Feb 18, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Gomes talks with manager Dave Roberts (30) during spring training at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Here is every transaction for the Los Angeles Dodgers for the entire 2026 season, starting with the first day of spring training through the end of the team’s postseason run.
We will keep track of every single transaction involving the 40-man roster here, including players getting called up or sent down to the minor leagues, as well as signings, trades, waiver claims, getting designated for assignment, or released.
Also here will be every injured list stint, though we will also tract all the IL moves in their own post. We’ll also have another post that keeps track of minor league options, with a limit of five times a player can be optioned to the minors beginning after opening day.
Aug 12, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore (52) pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Cardinals revealed their new Spring Training facilities by turning the camera over to Matthew Liberatore for their tour with a creative play on words.
As pitchers and catchers have now reported to Jupiter, Florida, Matthew Liberatore and a lone camera person gave a tour of what the new training facilities are like.
The walkthrough included 6 or 7 new covered batting cages, pitching machines, weight room areas including outdoor options and the multi-purpose field for ground ball work. The new performance center is impressive with both minor league and major league areas intertwined. The saunas and hyperbaric chambers are state of the art and the brand new food room is stocked with what Matthew says are healthy food options.
According to the Sports Business Journal, the St. Louis Cardinals invested $108 million dollars for these new Spring Training places. I fully expect there will be ample references to that being greater than the St. Louis Cardinals payroll for the coming season.
One additional side note. The St. Louis Cardinals just released the Spring Training broadcast schedule.
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 16: Warming Bernabel #25 of the Colorado Rockies reacts during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday, August 16, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Every year, teams have non-roster invites to Spring Training. They are a mixture of prospects who are not on the 40-man roster and veterans trying to fight their way on to the roster. The Nats have found some gems among their pool of NRI’s the past couple years. In 2024, Jesse Winker was a non-roster invite and last year Brad Lord made the team out of camp as an NRI.
This year the Nats have 62 total players at camp, which is on the bigger side. The NRI’s range from prospects, to journeymen, to familiar faces who have been DFA’d lately. While most of these guys will not make the roster and head to the Minor Leagues, one or two of these players are likely to stick.
I wanted to go over a few of the players who have the best chance of making the team. The battle for the first base position will be one of the biggest stories this spring. There will be a few NRI’s who are battling for that first base position. Warming Bernabel, Matt Mervis and Yohandy Morales all have a chance to win at least a share of the first base job with a strong spring.
The first player I want to discuss is Morales. He was the Nats second round pick in 2023, and is a fairly well regarded prospect. However, his stock has been slowly dipping the past couple of years due to some red flags in his profile. In college, he played third base, but has made the move to first now. Naturally, sliding down the defensive spectrum hurts.
However, the biggest concerns stem from his bat. Morales has huge raw power, but his batted ball profile and his whiff issues are concerning. Last year, he hit the ball on the ground over 50% of the time and struck out over 30% of the time in AAA. Morales had a good start to the year in AA, but the move up to Triple-A saw mixed results.
He still has a chance to make the team with a big spring though. I am very interested to see if he is helped by the new hitting coaches. Scouts have been worried about Morales’ swing mechanics and hopefully the new staff can clean them up. He was highly productive in the Puerto Rican Winter League and in the Caribbean Series, but the level of competition there is not the highest. Still, we got a glimpse of his raw power.
Yohandy Morales is on a heater.
The Nats 2023 second rounder crushed a 445 foot homer in the Caribbean Series semifinals and finished winter ball hitting .395 in Puerto Rico.
Morales is a player I will be watching closely. There are a few players who are ahead of him in the race for first base at the moment. However, Morales may have more upside than anyone. It is far from a given, but he is a breakout candidate.
Matt Mervis and Warming Bernabel are two minor league free agents the Nats signed this offseason. Both will have a chance to win the 1B job this spring. There is a chance Bernabel and Mervis could be platoon partners if both impress this spring.
Bernabel became a bit of a cult hero for a horrid Rockies team after a hot start to his MLB career in late July. The 23 year old was hitting .500 with 3 homers in his first week as a big leaguer. However, he came crashing down to earth. Bernabel ended the season with a .252 average and .698 OPS.
He still has some interesting traits though. Bernabel makes a lot of contact and hits the ball in the air a lot. He only struck out 17.1% of the time and pulled the ball in the air over 20% of the time. Both of those numbers are above average. This gives him a path to some offensive production.
I truly hope Warming Bernabel has a Joey Meneses-like breakout with the Nationals. pic.twitter.com/Ak2W7yZx7j
However, Bernabel does not hit the ball very hard and chases a lot. That is not a great combination, especially for a first baseman. Maybe Bernabel can be a platoon bat at first base, but his upside is not very high. However, he is still very young and provides quality depth.
Matt Mervis is a very different profile from Bernabel. He is your stereotypical left handed slugger at the first base position. Mervis has big time power and has shown it throughout his minor league career, with over 100 MILB homers. However, his hitting in the minors has not translated to MLB production.
Mervis, who is from Washington, DC, grew up a Nats fan. It would be a cool story if he could play for his hometown team. He said he grew up idolizing Ryan Zimmerman. Mervis looked like he was finally breaking through with the Marlins last April. He hit 7 homers in April and posted an .848 OPS.
Matt Mervis hit 7 HR with an .848 OPS across 68 at-bats in April. The Nats still believe. pic.twitter.com/DTEtmxUX1j
After a disastrous May, he lost his job and was eventually DFA’d. He will look to make it back to the big leagues this year. Mervis has big power, but he also has big swing and miss issues. He struck out 37.3% of the time last year. While it would be a cool story, Mervis seems like your standard Quad-A slugger.
There is one non-first baseman I want to take a look at and that is Orelvis Martinez. He is a true wild card, with a ton of upside but a low floor. A few years ago, the 24 year old Martinez was a top 100 prospect for the Blue Jays. His massive power and ability to stick on the infield made him highly touted.
He hit at least 28 homers in the minors every year from 2021 to 2023, where he steadily climbed the ranks. Some of those homers were truly majestic shots. Martinez has plus, maybe even plus-plus raw power and it shows up in games.
After hitting 17 homers in 74 AAA games in 2024, and making his MLB debut, disaster struck. Martinez was popped for steroid use, and suspended 80 games. He was a shell of himself when he came back in 2025, hitting just .176 with 13 homers in 99 AAA games. Was he a product of steroids, or was it just a down year?
The Nats seem interested to find out, as they gave him a minor league deal with a spring training invite. Martinez can play second or third base at an adequate level. He has also been good against left handed pitching in his career. If Martinez has a good spring, he has a small chance of winning a platoon role. A pairing of Garcia and Martinez at second base could be interesting.
It is likely that he starts the season in AAA and looks to rebuild his stock. I would not be surprised at all if we saw Martinez in the MLB at some point this year. If last year was truly just a blip on the radar, the Nats could be getting a steal.
Those guys are the ones most likely to make the team, but there are a few other notable NRI’s to shout out. Andry Lara, Shinnosuke Ogasawara, Riley Adams and Trey Lipscomb were all DFA’d this offseason, but managed to clear waivers unclaimed. They were all invited to camp. A few of these guys have a chance to play a role at some point this year, but are unlikely to break camp.
Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora are the Nats two best pitching prospects, and both got invited to camp. However, neither will pitch because they are injured. Sykora had Tommy John Surgery and Susana had Lat Surgery. Other notable prospects at camp include Seaver King, Andrew Pinckney and Caleb Lomavita.
There are also a few grizzled vets in the mix. Tres Barrera and Trevor Gott were Nats at one point. Now, they are looking for one last shot and are at big league camp. Sergio Alcantara is another veteran looking to catch on.
The position player side is more interesting this year, but guys like Zach Penrod and Bryce Montes De Oca are intriguing. Overall, this is a fun group and there are plenty of guys we will see on the roster at some point this season.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone began his Thursday media availability by announcing that starting pitcher Cam Schlittler is dealing with inflammation in his mid-back.
Per Boone, the Yankees will keep the right-hander off the mound for a few days, but he will otherwise continue to throw as usual.
Boone said this is something the Yankees are "trying to stay ahead of."
"[We] wanna make sure we don’t turn this into something else,' the manager said. "He’s felt a little tweak here and there, but he’s been doing his lives. He’s one of the guys who has already done two ups in lives, so I don’t think it will slow him that much, but we just want to make sure we don’t turn it into something else."
Schlittler said he first felt something in his back, while also mentioning his lat area, a few weeks ago, but described it as "just some minor stuff," and he's fully confident it won't affect his prep for the regular season.
"Zero, I’d say," Schlittler answered when asked about his concern level. "It’s early and I’ve been dealing with it for a little bit, so just want to make sure I’m on top of it and ready for Opening Day and that week in San Fran."
The 25-year-old Schlittler was a revelation for the Yankees last season, his first year in the majors. Schlittler started 14 games, pitching to a 2.96 ERA with 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. He was also outstanding in his two playoff starts, posting a 1.26 postseason ERA.
With Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery), Carlos Rodon (cleanup procedure for loose bodies and bone spurs), and Clarke Schmidt (Tommy John surgery) all recovering from their respective surgeries and not likely to be ready to go by Opening Day, Schlittler figures to be a crucial piece in the rotation, along with lefty Max Fried and fellow righty Luis Gil.
"Obviously, we’re very excited about him and expect him to be a key part of our rotation," Boone said, "and still expect that from the jump."
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke following Thursday’s workouts in Port St. Lucie…
On Bichette’s transition to the hot corner
With Bo Bichette making the move to third base this season, he was among a number of Mets position players who arrived to camp early this week.
Mendoza is encouraged by that because it allows the coaching staff to get even more hands-on work with their new infielder, as was the case on Thursday.
While both sides like what they’ve seen in the early going, there are still some things Bichette has to adjust to moving off of shortstop.
The biggest aspect, Mendoza explained, is getting used to the timing at third base.
“Those are some of the things, besides angles and things like that,” the skipper said. “It’s just the feel for the game clock and understanding the ball is going to get on you quicker at times, and you have more time than what you think.
“The other one is the double play -- you have to be quicker getting rid of the ball, you have to give the second baseman a chance -- those are some of the conversations we’re having, and I’m glad he’s early so we can get that out of the way.”
Bichette said both Mendoza and bench coach Kai Correa have been very helpful.
He feels the biggest hurdle in the transition will be working into game action, but he’s excited for the opportunity to go out and get more comfortable this spring.
What Mendy needs to see from Benge
Carson Benge has a massive opportunity in front of him this spring.
The Mets have emphasized all offseason that they want to give the youngster every chance to crack the big-league roster out of camp.
To accomplish that, Mendoza is simply looking for him to be himself.
“The conversation I’ve already had with him was just go out there and be yourself,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of noise, and you’re going to get a real opportunity here, but don’t try to go out there and do too much.
“Understanding that you’re going to 0-for at times, you’re probably going to drop a fly ball, especially with the high sky and windy conditions -- but don’t let nothing bother you, I want you to be yourself out there.”
Mendoza has only seen him in BP and live AB’s, but so far he’s been encouraged.
“A lot of the things we’ve been getting from player development,” he said. “The fact that he’s here since Day 1 that the complex opened back in January. So far a quiet guy, observant, and I think he’s just learning from a lot of the guys that are around him right now.”
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Bryan Hudson (52) throws a pitch against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. / Darren Yamashita - Imagn Images
Bryan Hudson to compete for spot
Mendoza said that the Mets picked up the towering left-hander in a trade with the Brewers earlier this week because they feel he has the ability to help this bullpen.
"A couple of years ago, he had a pretty good year, he was effective for the Brewers," the skipper explained. "Last year, he had some ups-and-downs, but he's going to get an opportunity and we'll see how it goes."
Hudson had a 4.80 ERA and 1.86 WHIP in 15 innings with the Brewers and White Sox last season.
The year before that, his first in the majors, he pitched to a stellar 1.73 ERA across 43 appearances (62 IP).
If the southpaw can return to that form, it would be a nice boost for the Mets' bullpen that is expected to be without veteran A.J. Minter until at least May as he recovers from season-ending lat surgery.
Senga's encouraging bullpen session
Mendoza likes the intensity he saw in Kodai Senga's bullpen session Thursday in PSL.
Senga touched 92 mph, which the manager indicated is not normal for him at this point, in a good way.
"He's usually a guy who is thinking of his mechanics and things like that," he said. "Today, he got behind the baseball pretty good and used all of his pitches. It's just good to see him healthy and throwing like that this early -- we need him, we're counting on him, and we believe in him."
A healthy and dominant Senga would go a long way towards helping the Mets' rotation bounceback.
Of course, Ohtani’s never been little by any means. The 6-foot-3 designated hitter and pitcher was listed at 210 pounds by the Dodgers last season.
It, though, sure seems like he’s packed on a few more lbs to that frame heading into 2026 — a scary sight for MLB teams who’ve been trying to slow down the four-time league MVP for years.
The Kansas City Royals were active in making moves toward the beginning of the offseason. They acquired some key pieces via trades. Nick Mears, Isaac Collins, Matt Strahm. They also signed Lane Thomas.
Now, comparatively speaking, the rest of the division did not do a whole lot. The Twins and White Sox are tanking and not trying to do anything ambitious this season. The Guardians are pretty much running it back with who they had last season. Jose Ramirez and friends, some would say.
The only real contender that has also made some moves is the Tigers. They got Tarik Skubal back after a historic arbitration case. They signed Framber Valdez to a huge three-year contract, and they signed former ace Justin Verlander.
So, the Tigers are trying to somewhat copy the Royals’ strategy and win games with amazing pitching. Skubal and Valdez is one heck of a 1-2 punch. Their offense might be a little better than the Royals right now, too.
As we close out our preseason baseball content, we’ve compiled a list of the top-10 players entering the 2026 season. The season officially starts this weekend, so let’s get right into it so we can enjoy some baseball!
1. Sean Yamaguchi, 3B, Nevada
Yamaguchi’s freshman campaign in 2025 was one of the most impressive debut seasons in the conference. He hit .324 with 13 home runs, 13 doubles, and 50 RBIs, tying a Mountain West freshman home run record while immediately establishing himself as a middle-of-the-order force.
Beyond the bat, Yamaguchi showed advanced defensive instincts at third base, handling the hot corner with confidence well beyond his age. Entering his sophomore season, he has star upside written all over him and could very easily push him to the top even more.
2. Carson Lane, RHP, UNLV
Lane enters 2026 as the Mountain West’s premier arm after a workhorse 2025 season for UNLV. The right-hander finished 6–4 with a 4.23 ERA, logging 78.2 innings and striking out 85 batters, consistently pitching deep into games in a Rebels rotation that leaned heavily on his durability.
Lane’s ability to hold velocity, limit damage, and compete through traffic elevated his value beyond raw numbers. With another offseason of development and a clear role as UNLV’s Friday-night starter, Lane enters 2026 as the conference’s most trusted ace and a legitimate Pitcher of the Year frontrunner.
3. Khalil Walker, OF, New Mexico
Walker was one of the most dangerous offensive players in the conference during 2025, finishing the season just under .400 at the plate while catalyzing New Mexico’s nation-leading offense. His ability to square up pitches consistently and reach base at an elite rate made him a constant problem for opposing pitchers.
Add in his speed and defensive range in the outfield, and Walker’s all-around game puts him firmly among the Mountain West’s elite. If New Mexico stays in the conference title picture again, Walker will be a major reason why.
4. Jayce Dobie, UTL, Nevada
Dobie’s versatility and production make him one of the most valuable players in the Mountain West entering 2026. At the plate in 2025, he hit .339 with 15 doubles, seven home runs and 36 RBIs, providing consistent offense regardless of where he was slotted in the lineup.
What separates Dobie from others is his two-way ability. He also contributed on the mound, finishing 2–2 with 37 strikeouts in 43 innings, giving Nevada the flexibility few teams can match. His senior season projects as another high-impact year on both sides of the ball.
5. Akili Carris, 3B, New Mexico
Carris emerged as one of the most impactful bats in the Mountain West during New Mexico’s explosive 2025 season, carving out a key role in one of the nation’s most productive offenses. The infielder finished the year hitting .341, piling up 13 doubles, consistent extra-base damage, and finishing near the top of the Lobos’ lineup in both runs scored and on-base percentage. His ability to consistently barrel the baseball made him a constant threat in conference play.
What elevates Carris into the top tier entering 2026 is how well his skill set fits New Mexico’s offensive identity. He combines plate discipline with gap power, rarely giving away at-bats, and forces pitchers to work deep counts. Defensively, he brings athleticism and range to the infield, rounding out a complete profile. With another year of experience and a lineup built to score in bunches, Carris enters 2026 as one of the most dangerous and reliable position players in the Mountain West.
6. Griffen Sotomayor, 1B, Fresno State
Sotomayor emerged as a cornerstone of Fresno State’s offense in 2025, batting .330 with 16 doubles, seven home runs and 41 RBIs while posting a slugging percentage north of .500. His ability to drive the baseball to all fields made him a true middle-order threat for the Bulldogs.
As a senior, Sotomayor enters 2026 as one of the conference’s top run producers and a stabilizing presence at first base. His power-plus-contact profile gives Fresno State one of the safest offensive bets in the league.
7. Max Hartman, OF, Washington State
Hartman quietly put together one of the most efficient offensive seasons in the Mountain West in 2025, hitting approximately .360 with a .430+ on-base percentage while consistently producing extra-base hits. His disciplined approach allowed him to impact games without forcing the issue.
Defensively sound and offensively consistent, Hartman gives Washington State a veteran bat capable of anchoring a lineup. Entering his senior season, he profiles as one of the conference’s most reliable outfielders.
8. Alex Fernandes, OF, San Jose State
Fernandes was a model of consistency in 2025, finishing the season hitting .361 with a .447 on-base percentage while serving as one of San Jose State’s most dependable offensive options. His ability to grind at-bats and drive the gaps made him a key piece of the Spartans’ lineup.
Entering 2026, Fernandes brings senior leadership, defensive stability, and a proven bat to a San Jose State team with conference aspirations. He may not be flashy, but his production speaks loudly.
9. Tyler Albanese, RHP, San Jose State
Albanese took a major step forward in 2025, emerging as one of the most reliable arms in the Mountain West. The right-hander finished the season 4–3 with a 2.97 ERA across 39.1 innings, consistently limiting damage and giving San Jose State quality outings in both starting and high-leverage relief roles. His ability to throw strikes and change speeds allowed him to neutralize some of the league’s better offenses. He’s a big, physical RHP with a low-mid 90s heater with two quality breakers.
What makes Albanese especially valuable entering 2026 is his versatility. He proved capable of handling multiple roles, whether bridging innings out of the bullpen or stepping into bigger spots when needed. With another year of development and a clear role in the Spartans’ pitching plans, Albanese enters the season as one of the conference’s most dependable arms and a key piece for a San Jose State team with postseason aspirations.
10. Karsen Waslefsky, SS, New Mexico
Waslefsky was a key part of the Lobos’ offense that hit .337 last year, as he batted .298 on the season with an .828 OPS, scoring 32 runs on 42 hits while driving in 31. He finished the season with six doubles, one triple and five homers.
Defensively, his fielding percentage was at .959 with 47 putouts and 116 assists on 170 opportunities with just seven errors. As a senior shortstop, his glove and experienced bat will be integral to a Lobo squad hoping to build on its prolific run production.
Honorable mentions: Billy Ham (DH, Nevada), Junhyuk Kwon (INF, Nevada), Jake McCoy (OF, San Jose State), Alessandro Castro( P, Nevada), Tyler Patrick (P, Fresno State)
It has to be said, the bonus months of baseball in Arizona are definitely a plus. When the rest of the country is still digging itself out of snow-drifts, the state becomes a mecca for all the MLB teams in the Western half of the country. It’s like having an All-Star Game in your backyard. Then, at the end of the year, we get the Arizona Fall League, a showcase for some of the best prospects from all thirty teams. But spring training is not all sunshine and roses…
What do you enjoy most and least about spring training?
I think it’s a delight when it starts, simply because we’ve been starved of baseball for months. Simply seeing the players wandering about, stretching and taking ground balls is a joy, especially if you’ve been spending your time not giving a damn about the NFL, NBA or… whatever that other league is. But speaking personally, there’s a point – well before the end of the Cactus League schedule – where I’ve had enough of games where even the starting position players only go five innings, and by the end, your score-card resembles the first draft of Peter Jackson’s next trilogy. Then there’s the potential for meaningless baseball leading to very meaningful injury…
So, whether you live in Arizona or not, tell us what you feel about spring training!
Today we look atthe Cubs’ veteran right-handed starter.
Jameson Lee Taillon was born in Lakeland, Florida, 34 years ago. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 June Amateur Draft, going to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he toiled for four years, recorded 29 wins against 24 losses, and looked every bit of a decent young pitcher after getting to The Show.
He was traded to the Yankees, where he went 22-11, with a meh year and a really good year before he was signed by the Cubs. He’s now 82-60, 3.87 after three years on the North Side, where he’s been a serviceable rotation arm, possibly the most dependable on the squad. He’s been relatively good each year in Chicago, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t have another year in his arm. He’s in the 1,000+ career strikeout club and can slot into any spot in the rotation.
His lifetime 15.4 bWAR (18.8 fWAR) in 11 years attests to his abilities. He’s also been to the postseason twice, with middling results.
He doesn’t walk very many batters. He also doesn’t strike out a lot of them. He doesn’t allow a lot of hits. He’s one of those guys that pitches to contact and lets the defense work. That plays in Chicago, where the defense never rests.
Projections have him generally around .500, 9-9 or so. 7K/9, 2.0+ BB/9, which isn’t bad. I suspect he’ll win a couple more games than that with relative health. Your guess is as good as anyone’s.
BRONX, NY - OCTOBER 18: Zack Britton #53 of the New York Yankees pitches during Game 5 of the ALCS between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, October 18, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
For the third consecutive entry into the free agency series, another elite left-handed reliever is due to be covered. For better or for worse, the Yankees made another splash in the offseason following the 2018 season from a free agent class that featured far more generational talent than the usual crop.
Zack Britton, in all fairness, was not all that far removed from one of the great pitching performances in modern baseball history. The perception of his deal may not be entirely fair, as it wouldn’t be right to compare his overall value to someone like Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, but on the whole, Britton was quite good for the Yankees. Big-money deals on relief pitching can feel like a letdown when there are A-list free agents available on the market, but Britton was elite for a long stretch, some of which the Yankees were able to enjoy.
Zack Britton Signing Date: January 11, 2019 Contract: Three years, $39 million
Britton, a 6-foot-1 left-hander, was originally drafted in the third round of the 2006 amateur draft by the Orioles. He would remain with that organization for over a decade, and see a level of success at times that few other pitchers in the history of the sport enjoyed.
He initially came up as a starter, pitching over 150 innings across 28 starts in his 2011 rookie campaign. Over the next couple of seasons, he was only able to make 11 and seven starts for Baltimore, respectively. Unfortunately for the O’s and their lefty, it was an unconvincing stretch on the bump, as he managed an ERA approaching five across those three years.
For the 2014 season, Britton was moved to the bullpen. As a result, he almost instantly became one of baseball’s most dominant forces on the mound. He pitched in a career-high 71 games, racked up 37 saves, and managed a stingy 1.65 ERA in over 75 innings of work for Baltimore. A year later, he was just as good in the closer role for the Birds, earning his first All-Star nod in the process. In 2016, his third season coming out of the bullpen, Britton established himself fully as one of the most dominant pitchers on the planet. He had a similar workload, 67 innings across 69 innings of work, but he reached an entirely different level after already pitching incredibly well over the last couple of seasons.
In 2016, the 0.54 ERA he posted still stands as the lowest figure by a pitcher in MLB history among all to ever throw at least 50 innings in one season. That is no small feat, and it earned him another All-Star selection, as well as a fourth-place finish in the Cy Young voting (in a weaker year for candidates, he may have had a legitimate case for the award). Britton was perfect in save opportunities, closing down all 47 chances that Buck Showalter gave him. It would take some squinting, but there is an avenue where you could call that season one of the great pitching performances in baseball history.
It’s just a shame that Showalter’s outdated thoughts on closer usage meant that Britton inexplicably didn’t throw a single pitch during Baltimore’s Wild Card Game loss to the Blue Jays. Held out for a save opportunity that never came, he could only watch as Edwin Encarnación took Ubaldo Jiménez deep to walk it off in the 11th.
Britton missed some time in 2017, and was not quite at the same level in his 39.1 innings, though he was still very solid. The following season was mostly the same for Britton with Baltimore in the first half, and he was eventually sent to the Yankees in a rental trade that saw New York deal three prospects but none of particular note. He worked 25 games with the Yankees that season, maintaining a sub-3 ERA in 25 innings, a nice note to hit free agency on.
It was an offseason that carried a lot of hope and potential for plenty of clubs, with the likes of Harper, Machado, and Patrick Corbin headlining the free agent class. They were all players that could have made good fits with the Yankees, though they clearly went a different direction. Instead of any of the top-shelf names, the Yankees re-signed J.A. Happ, made a savvy move in picking up DJ LeMahieu, and in January of 2019, re-upped the services of Zack Britton.
It was a three-year deal, with Britton making $13 million per season, a lot of money for a reliever, surely, but nothing franchise-altering. In his first full season with the club, Britton did his part in making it look like a great deal. The lefty pitched over 60 innings, boasting a 1.91 ERA in a high-leverage role in what was one of his best seasons in terms of results. He even did his part in the postseason that year, when the Yankees came to within a game of the World Series. He allowed just one run on two hits across eight innings of work that October.
Although that was his age-31 season, Britton was still in the midst of his prime, and showed minimal signs of slowing down on the mound. Unfortunately for him and the Yankees, however, that year would be his last real chance at a full season of work.
Britton was even better for the shortened 2020 season, but obvious circumstances limited him to just 19 innings of work, albeit very good ones. It was the next season, unfortunately, that his career began to hit the wall. The injury bug had come to bite the Yankees left-hander, as he missed much of that season with injuries in his throwing elbow and his hamstring. His abbreviated work was not up to standards that year either, as he pitched to the tune of an ERA and FIP well north of five, and wrapped up the season with salt in the wound, as he needed Tommy John surgery in September of that year.
A club option was kicked in following the 2020 season, meaning that Britton would remain with the Yankees through 2022, despite the injury trouble. More than a year after his initial shelving, Britton returned for the Yankees in September of ‘22. After three abysmal appearances on the mound, he left a late-season game against his old team, the Orioles, with more elbow discomfort. Surely disappointed in the turn his baseball life had taken, that would be the final action of Britton’s career in the major leagues. He sat out 2023 and then officially retired that November.
Britton’s contract is a difficult one to assess on the whole. Relief pitcher contracts can get funky in general, and he was actually very good for two of the planned three years of their agreement. Despite that, it feels as though his tenure is surrounded by so much disappointment. His career unfortunately ended with a bit of a whimper, and his signing came at a time when fans likely expected a lot more aggression out of the club in terms of spending.
However fair all of that may be, it still feels reasonable to recognize how good of a pitcher Britton was. From 2014-20, Britton’s 1.84 ERA was a distant best in baseball, and the Yankees were able to enjoy two-and-a-half years of that dominant stretch. It may have been an underwhelming deal in the bigger picture, but it’s also hard to deny the value of the signing at the time, and what Britton provided at his best for the Yankees.
See more of the “50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agent Signings in 50 Years” series here.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 03: Anthony Banda of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates on a bus during the Dodgers 2025 World Series Championship parade on November 03, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Twins have acquired left-handed reliever Anthony Banda from the Dodgers in exchange for international bonus pool space. Banda was designated for assignment by the Dodgers earlier this week, essentially meaning the Twins gave the Dodgers a bit of cash to jump the waiver line. RHP Jackson Kowar, picked up off the waiver wire last week, was DFA’d to make room on the 40-man roster. The minor trade was reported by Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune.
Over the past two seasons in LA, Banda has a 3.14 ERA/4.52 FIP with 111 strikeouts in 114.2 innings. The FIP is quite a bit higher due to his walk rate, which was one of the worst in MLB among relievers last season. Like most lefties, he’s significantly better against left-handed batters and will likely be deployed as more of a true lefty-specialist. Fellow left-hander Kody Funderburk actually struggles more against lefties, making him and Banda a good pair in the middle innings for the Twins.
Banda will make a very modest $1.625M in 2026 and is controllable next season as well via arbitration. I would expect the Twins to still be pretty active on the waiver and trade market over the next two months as they look to beef up their bullpen. They have three solid left-handed options now with Banda, Funderburk, and Taylor Rogers, but could still use a more established right-handed reliever to go with Cole Sands and Justin Topa.
What are your thoughts on Banda? Can the Twins help get his walk rate under control and make him a more effective reliever?
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 21: Chase Lee #53 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch during an MLB game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 21, 2025 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Chase Lee is a 27-year-old, side-arm, right-handed reliever we picked up in trade from the Tigers in December. The Tigers needed a spot on the 40-man roster. And I had totally forgotten he was on the 40-man. I think this is the first one I totally forgot about. I’m not sure if this is true, but I’ve always felt that side-arm pitchers can continue to be effective into their late-30s.
The Jays sent Johan Simon to the Tigers, a 24-year-old left-handed pitcher who spent most of 2025 with Vancouver. He throws a 94 MPH fastball and gets a lot of ground balls. He had a 3.42 ERA across three levels last year. Not a big prospect but could make it as a lefty reliever.
Lee has two option years left, which gives him more value to the Jays. He pitched in 32 games as a reliever for the Tigers, with a 4.10 ERA, 9 walks, 36 strikeouts in 37.1 innings with 7 home runs against. Batters hit .239/.291/.478 against him. Statcast says he averaged 89.1 on his fastball.
He throws a sinker, sweeper, 4-seem and an occasion change up.
He also had 32 innings in Toledo with a 6.75 ERA in 32 innings, with 38 strikeouts, 10 walks and 4 home runs.
Lee, who came to Detroit from Texas in the Andrew Chafin deal, is a pretty standard sinker/slider sidearmer who has posted strikeout rates up around 30% his entire minor league career while maintaining a below-average walk rate. He doesn’t have precise fastball control — he lives in the zone, but not always on the edge of it — and that might be a problem against big leaguers when you’re only sitting 88. But both Lee’s sinker and slider live in the bottom of the zone consistently enough to consider him a high-probability up/down look reliever.
Lee is a sidearm reliever who rarely tops 91 mph, but his mix of fastball types and sweeper-slider combination makes him a tricky at-bat, especially for right-handed hitters. The Rangers certainly thought so when they spent the second pick of the sixth round of the 2021 draft on the reliever out of Alabama. He racked up a ton of strikeouts in their farm system and limited home runs, but trouble with walks kept him from breaking through at the major league level.
Against right-handers, Lee will also use a heavy volume of sweepers. Against lefties he’ll mix his slider in almost as much as the sweeper. The sweeper is typically around 80-81 mph, with a lot of horizontal movement out of that low, side arm slot. Right-handers are consistently seeing the sweeper start in their hot zones, beginning their swing, and then flailing as the pitch bends all the way across the strike zone to be buried down and away. He’s racked up a solid but unspectacular whiff rate of 28.3 percent with it at the Triple-A level going back to the beginning of the 2024 season. The slider has more depth and is typically 84 mph. He uses it a little more when he needs to throw something that’s a change of pace for a strike.
As Lee is likely to be used as right-handed hitter specialist for the most part at the major league level, it’s the sinker-sweeper combination that you’re likely to see most from him. However, the slider and fourseamer give him extra weapons to work with against lefties, and he’s handled them pretty well too. He’s just more home run prone against southpaws and not the guy you want facing Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in an outing, as an extreme example.
For the Jays, I think a lot of his value is the arm angle and the options. You can see the arm angle here:
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 11: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates at home plate after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during Game Five of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, October 11, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
People who closely follow the Brewers have been wondering: when is William Contreras’ arbitration hearing? In January, the two sides were separated by $1.35 million and did not come to an agreement. We’ve been waiting for news since then, especially in the last two weeks, as the remaining arbitration cases have been heard.
Well, Contreras and the Brewers did not require a hearing, after all. They’ve agreed to a one-year deal with a club option for 2027. While terms haven’t yet been disclosed, that’s similar to the 1+1 deal he signed before the 2025 season. Contreras made $6.1 million in 2025, but the Brewers declined their 2026 club option (reportedly worth $12 million), instead preferring to negotiate his arbitration salary again. That move saved them a few million dollars, as Contreras filed at $9.9 million and the Brewers countered at $8.55 million.
We have signed catcher William Contreras to a 1-year contract with a club option for 2027, avoiding arbitration pic.twitter.com/ZLAioygzHf
Whether the Brewers decline Contreras’ option after this season or choose to pick it up, they’ll still have his rights through the 2027 season.
We’ll update this article when we hear the terms of Contreras’s contract. His was the last outstanding case, and all Brewers currently on the team are now signed.
Update: Jon Heyman has the terms:
William Contreras and Brewers settled, avoiding a hearing. Here’s the deal:
So, depending if Contreras doesn’t reach any of those mysterious Awards Bonuses, the Brewers will have saved $2.6 million by declining the club option for 2026.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: Anthony Banda of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on January 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers found a new home for Anthony Banda, trading the veteran left-handed reliever to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday for international bonus pool space, the teams announced.
The amount of bonus pool space traded is reportedly $500,000, per Francys Romero. By rule, teams can trade space in increments of $250,000 unless trading the entirety of its remaining bonus pool space.
Acquired in a minor league trade from the Guardians in the 2024 season, Banda put up a 3.14 ERA and 3.46 xERA with 111 strikeouts and 40 unintentional walks in 114 2/3 innings. The southpaw held left-handed batters to hit just .182/.259/.261 with a 26.1-percent strikeout rate.
Banda was a reliable workhorse in his two years in the Dodgers bullpen. He didn’t join the team in 2024 until May 19, but from then through the end of 2025 Banda led the Dodgers by appearing in 119 games, four more than Alex Vesia and tied for 15th-most in baseball during that time. Banda also appeared in 17 of the Dodgers’ 33 postseason games over the last two years.
“The way I look at it is, whoever is in the bullpen, whoever’s name is called, they’re going to be ready to take on whatever they need to do. That’s kind of the environment they’ve created down there,” Banda said late in 2024. “I focus on feeling good every single day, being ready, and if my number is called, then just go out and do my job and be ready for the next day.”
Banda had the best two seasons of his career in Los Angeles. Now entering his 15th professional season, the 32-year-old is onto his 12th major league organization with the Twins.
With four years, 135 days of major league service time, Banda was eligible for salary arbitration for a second time this offseason. He avoided a hearing in January with a one-year deal worth $1.625 million.
