatever free agent deal might be out there. Even a 1-year, $25 million deal puts him ahead for the season. He made a ton of sense for the Giants back when I wouldn’t shut upabouthim, but I think that ship has sailed. He’ll be 37 and as good as he was in 2026 (18-5, 2.72 ERA, 3.4 fWAR), he missed time with a hamstring injury (just 169 IP) and his fastball velocity dipped for the third consecutive season.
Matthew Boyd
The Cubs are likely to decline this $15 million mutual option ($2 million buyout), but if they do pick it up, he’s already been a Giant and he seems like he’d cost a lot for the type of pitcher they don’t really want in the starting rotation: a low strikeout (6.8 K/9 in 2026), low groundball guy (42.2 GB%). Even from the left side, it doesn’t seem like there’s a worthwhile trade here.
Nick Martinez
Another $20 million mutual option that seems the Rays would decline. I could see them keeping Rasmussen or Martinez, but not both, and Martinez is an interloper. He’s wound up being a great free agent pickup, but it’s unlikely they’d have an easy time of finding a trade partner for a soft-tossing righty and so might want to avoid burdening the payroll with such uncertainty. 2027 will be his age-36 season, too. And, I failed to mention above, but it’s tough to trade with the Rays. Even in a salary relief situation, they are likely to extract a player the Giants might actually need more in the near-term.
Dustin May
Another $20 million mutual option ($500,000 buyout) that I feel certain the Brewers will decline. Whether or not they win this World Series, he wasn’t good for them after they acquired him from St. Louis (5.65 ERA in 36.2 IP) and he hasn’t been in the postseason (6.43 ERA in 7 IP).
As a pure free agent addition, he’s not particularly intriguin,g either. Since returning from Tommy John, he has a 4.82 ERA in 278 IP for four teams (Dodgers, Red Sox, Cardinals, and Brewers). He’ll be just 29, though, and has a live fastball (96+), still gets strikeouts and doesn’t walk too many batters.
Michael Soroka
I presume that Soroka will decline this $10 million mutual option, because he had a good season to reestablish his value. He really broke out there in 2019 at the age of 21 when he went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 29 starts, was an All-Star, got Cy Young votes, and came in second for Rookie of the Year. But then he was hurt for all of 2021 and 2022 and before this season he pitched for four teams (Atlanta, both Chicago teams, and the Nats) and was 5-21 with a 4.85 ERA in 215.1 IP, primarily as a reliever. He’ll be 29 to start next season (unless the season begins mid-August, which, gulp). The real problem is that he did miss time with arm troubles: right arm inflammation in August.
Lucas Giolito
The Padres are not so desperate for SP help that they’ll pick up their end of the mutual option and the Giants are not so desperate for veteran depth that they’ll sign another after-30 starter with arm troubles who has been in a steep decline since the start of the 2022 season (4.49 ERA / 4.63 FIP in 520.2 IP).
Griffin Canning
He is another starter the Padres signed in the offseason to provide warm bodies for their rotation, along with Giolito, German Marquez, and Walker Buehler. They needed numbers which is why they opted to spread the money around. Canning was used as either a starter or bulk reliever through his first 16 appearances, but after that, he was firmly a reliever who came in during blowouts in either direction. Over his final 14 appearances, he had a 3.04 ERA in 23.2 IP (3.90 FIP).
In 2025, he was exclusively a starter for the Mets but his season was cut short (just 16 GS) by a left Achilles rupture. If you jump back to those numbers, he seems a little Giants-y: a 94 mph fastball (four-seam) with a high-spin slider (2,736 rpm). The option is for just $5 million so, I don’t know, maybe San Diego picks it up as a depth piece just because there’s a little bit of positive projection in the profile. I would think maybe it becomes tradeable if AJ Preller is able to get into some big transaction and the Giants have decided to keep their powder dry for most of the offseason.
Zack Littell
I’m sure the organization doesn’t like Gabe Kapler any more than it likes Farhan Zaidi, but Littell’s public protest has to be a sticking point, right? Also, it’s not difficult to improve upon Littell in trade or free agency. Technically, he’s a pure free agent now, as ARizona released him back in August, but MLB.com still has that mutual option attached, so, my mistake.
Zach Eflin
Rehabbing from Tommy John for most of next season. Baltimore will decline the option, too, as it’s for $25 million.
Getting creative
Okay, after exhausting all of those option options, let’s just take a look at who’s left: players we can imagine being available just because of arbitration. Now, the entire point of arbitration is to make the cost of players still under team control predictable/projectable, but what usually happens is that teams find out they have other needs that can’t be addressed through draft & development or even cost too much in free agency and so trades become important. To be clear, I don’t think all of these players are on the trade block, I’m just noting that arbitration-eligible players tend to be the more tradeable types out there for execs trying to take a big swing.
For example, the Mariners have fifteen arbitration-eligible players, including:
Logan Gilbert ($15.4 million arbitration projection)
Most likely to be traded given that he (1) makes the most of the group (2) will be in his age-30 season (3) has already crossed 1,000 MLB innings — and had the accompanying injury: a flexor strain of his right elbow in 2025 and (4) is trending upwards in walk and home run rates (a career-high 3.83 FIP).
Now, would the Giants go, “Yessir, Mr. Dipoto. Drop your castoff directly into my spreadsheet!” Probably not, and mainly because it’s his final year of arbitration. Plus, as with a lot of these trades, where’s the requisite value? Gilbert is in decline, but a 3-WAR player for a 1.5-WAR player (Jung Hoo Lee, let’s say) doesn’t make a lot of sense for Seattle. But then, is a Harrison Bader’s un-voidable contract, a top 20 prospect, and another prospect for Gilbert a worthwhile investment for the Giants? Even if they had it in mind that they could trade him at the deadline when the season drives into a ditch again?
George Kirby ($9.8 million)
With two years of arbitration, a Kirby trade feels a little more realistic. Looking at his Statcast and it looks like there’s a potential fix just with the pitch mix; but, his 7.6 K/9 is (1) really bad and (2) a huge decline from 2025 (9.8) and well below his career average in his first four seasons (8.8). He’s also at 812.1 career innings, which puts him right on the precipice of having his first big injury. Oh wait, he experienced that last season when he hit the IL before the start of the season with right shoulder inflammation. Is that injury plus this year’s steep decline a sign that he’s on the verge of a major injury?
Bryce Miller ($6.075 million club option or $3.9 million arb projection)
Miller also missed time in 2025 with right elbow inflammation and this season he missed time with a left oblique strain. In his first two MLB seasons (2023 and 2024), he had a 3.52 ERA in 311.2 IP, an 8.4 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9. With his injury-shortened 2025 and 2026, he has a 4.82 ERA in 209 IP, an 8.3 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. He amassed 4.6 fWAR in those first two seasons and just 0.9 total the past two seasons. It seems likely that the Mariners will decline their option and negotiate with him with the arbitration pressure. Or, they could simply trade him and the three years of team control for prospects.
He’s got a great arsenal that has been quite effective in his MLB time, including this season.
Bryan Woo ($5.2 million)
Do I want the Giants to hoard as many Bryan with Ys and Cal Poly grads as possible? Absolutely. Woo would qualify. He’d be a great fit, along with the three years of team control. He’s already amassed 10.9 fWAR in his 3+ seasons of MLB. But if you look at his 2025 & 2026, well…
Top 10 pitchers by fWAR, 2025-2026
Cristopher Sanchez, PHI — 12.7 fWAR
Tarik Skubal, DET & LAD — 11.9
Jesus Luzardo, PHI — 10.9
Paul Skenes — 10.7
Yoshinobu Yamamoto — 9.6
Dylan Cease, SD & TOR — 8.9
Logan Webb, SF — 8.6
Bryan Woo, SEA — 7.7
Jacob deGrom, TEX — 7.7
Kevin Gausman — TOR & CHC — 7.2
To acquire a player who has already amassed 10.9 fWAR in 3+ seasons of MLB and has been the 8th-most valuable SP of the past two seasons (7.7 fWAR — trailing Logan Webband would be in his age 27-29 seasons would take a good amount of talent.
Jerry Dipoto’s seat should be white hot. He’s got to do something. The Mariners scored (5) fewer runs than literally the Giants and (2) fewer than literally the Reds. Only the Angels (655) and Blue Jays (648) scored fewer runs than the Mariners’ 664. They were also 16th in runs allowed (722) and value (14.2 fWAR). They allowed more runs than the White Sox? The Padres? The Marlins?? These were all teams they were expected to be better than; and, in the case of their pitching, far better.
Joe Ryan (MIN)
Susan Slusser suggested him a week and a half ago, citing that that he’ll be entering the final year of his deal in his age-30 season and that the hometown connection (grew up in San Anselmo as a Giants fan) would make it easier to get some sort of a discount on a long-term deal.
Injury hampered his season a bit (down to 144.2 IP versus 171 the year prior), but he’s still thrown just 786 MLB innings and his stuff was exactly the same as its been when he did pitch. He’s been, consistently, a 3-WAR player and he’s set to make around $9 million in 2027.
But Ryan isn’t the only Twins starter on the last year of a deal, which complicates matters: Pablo Lopez (30, a 3-WAR pitcher when healthy, $21.75MM), Stockton’s Dean Kremer (31, a 2-WAR pitcher when healthy, $7.75MM arb projection), and Bailey Ober (31, a ~2-WAR pitcher when healthy, $7.25MM arb projection) all figure to be on the trade market, and if Taj Bradley (26 and 3 years of team control) is also made available, then it would seem that the Giants would have to offer a lot for potentially not very much. At least in the offseason. Maybe a mid-season trade could materialize if, somehow, the Giants are competitive. Or they could just wait a year for him to become available.
Reid Detmers (LAA)
The Angels opted not to trade him at this past deadline, but with a new ownership group in place there might be a call for drastic measures to improve the club’s standing after its first-ever 100-loss season. Trading away a bright development success and one of the top pitchers in the sport (4.9 fWAR — 9th in MLB) doesn’t make much sense, but at the same time… looking at Detmers’s cumulative value for his career… he’s at 11.1 fWAR, the same as MacKenzie Gore for whom the Rangers traded back in January before this season. In that deal, the Washington Nationals got Texas’s #5, #11, #12, #17, and #24 prospects in exchange for Gore and his two years of team control. Detmers also has two years of team control remaining. Does that automatically set the floor at 5 top 30 prospects?
Possibly.
If Los Angeheim did that deal today, it would be Ramon Marquez, Henry Lalane, Keyner Martinez, Argenis Cayama, and Yunior Marte. But those are all pitchers, and in the trade, Washington only got back one pitcher.
But also, the Giants shouldn’t expect to be any good the next two seasons… at least not to the point that they should be delivering five Top 30 prospects for two years of one starting pitcher. That seems like a foolhardy move that would do more harm than good. But it is intriguing. And Detmers looks like he’s turned his career around. From this FanGraphs piece back in June:
[Detmers’ conversion to a reliever in 2025] This was about as big of a pitching development success as the Angels have had in the 2020s. Again, Detmers was a perfect candidate for this transition, and he executed it flawlessly. That’s why it was odd to hear rumblings of a return to the rotation. Even in the middle of last season, the Angels seemed set on — and convinced of — Detmers’ future as a starter. Here’s what former manager Ron Washingtontold The Athletic in June 2025:
“That’s just a prelude to him getting back in the rotation,” Angels manager Ron Washington said of Detmers’ success out of the bullpen. “Now he has learned how to get outs, because when you come out that bullpen, it’s about one thing: getting outs. And getting them as quickly as possible. When Reid Detmers gets back into the rotation, he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
The team could still get creative with other players in arbitration: Bryce Elder (ATL), Kutter Crawford (BOS), Nick Lodolo (CIN), Peter Lambert (HOU), Clarke Schmidt (NYY), Shane McClanahan (TBR), but they’re all in the final year of arbitration and so thinking of them as actual targets doesn’t seem right. The Giants have to behave as though they’re still at least 2-3 years away from being even a tiny bit competitive again and make moves with that timeframe in mind — not in terms of tanking or keeping their powder dry or whatever, but in simply making sure that their trade or financial commitments are multi-year.
After an extensive thought exercise, I’ve come away with these names as palatable or outright interesting options that don’t push the limits of reality:
Tatsuya Imai
Bryce Miller
Bryan Woo
Reid Detmers
This is not an exhaustive list, of course, but it’s a rundown of the most obvious trade targets. Are there obvious ones you think I missed or some under the radar ones you think fans should keep in mind as the offseason nears?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 07: Jonny DeLuca #21 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a single against the New York Yankees during the third inning in game three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 07, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 World Series begins Friday night, with the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays facing up to determine a first-time champion, in a series that will go through at least Tuesday and potentially through Halloween.
Three former Dodgers are active for the series — two for the Rays, one for the Brewers.
Jonny DeLuca has started all nine postseason games in center field so far for the Rays, with six hits, including a double, in 30 at-bats plus a walk and two stolen bases. Acquired from the Dodgers in the Tyler Glasnow trade, DeLuca’s third season with Tampa Bay was his best, hitting .266/.300/.429 with a 102 wRC+ in 112, coupled with solid defense for 2.4 fWAR.
Garrett Cleavinger pitched in 51 games for the Rays this season, but none since September 4, missing time in the regular season’s final month with left forearm tightness. He put up a 4.79 ERA and 4.24 xERA in his fifth season with Tampa Bay. The Dodgers dealt the left-hander to the Rays at the 2022 trade deadline, clearing a roster spot as he was further down the bullpen depth chart.
Cleavinger was active for the Division Series, but did not pitch during the three-game sweep of the New York Yankees. Cleavinger is back active for the Fall Classic.
Dustin May was a trade deadline acquisition this year for the Brewers from the St. Louis Cardinals, a year and a half since he last pitched for the Dodgers. May struggled down the stretch with Milwaukee, putting up a 5.65 ERA and 6.06 xERA in 10 starts.
May started Game 3 of the Division Series for the Braves, and allowed two runs in three innings in San Diego. He pitched a scoreless inning in relief against the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLCS, then pitched three more innings in relief in Game 4. Within his first five batters, May allowed two singles then a three-run home run to Shohei Ohtani, the first long ball for Ohtani in eight weeks.
Other former Dodgers are on the Rays, but both Ryan Pepiot (hip inflammation) and Gavin Lux (right shoulder impingement) were on the injured list all season. Michael Grove missed all of 2025 after shoulder surgery and signed with Tampa Bay during the offseason and pitched three games in relief this season, going back and forth between the majors and Triple-A. But he was claimed off waivers by the Braves in September.
