WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 31: Washington Nationals prospects Seaver King, Miguel Sime Jr., Eli Willits, and Maxwell Romero Jr. stand with assistant general manager Devin Pearson while being recognized as the organization's 2026 Minor League Award winners before the game between the Washington Nationals and the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on August 31, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Paul Toboni took over as Nationals President of Baseball Operations last year, one of his main goals was to build a “scouting and player development monster”. We saw plenty of development at the MLB level, but the minor leagues is where we really saw the fruits of Toboni’s labor. The Nationals farm system is the healthiest it has been in a long time.
The system may have had more blue chip talent in the 2023-2024 days, but we have never seen this kind of depth. Having a deep farm system allows you to do a lot of different things. You can replace players easily, but you can also use that depth in trades to fill holes that way. It is a luxury the Nationals have not often had.
While the depth is the strength of this farm system, the Nats do have a blue chip prospect at the top. Even though he was the first overall pick in the 2025 draft, Eli Willits still exceeded expectations in his first full pro season. He hit .265 with an .869 OPS across three levels and reached Double-A as an 18 year old. Willits also slugged 14 homers despite not being known as a power hitter.
Eli Willits hit his first Double-A homer yesterday.
Willits established himself as a top 10 prospect in the sport this year, and should be the Nats shortstop of the future. As the son of a big leaguer, Willits has an extremely high baseball IQ, hardly ever makes errors and puts together great at bats. He also runs very well, has good bat to ball skills and is growing into average power. You can see the path to 5 WAR seasons for Willits. His game reminds me a lot of Geraldo Perdomo on the D-Backs.
However, this Nats system is a lot more than just one player. In fact, I think the most impressive part of this year at the minor league level is how many players just came out of nowhere. Several players who either weren’t on my radar or had fallen off the radar had ultra impressive seasons.
A great example of that is Maxwell Romero Jr., who had a breakout year. The 25 year old catcher was a 9th round pick in 2022, who was having an unremarkable pro career in the Nats organization. He was closer to being released than making the big leagues. The arrival of the new regime changed everything for him though.
Romero started the year in AA, where he used his power and patience to destroy the competition. Once he got to AAA, he just kept on rolling. For the season, Romero hit .253 with an .879 OPS and 23 homers. His .881 OPS in AAA was nearly identical to his .878 mark in AA.
maxwell romero jr. with his fourth multi homer game of the season !!!
— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) August 19, 2026
Despite the great season, Romero is not even a top 30 prospect in the Nats system according to MLB Pipeline or Baseball America. Despite his production, Romero strikes out a ton, nearly 35% of the time on the season. There is a decent chance he does not turn into anything at the MLB level. However, before this season, he did not look anywhere near a big leaguer. Now he has a path to being a power first backup catcher.
Cayden Wallace is another one of these older prospects who broke out. Given Wallace’s previous pedigree and contact skills, I am probably higher on him. The point is that the Nats are developing a lot of bodies who deserve looks in the big leagues. Not all of them will work out, but some of them will. That is why you build depth.
Another reason to build farm depth is for trades. Whether it is this offseason, next deadline or in windows to come, the Nats now have plenty of ammunition to make trades. If the Nats are in the playoff mix in July of next year, they have the chips to make a deal and still have a healthy farm.
Honestly, I think the system could take further strides in 2027. There are a lot of players who seem to be right on the cusp of breaking out if they can fix one or two things. An example of that is Miguel Sime Jr., the Nats 4th rounder from 2025. Sime has a triple-digit fastball and a pair of nasty breaking pitches with his slider and curveball. When he is at his best, Sime is devastating.
Miguel Sime Jr.’s final line ⬇️
5 IP 2 H 1 ER 0 BB 10 K
The @Nats_PlayerDev No. 10 prospect generated 21 whiffs on 68 pitches at High-A tonight.
In his first pro season, Sime did a lot of great things. He pitched to a 2.99 ERA with 130 strikeouts in 72.1 innings. Batters only hit .153 against Sime this season. However, he walked 64 batters in those 72.1 innings. He will never have great control, but if he can drop his 20% walk rate down to 12-15%, he can become a top 100 prospect. Ronny Cruz, Coy James and Landon Harmon are also good examples of prospects on the cusp of fully breaking out.
Not all of these guys will hit, but Toboni has collected such a stockpile of talent, the odds are that enough of them will. He is also not leaving this purely to chance either. The way the Nats have improved their player development system has been really impressive. Minor League results are not everything, but you can see the improvements in those results.
In 2025, the Nats had a .463 winning percentage in the minors and a -377 run differential. As of August 25th of 2026, which is the most recent data I could find, the Nats had a .520 winning percentage and a +124 run differential. On the pitching side, no organization had allowed fewer runs than the Nats. Hopefully that starts to translate at the MLB level as well.
We also got to see Paul Toboni’s first draft as the Nats POBO this year. The first player he selected was Chris Hacopian, a local kid with an elite bat. Hacopian only played 13 pro games, but we got a glimpse of his exciting offensive toolset. He has a great combination of contact skills, plate discipline and raw power. The key will be to tap into that raw power more consistently in games.
I am excited to see how this first class of Toboni recruits performs next season. We could be watching them very closely given the lockout situation. If we can only watch the minor leagues to start next year, there are certainly worse farm systems to be monitoring.
It is only year one, but we are already seeing Paul Toboni make a serious mark on this organization. I touched on some of the standouts on the farm, but there are so many others. We wrote about Seaver King’s rise the other day and there are many more exciting players in the system. Hopefully these prospects can link up with the Nats existing young nucleus and make up the foundation of the next great Washington Nationals team.
Milwaukee Brewers third baseman David Hamilton (6) celebrates scoring with Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) of their National League Championship Series game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at American Family Field on Oct 12, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The trade for Caleb Durbin was mutually beneficial for the Red Sox and the Brewers. But, it’s easy to see the impact that David Hamilton’s speed has on this Brewers team. The 29-year-old utility infielder started at third as he has much of the season on Tuesday night, and, more importantly, batted ninth. He ended up on base three times, and was able to score each of those times. His biggest moment came in the eighth inning, when Brice Turang took Edgardo Henriquez into the perfect spot of the outfield and scored Hamilton. The Dodgers then brought in Justin Wrobleski, who was fantastic for them in 2026, to face Jake Bauers with Edgardo Henriquez’s inherited runners hanging in the balance. For the second consecutive at-bat, the ball was driven exactly where it needed to be, and the score was 7-4. The Dodgers are now down two games in a series for the first time in six years… though, yes, they did come back to win that series.
The Guardians are getting scorching hot at the right time, and that’s usually a formula for deep October run. It’s even tougher for Tampa knowing they used Drew Rasmussen, who went six-plus innings and struck out eight, and now still face a deficit after one game. Rasmussen came out for the seventh even after allowing a home run to Chase DeLauter in the sixth, and promptly allowed a second solo shot to Patrick Bailey to tie the game at two. The Rays would then piecemeal together a six-man pitching staff to finish this one out while trailing, and although Cedric Mullins hit a homer of his own, the Rays couldn’t climb out of the hole. The Guardians have now won four straight, thanks largely to scoring late. And don’t look now, but Jose Ramirez is looking every bit of a signature clutch player, as he has an OPS well over 1 in October and added three hits on Monday.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 14, 2026: Bryse Wilson #48 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the first inning of a game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 14, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. The Phillies beat the Yankees, 6-4. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
After a shaky beginning to his major league career, Bryse Wilson spent 2023 and 2024 as a decent middle/long reliever for the Milwaukee Brewers, recording a 2.40 ERA in 87 games across the two seasons. He moved to the White Sox for 2025 and was far less effective, with a 6.65 ERA in 20 games.
The Phillies signed him, thinking they could make him a starting pitcher in the minors, and he would serve as rotation depth. He began the year with Lehigh Valley and had a rough start to his season, though he did show some improvement in June, throwing 12 consecutive scoreless innings.
Bryse Wilson starts today for the Phillies and may be called upon to start for them at some point in 2026.
He talked about what went right for him in Milwaukee, the struggle of last season and his role here. https://t.co/fxYxPJHr6A
There were some roster machinations – presumably due to an upward mobility clause in his contract – where he was released, re-signed, and eventually promoted to the big-league team.
He finally appeared in a game with them on June 18th, with the Phillies trailing by three runs. Wilson was brought in to absorb a couple of innings and hopefully keep the game within reach. He did his job, delivering two scoreless innings, though the Phillies weren’t able to complete the comeback.
Apparently, that wasn’t enough to impress the team. He was optioned after the game and claimed by the Cubs.
The stats: 1 game, 2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 1 BB
What went right
Two innings pitched, zero runs allowed certainly isn’t the worst performance by a Phillies player in 2026. While his overall numbers at AAA were bad, he was striking out a lot of batters, and was victimized by awful batted ball luck.
What went wrong
His poor numbers as a starter in the minors (even if they were somewhat due to bad luck) gave the Phillies no confidence he could be used in that role in the majors. That says a lot considering that the Lehigh Valley rotation was largely a wasteland in 2026.
The future
He’s on his second team since leaving the Phillies, and might even get a World Series ring with the Brewers. So he’s got that going for him.
Final grade: Incomplete
The Phillies hoped that Wilson could serve as rotation depth, but he was simply not good at being a starter in the minors. He’s been passable for the Brewers in a low-leverage role, and that might be his ultimate fate.
Colby Shelton crosses the plate after crushing a grand salami, pulling the Dogs even and giving the scoreboard operator some catching up to do. | (Arizona Fall League/Instagram)
The White Sox prospects are suiting up for the Glendale Desert Dogs, sharing the dugout with hopefuls from the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Chicago ties Los Angeles for sending the most Top 30 prospects (five) to the AFL.
Salt River Rafters 9, Glendale Desert Dogs 4 (10/3/26) Despite the loss, Chicago’s prospects brought some life to the bats. Bonemer went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, coming through with a two-out, bases-clearing double in the bottom of the ninth to cut the deficit to 9-4. It was too little, too late, but we’ll take the clutch knock.
He also patrolled center field, getting the outfield reps that are a big reason for his AFL assignment. Unfortunately, the defensive side wasn’t quite as pretty. The 21-year-old made a throwing error after a fifth-inning sac fly that helped drive in three unearned runs. Yikes.
Shelton finished 1-for-4, with his lone hit kicking off the ninth-inning rally.
Scottsdale Scorpions 5, Glendale Desert Dogs 2 (10/4/26) This one had a little good, a little bad and a whole lot of free passes — nine from Chicago’s pitchers. Bonemer kept the bat rolling, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a walk while Shelton added a single in four trips and backstop Magill went 0-for-3 in his AFL debut.
On the mound, five Sox hurlers got their turn, with mixed results. Altermatt earned a hold with a scoreless, hitless fourth, although the 27-year-old issued two walks. George followed with a messy fifth, surrendering a run without allowing a hit. Three walks, a wild pitch and a hit batter will do that. He got tagged with a blown save before LaCombe secured the final out of the frame. Unfortunately, the righthander ran into his own trouble in the sixth, allowing two runs on three hits, including a homer, and two more free passes.
Wright took over with two outs and stopped the bleeding, then worked around a leadoff single and a two-out walk in a scoreless seventh. Clark handled the final two frames, allowing one last run on a walk, wild pitch and single. The bats offered some promise, but the pitching made Glendale work awfully hard for its outs.
Surprise Saguaros 8, Desert Dogs 7 (10/5/26) The Desert Dogs are still hunting for their first victory after an 8-7 walk-off loss in this one. It was a quiet day for Chicago’s prospects, with almost everyone getting the day off, but Shelton made his brief appearance count. After entering as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the eighth, he came up in the ninth with a runner on second, one out, and the Dogs trailing 7-6. Shelton smashed an RBI single to center to tie it up, giving the Dogs a little hope of finally cracking the win column. Unfortunately, the Saguaros had other plans, walking it off in the bottom of the ninth and keeping that first W just out of reach.
Desert Dogs 4, Mesa Solar Sox 3 (10/6/26 — 10 innings) The Dogs finally got their first win, and Chicago’s prospects had their fingerprints all over this one. After a wild pitch brought home their first tally in the fourth, Shelton plated the second run with a sac fly in the sixth. With the game still tied after nine, Bonemer played hero in the top of the 10th, knocking an RBI single to bring home what proved to be the winning run.
Shelton and Bonemer drove in the contest’s only two earned runs, while Magill chipped in a pair of hits, going 2-for-4. Altermatt handled the final bit of business, getting the last out in the bottom of the 10th to earn his first save and finally put a W next to the Dogs’ name.
Peoria Javelinas 10, Desert Dogs 2 (10/8/26) This was an ugly L, but the South Siders supplied some of the few bright spots. Bonemer was the only Chicago hitter to see action and accounted for two of the team’s six hits, going 2-for-4 with a double. LaCombe and Wright did their part on the mound, each tossing two scoreless innings amid the mess. LaCombe allowed no hits, walked two and struck out one, while Wright surrendered a pair of singles and one free pass, fanning four. A rough day for the Dogs, but at least the Sox contingent did their part.
Salt River Rafters 13, Desert Dogs 9 (10/9/26) The Dogs landed on the wrong side of a football score in this loss, but Bonemer and Magill did their best to keep the offense rolling. Bonemer kept finding his way on base, swatting a triple to center in the fifth and finishing 1-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a walk.
Magill brought the hottest bat of the bunch, going 2-for-3 with a bases-clearing double, four RBIs and a run scored. Shelton couldn’t join the hit parade, finishing 0-for-4 with a punchout. On the mound, Altermatt worked the sixth, allowing one run on two hits while striking out two. Plenty of offense, just too much of it on the other side.
Surprise Saguaros 5, Desert Dogs 4 (10/11/26) A close one, but Surprise spoiled the party with a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth. Shelton was the lone White Sox prospect to see action, entering as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the sixth. He went 0-for-2 in his two trips to the plate, dropping his average to .176 as he continues searching for a spark with the bat.
Scottsdale Scorpions 6, Desert Dogs 6 (10/12/26 — suspended) The AFL website had the Dogs down for a 6-2 loss in seven innings, but apparently nobody told Shelton the game was over. MLB’s highlight clips showed him crushing a grand slam in the top of the eighth to tie it at 6-6 before play was suspended. His grand salami was the lone hit from Chicago’s prospects, as Shelton went 1-for-3 with the homer and a walk, while Bonemer finished 0-for-2 with a walk and a punchout. The scoreboard may need some work, but the video doesn’t. Enjoy the salami.
Mar 30, 2024; Oakland, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt (12) talks with media members before the game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Welcome to Tuesday A’s fans.
The Cleveland Guardians won the first game of the ALCS, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 thanks to some late offense. That’s put the Guardians just three games away from the World Series. Since the Cubs’ record-breaking World Series win 2016 (over Cleveland of all teams), the Guardians’ franchise is the holder of the second-longest championship drought across all four major American sports leagues at 78 years(!). Only the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals have gone longer since their last ring. Lots of the baseball world is pulling for them because no city should have to wait that long for a parade.
A’s fans are also rooting not only for their fellow low-spending club, that team’s skipper is longtime Athletic and beloved member Stephen Vogt, who suited up for the A’s from 2013 to mid-2017, and then wrapped his career with one more season in the Green & Gold. Though he’s retired, he hasn’t left baseball, the dugout, or A’s fans hearts.
Always regarded as a future manager, he got that first gig faster than a lot of people probably expected, only spending one year with the Seattle Mariners as their bullpen coach before getting the Guardians’ gig, replacing another strong manager in Terry Francona. High expectations when you’re taking over for a Hall of Fame manager like Tito but his time guiding the Guardians has been nothing short of exceptional. He’s now got his team just three wins away from the World Series in his third year managing the ballclub. A’s fans don’t have much to root for left in these playoffs except for some good baseball, but seeing our beloved Vogt win a ring would be nice to see. Just wish he was the one managing the A’s.
While the Fall Classic is fast approaching and with it the offseason, the A’s still don’t yet have their next voice in the front office selected. Former Athletic Sam Fuld reportedly was offered the President of Baseball Operations role but rejected that and will stay second-in-command in Philadelphia. Red Sox executive Taylor Smith is rumored to be the pick but until there’s confirmation we can’t say for sure one way or the other. It’s going to be really interesting to see which direction the A’s go. Do they stick with experienced options like Mike Rizzo or do they go after a young guy like Smith? Still lots of candidates to choose from and with the postseason getting closer to its end the A’s will need to be making this decision soon. Perhaps even today.
Second game of the ALCS starts at 5:00 West Coast time. Have a great day guys.
Former San Francisco Giants executive discusses the A's front office opening, how he'd approach the role, and some key questions he'd want answered. https://t.co/CVmpXqmKBC
Watching the playoffs tonight with my kids and here's the rundown: – Megan Fox selling ED pills in a red bodysuit – The scariest movie trailer you've ever seen – Sydney Sweeney in zero clothes…
The get-in price for Games 3 and 4 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday were $176 on Sunday morning. They have dropped about 50% tonight on @TickPick after the Dodgers lost to trail the Brewers 2-0. The NLCS get-in prices are now:
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 08: Parker Messick #77 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts after a strike out against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning in game four of the American League Division Series at Rate Field on October 08, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One down, three more wins to make the World Series.
The Guardians surprised many people by taking the Drew Rasmussen game. Longtime Guardians fans likely know that Nick Martinez is the one who truly owns Cleveland, but that’s a game three problem. Tonight, the Guardians look to get a good performance from Parker Messick and hit Freddy Peralta.
Let’s talk about some keys to winning tonight:
Get the Signature Messick Moment: Messick may be tiring as he is now at 193 innings-pitched for the year. But, during the season, he was the sixth best pitcher in MLB. The Guardians need him to be that again, playing in his old stomping grounds growing up, to have a chance at really flipping this series upside down. He will need to navigate the lefty mashing Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero danger spots in the Rays order effectively to have a good outing tonight.
Get Steven Kwan, Travis Bazzana, Angel Martinez and/or Brayan Rocchio to Have THE Game: Kwan and Bazzana have had some singles and some walks, while Rocchio has yet to do anything notable for the past three games and Martinez got his first playoff hit last night. It feels like any one of these four are always on the verge of breaking out and that could give the Guardians an edge any given night.
Don’t Get Dominated by the Peralta Changeup: Freddy Peralta has pitched much better since joining the Rays (putting up an 0.96 ERA in September) and his changeup has been his most effective out pitch. Changeups give the Guardians trouble but they did just enough to score a couple off another effective changeup artist in Drew Rasmussen last night. The Rays are aggressive and go right after hitters in the zone, so the Guardians were aggressive last night to great effect. They need to continue being aggressive on strikes early in counts and fight off changeups late. The Rays pen, outside Bryan Baker, SHOULD be vulnerable and made more so if the Guardians can, again, force them to use multiple arms from it.
Don’t Get Caught in the Chaos: The Rays are going to lean into hit-and-run, bunting, basestealing and chaos baseball tonight to try to shake up a rolling Guardians’ team. Defense needs to be sound and mental states need to be especially sharp to survive the onslaught approaching.
I would assume Austin Hedges gets the Messick start again, but would not oppose riding the incredible Patrick Bailey heater going on right now. What a fun game last night – let’s do it again. Go Guardians!
Ian Happ is one of the most underappreciated Cubs — maybe ever.
He’s played 10 seasons with the team, producing 25.3 bWAR. That ranks 27th among all Cubs position players — ever. He has hit 197 home runs with the team, which ranks 11th in team history — one behind Hank Sauer for 10th. He’s won four Gold Gloves and is likely to get a fifth when those awards are announced next month.
And yet, Happ seems disliked by many Cubs fans. Why? Maybe it’s the batting average. He hit a career-low .218 in 2026 and his career BA is just .243.
As most of us know, batting average is not a good way to make a complete evaluation of a player. Happ walks. A lot. His 621 walks rank 15th in franchise history and his .341 career OBP is pretty good, as is his .442 career SLG, which ranks 43rd in team history.
Is Happ a great player? No, he’s not. Is he a solid building block any team should be happy to have? Absolutely, and beyond that are the compliments his teammates gave him after the season ended, starting with Dansby Swanson:
“He’s meant a lot to me,” Swanson finally continued. “I think he truly embodies what it means to wear the jersey. And I know he would probably never say that himself, but the tradition and legacy that I feel like he’s carried on from that ’16 team, just the lessons that he has learned, he’s taught me a lot.
“He’s one of my longest friends that I’ve had here, so yeah, that probably speaks enough for itself. He embodies the Cubs more than anyone I know. He’s a big reason why I’m here, and I’m very thankful for him.”
“Happer, he is the Chicago Cubs,” said center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. “I know he loves this place and he kind of helped teach me how to love this place and play here. He’s played a very big role in this version of me so far up to this point.”
You might not think those things matter. I think they do. Clearly players think they do.
Now, having said all that, I would think the Cubs would hesitate signing a guy coming off a pretty bad year to any sort of long-term extension. Yesterday I wrote about Seiya Suzuki and how much I think he means to the Cubs and how they should bend every effort to keep him.
Happ and Suzuki are almost exactly the same age — Happ is six days older. My personal feeling is that Suzuki will age better than Happ will and that Suzuki is more worth a long-term deal.
The most I would give Happ is a one-year deal with a vesting option. If he has a good year in 2027, then sure, extend him into 2028. The Cubs will almost certainly make him a qualifying offer and he just might take it. I’d be okay with that, too.
The alternative might be some sort of combination of Kevin Alcántara, Pedro Ramírez and Matt Shaw in left field for the Cubs in 2027, and personally, I think that would be a significant downgrade.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 05: A close up view of an Arizona Diamondbacks cap logo prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field on April 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
RHP Gerardo Carrillo Carrillo was signed as a Minor League free agent in the offseason, and after eight seasons in the Minors, he made his big league debut in late July at age 27.
Carrillo allowed a run in two innings in that game, then rattled off nine straight appearances (14 1/3 innings) without allowing an earned run and striking out 18.
With several relievers set to depart via free agency, Carrillo could be a big contributor in the Arizona ‘pen in 2027, provided he finds a way to improve his control. Overall, he allowed 16 walks (one intentional) over 17 1/3 innings.
“He has electric stuff,” Slivka said. “Upper 90s fastball, low-to-mid 90s cutter, a nasty split. We saw some inconsistencies with control. When he got sent down, we worked through some things in his delivery to help him find the zone more frequently, and he really started to dial things in.”
Pena slashed .305/.345/.555 for a .900 OPS between the two levels. His sky-high numbers in Amarillo evened out a bit in Reno, where he posted just a .746 OPS, however.
Pena certainly strikes out a lot (119 in 2026) and could use a more all-field approach, but the raw power is clearly there, and the Diamondbacks desperately need power production from their first base position.
Pena likely won’t make the majors out of camp, but he’s a name that could find its way to the big league level in the coming season if he produces early and shows improvement.
The Guardians have landed the first punch in the ALCS, stunning the widely favored Rays with a come-from-behind win in Game 1 on Monday night.
The Guardians’ 7-3 win looked so much different for the first six innings, with the Rays in full control and playing their famous, airtight brand of baseball. Once that door cracked open, though, the Guardians burst through with the combination of power and timely hitting that got them here in the first place.
Batters have been more successful on robot umpire challenges in the playoffs than during the regular season, and teams are utilizing the Automated Ball-Strike System more overall in its postseason debut.
Seventy-one of 121 overall challenges under ABS prevailed during the 25 games of the Wild Card Series and Division Series. The 59% success rate was up from 54% during the regular season. That includes an improvement for batters to 57% (29 of 51) from 49%.
It’s not that hitters are necessarily being more conservative, either. Teams are challenging more in the postseason overall, with 4.8 per game compared to 4.3 during the regular season. Batter challenges are up to 2.04 per game from 1.96.
If the Dodgers do take Ohtani out of the lineup, it’d very likely mean the first career playoff start for 21-year-old Josue De Paula. The Dodgers have carried the top prospect as a bench bat after calling him up in September. De Paula hasn’t shied away from the moment, working two walks in three postseason plate appearances. He took a crucial base on balls against Didier Fuentes to help the Dodgers take a decisive lead in Game 4 of their Division Series. De Paula kept Game 1 of the NLCS alive by working a two-out walk against Trevor Megill in the ninth inning, but Mookie Betts flew out to end the game 2-1.
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 11: Isaiah Drake #4 of the Glendale Desert Dogs bats during the game between the Desert Dogs and the Saguaros at Surprise Stadium on Sunday, October 11, 2026 in Surprise, AZ United States. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Yesterday saw limited action in the Arizona Fall League, as only one of the three games on the schedule got played – and that game was shortened to seven innings. However we did get to watch a pair of Atlanta Braves prospects as Isaiah Drake got the start in left field for the Glendale Desert Dogs, with Owen Carey finishing off the game for him.
This game was actually closer and lower scoring than the final line would indicate. Glendale tied this game up at two in the top of the sixth, before a Scottsdale run in the bottom of the sixth gave them the lead. Scottsdale tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the seventh, which ended up being the final action in this game that was called after that point.
Isaiah Drake came up for the first time in the second inning and fouled off the first two pitches, a pair of 97 MPH fastballs, before taking a ball low on the third pitch and striking out swinging on an inside slider on the fourth pitch. He came up in the fourth with a runner on second and two outs, and on the fifth pitch of the at bat he hit a 97 MPH exit velocity ground ball to the third baseman to end the inning.
In the sixth inning Drake was pinch hit for by Owen Carey, who would stay in the game as the left fielder until it ended after seven innings. After taking the first pitch for a ball, Carey took a low sinker and hit a 97 MPH exit velocity ground ball to the first baseman
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 12: Patrick Bailey #16 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after hitting a Home Run during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on October 12, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Tuesday! The Cleveland Guardians secured an important series lead last night with clutch, late-game hitting and the Milwaukee Brewers’ bullpen continued to dominate in their win.
ALCS Game 2 begins at 5 PM tonight while the NLCS will travel to Los Angeles.
Quad Cities' Austin Charles celebrates after an RBI double during a Midwest League West Divisional playoff game against the South Bend River Bandits Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Four Winds Field in South Bend, Indiana. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The Royals’ High-A affiliate Quad Cities River Bandits had an awesome season. They went 70-57 in the regular season and won the Midwest League West Division in the second half of the season. They went a perfect 4-0 in the playoffs to win the 2026 Midwest League Championship.
There was plenty of good stuff that come from this season. Let’s dive into it.
The good from the position players:
Blake Mitchell had a very mixed bag type of season, with his final slash line being .234/.414/.459. In 381 at bats, he hit 23 home runs and 17 doubles, with 75 RBI, 27 steals. He also walked 113 times and struck out 174 times. So that is a lot of good, but the strike out number is alarming. Mitchell is now 22 years old, and this was his first full season in High-A. He was 25 of 83 throwing out runners or 30%.
Ramon Ramirez, the other River Bandits catcher, had a good season, despite missing two months due to injury. In 372 plate appearances, he hit .279/.362/.477 with 23 doubles, 13 homers, 10 steals, and 39 walks. He was 18 of 76 throwing out runners or 24%.
Jose Cerice, a 21-year-old corner infielder, slashed .272/.391/.371. He hit 12 doubles, 2 triples and 6 homers. He stole 19 bases and drove in 54 runs, while walking 39 times. Cerice is a lesser heralded guy. The Royals signed him when he was just 18 out of Cuba. This was his first time in Quad Cities, I think this might be a sleeper guy to watch.
Derlin Figueroa smashed 26 homers and drove in 89 runs, while stealing 18 bases. He slashed .252/.324/.515. He was acquired from the Dodgers for Ryan Yarbrough back in 2023. I like his game and think he is someone that has potential to monitor.
Asbel Gonzalez, a 20-year-old centerfielder from Venezuela, put up a special season. The Royals signed him right after his 17th birthday. He slashed .262/.358/.314. With just 14 extra base hits, but with 112 hits the whole season. Gonzalez stole 67 bases on 80 attempts. He also drew 52 walks.
I was encouraged by what Zion Rose did in just 71 at bats, slashing .268/.389/.338. He was also 14 of 15 stealing bases. I think he starts in Quad Cities next season but wouldn’t be surprised if he is quickly moved up.
BLAKE MITCHELL WITH THE SWING OF THE SEASON!! We’ve got the lead!! 🤩
Dash Albus, a 24-year-old lefty from Abilene Christian, who the Royals took in the 19th round of the 2024 draft had a good season between Columbia and Quad Cities. He posted a 3.65 ERA over 56.2 innings and struck out 62. He had just a 1.08 WHIP. He walked just 13 guys all season.
Kendry Chourio, the 19-year-old right-handed prodigy was awesome. I do think at the end of the season, they were limiting his pitch count and innings, but it didn’t slow him down too much. On the season, between Columbia and Quad Cities, Chourio threw 90.2 innings, striking out 91 hitters, to the tune of a 2.48 ERA. His WHIP was 0.89. Opponents hit just .195 off him.
Kamden Edge was great out of the bullpen all season. The 22-year-old right hander posted a 4.02 ERA over 56 innings. He struck out 80 batters and had a WHIP of 0.88. He was 4 of 6 in save opportunities. Opponents hit just .147 off him. His stuff is really good.
L.P. Langevin, a 23-year-old righty, was just as good as Edge out of the pen. Langevin, posted a 3.42 ERA over 55.1 innings. He struck out an unreal 106 hitters. His WHIP was 1.19. He was 3 for 4 in save opportunities. He did walk 39 batters, so that is something to work on. Opponents hit just .142 off him.
David Shields was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Year. The 20-year-old lefty was exceptional. He threw 116.2 innings, striking out 139. His ERA was 4.01, and his WHIP was 1.08. Opponents batted just .231 off him. The former 2024 2nd round pick is progressing very nicely.
Jordan Woods, the 22-year-old lefty was good between Columbia and Quad Cities, going 75.1 innings, with a 3.94 ERA. He struck out 98 batters on the season and his WHIP was 1.23. Opponents hit .232 off Woods. Similar to Rose, I think he starts next season in Quad Cities but could quickly be moved to Northwest Arkansas.
Everyone, with the exception of Rose and Woods, I think will start at Northwest Arkansas next season. That was the Royals worst minor league team, and the roster was mostly atrocious. If the Bandits weren’t making a playoff push, I bet some of these guys would’ve been promoted this season.
The wounds of a devastating sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays are still fresh for the Yankees, as they come to terms with another disappointing end to a season this week. As we begin what’s likely going to be a long and dreadfully boring offseason with the impending lockout, it’s time to look back.
Every year, we at Pinstripe Alley look back at the best and worst moments from the past season in the immediate aftermath of its conclusion. After Andrés helped us remember some of the low points, it’s time to remember that there were, in fact, some good moments from this season.
Honorable mentions
Jordan Romano’s Two Meltdowns (April 13/15th vs LAA): As part of a weird, early-season split with the Angels, the Yankees trailed after eight innings in all four games, but won two of them. Against their former Blue Jays adversary, the Yankees came back to win both games, first via a Trent Grisham game-tying homer and a walk-off wild pitch on the 13th, and then a two-run double by José Caballero on the 15th after an odd dropped pop-up. It was a good, early-season vibe boost.
A 13-Run Third Inning (May 31st @ ATH): This game is more notable for being the final one that Aaron Judge played before finally reporting the stress fracture in his rib, but it was one of the more surreal innings of the season. After Will Warren gave up three runs in the first and Jacob Lopez flummoxed the Yankees through two innings, they scored 13 runs in the third on 11 hits, four walks, four stolen bases, and zero home runs. It was tied for the biggest inning the franchise had seen since 1920.
Three Comebacks In The Nation’s Capital (July 10-12th @ WSH): A lot of these moments are based on vibes, and the trio of comebacks against the Nationals before the All-Star break were incredibly needed for a reeling Yankees team coming off a 4-15 slide. Two of the comebacks came off former Yankees in Matt Krook and Clayton Beeter, while the latter was driven by a massive two-run triple by Ben Rice late in the game.
David Bednar Caps Bullpen Day Victory (July 19th vs LAD): David Bednar had a ton of big saves this season, but none were greater than his five-out save to prevent a sweep at the hands of the Dodgers at Yankee Stadium right after the All-Star break, especially after Yoshinobu Yamamoto wrecked a depleted offense in the day game of that doubleheader.
Luis Garcia Jr., Welcome to the Bronx (August 3rd vs STL): In the immediate aftermath of an underwhelming Trade Deadline, the Yankees fell behind 6-0 early to the Cardinals, but hit four home runs to fight their way back, including a picturesque bomb from García in his Yankees debut. This would be in the top five if they won, but Angel Chivilli imploded approximately five minutes later.
The Final Series Against Boston (August 28-30th vs BOS): Aside from a sleepy opening to the Saturday doubleheader, the Yankees put together three inspiring performances to effectively clinch the top wild card and end the Red Sox’s mad dash towards them in the standings. Cody Bellinger’s incredible throw on Friday night and Warren’s mastery on Sunday amidst a 16-1 blowout were great moments on their own.
The Final Day of True Hope (September 14th vs MIN): The Yankees clinched the playoffs and popped bottles in Minnesota, a place that they have dominated for the last 25 years. Clinching does nothing for this franchise, so the real cathartic moment was seeing Judge, amidst a post-injury slump, finally get going with a titanic home run that made you believe he was back. Two days later, he suffered a season-ending calf strain. This game embodied the fleeting hope of the season.
5. A Rare, Well-Timed Triumph In Extra Innings
August 7th vs. ATL
When you look at a 162-game season for best moments, what should you look for? What felt best in the moment, or what was best for the season? In that week alone, the debut of George Lombard Jr. and García’s mammoth home run against the Cardinals that was immediately wasted, were some of the most exciting moments of the season, but neither meant much in the grand scheme of things.
Some moments are more in-the-moment vibes-based, but others look more like the bigger picture. Put yourself back in the headspace of where the Yankees were entering a three-game weekend series against the NL East-leading Braves. They entered the day just a half game ahead of the blisteringly hot Red Sox, who had won 31 of 36 entering play. That night, Boston destroyed the hapless Athletics, 13-1, putting the pressure on the Yanks.
Even more daunting? That outcome was explicitly known well before this one entered the late innings. A nearly two-hour rain delay meant Boston was well on their way to victory at Fenway by the time the game started. The Braves broke a scoreless tie with an Austin Riley home run off Fernando Cruz in the eighth. The reality was setting in: the Yankees were about to fully blow a 15.5-game lead on the Red Sox… in 44 days.
As midnight approached, with one out against lockdown closer Raisel Iglesias, Lombard, in his third major league game, dribbled a chopper back to the mound and beat it out for an infield single. He was able to scamper all the way to third after a wild throw from Iglesias sailed over Matt Olson at first. There’s the spark.
After Ryan McMahon struck out, the Yankees were down to their final out. Two pitches later, Austin Wells ripped a double down the right-field line to score Lombard and get into scoring position as the tying run. Amed Rosario, who never takes at-bats against right-handed pitching, drew a gritty, eight-pitch walk to bring up Rice, who was in a dreadful 0-for-17 slide to start August.
With the weight of the Bronx on his shoulders, the Yankees’ DH smoked a ball 103.4 mph to right field. A little higher and it’s a walk-off home run, but it was hard enough and high enough to spook Acuña into playing it conservatively off the wall instead of trying to leap for it to end the game. Wells scored the tying run, but Rosario was held at third. He’d be stranded shortly after, but the Yankees had life into extras.
The Yankees are terrible in extras. Even at home, where they’ve been pretty good since the Manfred Man was introduced, they didn’t get a single hit in extra innings all season. They needed David Bednar to be crisp, and he was to get Sean Murphy and Jim Jarvis. With two outs and the go-ahead run on second, Acuña blooped a ball into no-man’s land in right field. García, in just his fourth game as a Yankee, made one of the best defensive plays of his career to keep this game tied.
Tyler Kinley was tasked with getting through the 11th for Atlanta and almost did so. A horrendous bunt attempt by Caballero resulted in a foul-bunt strikeout. An intentional walk to Spencer Jones and a six-pitch walk by Lombard loaded the bases with one out for McMahon, the team’s worst hitter all season, with major contact issues. Needing him to just lift a fly ball, that’s exactly what he did to walk it off with a sac fly.
Baseball is unfortunately a game of momentum. Who has it, and who doesn’t. The Red Sox had it; the Yankees absolutely didn’t. If Boston passed them that night, I’m not so sure that this season wouldn’t end in embarrassment at Fenway Park in the Wild Card Series, even if the mirage that was the July Red Sox came to light eventually.
4. Ben Rice’s Ultimate Redemption
August 16th @ TOR
Some things don’t need that full-season perspective. Some things can just feel cathartic, as they did in the rubber game of a three-game set in Toronto in mid-August.
The Yankees were winning another one of those low-scoring games they made their signature for much of this season, doing just enough against Dylan Cease to hold a 2-1 lead after eight (that was almost 3-1 after Caballero’s unique rundown). All they needed was three outs from Bednar.
It was rare in the second half that you’d see Rice play first base, but in the immediate aftermath of García’s game-losing throwing error against the Jays two nights earlier, maybe Aaron Boone thought to give Rice some reps. Bednar got ahead 0-2 on Josh H. Smith, who chopped a ball to first. It took a weird hop on Rice, as is usual on the turf, and he booted it for a leadoff E3.
As we know, playing the Blue Jays, that came back to bite the Yankees. Alejandro Kirk worked a walk, Ali Sanchez failed to block a splitter in the dirt allowing both runners to advance with one out, and Ernie Clement tied the game with a sac fly. An unearned run would force the Yankees to play in road extras, their kryptonite.
Fortunately for Rice, he got to immediately rectify it at the plate. After a sac bunt by Caballero, Rice lit up a 2-0 slider and deposited it into the right-field seats for a go-ahead 437-foot home run.
In a place that was a House of Horrors for them in 2025, it was extremely satisfying to see the team win a game in this fashion to contribute to what would be a last-place Blue Jays team. You usually get a chance to redeem your defensive mistakes, if only the Yankees had embraced that in some of their recent playoff exits.
3. Bellinger and Schlittler Finish Fenway Sweep
April 23rd @ BOS
Sweeping a rival is fun. It doesn’t happen for the Yankees very often because of how hyper-competitive the AL East is, but it did happen a few times this season, which led to some extremely satisfying games to watch. One of those series came in April against a then-spiraling Red Sox team. Dominant starts from Luis Gil and Max Fried generated a pair of low-scoring wins to start the series, but the finale would be the most satisfying of them all.
Cam Schlittler was making his first career start in Fenway, the ballpark he grew up idolizing as a child, just six months after he joined all-time Boston infamy with his Game 3 start in last year’s Wild Card Series. It got off to a shaky start, but the likely Cy Young winner settled in around an RBI double by Marcelo Mayer and a home run by former Yankee Carlos Narvaez to eventually get through eight strong innings in his Fenway debut.
Against the powerful lefty, Payton Tolle, the Yankees were completely silenced for much of the night. A fifth-inning homer by Jazz Chisholm Jr. briefly tied it, but the Yankees entered the seventh inning with a 2-1 deficit, as Tolle exited for a Boston bullpen that would eventually rank as No. 1 in baseball.
But at that point? They were vulnerable. Danny Coloumbe came out for the seventh and allowed three singles to his first four hitters, but he rebounded to strike out Wells to bring them within an out of getting out of it. Hunting a matchup with Rosario, Alex Cora made the move to Greg Weissert with the bases loaded and two out, only for Boone to counter with Bellinger.
In what would be the start of his year of torturing the Red Sox, the legacy Yankee ripped a two-run single to give the Yankees the lead. Three pitches later, Judge followed with an RBI single to make it 4-2. A five-single inning for a team that usually relies on the long ball only further buried the Red Sox in the dread they were in.
Schlittler and Bednar combined to retire the final nine batters they faced to secure the sweep, in which the Yankees allowed three total runs. The rare Fenway sweep sunk the beleaguered Sox to 9-16 and almost certainly served as the final nail in the coffin for Cora, who was unemployed three days later. It’s satisfying to know your team caused a rival to purge an entire coaching staff.
2. Bullpen Holds On For Dear Life on Emotional Day in the Bronx
September 11th vs. NYM
This game kinda sucked, but the only thing that mattered was that the Yankees won the Battle of New York in an emotional night in the Bronx on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. It was one that the Yankees took control of early with a big second-inning blast by Bellinger and a fifth-inning opposite-field blast by Rice against the Mets’ young ace, Nolan McLean.
With a 5-1 lead in the seventh, Carlos Rodón wrapped up a great outing with 6.1 strong innings, but was removed after a one-out single by Carson Benge. The ever-reliable Paul Blackburn entered, but he was one of several Yankees relievers who didn’t have it that night. A walk to Marcus Semien, an RBI single by A.J. Ewing, and a walk to Francisco Alvarez loaded the bases with two outs for Francisco Lindor, the go-ahead run at the plate. Brent Headrick came in, battled a distraction with a streaker on the field, and won a seven-pitch at-bat by catching a scorched comebacker to end the inning.
The drama wouldn’t end there, though. After getting a quick first out in the eighth, Headrick allowed a single to Bo Bichette before issuing back-to-back walks to load the bases again with one out. It forced Boone to go to Bednar earlier than he wanted, but the Yankees’ closer got the last two outs, only allowing one run on a sac fly.
The Mets sent Jack Weisenburger for the ninth to clean things up, but the Yankees added some needed insurance. Singles by García and Jones and a sac bunt by Lombard put two in scoring position with one out to set up McMahon, who blooped a shallow fly ball to left field in front of Juan Soto. Never a good defender, the former Yankee let it drop for an RBI single that made it 6-3.
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be easy in the ninth. Ewing blasted a home run to lead off the ninth against Bednar, and Lindor singled with one out to bring the tying run to the plate, who was, of course, Soto. The former Yankee, being relentlessly booed every at-bat, stepped up as the tying run in the Bronx on 9/11 against an All-Star closer. This was the type of baseball you dream of. In a satisfying ending for the Yankees, Soto bounced into a game-ending 3-6-3 double play, partially due to a balky calf that forced him to take it easy with the game on the line. Oh well.
The Yankees didn’t win a game in the month of October this year. Their early exit for the second straight year has ultimately made this season another tremendous failure, but there were meaningful games in September against a hated rival that allowed everyone, regardless of how they felt about the roster or management, to relish in its beauty.
Schlittler dominated in Game 1, and the Yankees blew it open late. That was fun, sure, but the most fun part about playing a rival in the playoffs is the ability to eliminate them. It was a tall task against the MLB’s win leader in Sonny Gray, but the Yankees rode a great start from Max Fried and some questionable managing from Chad Tracy to a late lead.
Up 2-1 in the sixth, the Yankees rallied against two elite guys named Garrett: Crochet and Whitlock. A dropped third strike, stolen base, and error got Spencer Jones to third; he scored on a Lombard RBI single, and the Yankees grew the lead to 5-1 with productive outs by Wells and McMahon. An intentional walk to Rice put two on with two outs for Bellinger. Just as he did to end Cora’s managerial tenure in Boston in April, it was his swing that ended the Red Sox’s season, blowing the game open and turning the final few innings into a party in the Bronx.
There was no better moment than that. No matter what happened after, there’s no more true bliss than that.
Oct 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (7) and pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Now that the National League Championship Series is back at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, the Dodgers will have Blake Snell starting on the mound in Game 3 on Wednesday night, followed by Tyler Glasnow in Game 4 on Thursday.
“It’s just one of those things that you need Snell to go out there and give us some length, give us a typical Blake Snell outing and let us deploy guys with a lead. I know Blake has a bad taste in his mouth from that last outing against the Braves. So you’re going to see a locked-in, focused Snell,” Roberts said Monday night in Milwaukee. “On the other side of things, we’ve got to support him offensively too.”
Snell in his postseason career had a 3.23 ERA with 107 strikeouts and 41 walks in 86 1/3 innings, and he’s allowed two or fewer runs in 12 of his 16 starts. With the Dodgers, Snell has a 3.11 postseason ERA in seven games, including six starts, with 46 strikeouts and 18 walks in 37 2/3 innings.
Glasnow in his seven postseason appearances — four starts, three relief appearances — with the Dodgers has a 1.73 ERA in 26 innings, with 30 strikeouts and 16 walks. The team has won all seven games.
“They know me, and I know them. I enjoy having some familiarity with a lineup,” Gasser told reporters in Milwaukee on Monday. “Definitely looking back to the game in August and kind of watching those swings, obviously hitters adjust, but being a good guy in the dugout, watching them right now and seeing how they’ve changed to now and trying to build a plan for them.”
That leaves Game 4 perhaps at least in some fashion for former Dodgers pitcher Dustin May, who pitched a scoreless inning in relief in Game 2 on Monday. Then again, every Brewers relief appearance thus far in the NLCS has been scoreless.
“He could start Game 4, who knows?” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of May. “But he’s got a role on our team right now of pitching and getting outs, and we’ve told him that, hey, we need you to be ready every day to get outs.”
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 12: William Contreras #24 and David Hamilton #6 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrate with Brice Turang #2 after Turang scores in the third inning during Game Two of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
There is no replacement for watching your own team compete in the National League Championship Series. Fans of the San Diego Padres have had the privilege of watching their team compete for a pennant a few times, with their most recent trip pitting them against the Philadelphia Phillies. The team from the National League East knocked off the Padres and advanced to the World Series where the Phillies would fall to the Houston Astros.
This season was supposed to be another opportunity for San Diego to use the strength of the lineup with veterans like Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts and the young superstardom of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill to propel themselves to the game’s summit. That did not happen and the Milwaukee Brewers won the National League Division Series over the Padres with a record of 3-1. The reward for the Brewers was a matchup against the Nationals League West Division champions and two-time defending World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Friars Faithful could sit and wonder about what might have been had a ball not hit the roof, had Mason Miller been able to get one more out and had a ball hit deep to centerfield traveled another foot-and-a-half further in the final game of the NLDS. Once the what ifs have been tallied, the Faithful have to sit back and watch Milwaukee take on Los Angeles.
The NLCS started on Sunday and the Brewers took game one with their top arm Jacob Misiorowski beating one of the manny Dodgers aces Tarik Skubal. Game 2 was supposed to provide an opportunity for Los Angeles to even the series with World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound, but William Contreras powered Milwaukee to the win, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead with the series shifting to Los Angeles. Can Milwaukee get two more wins over the next five games, Padres fans and much of the baseball world is hoping so because no one is ready to hear Dodgers manager Dave Roberts talk about how his scrappy team, which everyone doubted came out of nowhere to win the World Series.
The Mets have 10 players eligible for salary arbitration this offseason.
Those players are Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Reed Garrett, Tylor Megill, Christopher Morel, Dedniel Núñez, Cristian Pache, Cionel Perez, Mark Vientos, and Austin Warren.
Once a player is offered arbitration, the team and that player's agent have until a set date -- usually at some point in February -- to come to terms on a new contract. If that doesn't happen, both sides submit salary proposals, and the player's salary is determined by independent arbitrators at a hearing (a timeframe that could be impacted this offseason by the expected lockout).
A team can also offer arbitration to a player and then trade him. So the Mets can tender contracts to players who might not be in their plans.
According to the MLB Trade Rumors algorithm that "looks at the player’s playing time, position, role, and performance statistics while accounting for inflation," here's what the Mets' arbitration-eligible players are projected to make in 2027...
Francisco Alvarez: $4.1 million Brett Baty: $2.5 million Tylor Megill: $2.5 million Mark Vientos: $2.4 million Christopher Morel: $2.1 million Reed Garrett: $1.3 million Cionel Perez: $1.2 million Austin Warren: $1.2 million Dedniel Núñez: $900,000 Cristian Pache: $800,000
If the Mets tender contracts to all of the above players and they receive salaries similar to the projections, it would add roughly $19 million to the payroll.
However, not every arbitration-eligible player is certain to remain with the team.
Alvarez, Baty, Megill, Garrett, Warren, and Núñez feel like close to locks to be offered arbitration.
New York Mets relief pitcher Dedniel Núñez (72) reacts after retiring the side in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images
Garrett and Megill missed the 2026 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but both are expected to be valuable pitching depth in 2027 -- and Garrett is under team control through 2029.
Meanwhile, Warren and Núñez (in his first year back from TJS) showed flashes in relief in 2026 and should be part of the calculus entering spring training.
With the non-tender deadline set for Nov. 20, here are four Mets players who could be at risk...
Vientos' offensive decline continued in 2026, as his OPS dipped to .652 (from .702 in 2025 and a career-best .837 in 2024). His batting average (.212) and OBP (.258) were both career worsts, and Vientos' defense remained subpar.
Getting most of his time at first base, Vientos was worth -9 OAA, via Baseball Savant. While Vientos has put in the time working on his defense behind the scenes, it just hasn't translated on the field. And his other main position on the diamond (third base) will likely be blocked by Bo Bichette, who is expected to opt in to his $42 million contract for 2027.
Vientos still possesses serious power, but he just hasn't tapped into it enough over the last two seasons. Add to that his below-average defense, lack of positional versatility, and suboptimal speed, and it makes his inclusion on the 2027 roster a tough proposition.
With Vientos set to earn just $2.4 million next season, it's possible a team in need of right-handed power has interest via trade. If a deal can't be reached before the non-tender deadline, though, expect the Mets to move on.
Mark Vientos / Imagn Images via Reuters Connect/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image
INF/OF Christopher Morel
The Mets took a flier on Morel at the end of June after he was released by the Marlins.
Morel wound up playing in 13 games for New York over the summer, slashing just .200/.250/.333 (.583 OPS) in 32 plate appearances.
While Morel is versatile enough to play every position except catcher and pitcher, he is not a good defender at any spot. Meanwhile, his last above-average season with the bat came in 2023.
Projected to make roughly $2 million in 2027, Morel will almost certainly be a former Met by Nov. 20.
LHP Cionel Perez
During a nine-year career with the Orioles, Astros, Reds, Nationals, and Mets, Perez has shown enough to keep getting chances.
Perez had a terrific season for Baltimore in 2022 (1.40 ERA in 57.2 innings) and was also good for the O's in 2023 (3.54 ERA in 53.1 innings), but it's been tough sledding since then. Over the last three years, Perez has a 5.30 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 120.2 innings.
However, Perez was solid for the Mets in 24 appearances over 29.1 innings in 2026, with a 3.99 ERA (3.75 FIP) and 1.33 WHIP while walking just 2.5 per nine and striking out 10.7 per nine.
Perez also has a fastball that can touch close to 99 mph, so perhaps the Mets roll the dice and see if they can unlock what made him a key cog for the Orioles a few years ago.
OF Cristian Pache
Pache inked a minor league deal with the Mets last December.
He spent the majority of the 2026 season in the minors, getting just eight plate appearances for New York.
Before 2026, Pache -- a career .181/.242/.273 hitter in parts of six big league seasons -- last played in the majors in 2024.
Pache will almost certainly be non-tendered ahead of the deadline or removed from the 40-man roster before then to create room for other players.
