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Rockies hiring Paul DePodesta of ‘Moneyball' fame to run baseball ops, AP source says originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Colorado Rockies are hiring Paul DePodesta of “Moneyball” fame from the NFL‘s Cleveland Browns to run baseball operations, a person with knowledge of the move told The Associated Press.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the move has not been announced by the team.

DePodesta, who inspired Jonah Hill’s character in the movie “Moneyball,” returns to baseball after nearly 10 years with the Browns. He was named Cleveland’s chief strategy officer in 2016.

During his nearly 20 seasons in MLB, he was the only executive to win divisional titles with five different organizations — the New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland.

He takes over for Bill Schmidt, who stepped down following a 43-119 season that flirted with the worst all-time mark in MLB history. The Rockies are in need of a transformation after becoming the first team with three straight 100-loss seasons since Houston in 2011-13.

In his nearly 10 seasons with the Browns, DePodesta did not make personnel decisions but worked with the front office and coaching staff on targeting players during free agency in March and the NFL draft in April.

The Browns were 57-101-1 during DePodesta’s tenure, including the playoffs, and their .362 winning percentage was fourth lowest in the league. There were two playoff appearances, but also a 1-31 stretch in 2016 and ’17. The 2017 squad was 0-16, the third winless franchise in NFL history since 1976.

In 2020, he headed the search that led to the hirings of general manager Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski. The duo made the playoffs in 2020, including the franchise’s first postseason win since 1994, and again in ’23.

While DePodesta’s processes helped in the selection of Myles Garrett in 2017 and Baker Mayfield one year later, he was also involved in the 2022 trade with Houston for quarterback Deshaun Watson that resulted in the Browns sending three first-round picks to the Texans.

DePodesta continued to live in La Jolla, California, and would commute occasionally to Cleveland.

DePodesta played baseball and football at Harvard, then began his baseball career in 1996 in Cleveland as an intern in player development. He was a major league advance scout in 1997-98 and later special assistant to the general manager.

In 1999, he joined the Athletics as assistant general manager to Billy Beane. He was a key figure in the 2003 book “Moneyball” about the A’s 2001 wild-card run, with author Michael Lewis writing, “Paul was a Harvard graduate. Paul looked and sounded more like a Harvard graduate than a baseball man.” In the 2014 movie by the same name, Hill played a fictional character, Peter Brand, who shared DePodesta’s analytical background but not his athletic one.

DePodesta parlayed his experience with the Athletics into a two-year stint as the Dodgers’ general manager. He then went to San Diego from 2006 through ’10, where he rose to executive vice president.

DePodesta came to the Browns from the Mets, where he was the vice president of player development and amateur scouting from 2011 through ’15. The Mets made the World Series in 2015 before losing to the Kansas City Royals.

Walker Monfort, the Rockies executive vice president, vowed at the end of the season to bring in a new voice from outside the organization and give them autonomy to take an updated look at how to turn around a franchise that finished 50 games behind the World Series-champion Dodgers in the NL West. The Rockies have never won a division title.

The move also comes before MLB’s general manager meetings begin on Monday in Las Vegas.

The first order of business for DePodesta will be deciding on a manager. The Rockies fired Bud Black in May after a 7-33 start and promoted Warren Schaeffer to take his place. Schaeffer went 36-86 the rest of the way as the Rockies narrowly avoided the worst mark in baseball’s modern era. Their 119 losses were tied with the 2003 Detroit Tigers for the third-most in a single season since 1901, slightly in front of the 2024 Chicago White Sox (41-121) and the 1962 Mets (40-120).

One positive about a season gone sideways is that Colorado’s youth gained some experience. There were a franchise-record 13 players that made their major league debut.

Another big decision will be what to do with slugger Kris Bryant, who was limited to 11 games this season as he dealt with a back ailment. Bryant has played in only 170 games with Colorado because of an assortment of injuries since signing a $182 million, seven-year contract before the 2022 season.

DePodesta may need to find creative ways to turn Coors Field into a home-field advantage. The Rockies were 24-56 in the Mile High City, the most losses in franchise history. Their 4.56 runs per game at home were their fewest in franchise history, edging last season’s mark of 4.89.

The Rockies posted a minus-424 run differential, surpassing the minus-349 mark held by the 1932 Boston Red Sox for the the the worst mark in the modern era.

AP sports writer Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this story.

The now two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers made their first moves of the offseason on Thursday.

The biggest one will ensure will ensure a familiar face is back for their pursuit of a three-peat next year.

The team picked up its $10-million club option for third baseman Max Muncy, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, bringing the now longest-tenured member of the roster back for what will be his ninth season in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers also picked up a $3.55-million club option for reliever Alex Vesia (keeping him out of arbitration), according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly. Additionally, they shook up the 40-man roster with a series of maneuvers that included Tony Gonsolin being designated for assignment.

None of the moves were overly surprising, starting with the option the Dodgers exercised at the end of a two-year, $24-million deal Muncy signed in the 2023 offseason.

Even at 35 years old, Muncy was a relative bargain at $10 million next season for a player who, prior to second-half injuries, had shaken off a slow start to the year by being one of the hottest hitters in the majors in May and June.

His return will also help keep a key part of the club’s veteran core intact, bringing back a player who — in the wake of Clayton Kershaw’s retirement — has been with the Dodgers longer than anybody else.

Muncy’s 2025 season did not start well. After an offseason in which trade rumors involving Nolan Arenado swirled, and a spring training spent working through the lingering after-effects of an oblique and rib injury that limited him in 2024, Muncy hit .176 through his first 34 games, and had only one home run.

In early May, however, he started wearing glasses to address an astigmatism in his right eye. Around that same time, he also found a breakthrough with his swing, one that helped him begin punishing fastballs up the zone. From May 7 to the end of June, he hit .315 with 12 home runs and a 1.039 OPS, one of the best stretches of his 10-year, two-time All-Star career.

Read more:The Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series had record-setting ratings. Here's what it means

That streak was derailed on July 2, when Muncy suffered his knee injury after being slid into at third base. His return a month later was cut short, too, when his oblique began bothering him during a batting practice session in August.

Those IL stints preceded a September slump that carried into the postseason, when Muncy hit just .173 entering Game 7 of the World Series.

But that night, he collected three hits, had the pivotal eighth-inning home run off Trey Yesavage that got the Dodgers back within a run, and became one of six players to contribute to all three of the Dodgers’ recent World Series titles.

“It’s starting to get a little bit comfortable up here,” he joked from atop the stage at the Dodgers’ World Series celebration on Monday. “Let’s keep it going.”

Vesia will also be part of that three-peat pursuit, and had his $3.55-million club option picked up on Thursday as well. Vesia had that option negotiated into the contract he signed last offseason to avoid arbitration. Next year will be his last under team control before free agency.

Vesia was one of the few consistent performers in the Dodgers’ bullpen this year, posting a 3.02 ERA in a career-high 68 appearances. He was also one of their most trusted relief arms in the playoffs, bouncing back from a two-run outing in the wild-card series opener with 4 ⅓ scoreless innings the rest of the way.

Read more:'Work to do': Four questions the World Series champion Dodgers face this offseason

He was not available for the World Series as he and his wife dealt with what the team described as a “deeply personal family matter.” But he figures to be a key cog in their bullpen again next season, having established himself as one of the sport’s best left-handed leverage relievers.

The one notable roster subtraction Thursday came in the news of Gonsolin’s DFA. The right-hander was an All-Star in 2022, but has made just 27 starts since then because of two elbow surgeries (Tommy John in 2023 and an internal brace this past year). The latter procedure was likely to keep him sidelined into next season, his last under team control.

Gonsolin was one of three cuts made to the 40-man roster Thursday, as outfielder Justin Dean (a member of the Dodgers’ postseason roster) and injured pitcher Michael Grove (also coming off a season lost to surgery) were both outrighted to the minors. The open spots made way for outfielder Ryan Ward (the 2025 Pacific Coast League MVP in triple-A) and left-handed pitcher Robinson Ortiz (a 25-year-old who went from high-A to triple-A last year) to be added to the 40-man group.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Giants claim former Dodgers outfielder Justin Dean as part of roster shuffle originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Justin Dean started his week riding in a parade in Los Angeles. He’ll end it on the 40-man roster for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ longtime rival.

The outfielder was one of two players claimed by the Giants on Thursday, along with Cincinnati Reds lefty Reiver Sanmartin. To clear a necessary roster spot, the organization DFA’d right-hander Mason Black, who appeared in the big leagues each of the past two seasons. 

Dean, 28, is the most well-known of the three after being right in the middle of a controversial moment in the World Series. When a line drive got wedged into the bottom of the outfield wall at Rogers Centre in the ninth inning of Game 6, Dean alertly raised both hands and got a ground-rule double call as the play was ruled dead.

Dean, a strong defender who can play all three spots, didn’t get a plate appearance during the postseason but entered 13 games as a defensive replacement. He made 18 appearances for the Dodgers during the regular season, almost all of which were for defense. He was 0-for-2 with a stolen base, but he did post a .378 on-base percentage in Triple-A. 

The Giants have a large collection of young outfielders on their 40-man roster but figure to part with multiple players during the offseason. Marco Luciano, Luis Matos and Wade Meckler are all out of minor league options, and Jerar Encarnacion, Grant McCray and Drew Gilbert are also on the 40-man. Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos are locked in as starters, but the front office will likely be looking for an everyday option in right field this winter. 

Sanmartin, 29, is the type of player who likely will be targeted often this offseason by Buster Posey, Zack Minasian and the rest of the front office. The Giants need to rebuild just about an entire bullpen, and they don’t have a lot of depth from the left side. Erik Miller came off the 60-day IL at the end of the postseason and is healthy after missing the entire second half with elbow discomfort. Joey Lucchesi is arb-eligible, but the organization is generally short on left-handed depth. 

Sanmartin has a 5.66 ERA in 62 big league appearances, but only one of those has come in the past two years. He had elbow surgery in 2023, but posted a 3.34 ERA in Triple-A last season. 

The Giants need starting pitching help this offseason, but Black had fallen far down the depth chart and finished his season as a reliever. A third-round pick in 2021, Black had a 6.47 ERA in 10 big league appearances for the Giants and a 5.81 ERA in Triple-A this season. 

The 40-man roster is again full after Thursday’s moves. Justin Verlander, Wilmer Flores, Dominic Smith and Tom Murphy are free agents, but the Giants also had to bring Miller and Randy Rodriguez off the 60-day IL.

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The easiest and cleanest way for the Mets to add a top-of-the-rotation starter to their staff this offseason is to turn to the free agent market, where the headliners are Framber Valdez, Michael King, and Ranger Suarez.

King, who will be entering his age-31 season in 2026, was tremendous for the Padres in 2024 as he transitioned from relieving to starting. But he made just 15 starts in 2025 as he dealt with a nerve injury in his throwing shoulder and also lost time due to a knee injury.

Suarez, who turned 30 in August, might be the safest bet -- but he's also the least imposing. He has allowed 8.6 hits per nine during his eight-year career, is not a big strikeout guy, and has never thrown 158 innings or more in a season.

Then there's Dylan Cease, whose upside is sky high.

Cease, who is entering his age-30 season, has finished top-four in Cy Young voting two of the last four seasons. And he eats tons of innings. However, he's coming off a campaign where he had a 4.55 ERA and has been maddeningly inconsistent.

But with Suarez not an ideal fit, Valdez in line for a monster deal ahead of his age-32 season, and King having serious injury concerns, would a Mets pursuit of Cease make the most sense?

Here are the pros and cons... 

PROS

Since his first full season in the majors in 2021, Cease has been one of the most reliable pitchers in the sport when it comes to taking the ball.

He has made at least 32 starts each of the last five seasons, and has exceeded 165.0 innings in all of them. He tossed 165.2 innings in 2021, 184.0 in 2022, 177.0 in 2023, 189.1 in 2024, and 168.0 in 2025.

Cease has a career ERA of 3.88 and a WHIP of 1.26, but his upside is literally Cy Young caliber.

In 2022, he posted a 2.20 ERA and 1.10 WHIP for the White Sox and finished second in American League Cy Young award voting. In 2024, he had a 3.47 ERA and 1.06 WHIP for the Padres and finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting. 

Part of the reason Cease's upside is so high is his ability to miss bats. He has struck out 214 batters or more in each of the last five seasons and has a career strikeout per nine rate of 10.9. This past season, his 11.5 strikeouts per nine led all qualified starting pitchers. 

Clearly, Cease's propensity to make every start and his swing-and-miss stuff would be huge for a Mets rotation that generally failed to provide enough innings last season and pitched to too much contact.

When it comes to Cease's advanced stats, he was elite last season in whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, fastball velocity, xBA, and chase percentage. He was above average when it came to xERA and hard hit percentage.

Regarding his stuff, Cease relies mainly on a four-seam fastball and slider (he threw the two pitches a combined 82 percent of the time last season), and also mixes in a curve, sinker, and sweeper. 

How that stuff has graded out has oscillated from season to season, though, which helps explain the variance in Cease's performance. 

CONS

Cease has basically been an every other year performer since 2022, sandwiching top-four Cy Young finishes with mediocre campaigns.

He had a 4.58 ERA and 1.41 WHIP for the White Sox in 2023 and a 4.55 ERA and 1.32 WHIP for the Padres in 2025.

Cease also issues too many free passes. He's averaged 3.8 per nine during his career, and his walk rate was in the 20th percentile this past season.

As is noted above, part of the reason why Cease has gone back and forth between elite performance and mediocre performance is how his stuff has played.

For example, his pitching run value in 2024 was in the 97th percentile. In 2025, it was in the 44th percentile. When it comes to his fastball specifically, it graded out as a tick above average in 2024 and well below average in 2025.

There's also the fact that aside from his slider, Cease doesn't have a truly reliable secondary offering. Last season, he threw his curve eight percent of the time, his sinker five percent of the time, his sweeper three percent of the time, and his changeup one percent of the time. And hitters punished his curve, slugging .576 against it. 

It's possible there's a team out there that believes it can harness Cease's upside and offers him a long-term deal at roughly $30 million per season. If that happens, it's fair to believe he almost certainly won't be a Met.

VERDICT

If Cease's market stays relatively sane -- think a three-or four-year deal -- the Mets should be all over it. 

It can be argued that the Mets need to add two new members to the starting rotation this offseason. One should be a reliable top-of-the-rotation type, and that pitcher should be acquired via trade. The other should be someone who profiles in the middle of the rotation, takes the ball reliably, and has upside. When it comes to the latter type of pitcher, Cease fits it to a tee. 

Identifying Giants' needs, priorities heading into pivotal 2025 MLB offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants announced this week that they will once again host an exhibition with Team USA next spring ahead of the World Baseball Classic, which is exciting for the organization for reasons other than the fact that the game will bring some of Major League Baseball’s biggest stars to Scottsdale Stadium.

When the Giants did the same thing before the last WBC, they hoped to be able to show off their $50-plus million Papago training facility to potential free agent targets. Giants officials were thrilled when they heard that during the workout at Papago, one of the team’s best players FaceTimed his general manager to show off some of the amenities. 

Perhaps in future years, a player will sign with the organization and note that he wants to spend his winters and springs at Papago. For now, Buster Posey, Zack Minasian and Tony Vitello are tasked with finding contributors who want to be there next spring, and that work starts today. 

MLB free agency is officially underway, and while most of the heavy lifting is traditionally done around the Winter Meetings in December, Posey showed last year — with Willy Adames — and again during the season — with Rafael Devers — that he doesn’t care all that much about the usual timelines. The recruiting starts now, and Posey and Vitello should be pretty good at it given their backgrounds. 

Both are known for connecting with players. Both also know they have a lot of work to do this offseason. In their first year under Vitello, the Giants will try to chase down a team that just went back-to-back, and the rest of the division should be pretty good, too. Here’s what the new brain trust will be working with and focusing on as the offseason officially begins …

Their Own Free Agents

On Sunday, Wilmer Flores, Dominic Smith and Justin Verlander returned to free agency, and Tom Murphy became a free agent later in the week when the Giants declined his $4 million option for 2026. The Giants have made a habit of reunions over the years, but there seems to be a good chance all four will be elsewhere next season. 

Verlander would fill the biggest need, and he had a strong second half and enjoyed his time in San Francisco. But he also just had a baby and lives in Florida, so a second spring in Arizona might not be at the top of his wish list. Nobody would blame him, either, if he wanted to pick a team with a more realistic shot at regularly getting him in the win column. 

Flores is a capital ‘G’ Good Giant, but he said his goodbyes in September. With Devers at first and Bryce Eldridge just about ready, there’s no longer room on the roster. Free agency can be rough on 34-year-olds these days, but Flores is very popular around the league and could find a bench spot on a contender. 

Smith was one of Posey’s best moves in Year 1, but as a left-handed first baseman, he doesn’t make a lot of sense on a roster with Devers and Eldridge. After what he showed in San Francisco, he should be in line for better opportunities this winter. 

Murphy played just 13 games in two seasons for the Giants. That signing, which led to the trade of Joey Bart, was one of the previous regime’s most baffling moves. 

This Year’s Class

It’s a deep free-agent group this offseason, although it’s lacking star power. Kyle Tucker is the consensus best player available, but the 28-year-old outfielder is coming off a disappointing walk year. He pumps out four-win seasons, but this isn’t an offseason where a Shohei Ohtani or Juan Soto will alter the course of a franchise. 

Bo Bichette, Cody Bellinger, Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman lead the rest of the position player pack, and the pitching list is led by Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez and Dylan Cease. There are plenty of intriguing options further down the top 50 lists like Zac Gallen and Michael King, which is helpful for a Giants team that needs pitching help. 

The relief market is full of closers like Edwin Diaz, Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez and Devin Williams. Again, that potentially lines up nicely for Posey. 

What They Need

Pitching, pitching, pitching. And then, more pitching. 

In his first year in charge, Posey learned a lesson. 

“You always hear it: ‘You can never have enough pitching,'” he said on “Giants Talk” last month. “We came into the year thinking we had a nice amount of depth and then by the end it didn’t feel like we had a lot of depth. It was definitely a learning experience for me to learn that that old adage ‘you never can have enough pitching’ is definitely true.”

The rotation needs two arms, and it wouldn’t hurt to add a swingman — a Yusmeiro Petit/Jakob Junis type — to the mix, too. The bullpen needs, well, what doesn’t it need?

Of the Giants pitchers who made more than 40 appearances last season, only Ryan Walker and Spencer Bivens are under team control. Erik Miller is confident he’ll return healthy after a second half wrecked by elbow discomfort and Joey Lucchesi is arbitration-eligible. There are plenty of others — Jose Butto, Joel Peguero, Tristan Beck, etc. — who will again be in the mix, but the Giants have a lot of work to do to regain what they had in the first half, when their bullpen might have been the best in the league. 

The biggest need in the ‘pen will be finding a closer, although paying handsomely for one in free agency is generally a terrible idea. The Giants also need a reliable eighth-inning guy, with a Tyler Rogers reunion standing out as a way to potentially get that done quickly. 

The Giants plan to be extremely active with minor-league free agents, and Jeremy Shelley and his group have had tremendous success there over the years. Whether it’s that market, higher-end free agency or trades, they probably need to add more than a half-dozen potential options before the start of camp. 

Other Holes To Fill

Casey Schmitt hit a dozen homers and was roughly a league-average hitter by wRC+, but the Giants talked about upgrading at second base ahead of the trade deadline and could again look at their options. Given that they already have three nine-figure contracts on their infield, though, it probably doesn’t make sense to go big at a position where they do have a young cost-controlled option. 

The more pressing need on the position player side is in the outfield, specifically right field. It’s possible that at some point the staff will decide to move Jung Hoo Lee to a corner and get a better defender in center, but that’s probably not going to be much of a conversation after his first full season. Heliot Ramos is poised to end the Opening Day left field streak, and he stands out as a player who should benefit greatly from a new coaching staff. 

The rest of the 40-man roster includes Jerar Encarnación, Drew Gilbert, Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, Grant McCray and Wade Meckler, and some of them look like players who will be taken off the roster in some way this offseason. Gilbert, one of Vitello’s favorites at Tennessee, is probably the frontrunner among that pack, but the Giants could really use a dangerous veteran bat in the corner to start the season. 

It seems that every team is looking for catching depth every offseason, and the Giants will be no different. Jesus Rodriguez and Andrew Knizner could be options to back up Patrick Bailey, but Vitello could use more help. 

The Most Intriguing Question

Minasian has piled up the frequent flyer miles over the years with visits to Asia and Posey quietly took a trip to Japan during the season to get a better sense of that market. Ohtani got most of the attention a couple of years ago, but for the previous front office, the bigger disappointment was missing out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who turned into a World Series MVP. 

The Giants got Lee, but at some point they’d like to strike it big with a Japanese star, and there are some options this offseason. The Giants extensively scouted Munetaka Murakami in recent years, but just about all of that work was done before the Devers trade. It’s hard to see how they’re a fit for a left-handed hitter who plays first and third. 

Tatsuya Imai, Jo-Hsi Hsu and Kona Takahashi are among the pitchers who could be available, and the Giants also could turn to a former MLB pitcher who had success overseas, like Forest Griffin or Cody Ponce. 

The organization has righted the ship in Latin America and is poised to have a second straight star-studded class when it comes to international amateurs. But the Giants also want to be major players in Asia; will this be the year that becomes their focus? 

What Else To Watch

The Giants won’t have to stress much about their arbitration class, which consists of only Lucchesi, Knizner and JT Brubaker. They’ll have to add some players to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft — former first-rounder Will Bednar, who now throws 100 mph as a reliever, is a fascinating case — but the bigger question might be which players they remove from the 40-man. 

Luciano, Matos and Meckler are going to be out of options and none of them were that involved during the 2025 season. The unknown right now is what Vitello thinks of each of his young players, but it could be time to look for a fresh start for at least a couple of those guys. 

If they’re involved in trades, those could go down at the Winter Meetings, held the second week of December in Orlando. That week also will include some nervous moments for franchise legends. Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent are on the Contemporary Era ballot for the Hall of Fame and Duane Kuiper is once again a finalist for the Ford C. Frick Award. 

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Jeff Passan believes Giants ‘make sense' for free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants’ offseason started over a month ago, but the MLB offseason has just begun. 

Their main priority – finding a new leader – has been solved with the hiring of Tony Vitello. Now, the focus shifts to roster construction. 

San Francisco’s outfield has been lacking star power. A top free agent fits the bill for the Giants, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. 

“[Kyle] Tucker falls in that interesting bucket where he will rightly demand a contract in excess of $300 million, but the number of teams willing to pay that will limit his options,” Passan wrote in a recent column. “The [Los Angeles] Dodgers and Giants make sense, as do the [Philadelphia] Phillies.” 

Tucker is not expected to re-sign with the Chicago Cubs after being traded there last offseason by the Houston Astros. The Giants reportedly were one of the teams in trade talks with the Astros to acquire him at that time. 

Tucker, a four-time All Star, has made just over $57 million in career earnings in his eight years of MLB service, according to Spotrac.

As Passan wrote, Tucker’s performance warrants a large, long-term contract. The Giants have become increasingly willing to sign such contracts, as evident with Matt Chapman’s extension, Willy Adames’ free-agent signing and the trade for Rafael Devers, who has a lucrative long-term contract. 

Tucker, who will turn 29 before the start of next season, provides left-handed hitting which the Giants have been searching for in past years.  

Last season with the Cubs, Tucker got off to a scorching start, batting .291 with 17 home runs in his first 83 games played. However, a hairline fracture in his hand hampered his production for the rest of the season. He hit just .225 in his final 53 games. 

In addition to bolstering outfield depth, the Giants will need to rebuild a depleted bullpen. That need might become a factor in their determination of how much they can budget on a star position player like Tucker. 

As it always seems, San Francisco will need to compete with the rival Dodgers as well in pursuit of landing the star. 

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Phils linked to Angels' sluggers Jo Adell, Taylor Ward in recent report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Right-handed hitters. Phillies fans might get sick of hearing how much the organization values adding them this offseason.

Wednesday — the day before free agency opened — offered another example. On MLB Network’s Hot Stove, Jon Morosi reported that the Los Angeles Angels are considering trading outfielders Jo Adell and Taylor Ward, adding that there’s a “better than 50-50 chance” one of them gets moved. And yes, the Phillies were the team highlighted that could swing a deal.

Jo Adell’s 2025 breakout

Adell, 26, was the Angels’ first-round pick in 2017 and one of baseball’s most hyped prospects before injuries and inconsistency stalled him. From 2020–23, he never played more than 88 games in a season. In 2024, he finally earned a full-time role in right field, hitting 20 homers among 37 extra-base hits but finishing with a .207 average.

A year later, everything clicked. Adell quietly turned in one of baseball’s most underrated seasons at the plate – 37 home runs, 98 RBIs, and a .236/.293/.485 line for a .778 OPS, finishing fourth in the American League in homers.

The advanced numbers backed it up. His .565 expected slugging, 17.3% barrel rate, and 77.6 mph bat speed all ranked inside the top four percent of MLB. But the swing-and-miss remains a problem – 151 strikeouts, a 25th-percentile whiff rate, and just 33 walks.

Defensively, Adell struggled again. He played 89 games in center and 69 in right but ranked last in Outs Above Average, with below-average arm strength. On a contender like Philadelphia, he’d likely fit best as a corner outfielder or part-time DH, depending on whether Kyle Schwarber returns.

Still, there’s no denying the physical tools. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Adell has real middle-of-the-order power and the athleticism to one day succeed in the outfield.

Taylor Ward’s consistency

Ward, 31, brings a more polished version of that same right-handed power profile. Another first-round pick (2015), he’s hit 23-plus homers in three of the last four seasons, missing only in 2024 after a fastball fractured his nose and orbital bone.

He came back stronger in 2025, hitting 36 homers with 103 RBIs and a .228 average, ranking fifth in the AL in home runs, sixth in RBIs, and seventh in extra-base hits (69). Ward does strike out a ton (175 times last season) but offsets it with strong plate discipline – 75 walks (seventh in the AL) and a 20.7% chase rate, good for the 92nd percentile.

He’s the steadier of the two hitters and could bring much-needed lineup protection for Bryce Harper or potentially whoever occupies Schwarber’s old role. Ward’s plate discipline and ability to grind at-bats make him a strong middle-of-the-order fit. Defensively, he’s played a ton in left field – especially this past season – and a fair amount in right.

Player outlook, trade pieces

Adell is under control through 2027 and projected to make about $4.5 million in arbitration this season. Ward, on the other hand, is entering his final season under contract, set to earn around $11 million. The Angels’ farm system is light on position players and loaded with pitching – just two Top 100 prospects (Tyler Bremner and Ryan Johnson), both arms – which makes the Phillies a logical partner.

Many would suggest sending Justin Crawford – who will compete for an everyday role in Spring Training for the Phils – but he’s not necessarily a fit in Anaheim. The Angels’ top outfield prospect, Nelson Rada, has a nearly identical skill set – left-handed, high-contact, high-speed – making that swap less likely.

After sending Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel to Minnesota for Jhoan Duran, the Phillies’ system is thinner but still offers solid bats. Infield prospects like Aroon Escobar and Keaton Anthony along with outfielders Dante Nori and Gabriel Rincones Jr. could draw interest.

If the Halos aim to stay competitive, Alec Bohm could also fit their needs for 2026; they have an opening at third base after Yoán Moncada hit free agency following a .783 OPS season.

My take

Adell’s upside – and team control – is strong which means his cost will be too. Ward makes more sense – a right-handed hitter with patience, solid-enough defense and one year of control.

Projected deal: Phillies send OF Gabriel Rincones Jr. and 1B Keaton Anthony to the Angels for Ward.

Ward’s name has floated in Phillies rumors before, and the fit remains true. He posted a .918 OPS vs. left-handers in 2025, a skillset that would complement lefty bats like Brandon Marsh and potentially Schwarber, if he’s back.

A new-look Ward–Crawford–Marsh outfield balances the lineup with power, speed and athleticism – giving the Phillies another reliable right-handed bat in an offseason where that is their largest priority.

2026 Phillies Offseason Tracker: Follow every move, signing and trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies enter the 2026 offseason with several key players hitting free agency — including Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suárez and J.T. Realmuto — as the front office faces major roster decisions following another postseason run.

This tracker will update throughout the winter as players re-sign, move on or have contract options resolved.

Latest Updates

• Wednesday, Nov. 5: The Phillies exercised José Alvarado’s $9 million club option for 2026.
• Tuesday, Nov. 4: Harrison Bader declines his $10 million mutual option and becomes a free agent.
• Sunday, Nov. 2: Free agency official begins. There will be a five-day period before players have the ability to negotiate and sign with organizations.

Current free-agents

Kyle Schwarber, DH

2025: 162 G, .240/.365/.563, 56 HR, 132 RBI, .928 OPS, 4.7 WAR

Schwarber’s contract year was one of the best in recent memory. The slugger led the Majors in homers and RBIs, marking his fourth straight 38-plus homer season — all in Philadelphia. His production and leadership made him a cornerstone of the offense once again.

“He’s a priority for us,” president Dave Dombrowski said entering the offseason.

J.T. Realmuto, C

2025: 134 G, .257/.315/.384, 12 HR, 52 RBI, .700 OPS, 2.6 WAR

The veteran catcher’s seven-year run in Philadelphia could end this winter. Known for his defensive leadership and steady handling of the pitching staff, Realmuto’s offensive numbers dipped in 2025, but the free-agent market for catchers is thin — a factor that could keep him in play for a short-term reunion.

Harrison Bader, OF

2025: 146 G, .277/.347/.449, 17 HR, 54 RBI, .796 OPS, 4.2 WAR

Bader’s energy and defense transformed the Phillies’ outfield after his trade-deadline arrival. His track record of injuries may shape how aggressive teams get in free agency, which could give Philadelphia a window to bring him back on a short-term, affordable deal to anchor center field again.

Max Kepler, OF

2025: 127 G, .216/.300/.391, 18 HR, 52 RBI, .691 OPS, 0.0 WAR

Kepler’s first season in Philadelphia started slow but ended with him settling into a steady platoon role for Rob Thomson. A return seems unlikely, but you could make a case to bring the 33-year-old back as a left-handed fourth outfielder with experience.

Ranger Suárez, SP

2025: 26 GS, 12–8, 3.20 ERA, 157.1 IP, 151 K, 1.22 WHIP

Suárez once again provided stability at the top of the Phillies’ rotation. The 30-year-old left-hander is expected to draw heavy interest across the league, given his steady production. His October dominance only adds to his value entering free agency.

Walker Buehler, SP

2025: 24 GS, 10–7, 4.93 ERA, 126 IP, 92 K, 1.52 WHIP

Before being claimed off waivers by the Phillies, Buehler struggled in Boston, posting a 5.45 ERA. But in 13 2/3 innings with Philadelphia, he allowed just one earned run, showing flashes of his old form. The 31-year-old profiles as a low-risk, high-reward signing candidate this winter.

José Alvarado, RP (Club Option — $9 million)

2025: 28 G, 4–2, 3.81 ERA, 26 IP, 32 K, 1.31 WHIP

Analysis: Even with an 80-game suspension and a late-season forearm strain, Alvarado remains one of the hardest-throwing lefties in the game. The Phils struggled with their bullpen depth down the stretch, so a full season of Alvarado should provide Thomson with plenty of flexibility.

Jordan Romano, RP

2025: 49 G, 2–4, 8.23 ERA, 42.2 IP, 47 K, 1.45 WHIP

Romano never found his rhythm in 2025. Shifting in and out of the closer role, the right-hander struggled to regain the form that once made him a reliable late-inning arm in Toronto.

David Robertson, RP

2025: 20 G, 2–0, 4.08 ERA, 17.2 IP, 22 K, 1.47 WHIP

Robertson rejoined the Phillies for the third stint of his career ahead of the trade deadline. The 41-year-old flashed moments of effectiveness early, but opponents began squaring him up more consistently down the stretch — likely signaling the end of his long career.

Tim Mayza, RP

2025: 15 G, 0–0, 3.78 ERA, 16.2 IP, 15 K, 1.32 WHIP

Claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh to bolster the bullpen late in the summer, Mayza struggled in limited work with Philadelphia (4.91 ERA). The left-hander isn’t expected to be a candidate for re-signing this offseason.

Lou Trivino, RP

2025: 47 G, 3–2, 3.97 ERA, 47.2 IP, 37 K, 1.34 WHIP

Trivino appeared in just 10 games for the Phillies but allowed only two earned runs. After missing two full seasons recovering from injury, the right-hander pieced together a steady 2025 campaign and profiles as a reliable, budget-friendly bullpen option.

Giants icon Bruce Bochy reveals advice he'll give new manager Tony Vitello originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Bruce Bochy knows what it takes to lead the Giants to greatness.

That is why, after returning to the Bay as one of Tony Vitello’s special assistants, as team chairman Greg Johnson told the San Francisco Chronicle in an interview published Tuesday, Bochy has some wisdom for the Orange and Black’s new manager.

Bochy shared what advice he’ll give Vitello — who only has coached at the collegiate level and most recently at Tennessee — once they begin working together in an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly published on Wednesday.

“You have to adapt, but that’s true even if you’ve been doing it a while in the major leagues,” Bochy said of Vitello to Baggarly. “Every year is different. You’ve got to adapt to every bullpen. Sure, there’s more games, but believe me, he’s smart enough to figure that out.

“With all the success he had, he could’ve run for mayor in Knoxville. He’s got a lot of confidence. You can see it in him when you talk to him. He’s all in on this challenge.”

Bochy would know. 

The 70-year-old won three World Series rings over 13 years with San Francisco and a fourth in 2023 with the Texas Rangers.

As a seasoned veteran who has been there and done that, Bochy can help the 47-year-old Vitello transition from working with young adults in Rocky Top to seasoned big-leaguers in the Bay.

“The only advice I’d say is be yourself,” Bochy said of Vitello to Baggarly. “He’s so likable and personable. He’s worked with diverse players from all over the country at Tennessee. He’s had to work with a lot of different personalities. All that experience he’ll draw on and that’s going to work in the major leagues as well. So don’t change. Don’t try to be something you’re not.

“I think he’s going to be so good at that. He’s been in that dugout for a lot of games, so that’s not going to speed up on him. And hey, you learn on the job, too. He’ll have good people around him to help.”

Vitello doesn’t have any MLB experience; however, San Francisco’s new skipper will have tons of it in his corner in 2026 — especially from Bochy.

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