Category: MLB

Last time, we took a look at the outfield and the platoon splits for our various outfield candidates. Today, we will do the same with the infield. I should note a couple of things before we move forward. The first and main thing is that we are looking at career splits for all of these players. Naturally, there are positives and negatives to doing it this way and we should acknowledge those here in the lab. After all, if we fail to acknowledge things that could impact our “experiments” then those experiments become less valid.

The reason why we include career numbers over 2025 numbers is that numbers in general become more valid when we include larger sample sizes. Some players have out of context seasons here and there, but the career numbers will be more relevant when we look at these things. However, some players have out of context numbers overall because they are no longer the player that put up those career numbers. Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and Christian Walker are not likely going to put up their career numbers this season.

The key point here is not that the player is expected to meet their career numbers, but in the differences on both sides of the plate. The rate of difference will likely hold. The second thing we should note is that Brice Mathews will not be included in the infield for a couple of reasons. The primary reason is that he does not have the sample size to give us a valid entry. Also, he appears to be on the outside looking in in terms of making the 26 man roster.

So, to remind our viewing audience, we are simply looking at career slash numbers (AVG, OBP, SLG). I will include a fourth category which will be OPS. This is just a quick mental guide to bring in a familiar number to break everything down. When it is all said and done, we will look at a common trade that has been bandied about and why it makes sense for the Astros.

Infield Slash numbers

	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Yainer Diaz RHP	.283	.308	.463	.771
Yainer Diaz LHP	.265	.299	.430	.729
Carlos Perez RHP	.218	.267	.339	.606
Carlos Perez LHP	.216	.259	.299	.558
Christian Walker RHP	.247	.320	.460	.780
Christian Walker LHP	.249	.339	.443	.782
Isaac Paredes RHP	.228	.330	.425	.755
Isaac Paredes LHP	.264	.360	.444	.804
Jose Altuve RHP	.296	.352	.451	.803
Jose Altuve LHP	.324	.385	.508	.893
Carlos Correa RHP	.271	.342	.458	.800
Carlos Correa LHP	.286	.379	.480	.859
Jeremy Pena RHP	.260	.312	.399	.711
Jeremy Pena LHP	.302	.344	.469	.813
Nick Allen RHP	.202	.251	.245	.496
Nick Allen LHP	.241	.298	.338	.636

The important thing to note is that only one of these players is better against right-handed pitchers than lefties. When the Astros face lefties they will have five players with career OPS scores above .800. When they face righties they will have three. This is one of the many reasons why Dana Brown and Joe Espada have talked at length about adding a better left-handed hitter to the roster.

We often look at players’ overall numbers and forget that the aggregate does not represent what we see on a night to night basis. The truth is that tough right-handed pitchers will lock this team down on a number of nights. Baseball philosophers will tell you that the best thing you can do is as a pitcher is disrupt a hitter’s timing. Many things in baseball appear in a mirror image. If the job of pitchers is to disrupt timing then hitters can get pitchers out of rhythm by disrupting their timing.

If you set your team up with the same kind of hitters that all hit from the same side then it is easier for the pitcher to get into a rhythm. If you throw lefties and righties at them with some being selective and some more aggressive then you will force them to adjust to every single hitter that comes up. It is certainly possible to be successful doing that, but most pitchers would tell you that it is much more difficult.

Two players from the Boston Red Sox have been mentioned in potential deals for Isaac Paredes. Paredes is arguably a better player than one of them, but I want you to notice the breakdown of where they are most successful. Trades are often framed in the lens of who gets the better player, but it is really about making your team better.

	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Jarren Duran RHP	.279	.344	.494	.838
Jarren Duran LHP	.232	.284	.336	.620
Wilyer Abreu RHP	.265	.336	.492	.828
Wilyer Abreu LHP	.205	.271	.318	.589

It should be noted that Duran is a Gold Glove level defender in multiple outfield slots, so he carries some value in addition to his hitting. He would likely cost Paredes and considerable other compensation. Abreu is a more realistic target because it is feasible to see a one for one swap in that instance. Paredes might be the superior hitter overall because he doesn’t disappear against righties like Abreu does against lefties. However, we have to look at how this team is set up.

As it stands, we have five hitters with a career OPS over 800 against lefties and only three against righties. It should be noted that approximately 75 percent of the starters in baseball are right-handed. A theoretical swap would net you a balanced lineup against righties and lefties. Abreu would likely take the place currently occupied by Jesus Sanchez, but when you look at the career numbers you’ll notice he is the more dangerous player against right-handed pitching.

The current advantage of the Astros is that they have a number of players capable of playing more than one position. In reality, Christian Walker is the only player on the roster locked into one spot on the diamond. That affords Espada the opportunity to mix and match based on platoon splits. Both Abreu and Sanchez should not face lefties (whichever one would be in Houston), but there are creative options available to cover them up.

Obviously, time is on our side, so when we get into Spring Training we can look at theoretical lineups against righties and lefties to see how it all stacks up. It will difficult getting everyone at bats, but there is an opportunity to set up lineups that take advantage of these splits. Stay tuned.

The rosters for each of the World Baseball Classic teams were announced, Friday and the San Diego Padres were well represented on several teams. Mason Miller will play for the US, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Wandy Peralta for Dominican Republic, Xander Bogaerts for Netherlands, Yuki Matsui for Japan, Ron Marinaccio and Alek Jacob for Italy, Carter Loewen for Canada, Josh Mallitz for Israel and Miguel Cienfuegos for Panama. It is an honor and in some cases a dream for these players to compete for their country, but with so many players leaving during Spring Training to compete in the WBC, there is concern about how productive they can be for the Padres.

Padres News:

• With the bulk of the lawsuit between Sheel Seider and Matt and Bob Seidler being settled, the probability of a new owner in San Diego seems to be growing more possible by the day. A report in The Athleticidentifies potential buyers and adds that the bids for the purchase of the franchise could come by the end of the month.
• Machado has been one of if not the de facto leader of the Padres throughout his tenure in San Diego. Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribuneshifts his focus to the All-Star third baseman for his ongoing Padres roster review.
• Sanders also contributed a report on the Padres starting rotation as they prepare to open Spring Training next week. The five top arms have been discussed and dissected throughout the offseason. According to Preller he is still looking to add an arm in free agency,     

Baseball News:

• Detroit Tigers left-hander and back-to-back American League Cy Young Award-winner Tarik Skubal notched a win in arbitration. Skubal will make $32 million in 2026.
• The Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a trade that sent Blaze Alexander to Baltimore in exchange for a right-handed reliever and a couple minor league prospects.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates and free agent right-hander Jose Urquidy agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.
• The Los Angeles Angels agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with left-handed reliever Brent Suter.

The Dodgers in December signed the best relief pitcher available on the market, with Edwin Díaz setting a new record for average annual value with his three-year, $69 million contract. The idea is that Díaz will solidify what was the Dodgers squeakiest wheel last season.

We don’t have to look far to note how pitching plans are quite hard to predict. Tanner Scott was dominant in 2023-24 and signed a big-money deal of his own (four years, $72 million) with the Dodgers, but struggled so badly that he plummeted down the depth chart in September and October.

There is reason to believe that Scott will be better in 2026 than he was in 2025, and still pitch important innings, whether he’s setting up Díaz or picking up a few saves of his own along the way.

Depth will be needed to get through the season, and it’s likely quite a few pitchers will record saves. A dozen different Dodgers had at least one save last season. The year before, they tied a major league record with 14 different pitchers with a save, then added a 15th when Walker Buehler capped his fairytale end to 2024 to close out the World Series.

The Dodgers have had double-digit pitchers record a save in each of the lat five seasons, whether the team had a Capital-C Closer or not.

Dodgers pitchers to record a save

• 2021: 10 (Kenley Jansen 38 saves, Blake Treinen second with 7)
• 2022: 12 (Craig Kimbrel 22, Daniel Hudson 5)
• 2023: 11 (Evan Phillips 24, Brusdar Graterol 7)
• 2024: 14 (Phillips 18, Hudson 10)
• 2025: 12 (Scott 23, Alex Vesia 5)

Today’s question is two-fold: How many different Dodgers will record a save in 2026, and which pitcher will finish second on the team in saves?

We are launching a new daily article here at South Side Sox, more prominently than our items that pop up on The Feed. It falls under the category of White Sox Discussions, which you’ll see in a few weeks will also be our new branding for Game Threads.

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Yes, asking this question here on February 6 does presume that GM and late-starter Chris Getz, in contrast to his promises that with a week left before camp he’s “still not done” improving the White Sox. But at this moment, and as Spring Training nears, it’s time to see if the pleasant surprises that have comprised this offseason will codify into something positive.

Even the most grizzled fan must concede that the White Sox are likely on an upswing, with a core of young talent that should render setbacks deeper into the 100s of losses are over. Chicago’s second-half record indicated a 70-92 team over a full season.

Will the White Sox surpass a 10-win improvement on the season, or fall short. In short: What needs to happen with the team to consider 2026 a success?

Yesterday we opened the discussion about the Phillies impending youth movement by asking what your expectations were for Justin Crawford. Today, we’ll discuss another one of the Phillies top prospects poised to make a major impact on the big-league club in 2026.

It’s been an unconventional path to the Majors for Andrew Painter to say the least. Once a near consensus top five prospect in all of baseball, Painter was on the verge of a Major League debut when he suffered a tear to his UCL in the spring of 2023. After originally opting to rehab the elbow, Painter eventually was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery that kept him out of all of the 2023 season and limited him to just six starts in 2024.

Painter returned in 2025 and spent the year in Triple-A while slowly rehabbing and working his way fully back from the long layoff. The results at Lehigh Valley were not pretty, as Painter had a 5.40 ERA across 106.2 IP in 22 starts. His stuff eventually began to resemble what it was prior to his injury, but his command was erratic and his fastball shape was drastically different. The velocity was there, but his arm slot was different, which caused the once elite pitch to become much more hittable as it had less movement. It’s to be determined if some more time removed from rehab and a full, normal offseason for the first time in three years will help Painter’s heater fully recapture its preinjury form or at least something close to it. For more on Painter’s fastball, make sure to read Matt Winkelman’s scouting report and breakdown of the problems Painter faces.

Nevertheless, there is an open rotation spot this spring that is Painter’s to lose. It feels as though his spot is all but guaranteed, providing he ends the spring healthy and doesn’t come out flat in spring training. The question will perhaps be revisited when Zack Wheeler is ready, but that timeline is still unknown. Regardless, Painter will be the favorite to occupy the fifth starter role as long as he is able to perform adequately.

FanGraphs’ ZIPS projection for Painter is a 4.80 ERA in 108 IP across 24 starts with 0.9 WAR. So again, using those projections as a barometer, what are your realistic expectations for Andrew Painter in 2026? Will more time off help him get back to something close to his old form? Or is he a fundamentally different pitcher now?

The Baltimore Orioles enter 2026 with plenty of questions, most notably in a starting rotation that lacks the depth and dominance it showed in 2024. With uncertainty on the mound, the offense will need to carry more of the load. That makes Jordan Westburg’s health and production pivotal to the team’s success.

After a 2025 season marred by injury, Westburg is poised for a bounceback. His return to full health should provide exactly what the Orioles need: steady, reliable production in the middle of the lineup that can help compensate for whatever inconsistency emerges from a pitching staff not necessarily in its finished form.

Westburg’s 2025 was frustrating precisely because of what he’d shown in 2024. After a debut slashline of .260/.311/.404 in 68 games as a rookie in 2023, he seized the everyday second base job and delivered a .264/.312/.481 slash line with 18 home runs in 107 games the following year.

Then came 2025, and there the injuries. The specifics varied (a hamstring in May, a jammed finger in June, a sprained ankle in August) but they amounted to the same: extended absences that prevented Westburg from building any momentum. When he was on the field, he was still productive in flashes, but the continuity simply wasn’t there. He had a monster July, and a nice August, but he limped to the finish line, and ended the year with just 85 games played.

The good news is that none of this should be concerning long-term. This wasn’t a degenerative issue or something that required major surgery with a lengthy rehab. It was bad luck, plain and simple.

When Westburg is right, he’s exactly the kind of hitter the Orioles need in their lineup. Like his old scouting report said, Westburg takes a mature approach at the plate, boasts solid contact skills, can drive the ball to all fields, and has over-the-fence pop (albeit more on his pull side).

His 2024 numbers showed a hitter with developing power who could handle both righties and lefties. He posted an ISO over .216, demonstrating legitimate gap-to-gap pop that occasionally turned into home runs. More importantly, he made consistent contact, striking out at a reasonable rate while showing enough discipline to avoid expanding the zone too often. That’s the profile of a player who can hit anywhere from fifth to seventh in a good lineup and provide real value.

Defensively, Westburg gives the Orioles flexibility. While second base is his primary position, he’s shown the ability to handle third base and has even gotten reps at shortstop. That versatility matters for a team that likes to carry an extra reliever and may need its infielders to move around depending on matchups or injuries. It’s not flashy, but it’s valuable—especially over the course of a 162-game season.

The key to a Westburg bounceback isn’t complicated: health plus opportunity equals production. He’ll enter spring training fully healthy for the first time since his debut season, with a full offseason of normal training behind him. That matters more than people might think. After an injury-plagued year, getting back into a regular routine—working on specific aspects of your game, building strength, refining your swing—makes a huge difference.

Westburg also benefits from knowing what’s expected of him. In 2024, he was still establishing himself, proving he belonged in the everyday lineup. In 2026, he’ll arrive as an established piece of the offense, with the confidence that comes from already having succeeded at this level. That mental aspect shouldn’t be underestimated. Players who’ve proven themselves once often take another step forward when they get a clean slate.

The lineup context also sets up well for Westburg. With Henderson, Rutschman, and Pete Alonso anchoring the top of the order, and Colton Cowser continuing to develop, Westburg won’t be asked to carry the offense. He just needs to be steady—get on base, drive in runs when opportunities arise, and provide consistent at-bats that keep the lineup moving. That’s exactly what he did in 2024, and there’s no reason he can’t do it again.

A return to his 2024 form—something like .270/.320/.450 with 20-plus home runs and strong defense—would be exactly what the Orioles need from him. It would stabilize the middle infield, provide protection in the lineup, and give manager Craig Albernaz another versatile piece to deploy. More importantly, it would give the Orioles the depth they need to withstand whatever challenges emerge over a long season.

I know this is a site devoted to college sports, but forgive me as I pay tribute to a childhood hero who, nearly 60 years after his greatest act, is still top of mind to a generation (or more) of Detroit sports fans.

The death of a childhood sports hero is never easy. It often hits harder than you would expect. You may not have known them personally, but you grew up with them. They became a part of your life. And they forever remain a part of your memories.

Like most sports fans, the deaths of some of my childhood sports heroes have hit me hard. None, however, have hit as hard as that of former Detroit Tiger Mickey Lolich. Lolich was my first favorite player, and a fellow lefty at that. That’s enough to make him special to me. But it’s what he meant to a franchise and a city that made Lolich special to so many others.

Lolich didn’t have the career of players like Ty Cobb, Charlie Gehringer, Hal Newhauser or Al Kaline. He didn’t have that one shining season like Hank Greenberg, Denny McClain, Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera or Tarik Skubal. But he was as instrumental as any player has ever been in bringing a championship to Detroit.

The 1968 baseball season remains one of the greatest seasons in Detroit Tigers history. A seminal memory for a generation of fans. A 103-win season that culminated with a game seven victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, giving the Tigers their third world championship and first in a generation.

The Tigers won the 1968 World Series for many reasons. They won because four-time gold glove centerfielder Mickey Stanley made the unprecedented move to shortstop so Detroit could find a place in its lineup for a 33-year-old Al Kaline. They won because Kaline, in his only World Series appearance, hit .379 with two home runs and eight RBIs. They won because Bill Freehan tagged out St. Louis speedster Lou Brock at the plate, saving the series and the season. But more than anything, the Tigers won because of Mickey Lolich – who authored the greatest pitching performance in World Series history.

With the lights their brightest and his team in desperate need of a lift, Lolich pitched three complete game victories for the Tigers in the 1968 Fall Classic – outdueling Hall of Famer Bob Gibson in the decisive game seven. And if that weren’t enough, Lolich also batted .250 and hit the only home run of his career.

If there’s been a greater performance by any athlete in any sport when so much was on the line, there can’t have been many. And for that performance, Lolich earned his place as one of the most consequential and beloved players to ever don the Olde English D.

1968 wasn’t Lolich’s greatest statistical season. In 1971, he finished runner-up in Cy Young voting, with 25 victories, more than 300 strikeouts and an almost unfathomable 376 innings pitched. But it’s what he did in 1968 that makes Lolich a Detroit legend. Delivering a championship to a city that was in desperate need of some good news.

There’s a case to be made for Lolich being in the Hall of Fame. And with 217 victories and 2,832 strikeouts (fifth most among left handers), you could argue that it’s a strong case. But Hall of Fame or not, Lolich’s legacy is cemented. And his passing is mourned.

Mickey Lolich brought me to tears twice in my life. Once as a young child, when I learned that the Tigers had traded him to the New York Mets. And a second time earlier this week, when as a not-so-young man, I learned of his passing. I doubt I was the only one who reacted in such a way.

RIP Mickey.

Of all the things I wish were better than they are, the World Baseball Classic is definitely one of them. The ongoing insurance-as-a-bar-to-participation debacle only underscores that missed potential. The roster reveals from yesterday, are, well… you get the idea, I think.

Anyway, a short one since it’s Friday: who ya got? Japan has won three of five WBCs so far, including the most recent one held, and has never finished lower than third. The U.S. is the only other team to finish in the top four in at least three of the five — that’s kind of weird when you think about it, but yes, it appears to be the case.

Rosters are here: https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/roster/. Have at it.

It has been a very big week for the Tigers, indeed, or at least a very big week for the checkbooks in the front office. First the Tigers announced their deal with leftie Framber Valdez, one that proved the team was not afraid to shell out a decent chunk of change for a talented left-handed pitcher. Then, in very related news, the Tigers were forced to pay Tarik Skubal precisely what he’s worth when the Tigers’ ace won his arbitration hearing and earned a $32M payday. The Tigers are going to be spending an awful lot of money on pitching in 2026. It would be nice to think they’ll continue to spend big bucks on the rotation, but it seems likely at this point that they’ll need to win Skubal the hard way in free agency (if they don’t trade him before the end of the season anyway).

In sadder news, the Tigers and baseball lost a legend as Mickey Lolich passed away this week. He will forever be remembered by Tigers fans as a member of the iconic 1968 World Series-winning team.

We have more to share in terms of general baseball news today (and we’ve covered these big stories in more detail here on the site), so let’s just jump right into the day’s news.

Detroit Tigers News

• Michael Baumann looks at how Skubal became the highest-paid player in arbitration history.
• Did signing Framber Valdez make the Tigers the team to beat atop the AL Central leaderboard?
• Ken Rosenthal thinks the Valdez signing proves the Tigers are in it to win it, especially while they still have Skubal around. ($)
• How Tarik Skubal is poised to revolutionize MLB’s salary system.
• Have the Tigers embraced a new way to build a star-studded rotation?
• One player who we won’t see in the WBC? Javier Baez, who is banned from international play until April 2026 after he tested positive for cannabis in 2023.
• If you want insights from AJ Hinch on the upcoming season and some hot Tigers’ prospects, he was featured in a new podcast episode.

🚨🚨New Pod Drop🚨🚨#Tigers skipper A.J. Hinch joins the show!
– What happened in 2025?
– Who is the “closer” in ‘26?
– Navigating Skubal offseason hype
– Bringing up McGonigle & Clark
And more#repDetroit
With @CodyStavenhagen & @Kieran_Steckleyhttps://t.co/KXKe25q9hN

— Tiger Territory (@TigerTerritory_) February 3, 2026

• New seasonal hype video has dropped!

A team and a city that refuses to back down.

Detroit, no matter what. #DNMWpic.twitter.com/tqAYbTMZ5u

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 3, 2026

• In Memorium of Mickey Lolich.

Mickey Lolich’s legacy, on and off the field, will forever be cherished. 💙🧡 pic.twitter.com/0imKYd4O91

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 4, 2026

• And remembering two Negro League players who were part of many Tigers’ celebrations.

The Tigers mourn the passing of Negro Leagues players Clinton Forge and Ron Teasley. Both regularly attended our Negro Leagues celebrations at Comerica Park.

A Birmingham, AL native, Forge was a catcher for the Detroit Stars and recently launched the Forge the Future Foundation… pic.twitter.com/63KpGO6hdJ

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 4, 2026

AL Central News

• Things are looking worse and worse for Emmanuel Clase.

Indicted Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase is accused of throwing suspect pitches to benefit bettors in at least 48 games over two years, significantly more than was initially revealed by federal prosecutors, according to a court document filed Thursday.

— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) February 6, 2026

• Former Chicago White Sox player Alexei Ramirez hasn’t played an MLB game since 2016, but he’ll be representing Team Cuba in the WBC. Fun fact, he also played for Team Cuba in the first WBC in 2006.

44-year-old Alexei Ramirez will play for Cuba in the World Baseball Classic

The infielder played for Cuba in the first WBC in 2006. He last played in MLB in 2016 pic.twitter.com/1ifoyvgprt

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) February 6, 2026

• Longtime Cleveland Guardians Carlos Santana has signed a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks.

MLB News

• When does baseball season start? Probably the first time we see any player at all start to get practice throws in.
• MLB players strike a deal to be made into AI character likenesses that can interact with fans, and surely this won’t go terribly, terribly wrong.
• The complicated relationship between framing and blocking.
• The talent on the World Baseball Classic rosters is wild, with 78 All-Stars listed among those participating.
• A team-by-team breakdown of players participating in the WBC. (The Tigers have 10 players participating this year.)
• Jeff Passan and Buster Olney share what they’ve learned over this offseason and what it could mean going forward.
• How copper thieves are putting some Southern Californian Little League seasons in jeopardy. ($)
• In case you’d like to feel 1000 years old today… (If you were born after 2006 please let me know in the comments and really rub it in.)

there are seven players on WBC rosters who were not born when the first WBC was played in 2006

🤯

h/t @MLB_PR

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) February 6, 2026

• Delightful minor league nonsense.

Take a gander at this new @WindSurgeICT alternate identity! 🪿

Introducing the Wichita Honkers, inspired by the many Canada geese that loudly roam (run) the roads of Wichita: https://t.co/542PKC29sapic.twitter.com/p0pCfheJe8

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) February 5, 2026

Wednesday was a busy one for the Red Sox: the 40-man roster is full once more (IKF and Mickey Gasper) and the team is, presumably, set. There are question marks remaining, like where Marcelo Mayer will play or what level Triston Casas begins the season at, or if, at this late stage, they trade an outfielder.

In the meantime, we have a new player to talk, think, and write about: Isiah Kiner-Falefa. I’d been saving “where did you come from, where did you go, why’d Breslow sign you, Connor Joe” all winter and that didn’t happen, so let’s break down the frivolities of IKF.

Consistency

Kiner-Falefa has player in eight big league seasons. His career slash line is .262/.311/.349. He’s hit between .261 and .271 five times. His highest batting average was .280 and his lowest .238. He’s never posted an OPS of .700 or more in a full season (when traded, he has done so during parts of seasons).

He’s stolen double-digit bases in each of the last five seasons.

He’s never hit more than eight home runs, which he’s done twice.

He’s had at least one triple ever year except 2022 when he played 142 games — the second highest total of his career.

He spent four years with the Texas Rangers and then (parts of) two seasons with the Yankees, Pirates, and Blue Jays.

Palindrome transactions

In December 2023, Kiner-Falefa signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.

At the deadline in 2024, the Jays traded him to the Pirates for a minor league infielder (Charles McAdoo) who plays second and third plus some right field. IKF has played mostly shortstop, third, and second but you get the point.

On August 31, 2025 the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers and he got 60 plate appearances in the postseason including 18 in the 2025 World Series.

He can pitch, I guess

Over three seasons (6.2 innings), IKF has a 1:2 K:B and an ERA of 2.70.

He relies on two pitches:

The fastball

And the eephus.

The key is locating the eephus and fastball in the same area of the box.

Will he become Alex Cora’s default position player pitcher? If Marcelo Mayer and Romy Gonzalez are healthy and effective, that’s one more reason to hang onto a roster spot. Defensive flexibility being the primary one.

Red Sox history

Against the Red Sox he’s been just about as average to himself as he can be: .254/.305/.387 over 54 games.

At Fenway Park specifically he’s struggled: .228/.282/.304. Although a sample of just 23 games, like his history facing Boston, is relatively meaningless.

What else?

He won a Gold Glove in 2020 at third base. Some of that infield defense Craig Breslow was talking about!

He was born in Hawaii. The Red Sox signed a guy from Hawaii before…it went well.

Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal has reported a new possible twist in the on-going saga of Main Street Sports Group, as it related to the Atlanta Braves.

In the article from SBJ, it notes that two MLB teams – the Braves and the Los Angeles Angels – have opted not to join the other seven MLB teams impacted by MSSG by joining MLB.tv as a broadcast partner. While it was previously reported that the Braves were not planning to join MLB.tv, the interesting new development is that both the Braves and Angles may looked to NBA teams to bolster their ability to run their own network.

The Angles’ angle is slightly different, by possibly looking to buy the regional network, and in doing so would look to add the Sacramento Kings to that venture.

For the Braves, who are reportedly looking to start their own network, it is the Atlanta Hawks with whom the Braves would look to add to their new entity, although the article does point out that in the case of the Braves and Hawks, it is believed that the Hawks would only be involved as content and not a partner in the network itself.

This is still a fluid situation, with approximately seven weeks until the start of the MLB regular season, allowing for some time for the Braves’ 2026 broadcast plan to be put into fruition.

MSSG will continue to broadcast NBA and NHL games through the end of this current season, but with all nine MLB teams having opted out of their agreement it seems baseball will not move forward on MSSG regional networks even if MSSG is able to find a buyer – something it had thus far failed to do, resulting in the situations several dozen professional teams find themselves in currently.

This update was first covered on The Feed earlier this morning.

It has been a busy, exciting, and possibly incomplete offseason for the Baltimore Orioles. President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias has arguably been the most aggressive executive in the league this winter. The coaching staff has a bunch of new faces, including rookie manager Craig Albernaz. A bonafide “frontline” arm has alluded them to this point, but Shane Baz and Zach Eflin should fortify the rotation. Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward have been brought on to add some pop to the lineup. Ryan Helsely is an electric ninth-inning option. And the latest addition of Blaze Alexander provides a versatile skillset that the roster lacked.

There are still a few holes on the squad. You let us know about them yesterday, when we asked what concerned you most about the season ahead. But it is fair to say the team is entering the year with a relatively rosy outlook.

Today’s question has that more positive perspective in mind: What would a successful season for the 2026 Orioles look like?

The definition of “success” is going to differ from team to team. Rebuilding clubs just want to show progress, see some flashes from their young players. Perennial contenders hope to win a bunch of games and go deep into the playoffs. The Orioles exist somewhere in between those two categories.

Based on perceived talent, the Orioles should be pretty good this year. But that was true going into 2025 as well, and we all know what happened there. Elias has behaved like an executive that is trying to put a winner together, even if some can criticize his inability to actually land the kind of starting pitcher he has repeatedly claimed to be in pursuit of. In general, though, it does feel like he has done enough to get this team back into the postseason conversation at least.

That line is where I believe “success” lays for these Orioles. First, they need to get into the playoffs. Whether that is as a wild card team or a division winner feels less important. Second, they need to win a game in those playoffs. The Elias-led Orioles have made two playoff appearances, and they have zero total wins (0-5 record) in those appearances. This team needs to break that unsavory run.

What do you think, Camden Chat? How would you define success for the Orioles this season? Maybe you just want to see them back above .500. Perhaps you will only settle for a World Series run. Or could you be more interested in individual successes, like a Rookie of the Year award for Samuel Basallo or an MVP for Gunnar Henderson? Tell us your thoughts down in the comments.

The World Baseball Classic is starting up next month, and the Atlanta Braves will be well-represented. Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Jurickson Profar, and Chadwick Tromp are participating. While Acuña Jr. will be suiting up for Venezuela, the remaining three Braves are on the Netherlands’ roster and will be led by Andruw Jones. 

Team USA will have some Braves ties in the dugout, and a couple of former Braves will be suiting up for Colombia and Puerto Rico. 

Pool play gets underway March 4, so be sure to check in, and you may see some Braves in action on an international stage.

More Braves News:

In FanGraph’s most recent 2026 playoff odds, the Braves are projected to win 92 games, with a 47% chance to win the NL East.

Our Top 30 Preseason Prospect rankings continue, and right-hander Garrett Baumann rounds out the list of numbers 12-17.

MLB News:

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal won his arbitration hearing and will make $32M this year. The Tigers had filed for $19M. 

The Washington Nationals made a couple of moves, claiming Ken Waldichuk off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays and then designating right-hander George Soriano for assignment. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed right-hander Jose Urquidy to a one-year, $1.5M deal. He is also eligible for incentives. 

With just 15 days left until the Dodgers begin cactus league play, Shohei Ohtani has already started training at Camelback Ranch for his third season in Dodger blue and a shot at defending his country’s title in the World Baseball Classic.

The 2026 season will ultimately define Ohtani’s legacy within the annals of baseball’s best, as he looks to secure his third consecutive NL MVP award (fourth consecutive since 2023) and help the Dodgers become the first three-peat champions in North American sports in 24 years.

The Dodgers’ expectation after addressing their weakest links with more superstar talent is to maintain their footing at the top of the baseball summit, but for Ohtani, it isn’t something that he has put much thought into, as he spoke with Tom Llamas of NBC.

“I don’t think about it too much,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “I do hope that when I retire and I look back, I can be able to say that I was on a team that won three championships in a row. That would be very cool.”

Ohtani also discussed with Llamas the inspiration for his new book “Decoy Saves Opening Day,” which hit the shelves on Tuesday.

“I think the initial idea was basically I had my daughter coming soon. Timing wise, I thought it was a nice time to be able to read her a book about my story as well as our dog Decoy’s story.”

Links

At the beginning of the 2024 season, Bobby Miller was sitting at the top of the rotation and began his season with a scoreless six inning gem against the St. Louis Cardinals. Since then, Miller has struggled in the big leagues when getting his opportunities, and was relegated to the bullpen with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets last year.

The hype surrounding the former first round pick has certainly died out, but Comets pitching coach David Anderson believes that there is still some untapped potential within Miller, notes Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

“We feel like we have all the ingredients we need to put it together and get back to 2023 Bobby,” Anderson said. “We just didn’t get the result yet. All the pieces weren’t quite put together, but they were there by the end of the year. So we feel really good about that.”

The Dodgers enter the 2026 season with four prospects within Baseball America’s top-100 list as they continue to sport one of the best farm systems. There is still no telling as to whether or not they’ll pan out in the big leagues, as was the case for former top prospects such as Diego Cartaya. Huston Mitchell of the Los Angeles Times breaks down the Dodgers’ top-10 prospects since 2015, and evaluates whether or not the notion of the Dodgers always having big-league ready hitting prospects rings true.

THIS IS A GUEST ROCKPILE BY ANTHONY DEPNER

While the 2025 Colorado Rockies will mainly be remembered negatively, two players who stood out as bright spots were Victor Vodnik and Jordan Beck.

Both players took a step forward in 2025 and found success in their respective roles. However, each still has areas of growth that need to be improved upon if they are to continue to provide value at the big-league level.

Identifying their strengths and weaknesses will provide a better look into what they must address heading into 2026.

Victor Vodnik

For a bullpen that cycled through injuries and instability, Victor Vodnik emerged as one of the Rockies’ most reliable arms. Across 50 2/3 innings in 2025, he posted a 3.02 ERA with 49 strikeouts. His fastball averaged 98.7 mph, possessed a 54.3% groundball rate, and owned a changeup that opponents slugged a paltry .130 against. He was primarily a setup man, though he did end up with 10 saves filling in for an injured Seth Halvorsen. Surprisingly, he was better at home, having a 1.33 ERA compared to 4.94 ERA on the road.

He struggled to find control, posting a 12.1% walk rate and ranked in the second percentile in chase rate (22.7%), leading to him pitching behind in counts. This in turn led to him needing to pitch in the zone while being behind, leading to a 48.6% hard-hit rate and a .308 weighted On-Base Average (wOBA). Left-handed batters also proved to be an issue, hitting .260 with a .789 OPS against him.

Looking ahead into 2026, Vodnik will need to reduce his walk rate and generate more soft contact. This could be done by improving his command, increasing swing-and-miss, or adding some additional movement to his fastball.

His four-seam fastball averaged -1.2 inches vertical drop and -2.9 inches horizontal break compared to the average fastball in 2025. Even marginal gains could help his fastball turn hard contact into fly ball outs or soft ground balls. With new pitching coaches in 2026 bringing innovative ideas, Vodnik’s potential could be unlocked further and cement him as the Rockies’ primary late-inning option.

Jordan Beck

Jordan Beck’s athleticism and power/speed dynamic is reminiscent of a young Trevor Story in the outfield, and he reached the big leagues just two years after being drafted out of the University of Tennessee. After an injury-riddled rookie season, Beck settled in as the everyday left fielder in 2025 and produced a solid sophomore campaign, slashing .258/.317/.416 with 16 home runs and 19 stolen bases across 588 plate appearances.

While strikeouts remained an issue (29.6 K%), he improved his walk rate, up from 6.5% to 7.3%. Beck also increased his launch angle sweet-spot rate to 36.9% (74^th percentile), leading to a higher line drive rate (21.7% up to 26.2%). However, breaking balls exposed him, as he whiffed at a 40.2% rate – a trend that followed him from 2024. And like many Rockies hitters, he suffered from the “Coors Field Hangover,” posting a .635 OPS on the road compared to his .814 OPS at home, though he did have eight home runs in both environments.

On the basepaths, Beck stole more bases overall in 2025 (19), but his success rate on attempts was only 70.4% compared to 87.5% the year prior. Defensively, he paired an above-average arm – leading the National League in assists (12) – with below-average range, finishing with -2 Outs Above Average. 

For Beck to take another step in 2026, refinement is key.

Improving his approach against breaking pitches, specifically by laying off sliders and curveballs below the zone, would help him better hunt fastballs, which he handles well. Increased selectivity running the bases could help provide more base-running value, as he finished with a 48.9% extra base taken rate.

Finally, finding greater consistency in his power output is crucial, as averaging 33.7 AB/HR limits his overall impact. If Beck can address these areas, he can further emerge as a cornerstone of the Rockies’ outfield.

Conclusion

While the 2026 Colorado Rockies may suffer many more losses than wins, this season is more about wins in player development and increased productivity from the roster. Both Victor Vodnik and Jordan Beck taking another step toward would help lay the foundation for a more competitive future and give Rockies fans reason to believe in this new front office to usher in a new, hopefully more successful, era of Major League Baseball in Denver.

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Texas Baseball: Former Longhorns reunite for alumni game, farm system for Colorado Rockies | Austin American Statesman

Danny Davis talks about the Texas Longhorns alumni game that was played last weekend, where the Rockies had roots running through it. Max Belyeu, Skyler Messinger, and Jack O’Dowd played in the game while OF Jared Thomas was watching the game from the dugout as he recovers from hand surgery. Danny goes more in depth on each player’s comments on last season and their relationships with each other as they have all gotten to pro ball.

Rockies camp opens soon! Here’s what to know | MLB.com

This piece by Rockies beat reporter Thomas Harding goes over everything Rockies fans need to know heading into spring training. He goes over the schedule for spring training for the Rockies for both TV and radio stations, as well as the new faces on the team that fans will be seeing. He also mentions the top minor league prospects that will be invited but does make note that the non-roster invitees have not been officially announced.

Rockies New Pitching Coach Hire Offers Big Implications for Young Arms in 2026 | Sports Illustrated

The Colorado Rockies were busy this offseason, bringing in an entirely new pitching coach staff to help what was the worst rotation in baseball last season. Laura Lambert outlines the fresh set of eyes that Alon Leichman, Gabe Ribas, and Matt Buschmann can bring for this Rockies pitching staff that needs to increase strikeouts and lower earned runs allowed. She includes notes of the new pitchers that the Rockies have acquired this offseason and how their inclusion will be important as well.

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