CHATTANOOGA, TN - SEPTEMBER 13: Alfredo Duno #44 of the Chattanooga Lookouts uses a tiny camera prior to the game between the Rocket City Trash Pandas and the Chattanooga Lookouts at Erlanger Park on Sunday, September 13, 2026 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Photo by Maddalena LoRae/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The World Series hit pause on Sunday, yet tonight (Monday) will feature the Tampa Bay Rays playing host to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 down by the bay. Yet while the big league Cincinnati Reds sit idle as their peers determine who gets to claim the title of World Champs, several of the top prospects in their farm system have been plying their trades all over the place in preparation for a (hopefully) big step forward in 2027.
Over in the Arizona Fall League, outfielder Yerlin Confidan is fresh off a week to remember with the Peoria Javelinas. The toolsy 23 year old hit .255/.332/.405 in 527 PA split between High-A Dayton and AA Chattanooga during the regular season in 2026, the 15 homers he socked in total perhaps an understatement of the overall top-tier power he possesses in his long, left-handed swing. That power has been playing up in-game in AFL play, though, and last week alone he went 7 for 12 with 4 runs, a pair of doubles, a triple, and a dinger, with MLB Pipeline noting that he hit a trio of balls in play in excess of 110 mph off the bat. Overall he owns a 1.097 OPS across 42 PA to start AFL play in what’s becoming a bit of a breakout party for him.
Confidan is in the lineup for Peoria today playing LF and batting cleanup.
Down in the Venezuelan Winter League, 20 year old stud catching prospect Alfredo Duno is holding his own quite well. As Doug Gray noted over at Redleg Nation, Duno became the youngest player in the league to homer so far this campaign when he swatted a homer on Friday night – and one of only two 20 years olds who’ve homered in that league in the last two years. There’s video of said blast, too.
Over in the Dominican Winter League, Noelvi Marte has seemingly found his groove again with the Gigantes del Cibao. After finally, mercifully being optioned back to AAA Louisville mid-August after a long run of poor form, said poor form dogged him at the minor league level, too. He hit just .273/.291/.374 in 103 PA from that point through the end of the AAA season, logging just a lone dinger in the process. However, this October has seen him turn 25 years old and go right back to mashing, and as of Monday morning he’s the owner of a .400/.424/.567 line across 33 PA to begin DOWL play. That includes this mammoth blast over the tall wall in CF from yesterday:
The Gigantes sport a roster full of recognizable names, including the likes of Marcell Ozuna, Nomar Mazara, Agustin Ramirez, and old friend Aristides Aquino. Also on the roster is promising Reds rookie Carlos Jorge, though he’s off to a bit slower start than Noelvi. He’s gone just 2 for 18 with a pair of walks and 9 K through his first 8 games played, but one of those hits was a 2-run blast over that same tall wall in CF last week:
🐎🤎 ¡SUBIÓ LA LIBRA DE CACAO! 💣 ¡CARLOS JORGE DESAPARECIÓ LA BOLA CON UN GARROTAZO GIGANTE! ⚾🚀
As the World Series shifts to Florida for Game 3, all eyes will be on the pivotal pitching matchup and the energy in Tropicana Field. The Milwaukee Brewers, up 2-0 on the Tampa Bay Rays, will send rookie Robert Gasser to the mound on Monday, facing former Brewer and current Rays ace Freddy Peralta.
In the latest episode of Yahoo Sports’ "Bar-B-Cast," podcast hosts Jordan Shusterman and Jake Mintz highlighted the contrasting approaches: Peralta's experience and emotional stakes for the Rays vs. the Brewers' confident reliance on another rookie arm in a high-pressure situation.
“I have watched Freddy already a couple times in this postseason … and he’s just looked incredible,” Shusterman said. “He was not as sharp in his final start in [ALCS] Game 6 … but the velocity was still there. He was still pumping 99.”
When he takes the mound for Game 3, Peralta is not only pitching against his former team but also weeks away from free agency — he ranks No. 2 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top free agents — making him a major storyline regardless of the series outcome. Shusterman notes Peralta's impressive velocity and dominance in this postseason, emphasizing that he has thrived indoors and the added intrigue of him facing the Brewers.
“We are going to continue to be talking about Freddy Peralta from now until first pitch, during the game, after the game and then for weeks to come,” Shusterman said.
Mintz focused on Gasser, aka “Bobby Diesel,” who pitched five shutout innings in the NLCS at Dodger Stadium. Mintz noted how Gasser is another example of the Brewers' organizational philosophy: They trade away high-profile pitchers such as Peralta because they trust their pipeline, illustrated by Gasser's rapid rise.
"But the reason that the Brewers trade Freddy Peralta, they trade the Freddy Peraltas of the world, is because one day they will have the Robert Gassers of the world. Right?" Mintz said. "Robert Gasser, whom they got in the Josh Hader trade, right? Like, it is the perfect balance here."
Shusterman and Mintz are also curious about the crowd dynamic for Game 3. With the Brewers' passionate fan base traveling well — Mintz mentioned a “Let’s go, Brewers!” chant breaking out on his flight — the atmosphere at the Trop will be a story in itself.
"I think they're going to be well represented at Tropicana Field," Shusterman said of Brewers fans. "I'm looking on our beloved GameTime app right now. And there are many tickets that I imagine are much more affordable than they would have been for Games 1 and 2 [in Milwaukee]. And it would not surprise me if the cost to go in Milwaukee is pretty similar to the cost it would take to fly to … St. Pete's and see the game at the Trop."
That said, Shusterman noted the electric atmosphere at the Trop for ALCS Game 6 after the Rays took the lead in that series before returning to Florida.
“When they come back up 3-2, it was packed,” he said. “It was awesome. It was 98% Rays fans. It was terrific.”
However the crowd breaks down, Game 3 presents a crossroads: Can Peralta pitch the Rays back into this series, or will the Brewers' unflappable offense and shutdown bullpen put them on the doorstep of a title?
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 19: Freddy Peralta #51 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after wining the ALCS MVP after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in game six of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on October 19, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The D-backs and the Rays both entered the major leagues in 1998. Arizona has the only World Series win, but Tampa Bay have been more successful in reaching the post-season, with ten playoff appearances to the D-backs’ seven. Overall, the win percentages of the teams are very similar. The D-backs are two points higher, at .495 against the Rays’ .493. But of late, our East coast siblings have definitely had the edge. In the past eight seasons, they have six trips to the post-season, to Arizona’s one. Over the same time-span, since the start of 2019, they have averaged 92 wins, a whopping fourteen victories per season more than the Diamondbacks.
That’s despite Tampa Bay having significantly less resources. From 2019-26 (and excluding 2020, for obvious reasons), Arizona had an average end of year payroll, per Spotrac, of $138 million. Tampa Bay’s mean salary bill was just $93 million. Here’s how the two teams have compared, year-by-year, in terms of salary, where that ranks in the majors, and their W-L record.
The Rays have spent one season outside the bottom quartile (25%) of team payrolls. The D-backs have been outside that six of the eight season, including a payroll in the top half, the past three years. Now, in 2024 and 2025, this did lead to the team winning nine and three more games than their siblings. But that run ended this year, with a vengeance. The Rays are in the World Series, while the Diamondbacks fell short of making the playoffs. Admittedly, had Arizona been in the American League, their 86 wins would have got them into the third wild-card. But that’s still a dozen games fewer than Tampa Bay.
So, what can the D-backs learn from the Rays? To try and get some idea, I want to start of by looking at the 26-man World Series roster for the Rays, and see how the team came to acquire each player. Below is the information on that, along with how valuable the player was for the Rays this year.
Pitchers
Bryan Baker (2.9 bWAR) – Traded by the Orioles for pick #37 in the 2025 draft.
Cam Booser (1.1) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Garrett Cleavinger (-0.3) – Traded by the Dodgers for German Tapia.
Griffin Jax (0.7) – Traded by the Twins for Taj Bradley.
Kevin Kelly (1.9) – Purchased from the Rockies.
Nick Martinez (3.9) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Steven Matz (-0.7) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Freddy Peralta (1.2) – Traded by the Mets for Gary Gill Hill, Émilien Pitre and Aidan Smith.
Drew Rasmussen (4.7) – Traded by the Brewers with J.P. Feyereisen for Willy Adames and Trevor Richards.
Ian Seymour (0.7) – Picked in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft.
Cole Sulser (-0.3) – Purchased from the Mets.
Tyler Wells (0.9) – Traded by the Orioles for Michael Forret.
The narrative would have you believe that the Rays’ success is due to strong drafting and a good farm system. But the above suggests otherwise – at least, directly (we’ll get into that eventually). Only one of the dozen pitchers on Tampa Bay’s roster for the World Series was drafted by them. Six were trades, with another two purchased, and three signed with the Rays as a free agent. But looking at the trades, it’s startling how little they generally had to give up. Willy Adames is easily the biggest name, and he was good for Milwaukee, putting up 14 bWAR over four seasons. But you think the Brewers wouldn’t rather have Drew Rasmussen, right now?
The Sulser thing is worth noting, because it was the third time the Rays had acquired him. He’s like their version of Ildemaro Vargas. They first did so in 2018, as part of a three-team trade which netted them Yandy Diaz. But they lost him on waivers the following October. Sulser was actually a Diamondback for a while, having been picked off waivers from the Marlins in November 2022. He played four games with Arizona, but was DFA’d in August 2023 and went back to Tampa, because we needed the roster spot for… Jace Peterson. Yeah. About that. Sulser hit free agency that winter, signed with the Mets but returned again to Tampa Bay the next July.
Catchers
Nick Fortes (0.8) – Traded by the Marlins for Matthew Etzel
Liam Hicks (0.7) – Traded by the Marlins for Jacob Kisting, Adrian Santana and Brayden Taylor.
I think it’s interesting that both Rays’ catchers came intrastate, by trades from their Florida neighbors. Fortes arrived at the trade deadline last year, and Hicks at the same point this season. Obviously, it’s impossible to judge these trades yet, since none of the four players sent to Miami have yet appeared in the majors. However, none of them were ranked higher than #16 in the Rays’ farm system at the time of the trade.
Infielders
Jonathan Aranda (2.2) – Signed as an international Free Agent
Junior Caminero (5.7) – Traded by the Indians for Tobias Myers.
Yandy Díaz (2.4) – Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Indians with Cole Sulser to the Rays. The Indians sent Edwin Encarnación and a 2019 competitive balance pick to the Mariners. The Mariners sent Carlos Santana and cash to the Indians. Rays sent cash to the Mariners and Jake Bauers to the Indians.
Jorge Mateo (-1.0) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Richie Palacios (1.8) – Traded by the Cardinals for Andrew Kittredge.
Taylor Walls (3.5) – Picked in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft
Ben Williamson (0.8) – Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Mariners to the Rays. The Mariners sent Jurrangelo Cijntje, Tai Peete and a draft pick to the Cardinals. The Cardinals sent Brendan Donovan to the Mariners. The Rays sent Colton Ledbetter and a draft pick to the Cardinals.
We see the same pattern as with pitchers. Only one of the seven was formally drafted by the Rays. You could perhaps stretch to include Aranda, who was signed out of Mexico as a 17-year-old, and has never played with any other organization. But here, I note the lack of money spent on the free-agent market. Mateo was the only one in that category, and he was signed for a pittance after being cut by the Braves. He’s also basically a pinch-runner who didn’t get a PA in the first two playoff rounds. The only player earning more than seven figures on the Rays this year is Yandy Diaz, at a very reasonable $12 million. The Dodgers have twelve players there, if you include Ohtani. And you should.
The Caminero trade is likely going to go down as one of the greatest thefts in recent history. Caminero has been worth 10 bWAR for the Rays in 2025-26. Myers never appeared for the Ind…er, Guardians, and was last seen as a bad reliever in the Mets bullpen. The Diaz and Williamson deals, meanwhile, are both among those “How the heck did they work that out?“ situations. Bauers never amounted to much in Cleveland, before blossoming this year with Milwaukee, and will face his old team in the World Series. Again, Ledbetter was a prospect outside the top twenty in the Rays organization at the time of his trade.
Outfielders
Jonny DeLuca (1.7) – Traded by the Dodgers with Ryan Pepiot to the Rays for Tyler Glasnow, Manuel Margot and cash.
Victor Mesa Jr. (2.9) – Traded by the Marlins to the Rays for Angel Brachi.
Cedric Mullins (1.0) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Chandler Simpson (2.5) – Picked by the Rays in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft.
Ryan Vilade (0.8) – Purchased from the Cincinnati Reds.
The trade which brought DeLuca to the Rays is an example of Tampa Bay selling high. Glasnow has been a bit of glass cannon for LA since: a 120 ERA+, but averaging fewer than 18 appearances per season. Pepiot was almost as good as Glasnow in 2024-25 – certainly more durable – and considerably cheaper. But he missed all of this season with a hip issue. Brachi was unranked by MLB Pipeline when he was dealt: I’m beginning to detect a theme here. But again, we see a limited number of players who were actually drafted by Tampa Bay. They seem keen on, and adept at, plucking players they need away from other teams.
Summary
Trades: 14 players
Signed as a free agent: 5 players
Purchased: 3 players
Draft pick: 3 players
International free agent: 1 player
This certainly demonstrates where the strength of the Rays lies. As mentioned, it’s not directly in the draft, with barely ten percent of their World Series roster having been acquired that way. It’s in smart trades, purchases and low-cost free-agent signings – or what’s often derided when Mike Hazen does it, as “dumpster diving.” Of course, that’s the kind of thing that’s easier said than done, though the Arizona bullpen this season shows that it is something Hazen can figure out on occasion. It’s an interesting contrast to the Brewers, who have a much more internal approach to their roster: seven draftees and three international free agents.
But we shouldn’t write off the Tampa Bay farm system entirely. Next time, we’ll take a look at that and see if we can figure out how it plays into the team’s strategy.
The Mets need starting pitching. They've needed it for several years now.
In 2025, their depth evaporated down the stretch, so they missed the playoffs. In 2026, their depth imploded early, so they never recovered. To make the playoffs in 2027, they will need more of it.
Exactly what they have, and therefore what they need, is in the eye of the beholder. But a few things are indisputable: Nolan McLean looks like a No. 1. Christian Scott and Zac Thornton look like promising middle-of-the-rotation options whose second full seasons should test their stamina and ability to adjust more than their first. The best versions of all three combine to make a promising young core.
Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga are veterans on expensive, though expiring, contracts, meaning jettisoning either will be easier this season should either underperform again. Senga wants to start but could prove more valuable to the 2027 pitching staff out of the bullpen. Andy Green made clear that Manaea cannot lose his velocity again and be an effective member of their rotation going forward. The best versions of both are competitive starting options.
As for depth beyond that, the best version of Tobias Myers could offer starting depth. Tylor Megill is expected to be back from Tommy John surgery and training as a starter entering spring training. He has a 4.46 ERA in 88 career appearances.
Green said Jonah Tong must pitch his way into the rotation next year but did not rule out the possibility that he could do so. Jonathan Santucci will be one step away from his debut. If Jack Wenninger can overcome his tendency to walk batters, he will likely be an emergency start candidate, as well.
Exactly how President of Baseball Operations David Stearns views that depth is a different question. Stearns traded for Freddy Peralta last year when his rotation already included Clay Holmes and McLean as top-end options. He does not seem likely to be satisfied with McLean at the top and his fingers crossed that Scott, Thornton, Manaea or others can lock down the spots behind him. But exactly how many acquisitions they need to make remains unclear.
“I do think it is necessary for us to add to our starting rotation. We can do that in a variety of different ways,” Stearns said at his end-of-season news conference. “You’d always love to add to the top of their rotation. Any team would love to do that. Over the long term, we need to develop pitchers for the top of our rotation and I think we are proving we can do that and will continue to do that.
"We also need to make sure we have more options, and we need to make sure we have the flexibility that allows us to go and get those options when they’re needed. And we’ll be focused on that aspect of rotation building as well.”
If the Mets decide they need a proven ace (or two) to take the weight off McLean’s shoulders and insulate against injury, they have plenty of options.
Tarik Skubal is a possibility. Unlike other contenders who might chase him, the Mets have plenty of big contracts and financial outlays coming off their ledger after 2027, meaning any salary limitations that result from a new collective bargaining agreement would not necessarily hold them back from making the move.
They need an ace, have Steve Cohen’s money, and can promise commitment to winning — if not the actual winning, so far. Skubal’s preferences will likely become clearer after the World Series, when his free agency officially begins. But as of the last week in October, the Mets should have as good a chance to sign him as anybody, provided Cohen and Stearns decide he is worth an exception to the latter’s rules against long-term deals for starters.
Holmes could also be a candidate for a return. As of this week, he is expected to opt out of his current deal, and people familiar with his thinking say he is open to a return to the Mets if the right deal is offered. He did, after all, thrive in Queens as a starter — so much so that he will likely receive a far bigger contract as a free agent than he probably would have if the Mets had not given him the chance to jump out of the bullpen.
Other veterans available in free agency include Michael King, who can opt out from his current deal with the Padres and has proven himself capable of pitching in New York, and Nick Martinez, who has looked strong this postseason and has a mutual option with the Tampa Bay Rays. Trevor Rogers turned his career around with the Baltimore Orioles, though his track record of starting success is shorter than most top-end free agent types. Casey Mize, Robbie Ray, and Tyler Mahle are all veteran types who could slide into the middle of the rotation and provide experience if young pitchers regress or stumble.
The trade market, too, could offer some high-end options: New front office staffer Derek Falvey’s connection to Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan could make him an enticing trade target, someone who could serve at the top of the Mets rotation and is under contract for $13 million next year before hitting free agency.
Should the Rays somehow decide playoff hero Drew Rasmussen’s $20 million option for next year is too expensive, the Mets could try to pull off a deal for him as well. Maybe the Miami Marlins would finally trade Sandy Alcantara ahead of his option year. Any of them would improve the Mets depth in the short term without handcuffing them financially long-term should a new CBA lead to the phasing in of salary limits.
The Seattle Mariners, who likely need a jolt after a disappointing season, have long seemed on the verge of trading one of their many starting pitchers. George Kirby (under contract through 2028) or Logan Gilbert (under contract through 2027) could help immediately without much long-term risk and could be attainable thanks to the prospect depth the Mets built at this year’s trade deadline.
But Stearns’ mention of “flexibility” suggests his view of pitching depth does not necessarily include more veteran starters on major league contracts who are either expensive to part with, impossible to option out of the rotation if they struggle, or both.
Part of the reason the Mets struggled to find their footing early in 2026, for example, was that both Senga and Manaea were struggling, but neither really fit in the bullpen or comfortably head to the minors. An injury to Senga helped the Mets clear his rotation spot without needing to cut him entirely, but acquiring a full array of veteran starters would leave their ability to make changes somewhat limited again.
As such, it seems Stearns and Co. might also be pursuing younger, more flexible starting options that could provide both major league rotation depth and multi-inning bullpen capabilities — like Myers was trying to last year — as well.
Myers is out of options this year. Megill, importantly, has one remaining. Pitchers who are optionable, can handle starting, but could potentially also serve in the bullpen are not easy to find; any team with young, flexible pitching depth is not exactly rushing to part with it.
So perhaps Stearns simply means the Mets will plan some reclamation projects with minor league free agents and hope they catch lightning in a bottle they can option when times get tough.
But perhaps teams in need of overhaul would be willing to trade players in need of a change of scenery. Could a new Houston Astros GM entertain a trade for Hunter Brown, for example? Could the Cleveland Guardians try to upgrade elsewhere by dealing from the back end of their young rotation depth? The Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds and others have pitching depth from which to deal and payrolls they love to keep down — a promising combination when chasing pitchers who are on the early side of arbitration.
Regardless, that flexibility part of Stearns’ vision will be the most fascinating to watch — particularly in an offseason that could include a lot of free agent shuffling before the lockout and a lot of frenetic maneuvering after it. Stearns said it: The Mets need better starting pitching depth than they had in 2026. That rotation began with two more proven starters (Holmes and Peralta) than it currently has right now. The market will offer plenty of options. Now all they have to do is get it right.
TUCSON, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 10: Dominick Reid #11 of the Chicago Cubs pitches during a game between the Mesa Solar Sox and the Peoria Javelinas at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s Monday, so that means it’s time to check in on the Cubs’ Boys of Autumn playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League.
In case you missed the earlier installments, the Solar Sox are a team in the Arizona Fall League, a minor league that plays every October and November in Spring Training stadiums. The Mesa Solar Sox play their home games at Sloan Park, the Cubs’ Spring Training home. This year, their roster is made up of minor leaguers from the Cubs, Athletics, Angels, Blue Jays and Red Sox.
The Solar Sox played five games this past week and went 2-3, giving them an overall record of 6-9. Here’s how each individual game went with a link to the box score. The home team is listed last.
Although the Solar Sox were the home team on Saturday, the game was played in Glendale at Camelback Ranch.
Here’s how each individual Cubs prospect did this past week.
Infielder Juan Cabada: We said that the Arizona Fall League would be challenging to Cabada. At just 18 years old, he had only played 17 games above rookie ball before the AFL season, all of which were in Low-A Myrtle Beach. Cabada is playing against players far older and with much more experience than he has.
So far, we’ve been right. The AFL has been a real challenge for Cabada. This week he played twice, at third base on Tuesday and third base on Thursday. He had a good game on Tuesday, going 1 for 3 with a double, a walk and a run scored. In Thursday shutout loss, Cabada went 0 for 3. He wasn’t the only one.
For the AFL season, Cabada is hitting .167/.286/.2oo over nine games. He has three RBI, three runs scored and one stolen base.
Outfielder Harrison Feinberg: Feinberg only played on Monday. He played right field and he went 1 for 5 with an RBI single.
Over five games with the Solar Sox, Feinberg is hitting .333/.455/.333 with two RBI and two runs scored. He’s also two for three in base stealing.
Outfielder Kade Snell: Snell played in four of the five Solar Sox games this past week. Snell got his first AFL action in center field on Monday, while playing right field on Wednesday and Thursday. He shifted over to left field on Saturday.
For the week, Snell went 2-13 with an RBI triple on Saturday. He also walked three times, with two of those walks coming with the bases loaded. That gave Snell three RBI for the week.
Here’s a ground view shot of that triple.
A tripleheader triple for the lead!
Kade Snell pulls the Solar Sox ahead with his first triple of the Fall driving in Arjun Nimmala pic.twitter.com/6DAHPLIinq
For the season, Snell is hitting .244/.426/.317 with seven RBI, six runs scored and two steals.
Catcher Miguel Useche: I have to apologize for missing that Useche was added to the Solar Sox roster midway through last week. This week, Useche got into all five games for the Solar Sox. He pinch-hit on Monday (going 0 for 1) and then finished the game at first base. He was the first baseman on Tuesday, going 1 for 3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI. He caught on Wednesday and once again went 1 for 3 with a walk.
Useche was the designated hitter on Thursday and was 1 for 4. He served as the first baseman on Saturday and was o for 4.
Since joining the Solar Sox, Useche is hitting .217/.308/.304 in seven games. He has scored four times, driven three and has stolen two bases.
Right hander Jhon Cabral: Cabral was a busy bullpen arm this week, pitching in three of the five games. On Monday, Cabral got the final two outs in the ninth, striking out both batters he faced.
On Wednesday, Cabral had more trouble with control. He walked the first batter he faced with two outs in the fourth. That baserunner then stole second and went to third on a wild pitch on the play. Next, Cabral threw another wild pitch to score the run. He then walked the next batter again but got a strikeout to end the threat.
Cabral entered the game on Saturday with a man on first and no outs in the third inning. After getting the next batter to ground out and then a strikeout for the second out, Cabral proceeded to walked the next three batters, forcing in an inherited run. But then Cabral got a strikeout to end the inning and his outing.
For the season, Cabral has now pitched 4.1 innings over six outings. He sports a 2.08 ERA and has yet to give up a hit. However, he’s walked eight while striking out seven.
Right-hander Anhuar Garcia: Garcia pitched three innings in Thursday’s 10-0 loss. The first two innings he threw were very good, giving up just one hit but facing the minimum thanks to a double play. But the third inning was bad as Garcia allowed two two-run home runs. So his final line for the week for four runs on five hits over three innings. He struck out one and walked nobody.
For the season, Garcia has pitched 9.2 innings over four appearances and sports an ERA of 8.38. He’s also allowed five unearned runs, so that’s not great. Garcia has walked eight and struck out seven.
Right-hander Yoendris Gonzalez: Gonzalez is having a rough AFL season. This week he entered Tuesday’s game to start the sixth inning and only managed to retire one batter. Before he left, he allowed two runs on three hits and a walk. He struck out one.
For the AFL season, Gonzalez has pitched three times and managed to collect just 1.2 innings. He’s allowed eight runs on five hits, giving him an ERA of 43.20. Gonzalez has walked six and struck out three.
Right-hander Dominick Reid: Reid has undoubtedly been the Cubs biggest bright spot in the AFL this year. He made hit third start on Monday and got the win after four scoreless innings, giving up just one hit. He struck out five and walked just one.
For the season, Reid is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA over twelve innings and three starts. Reid has struck out 14 and walked five while allowing just six hits.
Right-hander Luis Rujano: Rujano had just one appearance this past week, but it was a really good one. Rujano entered Wednesday’s game in the top of the ninth and, yeah, the Solar Sox were already trailing 9-2. But the bases were loaded and there were no outs. Rujano managed to keep the Saguaro’s lead to “just” seven by getting a strikeout and then following it up with a 4-3 double play.
Rujano has pitched four times this AFL campaign, totalling five innings. He has an ERA of 1.80. Rujano has given up three hits, walked four and struck out five.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Viva El Birdos podcast, where we dive into the journey of baseball’s rising star. This week, we sit down with Jacob Odle, a right-handed pitching prospect with the St. Louis Cardinals who shares his unique experiences leading up to the draft and his current training regimen.
A Journey Through the MLB Draft League
Jacob Odle’s path to becoming a professional baseball player began unexpectedly in the MLB Draft League. “The draft league kind of happened on a whim,” he recalls. After a few impressive outings in junior college, Jacob was given a chance to showcase his skills. He describes the atmosphere as a stark contrast to junior college baseball, with professional facilities and a strong sense of camaraderie among players.
“You know, we call him old man Dave because he’s not on the younger side, but he’d be out there every day before us, and he’d take his shirt off and some short shorts and running around the track. And that set the tone for the rest of the team.”
Jacob’s confidence grew as he learned from experienced coaches and played alongside talented teammates. His breakthrough came when he was drafted by the Cardinals, a team that often surprises with late-round picks.
The Draft Day Experience
Jacob’s draft day experience was a rollercoaster of emotions. Initially projected to be picked in the earlier rounds, he found himself waiting longer than expected.
“I was at my old facility, you know, throwing a bullpen just because I was bored and wanted to throw something. And then we turn the draft on. I finished just in time. Then about my agent called me and he was like, ‘The Cardinals are gonna take you.'”
Despite the uncertainty, Jacob’s persistence paid off, landing him a spot in the Cardinals’ organization. He reflects on the whirlwind of conversations and decisions that influenced his draft fate.
Connecting with Fellow Players
Growing up in Southern California, Jacob has maintained connections with fellow players. He shares that several of his high school peers have also made it into the professional ranks, including Ariel Armis with the Cubs and Jacob Christian with the Giants. Their shared experiences provide a strong bond.
“My high school class had three guys that were drafted. I got drafted first, but I got drafted the latest.”
Training and Development
Currently, Jacob is participating in a structured training program in Florida. He describes the regimen as highly individualized, allowing him to focus on his development alongside other prospects. The program includes tailored schedules, workouts, and even a book club that promotes mental skills development through literature.
“We do a chapter a week from a book called ‘Thinking in Bets’ by Annie Duke,” Jacob explains.
The discussions focus on decision-making and processing outcomes, emphasizing that a bad result doesn’t always stem from a poor decision.
Closing Thoughts
Jacob’s journey is just beginning, but his dedication, adaptability, and thoughtful approach to the game set him apart. As he continues to refine his skills, there’s no doubt that his story will inspire many aspiring athletes.
For more insights and the full conversation, be sure to check out the latest episode of the Viva El Birdos podcast!
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 19: A general view of Tropicana Field during Game Six of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, October 19, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This series has been amazing for casual baseball fans and those supporting the Milwaukee Brewers but it’s been infuriatingly brutal for those behind the Tampa Bay Rays.
The first two games have been filled with costly mistakes and nearly almosts and the end result is the Rays being down two games to none against the team with the best record in baseball. Milwaukee has nearly been unbeatable this postseason with their only loss thus far coming against the San Diego Padres in game three of the NLDS.
For the Rays to have any chance of getting back into the series, they’ll have to have a masterful performance from the ALCS MVP, Freddy Peralta.
Peralta, 30, has been among the best pitchers in baseball over the past two months and found a new gear on his fastball since the playoffs began. Earlier this season, Peralta was averaging 94 mph on his fastball but that is up to 96.9 during his four playoff outings thus far. This was Peralta’s 9th season in the big leagues and over that time, he has only thrown 10 pitches at or above 99mph, 5 of them have been this postseason with the highest of his career (99.4) coming during his last time out in the 5th inning against Cleveland in game six. Perhaps facing his old team will allow him to find one more gear and reach triple digits.
The Rays and Peralta will have to battle Robert Gasser, a southpaw drafted by the San Diego Padres as the 71st overall selection of the 2021 draft. Gasser was acquired by the Brewers in the lamented trade that sent Josh Hader to San Diego in 2022; now those with bad opinions on that deal may revise their judgement as Gasser could help to clinch the Brewers’ first World Series title in history. The 2026 season was Gasser’s longest time spent in the big leagues as he had short stints in 2024 and 2025. The 27-year was up and down this season until being brought up for good after the All-Star break.
Over 21 games — 20 starts — this season, Gasser has a 3.87 ERA | 4.23 FIP with a 22.2 K% & 7.6 BB% over 109.1 IP. Thus far in the postseason, Gasser has pitched in 2 games, and has been incredible allowing just 1 run over nine innings of work.
An observation from the previous games is that the Brewers hittes are tenacious with two strikes in the count. During the two World Series games thus far, the Brewers are hitting .182/.308/.333 with two strikes and have a 16.4 whiff%. Compare that to the regular season, the Brewers whiff rate was at 23.5% while the Rays led the MLB with a 21.0 two strike whiff%; that has jumped to 27.1% this postseason.
ST. PETERSBURG - AUGUST 03: Manager Joe Maddon #70 of the Tampa Bay Rays directs his team against the San Francisco Giants during the game at Tropicana Field on August 3, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Manager who ushered in one of the greatest turnarounds in sports history will be back at Tropicana Field on Monday night as Joe Maddon will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the start of game three of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers.
The last time the World Series was played at Tropicana Field, Joe Maddon was in the Rays dugout, managing the team as they took game two against the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. It was the franchise’s first foray into the postseason after going worst to first, finishing the season with a 97-65 record. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay fell in the World Series, but the team could take solace in being the champions of the American League and the division leader of the tough American League East.
It was just the start of success for Joe Maddon’s led team as he helped guide the Rays to the postseason in 2010 (won the division), 2011, and 2013 but was unable get the past the Division Series each time. Maddon was named the AL Manager of the Year in 2008 and in 2011. Following the 2014 season, Maddon left to take over the Chicago Cubs with whom he won the World Series in 2016, ending a 108 year championship drought for the Northsiders.
After leaving Chicago following the 2019 season, Maddon managed the Los Angeles Angels but could not bring his prior magic to that star studded roster and the team played well below .500 during his tenure there; Maddon was let go in June 2022 after a 27-29 start.
Maddon spent the most time of his managerial career with the Tampa Bay Rays, leading the team for 9 years, ending his time with a 754-705 record. The Rays reached the postseason four times and won one pennant.
The Rays will look to battle back from a 2-0 series deficit tonight against the Brewers with first pitch slated for just after 8:00pm
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 18: José Urquidy #70 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday, September 18, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
What if I told you that a pitcher that was picked up off the scrap heap at the end of the season to provide innings to a staff that could be described as beleaguered at the time and would end up finishing top ten on the team in WAR? Would you believe that that was the story of the Phillies pitching staff towards the end of the season?
Would you believe that it was Jose Urquidy?
2026 stats
2 G (1 GS), 7 1/3 IP, 9 K, 0 BB, 3 R (3 ER), 10 H, 0.4 fWAR
What went right
Listen, being brought in off the waiver wire at the end of the year to give the team a bulk outing and a start in the final week of the season isn’t easy. You’re expected to be effective enough that the team would want to keep you in the game long enough to save other more valuable arms, but also so that the team might actually have a chance at winning a game mostly assumed to be a loss.
Urquidy did just that though. Facing a Mets team in a game that the Phillies kind of had to win, he was the bulk guy in a September 18th start in which he threw 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball. He struck out six, scattered five hits and kept the Phillies in the game long enough that they could make something of a run. The problem was that Tim Mayza essentially salted the game away early by being an opener that couldn’t get anyone out. Urquidy earned a start for the team in the final week that wasn’t all that great, but hey – baseball seasons are long and sometimes, unexpected performances are needed. At that time, Urquidy gave them an unexpected performance that they really needed.
What went wrong
He kind of stunk in his only scheduled start and showed why he was on the scrap heap in the first place.
Final grade: B
Listen, I’m not going to fault a guy for being rough in these kinds of circumstances. Asking Urquidy to do anything was nigh impossible, yet he looked serviceable in both of his appearances. He’s not going to be a member of the 2027 Phillies unless he somehow gets a minor league deal and decides to ply his trade in Lehigh Valley for half a year, but at the very least, we have this.
Now you have a permanent answer for an Immaculate Grid square.
The catwalk system suspended beneath Tropicana Field's roof has already played a role during Tampa Bay's postseason run. During Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, a high popup by Spencer Jones struck one of the catwalks in shallow right-center field and remained in play, allowing the Rays to record an out.
That unusual scenario is one of several Tropicana Field ground rules that could affect the World Series and become a factor in determining a world champion. The Rays return home trailing 2-0 after dropping the first two games in Milwaukee, but Tampa Bay will host the next three games, giving baseball's only fixed-roof stadium a chance to become part of the World Series.
Here's a look at Tropicana Field's one-of-a-kind ground rules as it gets set to host the Rays and Brewers for three-straight games, including what happens when a batted ball strikes the catwalk system.
Tropicana Field has a catwalk system beneath its non-retractable roof and there are four circular steel rings to help stabilize the structure. They are considered part of the field of play over fair territory and there are specific ground rules in place for all MLB games at the stadium.
MLB ground rules for Tropicana Field state that a batted ball that strikes either of the lower two catwalks (known as the 'C-Ring' and the 'D-Ring'), or any lights, suspended objects or support rods attached to the catwalks, is considered a home run in fair territory.
A batted ball that strikes either of the upper catwalks (known as the 'A-Ring' and the 'B-Ring'), or any support rods or masts attached to them, is considered in play if in fair territory. If the ball is caught by a fielder, the batter is out and runners advance at their own risk.
A batted ball that is not judged by an umpire to be a home run and remains on a catwalk, light or suspended object is considered a ground rule double.
If a batted ball strikes a catwalk, light or suspended object over foul territory, it is considered a dead ball, according to MLB.
Bullpen area
Tropicana Field features throwback bullpens that sit outside either foul line and could be part of the field of play if a ball is batted down the line or if there's a wild throw to first or third base.
MLB rules state a "ball lodging on, under or in the bullpen seating area" is considered out of play. A ball is deemed to be lodged when it goes in or behind equipment or seating or, in the umpire's judgment, is deemed otherwise unplayable.
If a ball enters the bullpen seating area and rebounds out of the seating area, it is considered in play.
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 13: Jared Thomas #2 of the Salt River Rafters looks on during warm ups prior to the game between the River Rafters and the Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 in Glendale, AZ United States. (Photo by Norm Hall/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Jared Thomas (No. 8 PuRP) played in the Arizona Fall League last year and hit .302/.343/.524 through 17 games despite battling a hamate bone injury discovered late in the season. After the season ended, he got it repaired but then hit a snag with his recovery, resulting in him not making his 2026 debut until July 6 with the ACL Rockies.
Thomas played four games for the ACL team, including the championship game, before finally making his way back to Double-A Hartford. There, he played in 28 games and managed to hit .270/.341/.405 with seven extra-base hits (three doubles and four homers), 15 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
That proved to be highlight of his season.
“The highlight was getting back up and playing,” Thomas said. “When the clock reset a couple times, you never see the light at the end of the tunnel. At least I didn’t. It’s the most I’ve ever spent away from the game, so I learned a lot. But the highlight was definitely getting back out and being in a good environment, going back to a clubhouse with a bunch of guys that I know. It was fun.”
During his recovery, Thomas had a lot of downtime. But it made him realize, “The game doesn’t stop for you.”
“The game doesn’t stop, no matter who you are, no matter what you’re going through,” he emphasized. “So just being diligent, going about your business every single day and really trusting the process — I think that was one thing that I learned. There’s a lot of time to think bad or good things. The more you can keep telling yourself the good, the easier it is. So I think patience was a big thing, and just a positive attitude.”
Luckily for Thomas, he had other rehabbing players to sympathize with and help him get through everything. Infielder Blake Wright was someone he leaned on.
“He was going through his own stuff, too, but he kept a great attitude about it and that forced me to do the same thing,” Thomas recalled. “So being able to have guys like that and other guys around the Complex going through the same struggles, I guess, really helped me out. So just being present in the moment and finding people who care.”
Coming into his second Fall League, Thomas had a clear plan.
“First and foremost, just getting back to being comfortable in the box,” he said. “[I’m] still going through a couple hiccups, but just getting more at-bats under my belt — some that I missed at the beginning of the year when I was out. So just feeling like myself in the box, just being more comfortable and then getting out of here healthy and good into a good offseason.”
This was something that Rockies senior director of player development, Chris Forbes, also emphasized about Thomas.
“Jared Thomas needs the at-bats desperately,” Forbes said in September, “and I know it’s kind of a relapse back into that league, but we just asked him, ‘Do you want to go to Puerto Rico? Do you want to go to the DR or Mexico? Or do you want to stay here?’ Because he really wants to lock in with our strength coaches, too, and we’re hosting on our side, so I think that’s huge.”
So far through 14 AFL games, Thomas is hitting .239/.327/.457 with three doubles, two triples, a home run and five stolen bases. Many of those stats were added this past week, as he went go 5-for-13 with four runs scored, two of his three doubles, both triples, nine RBI, two walks, four strikeouts and a stolen base. That was enough for him to be named among the AFL’s top performers for Week 3.
In addition to getting his swing back, Thomas is also having to adjust to the new outfield positioning rules that are being experimented with at Salt River Fields.
“It’s different, man. I think they’re trying to make the game more offensive, which is interesting to see,” he said.
“The gaps are bigger. Obviously, we’re playing a lot more shallow in the outfield, so it makes you definitely work a little bit harder in the outfield. You’ve got to be on top of your game. Everybody in center, right, left… they’re all going to be center fielders at the end of the day. You’re going to have to have some speed and have good reads on the ball. It’s cool that they’re experimenting with different rules like that. I don’t really have any good or bad feelings about it.”
Thomas is also looking forward to getting back on the field and interacting with fans, as he’s very “personable.”
“I enjoy having conversations with people, especially kids when they come up to [me],” he said. “I was one of those kids. I loved the game growing up, and I loved being able to have a chance of talking to a kid that was playing professional baseball, so I look forward to those conversations. I’m a pretty open book. I like when guys come up and ask questions.”
There’s one fan in particular that he’s built a great relationship with in Hartford.
“There was this guy – I don’t really recall his name – in Hartford, even last year and going into this year when I showed back up, I always did a really good job of signing for him. And he would trade me Josh Hamilton baseball cards,” he said. “That was my hero growing up. So (I’ll) sign a couple cards for him, give him some broken bats, and he’s always tightening me up with some Josh Hamilton cards.”
But most of all, Thomas is, “excited to feel good again in the box.”
“I know I’m close. I feel like I’m getting closer by the day. So just being able to go up there with, like, uber confidence and going up there (with) just I mean true belief in what’s going on. I’m ready to feel really, really, really good again.”
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 31: Ryan Ritter #8 of the Colorado Rockies warms up prior to the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Monday, August 31, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to the 2026 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2026. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
No. 35, Ryan Ritter (-0.1 rWAR)
Good news! We’ve made it to the final player in the rWAR negatives. From here, we’ve got a couple neutral 0.0 rWAR players before the upswing into positive territory.
The final player toeing the line is 25-year-old infielder, Ryan Ritter. The prospect continues to show sparks at the minor league level but hasn’t been able to translate that into production in the majors in limited chances.
Ritter started 2025 strong, putting up fantastic numbers with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. Over the course of 55 games, he slashed .303/.405/.610, adding 16 homers and 50 RBI on 66 hits. His scorching run set him up for a promotion and his major league debut. In total, he posted 60 games with the Rockies, mostly at second base, missing some time with injuries. His numbers didn’t quite match his minor league output but were still very respectable for a rookie, with a slash line of .241/.296/.337.
Coming into this year, Ritter kept that momentum going with a strong 2026 Spring Training, where he worked to diversify his playing portfolio with some reps in outfield positions. That was not called upon in his regular season appearances given the number of outfielders on the roster competing for time. Instead, he primarily played second base again with the Rockies. Ritter appeared in 13 MLB games in 2026, with 10 games at second base. He also appeared in three games at shortstop and had limited action at third base, shifting there to close out a game after starting at second.
His Triple-A production continues to be strong. He went .323/.430/.460 in 60 games with the ‘Topes. He flashes some power in the minors, with five home runs, 12 triples, and two doubles on 73 total hits. His main struggle is maintaining that power and consistency against major league talent.
On the offensive side of the ball with Colorado this season, he had 19 at-bats that were mostly ineffective. He logged three hits (all singles), scored two runs, and notched one RBI. With no extra-base hits, his batting average and his slugging percentage were both only .158. He ended the year with more strikeouts (eight) than hits. He was ultimately optioned back down after a short stint with the big-league club.
Reviewing Ritter’s season at the end of last year, the big question for Paul DePodesta was whether Ritter had made a strong enough case to stay on the roster. That question remains, and perhaps is even bigger, after 2026. Ritter has shown that he has the talent and he’s also shown that he’s willing to adapt and grow. Unfortunately, it is seems like that talent might have a minor-league ceiling. With his strong on-base production in Albuquerque providing some encouragement, Ritter remains an intriguing depth option for the Rockies and may earn another look, but his path to a consistent major league role is becoming less clear.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 27: Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of the Kansas City Royals tosses his bat after hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The offseason will begin next week, and it will likely be a sprint on transactions until the collective bargaining agreement expires and transactions cease at the beginning of December. The Royals will have to make some moves to upgrade a team that took a disappointing step back in 2026, and that could mean creative trades to reimagine the roster.
One way the Royals could reshape their roster is by trading veteran first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Writing for MLB.com, Perla Paredes raised the possibility last week.
Pasquantino remains the club’s primary first baseman, but he could be among the position players Kansas City considers moving if a trade provides an opportunity to address its pitching needs. Such a move could open the door for Caglianone to return to first base on a more permanent basis.
The idea of trading Pasquantino would have been difficult to imagine a year ago, when he hit .264/.335/.477 with 32 home runs and 113 RBIs. But the 29-year-old took a step back in 2026, batting .249/.333/.428 with 17 home runs in 114 games. The Royals need his bat, but his regression has raised questions about whether he is part of the future of this club, particularly considering he has just two more years before he hits free agency.
The idea of trading Vinnie stems from three arguments.
First, Jac Caglianone has blossomed as a big leaguer. He was originally drafted as a first baseman out of Florida, but moved to the outfield to accommodate Pasquantino. His transition to the outfield has been about as smooth as you can expect for a 250 pound-Adonis, but Caglianone still rated poorly in defensive metrics such as Outs Above Average. Playing the outfield also cost Caglianone playing time due to injuries. He injured his shoulder crashing into the outfield wall in June, reinjured the shoulder making a diving catch in July, then injured his elbow making a throw in September.
However, Caglianone is all of 23 years old and is still learning the outfield. The Royals shouldn’t give up on his development there after one injury-plagued season. His defensive metrics may be poor now, but he has the athleticism to improve with experience. Bobby Witt Jr. was a poor defender in his first year at shortstop and is now a Platinum Glove winner. He has the perfect arm for right field, a cannon that can fire the ball in the high-90s. If he can learn to play with passable range, he could be an asset in the outfield.
The second case for trading Pasquantino is his record of injuries that have kept his bat out of the lineup. He missed the second half of the 2023 season with a torn labrum. A collision at first base cost him the final month of the 2024 season when he fractured his thumb. Back and wrist injuries cost him nearly 50 games this season.
Injuries suck, but Vinnie’s injuries stem mostly from bad luck, not a chronic condition. The fact that the offense fell off so much without him is a testament to how important he is to the lineup. The Royals went into a tailspin in September of 2024 once he got hurt, nearly missing the playoffs. Vinnie’s injuries also illustrate that moving Caglianone to first is not necessarily a solution to keeping him healthy – injuries can strike anywhere.
Another reason why some fans are open to trading Pasquantino is his penchant for getting off to a slow start. Vinnie is a career .207/.300/.382 hitter in the month of April. He has had pretty pronounced first-half and second-half splits.
Pre-All-Star break: .247/.318/.409
Post-All-Star break: .289/.353/.521
The Royals got off to a slow start in 2026, and much of that can be attributed to the lack of offensive production early in the year from Vinnie and Salvador Perez.
However, it is not as if early games count for more than games later in the year. Had Pasquantino reversed his splits and hit well at the start of the season, only to go into a slide in the second half, the Royals’ fortunes would not have appreciably changed. And while Pasquantino’s April numbers are concerning, monthly splits don’t necessarily predict future performance. The Royals shouldn’t trade a productive middle-of-the-order hitter simply because he has historically struggled early in the season. The bigger question is whether his overall production justifies his place in the lineup, not whether he delivers it consistently from April through September.
When judged on a year-by-year basis, Pasquantino has been a steady, above-average bat. Even after his slow start this year, he ended with a line of .249/.333/.428, an OPS+ of 113, perfectly in line with his past two seasons. Despite missing seven weeks, his 2.5 fWAR was 13th among all first basemen.
If the Royals were to trade him, it would leave a hole in their lineup that they would have to fill in the outfield if Caglianone moves to first. Can the Royals find an outfielder that can put up an OPS+ of 113? Only 26 outfielders with 300+ plate appearances did that last year. How many will be available? The team also needs upgrades in left and center field. Can they revamp all three outfield positions in one offseason with a mediocre free agent class and an overall decline league-wide in quality of right-handed hitters?
There should also be something said about the leadership Pasquantino provides on the club. Intangibles can be overrated, but they aren’t meaningless. Pasquantino has been the face of the team, the voice of the players during tough times. After this season, he called the year a “failure” and said the team needed to live up to the expectations placed on it. When the team struggled last year, he took responsibility, saying, “It starts with me.” He addressed the media when Carter Jensen missed a game for oversleeping, saying, “It can’t happen.”
Young players like Caglianone and Jensen need leaders who hold the clubhouse accountable and lead the team through tough times. Bobby Witt Jr. is more reserved, a star who leads by example. Vinnie is clearly the kind of player teammates gravitate toward, making him a valuable presence in the clubhouse beyond what he contributes at the plate.
The Royals should of course, be open to trading anyone under the right circumstances. The Brewers and Rays show how being transactional and unafraid to trade anyone can yield results. Trading Pasquantino might make sense if it brings back a major piece, but moving him just to solve a positional puzzle or capitalize on a down year could create more problems than it solves. Sometimes the best move is recognizing what you already have.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 30: Joel Payamps #34 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Truist Park on April 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Saying “I told you so” seems like it might be cathartic… but really, most of the time you end up saying it, it’s because something bad — foreseeable, but bad — happened. Wouldn’t you rather just not have the bad thing happen in the first place?
That’s how I feel about Joel Payamps. The Braves apparently felt confident enough to give him a guaranteed, non-league minimum deal in the offseason, and I just didn’t get it. Payamps barely made it to May with the Braves, and after they cut bait, no one else bothered. Sure, I told you so… but it’d have been better if they just went in another direction in the first place.
How Acquired
The moribund 2025 Atlanta Braves claimed Payamps on waivers during the twilight of their horrible season. Though Payamps could have been retained given his lack of service time, the Braves opted to remove him from the 40-man roster in November, and he elected free agency. But, about two weeks later, the Braves handed him a one-year, $2.25 million contract.
What were the expectations?
A 32-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic, Payamps has been well-traveled as a journeyman relief arm. He was originally signed as an international free agent by the Rockies, released and signed by the Diamondbacks, had a stint in DFA/waiver limbo with the Red Sox and Blue Jays, got traded to the Royals, got claimed by the Athletics, oh, and somewhere in there he found an opportunity to be involved in the yes-some-people-are-still-super-mad-about-it trade that sent Sean Murphy to the Braves and William Contreras to the Brewers. (Payamps went from Oakland to Milwaukee in the deal.) The Brewers held on to him for a few seasons, including a post-trade breakout, but moved on late in 2025.
When you have a transactions log like Payamps, it suggests that there’s enough to draw interest, but not enough for a team to really fight to keep you. His career stats suggest the same: Payamps came into the 2026 season with 2.2 fWAR in 269 career innings and an 81/95/100 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-). That’s actually a pretty solid line for a low-leverage arm, but as you can see, no one was really all that invested in permanently employing it.
Perhaps the bigger issue was that of that 2.2 fWAR, over half came in a 2023 breakout as the Brewers worked their magic. Payamps hurled 70 2/3 innings in 2023, earning 1.5 fWAR with a 59/79/83 line. 2024 was notably worse, but still solid… but the worm turned in 2025, which is why the Brewers eventually just sent him packing in September.
Put all this together, and Payamps was projected for somewhere between replacement level (Steamer) and “playable but below average” (ZiPS). I don’t really know what about any of this convinced the Braves to give him a guaranteed major league deal, but that’s what happened. (I won’t pretend it was the two outings he had for the Braves in very late 2025, either.) I guess the Braves expected him to be a middle reliever, but the why of it all is still pretty hazy.
2026 Results
Payamps made it just about a month with the Braves. He made his season debut in the second game of the season, and was designated for assignment on May 1. In that span, he appeared in 12 games, completed 7 2/3 innings, bled -0.1 fWAR and was saddled with -0.58 WPA while pitching to a ghastly 196/138/116 line. His performance included one shutdown and four meltdowns: basically, he was used in something other than low leverage five times, and four of those went really poorly. (The Braves went 2-3 in those five games.)
I’m honestly not really sure what else to say here — Payamps just wasn’t around long enough, but that was sort of a blessing given how bad he was during the month that he hung around in the bullpen.
What went right?
His sweeper command was non-terrible? His four-seamer had a .191 wOBA-against and .247 xwOBA-against with a pretty high whiff rate?
It’s hard to say anything goes right when you melt down a bunch in the span of a month, and no one even gives you a minor league shot after you get DFAed.
I guess we can talk about Payamps’ sole shutdown of the season. He worked the eighth with the Braves holding a two-run lead over the Phillies on April 24, and got three flyouts to right, with an Alec Bohm single in there too.
What went wrong?
It’s hard to really diagnose issues in detail in the span of 12 outings. Payamps’ sweeper had crazy spin deflection, and he threw it at the bottom edge of the zone. However, its shape was lacking, and that may be why it didn’t miss many bats: when your sweeper both sweeps and drops less than average, it may not work as well. That said, he probably could’ve survived past May given the success he was having with his four-seamer despite some pretty terrible mechanics on the pitch… but the specific sequence of the batters he faced and the pitches he made (or didn’t make) gave him an ugly line without any really blatant markers in his plate discipline stats or otherwise for why things were so bad so fast.
In the end, there’s no question that a walk rate of 11 percent is pretty much unlivable unless you’re a strikeout demon, and that a combination of poor shape on one pitch and awful command of another is a combination worthy of a one-way ticket to DFAVille, and that’s pretty much what happened. The fact that Payamps couldn’t luck his way through more than one of his higher-leverage outings just made that ticket get issued faster.
Payamps’ worst outing WPA-wise was his last. He came into the eighth with a one-run lead. Kerry Carpenter greeted him with a barreled triple. Matt Vierling followed with a weak roller of a double. Payamps walked a guy, then struck out a guy. That was it — Aaron Bummer and Jose Suarez made things even worse from there, and the Braves lost 5-2. Payamps got shown the proverbial door the next day.
2027 Outlook
It’d be one thing if Payamps had signed a minor league deal somewhere and worked on getting back to his 2023-2024 form in Triple-A somewhere. But, that didn’t happen. As such, it’s not clear whether this is it for the journeyman, or whether he’ll try to latch on somewhere ahead of Spring Training or whatever its equivalent is next season. His situation isn’t really that much worse after 2026 than it was after 2025, and he was able to get $2.25 million from someone (the Braves) after 2025, so… there’s probably a path to at least short-term employment for him somewhere if he wants it. He just shouldn’t expect anyone to pony up a guarantee this time.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 18: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s that most exciting time of the year when we guess what the Guardians will do in arbitration decisions! Who will they tender a contract to? Who will they trade? Who will they bid a fond adieu? Strap in, this is gonna be a wild ride!
MLB Trade Rumors’ arbitration projections are usually pretty accurate, so they are basis for these projections. I think Adell’s is high by $1-2M, but the rest seem about right to me. Without further fan-fare, here’s how I see things shaking out by Friday, November 20th’s 5PM ET non-tender deadline:
Sure Tenders:
Jo Adell – $9.6M Steven Kwan – $11.3M Colin Holderman – $2.3M Patrick Bailey – $2.3M Gavin Williams – $4.8M Hunter Gaddis – $2.2M Tim Herrin – $1.3M Brayan Rocchio – $3.1M Cade Smith – $5.5M
Analysis: Even if the Guardians are not interested in keeping Adell, Herrin or even Holderman, these players would have too much trade value to non-tender them at these amounts. I expect every player on this list to be back with the Guardians in 2027, but, if you had to guess which could be traded… you know, I wonder if Rocchio might have some potential in that line. I think the team really likes Genao, and there are probably some teams out there who like the idea of a good defensive shortstop who MIGHT be an average hitter. Something to monitor… otherwise, I think Kwan is the most likely trade, but still pretty unlikely. With a lockout making the number of games for 2027 uncertain, I don’t think a team will offer the Guardians enough value to move on from a player who should be their centerfielder for 2027 (with folks like Aaron Walton and Jaison Chourio trying to earn next look there in 2028).
Unsure Tenders:
Slade Cecconi – $2M David Fry – $1.3M Matt Festa – $1.5M
Analysis: IF the team sees Cecconi as a likely middle-reliever, I think he’s either traded or non-tendered. If they see him as a potential high leverage guy or have a plan to get him back to starting, than $2M makes sense. If I had to guess, I think Fry and Festa are probably non-tendered. Fry has had basically two and a half seasons to prove he can be that lefty masher while mostly failing. It’s probably preferable to let the next version of what they tried in Rhys Hoskins for 2026 in free agency (Ty France, Ryan Mountcastle, Alec Bohm, Gary Sanchez, etc) try this role, or let Kody Huff see if he can provide a fascimile of Fry’s output. Festa is a serviceable middle relief arm, but I think they’ll probably want this money to pursue at least one more relief arm with a higher ceiling.
Clear Non-Tenders:
Blake Perkins – $900K
Analysis:
Farewell, Blake, we hardly knew ye.
What are your thoughts and predictions on this group? Let us know in the comments below.
