Category: MLB

ESPN | Riley McDaniel: The Yankees are reportedly weighing making a play for Tarik Skubal, the top free agent on the market. Considering their depth at starting pitcher, the move would likely come with corresponding offloading of others at the position. The Dodgers and Mets are still considered the frontrunners for the two-time Cy Young Award winner, with the Angels, White Sox, and Padres looming as dark horses. In this roundup of free agency, former Yankees David Bednar, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Trent Grisham rank among the top 40 options as well.

ESPN: On the heels of his team’s championship, Brewers manager Pat Murphy has expressed regret for a Yankees gibe that has gained headlines. After the Game 5 clincher, Murphy invoked “that horses— Yankees team” where “you guys were all playing for yourself” to former Bomber and NLCS MVP Jake Bauers. “I called Brian Cashman right away when I heard [my comments] got out,” said Murphy, who added the remark was geared more towards big-market teams as a whole and less towards the 2026 Yankees in particular. The hot-mic moment struck a nerve for many as an echo of the Dodgers’ deriding of New York after toppling them in the 2024 Fall Classic.

New York Post | Christian Arnold: After the Yankees elected not to extend the qualifying offer to Chisholm Monday, his departure from New York appears a fait accompli. While the second baseman excelled in his first year and a half in pinstripes, he faltered this season, underperforming while drawing ire for playing with a lollipop in his mouth and making mental errors in the field. At 28, Chisholm is a fascinating free agency case who may draw interest for his talent despite a difficult walk year.

What is the biggest offseason priority for the Diamondbacks?

James Attwood: Pitching. They are losing Soroka, Gallen, Ginkel, Puk, Loaisiga, and Thompson just to start with. Is Ryne Nelson going to stay healthy? How about Rodriguez and Kelly? Oh yeah, then there is whether or not Corbin Burnes will ever be an effective starter again. So the answer is pitching n general, but starting pitching in particular.

Spencer: Avoid a lockout.

1AZFan1: I see the three biggest priorities as filling in the bullpen, adding one more starting pitcher, and adding a lefty bat who could also play 1B. Of those, the biggest priority to me is finding one more starter. Right now, our starting rotation is Burnes, ERod, Pfaadt, Merrill and Ryne(?). Questions abound in that group and the MLB-ready depth behind them in case of injury or ineffectiveness is suspect.

At first base, worst case you can run Tim Tawa out there and I think you could get reasonable production from him. He had a 98 wRC+ from July 1st on (102 wRC+ against righties) which was better than Freddie Freeman, Josh Naylor, Christian Walker and Nathaniel Lowe among 1B over the same time period. Then the bullpen, while a glaring weakness considering all the arms who are moving on via free agency, was always going to be a throw-stuff-at-the-wall solution to see what sticks.

Makakilo: Perhaps the biggest priority is to develop the performance of the current players, who have exceptional potential.

Ben: It’s a tossup between the starting rotation and first base in my opinion. In 2026, those were two standout weaknesses for the team by wins above average (WAA), ranking 15th in the NL by WAA for first base and left field while ranking 11th for their starting pitching. That last number also includes shocking bounceback seasons from both Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Soroka. I don’t think you can necessarily count on both of those pitchers re-creating those remarkable seasons two years in a row – assuming the team was able to re-sign Soroka.

Sam Bradfield: A serviceable first baseman/DH — whether that’s moving Arenado to first, or going out and getting someone else (Paul Goldschmidt reunion, perhaps?)

Who is your most optimistic, but still realistic, get for the Diamondbacks?

James Attwood: Michael Soroka. There is still the chance he appreciates the treatment he received in AZ and that he likes the atmosphere where he was given a mile of leash. He also took a massive hit to his free agent value when he went to the IL for more than just a game late in the season. Of the starting caliber players on the free agent market, he may actually be obtainable by Arizona, assuming no one else offers him a Merrill Kelly or better contract.

Spencer: The third baseman from Japan. Sato? He’s probably going to be out of the price range, but maybe.

1AZFan1: I think Michael Soroka fits the bill here. I’m not sold that he’ll be worth the money just because I’m worried that injuries will be a regular part of his career moving forward, but if we pay up for a starting pitcher it might as well be him.

Makakilo: Ty France, who would play at first base.

Ben: I think they could realistically target someone like Ty France. He was one of the most valuable defensive first basemen last year with 0.9 defensive WAR from Baseball Reference to go along with a 139 OPS+ in 2026. At 32 years old, he could be a good candidate for a medium-long contract to allow someone else to bubble up from the farm system like LuJames Groover. Spotrac estimates a 3 year/$49 million contract for him, but everything is up in the air given the potential labor unrest this offseason.

Sam Bradfield: If they decide to move Nolan Arenado to first, perhaps they could go after Ryan McMahon from the Yankees? He could be another former intra-division reclamation project, and he’d be a good left-handed platoon for when Nolan needs a day off from third.

Does Ketel Marte get traded? Should Ketel Marte get traded?

James Attwood: I honestly don’t think he’ll be traded, even though Arizona might be better off without his attitude in the clubhouse. Ketel Marte apparently loves it in Arizona, at least as far as living and for his family. It is also fairly common knowledge he dislikes Florida and Texas, which eliminate four teams off the bat. Add in teams like Colorado, Pittsburgh, and a handful of others, and there are maybe 8-10 teams in all of MLB that would be an eligible fit. Except, if Marte doesn’t want to go, he doesn’t have to go. If Arizona is going to trade him, it is almost a certainty that they will have to incentivize Marte to accept a trade. Those sort of incentives are usually monetary in nature, meaning that any money saved by moving Marte is probably eaten by the incentive.

Would Arizona be better off trading him? Should they trade him? If they can get a deal in the same tier as the trade offer put up by Boston last winter, they should probably ask Marte to accept the move. Boston isn’t even going to have a lick of interest though, so chalk off another potential trade target. Because of all the complications, and because the Snakes don’t have a real alternative available right now, it seems unlikely to me he gets traded.

Spencer: Yes. And no. There’s no iteration of this team that’s better without Ketel. But if he’s as big a clubhouse cancer as twitter would have us believe, the long term health of the franchise might depend on him being elsewhere for the rest of his career.

1AZFan1: Yes. I think ownership is done with Ketel and they will pressure Hazen to move on from him. I don’t think Ketel should be traded, at least not for what we will likely get back for him.

Makakilo: Early last season, two AZ Snake PIt articles discussed Ketel Marte’s batting. Despite concerns, the positives were improved squared up percentages for five pitch types, and the average exit velocity was better than 2025.

https://www.azsnakepit.com/arizona-diamondbacks-analysis/91216/can-marte-and-perdomo-bat-better

https://www.azsnakepit.com/arizona-diamondbacks-analysis/92038/whats-the-matter-with-ketel-marte

In October, the following AZ Snake Pit article discussed reasons that next season Marte’s performance could improve or dwindle.

https://www.azsnakepit.com/arizona-diamondbacks-analysis/98356/which-direction-marte
As far as predictors for next season, my take (perhaps a too-quick conclusion) from a FanGraphs article (link follows) was that exit velocity and hard-hit percentage are somewhat good predictors of next season’s performance. From that viewpoint, I’m optimistic about Marte’s performance because among qualified Diamondback batters, his 101.5 MPH EV50 tied for best, and although his 43.0% hard-hit percentage was third best, his 18.9% percent of hard-hit swings was the best. Data from Baseball Savant.

https://fantasy.fangraphs.com/reviewing-my-potential-2026-hr-fb-surgers-decliners-using-league-relative-statcast-power-metrics/

In conclusion, his performance will likely bounce back, and his hitting fundamentals are among the best players on the Diamondbacks, and therefore he should remain a Diamondback.

Ben: I don’t think Marte gets traded. It wouldn’t shock me if a team inquired and even put together an offer for him, but I would be surprised if he actually accepted waiving his 10-5 rights for such a trade to actually take place. Whether or not Ketel should get traded is a separate question I don’t quite know how to answer. His behavior clearly has been a distraction the past two seasons, but he’s also been the face of this current contention window and one of the emotional centers of the team. I’m not convinced his behavior can’t be improved and he can return to form.

Sam Bradfield: I don’t think he will be traded, but it all depends on what they’re able to get for him in return.

Does Ken Kendrick do his thing and blow the budget for one entirely unexpected player, and if so, who?

James Attwood: Almost certainly not. For one thing, outside of potentially Tarik Skubal, there isn’t anyone on the free agent market that is even remotely worth spending for, especially once ages are taken into consideration and the fact that 2027 if probably going to be abbreviated. Ken Kendrick in his wildest dreams is not in the running for Tarik Skubal, no matter how badly he might want him. There simply is no path forward for Arizona to even be allowed to sit at the negotiating table.

Spencer: Not this year. But Skubal if he does….. and it’ll be bad.

1AZFan1: I doubt it. He’s been burned each time he’s done it (I suppose we could give the Burnes signing an Incomplete, though). I really do think that he’s trying to trim the budget and given his track record in last minute splurges, he’ll exercise self control and let Hazen do his thing.

Makakilo: If I could predict the player, it would no longer be entirely unexpected.

Ben: Ian Happ feels like the kind of player that Ken would like to sign randomly. He’d be a relatively expensive (2 years/$40 million per Spotrac) addition who could be valuable as a veteran voice on the team. Of course, at 32, he’s a prime candidate for regression and the outfield is one area that has some excellent depth on the roster and in the farm system.

Sam Bradfield: I don’t think so — I think the lockout means a lot of owners will play things closer to the vest this year, unfortunately.

Thoughts on Ben Fritz joining the team?

James Attwood: Meh.

Spencer: Never heard of him. He sounds perfect

1AZFan1: Obvious caveat that I have no idea how impactful a bullpen coach is, but Fritz has overseen one of the best bullpens in baseball over the last several years. The thing I like most about the signing is that we’re taking a good coach away from one of our direct competitors in the NL West which hopefully doubles the impact of this move.

Makakilo: The best candidates get chosen early in the offseason. Check!
The best candidates are currently in a similar job. Check!
For the Diamondbacks, injury prevention is essential to prevent a repeat of last season. The following two quotes show that Ben Fritz has that skill. Check!

“He’s very good at reading body language. He knows when a guy needs a day or a second day. That’s kind of helped us keep most of these guys healthy.” — Craig Stammen, July 2026
https://www.si.com/mlb/padres/onsi/padres-lose-key-pitching-coach-nl-west-rival-diamondbacks

“He knows deliveries, he knows pitching, he knows analytics. He’s been a coordinator, he’s been a pitching coach, he’s been a rehab coordinator, and he’s been in the Major Leagues these past two years.” — Jayce Tingler, August 2021
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/who-is-ben-fritz-get-to-know-the-padres-new-pitching-coach/2700294/

Ben: I mean, Fritz clearly did a good job handling an excellent San Diego bullpen so that gives me some optimism that he could re-create that somewhat here in Arizona. Of course, it helps that he was working with some of the best relievers in the sport. It’s the third pitching coach over the last five years with mixed results. What exactly will Fritz do to change that dynamic?

Sam Bradfield: I think he’s a good hire. The Padres’ bullpen was nails last year. Granted, they had some excellent arms with Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon, which I’m sure helped. But overall, I’m optimistic.

Place Your Bets, Offseason edition: What date does the season start?

James Attwood: At some point in 2028

Spencer: July 15

1AZFan1: May 1st. I think ownership caves once games start getting missed. I don’t think I’ll be satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations, either. Probably a salary floor gets introduced, but no meaningful salary cap will get through and the deep-pocketed teams will continue to soak up every small market’s favorite player, forcing the small markets to spend their money on locking up players super early or on mid-tier free agents to meet the minimum spend requirements.

Makakilo: How about 2 July because it would add to the celebration of the fourth of July?

Ben: May 30th. As worried as I am about missing the entire season, I’m optimistic there will be enough pressure from the inside and outside that after missing around six weeks of the regular season will be enough for the sides to compromise somehow.

Sam Bradfield: I’m predicting May — after both sides lose a month of salary, they’ll be ready to come back and get things going.

The Los Angeles Angels find themselves in a new light in the MLB offseason, and that’s due to team owner Arte Moreno selling the team to Kroenke Sports & Entertainment last summer.

With a new owner who has a history of being ready to sign a blank check, the organization finds itself handcuffed as they enter free agency.

MLB Insider of The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal, made his per usual regular appearance on “Foul Territory” on Tuesday and spoke about the complications that linger in the Angels offseason.

“Ownership is not expected to be approved until at least December. So they can’t really act, even to hire a president of baseball operations, much less sign a Tarik Skubal,” Rosenthal said. “And will Skubal’s agent, Scott Boras, be willing to wait if, before the lockout starts on December 1. they can get the deal they want.”

When the Angels announced the sale, they added that they don’t expect it to be approved by MLB until the end of the first quarter of 2027.

While landing the most highly coveted in free agency might be a pipe dream for the Angels, they will have a long way to go before they start signing free agents.

As Rosenthal mentioned, the priority for the Angels during November will be to find a new president of baseball operations. From there, they will have to sign a new general manager and manager.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

On October, 21. the Angels announced that they would be relieving Kurt Suzuki of his duties as manager after they endured their first 100-loss season in franchise history.

Shortly after, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reported that interim manager John Mozeliak will not be retained as general manager.

Mozeliak was originally hired as baseball operations consultant while doing the roles as interim general manager after team president Molly Jolly fired Perry Minasian of his duties as general manager.

“I think it’s best that I just honor the role I signed up for and then ultimately turn that over to people that are going to be committed to this for the long term,” Mozeliak said to Fletcher.

Tarik Skubal is officially a free agent for the first time in his seven-year MLB career.

Skubal is predicted to sign a deal that will make him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball, but it begs the question of what the figure will look like and for how many years.

ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney appeared on “Baseball Tonight” on Tuesday and said he’s heard from “multiple agents” that Skubal’s future contract could be more similar to Kyle Tucker’s instead of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s — both of whom are on the Dodgers.

“I had one agent predict to me that they are gonna kind of do. … It’s going to be more Kyle Tucker-type structure, like six times 60,” Olney said. “Which would set a record by far.”

A year ago, the Dodgers were the kings of the offseason when they signed Edwin Diaz and Tucker to contracts that pay them high annual figures.

Tucker signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the Dodgers. The Dodgers adjusted his contract and paid him $33 million last season and will have him making $81 million this season.

The current record contract for a pitcher who isn’t Shohei Ohtani (two-way player) in baseball belongs to Zack Wheeler, who signed a three-year, $126 million contract with the Phillies before the 2025 season — paying him an annual salary of $42 million.

Skubal is the crown jewel of the offseason this year, and the Dodgers know it.

After they acquired him during the trade deadline this season, the Dodgers saw firsthand how good Skubal is. He made 10 starts for LA and finished with a 5-2 record, 2.61 ERA and 70 strikeouts.

Last week, Jack Harris of the California Post had an exclusive with Dodgers owner Mark Walter and was told the team is committed to doing everything it can to continue winning for at least the next 10 years.

On Monday, Olney’s ESPN colleague, Jeff Passan, reported that the Dodgers and Mets are viewed as the main teams interested in acquiring the left-handed pitcher, but he also noted the Padres and Cubs as other teams that have an interest in signing him.

Passan also added that Skubal is looking to sign before the MLB enters a looming lockout that is scheduled to start Dec. 1 unless a deal is reached.

Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability). 

Another Bargain DH

Austin Hays was signed to a one-year, $6 million deal by the Chicago White Sox ahead of the 2026 season. After a calf strain put Hays on the 10-day injured list, he dealt with recurring soreness that halted his rehab assignment. That led to him being placed on the 60-day IL, and Hays played in just 12 games before being designated for assignment and released by the organization. He produced modest results during that time, slashing .233/.250/.326.

Overall Grade: B+

After that, he was released on Aug. 7. Hays almost immediately signed a big-league deal with the Padres, just two days later. He delivered in his very first at-bat, hitting a pinch-hit two-run homer against the Houston Astros. After that, he didn’t produce very much for some time. His slug went down quite a bit, but his contact hitting improved.

In 26 games with the Friars, Hays batted .316/.344/.456. It was a small sample, but it was light years ahead of what he was able to do with Chicago. In his final 15 games of the season, Hays batted .414 with a 1.005 OPS. His only problem was an inability to walk, with just three walks during his San Diego tenure.

His lack of playoff success with San Diego hurt his image with the Friar Faithful. He didn’t record a single hit and reached base only once. Hays is now an unrestricted free agent heading into 2027 and could be re-signed by the Friars to fill out bench depth. His calf injury derailed his 2026 season but he could still be a viable option for teams trying to improve their bench picture.

It’s Tuesday night here at BCB After Dark: the most-talked about late-night spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the fall chill. There’s no cover charge. We still have a few tables available. We can check your coat. The hostess will seat you now. 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 night I asked you how many free agents did you think would accept their qualifying offers? Thirty-eight percent of you thought that one player would accept and another 33 percent thought they would all recject the qualifying offer.

On Tuesday night. I don’t normally do any movie stuff. But I want our evenings to be lively, so that means we need some music. That time is now.

I’ve often said that there is a lot of great jazz that serves as theme songs to television shows. Here’s one you may not know unless you’re an old school anime fan. This is composer Yoko Kanno and her orchestra “The Seatbelts” playing “Tank!,” the opening credits song to Cowboy Bebop.

Welcome back to those who skip all that jazz.

The Cubs obviously need to rebuild their bullpen. While it isn’t in team president Jed Hoyer’s DNA to spend a lot of money on a relief pitcher, there is some reason to believe that he might make an exception this year. And as it would have it, there are two elite relief pitchers available in the free agent market: left-hander Adrián Morejón and right-hander David Bednar.

As luck would have it, Kiley McDaniel has an article up today that has contract estimates up for all the top free agents, including Morejón and Bednar. Now these are just estimates and could be very wrong, but we’re going to use them for the purposes of voting tonight. Taking into account both the player and the contract, would you rather the Cubs sign Morejón or Bednar.

Morejón has been the Padres setup man behind Mason Miller the past few years, but he’d be a closer on pretty much any other team. The 27-year-old (28 by Opening Day) left-hander from Cuba went 9-3 with a 2.83 ERA and three saves. He’s spent his entire career in the Padres organization and has been an excellent reliever over the past three years, posting ERAs of 2.83 in 2024 and a 2.08 ERA in 2025. His four-seam fastball averaged 99 miles per hour this past season, but that’s not even his go-to pitch. That’s his sinker, which also comes in at 99 mph with movement.

Morejón has excellent strikeout, walk and ground ball numbers. He struck out 30 percent of batters he faced last year while walking just eight percent. When batters do put the ball in play, 58 percent of the time it was on the ground last year. That ground ball number is a bit of a outlier in his career, but his career ground ball number is a still very good 50 percent.

Unlike Bednar, Morejón has never been an everyday closer because of Robert Suarez and Mason Miller. So if you believe there is something special about pitching the ninth, then Morejón is a bit of a risk.

McDaniel expects that Morejón will command a four-year, $88 million deal.

The other option is 31-year-old right-hander David Bednar. You’re probably familiar with Bednar’s from his time as a closer for the Pirates. He was an all-star closer for Pittsburgh in 2022 and 2023 before things kind of fell apart for him in 2024. Things got so bad that he was actually demoted to Triple-A for a few weeks in 2025.

But since his return from the minors, Bedar has been lights out. He did well enough the first half of 2025, with 17 saves, for him to be a deadline deal trade to the Yankees. He served all of 2026 as the Yankees closer, garnering 35 saves.

Bednar doesn’t have the same kind of velocity as Morejón, but his four-seamer is still a very good 96 mph on average. But his go-to pitch is his 91-mph splitter, which McDaniel called the best splitter in baseball. He also has a good curveball, giving hitters a third look.

Bednar doesn’t strike out as many batters as Morejón with 27 percent. But he also walks a bit fewer at seven percent. His ground ball rate of 51 percent was also a career-high for Bednar, over his career numbers of 41 percent.

If you care about saves, Bednar has 146 career saves compared to eight for Morejón.

Comparing their respective WAR numbers, both Morejón and Bednar had a bWAR of 1.9 last season. Fangraphs liked Morejón better, 2.8 to 1.9.

Both Morejón and Bednar have qualifying offers, so they will both cost the Cubs a draft pick should they sign one of them.

So, Morejón at four years, $88 million or Bednar at three years, $60 million? Which deal would you jump at if you were Jed Hoyer?

Thank you for stopping by tonight. Please get home safely. Tell your friends about us. Let us get your coat. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomrorrow night for more BCB After Dark.

While the Astros have hired Randy Flores to be the team’s new general manager, it seems that the manager search had already started without him.

According to Jon Morosi on MLB Network, the team has already interviewed multiple managerial candidates, including former catcher Brad Ausmus and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols.

Latest updates

Two sets of scheduled transactions have taken place since we closed the books on the 2025/26 roster at the end of the regular season. Firstly, free agents have come off the roster. That includes the likes of Zac Gallen, Ildemaro Vargas and Kevin Ginkel, plus Michael Soroka after he declined his side of the mutual option for 2027. Five days after the World Series, the 60-day Injured List also ceased to be a thing, so that meant Tyler Locklear, Andrew Saalfrank and Cristian Mena have been added back in. Additionally, as noted elsewhere, Pavin Smith was outrighted to Reno, then looks to have declined the move, since he is now a minor-league free agent. Interesting times!

As before we’ll be tracking the 40-man roster and logging all the transactions affecting it, over the course of the season – whatever and whenever that might be!

Current 40-man roster

40-man roster transactions

• 11/02 – RHP Michael Soroka elected free agency.
• 11/02 – Activated 1B Tyler Locklear from the 60-day injured list.
• 11/02 – Activated LHP Andrew Saalfrank from the 60-day injured list.
• 11/02 – Activated RHP Cristian Mena from the 60-day injured list.
• 11/02 – 1B Pavin Smith outrighted off 40-man roster and became a Minor League free agent.
• 10/29 – 2B Ildemaro Vargas elected free agency.
• 10/29 – RHP Dennis Santana elected free agency.
• 10/29 – C James McCann elected free agency.
• 10/29 – RHP Taylor Clarke elected free agency.
• 10/29 – RHP Zac Gallen elected free agency.
• 10/29 – RHP Kevin Ginkel elected free agency.
• 10/29 – RHP Jonathan Loáisiga elected free agency.
• 10/29 – RHP Ryan Thompson elected free agency.
• 10/29 – LHP A.J. Puk elected free agency.

It’s early in the abbreviated Hot Stove season before team owners and Major League Baseball will likely lockout players while they try to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. But if any teams want to sign players before the terms of the next CBA are set they’ll need to get those deals done before 11:59 PM Eastern Time on December 1. That should signal a flurry of activity in the next few weeks and the Cubs are already in on the action, signing last year’s sometimes closer Jacob Webb to a one year, $2 million deal with a $4 million option (or a $500,000 buyout) in 2028.

I guess it’s not technically a free agent signing since Webb had a $2.5 million team option for 2027 already, but it’s still worth diving into the numbers that inspired the Cubs to keep Webb in the fold for at least one more season and potentially more.

The Stats

It’s not an exaggeration to say Webb helped save the Cubs season. Given the injuries to their pitchers, there were times the Cubs were basically running a continuous shuttle to Iowa in order to fill up a roster. Jacob Webb did more than fill a roster spot or throw some innings. In 67 total innings with the Cubs in 2026 he had a 3.36 ERA off a 4.03 FIP and a 3.57 xFIP. The 33-year-old righty also posted the best strikeout rate of his career with a 25.7% mark. Those aren’t traditionally closer numbers, but Webb locked down a team leading nine saves in 2026 regardless.

You can get a sense of how much value he added to the team on the below table showing all Cubs pitchers who threw at least 30 innings sorted by K-BB%:

Comparing starters and relievers is difficult because their jobs are so different. However, K-BB% provides us a pretty good proxy for effectiveness. Webb’s K-BB% of 16.9% was fifth among all Cubs pitchers last season. To be clear, that’s not a great mark relative to the rest of the league. This is certainly an area of improvement for the Cubs, whose only pitcher in the top 30 in the National League was trade deadline acquisition Kevin Gausman. But it’s a perfectly acceptable mark for a member of a competitive bullpen. That 16.9% K-BB% would have slotted Webb eighth on the Brewers staff, right between setup man Abner Uribe (18.4%) and swingman Shane Drohan (15.3%). Both Uribe and Drohan saw action during the World Series.

The arsenal

Webb also stands out among relievers for his pitch mix, which is primarily four seam fastball (42.9%) and changeup (38.8%), with hefty doses of slider (8.6%) curveball (7.4%) and a 2.3% dash of sweepers for good measure. Put it all together and it looks something like this:

The slider and curveball usage jump out as functional replacements for the sweeper Webb used to throw more frequently. For whatever reason, that sweeper was substantially less effective in 2026 for Webb as hitters hit .500 and slugged 1.000 on 26 sweepers thrown last season. As you’ve probably guessed the four seam and changeup are most effective both at suppressing power (batters slugged just .360 and .319 on those pitches respectively) and at generating whiffs (26.5% and 41.5% whiff rates respectively).

Takeaways

This is a solid initial move from Jed Hoyer and company, albeit a small move on a roster that demands so much more. Webb may have faltered down the stretch as the Cubs closer, but he never should have been the closer in 2026. He’s a perfectly acceptable middle of the bullpen option. He may even be a solid higher leverage arm if he has another season like 2026. Now it’s on the front office to add enough players around him to ensure he’s pitching more sixth innings than ninth innings for future Cubs teams.

 The Houston Astros have selected three players to their 40-man roster: RHP Roddery Muñoz, RHP Evan Reifert, and C César Salazar. Reifert was officially acquired today from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Randy Flores yesterday.

Reifert, 27, pitched his entire 2026 season at Triple A Durham in the Rays organization, posting a 2.48 ERA (16ER/58IP) in 46 appearances, including three starts. He had 81 strikeouts in his 58.0 innings pitched this season, while posting a .180 (37×205) opponent average.

Additionally, OF Jake Meyers, who appeared in 57 games for the Astros this season and in 522 games over the last six seasons (2021-26) in Houston, has been outrighted off the 40-man roster. Meyers will elect free agency.

After these moves, the Astros now have 39 players on their 40-man roster.

It’s out with the old and in with the new for Alex Vesia this offseason.

The Dodgers free agent was recorded by his wife, Kayla, as he shaved off his long beard. Vesia, who has spent the last six seasons in Los Angeles, completely removed the beard and opted for a more clean-shaven look.

Vesia was one of eight Dodgers free agents to hit the open market at the end of the 2026 season. Aside from Tarik Skubal, the reliever is the second-best Dodgers free agent the team must address this winter.

Vesia has been a staple with the Dodgers’ bullpen since 2021, posting a 2.64 ERA across 72 appearances this season. The left-hander sent a message to Dodgers fans after the team was eliminated in the National League Championship Series.

“By far the hardest year of my career. It’s hard to put into words what this season was like. Personal battles with confidence, expectations and highs and lows mentally. I can’t thank my teammates enough for picking me up on down days and dealing with my crazy a– on my high ones,” Vesia wrote in an Instagram post.

Before the season ended, Vesia acknowledged the 2026 season could be his last ride with the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have several members of their bullpen on the open market this offseason, including Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips and Vesia. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the front office make a push to bring them all back.

For Dodgers fans, hopefully the only new thing about Vesia is his facial hair, not a new uniform.

Normally this would be the offseason open thread but hey, it’s Election Night and I want to make sure that folks are here arguing about this instead of, well, that. So yeah, let’s get into this: What do y’all think of today’s news that MLB has proposed a salary cap and floor to go into effect for the 2028 season?

Here’s MLB’s proposal as they laid it out on social media:

Here’s how the MLBPA responded:

Needless to say, it sure seems like the salary cap remains a non-starter for the MLBPA and as long as that is the case, the union is going to continue to wait to “negotiate in good faith” and I’m assuming that means once the owners drop the salary cap talk.

I continue to find it peculiar that both sides are putting their proposals out there directly to social media. I suppose if you’re trying to curry public favor then the best way to do it is to essentially use your social media as a propaganda tool and let the debate go straight to the comments section on the internet. Sure, there have been press releases but it’s still very interesting to see where the two sides have decided to fight this battle. Maybe it’s a sign of the current times, maybe it’s just an overall change in tone. Either way, it’s definitely interesting to see where this is being played out.

Either way, I turn things over to y’all. What do y’all make of this? Are you supporting the players or the owners? Or are you just supporting anything that gets the season started on time? Let us know what you think!

A year ago, the Yankees had one clear free agent target in Cody Bellinger.

But the lefty-hitting, Gold Glove left fielder lingered on the market until Jan. 21, when he agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million contract.

That deal contains an opt out after the 2027 season, the start of which could be affected by a work stoppage.

MLB’s current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, and a looming lockout will impact business over the next four weeks.

With free agency now underway, here’s a ranking of five potential Yankees targets:

5. Luis Arraez

Position: Second base, first base

In his recent assessment of the Yankees’ latest early October exit, owner Hal Steinbrenner pointed to an inconsistent offense.

“Some of them just underperformed,’’ said Steinbrenner “They didn’t live up to what they’re capable of.’’

This year’s Rays-Brewers World Series, won by Milwaukee, featured lineups that routinely put the ball in play and pressure an opponent’s defense.

And in this year’s free agent class, lefty-hitting Luis Arraez is a connoisseur of contact, with just 28 strikeouts in 655 plate appearances in 2026, while batting .310 for the Giants and Phillies.

A three-time batting champ, Arraez – who turns 30 in April – came up with Minnesota in 2019, with James Rowson, then the Twins batting coach.

But Rowson’s immediate future as Yanks’ batting coach is cloudy and Arraez’s complete lack of power and shaky defensive reputation (though he improved his metrics as a second baseman this year) are marks against a long-term deal.

4. Paul Blackburn

Position: Relief pitcher

Yes, the bullpen is a volatile area.

Blackburn’s success in 2026 doesn’t guarantee a repeat in 2027 and 2028.

But the right-hander was such a revelation – at a bargain price – that a multi-year contract must be a consideration.

Like the Luke Weaver path, Blackburn transformed from a shaky starter to a trusted and valuable multi-inning reliever in pinstripes.

Blackburn added depth to his sinker, increased his changeup use, and posted a 1.69 ERA in 62 appearances during his free agent walk year.

Given the uncertainty about Fernando Cruz’s partially torn UCL, a reunion with Blackburn should be on the Yanks’ winter list.

3. Adrian Morejon

Position: Relief pitcher

Or the Yankees could make a higher priority of this setup lefty.

Morejon’s durable profile and high-octane arsenal could create a competitive market among contenders seeking both elite multi-inning relievers and closers.

Over the past three seasons in San Diego, Morejon has averaged 70 appearances, and a 2.58 ERA with 10 strikeouts and 0.4 home runs allowed per nine innings.

With the swing-and-miss ability from his sinker/slider/changeup/four-seam fastball mix is an elite groundball rate (58 percent this year).

Given Brent Headrick’s overuse in a breakout season, the Yanks could use another significant lefty bullpen presence.

2. Teruaki Sato

Position: Third base

We've just entered a shortened window for posted Nippon Professional Baseball League players to negotiate with MLB clubs.

As USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Monday, the players union is unhappy with MLB's decision not to extend the 45-day negotiating period.

That means Japanese stars like Sato and right-handed pitchers Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh must sign by Dec. 1, or else forfeit the opportunity to play in the majors in 2027.

Third baseman Ryan McMahon has one year and $16 million remaining on his contract, but he's a trade candidate (along with 1B-2B-DH Luis Garcia Jr., a fellow lefty hitter) and Sato is a possible target.

The lefty-hitting Sato, 27, is coming off a Triple Crown NPBL season in 2026, batting .306 with 39 homers and 106 RBI.

But some scouting reports on Sato's defense suggest he's more suitable as an outfielder or first baseman in the majors, creating an added dilemma for the Yanks.

1. David Bednar

Position: Closer

Unlike fellow Yankees free agent Jazz Chisholm Jr., the Yanks extended Bednar the $23.15 million qualifying offer in hopes of keeping him for 2017 or signing him to a multi-year deal.

Players who receive the QO have a week to decide whether to decline or accept; taking the offer creates a one-year contract for the upcoming season, as Trent Grisham chose last year.

Over his year-and-a-half in pinstripes, Bednar, 32, has proven himself to be durable and largely drama-free, posting a 1.30 ERA over his last 43 appearances in 2026.

Additionally, you could see the Yankees attempting to reunite with free agent relievers John Schreiber and Ryan Yarbrough, who each made both playoff rosters in 2026.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees free agent targets for 2027: 5 players for Bombers to pursue

Sometimes, a celebration can go a bit too far.

In the midst of the Milwaukee Brewers winning their first World Series title in franchise history, manager Pat Murphy and slugger Jake Bauers shook hands on the field and bashed his former team, the Yankees, not thinking the audio would get out for the internet to hear.

Upon learning that everyone heard his comments about the Yanks, Murphy said he called general manager Brian Cashman to clear the air.

“I called Brian Cashman right away when I heard it got out,” Murphy said on The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman. 

"I heard the next morning, we were at the parade, and everybody was talking about it. I was like, 'What, how did they hear that?' You know, like, hot mic. And I'm like, whatever. So I picked up a phone and called Brian right away and had a good conversation. And the best I could try to explain that I wasn’t talking about the 2026 Yankees."

When talking to Bauers, who played for New York in 2023, Murphy called the first baseman's former team "horses--t" and that the clubhouse mindset was much different from Milwaukee's vibe.

"You're gonna be a rich fu--er," Murphy said. "Just remember when you were on that horses--t Yankees team, you guys were all playing for yourself? Just remember, say, 'this is the way we used to do it.'"

Murphy clarified on the podcast Tuesday that his and Bauers relationship is unique, as they have consistently celebrated together after playoff wins and joked about him playing so well the Brewers won't be able to pay him in free agency. 

"After every celebration, I’d shake his hand. I’d say, 'You rich so and so, you’re going to leave us,'" Murphy explained. "We’re not going to be able to pay you. You’re going to leave us and you’re going to forget all about how we did things. … I would just give him this rhetoric every time."

Murphy added on the Yankees: "I was just referring to the teams that have a lot of high-paid long-contract players. That sometimes it’s harder to get all those guys together to play together. And I used the Yankees because I knew Jake was with them before. … I regret saying it, but that was Jake and I’s humor behind the scenes and I got caught."

The skipper made it known he felt bad for his comments being made public and referred to Cashman as "such a good guy" who's very "levelheaded."

"I wish I had his demeanor and his way of handling things," Murphy said. "I felt horribly if I slandered the Yankees because I was just kind of referring to them as this kind of iconic machine that maybe isn't -- I don't know, maybe it's just an easy way to refer to it."

MLB owners are willing to wait an additional year on a key proposed element of the next collective bargaining agreement.

The league has proposed postponing a salary cap and floor until the 2028 season, as the CBA nears expiration on Dec. 1.

“Starting in 2028 would allow a smoother transition into the scale and floor system without delaying key player benefits,” MLB posted on social media.

The proposal calls for a cap of $258.2 million that no club can exceed. Under that proposal eight teams, including the Mets and Yankees, would have to shed significant dollars from their payrolls (per 2026 figures). 

According to Spotrac, the Mets led MLB last season with a $346.7 million payroll. The Yankees were third at $308.3 million.

The proposal calls for a salary floor of $180.2 million that all clubs must meet. Last season, 12 teams were below that figure, with Guardians last at $74.5 million, according to Spotrac.

MLB said the 12 clubs under the proposed threshold would have increase payroll by a combined $636 million. The eight teams over the proposed threshold would have to shed $528 million in payroll, according to MLB.

“The projected salary cap and floor for 2028 continues to provide more money for major league players while leveling the playing field and giving more teams the ability to participate in the free agent market and retain their homegrown stars so that every fan believes their team has a fair chance to win it all,” MLB’s statement said. 

The players’ association has voiced vehement opposition to the implementation of a salary cap, leaving the two sides headed toward a December lockout.

MLB said it’s also willing to accept the players’ association proposal that players at least 30 years old can become free agents after five years of service rather than having to complete a sixth.

Also, MLB has indicated it is willing to eliminate the qualifying offer – as the players’ association has proposed. Under the current system a team signing a player that receives the qualifying offer must surrender a draft pick. The players’ association has long maintained that such a system suppresses a free agent’s value.

Under MLB’s proposal the league minimum salary would be raised from $780,000 to $1.5 million. The pre-arbitration bonus pool, which currently stands at $50 million, would be raised to $180 million.