Category: MLB

When the Orioles purchased the contract of Reds’ corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand back in April, it was just another one of those low-profile moves we see from Mike Elias and the front office all the time. It was the latest instance of the “buy low and hope something good happens” mentality that’s seen Elias take swings on Jhonkensy Noel, Rico Garcia, Jacob Webb, Danny Coulombe, Emmanuel Rivera and others.

Fast forward three months and the man they call CES is now in both the heart of the Orioles order and the heart of Birdland as we cling to playoff hopes that can’t decide whether to live or die. Encarnacion-Strand was called up to replace the injured Blaze Alexander with the thought that he’d be a bench option behind Coby Mayo at third. Instead, CES quickly overtook Mayo and started producing numbers we’ve never seen from an Oriole debutant.

Through his first five games with Baltimore, the 26-year-old infielder went 8-for-20 (.400) with three homers and eight RBIs, both of which were records for an Oriole in their first five games. He’s hit safely in six of the seven games he’s played, has a reasonable strikeout rate (22.2%) and has gone from a relative unknown quantity to one of the most productive bats in the Baltimore order.

The fact that CES is showing signs of being a truly productive MLB player isn’t completely surprising. He was a top prospect in the Reds organization, who once sat between former top rookies Matt McClain and Spencer Steer in the Reds’ top 30 prospects.

Encarnacion-Strand then burst onto the MLB scene looking like a player destined for stardom. After debuting just post the All-Star break in 2023, CES launched 13 homers in 63 games while posting an .805 OPS and displayed hard-hit rates that helped project him as a middle of the order mainstay in Cincinnati.

Instead of building on that success, however, CES largely became a forgotten commodity for the Reds. At 24 years old, he got off to a slow start to the 2024 campaign and saw his season end prematurely when he broke his wrist in early May. CES would return to Cincinnati to begin the 2025 season, but injured his back in mid-April, which caused him to go on the IL for eight weeks. Upon his return, he put up a respectable triple lash of .247/.273/.438, but was ultimately optioned to Triple-A for the last three months of the season.

He never made it back to the Reds, as he started this year in Triple-A Louisville before being DFA’d on April 8th. When the O’s sent cash considerations to Cincinnati to bring in the former top prospect, he seemed like natural insurance for Mayo. Both right-handed sluggers have prodigous power with 3B/1B flexibility, though Encarnacion-Strand had spent 81.5% of his defensive innings at first for the Reds.

The production CES showed throughout his stint at Triple-A Norfolk more than justified the front office’s decision to acquire him. After posting 33 home runs across in just over 500 ABs across three stints with Louisville, Encarnacion-Strand swatted 17 long balls while posting an .863 OPS in 61 games for the Tides.

Where the man with baseball’s longest last name goes from here is anyone’s guess. We’ve seen players come up to instant success without being able to sustain their high level of play. 2024 Heston Kjerstad prior to being bean in the head by the Yankees comes to mind. End of 2024 Emmanuel Rivera also had a good run. And who can forget some of the magic from late 2022 Kyle Stowers.

But if Encarnacion-Strand wants to be more than a fun foot note in Orioles history, he’ll need to stay hot while proving he can hit right-handed pitching better than Mayo. Through seven games with the O’s, CES is 7-for-10 against left-handed pitchers with all three of his home runs coming against southpaws. Against right-handers, he’s 3-for-17 with a double. Which is to say, he’s playing a lot like Coby Mayo across his small sample size.

Mayo undoubtedly has a higher ceiling, and not just because he’s two years younger than Encarnacion-Strand. Both of the infielders had power and arm strength as their best attributes when coming up as prospects. For CES, his power was graded as a 55 while his arm was a 60 on the 20-80 scale. For Mayo, both graded out as a 70. And while Encarnacion-Strand is currently a better defensive 3B, he’s still below average, and Mayo’s superior athleticism give him a better chance to become an at least average defender at the hot corner.

The arrival and quick success of CES came on the perfect time for the O’s. With Alexander likely out until September and both Aldey Rutschman and Samuel Basallo currenlty on the IL, the offense needed an infusion of talent and production from an unlikely source.

Now, they need CES and Mayo to continue to push each other and contiune give the O’s lineup length behind Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward and Gunnar Henderson. For now, both should be playing against left-handed pitchers, with one at 3B and the other DH’ing. Mayo got the start against Detroit right-hander Keider Montero yesterday; we’ll who Craig Albernaz turns to against right-hander Troy Melton later today.

Despite the natural tendency to think that Encarnacion-Strand’s recent success will ultimately just be a flash in the pan, there’s also enough reasons to believe that it is instead a talented player finally making the most of good health and an opportunity. At worst, he should be able to help bridge the gap until Blaze and the two catchers getting healthy. But at 26 with proven upside, he could also be the latest reclamation project that proves to have long-term upside.

The Phillies are in the market for a starting pitcher this trade deadline season primarily due to the failure of Andrew Painter to stick in the rotation. The team planned for their top prospect to occupy the fifth starter’s role this season, but after a 1-8 record and 7.06 ERA through 14 games by mid-June, it became clear that Painter was not close to capable of filling that role, at least for now. The Phillies have soldiered on without him but are still in dire need of a back of the rotation arm, something that will be discussed at length over the days leading up to the deadline.

However, Painter has started to improve while pitching for Lehigh Valley. His latest start came Sunday in which he delivered six innings and allowed one run on five hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Perhaps most noteworthy, Painter’s fastball velocity was up, averaging 97.9 MPH and touching 99, and he held it through 90 pitches. It was Painter’s second straight encouraging start, following a game on July 21st where he allowed two runs in five innings on seven hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.

Painter is very much still a work in progress, as he and the team are still trying to find ways to recapture some of what was lost on his fastball following Tommy John surgery. He is showing positive signs and results these last couple of starts, but he is also still working on things, as evidenced by the team having him almost exclusively throw his fastball and sweeper and not focusing too much on the rest of his arsenal at the moment.

Nevertheless, it’s been interesting to see how despite the continued struggles of the fifth starter role, Painter’s name has not really been mentioned again as a possibility. It’s likely that the team would prefer to have him string together a longer chain of encouraging performances before even entertaining the idea, perhaps rather preferring to have him spend the rest of the season improving in Triple-A. But, if the fifth starter spot continues to be a problem and the team either suffers an injury in the rotation or fails to sufficiently address it at the deadline, maybe Painter could be considered again.

So, will Andrew Painter pitch in the majors again this season? Should he?

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The Atlanta Braves are sitting as a heavy -150 moneyline favorite tonight against the New York Mets with left-hander Chris Sale on the mound. 

Despite getting blown out in the series opener, my Braves vs. Mets predictions are eyeing Atlanta to bounce back behind another stellar outing from their former Cy Young winner. 

Find out more in my MLB picks for Tuesday, July 28. 

Who will win Braves vs Mets today: Braves moneyline (-155)

Chris Sale takes the ball for the Atlanta Braves, and he continues to be absolutely lights out. In two starts since the All-Star break, the southpaw owns a 0.96 FIP while walking just 0.69 hitters per nine innings. During that span, Sale has also limited opponents to a 3.4% barrel rate. 

It's worth noting that Sale has already faced the New York Mets this season, surrendering three earned runs across five frames. While that's not outstanding, the veteran has a 2.43 road FIP in 2026. 

The Braves won't have it easy against Christian Scott, either. He has a 1.55 xERA in his previous two outings. However, there's been some vulnerability for him at Citi Field, compiling a 4.51 FIP while allowing 1.55 HR/9. 

Sale will outduel Scott, and the Braves will do enough offensively against the Mets righty and their bullpen to win Game 2. 

I'll play this pick up to only -160. Otherwise, the Atlanta run line is a supporting play. 

COVERS INTEL: The Braves have a 121 wRC+ over their last 11 games, well above their season-long road mark of 95 wRC+. 

Braves vs Mets Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 runs (+101)

The starters give a pathway to the Under tonight, but it's difficult to look past the recent offensive form of both ball clubs. Aside from Atlanta's brilliance at the dish since the break, it also has a .204 ISO over the last two weeks. 

As for the Mets, they own a 134 wRC+ in their last six contests while carrying a .217 ISO. There's no shortage of production coming from this lineup at the moment.

Even if Sale gives Atlanta quality innings, the Braves bullpen has struggled lately, posting a 5.06 xERA in its last 29 2/3 frames. Sale should give Atlanta enough of an advantage, but the vulnerability on the back end gives the Mets a path to contributing to the Over. 

I'll play this pick up to -120. 

Braves vs Mets weather

Weather could be a real factor at Citi Field tonight, with rain and overcast conditions expected throughout the game window. Temperatures should sit in the low-to-mid 70s, but humidity will be very high, and winds could reach the mid-teens. There is legitimate delay risk, and the damp conditions may slightly suppress carry. It may also result in shorter outings for the starters, which would expose a pair of shaky bullpens earlier than anticipated.

Braves vs Mets odds

• Moneyline: Braves -150 | Mets +144
• Run line: Braves -1.5 (+117) | Mets +1.5 (-122)
• Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+104) | Under 7.5 (-108)

Braves vs Mets trend

The New York Mets have hit the Game Total Over in 27 of their last 50 games at home (+8.25 Units / 15% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Mets.

How to watch Braves vs Mets and game info

Braves vs Mets latest injuries

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Rangers 7, Mariners 3

• That was a very nice way to end the series, and the homestand.
• Having good Kumar Rocker on the mound certainly helped quite a bit.
• I didn’t think we were going to have good Kumar Rocker in the early going. After a quick first, Randy Arozarena took Rocker deep to start the second inning, negating Joc Pederson’s leadoff home run in the bottom of the first.
• Then, staked to a 4-1 lead when he took the mound to start the third inning, thanks to Pederson’s second homer of the day, Rocker gave up a flared single, a rocket single, and a line drive from Julio Rodriguez that resulted in a sacrifice fly, making it 4-2.
• Dominic Canzone, he of the go-ahead three run homer against Cole Winn the day before, as well as the insurance run driving in double later in that same game, came up with one out as the tying run.
• I could see it in front of my eyes…a sinker left too far up, Canzone crushing the ball, sending it on a majestic arc well into the right field seats, Brandon Nimmo turning and taking a couple of steps back before stopping, knowing that any chase is futile. In my mind, I felt sure the game was about to be tied, that the Pederson-fueled lead would be lost and we’d be dealing with a short Rocker outing, necessitating turning to feeble bullpen arms to try to get the team 5 innings or so.
• Canzone did crush a Rocker pitch, though it was a slider, not a sinker. It also hit the ground and was turned into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
• Lead preserved.
• And from that point on, Rocker had no problems. He faced 13 more batters the rest of the way, retired 11 of them, and left with two outs in the seventh to a hearty ovation from the folks who made it out to the Shed on a Monday afternoon.
• Rocker is currently rocking a 4.03 ERA and 4.14 FIP after this start, which saw him fan seven Mariners and walk just two. In 20 appearances (18 starts and two pseudo-starts behind an opener), Rocker has allowed more than three runs just four times, something that surprised me when I looked it up because it has certainly felt like he’s gotten roughed up more than that. He’s allowed two or fewer runs in 13 of his 20 outings, and has seven quality starts on the season.
• The inconsistency is frustrating, but Rocker has made strides this season, compared to last year’s disappointing up-and-down campaign. Maintaining that over his remaining 11 or so scheduled starts would make you feel pretty good about him heading into 2027.
• After watching the soft underbelly of the bullpen cough up five runs and blow the game on Sunday, Skip Schumaker wasn’t taking any chances in this one. Robby Ahlstrom was summoned to face J.P. Crawford when Rocker was pulled with two outs in the seventh — the third day in a row Ahlstrom has pitched. I wouldn’t have expected Ahlstrom to be used for a third straight day with a five run lead.
• Jakob Junis, who was being saved for the eighth inning on Sunday, but didn’t get used since the lead was gone by then, pitched a scoreless eighth on Monday, and Jacob Latz came in to close out the game. He allowed a couple of hits and a sac fly to make the end result 7-3, rather than 7-2.
• You don’t usually use your top relief arms with a lead this big, but Schumaker clearly wanted to forestall any potential comeback, keep the Mariners from rallying and getting a second wind. You don’t normally treat a Monday game in July like a playoff game, but under the circumstances, with the trade deadline looming, the memory of the blown lead on Sunday, and the chance to put the Mariners 2.5 back meant using your biggest guns late game.
• The offense scored all of its runs on homers, four in all — two by Pederson, one by Ezequiel Duran, and one by Jake Burger. All four came off of George Kirby, who has bedeviled the Rangers for as long as I can remember. I will leave it to you to determine whether that’s a commentary on Kirby’s success against the Rangers or my memory.
• Joc Pederson is now slashing .254/.343/.513. This is the guy the Rangers thought they were getting when they signed him after the 2024 season. Everyone who wanted the Rangers to release him this offseason needs to say they are sorry.
• Evan Carter was 2 for 4 with a double and a stolen base, raising his slash line on the season to .198/.314/.348. Since coming off the injured list, Carter is slashing .278/.391/,444.
• Ezequiel Duran’s homer was, per Statcast, 436 feet, which is 8th farthest at the Shed this season. Pederson’s first inning homer went 418 feet, tied for 33rd longest this year. The 10 farthest balls hit in Arlington this year, and 29 of the 34 farthest, have come since since May 26.
• They de-nerfed the Shed, y’all.
• Kumar Rocker touched 96.0 mph with his fastball, averaging 94.5 mph, and hit 95.0 with his sinker, averaging 93.7 mph. Robbie Ahlstrom reached 94.5 mph with his fastball. Jakob Junis reached 93.5 mph with his fastball. Jacob Latz’s fastball topped out at 96.2 mph.
• Evan Carter had a 107.8 mph double, a 104.4 mph single, and a 104.0 mph groundout. Brandon Nimmo had a 106.8 mph double. Joc Pederson had a 106.4 mph home run. Ezequiel Duran had a 106.3 mph home run and a 103.0 mph single. Jake Burger had a 105.1 mph home run. Wyatt Langford had a 102.0 mph groundout.
• The Rangers are up in the West and now head out on the road. I’d like to see this continue.

The Mets continue a three-game series against the Braves at Citi Field on Tuesday night at 7:10 on SNY.

Mets Notes

• Bo Bichette is hitting .328/.358/.475 (.832 OPS) with five homers, nine doubles, one triple, 24 runs scored, and 25 RBI in 45 games since June 3
• Francisco Lindor has an .852 OPS with six homers in 25 games since June 26 -- his second game back after being activated from the IL
• Francisco Alvarez has a career-best .791 OPS in 71 games this season
• Christian Scott has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 13 of his 14 starts this season
• Luke Weaver has allowed one earned run since April 30 

Today's Lineups

The New York Yankees are three games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for a lead in the American League East, and with a Boston Red Sox team hot on their heels following a tie of their franchise-best 15-game winning streak, there’s not much room for error. If the Bombers want to make their path to a 28th World Series championship a little easier in October, the run is going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach, and that begins with the same look at the trade deadline on Monday, August 3rd.

As there are every year, certain names will come up on the trade block for the Yankees to potentially make a move for. Some of them would fit areas of need more than others, but upgrading any key position is a huge help in their quest. And while the bullpen ranks as one of the best in certain statistics, it never hurts to upgrade late-game pitching before embarking on a postseason journey. As luck would have it, there’s a familiar face available across town who could be a viable option.

2026 Statistics (Thus Far): 40 games, 42.0 IP, 2-1 W-L, 1 save, 1.93 ERA (163 ERA+), 2.92 FIP, 3.60 xFIP, 26.4% K%, 6.7% BB%, 0.83 WHIP, 1.0 fWAR, 1.8 bWAR

2026 ZiPS Rest-of-Season Statistics: 18 games, 23.0 IP, 1-1 W-L, 3.90 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 26.3% K%, 7.8% BB%, 0.3 fWAR

When Luke Weaver chose to sign with the New York Mets last offseason, it felt like the correct choice for the Yankees front office to let him walk. After a fantastic 2024 season with the Yankees, where he pitched to an ERA of 2.89 across 84.0 innings, he was not the same. In 64.2 innings the following season, he finished with a 3.62 ERA, a fastball velocity that had dropped 0.7 MPH, and an xFIP over 4.00. He fell apart down the stretch in particular, allowing 10 runs in 9.1 innings to close out the regular season and collected just a single out in three appearances in the postseason, allowing five runs across the Wild Card Series and ALDS.

Suffice to say, it wasn’t in the Yankees’ best interest to bring him back, especially after their Trade Deadline last season had brought in a handful of new arms they were hoping would improve or stay the same as they had previously before acquiring them. And while some of them have done exactly that, it doesn’t hurt to look for upgrades wherever possible, and it’s likely Weaver could be a low-cost, low-risk, familiar face and lovable character that achieves that goal.

So far in 2026, Weaver has been one of the few bright spots on a Mets team that is down in the dumps and a Mets pitching staff that has faced myriad injuries. The 44-62 residents of Queens are looking for any value they can get from movable players, and with Weaver having another year on his two-year, $22 million contract, that may be a way for the Mets to nab an extra asset. Of course, the likelihood that anything in a deal for Weaver is revolutionary is low, but it is a chance for the Yankees to give up a smaller asset or two for a reliever who knows what to expect and is having an excellent season.

In 40 games pitched, Weaver has posted a 1.93 ERA in 42.0 innings. His strikeout numbers are down, and his walk numbers remain around where they were in previous seasons, but no one has been able to figure out how to get a hit off him. His 5.1 H/9 is the lowest of his career thus far, and an excellent mark for MLB relievers generally as well. Weaver uses a three-pitch arsenal of a four-seam fastball (49.8 percent), changeup (34.8 percent), and a cutter (15.2 percent). If you’ve done the math and noticed the missing 0.2 percent, it’s because he had a pitch register as a slider, but that was the only time he has thrown it this year. And since last season with the Yankees, his fastball usage has gone down almost 10 percent, while his changeup usage has moved up five percent, and his cutter usage has blown up almost seven percent.

The changes made in how he’s using his arsenal fall in line with his percentile rankings for this season. The fastball has been above average, as it was during his time with the Yankees (especially in 2024), but it’s his offspeed that continues to reign supreme. And the more he’s used it, the more Weaver has been able to control exit velocity and hard-hit rate, with his 80th percentile being the best of his career by a wide margin.

In addition to the help he could provide down the road for the Yankees this season, he would also be around for next season, giving the front office a bit more understanding of how to plan for next year. They know (and have known) the kind of pitcher Weaver can be and the arsenal he provides when running onto the diamond from the outfield. However, if things aren’t going well, it wouldn’t be out of the question for the Yankees to move on from him a second time and look to send him elsewhere.

But while Weaver likely won’t be a sub-2.00 ERA pitcher for a full season, he can still be more than serviceable in the right spots. He has succeeded in low- to medium-leverage situations this season with the Mets, and if that’s what he’s most comfortable with at 32 and 33-years-old, there are certainly ways to work with it. Of course, acquiring someone else at the deadline who has a proven track record of thriving in high-leverage situations would also be advantageous, but for a player who won’t cost much, is succeeding in the situations he’s been in, and is a familiar and lovable name to the Yankees fanbase, bringing Weaver back to The Bronx could be worth a move for Brian Cashman.

Monday started off in a good way for Braves Country as Ronald Acuna Jr. returned from injury. However, it did not end well as the Braves lost in a big way to the Mets by the score of 14-3. While simply a loss to forget and move on from, the Braves need to get back to the business of winning with many games against the NL East this week.

Braves News

Here is prospects 25-30 on the Battery Power Top 30 prospects list.

Brewer Hicklen was sent to the minors as the corresponding move to Acuna Jr. being recalled.

MLB News

Marlins were able to end the 12-game losing streak with a win over the Phillies.

Kerry Carpenter was placed on IL due to a foot injury.

Cody Bellinger will miss 4-6 weeks.

In his first game with the Boston Red Sox, infielder Curtis Mead was forced to exit early after being hit on the hand by a pitch.

Mead, who was just acquired from the Washington Nationals on July 26, took a 95 mph fastball from Athletics starting pitcher Jack Perkins off his left wrist in the top of the fourth inning Monday night and initially remained in the game. However, he was replaced at second base in the bottom of the fifth by Anthony Sigler.

Mead told reporters after the game that X-rays showed "everything looks OK" and he's hopeful he'll be able to play on Tuesday in Sacramento.

Curtis Mead left his Red Sox debut early with a left wrist contusion.

The Red Sox confirmed that the X-rays were negative. pic.twitter.com/BOrjZXyH9j

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 28, 2026

"Walking in the clubhouse (I was) just super disappointed. I wanted to come here and help the team and wanted to play, so yeah, it's frustrating," Mead said.

He said he tried to swing a bat after he was hit, but "it didn't really feel great."

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy admitted afterward that it "looks like we dodged a bullet, maybe." Mead will undergo more tests on Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Curtis Mead exits Red Sox debut after being hit by pitch

‘Tis the season. Just one week remains until the 2026 season’s trade deadline, which this year is August 3rd. The Dodgers are expected to be sellers as opposed to buyers, as this year there are more teams still involved in a playoff run.

The Dodgers also will have a little trade deadline action of their own, so to speak. Edwin Díaz, Kiké Hernández, and Blake Snell are all expected back soon, with Hernández slated to return to the team on Tuesday. As always, the Dodgers will be in on any big-name players, such as Tarik Skubal, should he become available. But for the most part, the team could be looking to part ways with some current players to bolster their farm system.

Eric Lauer and Alex Call are two names that could potentially be shopped, according to Katie Woo at The Athletic. Lauer came over in a trade in mid-May when Tyler Glasnow hit the IL. He has handled being an inning eater well- the team has yet to lose a game that he starts. While keeping him for depth would be the prudent thing to do, the Dodgers could flip him for some prospects like they did with Dustin May last season.

Call being traded makes a little more sense, now that both Hernández’s are back from the IL. His being another handed bat makes him redundant, and the Dodgers are looking to add to their farm system.

Shohei Ohtani is not currently pitching, and the front office and manager Dave Roberts insist that that will not affect their actions at the deadline. Meanwhile, he remains in the lineup.

“From his words, the hitting, the running, as he has done the last couple nights, doesn’t affect him,” Roberts said. “I can only go by what he and the training staff are telling me. So, unless I hear otherwise, that hitting compromises his health, then I’m going to keep putting him in the lineup.”

Edwin Díaz is slated to return to the team on Wednesday. Tyler Glasnow faced live hitters on Friday, and he is expected to make one rehab part before he returns to the rotation. Blake Snell is slated to make his third rehab start on Wednesday in Triple-A Oklahoma City. This outing will be about 60 pitches, and the team would prefer to have his get up to 75 pitches before he comes back. However, as Katie points out, the Dodgers do not have another off day until August 6th and might prefer to bring him back before he reaches that threshold.

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The 2026 MLB offseason reset the market in a way the sport hasn't seen before.

Kyle Tucker's four-year, $240 million deal with the Dodgers set a new AAV record at $57.1 million, while Dylan Cease's seven-year, $210 million pact with Toronto and Alex Bregman's opt-out-fueled move to the Cubs showed just how aggressively contenders were willing to spend to close roster gaps. Six months later, the ripple effects are still shaping how teams build around this year's trade deadline and next winter's market.

With the 2026 season now into its second half, attention is already shifting to the star power set to hit free agency after this year. It's a deep class headlined by reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who's extension-eligible in Detroit but could become the most coveted arm to reach the open market in years if a deal doesn't get done before October. George Springer, Trent Grisham and a rotation-heavy group of arms give bettors plenty to work with on next team and re-signing markets well before free agency officially opens.

Below, we break down the top names in the 2027 free agent class, track next-team odds for where they could land, and revisit the biggest signings from this past winter that reshaped the league. We'll also walk through how to actually bet these markets, from moneyline-style next-team props to over/under win total shifts tied to star player movement.

Notable 2027 MLB unrestricted free agents

(Previous average annual value courtesy Spotrac)

Player	Position	Team	Previous AAV
Anthony Rendon	3B	Angels	$35,000,000
Tarik Skubal	SP	Tigers	$32,000,000
George Springer	RF	Blue Jays	$25,000,000
Robbie Ray	SP	Giants	$23,000,000
Trent Grisham	CF	Yankees	$22,025,000
Gleyber Torres	2B	Tigers	$22,025,000
Brandon Woodruff	SP	Brewers	$22,025,000
Zac Gallen	SP	Diamondbacks	$22,025,000
Shota Imanaga	SP	Cubs	$22,025,000
Kevin Gausman	SP	Blue Jays	$22,000,000
Ian Happ	LF	Cubs	$20,333,333
Ha-seong Kim	SS	Braves	$20,000,000
Chris Bassitt	SP	Orioles	$18,500,000
Jack Flaherty	SP	Tigers	$17,500,000
Seiya Suzuki	RF	Cubs	$17,000,000
Rhys Hoskins	1B	Guardians	$17,000,000
Lance McCullers	SP	Astros	$17,000,000
Jameson Taillon	SP	Cubs	$17,000,000
Randy Arozarena	LF	Mariners	$16,000,000
Raisel Iglesias	RP	Braves	$16,000,000

MLB next team odds

Next team odds for the 2027 free agent class haven't opened yet; books typically wait until closer to the trade deadline or the start of the offseason to post opening lines, once there's more clarity on which players will actually reach free agency versus get extended.

We'll update this section with live odds as soon as they're available, so check back as the season progresses.

Notable 2026 MLB free agent signings

Framber Valdez, Detroit Tigers (3 years, $115 million): The left-hander signed with the Tigers on a deal that includes an opt-out after the second year and deferred money. Valdez's $38.3 million AAV sets a record for left-handed pitchers, reuniting him with Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, who managed him during his first two seasons with the Astros. The 32-year-old posted a 3.66 ERA over 192 innings in 2025 and will pair with two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal atop Detroit's rotation.

Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati Reds (1 year, $15 million): The 34-year-old slugger returned to Cincinnati, where he spent 2015-21 and hit 189 home runs. Suarez comes off a monster 2025 season with 49 homers and 118 RBIs split between Arizona and Seattle. The deal includes a $16 million mutual option for 2027. Despite post-trade deadline struggles with the Mariners, Suarez provides significant right-handed power and will primarily DH for the Reds.

Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (4 years, $240 million): The top free agent of the class signed with the back-to-back World Series champions in a blockbuster deal. Tucker's contract includes opt-outs after the second and third seasons and carries the highest AAV in MLB history at $57.1 million after deferrals. The four-time All-Star joins a loaded Dodgers lineup featuring Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.

Bo Bichette, New York Mets (3 years, $126 million): Bichette spurned the Phillies to sign with the Mets on a deal featuring opt-outs after the first and second years, a $40 million signing bonus, and a full no-trade clause. His $42 million AAV ties for sixth-highest in baseball history. The two-time All-Star will move to third base with Francisco Lindor at shortstop.

Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees (5 years, $162.5 million): The 2019 NL MVP returned to the Yankees after a lengthy standoff, securing a deal with opt-outs after the second and third years, a $20 million signing bonus, and a full no-trade clause. Bellinger hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs in his first season with New York in 2025.

Pete Alonso, Baltimore Orioles (5 years, $155 million): The Polar Bear left the Mets after seven seasons, signing with Baltimore at the winter meetings. Alonso hit .272/.347/.524 with 38 homers and 126 RBIs in 2025, proving his 2024 struggles were an outlier. The Orioles added significant right-handed power to balance their lineup.

Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies (5 years, $150 million): Schwarber returned to Philadelphia, turning down a similar offer from Baltimore to remain with the defending NL champions.

Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays (7 years, $210 million): The Blue Jays bolstered their rotation by landing the ace starter of the 2026 free agent class.

Alex Bregman, Chicago Cubs (5 years, $175 million): The three-time All-Star opted out of his contract with Boston after one strong season and signed with the Cubs. The deal includes a full no-trade clause and represents the third-largest contract in Cubs history.

Ranger Suarez, Boston Red Sox (5 years, $130 million): The Red Sox addressed their rotation needs by signing Suarez after missing out on re-signing Bregman.

How to bet MLB free agent markets

Next team odds are the most common way sportsbooks let you bet on free agency, essentially a moneyline on which team a player signs with, including a "Field" or "Other" option covering every team not individually listed. These odds move constantly as reports and beat writer chatter surface, so line shopping across books matters more here than in almost any other MLB market; a player's odds to land with a specific contender can shift 100+ points within a single reporting cycle.

Futures and props tied to signings are the next layer. Once a player signs, sportsbooks often release updated win total futures for that player's new team, along with division and pennant odds shifts. Betting a team's win total before a marquee free agent signs (or fading it right after) is a common way sharp bettors try to get ahead of market overreaction in either direction.

Timing is the biggest variable. Next-team odds are most volatile in the weeks around the Winter Meetings, when the bulk of top-tier deals get done. Betting early can get you better value on a popular destination before the market catches up, but it also means betting with less information; a team's payroll flexibility, injury situations, and even ownership mandates can all shift a player's market in the final weeks.

For extension-eligible players like Skubal, keep an eye on in-season deadlines too, since a deal getting done in-season effectively settles the market before free agency even opens.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Yesterday in The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon wrote about Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman’s questionable defensive skills and how they might affect his trade value going forward.

We’ve talked about that quite a bit already, but I just have to say to those executives who want to move Goodman out of the catcher role, “Have you seen his positional splits?” And to those who would consider moving him to another position, “Good luck!”

Ultimately, the piece struck me as part of front office bargaining. Here’s a tell: “The Yankees have a coach who possibly could draw more out of Goodman — Tanner Swanson, their major-league field coordinator and director of catching. Within the industry, Swanson is regarded as a top catching instructor.”

What are we even doing here (besides trying to depress Goodman’s trade value)?

Actually, that’s not what interested me about Rosenthal and Sammon’s article. This did:

As previously reported, the Rockies are telling teams they spent the first part of the season trying to figure out which players can be part of their next 90-win team. Barring an extension for Goodman, they must decide whether they can get to 90 wins with him by 2029, his final year of club control, or whether a trade for multiple prospects might accelerate their timeline.

The first sentence — “which players can be part of their next 90-win team” — caught my attention, and I began to wonder who might be on that next contending team. So today, I’m going to try to begin teasing that out.

A couple of prefatory notes are in order.

First, I’m limiting myself to the current 40-man roster and mostly prospects at Triple-A Albuquerque. Second, I’m going to assume that in terms of hitters, Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes are mostly interested in players who can get on base because they see it as a way to mitigate the Coors Effect. Third, based on what we’ve seen, I’m going to assume that the Rockies are looking for pitchers with big arsenals and funky deliveries.

That’s simplifying things — I know — but look at this as a pre-writing exercise rather than the final product.

Catchers

Currently, the Rockies have three catchers on their 40-man roster:

• Hunter Goodman
• Brett Sullivan
• Braxton Fulford

I’ll start with the easy part: I do not believe Sullivan and Fulford are part of the Rockies core. However, I do think Sullivan, the archetypal backup catcher, has a future in coaching. But those two players are not key pieces when considering the Rockies future.

Goodman, though, I think is up for debate.

If the Rockies can get a haul for him that accelerates the team’s timeline to get back into contention, they’ll make the deal — and that haul will have to include significant pitching. If they keep Goodman, that’s fine, too, because the Rockies have a keen sense of his skill set (unlike some teams).

Looking forward, I think probably the Rockies have just drafted their catcher of the future in either Daniel Jackson or Jack Natili. And — file this one away — Jack O’Dowd, in addition to pounding baseballs, is also a catcher.

Infielders

Now things get more challenging. Here’s who’s currently on the 40-man roster:

• Adael Amador
• Willi Castro
• Edouard Julien
• Kyle Karros
• Ryan Ritter
• TJ Rumfield
• Chad Stevens
• Ezequiel Tovar

I do not see Castro, Julien, and Stevens as part of the Rockies core. Castro, I think, will be traded while Julien and Stevens are released to continue the baseball journeys waiting for them.

Ritter and Tovar, I would argue, are placeholders. Despite Tovar’s struggles at the plate, he is the Rockies best option at shortstop in the near term. I suspect the Rockies hope to address his offensive issues and trade him. But Tyler Bell looks to be the future here though he has expressed a willingness to move to second.

Amador, I think, will get his second MLB audition in August. After the front office sees how he does, they’ll will decide his place in the lineup going forward.

Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP) and Ethan Holliday (No. 2 PuRP) fit in here somewhere. For Holliday, I am not sure where because I do not believe he’ll stick at short, but given that his season was cut short, we know less about his progress. (Frankly, I expect him to be moved to the outfield.)

So here’s my infield core: Rumfield and Karros with Charlie Condon (No 1 PuRP) providing a RH platoon for first base. Tyler Bell is the future shortstop with second base being up for grabs, and Amador having the first shot — but maybe that’s where they’re hoping for Landyn Vidourek.

Outfielders

Here’s the current 40-man selection:

• Jordan Beck
• Cole Carrigg
• Brenton Doyle
• Tyler Freeman
• Troy Johnston
• Jake McCarthy
• Mickey Moniak
• Sterlin Tompson
• Zac Veen

And on the ‘Topes:

• Drew Avans
• Connor Capel
• Charlie Condon

For me, there are two for-sure names on this list: Cole Carrigg and Charlie Condon.

Veen and Thompson will be given an opportunity to show what they can do after the trade deadline.

And the other players will be used to fill out a roster, as trade chips, or DFA’d when the season ends.

One note on McCarthy. Yes, he’s a model of what the Rockies want to do, but I see him more as an experiment than as part of the future. DePodesta and Byrnes had an idea of what they wanted to see work at Coors Field, and McCarthy showed it can. (Plus, check out his even- and 0dd-year splits.) At this point, McCarthy becomes more valuable as a trade piece.

Starting rotation

This one is fairly straightforward. Here’s the current 40-man:

• Chase Dollander
• Ryan Feltner
• Kyle Freeland
• Gabriel Hughes
• Michael Lorenzen
• José Quintana
• Tomoyuki Sugano
• Sean Sullivan

Of this list, only two are players to build around: Chase Dollander and Gabriel Hughes.

Other starters I expect to be traded or used to finish the season. This is a part of the roster that DePodesta and Byrnes will focus on improving during the trade deadline and offseason.

Feltner, I would argue, is not consistent enough, and Sullivan seems better as a bullpen fit.

Bullpen

Here, things get weird, and I’m hesitant to say much of anything given the volatility of bullpen arms. And there are so many that I’m not going to list them all.

There is one that stands out: Nick Frasso. He may illustrate what the Rockies have in mind going forward. The other bullpen arms I think will either be traded or used as needed. (Hey, you can never have too many arms.) But Frasso and perhaps Juan Mejia strike me as the only two with staying power.

Here’s the thing about Seth Halvorsen: Whatever his talents, the Rockies front office did not see him as part of their core going forward.

We should see more of those kinds of moves before the trade deadline.

Closing thoughts

So that’s where I am in terms of looking to the future. I think DePodesta and Byrnes are eager to get this team in contention, and they will take whatever steps are needed to make that happen.

But with that, I turn the discussion over to the Purple Rowers, who, I’m sure, will have their own strong opinions.

Who do you see the Rockies building around going forward?

What I’m hearing about the Yankees’ trade deadline pursuit of a catcher | The Athletic ($ — gift link)

Of course, Hunter Goodman receives attention in this one with Chris Kirschner questioning Goodman’s defense skills. Then there’s this line: “During daily meetings between the Yankees’ starting pitcher and catcher, the catcher delivers comprehensive scouting reports detailing the strategy for attacking the opponent’s lineup.” Apparently the conclusion is that the Rockies don’t do game prep on the opposing team? At any rate, the Hunter Goodman articles increasingly seem less an analysis of his skills and more about decreasing his trade value.

The inevitable Kyle Karros | Blake Street Banter

Eli Whitney examines what Karros brings to the Rockies.

This rising Rockies prospect just hit over .400 for the second straight season | MLB.com

In case you’re just starting to learn about Cristian Arguelles, the 19-year-old outfielder dominating the ACL, here you go.

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

Today’s Reflections

Monday, 2:30 PM MST — Instead of my trashing Jameson Taillon after his latest meltdown as I’ve been doing for a few starts, I was glad to let several writers do that job for me for once. That allowed me to concentrate on all the good things from the past weekend.

I had basically finished this article, left for a couple of hours for an appointment and returned to see if there was any new news to add in. Now, with Taillon being DFA, part of my article has been rewritten/reorganized.

This was quite the move by the Cubs. There was no messing around, but it was definitely needed, and time to move on. And if Jed Hoyer thought the price for SP was high last year, the Cubs are going to be put through the wringer this year.

Back to regularly scheduled comments:

The Cubs’ offense had multiple strong performances, including six hitters with at least one multi-hit game.

Let’s start with PCA, who posted 5-for-10, three runs, four RBI with two doubles, a triple and a home run. His big day was Saturday, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and a HR. Within that line, he went 2-for-3 against Paul Skenes, including a 400+ foot line drive off the center-field wall for an RBI double. Skenes did give up five runs in 5.1 innings, but rang up 11 strikeouts, so it wasn’t like he was flailing. Pete was a triple short of a cycle with three runs scored and three RBI in the game. PCA only had one hit Sunday, but it was that missing RBI-triple from the game before.

A bit overshadowed by PCA was Michael Busch’s 5-for-10 weekend with a double and walk (something PCA didn’t do), three RBI and a run scored.

Pedro Ramirez and Dansby Swanson had a nearly-duplicate pair of games. They each went 4-for-8 with three runs scored and two RBI. The only difference was Swanson’s RBI-double.

Miguel Amaya made his one game on Saturday count, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Nico Hoerner went 3-for-8 in the pair of games with two runs scored and an RBI.

A big honorable mention goes to Seiya Suzuki. While he only managed going 1-for05 in each of the two games, he had four RBI, including his two-run home run in the ninth inning Sunday that cut the Pirates’ lead to 8-7.

On the mound Saturday, Shota Imanaga tossed six scoreless innings against Skenes, stranding four hits and a walk while striking out four. Imanaga has had one similar game in each April, May and June while having struggles in his other outings. But this is the first time he has had back-to-back scoreless outings this season.

It was almost a perfect three-game series. Almost.

*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.

Sunday’s Game Stories:

• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): Chicago Cubs face a tough Jameson Taillon decision as veteran doomed again by costly home runs in 8-7 loss. “Jameson Taillon’s future in the Chicago Cubs’ rotation became uncertain Sunday after an 8-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.”

• John Perrtotto (MLB.com): Could Taillon move to Cubs’ bullpen? Veteran righty searching for answers. “Winless in last nine starts, Taillon bit by long ball once again.”

Saturday’s Game Stories:

• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): MVPETE > Cy Skenes? Pete Crow-Armstrong dazzles as Cubs beat up October-type ace Paul Skenes. “Skenes reached a season-high 11 strikeouts, but the Cubs got five runs off the reigning Cy Young winner, with Crow-Armstrong bolstering his MVP candidacy with a four-hit night and a couple wins in showdowns with Skenes.”

• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): M-V-Pete? Crow-Armstrong adds to his case with 4-hit night — including a HR — in Chicago Cubs’ 11-0 rout. “The M-V-P chants started among Chicago Cubs fans behind the visitors dugout as Pete Crow-Armstrong crossed the plate.”

Trade, Injury and Roster Talk:

• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs DFA Jameson Taillon in middle of rough season, further stressing pitching need ahead of trade deadline. “The Cubs cut their longest-tenured active pitcher loose Monday, with the veteran righty failing produce in a positive way for a team in the thick of a playoff race.”
• Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Jed Hoyer quietly sent Cubs’ biggest trade deadline message with Jameson Taillon decision. “Monday was an important day for the Cubs front office.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Latest Cubs rumor from Jeff Passan suggests Jed Hoyer is about to level up at the trade deadline. “The pressure is on for Chicago’s president of baseball operations to deliver.”
• Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Cubs once again have a path toward popular trade deadline target after Marlins’ skid. “We’re doing this again?”
• Casey McAleer (DaWindyCity): The Cubs cannot afford to ignore a Tarik Skubal blockbuster. “Chicago should pursue the two-time Cy Young winner without recklessly sacrificing its future for a rental.”
• Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs May Hold Key Trade Chip to Landing One of Angels’ Best Starting Arms. “The Cubs need a pitcher.”
• Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Cubs Injury Update: Hunter Harvey’s surprising timeline, Daniel Palencia’s next step, Shelby Miller. “Hunter Harvey, Daniel Palencia, and Shelby Miller are all tracking to return to the Chicago Cubs before the end of the season.”

Players’ Views/Development RE: Trade Deadline:

• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): The Cubs’ clubhouse believes. As the trade deadline nears, does Chicago’s front office? ““The players that we have in this clubhouse right now,” Matthew Boyd said, “we believe are good enough to win the World Series.”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Pete Crow-Armstrong says any trade-deadline adds will only help Cubs, but ‘I love what we’ve got’. “The Cubs’ MVP candidate knows what happens at this time of year and would be happy to welcome any additions the front office makes at the trade deadline. But he’s also thrilled with the current group and ready to chase a championship.”
• Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Jacob Webb’s New Pitch Softens Cubs’ Need for Reliever at MLB Trade Deadline. “He’s not a traditional relief ace, but Jacob Webb loves his high-leverage role with the Cubs—and the new breaking ball he and the team engineered has made him viable in it.”

Assorted Stories:

• Tom Ley (The Defector): Pete Crow-Armstrong Is Good Enough To Raise The Forbidden Question. “Let’s acknowledge that there is no conversation to be had about who the best player in baseball is, so long as Shohei Ohtani is drawing breath and applying his skills as a two-way player.”
• Tony Andracki (AllChgo.com): Pete Crow-Armstrong is taking a page out of Anthony Rizzo’s book and it’s paying off. “Pete Crow-Armstrong may be on his way to an NL MVP award in 2026 and he has a legendary former Cub to thank for his development.”

• Bill Heyen (Sporting News): Cubs legend Kerry Wood threw mind-blowing behind-the-back pitch for Savannah Bananas. “There’s no way you could do this even if you tried.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): How a new changeup and an extended opportunity have fueled Chicago Cubs reliever Gavin Hollowell’s success. “Chicago Cubs reliever Gavin Hollowell is getting an extended opportunity to show what he can do in the majors.”
• Brian Kelder (North Side Baseball): The Cubs Lineup Isn’t Good Enough to Go All-In. “Go past WAR accumulation. Is the lineup as good as it needs to be to truly contend?”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Fueled by NLDS loss to Brewers, Cubs relish chance to turn regular season’s ‘dog days’ into playoff momentum. “The Cubs are hungry to go further than they did last postseason, when they were bounced by the division-rival Brewers, and see the late-summer days of the regular season as part of the exciting road to a deep October run.”

Food For Thought:

The founder of the eponymous Betty Fox Band fills the stage with smoky notes and a sultry presence, energizing crowds with smooth, powerful vocals. Born into a musical family, the Tampa native discovered her passion at an early age. Fox’s grandparents traveled around to churches with their kids, singing gospel hymns. Later, the family gathered around the piano every Sunday to sing harmonies, a tradition they continue now on holidays.

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

With the off day, it’s a light news day.

Anne Rogers talks with longtime Royals coach Miguel Garcia about Salvador Perez, who has known Salvy since he was signed by the Royals as a 16-year-old.

More than anyone else, Perez says Garcia is the one who gets him ready to play every day with their routine.

“I’ve known him since 2006 in the Dominican in instructional league,” Perez said. “That was the first time I met Miggy. It’s been 20 years that I’ve been with him. All my career in the big leagues. A little bit in the Minor Leagues. He’s a guy who gets me ready, who knows when I’m struggling, sees the video and tells me what I’m doing wrong to try to fix it. I appreciate him a lot.”

So what is the routine that has allowed Perez to turn into the greatest power hitter in Royals history? Garcia says it hasn’t changed too much across all these years.

“The main focus has always been to feel fluid with his swing,” Garcia said. “To be able to feel good, and with a fluid swing, and to concentrate on the pitches that he knows he can hit really well, which is middle to the pull side. Don’t leave the cage without a good swing, good fluid swings hitting the ball that way.”

David Lesky appreciates that the Royals have been trying some new things recently amid the lost season.

This weekend was a perfect example. They had a struggling starter, so they changed a couple of things. Noah Cameron had been pitching exceptionally poorly for the better part of six weeks, so they gave him an opener (that part didn’t work) and had him call his own pitches (that part did, I’ll get to it). As someone who works in marketing, I will tell you that testing two variables is not the smartest thing in the world, but I like that they tried something different. They gave a big save opportunity to someone who I wanted to see in that role. They’ve already started playing Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen against everyone, so that part is done, but I appreciate them doing things like that. First, it provides them with information. Second of all, it’s far more interesting to write about than a Randy Dobnak start, no matter how good he’s been.

Caleb Moody at Kings of Kauffman writes about the Royals’ failure to sign Hudson DeVaughn.

Jacob Milham details 3 Royals players who could benefit if they sell at the deadline.

Cody Bellinger is out 4-6 weeks with a hamstring strain.

Shea Langeliers and Mark Leiter Jr are going to get surgery.

Kerry Carpenter hit the IL.

Long-time Tampa Bay Buccaneers stalwart DT Vita Vea has requested a trade.

Jamal Adams has joined the Minnesota Vikings.

The UNC disaster-class continues – they placed GM Michael Lombardi on administrative leave.

The explosive diarrhea outbreak is expanding in Missouri.

Kansas City is putting together a bid to host matches for the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup.

Sporting Kansas City is trying to make a big splash signing and upped their offer for Olympiacos winger Andre Luiz.

Eric Bieniemy’s son was charged in the shooting of his mother.

The Odysseycontinues making a bunch of money.

Your song of the day is The Reign of Kindo with The Moments In Between.

Good morning, baseball fans!

Over the weekend, I saw an amazing social media post by a fairly new baseball fan who had a pretty inspiring idea to make baseball more interesting for the teams that are already statistically out of the running for the playoffs. I highly encourage folks to check that out before continuing, but just in case you aren’t able to, I’ll give a bit of a synopsis.

Essentially, she says that when teams are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, they should have the option to go Evil Mode and begin pulling pranks on teams that are still in the running. Her ground rules were that pranks couldn’t be anything to do with trying to win the game, or doing anything that would harm anyone. But everything else was on the table.

Honestly, at this point, that would be the only thing that could make the San Francisco Giants a watchable baseball team this season and I love the idea. Some of her suggested pranks include a speaker hidden in the locker room that just plays random Michael Jackson vocals or swapping out their cereal for lug nuts.

My favorite joke of hers was that the scouting report for these teams would primarily consist of the amount of times they’d been spotted at a Party City in the last week.

As a fan of harmless shenanigans, I would absolutely be more invested in the rest of this awful season if we were watching for hijinks and tomfoolery. Maybe they slip a brand new red towel in with the other team’s laundry to turn all of their uniforms pink. Or replace their game tapes with nothing but copies of 2003’s The Room.

The possibilities are endless!

What about you? What would make the rest of this season more tolerable/watchable?

What time do the Giants play today?

The Giants continue this three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers tonight at 6:45 p.m. PT.

It’s a weird week to look at the Orioles farm system. The trade deadline is now six days away. Perhaps the Orioles will play well enough between now and then that some of the names in this article will be gone a week from now. They may also play poorly enough that there are suddenly new names to start to focus on, beyond just the 2026 draft picks arriving. This all depends on how Mike Elias assesses the situation. His mind is unknowable.

There are a number of prospects, some notable in this series and some not, who will be headed for the next level of the minors starting with this coming week. The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka reported on the following promotions:

• Double-A to Triple-A: LHP Luis De León, RHP Juaron Watts-Brown
• High-A to Double-A: IF Wehiwa Aloy, IF Victor Figueroa, RHP Joe Glassey, RHP Caden Hunter
• Low-A to High-A: RHP Christian Rodriguez

Not headed to Triple-A for reasons unknown to me is Joseph Dzierwa. It’s time! Not headed to Double-A for reasons unfortunately known is Ike Irish. Last year’s first round pick tore the meniscus in his left knee this past week and is out for the season. I think Irish would have absolutely been among these promotions if not for that injury. It’s a bummer.

Here’s how things shook out for the rest of the top prospects this week:

Triple-A Norfolk Tides

• Last week: 1-5 at Charlotte (White Sox)
• Next opponent: vs. Worcester (Red Sox)
• Second half record: 8-17, ninth place (10 GB) in International League East

This is a sad roster and the team’s record continues to reflect it. That’s not going to change much with De León and Watts-Brown arriving, though at least it makes the starting rotation more interesting to have them around. They’ll be joining a rotation that’s already got Nestor German, who remains modestly interesting. German added a start that’s fairly representative of his season: Two runs allowed in 5.1 innings, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out five. That could be useful for the back of the rotation.

The Tides will also be joined this week by Ryan Mountcastle and Chris Bassitt, each of whom is starting a rehab assignment. I would guess each will be pushed close to the maximum number of days for a rehab, 20 for position players and 30 for pitchers.

Creed Willems is back! You might want to see him at the major league level instead of the guys we’ve got catching. The Orioles have other thoughts. Willems did not put together a “force them to promote me” kind of week, collecting just four hits in 19 AB, all singles. Things went slightly better for Enrique Bradfield Jr., who had six hits in 19 AB, all singles. Bradfield stole five bases, giving him 21 steals in 48 games for the Tides.

One guy did not hit nothing but singles. Heston Kjerstad went 10-23 across six games, driving in nine runs in part thanks to hitting three homers and a double. He is OPSing 1.027 in the month of July.

Tides season-to-date stats.

Double-A Chesapeake Baysox

• Last week: 3-3 vs. Erie (Tigers)
• Next opponent: at Altoona (Pirates)
• Second half record: 15-11, second place (3.5 GB) in Eastern League Southwest

With Aloy joining the ranks here and Dzierwa inexplicably remaining, this might now be the most interesting affiliate in the system. They’re playing better in the second half, staying above .500. Keep at it, fellas.

My guy Aron Estrada was a big part over the party over the past week’s worth of games. The infielder racked up eight hits in 19 at-bats, including a double and a homer. Pretty good!

Fellow infielder and in my imagination syrup aficionado Brandon Butterworth matched Estrada with eight hits and three of Butterworth’s were homers. The 23-year-old, acquired in the Padres trade last year, has appeared in 38 games at the level this year; he missed some time with an injury. Things are going well in those games: .270/.377/.496 batting line. Outfielder Tavien Josenberger also hit three homers, and he showed patience in drawing seven walks as well.

De León’s final start here before the promotion was the kind of thing that shows why he’s going up a level. The 23-year-old lefty struck out nine batters while allowing just one run in 6.1 innings. Watts-Brown’s final start, not so good, with three runs allowed on seven hits in 5.1 innings. Also not to be forgotten is Dzierwa, who allowed a run in 4.2 innings with only three strikeouts. Pedestrian by his standards. Dzierwa has a 2.48 ERA and 0.957 WHIP in 11 games at this level.

Also of interest

• LHP Micah Ashman – One might also wonder why this reliever didn’t get a promotion too. One run allowed in three innings, 1.93 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 37.1 innings for the season
• RHP Patrick Reilly – First start back at an appropriate level after recovering from Tommy John surgery, three runs allowed in 5.1 innings, all thanks to solo home runs

Baysox season-to-date stats.

High-A Frederick Keys

• Last week: 4-2 at Rome (Braves)
• Next opponent: vs. Wilmington (Nationals)
• Second half record: 17-12, second place (0.5 GB) in South Atlantic League North
• The Keys are already guaranteed a postseason spot for their first half title

The just-promoted Aloy hit a pair of homers in his final week for Frederick, finishing with a .300/.371/.503 batting line in 84 games, with 15 homers. He’s cut the strikeout rate as the season has gone along, though he finishes with a high number at 25.6%. Not as good among the promoted is Figueroa, 5-17 hitting with no extra-base hits.

Things went well for the promoted pitchers too. Caden Hunter, a lefty starter drafted in the sixth round last year, tossed 5.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. Gotta like that. Hunter began the season with Delmarva, so this is his second promotion. Joe Glassey, a reliever who was an undrafted free agent two years ago, pitched two scoreless innings across two games; he posted a 2.86 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 28.1 innings with the Keys. Crucially, unlike a number of guys in the system, these two are not walking too many dudes.

Not so fun is the injury news. Irish, as mentioned above, is done for the year thanks to the torn meniscus. Pitching prospect Boston Bateman exited his start this week after just one out due to what the team announced as right hip flexor discomfort.

Others of interest

• OF Braylin Tavera – 21-year-old also hit two homers this week. He’s OPSing .760 for the season but it’s a lot of strikeouts, like, a lot (35.9%)
• RHP Twine Palmer – One run allowed in three innings this week. There seem to have been some command issues. He walked three batters.

Keys season-to-date stats.

Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds

• Last week: 3-3 at Hill City (Guardians)
• Next opponent: vs. Hickory (Rangers)
• Second half record: 12-18, fifth place (4 GB) in Carolina League North

Christian Rodriguez, the pitcher who got promoted here, has not gotten a lot of focus from me in these articles because it’s his age 24 season and he’s been at Low-A. If he was two years younger, he’d still be old for this level. If he was at Double-A right now, he’d still be old for that level. That doesn’t make him much of a prospect, but I don’t want to take too much away from his results, which have been very good. He can only face the hitters the organization asks him to face. Rodriguez heads up to Frederick after five innings with just one unearned run allowed, giving him a 2.57 ERA across 19 games.

Among the hitters, the interesting duo continues to be infielders DJ Layton and Jaiden Lo Re, mid-round picks from high schools in the last two consecutive drafts. Although Layton managed to pick up six hits, including three for extra bases, over his 21 at-bats, he struck out 11 times. That’s tough. Lo Re only struck out one time, hitting 5-21 with a double. Lo Re has an .877 OPS through 34 games since getting promoted here.

Shorebirds season-to-date stats.

Florida Complex League Orioles

• Final season record: 34-23
• Qualified for one-game league semifinals (wild card), lost 7-0 to FCL Astros

Now that this team’s season is done, a few players are also going from this level up to Delmarva for the rest of the season. That group, as noted by Orioles On the Verge, is: RHP KK Clark, IF Hector Campusano, LHP Francisco Morao, and IF Jemone Nuel. Campusano and Nuel are in their age 19 seasons, Morao is 20, and Clark is 22. Nuel, who just batted .283/.456/.483 over 50 games in this rookie league, is probably the most interesting of this bunch.

FCL Orioles full season stats.

**

Our last minor league player of the week poll was two weeks ago, since the minor league teams were off during the MLB All-Star break. A majority of voters picked Luis De León as the winner in that poll, making him the tenth different winner chosen since we were able to create polls. Ike Irish is our only two-time winner. Unfortunately, we already know he won’t win a third this year.

Other single week winners that De León joins: Aron Estrada, Victor Figueroa, Payton Eeles, Braylin Tavera, Caden Hunter, Wehiwa Aloy, Jaiden Lo Re, and Joseph Dzierwa. Will there be a repeat winner this week? Three of the choices have won before. The choice is yours.