The Athletic | Keith Law ($): It’s preseason prospect ranking time. Today, it’s The Athletic. To the surprise of, I assume, literally no one, George Lombard Jr. is the top-ranked Yankee farmhand on Keith Law’s list. Ranked 24th overall, Law is bullish on Lombard’s future, remarking on the young shortstop’s bat speed and knowledge of the strike zone. “He’s at least a future everyday shortstop and still has upside beyond that because of the potential for a plus hit tool.” He’s joined by one other Yankee prospect, pitcher Carlos Lagrange. Lagrange comes in 88th on Law’s list. Law is complimentary of Lagrange’s stuff and clean delivery, projecting that “He should stick as a starter, and could end up in the top two spots in a rotation depending on how far his control improves.” A homegrown, top-of-the-rotation starter? Be still, my heart.
SNY | Anthony McCarron: It’s been a weird, frustrating offseason for Yankees fans. But it hasn’t been bad, per se, I guess. McCarron takes a look at, and individually grades, each move the Yanks made since season’s end. He assigns high marks to the recent re-signing of Cody Bellinger. Meanwhile, the assorted moves to bolster rotation depth earn the lowest of his grades (C+). It still feels like an underwhelming offseason, but I think I’d feel much worse if there were Ds or, baseball gods forbid, any Fs on that scorecard.
Fox Sports | Ryan Morik: The Captain is coming to the defense of Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner. Derek Jeter addressed the team’s championship drought, offering that “I’m sure Hal is frustrated as well. Hal’s been willing to go out and get players and put the Yankees in a position to win. But ultimately, you have to go out on the field and perform.” Jeets makes an interesting point elsewhere in the article, arguing that the trade deadline is likely to be the critical factor, given that teams can radically transform at the deadline.
Yahoo Sports | Billy Hayen: It’s been a rough stretch for the Yanks in the international free agent market. And the hits keep coming. Dominican infielder Marion De La Rosa, who recently de-committed (to borrow a college football phrase) from the Yankees, has apparently agreed to terms with the Seattle Mariners. De La Rosa won’t be able to sign with them until 2027 and technically teams and players can’t agree to these terms ahead of time, but… anyway, now the challenge for Seattle will be keeping him in the fold for a year until he can sign on the dotted line.
There are 15 days until San Diego Padres pitchers and catchers report to Peoria, Ariz. for their physicals prior to the start of Spring Training. This Saturday is Padres Fanfest and here is hoping that there will be some real news to discuss for the next offseason notes.
As of today, the last significant action for the Padres occurred in December with the signing of Sung-Mun Song and the re-signing of Michael King. Since then, Song has been injured and the Padres have signed a lot of minor league free agents.
International Class
As of Jan. 22, the Padres have signed 29 international players to contracts. Most are for less than $10,000 and don’t count against their bonus pool. At last count, according to MadFriars.com, the organization had about $1 million or more left to sign players before the window closes Dec. 15.
Other than the 16- and 17-year-old international players, there have been other free agents signed to minor league contracts.
Minor league free agent signings
IF Luis Verdugo – Older brother to Padres prospect Rosman Verdugo, he was in the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 2025 and with the Chicago Cubs organization from 2018-2024.
IF Carson Tucker – Played in the Pioneer league in 2025 and was not in a league in 2024. Originally with the Cleveland Guardians organization.
IF/OF Nick Solak – The 31-year-old has played 1B/2B/3B as well as outfield. He was in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 2025 and was with the Texas Rangers 2019-2022. His MLB slash line over parts of six seasons with four MLB teams – .250/.325/.369 in 259 games and 876 at-bats. He played in four games for the Pirates last year. Solak probably gets a spring invite.
IF/OF Samad Taylor – Taylor received a Spring Training invite. Recently DFA’d by the Seattle Mariners, Taylor had some MLB time with Seattle but spent most of the past two seasons in Triple-A. He is known for his on base skills and speed and is out of minor league options.
Preseason Prospect rankings released
MLB Pipeline, Baseball America and The Athletic’s Keith Law have all recently released their preseason rankings of the top MLB prospects. With the Padres farm system ranked in the bottom three of baseball, it should not be a surprise that their players are not well regarded.
Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas has been at spring mini-camp in Peoria since it started last week. Although he hasn’t played any significant time in 18 months, he is reportedly fully recovered from the stress reaction in his back that sidelined him almost all of last season.
Both Law and Baseball America list Salas as their only Padres prospect and he has dropped significantly in those rankings.
MLB Pipeline doesn’t list him at all and lists LHP Kruz Schoolcraft as the only Padres prospect on their list. He is listed at No. 88. Salas is not on the MLB Pipeline list of top 10 catchers in the minor leagues and is noted as only an interesting player to watch for the season. Although noting his Gold Glove caliber defensive skills and 20-plus home run potential, his absence from the game for so long has pushed him out of consideration.
Notable international player
Diego Serna, who will be playing under the name Diego Castelo, was highlighted in an si.com article by Gregory Spicer. Serna, 16, was signed for $1 million by the Padres out of Mexico and is only one of two left-handed pitchers ranked in the top 100 international free agents by Baseball America.
Spicer notes his advanced accomplishments and refers to him as the steal of the class. He could be the international player that debuts professionally in the US instead of the Dominican Summer League.
Mason Miller speaks
Padres reliever Mason Miller appeared on the Foul Territory program on Jan. 15 to discuss his offseason and plans for the new year. He stated his desire to remain in the bullpen for 2026 but specifically said that the decision is for this year and there is no decision about the future. The Miller interview begins at about minute 44:00.
Truck Day
Thursday was Truck Day for the Padres. It is the unofficial start of Spring Training for all anxious baseball fans. Every year the Padres put out a video of the day and this year was no different. With almost no news from the team to get fans excited, we will have to Keep the Faith and get excited for truck day until A.J. Preller gives us something else to talk about.
The Padres hosted a celebration of life for Padres Legend and Hall of Famer, Randy Jones. The team announced that they will be wearing a number 35 patch on their uniforms this season to celebrate the life of the first real Padres star and the first Padre to win a Cy Young Award.
RJ was the first Padre on the cover of Sports Illustrated and about the only thing fans had to be excited about in those early years of Padres baseball. He was a great junk pitcher (sinker, slider) in the days when those pitchers were valued. His most proud accomplishment was pitching 25 complete games in his standout season of 1976, in which he won the Cy Young.
Part of what made him special was who he was off the field. RJ took his responsibilities to the team seriously after retirement and he did the same with fans.
Be it either Qualcomm Stadium or Petco Park, he could be seen walking around with sharpie in hand, always ready to sign and chat with anyone who greeted him. I had many conversations with him throughout the years and he even joined me and friends for a chat during dinner when he had his restaurant in Hazard Center.
Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We so glad you braved the weather to visit us. Please come in out of the cold. It’s plenty warm in here. We can check your coat. There’s no cover charge. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last week I asked you if the Cubs should sign free agent right-handed starter Chris Bassett. You were pretty cool on the idea as 49 percent of you said the Cubs should not sign Bassett. Another 26 percent of you think the Cubs should sign him if he came with a significant discount.
Here’s the part where we listen to music and talk movies. The BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic only has a couple more weeks to run, but you can always stop in at anytime. But as always, you can skip it if you want.
Tonight I’m featuring one of those NPR Tiny Desk Concerts (support public radio!) from 2016, with the now-late pianist Chick Corea and the still-living vibraphonist Gary Burton.
You voted in the second round of the BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic and Terminator 2: Judgment Day said “hasta la vista, baby” to Brazil. I love Brazil and would have voted for it, but it’s hard to argue with something that sold as many tickets at Terminator 2. Plus, those special effects. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton do indeed look cool.
Tonight we the final matchup of the second round. Our number-one seed, The Matrix, goes up against the six seed, [sigh] Back to the Future. Time to break out those old Huey Lewis and the News LPs!
I suppose the advantage of tonight’s matchup is that I don’t think that I need to explain either film to any of you. Both films have become memes—cultural touchstones that people can make reference to and everyone is supposed immediately understand the point. Even if you haven’t seen one of these two movies, you know what they’re about. You know the big beats in the film like the red pill/blue pill choice or a time machine made out of a DeLorean. Or Marty McFly’s mother wanting to make out with him.
The Matrix. (1999) Directed by The Wachowskis. Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss.
Here’s the Kung Fu scene between Neo (Reeves) and Morpheus. Obviously this scene borrows a lot of the Hong Kong action films of the eighties and nineties, but the vast majority of US viewers would not have picked up on that.
Back to the Future (1985). Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson.
Here’s our first look at the DeLorean time machine.
Now it’s time to vote.
You have until Wednesday to vote. Then, we’re moving on the third round as The Day the Earth Stood Still takes on Godzilla. I must warn you, the won-loss record of creatures going up against Godzilla is not good. Maybe Gort will do better.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the movies and music.
Whenever there is a trade these days, most baseball sites will post an evaluation/grade of the deal within a day or two. And in handing out those grades, there’s always a reference to “Compared to what [team x] gave up for [player y], this deal . . .” Trades are not made in a vacuum. Each one sets the market for every other one.
So tonight, I’m going to ask you which deal do you wish the Cubs had made? Of course, the Cubs did make one deal with the Marlins for Edward Cabrera. That’s one option for you to vote for. But there were three other starting pitchers traded this winter. Which deal do you wish the Cubs had made?
Of course, not all of these trades were actually available to team president Jed Hoyer. The team on the other end of the deal has to want players that the Cubs currently have. If the Marlins had wanted a major-league ready strong defensive catcher for Cabrera, for example, the Cubs wouldn’t have been able to make that trade.
On top of that, we all know that the Brewers were highly unlikely to deal Freddy Peralta to the Cubs for rivalry reasons. I’m not saying that it couldn’t have happened, but the Brewers were likely to ask for a major premium in order to deal their best trade asset to a division rival.
Basically, this is just me asking “Which team made the best trade?” Or at least, which of these four traded pitchers fits in with the Cubs needs the best?
Here’s a quick reminder of the trades that we’re looking at tonight. My apologies go out to Ryan Weathers, whom I didn’t include among the choices. Maybe he shouldn’t have had so many injuries over the past two seasons. I suspect Weathers would agree with that.
Edward Cabrera. Age 28. 8-7 3.53 ERA. 9.8 K9, 3.1 BB9 in 2025. Three years of team control left.
You’re probably already familiar with this deal.
December 19. Orioles acquire RHP Shane Baz from Rays for OF Slater DeBrun, C Caden Bodine, RHP Michael Forret, OF Austin Overn and a competitive balance pick (33 overall in 2026)
Shane Baz. Age 27. 10-12 4.87 ERA. 9.5 K9, 3.5 BB/9 in 2025. Three years of team control left.
Obviously the Cubs could not have made this trade because they don’t have any draft picks that can be dealt. But beyond that pick at the end of the first round, the Orioles got back four prospects, all of which were ranked in the top 30 of the Orioles system by MLB Pipeline but none of them in the Orioles top five. However, DeBrun (6), Bodine (10) and Forret (11) were three of the top 11 prospects in a deep Baltimore system. Baseball America ranks those three prospects a little lower, but they also rank Overn a lot higher than Pipeline does. (17th as opposed to 30).
Unlike Caissie, none of these prospects are considered top 100 prospects. So this was a quantity over a quality deal. But it’s a heck of a lot of quantity and there’s that draft pick to consider, who would almost certainly be another top ten prospect.
January 22: Rangers acquire LHP MacKenzie Gore from the Nationals for SS Gavin Fein, RHP Alejandro Rosario, INF Devin Fitz-Gerald, OF Yeremy Cabrera, 1B/OF Abimelec Ortiz.
MacKenzie Gore. Age 27. 5-15, 4.15 ERA. 10.4 K9. 3.6 BB9. Two years of team control left.
Once again, this is a quantity over quality trade, but it’s a lot of quantity. Five prospects in the Rangers Top 30 according to both MLB Pipeline, between fifth (Fein) and 24th (Ortiz). Baseball America didn’t put Fitz-Gerald or Ortiz in their Top 30, although they did like both of them and they thought Fein was the Rangers’ third-best prospect. This is a similar package to what the Orioles gave up for Baz, except that they didn’t get draft pick like the Rays did. The Orioles also get one more year of control on Baz than the Rangers got with Gore.
Freddy Peralta. Age 30. 17-6, 2.70 ERA. 10.4 K9, 3.4 BB9. One year of team control.
Tobias Myers. Age 27. 1-2, 3.55 ERA. 6.8 K9, 2.8 BB9. Four years of team control.
This trade is a bit different because the Mets got Myers as a pretty decent throw-in, but Peralta is the clear headliner here. Peralta certainly has the biggest track record of success among these traded starters, but the Mets also only get one year of control on him. Yes, they can slap a qualifying offer on him so the Mets could be looking at an extra draft pick if they fail to re-sign him, but the way the Mets spend, that draft pick is going to be pretty low.
Going back to the Mets are two top prospects, one of whom, Sproat, has already made his major league debut. But Williams is the big deal here as he was the Mets’ third-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline and fourth according to Baseball America. Both publications think Williams is a Top 100 prospect, although Pipeline (30th) thinks more of him that BA (71st). Williams is also close enough to the majors to make his debut sometime this year.
Sproat was the Mets’ sixth-best prospect according to Pipeline and fifth per BA. He made his major league debut in 2025. In four starts he had a high ERA (4.79) but a very low FIP (2.80), which indicates that he was either the victim of bad luck or bad defense.
This is a real quality over quantity deal for a one-year rental.
So which one of these trades do you wish the Cubs had made? Which team came out the best?
Thank you for stopping by this evening. We’re always glad to see a friendly face. Please get home safely. Call a ride if you need to. Stay warm. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow for more BCB After Dark.
Bo Bichette’s transition to third base is officially underway.
With just a few weeks left before players begin reporting to Port St. Lucie for spring training, Bichette took some reps in front of his new manager, Carlos Mendoza.
It’s still early in the process, but the Mets skipper seems to like what he saw.
“He’s an athlete,” Mendoza said on the NY Post’s “The Show” podcast. “We’re looking at a guy that has played shortstop his whole career -- watching him today moving around third, taking grounders, creating angles, and just the throws to first I was telling him it looks like you’ve played here before.
“It was exciting that I had that opportunity to see him today, he’s super excited and working really hard.”
Bichette, of course, will be taking over as New York’s full-time man at the hot corner after signing with the club on a big money three-year deal with opt outs just last week.
Prior to this season, he’s only played shortstop and some 2B during his big-league career.
Mendoza indicated that there are things the 27-year-old will have to learn through game reps, as expected, but emphasized that the team is fully confident in him making he switch.
“There are certainly going to be learning moments for Bo, and Jorge Polanco as well, as they understand the intricacies of their positions -- but with Bo we’re talking about someone who knows the game so well,” Stearns said.
“Someone who understands the game so well, has been around the game for his entire life, has a great work ethic on the field, has the aptitude -- we believe he’s going to get there and get there pretty fast.”
Both NY’s teams have top-10 second basemen, according to MLB Network.
Yankees slugger Jazz Chisholm Jr. came in at second at the position, and new MetMarcus Semien was fifth on their list heading into the 2026 season.
Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte headlined the list for the fourth time in his career.
Chisholm, an impending free agent, is coming off a spectacular campaign that resulted in him making his second All-Star appearance and securing his first Silver Slugger.
The 27-year-old racked up 4.2 WAR as he put together his first-ever 30-30 campaign.
Semien remains one of the top defenders in the game, having locked up his second career Gold Glove last season, but he’s left much to be desired offensively.
He lifted just 15 homers to go along with a .305 OBP and .669 OPS over 127 games.
After being traded to the Big Apple, though, both he and the Mets are confident that he can return to the MVP-form that he showed during the 2023 World Series campaign.
As expected, having been the top player at the position when the MLB Network ranked the top hundred players last week, Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte duly ranked first overall on MLB Now’s Top 10 Second Basemen Right Now earlier tonight. The three-time All-Star, who also ranked first overall on the Top 10 Second Basemen Right Now countdown last year, finished one spot ahead of two-time All-Star (and former Diamondback prospect!) Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees.
On Marte, MLB Network analyst and 17-year MLB veteran Cliff Floyd said, “He’s in his prime. …We’ll figure out every other position and get everybody else right because we have a guy at second base that’s the best in the sport.”
The complete ranking for MLB Now’s top-10 second basemen is listed below:
Top 10 Second Basemen Right Now
Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
Jazz Chisholm Jr. New York Yankees
Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs
Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals
Marcus Semien, New York Mets
Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
Xavier Edwards, Miami Marlins
Brandon Lowe, Pittsburgh Pirates
Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers
Hosted by MLB Network’s Brian Kenny, the 16th season of each Top 10 Right Now ranking considers player performance over multiple seasons, offensive and defensive metrics, both advanced Statcast data and traditional numbers, and expert analysis by the MLB Network research team. Next up, tomorrow, will be left field – but I don’t expect the D-backs to trouble the listing there. We’ll be looking forward instead to the Thursday night ranking, which discusses shortstops. I feel sure Arizona should have some representation there. But as to how high, we will just have to wait and see.
So, do you think that Marte is, indeed, the best player at the position in baseball? Tell us in the comments, and explain your logic – whether your answer is yes or no!
Bo Bichette poses with manager Carlos Mendoza at his introductory press conference at Citi Field, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Queens, NY.
Bo Bichette’s transformation into a third baseman is already underway.
The former shortstop, who recently arrived to the Mets on a three-year contract worth $126 million, worked out in front of manager Carlos Mendoza on Monday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., three weeks before position players are due to report to spring training.
The early reviews were positive, Mendoza told Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman on “The Show” podcast.
“He’s an athlete,” Mendoza said. “We’re looking at a guy that has played shortstop pretty much his whole career. And just watching him today, moving around third base, taking ground balls, creating angles and then the throws to first base, I was telling him, ‘It looks like you played there before.’ ”
Bichette, who played in the 2025 World Series with the Blue Jays, isn’t the only Mets player learning a new position: The team also signed Jorge Polanco to a two-year contract worth $40 million to move to first base, a position that became open after Pete Alonso accepted a five-year deal worth $155 million with the Orioles.
Bo Bichette poses with manager Carlos Mendoza at his introductory press conference at Citi Field, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Queens, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Polanco has only one career appearance at first base. Brett Baty (displaced at third with Bichette’s signing) and Mark Vientos also figure into the equation at first base.
“[Polanco] is a guy that came up as a shortstop, playing in the middle of the diamond,” Mendoza said. “He moves around as well and the same thing with Baty and Vientos, guys who have got some experience there. But I feel like it’s going to take some time getting used to some game action.”
Mendoza was also asked about team chemistry — The Post reported in November that Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto had a frosty relationship. Soto last year was in his first season in Queens after signing a record $765 million contract.
Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets is greeted by Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets after he scores on his solo home run during the first inning. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“It’s two very different guys,” Mendoza said. “Soto is very businesslike. He’s a guy that comes in, he’s going through his process. Lindor is more outgoing, like what you see on the field — the big smile. And that guy, whether we win or lose, is going to be the same guy. He cares. Obviously, they both care. And I feel like because of who they are individually, it’s a relationship that they care about winning. They care about each other. They care about their teammates. But they’re two different personalities.”
Mendoza will have a new arm atop his rotation following the trade last week that brought Freddy Peralta from the Brewers for Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat.
“We all know the type of arm, the type of pitcher that [Peralta] is, a guy that’s pitching at the front of the rotation,” Mendoza said. “But as soon as we acquired him, I got on the phone with a lot of people that have been around him, and everybody keeps telling me he’s the quality of the person, how good of a human being he is and how much he cares about his teammates, about people. And that was one of the things that he mentioned to me when I got on the phone with him. It’s like, ‘I’m planning on reporting early to Port St. Lucie so I can start meeting a lot of the new faces.’ That goes to show you the type of guy he is.”
Mendoza was spared amid a coaching staff shake-up following the nosedive that kept the Mets from reaching the playoffs last season. He will be entering the final year of his contract.
“I have a great opportunity in front of me,” Mendoza said. “You get an owner that is willing to put all the resources in order to accomplish the ultimate goal. And you have a front office that continues to make moves to continue to improve our roster. And now it’s up to us, you know, and me as the manager in this situation is a great opportunity. I know where I stand.”
The Royals have signed 36-year-old right-hander Héctor Neris to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, according to New York Post reporter Jon Heyman. Neris pitched for the Braves, Angels, and Astros last year, posting a 6.75 ERA but with 35 strikeouts in 26.2 innings. He had 18 saves in 62 games with a 4.10 ERA in 2024, and was a 2.6 rWAR pitcher in 2023.
Neris has pitched in 643 career MLB games over 12 seasons, with 107 career saves. From 2021 to 2023 he posted a 3.03 ERA with 11.0 strikeouts-per-nine innings. He can still miss bats, but his walk rate spiked upwards. Neris relies heavily on a split-fingered fastball that opponents hit just .182 against. But opponents hammered his 92 mph four-seamer, batting .366 against the heater. Neris posted a 29 percent groundball rate last year, the lowest of his career.
The Royals’ bullpen will feature Carlos Estévez, Lucas Erceg, Matt Strahm, John Schreiber, Nick Mears, and Daniel Lynch IV. Two more spots will be up for grabs with Neris likely competing for a spot with Steven Cruz, James McArthur, Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, Bailey Falter, Mason Black, Alex Lange, and Luinder Avila.
There’s a very real chance that major league players could participate in the Olympics for the first time. If they do, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has strong feelings about who should lead Team USA at the 2028 Summer Games.
Himself.
“I want to manage the Olympic team,” Roberts told the California Post. “That’s what I want to do. In L.A., I want to manage that team.”
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts celebrates on the podium after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 MLB World Series. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I went to school here,” the UCLA graduate said. “I manage the Dodgers.
“It’s a no-brainer.”
Roberts also represented the United States at the 1999 Pan American Games. Because the U.S. finished second, it qualified for the 2000 Olympics, at which it won a gold medal with Tommy Lasorda as its manager.
Something else Roberts didn’t mention: The son of an African American father and Japanese mother, he reflects the wide range of cultures that can be found in Los Angeles.
Want patriotism?
Roberts’ late father, Waymon, spent three decades in the Marines.
“In L.A., I want to manage that team,” Roberts said. “No one’s more relevant to do that than me.”
Bryce Harper has said he wants to play in the Olympics. So has Shohei Ohtani.
The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles. AP
“Of course,” Ohtani said in 2024.
Because Major League Baseball has refused to pause its season to release players for an international competition it doesn’t control, the United States has fielded teams consisting of collegians or minor leaguers at previous Olympics. Japan has used players from its professional league in each of the last four Games in which baseball was included.
For players such as Ohtani and Harper to be cleared to play, an agreement must be reached between Major League Baseball, the players’ union and LA28, the organizing committee for the 2028 Olympics.
Commissioner Rob Manfred has sounded increasingly optimistic that a deal could be made. A major obstacle was removed in November when LA28 announced a new schedule for its baseball, with the competition requiring just a slightly extended All-Star break from MLB.
The opening game of the Olympic tournament is now slated to take place on July 13, a day before the opening ceremony. The final would be on July 19.
Under that scenario, MLB could be able to hold its annual All-Star Game on its traditional Tuesday date on July 11.
There’s no denying the impact, love, and legacy that Andrew McCutchen has left on the Pirates and the region.
The 2013 NL MVP brought winning baseball back to Pittsburgh and may one day have his No. 22 retired at PNC Park. But is it the last time McCutchen has donned the number on the diamond in the Steel City?
McCutchen remains a free agent after concluding the third season of his second stint in Pittsburgh. During the ever-popular “Ask Pirates Management” segment of PiratesFest on Saturday, General Manager Ben Cherington was noncommittal on whether the Pirates will re-sign the former face of the franchise.
“Andrew has meant a ton to the team,” Cherington said, per Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. “He’s had an incredible run, in two different times with the Pirates. Certainly, his legacy is secure, and our desire — everybody at the Pirates would desire — to have him maintain a really good relationship with Andrew well into the future.”
Cherington may be referring to a connection with Pirates alumni and returning to team events in the future.
The more Cherington spoke on the topic, the more it sounded like the Pirates are moving on.
“Then we come back to our team. What is the job? The job is to build a team that gives us the best chance to be winning games when you’re in the ballpark in June and July, and that’s where I see the passion come out,” Cherington said.
Following a season with PR nightmares, spotty attendance, and frequent “Sell The Team” chants, the Pirates were the most active they’ve ever been in the Cherington era in adding to the roster.
Pittsburgh signed first baseman/DH Ryan O’Hearn to the first multi-year deal since Ivan Nova, traded for 31 home-run hitting second baseman Brandon Lowe, and acquired outfielders Jake Mangum and Jhostynxon Garcia.
Cherington said their approach has been based on winning more games this year than previous seasons and “that’s going to continue to guide our decisions.”
The Pirates, at least yet, haven’t deemed that McCutchen best puts them in position for this to come to fruition. This could be because they are chasing a bigger bat to acquire, or don’t want McCutchen back and haven’t wanted to tell him.
Cherington hasn’t been clear, but concluded: “So much respect for Andrew. That relationship is really important to us, and we’ll continue to communicate with him, directly, as the team comes together. We have more work to do.”
McCutchen was not in attendance at the annual fan fest held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Cherington didn’t close the door on a reunion with McCutchen, but the more time that passes makes it more and more unlikely as we approach spring training.
Frustrated by the process, McCutchen took to Twitter to express his feelings about being absent from PiratesFest.
He pointed to how the St. Louis Cardinals had a farewell season with Adam Wainwright, Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, the Dodgers with Clayton Kershaw, and the Tigers with Miguel Cabrera as examples of franchise icons who had one final run and were either known, or strongly implied, that it was their final year.
“I wonder, did the Cards do this Wainwright/Pujols/Yadi? Dodgers to Kershaw? Tigers to Miggy? The list goes on and on,” McCutchen said. “If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player. Talk to them about my appreciation for them over the years. Shake that little kid’s hand or hug the fan that’s been a fan since Clemente.”
I wonder, did the Cards do this Wainwright/Pujols/Yadi? Dodgers to Kershaw?Tigers to Miggy? The list goes on and on. If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player. Talk to them about my appreciation for them over the years. Shake that… https://t.co/oB8Nq1bjng
In 135 games, McCutchen hit .239 with 13 home runs and 57 RBIs for the Pirates in 2025. A 17-year MLB vet who has spent 12 in the black and gold, McCutchen is a five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger winner.
McCutchen thinks the fan base deserves transparency. He believes it’s “bigger than baseball” with the relationships McCutchen has built with loyal Pittsburgh sports fans.
“You see, this is bigger than baseball!” McCutchen said. “Bigger than looking at a 40-man roster and cherry picking numbers that fit your agenda or prove why your opinion matters. The fans deserved at the very least to get that opportunity.”
McCutchen ranked second on the team in hits (114) and third in home runs and RBIs. He still lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Maria, who welcomed the couple’s fifth child this month.
“(I don’t know) what the future holds for me at the present moment, but what I do know is (that) though I am 39, on the backend of my career, I still work everyday to be better than I was the year before,” McCutchen said. “If there wasn’t a burning desire to continue this journey, I would be home surrounded by my family, in which no one would judge or be surprised.”
While the Pirates seemingly remain unsure if McCutchen has a role on the team in 2026, McCutchen isn’t ready to hang up the bats and cleats just yet.
“But not yet,” McCutchen said. “There’s more work to do, and I’m not done, no matter what label you try to stamp on. Rip the jersey off of me. You don’t get to write my future, God does.”
There may be a role for McCutchen, but much more minimal than as the starting DH over the past three years. O’Hearn will likely DH, but McCutchen could be a valuable asset to start against lefties.
In 131 at-bats last season against left-handers, McCutchen hit .267 with a .389 slugging percentage and .742 OPS.
McCutchen’s leadership, passion for the city, and, more importantly, his still decent bat speed could make him a valuable asset as a pinch hitter late in games.
His eye for the strike zone may be an asset with the new ABS challenge system going into place.
The Pirates vastly improved their roster this offseason. The downside for many fans is that it likely came at McCutchen’s expense.
The Pirates and McCutchen could both benefit from one more year together, as long as the pieces go together for the Pirates to focus on getting back to the postseason for the first time in over a decade.
Just like at BA and MLB, four outfielders comprised the top four slots on Law’s list at The Athletic. The youngest of the group, Eduardo Quintero, earned the top spot among Dodgers here, ranked No. 9 by Law. Josue De Paula checked in at No. 20, Zyhir Hope was 36th, and Mike Sirota was 51st.
Ryan should be ready to pitch in some role this spring after hitting 100 mph during his rehab. If he were completely healthy, he might be the No. 1 pitching prospect in baseball. He has above-average to plus stuff across the board, with ride on the upper-90s four-seamer, a slider, a cutter that was new in 2024, a two-plane curveball and a changeup, with the cutter probably the worst pitch at the moment because his other stuff is so good.
The other Dodgers prospect ranked in the top 100 at The Athletic is shortstop Alex Freeland, the switch-hitter who made his major league debut in 2025 and played all over the infield in his five weeks with Los Angeles. Freeland is ranked the 87th-best prospect in baseball by Law, who said of the infielder, “He’s played shortstop, and could probably be a fringe-average big leaguer there, but he’s best suited to second or third.”
Whenever he ponders his professional future, Dave Roberts asks himself a simple question: What are you chasing?
A couple years ago, the answer left him with an “unsettling” feeling.
Before the Dodgers cemented their modern-day dynasty over the last two seasons, before they won back-to-back championships that burnished the legacy of their superstar roster and historically successful veteran manager, before they climbed to heights few clubs in more than a century of Major League Baseball have ever reached, a sense of uncertainty gnawed at Roberts as he considered the state of his career and his personal fulfillment in one of sports’ highest-profile posts.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts looks on during batting practice before game one of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center on October 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. Getty Images
He had the winningest managerial record in MLB history, plus a World Series ring from the Dodgers’ pandemic-altered 2020 championship.
But he was also “kind of thinking, ‘How much longer do I want to do this?’” he recalled, after early postseason eliminations in 2022 and 2023 had prompted external questions about his job security and an internal period of self-reflection within him.
“It was like, ‘What am I doing this for?’” Roberts told The California Post recently, sitting down for lunch at a beachside restaurant near his offseason home in San Diego. “I love the question, ‘What are you chasing?’ And I was there at home, [after] you lose, and you’re like, ‘What am I chasing?’ Am I chasing a championship? We already won one. Is that going to bring me joy and fulfillment? I didn’t have an answer.”
Dave Roberts gives an interview after the Los Angeles Dodgers Workouts day at Tokyo Dome on March 17, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan Getty Images
“That’s unsettling,” he added, “when you don’t have an answer to, ‘what are you chasing?’”
Two years later, all those doubts have washed away now.
Entering 2026, Roberts is at the pinnacle of his managerial career, on the verge of a World Series three-peat that he feels has validated the “steadfast [way] in how we’ve done things” over the last decade.
Roberts celebrates after beating the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Toronto. AP
“We’ve been very consistent,” he said, citing everything from front-office and ownership stability to the culture the Dodgers have cultivated in their clubhouse. “I think that for us to look back on how we’ve won, I feel proud of that.”
He has felt a newfound embrace from the fan base, letting go of old frustrations –– “There’s times that I was resentful,” he admitted of the public criticisms he took earlier in his Dodgers tenure –– while expressing a deep gratitude for the way “they show up to support us every night.”
“I’d rather have fans that are passionate and care, even at the cost of me getting booed at home in a World Series,” he joked. “Which, I think I might hold the record with that.”
Most of all, Roberts has found a renewed satisfaction in his work. A purpose, he explained, that goes beyond wins and losses and championship rings.
“Now, I just feel I’m chasing happiness, joy and success –– whatever that means,” he said. “It’s certainly championships. But there’s a lot of other parts for me that I feel confident that I’m achieving.”
Roberts points back to last October’s title defense, highlighting the “complete buy-in” he received from the roster while managing an all-hands-on-deck pitching staff and shuffling players in and out of the lineup.
Shohei Ohtani and Dave Roberts celebrate after their World Series win in 2025. AP
“Not one time was I questioned on my decision-making [by the players], which in turn would question their commitment to the team,” he said. “They all felt their time was coming. They all felt that their roles were really valued. I don’t think that any head coach or manager can say that.”
He cites his own growth in the dugout, and the way he feels his decision-making has “really slowed down” after a decade on the top step.
“I think that with Father Time as an athlete, there’s a bell curve,” he said. “But with coaching, your best years are with experience and as you get older. That’s the irony. And I do feel that I’m much more wise … At 53, I feel like I’m just scratching the surface.”
Roberts is at the pinnacle of his managerial career being on the verge of a World Series three-peat. Getty Images
And as he begins a new four-year contract he signed last spring (which came with a record-setting $8.1 million annual salary), Roberts is no longer grappling his questions about his professional future.
“I’m not gonna say I’m going to manage for as long as Tommy [Lasorda] and Walt Alston,” he said, referencing his Hall-of-Fame predecessors’ 20-plus-year tenures with the club. “But I don’t see myself going anywhere for a while.”
Instead, the former big-league outfielder has made lifestyle changes he hopes will extend his managerial prime. Late last season, he overhauled his diet and almost entirely cut out alcohol. Over the course of this offseason, he got noticeably trimmer while shedding 12 pounds.
“I think that for us to look back on how we’ve won, I feel proud of that,” Roberts said. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I’m in the best shape of my managerial career,” Roberts joked, while sipping on a purple beet and carrot detox juice and picking at a rice bowl with chicken.
“It was in August, probably after we got swept in Pittsburgh, where I was like, ‘I need to make a change … It was a look in the mirror moment, where I said I was fat, I didn’t shave in three days, and I was like, ‘I’m not doing this.’”
After all, Roberts didn’t want to be one of those “leaders or coaches that sort of let themselves go, where you look tired and beat up” (and no, he’s not naming names).
“I do think there’s an optics part of it,” he said. “If I come in looking healthy, and my energy is up, then I do think it can reflect [in] the clubhouse.”
He didn’t want to end up back in the place he was a couple years ago, either, wondering what he was chasing in a job that –– even beyond all the recent winning –– has him reinvigorated in both body and mind now.
“I’m enjoying the heck out of this,” he said. “I’m just re-energized. I really am.”
Ethan Salas plummeted 53 spots on Keith Law’s 2026 Top 100 MLB prospects list that was released by The Athletic, Monday. The 19-year-old catching prospect from Venezuela was the only San Diego Padres prospect to make the list, which is reflective of just how depleted the San Diego farm system is. Salas was the 17th ranked prospect on Law’s list last year, but a back injury caused him to miss most of the 2025 season. Law cited the injury and lack of looks as the reason for his decline, adding he is not giving up on the prospect.
Salas signed with the Padres as the top international free agent in 2023 and was projected to be the next big-name catcher based on his age (16) and defensive ability. Defense has never been a problem for Salas, although some think his value behind the plate will drop with the advent of the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) in 2026. It has been his offensive production that has raised concerns.
Salas played at three levels of professional baseball in 2023 with the Single-A Lake Elsinore Storm, High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps and Double-A San Antonio Missions and compiled 290 plate appearances in 66 games. His ascent through the minors was aggressive and the thought at the time was the Padres wanted to challenge Salas and see how he would handle the higher level of play. He finished with a combined slash line of .248/.331/.421 with 63 hits, including 13 doubles, two triples and nine home runs for the year. Since that time, his offensive production has fallen off.
Salas spent the 2024 season in High-A Fort Wayne and made 469 plate appearances in 111 games. His final line was .206/.288/.311 with 85 hits, including 27 doubles, two triples and four home runs. The expectation was with more time at the lower level Salas would find comfort at the plate and develop offensive consistency that would allow him to continue his progression through the minors at a more realistic pace.
Despite a down offensive year in High-A, Salas started the 2025 season in San Antonio with the Double-A affiliate. He played in just 10 games and made 41 plate appearances before it was announced in May that he suffered a stress reaction in his lower back in the middle of April. Initially, Salas was expected to miss a couple months, but he did not play the remainder of the season. Salas finished with a slash line of .188/.325/.219 and recorded six hits with one double, no triples and no homeruns before the injury.
Based on the performance or lack thereof by Salas, it makes sense that he would have a dramatic fall in the prospect rankings. Salas is expected to be ready for Spring Training, and a healthy season could go a long way toward him re-establishing his value and surely that is what Padres president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller is hoping for. If Padres evaluations say Salas is not going to achieve the potential he had when he signed with San Diego, Preller could use a bounce-back season from him to move Salas in a trade that would improve the big-league roster for the second half of 2026 or 2027.
He is still a teenager and Padres fans would hate to see Preller and the organization give up on the former top prospect too soon, but Salas may no longer be the untouchable farmhand destined for stardom that he once was. By the time all is said and done, he may just be another prospect who is moved in a Preller deal.
The Mets capped off a busy week last Wednesday, acquiring Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers in a deal with the Brewers.
Peralta lands David Stearns and the Mets the top of the rotation arm they’ve been searching for this offseason, but they did have to pay a pretty penny to receive him.
New York parted ways with top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat in the deal.
While the youngsters were caught off guard by the trade, they are ready for the opportunity in Milwaukee.
“After hearing great things about the Brew Crew, I couldn’t be more excited,” Sproat added.
That opportunity could come right away, as both Williams and Sproat are expected to compete for spots on the Brewers' Opening Day roster during their first spring training with the club.
Williams will see the most of his time early on at shortstop, but his role in the majors could depend on team need.
“I’m pretty comfortable at all three positions,” the 22-year-old said. “I’ve played them so much that they all come natural -- I think for me, as long as I’m playing, I don’t really care what position it is as long as I’m helping the team win.
“It’s just about showing up every day whenever they put me in. As of right now, it’s going to be shortstop, so just going into it with an open mind of wherever they put me I’ll play.”
As for Sproat, he'll fight for a spot in the Brewers' rotation, which has an opening after dealing Peralta.
While the 2023 second-round pick is still a bit inexperienced with just four big-league starts under his belt, he’s eager to build off that late season call-up from the Mets in the midst of the NL Wild Card race.
“Those first four starts it was in big situations, but it was fun,” he said. “Those helped get my feet wet. Now I know how those games are, how the environment is -- so going into camp you kind of have an idea of what it's going to be like."
The St. Louis Cardinals are preparing the way for Spring Training which is now just over two weeks away. The team announced the 27 non-roster players that will officially be a part of camp.
Here’s the share that the St. Louis Cardinals just dropped on social media today.
In case you can’t see the Cardinals share graphic on your device, here’s the list from a press release shared by the team:
