Category: MLB

“Bear with me, please…”

He pitched in one of the most thrilling games of the postseason, throwing one perfect inning in the victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that sent the Dodgers to the World Series.

Nine days later, his newborn daughter died.

Four months later, in a halting six-minute address punctuated by deep breaths and stifled sobs, Alex Vesia publicly bared his battered soul.

Read more:Plaschke: Start talking three-peat! Dave Roberts believes these Dodgers can be better than ever

“ I was not prepared to not bring my baby girl home, but we’re carrying her with us every day…”

Meeting with the media at Camelback Ranch on the first day of spring training Friday, Vesia took no questions, instead reading from a statement off his phone while battling the effects of the tragedy that was his daughter Sterling’s death two days after the start of the World Series.

“The lessons we’ve learned from this is that life can change in an instant. Ten minutes is all it took….”

Vesia had allowed two runs in seven postseason appearances, including five scoreless appearances in the heart of the playoffs. He was going to be a big factor against the Toronto Blue Jays, until the unthinkable happened, and he immediately disappeared into his nightmare.

“I can’t think of anything worse,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

While the Dodgers were competing for an unthinkable second consecutive championship, Vesia was mourning an unimaginable loss. While the Dodgers were ultimately bathed in cheers, he and wife Kayla were awash in agony.

“Sterling Sol was the most beautiful girl in the world…we got to hold her, change her diaper, read to her, and love her… Our time together was far too short.”

For all the emotion that enveloped the Dodgers postseason, it turns out none of it could compare to the private hell endured by one of their own. As he spoke Friday, it became clear why Vesia is such a valued member of this group. He could barely get through his statement, yet he took deep breaths and didn’t stop talking. He couldn’t pitch in the most important games of the year, yet he put his pain aside and wouldn’t stop cheering.

“Stepping away from the team, and the brothers I go to war with every day, was difficult. But it was also an easy decision, because my family needed me. We still watched every pitch of the World Series, and for us, in so many ways, that was a light in our darkness.”

While the public was unaware of the scope of his pain — one day before the World Series began, the Dodgers announced that he had left the team for a “deeply personal family matter” — every player knew the details, and reacted with a giant embrace.

The Dodgers wore Vesia’s number 51 on their caps. Soon, so did the Blue Jays relievers in an inspiring show of solidarity.

“When Kay and I were watching the World Series, we noticed that there was (No.) 51 on Louie Varland's hat. I immediately texted Gus Varland, his brother, and I asked him if I was seeing that correctly. He texted me back right away and he said, 'The Varlands love you dude. The whole Toronto bullpen has it too. It's bigger than baseball. We love you all.' Kay and I… we were very emotional. We were super overwhelmed with emotion.”

That emotion was evident in a different way on Friday, with a newly muscle-bound Vesia throwing darts in a breathtaking bullpen session. His vacancy was nicely filled in the World Series by Will Klein and Justin Wrobleski, who combined to throw 10 scoreless innings. But this team will need Vesia this season as an important set-up man for Edwin Díaz, and are counting on him to remain his strong self.

“ I do think getting back to what he loves to do and play baseball, that's something therapeutic for him,” said Roberts.

Vesia agreed. The road back from grief is often a long and rocky one, but as he hugged teammates and the relaxed spring moment Friday, he had hope.

“Having something to look forward to has helped me. The gym has been my mental clarity. Being around the guys again, preparing for spring training, it’s been really nice. Gotten a lot of love so far in the clubhouse, and being able to laugh and joke around, that’s been really nice for me.”

While Vesia’s statement was wracked with sorrow, it was also filled with gratitude. He found time to thank the Dodgers, the Blue Jays and most notably, the fans.

Yes, all of you who reached out to him, he heard you, and he is thankful for you. This includes the Rams, who even sent him an autographed jersey as a sign of their support.

“"The outpouring of love and support Kay and I have had over the past few months has been unmatched. We're both grateful to not only Dodger nation, but the fans worldwide. My DMs, messages, my DMs are basically broken on Instagram from all the love and support that we've had. I've tried to read all the comments and everything just because it's meant the world, really.”

Read more:Kiké Hernández is back with the Dodgers, agreeing to terms on eve of spring training

At the end of his statement, Vesia put his fist over his heart, wobbled for a second, and it looked like he was going to faint before he staggered away.

Remember this on opening day. Remember the courage required of Alex Vesia to make this kind of public showing. Remember how he handled his greatest trauma with the sort of strength and conviction that has made these Dodgers one of the greatest teams in baseball history.

Do they give standing ovations to middle relievers?

They do now.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Hello baseball fans, the hours are ticking down to the start of the 2026 baseball season. I haven’t covered baseball in several years, but it feels less gross than other college sports at the moment. While basketball and football are imploding, baseball keeps chugging along (don’t tell me if I’m wrong about this, I need to believe).

Let’s get after it.

Projected Starting Lineup

First Base

#16 – Luke Gaffney – 6’1”, 235 – Rs Jr.

Bats/Throws: R/R

2024 – 25 Stats

Team	ST	AVG	OPS	R	H	HR	RBI
Clemson	51	.271	.745	26	51	5	39

Info

The former Big 10 Freshman of the Year from Purdue struggled to find his groove at Clemson last season. There’s been buzz around Tiger Town this winter that Gafney looks like he’s back to his Boilermaker ways. He hit .359 with 13 home runs as a freshman. If he’s back in form, look for Gaffney somewhere in the middle of the Clemson lineup. In theory, he’s one of the scariest bats on the roster. Hopefully, that theory becomes a reality for the Tigers this season.

Gaffney is a solid athlete and can play right field or behind the plate if needed, but first base will be his initial station. Clemson’s infield is going to be extremely athletic.

Second Base

#23 – Jarren Purify – 5’10”, 190 – Jr.

Bats/Throws: R/R

2024 – 25 Stats

Team	ST	AVG	OPS	R	H	HR	RBI
Clemson	57	.298	.879	54	62	6	35

Info

As a returning team captain from the 2025 squad, much is expected of Purify this season. His game is built around speed and athleticism, and he’s got both in spades. He’s a line-drive hitter who knows what to do once he gets on the basepaths and should be a top-of-the-order hitter.

While Purify is an excellent hitter, he’s an even better fielder. He has great range for a second baseman and is slick in the double play.

Third Base

#4 – Tryston McCladdie – 5’11”, 190 – Jr.

Bats/Throws: L/R

Team	ST	AVG	OPS	R	H	HR	RBI
Clemson	27	.287	.903	23	27	5	19

Info

McCladdie is the Swiss Army Knife in the Clemson lineup. He’ll start at third, but he can play anywhere other than pitcher and catcher, and he’ll be deployed accordingly. He had the fewest starts of any infielder in Clemson’s 2026 projected starting lineup, but he did lead the Tigers in games off the bench last season due to his versatility.

Regardless of where he’s playing on the field, he’s a tough left-handed outfielder with decent power for his rather diminutive size. Like Lichtenberger, he could feature at either the top or bottom of the lineup because of his ability to get on base.

Short Stop

#8 – Tyler Lichtenberger – 6’0”,195 – So.

Bats/Throws: L/R

Team	ST	AVG	OPS	R	H	HR	RBI
App St.	53	.341	.879	40	70	3	37

Info

Tyler is the new addition to the infield after a stellar freshman season at Appalachian State, where he earned Sun Belt Conference Freshman-of-the-Year award and first team all-conference honors. He’s a solid contact hitter from the left side of the plate and could slot in at the top or bottom of the lineup, depending on what Coach Backich is looking for on any given day. He failed to reach base in only 6 games last season and has solid speed once he gets on.

He’s a plus defender and should give the Tigers solid defense up the middle of the field with Jarren Purify. Clemson could have one of the better double-play combinations in the ACC if everything works out according to plan, and Lichtenberger moves seamlessly into the lineup.

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Reserves

First Base / DH

#13 – Collin Priest – 6’3”, 260 – Jr.

Team	ST	AVG	OPS	R	H	HR	RBI
Clemson	57	.240	.887	36	41	12	52

Info

Priest is built like a tight end. When he hits the ball, the ball stays hit. Unfortunately, Priest didn’t make as much contact with the ball as he would have liked last season after transferring from Michigan. He hit .279 with a .578 slugging percentage as a freshman with the Wolverines. Hopefully, the ball finds his bat a few more times this season.

Third/First/DH

#10 – Jason Fultz Jr.- 6’0”, 215 – Fr.

Considered the 37th-best overall freshman in the 2026 class by Perfect Game and the 86th-best freshman in the nation by D1Baseball. He’s considered one of the best professional prospects on the team and has the type of power that could make a difference in the Clemson lineup if it’s calibrated to college pitching.

Fultz is the talent, and the one thing I know about coaching is you get your talent on the field. Look for him to displace the versatile McCladdie at third sooner, rather than later.

Infield

#44 – Dylan Harrison – 6’5”, 215 – Fr.

Harrison joins Fultz as one of the highest-rated prospects in the 2026 freshman class. Perfect Game Baseball considers him the 21st-best prospect in the 2028 draft. He’s considered more of a pro prospect in the field than on the mound, but Clemson will give him an opportunity to do both. Like Fultz, he’s got dynamite in his bat when he makes contact.

Second Base

#21 – Jay Dillard – 5’9”, 175 – Jr.

Heading into his third season in the program, Dillard is ready to make his mark in the 2026 season after playing in 18 games and starting 5 last season. I’m not sure about the rest of his game, but he’s patient at the plate, drawing 6 walks in 16 plate appearances. He’s a plus fielder who should provide solid depth up the middle for the Tigers.

Overall

I’m far from an expert on this roster (yet), but based on my research, I’m excited to see what the Tigers can do with these pieces. Can the veterans hold off the young bucks for their spot in the starting lineup? Harrison and Fultz are the future of the program, and the future could be now if any of the projected starters falter.

The defense should be elite; if they can get the power guys to produce, things could get exciting on the basepaths in Tiger Town.

As you know, the Cubs have added quite a bit of advertising to Wrigley Field since the recently-completed renovation.

This includes ads on the pads on the left- and right-field lines, on the doors on the outfield walls and behind the plate.

There are also two advertising signs on buildings on Waveland and Sheffield, as seen in this photo from last year:

As you can see, a Coca-Cola sign is on a building on Waveland, just past the left-field foul pole, and a Benjamin Moore sign is in essentially the same place on Sheffield, just past the right-field foul pole.

Now, per Ald. Bennett Lawson’s office in the 44th Ward, where Wrigley Field is located, the Cubs have proposed adding two more signs, one on Waveland, one on Sheffield, with locations as shown here (and at the top of this post):

As noted in that link, the addresses of the buildings where these new signs would be located are 3639 N. Sheffield and 1030 W. Waveland.

You can see more details of these proposed signs and how they would look here.

For those of you mourning some sort of “pristine” Wrigley Field without advertising, that ship sailed a long time ago. Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts once told me, “Wrigley Field is not a museum,” and that’s absolutely true. Now, it would be good if all the extra money brought in by these ads would be put toward player payroll, but deciding that is above my pay grade.

In any case, Wrigley Field still looks much as it did decades ago. The renovations were done in a way that is supposed to evoke the ballpark’s “Golden Age,” which was said to be the 1930s. I’d agree with that, as the team won four NL pennants between 1929 and 1938, and 1938 is also the first full year of the current bleacher configuration and ivy that give the ballpark its iconic “park-like” look.

While there’s some advertising in and around Wrigley Field, at least it doesn’t look like this, with ads plastered all over the place:

Or this, with even MORE ads:

I’m assuming these new advertising signs for Wrigley Field will be approved and likely installed on or around Opening Day. And they are easy enough to ignore if you’re paying attention to the action on the field.

Just as we all thought that the San Francisco Giants were done signing Major League contracts, they went and signed another. Except there’s a catch: it’s not for a player who will contribute this year.

In a crafty move that will no doubt upset the vast swath of fans who are still upset about the last regime’s churning ways, the Giants agreed to a Major League contract with right-handed reliever Rowan Wick, the team announced on Friday. The deal is all about securing Wick’s rights for the 2027 season: the 33-year old underwent Tommy John surgery a few months ago and will miss all of the upcoming season, but the contract includes a team option for next year, which the Giants will certainly pick up barring an injury setback.

It’s not hard to see why the Giants wanted to get ahead of the competition and grab Wick for next year, as he’s the latest former Major Leaguer to head overseas to rebuild his pitching career.

Wick was a ninth-round pick back in 2012 by the St. Louis Cardinals, and has five years of MLB experience: he debuted in 2018 with the San Diego Padres, and played for the Chicago Cubs from 2019-2022, before spending 2023 in the Minor Leagues. Across 146 appearances (and, funnily enough, exactly 146 innings), Wick has solid MLB numbers: a 3.82 ERA and a 3.49 FIP.

He headed to Japan in 2024 to rebuild his value in Nippon Professional Baseball, and the results were splendid. In his first year playing overseas, he posted a 2.60 ERA and a 2.74 FIP. But it was his work in 2025 that really shined: across 40 appearances and 42.2 innings, Wick posted a microscopic 0.84 ERA and 1.39 FIP (though that wasn’t the best mark in the league, as righty Daichi Ishii allowed an unthinkable one run in 53 innings, for a 0.17 ERA).

Wick was strong across the board in his standout season. While an ERA that begins with a “0” is always the result of some luck, he did a magnificent job staying out of trouble, allowing just 5.3 hits and 2.3 walks per nine innings for a 0.844 WHIP. He didn’t allow a single home run all year.

The Giants will be hoping that he can repeat that performance when he returns stateside. It’s just going to be a while before they find out the answer.

San Francisco will now have an open spot on the 40-man roster. In order to clear a spot to facilitate the signing, fellow injured reliever/offseason acquisition Jason Foley was transferred to the 60-Day Injured List. Wick will certainly follow Foley there, which will put the team’s roster at 39.

Previous Winner

Trevor Harrison, RHP
20 | 6’4” | 225
A | 2.61 ERA, 3.26 FIP, 82.2 IP (17 GS), 22.4% K, 10.7% BB
A+ | 3.33 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 24.1 IP (5 GS), 23.8% K, 12.4% BB

Harrison entered the season as Baseball America’s top pitcher in the system thanks to a cleaned up delivery and high heat. He ran into some bumps in the road by running up his pitch count against batters, but he still made it over 100 innings in 22 starts. A power pitcher through and through, his hard slider flirts with cutter classification and could evolve into two distinct pitches down the road. It will be interesting to see how his change up plays as he’s challenged at higher levels, but for now he has premium stuff and the upside of a rotation anchor. (video)

Rank	Player	Position	Votes	Total	Percentage	Last Season
1	Carson Williams	SS	14	25	56%	1
2	Brody Hopkins	RHP	19	25	76%	8
3	Jacob Melton	OF	14	28	50%	NA
4	Theo Gillen	OF	14	26	54%	13
5	Ty Johnson	RHP	12	25	48%	15
6	Daniel Pierce	SS	13	23	57%	NA
7	Jadher Areinamo	INF	15	28	54%	NA
8	TJ Nichols	RHP	13	28	46%	NR
9	Michael Forret	RHP	8	33	24%	NA
10	Santiago Suarez	RHP	11	30	37%	16
11	Anderson Brito	RHP	7	28	25%	NA
12	Xavier Isaac	1B	9	28	32%	3
13	Caden Bodine	C	10	25	40%	NA
14	Brendan Summerhill	OF	11	27	41%	NA
15	Slater de Brun	OF	10	25	40%	NA
16	Nathan Flewelling	C	8	26	31%	NR
17	Trevor Harrison	RHP	9	26	35%	10

It’s possible we are all sleeping on Harrison by ranking him outside the top-10. If you had to take bets on the next Rays ace coming out of the system, I’d be more inclined to vote Harrison before Johnson, Nichols, or Suarez and yet there is a gulf between him and the other pitchers in the rankings. It’s an oversight, and one I contributed for by spending my votes stumping for Summerhill. Ah well. Adding Overn for the next candidate.

Candidates

Jackson Baumeister, RHP
23 | 6’4” | 224
AA | 4.62 ERA, 4.15 FIP (15 GS) 62.1 IP, 19.5% K, 9.6% BB
AFL | 6 ER (1 HR), 9.0 IP (4 G, 3 GS), 10 K, 9 BB

A shoulder injury derailed what should have been Baumeister’s coming out party, as his previously plus breaking ball was expected to carve up Double-A. After a tough start to the year and two months on the sidelines, Baumeister returned in August and salvaged the season with a brilliant finish. The tough luck continued, however, in the Arizona Fall League, where a line drive struck him in the head, but he escaped without significant injury. Currently, Baumeister has taken on a fastball/slutter profile, with a slow curve in his back pocket, and has shown teachability and pitchability over the years. The former Seminole currently thrives on his frequently used major league fastball that may be better challenged by a promotion to Triple-A.

Homer Bush Jr.
24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215
AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K

Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.

Cooper Flemming, SS
19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190

One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).

Brailer Guerrero, OF
20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215
A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K
AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA

Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.

OF Victor Mesa Jr.
24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195
AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K
MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA

This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.

Tre’ Morgan, 1B/LF
23 | L/L | 6’0” | 215
AAA | .274/.398/.412 (119 wRC+) 402 PA, 8 HR, 8 SB, 15.9% BB, 19.2% K

Morgan continued to hit without power in 2025, a great discouragement for some evaluators, but his present 50-grade hit tool and feel for the zone allow a major league projection. He continued his improved, quieter two-strike approach in 2025 that built on his success retooling his swing in the AFL last year. The Rays gave Morgan 14 starts in Left Field last season, and Baseball America called the defense “playable,” but his value is tied to his plus-plus defense at First.

Austin Overn, OF
23 | L/R | 6’0” | 175
A+ (BAL) | .242/.367/.386 (127 wRC+) 341 PA, 8 HR, 43 SB, 15.5% BB, 28.2% K
AA (BAL) | .266/.326/.427 (112 wRC+) 136 PA, 5 HR, 21 SB, 6.6% BB, 25.0% K

Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.

Aidan Smith, OF
21 | R/R | 6’2” | 190
A+ | .237/.331/.388 (114 wRC+) 459 PA, 14 HR, 41 SB, 11.5% BB, 31.2% K

Acquired in the Arozarena trade, Smith became the prince who was promised, a five tool athlete with a strong bat, good face, and a preternatural glove in center field. That promise unraveled a bit in 2025, with his strikeout rate rocketing nine percent and his power stroke faltering after facing harder velocities in High-A, causing both his hit and power grades to drop into the 40’s. It was a full transformation into a “center field” profile, but with his ceiling that’s not a compliment. He plays with a fire, but the dip in contact rate left some evaluators feeling burned.

Brayden Taylor, 2B/3B
24 | L/R | 6’0” | 180
AA | .173/.289/.286 (77 wRC+) 437 PA, 8 HR, 17 SB, 14% BB, 27.7% K
AFL | .264/.400/.472 (.384 wOBA) 65 PA, 1 HR, 5 SB, 12 BB, 19 K

Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.

Jose Urbina, RHP
20 | 6’3” | 180
A | 2.05 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 92.1 IP (19 GS), 26.4% K, 8.2% BB
A+ | 2 ER (2 HR), 4.0 IP (1 GS), 5 K, 0 BB

Good pitchers grow and adjust, and Urbina has done that consistently at an age young for his level. Physically he has grown in strength, sitting at 96 with the fastball after flashing high octane in 2024, and technically he has grown, refining his dialed up slider and his two-plane curveball into complementary pitches — which lack plus command but are thrown with feel. He shouldered a starter’s workload at 19, and was awarded one additional start at High-A, where he allowed two solo shots and struck out five. Overall, the age, body, and body of work have him on the trajectory of top prospect lists in the near future.

The last meaningful baseball game Roman Anthony played was back on September 2nd against Cleveland where he suffered a strained oblique that ended his season. The following week, ever untrusting of this ownership, we here at Over The Monster asked if Alex Bregman and Roman Anthony had already played their last game together. Well, today we got our answer to that question, and it’s a resounding no!

Earlier this afternoon, Tim Healey of the Boston Globe was the first to break the news that Roman Anthony will be joining Teams USA in the World Baseball Classic next month alongside former Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman, and current Red Sox teammate Garrett Whitlock. He’ll be replacing Corbin Carroll of the D-Backs, who broke his hamate bone earlier this month. Here’s a link to the entire Team USA roster, which is absolutely stacked.

This is great news for Red Sox fans! Not just because it’s a chance to watch one of the team’s blossoming stars take the field on a national global stage, but also because it gives Anthony experience in this type of game. One of the sneaky worst things about the oblique injury ending his 2025 season early is that it didn’t just take him out of their postseason run run last fall – It also robbed him of some valuable postseason experience, which he could have used to take into future Octobers.

He even may have indirectly touched on this point when asked about potentially joining Team USA earlier this week:

“It would be a great opportunity and a great learning lesson for me, to go be around a bunch of the best players in the game.”

He’s probably talking more about just getting to see how the best in the game go about their business everyday, which is another valuable piece to all of this, but I’m also excited for him to get real at bats in a high leverage, urgent, and chaotic baseball environment. You simply can’t replicate that until you’ve stood in the box and experienced the mayhem.

Back in 2024 when Anthony was in Worcester, I asked him about postseason baseball and how much he pays attention to it. His answer was interesting:

“I always watch postseason baseball. Just watching the games, the atmosphere, the electricity of it. There’s nothing like it.

You can also learn a lot. Just turning on a game and watching a complete baseball game, there’s so many lessons. You can pick up a lot more than just going and watching highlights. Not enough people do it, and I try to do it as much as I can.”

Well, the WBC is not quite postseason baseball, but with the way it’s growing and the way the last one ended, I’d argue it’s the closest thing to it. Now, Roman Anthony is going to get firsthand experience in it, and with the way he operates like a sponge, that’s probably going to be a good thing for the Red Sox come October (if he can help carry them there).

PHOENIX — Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia slowly walked over, took a deep breath Friday, wiped his eyes, and stared at his cell phone.

For the first time since he and his wife Kayla lost their newborn daughter, Sterling Sol, on Oct. 26, days after being born, he stood in front of a crowd of reporters and spoke for six minutes. He stopped and caught his breath several times, frequently touching his heart He didn’t take any questions, and instead asked for privacy as he and his wife continue to heal.

“The lessons we've learned from this is that life can change in an instant," Vesia said. “For us, 10 minutes is all it took. Sterling Sol was the most beautiful girl in the world. We got to hold her, change her diaper, read to her and love her. Our time together was far too short … I was not prepared to not bring my baby girl home, but we're carrying her with us every day.

“Kayla and I will keep those precious moments and memories to ourselves. I hope that anyone listening can empathize and respect our wishes for privacy as we continue to heal and as we navigate the ups and downs of a baseball season."

“We are beyond grateful to be a part of this organization and this family," Vesia said. “So many of you have stepped up and have been there for us in a big way over the past few months, and has meant the world to both Kayla and I."

He spoke about the healing process including the grief counseling he and his wife have begun six weeks ago, the strength and support the Dodgers organization has given them, the Toronto Blue Jays’ heartfelt gesture during the World Series, and the outpouring of love from all over the the world, including the Los Angeles Rams sending an autographed jersey to them that he plans to frame.

Vesia, who stayed with Kayla and left the team during the World Series, still watched every pitch of all seven games, and was overwhelmed with emotion by seeing that every pitcher in the Blue Jays’ bullpen was wearing his No. 57, his jersey number, on their caps in support.

“They are a first-class organization," Vesia said. “Kayla and I just want to say thank you to them. When Kayla and I were watching the World Series, we noticed that there was 51 on Louis Varland's hat. I immediately texted Gus Varland, his brother, and I asked him if I was seeing that correctly. He texted me back right away, and he said, 'the Varlands love you, dude, the whole Toronto bullpen has it too. It's bigger than baseball. We love y'all.'

“Kayla and I, we were very emotional. We were super overwhelmed ... the baseball community, the relationships that you make along the way, it showed that was much bigger than baseball. The outpouring of love and support Kayla I've had over the past few months, few months, has been unmatched.

“We're both grateful to not only Dodger nation, but the fans worldwide. My DMs are basically broken on Instagram from all the love and support that we've had, I've tried to read all the comments and everything because it's meant the world really."

While it was difficult for Vesia to leave the team, he knew that his wife and family needed him much more, and watching the World Series together began the healing process.

“For us, in so many ways, that was a light in our darkness,’’ said Vesia, who returned to his Arizona home after the World Series. “I immediately got back into the gym. I started my throwing program. Having something to look forward to has helped me. The gym has been my mental clarity.

“Being around the guys again, preparing for spring training, it's been really nice. I've gotten a lot of love so far in the clubhouse, being able to laugh and joke around. It's been really nice for me."

When Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saw Vesia on Thursday for the first time since the tragedy, he hugged him, and they talked for 30 minutes.

“There’s not a whole lot [to say],’’ Roberts said. “You’re just sort of there to help support. That’s something they’ve got to process themselves. … It’s one of those things you can’t even imagine. I can’t think of anything worse.

"But I do think that getting back to what he loves to do and play baseball, that’s something that’s therapeutic for him."

Therapy has also been a huge benefit, Vesia says, for him and his wife, strongly recommending counseling to anyone enduring tragedy.

“It hasn't been easy, but talking to someone, it has made a difference," Vesia said. “For those out there who've lost a child or are fighting through any struggle, if you can take anything from this, please seek help. Talk to somebody. It's definitely helped.

“Don't be afraid to speak up. Your mental health matters. I've learned that what happened, what has happened to us, has also happened to so many families. Realizing that has deepened our empathy and our gratitude for this community, the baseball community, is extremely strong. …

“It's been hard, but we're doing okay."

Vesia nodded, looked ahead and then slowly walked back to the Dodgers clubhouse, knowing that his baby girl will never be forgotten, praying and Kayla will one day find comfort and peace.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alex Vesia back with Dodgers after newborn baby death

It’s almost hard to believe, but we have a top 40 in the 2026 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List. We only need four more ballots sent out and counted, and then we will have succeeded in once again ranking the top 44 prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization.

The last chapter of the CPL has brought us someone with a delightful display of power: it’s outfielder Jakob Christian, who has been voted as the No. 40 prospect in the system, falling 10 spots from his debut ranking at No. 30 last year.

Christian, who was the team’s fifth-round pick in 2024 out of the University of San Diego, was essentially in his debut season last year, after only getting into nine games after being drafted. The right-handed hitter, who turned 23 right as the season was ending, flashed some dynamism in his first full year, but countered it with some red flags as well.

Let’s start with the good stuff, though, because that’s what earned him a spot on our list. Christian spent the bulk of the year with Low-A San Jose, where his line was quite solid: he hit .272/.355/.460 with 10 home runs in 70 games, finishing with an .815 OPS and a 119 wRC+. That earned him a late-season promotion to High-A Eugene, which is where he really caught fire and put his skills on display. During his month in the Northwest League, the San Diego native slashed a blistering .304/.380/.570 with four home runs in 23 games, for a .950 OPS and a 155 wRC+.

Those are some green flags! A good average (.279 across the levels), a good walk rate (9.8%), good power (.205 ISO), while getting better late in the year is something to be excited about, and he also added 15 stolen bases while getting caught stealing just twice.

But there were some concerns under the hood. Namely, there were issues with his contact rates. In Low-A, Christian posted a 28.3% strikeout rate and a 17.7% swinging strike rate, very high rates for a large-school college bat who was nearly a year older than league average. While his overall stats improved greatly in High-A, it was despite the contact rates also moving in the wrong direction: he had a 34.8% strikeout rate and a 19.8% swinging strike rate. Across the two levels, Christian ranked 51st out of 58 Giants Minor Leaguers (minimum: 200 plate appearances) in strikeout rate, and dead last in swinging strike rate. That’s a notable hole that needs significant patching if he’s to have success at higher levels.

There’s also the matter of defense. It’s fairly telling that Christian, an outfielder, spent nearly as many games in 2025 at first base (40) as he did in the grass (51). Some of that was to make space in the outfield for San Jose’s higher-touted prospects, but some of it is also a reflection of his defensive value.

I’d assume, given the swing-and-miss issues, that Christian will return to Eugene to start the upcoming season. If he can maintain his offensive performance while patching some of the holes in his swing, he could quickly become a very good prospect.

Now let’s add to the list! As a reminder, voting takes place in the comment section, using the “rec” feature.

The list so far

1. Bryce Eldridge — 1B
2. Josuar González — SS
3. Jhonny Level — SS
4. Bo Davidson — CF
5. Dakota Jordan — CF
6. Luis Hernández — SS
7. Gavin Kilen — SS
8. Carson Whisenhunt — LHP
9. Blade Tidwell — RHP
10. Keyner Martinez — RHP
11. Jacob Bresnahan — LHP
12. Trevor McDonald — RHP
13. Argenis Cayama — RHP
14. Luis De La Torre — LHP
15. Trevor Cohen — OF
16. Jesús Rodríguez — C
17. Parks Harber — OF/3B
18. Carlos Gutierrez — OF
19. Drew Cavanaugh — C
20. Daniel Susac — C
21. Gerelmi Maldonado — RHP
22. Josh Bostick — RHP
23. Lorenzo Meola — SS/2B
24. Will Bednar — RHP
25. Yunior Marte — RHP
26. Joe Whitman — LHP
27. Joel Peguero — RHP
28. Alberto Laroche — RHP
29. Trent Harris — RHP
30. Carlos De La Rosa — LHP
31. Diego Velasquez — 2B
32. Lisbel Diaz — OF
33. Maui Ahuna — SS
34. Cam Maldonado — OF
35. Victor Bericoto — OF/1B
36. Reid Worley — RHP
37. Jack Choate — LHP
38. Rayner Arias — OF
39. Nate Furman — 2B
40. Jakob Christian — OF

Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.

No. 41 prospect nominees

Sabin Ceballos — 23.5-year old 3B — .670 OPS/102 wRC+ in AA (420 PA)

Reggie Crawford — 25.2-year old LHP — did not pitch in 2025; 1.04 ERA/4.07 FIP in AAA in 2024 (8.2 IP); 4.66 ERA/4.93 FIP in AA in 2024 (9.2 IP)

Juan Sánchez — 25.2-year old LHP — did not pitch in 2025; 3.93 ERA/5.17 FIP in AAA in 2024 (34.1 IP)

Charlie Szykowny — 25.7-year old 3B/1B — .816 OPS/122 wRC+ in High-A (549 PA)

Jancel Villarroel — 21.0-year old C — .699 OPS/91 wRC+ in High-A (61 PA); .746 OPS/123 wRC+ in Low-A (372 PA)

Note: Each player’s first name links to their Baseball-Reference page, and their last name links to their Fangraphs page. All stats are from the 2025 season.

If someone told you right now that over the first four full years of Sal Stewart’s career he would hit .274/.359/.432 and average 20 HR a season, would you take it?

You’d probably take it!

The first four years of Nathaniel Lowe’s career saw him do exactly that, as from 2021 through 2024 he was the regular 1B on a Texas Rangers club that excelled all the way to the 2023 World Series title. The 2025 season, however, was another story altogether, as he hit just .228/.307/.381 split between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox as he struggled to mesh with his new clubs.

Apparently, his 2025 work soured opinion on him enough that he was willing to accept a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, and on Friday that’s precisely what the Cincinnati Reds provided. According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Lowe will head to Goodyear and put in work in an attempt to make the Reds out of spring camp.

The Reds are bringing in Nathaniel Lowe on a non-roster deal, sources tell me and @m_sheldon.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) February 13, 2026

Now 30, Lowe is exclusively a 1B/DH guy at this point of his career, though he did dabble in work at 3B earlier on. What he has going for him particularly, though, is that he’s a left-handed hitter who consistently has hit RHP with aplomb, even to the tune of .252/.333/.429 in his otherwise down 2025 season. Considering each of Sal Stewart, Spencer Steer, and Eugenio Suarez bat from the right side of the plate in the 1B/DH conversation, there’s some consideration that throwing Lowe into that mix would add some balance to the depth.

Obviously, it’s a low-cost depth signing that brings in a pretty proven quantity with zero risk if he’s completely lost it. But if he hits in camp the way he has in the past, it gives the Reds some serious decisions to make. For instance, each of JJ Bleday and Will Benson – both left-handed swingers – have minor league options remaining, and if Lowe is mashing (and if Steer looks comfy in LF), carrying Lowe as the lefty bench bat and 1B/DH rotational partner could a) make the most sense for the big league roster and b) maximize the depth on the farm, too.

The Reds previously sprang to sign former Colorado Rockies 1B Michael Toglia to a similar deal, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand is also presumably fighting for a big league roster spot at the same time. Lowe has a much, much more extensive track record than either of those guys, though, and I’d wager that he immediately jumps them in the hierarchy for spots on the Opening Day roster if he shows up in camp and performs the way he’s shown on the back of his baseball card.

Nice pickup, Reds!

Sports give us a socially acceptable outlet for our pettiness. They let us boo, roll our eyes, and carry grudges that would be wildly inappropriate anywhere else in life. You’re allowed to hate teams, from division rivals to big-market behemoths.

Which team do you hate the most? There are several possibilities.

• The Yankees. Do you root for Darth Vader in Star Wars? Do you cheer when the blackjack dealer wins at the casino? You might be a Yankees fan. They’re called the “Evil Empire” for a reason.
• The Dodgers. They’re the new Yankees. They spend like it’s going out of style, and their fans leave games in the seventh inning to beat traffic.
• The Cardinals. Our cross-town rivals. They’re still chirping about Denkinger’s call in 1985 and how they’re the self-anointed “Best Fans in Baseball.”
• The White Sox. Division rivals. The Royals and White Sox have had dust-ups before, including the time two Chicago fans jumped on the field and assaulted a Royals coach.
• The Pirates. I dunno, I just don’t like the way they look at us.

Which team do you hate the most and why?

I have my complaints about the Hal Steinbrenner-Brian Cashman administration, with one of the big ones being that it’s not always clear where Cashman’s decision authority stops and Hal’s starts. The one thing you can never take away from the duo though is that when they want a guy, really want him, they pull out all the stops to get him. Following a devastating loss in the 2019 ALCS, the Yankees needed a true ace to compete with the Red Sox and Astros, the two teams that had bounced them from the postseason in the previous three years.

Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole was putting up numbers that made him look like a hydrogen bomb going up against coughing babies with Louisville Sluggers. As the lead photo to this post commemorates, Cole also famously grew up a Yankee fan, and his signing was something of a homecoming — one that bar a devastating Tommy John surgery, has paid off in spades.

Gerrit Cole
Signing Date: December 16, 2019
Contract: 9 years, $324 million

Cole’s kind of always been the golden boy. His senior year of high school at Orange Lutheran High he sat 96 mph, striking out 121 batters in 75 innings. Of course the Yankees actually drafted him long before signing him in 2019, 28th overall in the 2008 draft. The club offered an overslot $4 million bonus, but the righty stuck to his commitment with UCLA. Three years later, Cole went 1-1 and signed with the Pirates for $8 million.

But then, he did go to the soon-to-be-resurgent Pirates, a franchise that was being widely celebrated at the time for building strong pitching, backed by Ray Searage’s encouraged use of sinkers and two-seam fastballs. Cole was never bad with Pittsburgh, putting up a 5.1-fWAR season in 2015 and finishing fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting, but it always felt that he had another gear to reach. Perhaps a philosophical misalignment—with Cole rivaled perhaps only by Justin Verlander in this era of taking a “screw you, hit this” approach to his repertoire—kept Gerrit from being the ace he would later emerge as.

Regrettably we got to see that pairing for two years, as the Houston Astros added Cole to a very, very dangerous rotation ahead of the 2018 season. That philosophical match was there, as was some sticky stuff, and the big righty put up 13.4 fWAR in two years with Houston — fanning 40 percent of batters he faced in a 326-K 2019!! If only he didn’t dogwalk the Yankees while doing so, we’d all probably remember this fondly.

What I do remember fondly is the famous Boras Corp. hat Cole sported after going unused in a World Series Game 7 loss, signaling that the game’s best pitcher was going to be available to the highest bid. The Yankees, with their Baby Bomber core already starting to show some cracks — love you forever, Gary Sánchez — were in need of A Guy to pair along with Aaron Judge.

Of course having one of the most dominant pitching seasons since Peak Pedro right before becoming a free agent meant there were many suitors, with the Angels, Padres, Phillies, and Astros all expected to be significant competitors, and the Yankees not even considered favorites. The club did catch a break when the Angels bit on Anthony Rendon just before Cole signed, with the former Nationals’ third baseman going to Orange County, and that tale is a much less happy one.

In the end, the Yankees pulled out all the stops on this one. The organization showed up at the right-hander’s door with an entourage that included his childhood hero Andy Pettitte, who spoke about the uniqueness of success in pinstripes. New pitching coach Matt Blake was also part of the delegation, detailing his plans to revamp Yankee pitching development, and appealing to the often-professorial attitude Cole takes to his craft.

The $324 million, nearly double what the Yankees landed CC Sabathia for just over a decade earlier, certainly helped as well. Gerrit Cole was going to be the Opening Day starter for the New York Yankees, in an ironic echo from what might have happened 10 or so years before.

That first start was a strange one, coming in July in an empty stadium as baseball grappled with continuity in the time of COVID-19. Perhaps we could see that first start as an omen of sorts, with the time since seeing Cole win a Cy Young, start a World Series game, and twirl one of the more impressive regular season outings in recent Yankee history on July 10, 2021:

Yet just like all of Aaron Judge’s lofty, indeed historic, accomplishments, everything that Cole has done as a Yankee has ended in a bit of disappointment. In the 2021 AL Wild Card Game, the win-or-go-home playoff outing that you expressly sign a player like Cole for, he gave up a pair of home runs early to put the Yankees down 3-0 and was out after two innings (due in part to a nagging hamstring). The Yankees couldn’t recover and went home.

The team had their backs to the wall in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, this time in the Bronx, once again the exact type of scenario you imagine when you ink an ace to a deal commiserate with his talent. Gerrit Cole played a pivotal role in that nightmare fifth inning, not agreeing with Anthony Rizzo on who should cover first base, and unable to re-establish control over the frame after other errors in the way that we have seen him do so before.

And then came that bad news last spring, just about exactly a year ago. Elbow discomfort, MRI, Tommy John surgery, and a lost year. We don’t know at press time when Cole will be back—probably mid-to-late May by the updates the club has provided—but just like that your nominal ace is 35, hasn’t pitched in anger since that World Series game, and hasn’t had a season without elbow trouble since 2023.

If nothing else, Gerrit Cole is a marked case of Get Caught Trying. Nothing is guaranteed, no one player means that you’re going to win the last game of the season. No active pitcher has a higher career WAR without a World Series ring than Gerrit. Even one of the last, great, 200+ inning workhorses can be felled by a ligament about the size of a Q-tip. Man proposes and baseball disposes, but put it all together and try. The biggest criticism of the post-dynasty Yankees has been that they’ve refused to push it all in at once, but signing Gerrit Cole was probably the closest we’ve gotten to it, and there’s a reason there’s a No. 45 jersey in my closet.

---

See more of the “50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agent Signings in 50 Years” series here.

The college baseball season starts today, which means it is officially draft season. I wanted to highlight a few college prospects that could be available for the Nats to select with the 11th pick. It is supposed to be a very good draft this year, so the Nats will have plenty of options.

Let's play ball! ⚾️👏

🎟️ https://t.co/i73Q25MuVk#NCAABaseballpic.twitter.com/yikZUKh7fl

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) February 13, 2026

We have already written about a few prospects the Nats could take like Tyler Bell, Cameron Flukey, Jackson Flora and Chris Hacopian. The three prospects we are highlighting today are Florida RHP Liam Peterson, TCU outfielder Sawyer Strosnider and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. All of these players have wide ranges, but have a chance to be the pick for the Nats at 11th overall.

I want to start with Peterson, who is the most famous of the three. Some early rankings had him as the top college pitching prospect in this class, but Cameron Flukey and Jackson Flora are ahead of him on most boards now. As an SEC pitcher, he will be facing a higher caliber of hitter compared to Flora and Flukey, who play at UCSB and Coastal Carolina. That means he could end up being SP1 by the end of the season.

Peterson arguably has the best raw stuff of any pitcher in college baseball. His fastball is in the mid to upper 90’s with explosive life at the top of the zone. He also has two breaking balls with a chance to be plus pitches, showcasing a slider and a 12/6 curve. Peterson also shows a changeup with some promise, but is not as comfortable throwing it. One stuff model actually thinks Peterson is the nastiest returning pitcher in all of college baseball.

Happy College Baseball Opening Day! Here are the Top Returning Pitchers in Stuff+

Liam Peterson- 114
Thomas Burns -113
Cade Townsend – 113
Jackson Flora – 112
Robert Orloski – 112
Camron Seagraves – 111
Luke McNeillie – 111
Jack Ohman – 111
Joey Volchko – 111
Jacob Dudan – 110 pic.twitter.com/G8D5poyhY4

— Timothy Chen (@TimStats) February 13, 2026

Consistent strike throwing is the question mark for Peterson right now. His BB/9 went from over 6 his freshman year to 4.2 as a sophomore. However, that is still a bit higher than you would like. He also allowed more hits than you would think for a guy with his stuff, giving up 67 hits in 69.1 innings. Both Fangraphs and MLB Pipeline note some stiffness and effort in his delivery, which is worth monitoring. That could be why they both rank him at 13th, while Baseball America has him at 9th. 

Peterson has very loud stuff, and that could attract Paul Toboni. At 6’5 205 pounds, Peterson also has a prototypical frame. There is a ton of intrigue here, but Peterson will need to perform in his final season at Florida to maintain his stock. He has yet to have a season with an ERA under 4, and that will have to change this year.

The next guy I want to talk about is Sawyer Strosnider, a toolsy outfielder from TCU. Strosnider is a draft eligible sophomore, so he will be younger than most college prospects, having just turned 21 before draft day. He is a freak athlete, with speed and power for days.

Strosnider is not just pure projection though. In his freshman year at TCU, he hit .350 with 11 homers, 10 steals and a 1.070 OPS in 56 games. That made him one of the most productive freshmen in the nation. His speed, power and production make him a tantalizing prospect.

SAWYER. STROSNIDER.

6 RBIs • 2 home runs pic.twitter.com/zztT4X3woi

— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) March 23, 2025

He is not a perfect player though. That is why Fangraphs has him ranked at 15th and Baseball America has him at 18th. Pipeline is the highest on Stronsider, ranking him 9th overall. Both Pipeline and BA note Strosnider’s chase happy approach as a question mark. Fangraphs has some swing and miss concerns, but he was making more contact as the season went on.

Strosnider actually started his college career very slowly, going 5/35 with 17 strikeouts. However, he turned things around after that, hitting .389 with a 14% K rate the rest of the way. Strosnider actually plays right field due to TCU having another high profile outfield prospect in Chase Brunson. He has the tools to play center though, and whoever drafts him will try him out there.

This is a player that could intrigue Paul Toboni. Strosnider has massive tools and big time production. If he has another good season, he could be in the Nats range, and potentially be a top 10 pick.

The last player I want to talk about is Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. Based on the rankings, he seems like a pretty divisive prospect. Fangraphs is very high on him, with Lackey being their number four overall prospect. Baseball America is much lower on him though, putting the catcher 25th in their rankings. Pipeline is in the middle, ranking him 12th.

With the addition of Harry Ford, the Nats are not as desperate for catching in their system, but Lackey could be a player they like. He is universally praised for his defensive ability and athleticism. Lackey is a lock to stick behind the plate and could be a plus defensive catcher.

However, the offense is where the disagreements come from. Lackey advocates like Fangraphs see him as a good contact hitter with the potential to add average power down the road. However, skeptics are not as convinced by the power and are worried his approach is too passive. He also hits the ball on the ground more than you would like due to his flat swing. Lackey has decent raw power, but will he get to it?

The profile for @GTBaseball junior Vahn Lackey continues to grow.

Syncs up well here for the frozen rope at 112 EV. Barrel feel 📈

Most versatile defender on the roster, plus glove behind the plate. Tools litter the 6-foot-2 frame.

Day one pick.@PB_DraftHQ || @DSeifertD1PBRpic.twitter.com/aVIukZb7lS

— Ian Smith (@IanSmittyGA) January 24, 2026

Lackey has only hit 10 home runs in two seasons at Georgia Tech. He also does not have a very long track record. Lackey was not super highly touted coming out of college, and only hit .214 his first year at Georgia Tech. However, he had a huge breakout in 2025, hitting .347 with a .921 OPS. 

That makes this season a huge one for Lackey. If he can show his 2025 was not a fluke, he could be an option for the Nats. However, if the power does not come and he takes a slight step back, he will become more of a late first or early second round guy. The defense makes him a high floor prospect, but the bat will determine his ceiling.

This is going to be a very exciting college baseball season. I am going to try to watch as much as I can to monitor these prospects. It is a shame the Nats were not eligible to pick first overall because Roch Cholowsky is the best college shortstop prospect in over a decade. However, there is a ton of talent and depth in this class. I trust Paul Toboni to strike oil here.

3pm FloSports.

The 2026 Diamond Dores Season begins… now. See my Season Preview for more on this team.

On the Mound

Friday @ 3:00pm FloSports

#39 Vanderbilt Jr. RHP Connor “The Spice” Fennell (6-0; 2.53 ERA*)

vs. #49 TCU Jr. RHP Tommy “The Pour” LaPour (8-3; 3.09 ERA*)

*Record and ERA from 2025.

The Lineup

The lineup is in 👇 pic.twitter.com/mWbXwMWuqd

— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) February 13, 2026

See you in the comments.

Was today’s trade a precursor to another one coming soon?

Today the Astros traded OF Jesus Sanchez to the Toronto Blue Jays for a former Astros fan favorite – OF Joey Loperfido.

Clearly the Astros were sour on Sanchez after he performed poorly both at the plate (.199 AVG with Houston) and in the field, as this deal essentially equates to a salary dump. Sanchez was due to ear $6.8M while Loperfido still makes the MLB minimum $820K. Loperfido also has an option remaining.

With the trade, the Astros now sit close to $15.8M under the first tax line ($244M), and have more flexibility for another deal to bring in a player who would be a lineup upgrade. While a previous fan favorite, Loperfido profiles as a reserve OF capable of playing all three outfield spots.

What does this trade mean going forward?

Right now it means the Astros have a projected starting outfield of Zach Cole in LF, Jake Meyers in CF and Cam Smith in RF. But it’s important to note, that is as of right now.

"We're not done."

Dana Brown #Astros GM just moments ago after announcing Joey Loperfido acquisition from Toronto for Jesús Sánchez @KHOUpic.twitter.com/nLce4qgNsE

— Jason Bristol (@JBristolKHOU) February 13, 2026

Astros GM Dana Brown dropped the bomb at the end of his conversation with the media. “We’re not done.”

Now armed with more flexibility under the first tax line, perhaps Brown can now be more aggressive in his pursuit of another left-handed OF bat, possibly one that can play LF every day and set up a RF platoon of Cam Smith and Zach Cole, or lead to a trade of Jake Meyers and a shift of Cole or Smith to CF?

Meyers has been the topic of trade discussion all off-season, as has 3B Isaac Paredes who has been caught in a logjam in the infield with 1B Christian Walker. While the club likes Paredes bat and toughness, Paredes has far more value on the market than Walker does due to his age, contract, production and positional flexibility. Reports have indicated significant interest in Paredes and near none in Walker.

In addition to a left-handed hitting power bat in the outfield, the Astros could also benefit from a backup catcher to replace Victor Caratini and another high-leverage arm in the bullpen due to uncertainty surrounding closer Josh Hader and reliever Bennett Sousa. Hader had a setback in his recovery from a sprained shoulder capsule as he developed bicep tendonitis, and Sousa’s season was cut short due to a flexor/pronator strain in his left elbow.

Sousa also had Thoracic Outlet surgery in 2024 but returned to pitch the best baseball of his career. Thoracic Outlet surgery usually leaves pitchers with diminished stuff, but Sousa was surprisingly at his best.

There isn’t much in the way of a viable backup catcher on the free agent market that would offer an offensive upgrade from Cesar Salazar, so it seems the best way to achieve that would be the trade market. The Astros have been linked to Pirates catcher Joey Bart.

While the Astros didn’t get their final roster truly settled before Spring Training began, it is clear that they are still working on that potential final roster. They’re not done yet.

Tell us in the comments what additional moves you would like to see the Astros make.