Category: MLB

We have a new World Series champion, and the frightening thing is that the Milwaukee Brewers still have a strong farm system. You thought being dominated by the Los Angeles Dodgers was no fun? Just wait, because this could go on quite a while. The total dismantling of a deep Tampa Bay Rays club served a little added notice that the Brewers have broken through and may be here to stay at the top of the game for a while.

Turns out they didn’t need Tarik Skubal at all. We’ll see who feels like they do really need the former Tigers ace this offseason, but the wait could be a while. In the meantime, let’s line up the offseason with all the key dates, and key decisions for the Detroit Tigers.

As of 9:00 a.m. ET on Thursday morning, pending free agents were eligible to decide on player options and file for free agency. Pending free agents can only talk with their current club until Monday. The trading desk is now open as well, and a few deals and decisions have already gone through.

Point being, you can expect that the Tigers have most of their decisions in the chute already so we’ll hear from them shortly.

Gold Glove winners will be announced on Sunday, November 1. Dillon Dingler is probably a lock to take home the award for top defensive catcher in the American League, while Zach McKinstry has a pretty good shot at the utilityman Gold Glove.

On Monday, November 2nd, the Contemporary Baseball Era Hall of Fame ballot will be announced. Silver Slugger Award finalists will also be released.

Free agency begins five days after the World Series ends on Monday, November 2nd, at 5:00 p.m. ET. This is also the last day for qualifying offer decisions. The Tigers don’t have anyone to use a qualifying offer on this offseason. The biggest news on this day will come as the Tigers will have to reinstate players off the 60-day injured list, and decide on club option decisions.

The Tigers have eight players to reinstate off the 60-day injured list.

LHP Bailey Horn

RHP Reese Olson

RHP Will Vest

SS Trey Sweeney

OF Kerry Carpenter

OF Parker Meadows

OF Wenceel Pérez

OF Matt Vierling

The Tigers can release minor league outfielder Corey Julks easily to free up one spot. Gleyber Torres and Jack Flaherty are both free agents, as are RHP Burch Smith, RHP Tyler Kinley, and RHP Jacob Waguespack. The Tigers have a $12 million option on RHP Kenley Jansen that they can exercise or buy out for $2 million. They hold a $10 million club option for RHP Drew Anderson. That one is, I think, sure to be exercised, as we wrote about this week.

Currently, leaving aside Jansen and Anderson, the Tigers have 33 players on the 40-man roster before the 60-day IL players are added back. Should they keep both relievers on their options, they’ll have 35 players on the 40-man, with the list of eight players above to be added.

Beyond Julks, there are some cuts they could make that wouldn’t be too painful. RHP Brenan Hanifee is useful here and there but not terribly necessary, though the Tigers need right-handed relief help of all sorts. Keeping Jace Jung just seems a bit cruel since he has no real chance to crack the major league roster. Lefty Jake Miller will probably be kept for his potential, but two years of injury trouble may have changed some minds. Easier to release perhaps is Sawyer Gipson-Long, who wasn’t able to get it going in his first full season post-Tommy John. Horn underwent Tommy John this summer, so there’s a possibility as well.

I would bet that the Tigers keep Sweeney one more year and try to sort out his bat for infield depth, but that ship may be sailing. Kerry Carpenter is pretty much guaranteed to be kept, if only to see if the oft-injured outfielder can get back to form next spring. Probably the same is true for Parker Meadows, whose fluke injury this year cost him nearly the whole season. He’s talented enough that the Tigers will give it one more go. Wenceel Pérez and Matt Vierling are in greater danger to be DFA’d, in my opinion. Would the Tigers make a bigger move, trading Spencer Torkelson or one of their injured outfielders? Eh, it’s possible but does not feel Scott Harris-ish.

From November 9-12 will be the big award announcements. Rookies of the Year, namely our own Kevin McGonigle, will be announced on Monday, November 9. Managers of the Year will be announced on the 10th, the Cy Young awards are announced on Tuesday the 11th, and the MLB awards will be out on Thursday the 12th. All those announcements are set for 7:00 p.m. ET on MLB Network.

The GM meetings are scheduled in Las Vegas from November 10-12. Typically discussions are more about procedural and rule issues, but with the impending CBA negotiations, perhaps there will be a little more news than normal.

Players who have a qualifying offer extended to them have to decide on that by November 17th. This year the qualifying offer is $23.15 million for one year, with a no-trade clause included that lasts until June 15th of the next season.

November 17th is also the date for teams to finalize their 40-man rosters and protect prospects from the Rule 5 draft. The big ones for the Tigers this year are OF Zyhir Hope and INF Max Anderson, who will both be added. That’s another layer of complication on the 40-man roster decisions discussed earlier.

November 20th is the non-tender deadline, by which time teams must offer contacts to pre-arbitration and arbitration eligible players for 2027. Players don’t have to accept at that point, and eligible players may wait for arbitration, but that will bring a new CBA and new rules into play as well.

December 1st is the big day when the collective bargaining agreement expires, and at that point the owners will lockout players, and that battle will begin. The league has already sent out guidelines for team conduct during the lockout. Last time, teams took down all player likenesses and a few other amusing and petty moves, but more importantly, teams and players cease communication at that point, except for private matters.

The Winter Meetings are set to begin on December 7 in San Diego, but they were cancelled during the last lockout and presumably will be again. That will also delay the draft lottery, currently set for December 8th, as well as the Rule 5 draft, currently set for December 9th. Last time the Rule 5 major league portion was cancelled, though the minor league phase was completed, involving only non 40-man roster players.

So, that’s the landscape, but obviously the smart money says that very little will happen until the CBA is complete. The Tigers will have plenty of roster decisions to make, but beyond that we’ll have to see if much in the way of free agency or trading goes on. It should be interesting to see, because early moves could signal to a degree which way teams believe the CBA negotiations are going to blow. If there’s a real possibility of a salary cap actually being put into place, one of the chief indicators could be Scott Boras, who knows which way things are going to blow as well as anyone, deciding to lean in and get Tarik Skubal signed to a new team before the rules change. I don’t expect that to happen, but everyone will be grasping for signs and portents this winter either way.

The Royals need a lot of work after losing 93 games last year. There will likely be a flurry of action this month before the labor deal expires in December. What would you do if you were running the Royals this offseason?

The Royals currently have 35 players on the 40-man roster.

Catchers (2): Carter Jensen, Salvador Perez

Infielders (6): Maikel Garcia, Nick Loftin, Michael Massey, Vinnie Pasquantino, Tyler Tolbert, Bobby Witt Jr.

Outfielders (5): Jac Caglianone, Isaac Collins, Kyle Isbel, Matthew Lugo, John Rave

Pitchers (22): Ryan Bergert, Spencer Bivens, Noah Cameron, Steven Cruz, Jose Cuas, Randy Dobnak, Carlos Estévez, Carlos Durán, Lucas Erceg, Tony Gonsolin, Anthony Gose, Nolan Hoffman, Ben Kudrna, Seth Lugo, Daniel Lynch IV, James McArthur, Nate Pearson, Mitch Spence, Connor Thomas, Michael Wacha, Beck Way, Steven Zobac

Luinder Avila, Stephen Kolek, Nick Mears, and Cole Ragans will be activated from the 60-day Injured List and will join the 40-man roster soon. Carson Roccaforte and Lucas Braun need to be added to the 40-man roster, and you may want to add Brett Squires, Gavin Cross, Felix Arronde, and/or Daniel Vazquez, among other players. Do you add any of them and who do you remove?

The Royals have a $13 million club option on closer Carlos Estévez with a $2 million buyout, and a $2.5 million club option on Tony Gonsolin. Do you exercise either of those?

The Royals have nine players eligible for arbitration with the following projected salaries.

• Randy Dobnak $2,300,000
• Lucas Erceg $2,300,000
• Anthony Gose $1,100,000
• Kyle Isbel $3,500,000
• Daniel Lynch IV $1,800,000
• Michael Massey $3,200,000
• James McArthur $800,000
• Nick Mears $2,200,000
• Nate Pearson, $2,000,000

Do you non-tender any of them?

The Royals have seven players under contract for next year.

• Seth Lugo $21.5 million
• Bobby Witt Jr. $20.111 million
• Michael Wacha $14 million
• Cole Ragans $7.583 million
• Maikel Garcia $7.26 million
• Vinnie Pasquantino $6.9 million
• Salvador Perez $6.5 million

Those salaries total just over $83 million. Combine them with your arbitration-eligible salaries, any buyouts, and the salaries of pre-arbitration players. Owner John Sherman projects around $30 million for the team to spend this offseason. Here is a list of eligible free agents. Who do you pursue?

Would you have the Royals active on the trade market? You can use the Trade Simulator at Baseball Trade Values to get an idea of what would be a fair trade.

What does your offseason look like to get the Royals back to contention?

Good morning friends and happy Friday!

The offseason is now one day old. Let’s catch you up on everything that’s happening as teams prepare for the long winter ahead.

In Mariners news…

• In case you missed it, the Mariners announced decisions on a trio of team options.
• The Lookout Landing staff debated the merits of Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler as the next manager of the Mariners.
• The Mariners claimed outfielder Grant McCray off waivers from the Giants.
• Rick Rizzs seems to be enjoying his farewell tour. Shout out to Issaquah!

Around the league…

• In a day-one offseason trade, the Athletics acquired outfielder Nate Eaton from the Red Sox.
• The Tigers acquired infielder Tsung-Che Cheng from the Red Sox for cash considerations.
• The Astros have reportedly zeroed in on the Brewers’ Matt Kleine for their general manager opening.
• Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai will not opt out of his deal with the club.
• Right-hander Dustin May declined his mutual option with the Brewers, making him a free agent.
• The Diamondbacks are expected to listen to trade offers on star second baseman Ketel Marte this winter.
• Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors listed the top 40 trade candidates for the coming offseason.
• Rob Mains at Baseball Prospectus wonders if the Rays and Brewers truly earn the narrative as “small ball” World Series contenders. ($)
• Anthony Dabbundo at The Ringer celebrated the Milwaukee Brewers for finally getting to the mountaintop after years of brilliance.

With the 2026 MLB season officially in the books — and with the impending lockout threatening to delay the 2027 season — the stage is already being set for another smash season of Banana Ball. 

On Oct. 28, Banana Ball held its player draft for the 2027 season when 39 players were picked by the six teams in a selection ceremony that streamed on YouTube live from Historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah. Over 2,000 players applied to join the league for the upcoming season, many of whom were invited to tryouts across the country. Sixty were invited to the third-ever draft and sat with their families to see if their names were selected. Two former members of the Colorado Rockies happened to be part of the chosen few.

Tonight, the Banana Ball All-Stars vs. Future Stars Game will take place in Savannah. First pitch is slated for 4:30 p.m. MDT and will be streamed live on the Banana Ball YouTube channel. That will be the last Banana Ball action until their seven-month, 75-city World Tour that will hit Mexico, the U.S. and Canada — including two games at Coors Field — takes off in February.

Here are a few interesting things to know about Banana Ball in 2027.

Two Rockies picked in third-ever draft

The biggest surprise pick of the 2026 draft came with the fifth pick in the fifth round when the Savannah Bananas selected 12-year MLB veteran and former Rockie Charlie Culberson. Culberson made his Banana debut in 2023 when he made a guest appearance at Truist Park in Atlanta, doing a backflip before his at-bat (he popped out).

Culberson came to Colorado in 2012 in a trade with the San Francisco Giants for Marco Scutaro. He played with the Rockies from 2012-14, going back and forth from the then-Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox and MLB, along with stints on the IL for a lumbar disc injury. Culberson elected for free agency after the 2015 season and went on to play for the Dodgers, Braves and Rangers. In his Rockies career, the infielder played 142 games and hit .227/.273/.327 with a .600 OPS.

Three picks earlier, the Firefighters drafted RHP Brendan Hardy, who spent two years playing for the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats and Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes after the Rockies picked him up in the Rule 5 draft from the New York Mets in 2023. 

In 2024, Hardy made 34 relief appearances, posting a 4.08 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 39.2 innings. He went on a tear in the middle of the season, only giving up one run over an 18.2-inning stretch.

In 2025, Hardy only made two appearances before an injury ended his season and tenure in the farm system. He spent 2026 with the independent Milwaukee Milkmen. 

The draft was definitely a great show. Here’s the quick recap.

Coors Field is going Bananas again

Denver will play host to Banana Ball on May 29 and 30 when the Loco Beach Coconuts and Party Animals will face off at Coors Field. Fans interested in attending can enter the Banana Ball lottery by midnight on Oct. 31 for a chance to buy tickets.

In August, the Savannah Bananas played the Indianapolis Clowns in front of two sold-out crowds that included the debut of Kristen Bell having the time of her life doing a “Frozen”-“Dirty Dancing” mashup with Broadway star and Banana Derek Klena.

Banana Ball first came to Denver in 2025 when the Bananas took on the Firefighters. After that season, Purple Row’s own Samantha Bradfield wrote about how the Rockies would have fared if they played by Banana rules.

WPBL stars are back as Bananas

For Women’s Professional Baseball League fans, good news: The same core of WPBLers will be back in Banana Ball action in 2027, along with a new addition.

Val Perez, a shortstop for the New York Heights, is back as the manager and player for the Firefighters. A former real-life firefighter, Perez was the only WPBLer at Wednesday’s draft as she announced the selections for her squad.

On Tuesday, four stars from the inaugural WPBL season re-signed with their respective teams. Ashton Lansdell, a third baseman for the WPBL Champion Los Angeles Queens, will be back with the Party Animals. Fellow Queen Mo’ne Davis will rejoin the Indianapolis Queens and can pitch or play center field. Another two-way player, Kelsie Whitmore (RHP/CF) of the San Francisco Firebelles, will be back with the Savannah Bananas, while New York Queens catcher Denae Benetis will return to the Loco Beach Coconuts.

San Francisco’s Jill Albayati will make her Banana Ball debut in 2027 as a RHP/DH for the 2026 Banana Ball Champion Texas Tailgaters.

First-ever Entertainment round

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a professional opera singer play baseball? How about a hitter with a bat on fire at the plate?

Well, you don’t have to wonder anymore.

Those were two of the selections in the first-ever Entertainment round of the Banana Ball draft. After the five-round draft (plus three additional supplemental picks) ended, the show really started. While all of the entertainment selections have earned the title, including many who can sing and dance like they were made for Broadway, two players stole the show.

John Reisen, an award-winning American tenor who also happens to be a good pitcher, sang on his way to the podium after being nabbed by the Firefighters.

The Loco Beach Coconuts made a nice addition to their surfer vibe with Hawaiian fire dancer Kaleikaumaka Grebin. The talented outfielder not only impressed Banana Ball scouts with his baseball skills, but also with his ability to wield and twirl a flaming bat during his tryout.

The draft included many Banana Ball-like festivities, including a selection that mimicked the rose ceremony from “The Bachelor/Bachelorette,” featured a guest appearance by the sorting hat from “Harry Potter” and saw Tailgaters manager Joe Mukulik jump off the podium to smash a table in true Buffalo Bills tailgater fashion.

After the draft ended, Fans First Entertainment director of recruiting and player personnel, Berry Aldridge, explained the “first, best and only” criteria that make a great Banana Ball player.

“Can you be the first to do something, the best to do something, or the only person to do something?” Aldridge asked.

With an opera singer and fire dancer, and all the amazing trick plays yet to come, 2027 figures to be another stilt-sized step forward full of firsts, bests and onlys for Banana Ball.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Happy Friday everyone!

Today, the Milwaukee Brewers will hold their first World Series championship parade and celebration in downtown Milwaukee. After winning more games than any other team during the regular season, the Brewers stormed through the playoffs, losing just two games en route to a historic title.

Meanwhile, the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays fell short of winning their first World Series title in their third appearance this century. The Rays’ lineup lacked sufficient firepower, while the team’s bullpen faltered at the worst possible time.

With the postseason over, attention turns to the offseason. Left-hander Tarik Skubal headlines this winter’s free-agent class, while teams will look to make trades to bolster their rosters or reduce payroll. Much of the player movement could take place in November before the potential owner-imposed lockout begins on Dec. 1.

The Athletics kicked off the offseason transaction period, as new president of baseball operations Taylor Smith got right to work. Unsurprisingly, he made his first trade with his former employer.

The Boston Red Sox traded 29-year-old outfielder Nate Eaton to the A’s in exchange for 18-year-old Nicaraguan pitcher Jareth Rayo, who appeared in the Dominican Summer League this year. Eaton, who can play all three outfield spots as well as third base, hit .160 with a .560 OPS, one home run, two doubles and six RBIs in 24 games this season.

The jury is still out on his bat, but his 96th percentile sprint speed and 97th percentile arm strength could give him a leg up when competing for a reserve outfield spot. Because Eaton is out of options, either offensively challenged center fielder Denzel Clarke or defensively challenged Carlos Cortes may begin next season in Triple-A, depending on how the A’s roster shakes out.

Let’s welcome Eaton to the Athletics. If today was any indication, the next few weeks have the potential to be busy as Smith works to reshape the roster into one built to contend for the playoffs. What trade or free-agent signing would you like to see Smith make next?

A’s Coverage:

• A’s trade RHP prospect to Red Sox for outfielder Eaton
• A’S OUTRIGHT CATCHER BRIAN SERVEN, FIVE OTHERS
• Three A’s Officially Elect Free Agency
• Q&A: Smith discusses his new role as youngest head of baseball ops in MLB
• Optics vs. Infrastructure: Taylor Smith’s First Dilemma
• Athletics Hire Taylor Smith As Next President of Baseball Operations
• On New PBO Taylor Smith: What’s In A Number?
• A’s Considering Hiring GM Under Taylor Smith
• Trade Candidate: Shea Langeliers
• A’s Max Muncy Undergoes Knee Debridement
• The five biggest questions facing the A’s this offseason
• Inside the A’s State-of-the-Art Las Vegas Ballpark
• How technology will shape fan experiences at the A’s Las Vegas ballpark
• Pitching prospect Huggins growing his game with the help of this A’s Hall of Famer
• ’Be a sponge’: No. 19 prospect leads A’s Fall League group with do-it-all mentality
• A’s LHP prospect Richardson shows off health and resiliency during Fall League homecoming
• Zack Of All Trades Tries To Get One More Win: In Court
• Important Dates For The Athletics This Offseason
• 12 A’s Players Out of Options Heading Into 2027
• How MLB’s Proposed Changes Would Impact the A’s
• A’s part ways with assistant hitting, quality control coaches
• After an outfield collision left him paralyzed, every gain in rehab is a big win for A’s Ryan Lasko
• Why 2027 Athletics Will Be Completely Different Team
• 2026: Year Of The “Didn’t See That Coming!”
• A’s Hoping Luis Severino Chooses to Stay
• Where the A’s Plan to Use Zack Gelof in 2027
• Drafting The Top AL Graduated MLB Prospects From 2026
• Devin Taylor: Athletics 2026 Minor League Player Of The Year
• Athletics 2026 MLB Draft Report Card
• Henry Bolte Is the A’s Next Budding Star
• Determining Athletics’ Offensive MVP for the 2026 Season
• 2027 Infield Landscape Ever Changing
• Get the best of Athletics Nation on the new SB Nation app

MLB News & Interest:

• Mighty Brewers prove they’re an unbeatable crew, capture first World Series!
• Your guide to MLB’s coming lockout: Why it’s happening, whether games will be lost, and when baseball will be back
• King opts out of deal with Padres to become free agent (source)
• Bichette bypassing opt-out, returning to Mets for 2027 season (source)
• Tatsuya Imai Will Not Opt Out Of Astros Deal
• Mariners pick up Muñoz’s option; Robles becomes free agent
• Ryan Helsley To Exercise Player Option
• Diamondbacks expected to listen to Ketel Marte trade offers once again
• Way-Too-Early 2027 MLB Power Rankings: Who’s No. 1?
• Brewers’ William Contreras eighth catcher to earn World Series MVP honors
• Milwaukee Public Schools to close for Brewers’ championship parade
• These Brewers World Series artifacts are heading to the Hall of Fame
• How will the Giants resolve their 40-man roster predicament?
• Owner Mark Walter says he’ll keep Dodgers, ‘no matter what’
• Brewers’ Matt Kleine Is Astros’ Top Target In GM Search
• Super Two Status Set At 2.133 Years Of Service
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X

Check out the latest episode of Beyond the Dugout if you want to learn more about A’s left-hander Hogan Harris.

This is not a good look. Hopefully, Henry Baez and fellow right-hander Braden Nett deliver bounce-back seasons next year. Baez is the most intriguing prospect in this list, while right-hander Geoff Hartlieb and catcher Brian Serven saw the most major league playing time this past season.

Curious to hear the community’s thoughts on this tweet.

Ariel view of the Athletics’ under-construction stadium in Las Vegas.

The Milwaukee Brewers are your 2026 World Series Champions. Neat! But whenever the World Series wraps up, there’s only so much time that you can take thinking about the Fall Classic before the Major League Baseball offseason picks up.

Normally, there is a very standardized cadence to this whole thing. In most years, there is some activity that takes place pretty soon after the World Series. In December, the Winter Meetings happen, which is where a lot of wheelin’ and dealin’ gets done and where setups for future wheelin’ and dealin’ happen. During the month afterwards, most moves happen, with some inevitable stragglers in January and February.

This, ah, is not most years. In December, the most recent Competitive Bargaining Agreement between the MLB Player’s Union and the owners will expire. That will almost inevitably lead to a lockout on December 1, and everything will be at a stalemate until parties can agree on a deal.

That’s quite a bit of uncertainty. And if you thought that this uncertainty would likely mean that teams would hesitate to spend money in the short period before a potential lockout, you would be incorrect: expect a fast and furious month of November.

We know this is likely to happen for a few reasons. The first reason is that, the last time the CBA expired, the league spent cash like it was Monopoly money. In the month of November, teams spent a combined $1.7 billion in free agency. Six players—Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Max Scherzer, Robbie Ray, Kevin Gausman, and Javier Baez—signed contracts at $100 million or more prior to the lockout on December 2. Prior to 2021, only four players in the history of free agency had signed a nine-figure deal in November. It wasn’t just prominent free agent signings, either; we got trades, we got extensions, we got all sorts of stuff. The Boston Globe called it a “lockout frenzy.”

It’s likely that this year plays out the same way industry-wide because the scenario is really similar. The CBA ends one day earlier, but that’s about it. And if that’s the case, we could see a huge portion of players signed and traded.

The other reason why a fast November is probable for Kansas City is that the Royals are themselves chomping at the bit to get stuff in. General manager JJ Picollo held his standard press conference on the first game of the final homestand of the year, and I was there to hear his thoughts. Sure enough, he was asked about the offseason plan. And sure enough, his statement seemed to indicate that a fast-paced month is ready (emphasis mine):

November is the month where you have to get some work done. I am anxious to see how fast the industry works, but I know our plan is to push the envelope as much as we can because wewould much rather have some potential pieces to the puzzle in place before a potential lockout.

To Picollo’s credit, it will depend on how the league reacts. But I’m sure that the Royals aren’t the only ones thinking this way. And if they aren’t, buckle up.

The Desert Dogs have played four games this week, and in three of them they’ve scored at least nine runs; in the other one they’ve scored just one. They’re 0-3 when scoring nine or more, and they’ve won that game in which they managed to put a single run across. The latest of these high-scoring losses came on Thursday against Peoria with just a single Dodger in the batting lineup, Eduardo Quintero.

Out of the leadoff spot he occupied in previous games, Quintero was batting third despite his underwhelming numbers in the AFL. Much like the rest of the Desert Dogs offense, he had a productive performance, reaching base in three of his five plate appearances, including two walks and a hit. Once again, it was the same reliable aspects of Quintero’s game that shone here, with the two walks and a stolen base, his sixth in as many attempts.

Touching on how the Desert Dogs blew this game in which they led 10-6 at one point, it was partially the responsibility of a Dodger pitcher, the only one who took the mound in this affair. Williams Salazar got the ball in the seventh and proceeded to walk three and give up a hit, recording just a single out, taking not only the blown save but also the loss in this one.

Thursday score

Peoria 13, Glendale 10

Friday schedule

The Dodgers’ left-hander Luke Fox will be the starter for the Desert Dogs on this Friday afternoon as they hope to avoid a third straight defeat, facing the Salt River Rafters. The game starts at 1:30 p.m. (PT).

It was disappointing news for San Diego Padres fans, but it was expected. It was announced on Thursday that starter Michael King declined his player option and will become a free agent for the second consecutive season. The right-hander had a solid bounce back season after his 2025 season was hampered by injury. There was thought that the injury concerns as well as his draft pick compensation by way of the qualifying offer limited his earning potential on the open market.

While King’s decision would not be considered a surprise in any regard, it still caused concern for the Friar Faithful because he is now arguably the second best starting option on the market behind only Tarik Skubal. That means he will receive a pay raise of some sort, but it seems like the length of the contract is what will be important to the 32-year-old. King had two years and $53 million left on his former contract with the Padres had he opted in to that deal. He would have had another chance to opt out following the 2027 season, so it does not appear the dollar amount was the deciding factor in his case.

The ball now lies squarely in the court of new San Diego owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. They have said since their opening press conference they are committed to bringing a World Series title to San Diego and with King opting out they now have a chance to literally put their money where the mouths are. There is the unknown of the new ownership, which creates an uneasy feeling among the Friar Faithful. Will Feliciano and Jones spend? If they do spend, to what level? The Padres have an exclusive five day window to negotiate with King before he can talk with the remaining MLB teams. It would be quite the statement if he never gets the chance to do so.

San Diego has seen its fair share of bad contracts with long years and big money, but King has shown what he can do and more important what he is willing to do. He started playoff games in 2026 and earned a playoff save with two innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Championship. King has said he wants to be in San Diego, so the two have mutual interest. How authentic that is will be seen in the coming days and potentially weeks or months.

Padres News:

• Kyle Hart had some bright spots in 2026, but he was not as consistent as he or the team would have liked. How did Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball grade his season? Read his breakdown here.

• Xander Bogaerts has shown to be the warning for long-term, big money contracts as he failed to live up to that commitment once again in San Diego. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball looks at what the Friar Faithful should expect from Bogaerts going forward.

• Manny Machado and King were selected as members of the 2026 All-Postseason Team.

Baseball News:

• Here are the best moments from the 2026 MLB playoffs.

• Bo Bichette opts in to another year with the New York Mets.

• The Atlanta Braves exercised their club options on Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies.

• The Athletics traded for Nate Eaton of the Boston Red Sox.

• The Chicago Cubs, like many teams, will be targeting pitching on the free agent market,

Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger was free to sign with any team for a large portion of the 2025-26 offseason, until he inked a five-year, $162.5-million deal with a full no-trade clause and opt-outs after the 2027 and ’28 seasons.

Despite missing about a month in the summer with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, Bellinger gave his team a solid, steady season even without some of the thunder he provided in his debut campaign in the Bronx in 2025.

Bellinger posted a solid 3.5 fWAR in 132 games, but his home run tally went from 29 to 17 from 2025 to 2026, and his slugging percentage fell from .480 to .429. Still, he was good enough to help the Bombers make the postseason in a frustrating year for the offense.

Grade: B+

2026 Stats: 132 G, 562 PA, 17 HR, 73 R, 73 RBI, 12 SB, .264/.338/.429, 115 wRC+, 3.5 fWAR, 4.6 bWAR

2027 Contract Status: Under contract (five years, $162.5 million from 2026 to 2030)

Bellinger might have struggled to leave his mark in the power department this year, but he offered one of the most well-rounded lines you will see in a season in which the Yankees finished in the middle of the pack with a 101 wRC+, ranked 14th. That is very valuable, even if it might seem boring to some. Still, we know Bellinger is capable of much more, which is why he didn’t quite get an A in our report cards.

The good news for the Yankees is that even if he slipped a bit in comparison to his excellent 2023 and 2025 campaigns (the former in Chicago as a member of the Cubs, the latter in the Bronx), he seems to have settled on a much higher floor than his forgettable 2021-22 stretch in LA. That’s promising for a team that just made a sizable investment on the player.

Acting as the Yankees’ left fielder most of the time, Bellinger scored and drove in 73 runs, doubled 25 times, and even pitched in with 12 steals, besides the 17 round-trippers. He racked up most of his value on the field, though. Bellinger impressed defensively in 2026, which earned him a Gold Glove nomination. If he wins, it would be his second award after the one he obtained in 2019.

The 31-year-old didn’t show any signs of slowing down as a defender and led all MLB left fielders with +21 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved), showcased some impressive range (+6 OAA), and uncorked throws at an average speed of 93.3 mph, ranking in the 94th percentile of the league. It was probably Bellinger’s most impressive campaign with the glove, which is certainly noteworthy.

To sum up, the Yankees had an above-average hitter and an elite fielder in Bellinger, and there are reasons to believe his offense could bounce back next year. While his 21st percentile bat speed left a lot to be desired, he squares up the ball in the most ideal angles, as his 88th percentile LA Sweet-Spot% of 38.2 indicates. He was also significantly above-average in other metrics such as squared-up percentage (91st percentile), expected xwOBA (70th percentile), and expected batting average (82nd percentile), among others.

Bellinger is no longer the star he was in 2017-19. That player is long gone. However, he has found ways to keep contributing and remains a solid player as he heads into his early and mid-thirties.

So the Milwaukee Brewers are World Series champions and it will be fascinating to see if their contact-hitting, hustling, fundamentally sound style of play influences other teams this offseason, especially with a free agent class that is largely lacking in star power.

The more pressing question, of course, is when we’ll see baseball again. 

A lockout on Dec. 1 is a virtual certainty, and the owners' rabid desire for a salary cap is expected to make for a long standoff in collective bargaining negotiations that could stretch into February, March, April…who knows how long.

All of which could also make for a busy November, with at least some teams likely to sign free agents before the lockout and before any potential changes that could make it more penal to add payroll.

Super-agent Scott Boras is already pushing that narrative publicly, and will be trying hard to get a deal done with Tarik Skubal before the sport goes dark.

So with that, here are my predictions for where 10 of the top free agents (actually 11, thanks to a bonus double-entry for the Mets) will sign.

10. ADRIAN MOREJON: PHILLIES

The Phillies have been trying for years, with little success, to build a bullpen that won’t fall apart in the biggest moments, most notably the postseason.

They have a dominant closer now in Jhoan Duran, but need another big piece like Morejon, one of the best left-handed relievers in the game in recent years with the Padres.

Morejon has nasty stuff. He averaged 99.4 mph with his fastball last season, struck out 106 hitters in 86 innings, and ranked in the 99th percentile of MLB pitchers, via Statcast, in chase percentage and soft contact. He’s only 27, turning 28 in February.

9. SEIYA SUZUKI: BLUE JAYS

In a free agent class short on impact hitters, Suzuki could be the best value on the board. He consistently put up good numbers with the Chicago Cubs the last five years, hitting 26 home runs in 2026 with 31 doubles, a .270 batting average and an .841 OPS, and he plays solid defense in right field featuring a very strong arm. 

The Jays, meanwhile, need to make some type of splash after falling off badly following their 2025 World Series season. Suzuki would fit in nicely in right field and perhaps offer lineup protection for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. coming off his subpar season.

8. JAZZ CHISHOLM JR.: PHILLIES

After getting outbid for Luis Arraez -- more on that later -- their trade pickup last August, I think the Phillies will convince themselves that a team with an aging core could benefit from the athleticism and speed Chisholm would provide at second base.

And maybe they would be right, as Chisholm's ability remains enticing at least on the surface. Even in a down year with the Yankees, he stole 41 bases and hit 19 home runs, admittedly a long way from the 50-50-year he predicted back in February, but still productive.

On the other hand, signing Chisholm might be a mistake if he plays with the same lack of awareness he did with the Yanks last season, whether it be making that ill-advised throw on a DP turn in the postseason or playing second base with a lollipop in his mouth.

In any case, the dichotomy between talent and awareness will make it fascinating to see just what Chisholm's market is in the coming weeks. The only near-certainty is the Yankees won’t re-sign him.

7. BRANDON LOWE: RED SOX

Lowe is one of the more underrated players in the game, coming off a very good season as the second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he mashed to the tune of 35 home runs and 29 doubles, and hit .260 with a .493 slugging percentage and an .824 OPS.

Lowe was good defensively as well, ranking in the 96th percentile in defensive run value, via Statcast.

The Red Sox are at least one impact bat away from getting over the hump in the postseason, as demonstrated against the Yankees in the Wild Card Series. Lowe could be that guy for them.

6. FREDDY PERALTA: PADRES

It might be tempting for the Mets to take another shot with Peralta, after he rediscovered his dominance with the Tampa Bay Rays post-trade deadline, but that’s way too much of a gamble.

It didn’t work with the Mets for a reason, whether it was a failure on the part of the coaches to figure out his mechanics or Peralta underperforming under high expectations in New York, or some combination of those factors.

But I do believe he’ll be pursued heavily, and the Padres desperately need more quality pitching if they’re ever going to get through the postseason and win a championship -- especially if Michael King leaves as a free agent this time.

5. RYAN JEFFERS: YANKEES

Here’s another chance for the Yankees to make themselves a more well-rounded team, adding one of the better offensive catchers in the game.

Jeffers, who turns 30 next June, has put up above-average OPS+ numbers for the last four seasons with the Minnesota Twins. Injuries limited him to 92 games in 2026, but he had his best offensive season, hitting .256 with a .416 slugging percentage and an .814 OPS.

Scouts consider him to be slightly below-average defensively but not a butcher behind the plate. He hits right-handed, so the Yanks could still give Austin Wells a decent number of at-bats against right-handed pitching.

4. LUIS ARRAEZ: YANKEES

This feels like a move the Yanks really need to make. For a team that strikes out too much and never seems to get enough timely hitting in the postseason, Arraez offers an obvious solution as perhaps the best pure contact hitter in the majors.

And he improved his defense dramatically last season, ranking high in various defensive metrics as a second baseman. That, plus his bat, makes him a better option at the position than Anthony Volpe.

Arraez, who sports a .316 career batting average, also added some slug to his contact bat, with a career-high .419 slugging percentage to go with hitting .310 last season. And he only struck out 28 times in 655 plate appearances, putting him in the 100th percentile among all major leaguers in strikeout and swing-and-miss percentage.

The Yankees seemingly have to try something different in October to win their first championship since 2009. Arraez, who turns 30 in April, is an intriguing option.

3. TERUAKI SATO: METS

Sato is a bit of a gamble, with his high strikeout total, but he was the Triple Crown winner in Japan this year, making enough contact to hit .307 with big power, and offers the most potential impact of any position player on the market.

David Stearns scouted him in person, as he did Munetaka Murakami last year. He was scared off, as was just about every MLB team, by Murakami’s strikeouts, but may be more convinced to sign Sato after Murakami put up big power numbers with the Chicago White Sox.

Sato has mostly been a third baseman who would presumably be asked to move to first base, and after all the problems the Mets had playing non-first basemen at the position last year, it's not a perfect fit. But his bat is worth the gamble, with a safety net of sorts in the possibility of Bo Bichette moving to first if necessary.

2. MICHAEL KING AND CLAY HOLMES: METS

We know Stearns is all about value. I believe he’ll convince Steve Cohen there is more value in signing two front-of-the-rotation starters such as King and Holmes than paying for Tarik Skubal alone.

And certainly there is an argument to be made for that. Holmes was outstanding for the Mets last season before a line drive broke his fibula before he was eventually traded at the deadline, while King showed both dominance and durability in pitching a career-high 185 innings with the Padres.

The counter to that is neither is as good as Skubal at his best -- yet they’re good enough to win a championship with the right pieces around them. And neither is likely to command the type of long-term deal it will take to sign Skubal.

If you say the best plan is for the Mets to sign Skubal plus either King or Holmes, well, yes, absolutely. But realistically that may be too much even for Cohen, especially if the Mets intend to add to their bullpen and position player group.

Also notable is that because King was given a qualifying offer last winter before re-signing with the Padres, and Holmes was traded this season, neither can be given a qualifying offer, meaning that signing them wouldn’t cost the Mets any draft picks.

Finally, I think Stearns likes the idea of bringing Holmes back after trading him for Jefferson Rojas, an enticing prospect. It’s making the most of an asset, a good look for a president of baseball operations who is all too aware about the need to win over disenchanted Mets fans.

1. TARIK SKUBAL: CUBS

After a quick exit in the postseason, the Cubs have more than $100 million coming off their payroll, a glaring need for an ace, and the added incentive of knowing their neighbors to the north, the rival Brewers, just won the World Series.

All of which I believe will add up to them outbidding the Mets, the Dodgers, and anybody else who pursues Skubal, even if it means going to eight years at $45 million or so per season.

Cohen, of course, will only be outbid if he chooses to draw a line on what he’ll pay, but I believe Stearns will convince him to do just that.

Dear Camden Chatters, today is my last day as a writer for this blog. I’ve been writing here since the 2019 season, though I was a fan way before that. I definitely won’t stop being a fan of this site, but I’m hanging up my cleats as a writer today.

I want to say thanks. Back in 2014, when Adam Jones circled Oriole Park carrying the AL East Champions flag after the team clinched, then pied a bunch of people in the face, I felt a real urge to share the joy somewhere. Same, too, with the Delmon Young double—could you believe how noisy the stadium was? Same, a few years later, when John Means pitched a no-hitter. And when the O’s won the division title in 2023 and Gunnar Henderson was named Rookie of the Year. And many others. Those moments are special because you have people to share them with, like this community.

I loved being a part of it as a writer. Now, I won’t deny that I wasn’t always a good writer. There have been some very bad takes on my part in seven years. I thought utility superman Stevie Wilkerson should get regular playing time. I believed in the Shintaro Fujinami reclamation project. I got on the Spenser Watkins bandwagon, if such a thing even existed.

There were times it was hard to write, because the on-field product sucked. I did a whole piece on whether the 2021 Orioles, who finished 52-110, were the worst O’s team in history. (They have a strong claim. Maikel Franco played a bunch, we tried to fix Matt Harvey, and Pat Valaika was an infield fixture. Blech.)

The team never did win a single playoff game while I was a writer here. I’ve been frustrated by some of the recent changes I’ve seen. I hope the term “liftoff” is soon forgotten, because if it’s remembered, I think it will be ironically, meaning the Orioles will continue to be bad. I wish Heston Kjerstad had panned out. I wish the team hadn’t traded Trey Mancini, or Ramón Urías, and especially not Adley Rutschman this year, I don’t care what the return was. Brandon Hyde getting fired in May 2025 felt like a real admission of internal chaos, and so many internal changes this offseason suggest this remains true.

But even so, it’s always made me happy to write about baseball. In my day job, I teach law and write long articles with 400 footnotes. Do people enjoy reading them? I hope someone does, but writing about baseball is another thing altogether.

I love telling a good story, and baseball is full of them. In seven seasons, I got to recap some great moments. There was a 6-3 win on Camden Yards’ 30th anniversary, a day that saw Brooks Robinson, Mike Mussina and Eddie Murray all come back to town. More recently, I wrote about Colton Cowser’s ridiculous home-run robbing catch, maybe the best thing I’ve seen him do in his whole career. I got to pay homage to backup catcher James McCann getting hit in the nose with a fastball, then staying in the game. I recapped Kyle Bradish’s first start back from Tommy John surgery and his MLB debut years before. Speaking of debuts, Gunnar Henderson homered in his, and Adley Rutschman’s was a 6-1 loss to the Rays where he hit a triple. I can still remember getting chills from the way he introduced himself.

I’d always get a zing of happiness when people admitted to enjoying my writing here. One time, O’s announcer Kevin Brown actually DM’d the site because he’d appreciated a piece I did comparing Renato Núñez, Anthony Santander, and Pedro Severino’s offensive adjustments. That was cool. Recapping a team win was always great, because all the comments were so happy.

The last couple seasons have been frustrating, sniffing the playoffs without quite getting there. But there are lots of reasons for hope, too. I’m excited to see Samuel Basallo grow into himself, and to watch Pete Alonso continue to hit tanks. (I didn’t expect to like the Polar Bear so much, but I was wrong. What a leader he’s been.) I like Dylan Beavers, and hope he has a good offensive year in 2027. Same with Coby Mayo, who really found something down the stretch. I think a healthy Jackson Holliday will be dangerous. There are some interesting arms on the farm right now, which definitely wasn’t true in 2019. Luis de León, Joseph Dzierwa, Anthony Eyanson and Boston Bateman are a few I’m really excited about.

We’ll see what’s in store for this team. It’s a time of transition, but that’s exciting. We don’t need more of 2025 and 2026, frankly, and I think the front office has got the message.

For me, this is it for blogging, for now, but I’ll never stop being a fan, of the Orioles or this blog, and will continue to lurk around this place. Thanks to this community of baseball fans with a shared love for Baltimore. It’s a great online space, and it’s been so much fun. I’m grateful. Here’s to many more wins next season.

Let’s go O’s!

There will rightfully be a ton of attention paid to the Mets' options in free agency, with ace left-hander Tarik Skubal potentially at the very top of their list of targets.

But the trade market could be percolating, too. 

Shortly after spinning a handful of trade deadline deals this past summer, bringing in a bevy of intriguing prospects while bolstering the Mets' farm system, head of baseball operations David Stearns was not shy about the possibility that some of those recently-acquired prospects could be quickly turned around as part of other deals that help New York.

That doesn't mean the Mets are in a rush to trade any of them, but the infusion of talent into their system likely makes it easier to swing an impact trade or two. 

And given New York's plethora of infield options who are close to the majors (including Jefferson Rojas, Mitch Voit, and Émilien Pitre), it's not outlandish to think Stearns could deal from that relative glut in an effort to improve the team elsewhere -- perhaps in the starting rotation. 

With offseason moving and shaking beginning soon, there's every reason to believe there will be a free agent and trade frenzy over the next month with the lockout looming on Dec. 1 when the CBA expires. So the Mets, and every other team, could be in a race to that theoretical deadline.

Here are the five players the Mets should have highest on their list of trade targets, ranked:

5. Hunter Brown, RHP

Brown is at No. 5 instead of the very top of this list simply because the Astros don't have to be in a rush to trade him. Set to enter his age-28 season in 2027, Brown is under team control via arbitration for two more years. And he's still very inexpensive, expected to make roughly $8 million next season.

But while the Astros can take their time if they so choose, there are a few reasons why dealing Brown this offseason could make sense.

For one, Houston is in a period of transition, currently searching for replacements for outgoing GM Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada. Meanwhile, despite winning the putrid AL West in 2026 with a record of 81-81, the arrow is pointing down for the Astros. Jeremy Peña will be a free agent after 2027, Yordan Alvarez will be a free agent after 2028, the high-priced Carlos Correa can't stay healthy, and Jose Altuve (who will turn 37 years old next May) seems to be running out of gas.

There's also the fact that (with the exception of Altuve) Houston has typically been unable or unwilling to extend its stars, as was the case relatively recently with Gerrit Cole and George Springer, who both walked as free agents. 

Adding all of that up, it could be smart for Houston to start retooling for the future. 

And if the Astros decide to dangle Brown, who has emerged as a legitimate frontline starter over the last three seasons, the Mets should race to the phone. 

4. Joe Ryan, RHP

Ryan was a buzzy name attached to the Mets last offseason, and could be again this time around.

With Ryan almost certainly set to depart Minnesota via free agency after 2027 (there is a mutual option for 2028 worth $13 million that he would likely only accept if his season is derailed by injury or poor performance), it would behoove the Twins to trade him this offseason.

One thing to note, though, is that the Twins actually became buyers at the 2026 deadline even though they were under .500 (56-57) and 4.0 games back in the mediocre AL Central on Aug. 3. So it's possible they simply roll the dice again in a still-underwhelming division and try to win. 

If they don't, Ryan -- who has a 3.79 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 10.1 K/9 rate across six big league seasons -- could be one of the most intriguing names on the trade market.

For the Mets, he would be a strong fit in the middle of a rotation that is expected to include Nolan McLean and Christian Scott, and could feature a legitimate ace at the top -- with a Skubal signing a possibility. 

3. George Kirby, RHP

When you look at the Mariners' starting rotation depth chart, which features Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, Kade Anderson, Bryce Miller, and Emerson Hancock, it makes sense why people are looking at Seattle as a potentially big player on the trade market this winter.

As far as Kirby, he has backslid a bit since putting up very strong seasons from 2022 to 2024 in what were his first three years in the league. In 2026, while posting a career-worst 4.33 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, the value of Kirby's stuff also regressed in a big way. But it wasn't due to a loss in velocity, as Kirby's four-seam fastball averaged a career-high 96.7 mph. It also seemingly wasn't an issue with his extension off the mound (something that hampered Freddy Peralta during his time with the Mets).

Kirby's elite command (his walk rates in 2023 and 2024 were 0.9 and 1.1, respectively) has also become simply very good. 

But the tools are still there for Kirby, who will earn roughly $10 million in 2027 via arbitration and is under team control through 2028. 

An undeniable plus is that Kirby is a New York native who grew up in Rye, so he wouldn't be overwhelmed by the market. 

2. Drew Rasmussen, RHP

The Rays hold a $20 million option on Rasmussen for the 2027 season, but Tampa has typically traded their higher-priced players ahead of free agency -- as they did recently with Tyler Glasnow and Brandon Lowe. So they could theoretically pick up Rasmussen's option and then deal him. 

Perhaps their run to the World Series changes the calculus with Rasmussen. If it doesn't, he would be one of the most sought-after pitchers available.

There will always be some lingering concern about Rasmussen's health given that he has had multiple serious elbow surgeries, including an internal brace procedure that kept him out for most of 2023 and 2024.

But when Rasmussen is healthy, he's one of the best pitchers in the sport. And he's been healthy the last two seasons, throwing a combined 322 regular season innings for the Rays while posting a 2.71 ERA and 0.96 WHIP while striking out 301 batters and allowing just 241 hits.

Rasmussen, who will be entering his age-31 season in 2027, would give the Mets a true ace to slide in atop their rotation.

1. Logan Gilbert, RHP

Yes, every top target is a starting pitcher. 

With Gilbert set for free agency after the 2027 season, it's possible the Mariners are more motivated to move him than Kirby.

Gilbert, 29, has been an inning-eating machine for Seattle, tossing 185.2 or more innings four of the last five seasons.

In 2026, he posted a 3.73 ERA and 1.08 WHIP while striking out 205 batters and allowing only 153 hits across 186 innings spanning 32 starts. His advanced metrics were also mostly in the red, including xERA, xBA, chase percentage, and extension.

Like Kirby, Gilbert's arsenal is expansive, though he is especially reliant on his four-seam fastball and slider.

Gilbert might not have quite the upside of Rasmussen, but could be a safer bet due to his mostly clean injury history.

The Brewers have won the first World Series in team history and the long-awaited victory party will carry on through the streets of downtown Milwaukee.

On Friday, Oct. 30 the team will celebrate its championship – Commissioner's Trophy in tow – with a parade beginning at 10 a.m. local time (11 ET). The parade route will start on Wisconsin Avenue and weave its way through downtown Milwaukee before concluding on the lakefront at Henry Maier Festival Park for a rally that in all likelihood with be rollicking.

There will be a variety of ways to watch the championship parade, either on MLB Network, or streaming on YouTube, MLB+, MLB.TV, Brewers.TV or Brewers.com.

The Brewers secured their first World Series title with a 4-1 victory in Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Get Milwaukee Brewers championship book and gear!

Meet the Mets

Bo Bichette is reportedly exercising his $42 million player option to stay with the Mets.

Bichette will remain under contract for the 2027 season but he has the option to opt out again next year.

The Mets claimed infielder Kyren Paris off waivers from the Angels and designated Cristian Pache for assignment.

Tarik Skubal should be at the top of the Mets shopping list this offseason, but Clay Holmes shouldn’t be too far behind the Cy Young winner.

Tylor Megill had a front row seat to his brother winning the World Series and he can only hope he can help his team find that same success.

With the offseason officially upon us, there are important dates to mark down on your calendars before a potential lockout.

Around the National League East

The Braves unsurprisingly exercised their options for Ronald Acuña Jr and Ozzie Albies.

José Alvarado was a bit of a disappointment for the Phillies this past season.

With players on the IL the Nationals currently have 45 players on their 40-man roster so they will have some decisions to make in the coming days.

Around Major League Baseball

Righty Michael King declined his player option with the Padres and is now a free agent.

The Athletics acquired outfielder Nate Eaton from the Red Sox in exchange for prospect Jareth Rayo.

Let the free agency speculation begin!

It took 57 years for the Brewers to capture their first championship and all the right ingredients had to come together to make it happen.

There are now only four teams that haven’t won a World Series championship, so who will be the next team to break the drought?

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Michael Drago reviewed Marcus Semien’s subpar first season in Queens.

Vasilis Drimalitis wrote about Bichette exercising his option.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 2015, David Wright blasted the first World Series home run in Citi Field history to help propel the Mets to a 9-3 victory over the Royals in Game 3.

The World Series is over. There will be no baseball played today. There will be no baseball played tomorrow. And sadly, we have no idea when Major League Baseball will be restart again, if at all, in 2027.

Usually, this is where we turn to the famous Rogers Hornsby quote:

“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”

But that depressing reality doesn’t quite capture the mood this year. There’s no guarantee spring will bring us relief from the hellscape the owners are about to unleash. So instead, I’m just angry. Angry at the owners, angry that the sport I love is about to do unspeakable levels of damage to itself, and angry that we have no idea what things are going to look like on the backside of this completely unnecessary carnage.

Back in 1994, baseball lost eight months of action from the time the strike ensued in August all the way through Opening Day in 1995, which was delayed until late April. With Covid, we technically went nine months without baseball as the season didn’t start until July, but the offseason leading up to it was relatively normal, and we even had spring training games start on time.

Over the last 150 years, nothing has disrupted an MLB season like this looming lockout could. Not World Wars, not the Great Depression, and not even the infancy of the sport back in the late 1800s. Since the Western Frontier closed, we’ve never gone more than nine months without a professional baseball game. Today marks the beginning of a stretch that could end that fact. We’re sailing straight into a sea of uncertainty.

What we do know is that the Milwaukee Brewers — The smallest market in the sport — just won the World Series over the Tampa Bay Rays, who ooze overachievement an on annual basis. And yet, the owners are preparing to shut down everything down over the guise of competitive balance. They could not be more full of shit!

At least now, after the way this October unfolded, we can get a little bit more serious: The real reason the owners want a cap is because they need a line on a graph to go up. Nothing more, nothing less. Valuations of franchises tend to be much higher when you get to put a limit on how much you pay the guys who make your product magical, and since baseball has and always will reflect the American reality, we now get to sit back and watch as a small group of billionaires prepare to make life worse for everybody else.

And along those lines, there’s something else that has me very concerned. We as a society don’t compromise on much of anything anymore. Two sides dig in, never abandon hardline positions, and nothing gets done while everything crumbles around us. Is there any reason to believe this impending lockout will be any different? The owners have made it pretty clear they’re not going to budge unless they get a cap. The players meanwhile have always seen a cap as a nonstarter. Even if we didn’t live in the most unproductive debate environment in American history, it’s hard to see how this ends without one side emerging completely victorious.

There’s either going to be a cap, or there’s not. Baseball will either be changed forever when we resume, or we’ll be rebuilding the current structure and way of things when it’s time to pick up the pieces. I don’t see much of an in-between, but then again I don’t see much of anything right now as we stare into an apocopic abyss.

All I know for sure is that I’m angry right now, and it’s hard for me to direct that anger at any place other than the owners. The wonderful story of what the Milwaukee Brewers just did juxtaposed with what these jackals are about to do is deeply poignant at this hour, and with no more baseball games to distract us from the impending tsunami, I’m dreading just how ugly this is about to get.