ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels have fired manager Kurt Suzuki after he lost 100 games in his only season in charge of the long-struggling club.
Baseball operations consultant John Mozeliak announced Wednesday that the Angels declined the option on Suzuki’s contract and would open a search for a new manager in 2027. Suzuki has been offered the opportunity to stay with the organization as a special assistant.
“Kurt has earned tremendous respect in our clubhouse, and I’ve seen firsthand how much he cares about our players,” Mozeliak said in a statement. “I do not believe our record this year was a true reflection of his true abilities as a manager.”
Mozeliak indicated he made the decision in coordination with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which reached a deal to purchase controlling ownership from Arte Moreno on Sept. 1. The sale is not expected to close until next year, but the sports conglomerate run by Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is already making significant changes to its beleaguered baseball team.
The Angels went 62-100 — the first 100-loss season in franchise history — and finished last in the AL West in their only season under Suzuki, who ended his 16-year major league playing career as a catcher for the Angels in 2021-22. Suzuki had never been a manager at any level before he was given the job by general manager Perry Minasian, who had employed Suzuki as his special assistant for the previous three seasons.
Minasian was fired by Moreno last June, and longtime St. Louis Cardinals GM Mozeliak stepped in on a temporary basis to run the front office while leading the search for a permanent GM to replace him. That transition plan has been thrown into flux by Moreno’s decision to sell, and Mozeliak didn’t indicate whether he has a long-term future in his own job, although he said he had been looking “toward 2027 and beyond” while reaching the decision to fire Suzuki.
Mozeliak also indicated that Suzuki’s entire coaching staff is not expected to return in its current positions, but some members had been offered staff positions in the organization.
Mozeliak already fired Suzuki’s pitching coach, Mike Maddux, and two staffers in August because he felt the team wasn’t making sufficient use of the technology and analytics available to its pitchers. Mozeliak promoted Tim Leveque, the Angels’ Double-A pitching coach, to the major league staff at the time.
Suzuki’s replacement will be the seventh manager, including interims, to lead the team in nine seasons since it parted with Mike Scioscia after the 2018 season. The Angels have had 11 consecutive losing seasons and 12 straight non-playoff seasons, both the longest active skids in the major leagues.
The Angels now have MLB’s third current managerial vacancy, all in the AL West. The Seattle Mariners and the Houston Astros also parted ways with their managers after the season.
CHICAGO, IL - CIRCA 1990: George Bell #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats against the Chicago White Sox during an Major League Baseball game circa 1990 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. Bell played for the Blue Jays from 1981-90. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today marks George Bell’s 67th birthday.
Born in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, George Bell comes from a baseball family. His brother Juan Bell played seven seasons in the majors as a utility infielder, and two other brothers also played professionally. George signed with the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1978 before the Blue Jays acquired him in the 1980 Rule 5 draft—one of the best Rule 5 acquisitions in history.
Because Rule 5 draft picks must remain on the major league roster or be returned to their original team, George spent the strike-shortened 1981 season with the Blue Jays. Although he was a bit overmatched, appearing in 60 games and hitting .233/.256/.350, he still managed to receive a couple ofRookie of the Year votes.
Believing he had earned a roster spot the following year, George was disappointed when the Jays sent him to Syracuse. It turned out to be a tough season: he contracted mononucleosis in April, injured his left knee in June, and, upon returning, suffered a broken jaw after being hit by a pitch. Perhaps as a result, George became especially sensitive to being hit and charged the mound multiple times. He began 1983 in the minors once more but was called up for good in July.
In 1984, Bell became a full-time player for the Blue Jays. Manager Bobby Cox used a complex platoon system in the outfield: Bell played left field against left-handed pitchers and right field against right-handers, swapping with Jesse Barfield and Davey Collins. As a young outfielder, Bell possessed a decent arm and adequate range, though Barfield’s arm was superior.
That season, George played 159 games and hit .292/.326/.498, tallying 39 doubles, 26 home runs, 87 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. He received MVP votes, finished 8th in the American League in total bases, and 3rd in doubles.
After the season, the Jays traded Dave Collins to Oakland, paving the way for Bell, Lloyd Moseby and Jesse Barfield to play full-time—which became the best outfield in Blue Jays history. They played together until Barfield was traded early in 1989. All three were outstanding offensively and had strong arms; Moesby and Barfield excelled defensively, while Bell’s range declined over time due to knee issues from injuries and playing on Toronto’s hard artificial surface. He also struggled with errors.
In 1985, Bell had another stellar year, hitting .275/.327/.479 with 28 home runs, 95 RBI, and a career-high 21 stolen bases. He won the Silver Slugger Award and finished 8th in MVP voting, just behind Barfield. The Jays reached the postseason for the first time, with many remembering Bell catching the final out to clinch the AL East title and collapsing to his knees in celebration. In the seven-game ALCS, Bell batted .321 with nine hits and three doubles, but the Jays ultimately lost to the Royals.
Bell’s offensive numbers improved further in 1986: he hit .309/.349/.532, with 31 home runs, 108 RBI, 101 runs, and another Silver Slugger Award. He finished 4th in MVP voting—one spot ahead of Barfield—while Roger Clemens took home the award.
Bell’s breakout season came in 1987, when he hit .308/.352/.605 with 47 home runs, 134 RBI, and 111 runs. He won another Silver Slugger Award, made his first All-Star team, and became the first player from a Canadian team to win the league MVP, edging out Alan Trammell of the Tigers. The vote stirred controversy after the Jays suffered a late-season slump, losing their final eight games and allowing the Tigers to capture the AL East. Bell struggled in those final games, hitting just .111, while Lloyd Moseby was the only Jay to avoid a slump.
The next season brought changes for Bell and the Jays. Manager Jimy Williams moved Bell to designated hitter and gave top prospect Sil Campusano a spot in the outfield. The plan quickly unraveled: Bell was vocal about his displeasure with DH duties, and Campusano struggled. Williams’ tenure was short and turbulent, partly due to Bell’s unhappiness. Despite this, Bell became the first major leaguer to hit three home runs on opening day, though his overall numbers declined significantly.
Bell rebounded in 1989, hitting .297/.330/.458 with 18 home runs, 41 doubles, and 104 RBI. He finished fourth in a close MVP race, with Robin Yount taking the award. The Jays returned to the playoffs, but Bell struggled in the five-game series loss to the A’s, batting just .200 with one home run.
1990 marked Bell’s final season with the Blue Jays, and it was a disappointing one—he hit .265/.303/.422 with 21 home runs and 86 RBI. Afterward, he signed with the Cubs as a free agent, enjoyed a solid season, and was then traded to the White Sox for Sammy Sosa—a deal that favored the Cubs. Bell played two seasons with the White Sox before being released in 1993 following critical comments about manager Gene Lamont after being replaced in the playoff lineup by Bo Jackson.
Bell finished his impressive 12-year career with 265 home runs, 1,002 RBI, and a .278 batting average. He was an aggressive hitter who rarely walked, and his defense declined over time—though his arm was underrated. From 1984–1987, only Barfield and Glenn Wilson recorded more outfield assists. Early in his career, Bell was a capable outfielder, but playing on artificial turf took a toll on his knees and reduced his range. He also resisted a move to designated hitter, seeing it as an affront to his pride.
Bell was a fearsome hitter, holding the Jays’ single-season home run record (47) until Jose Bautista hit 54 in 2010. Angels manager Gene Mauch called him “the most intimidating hitter in baseball.” Bell was known for aggressively attacking the first pitch, especially fastballs.
Baseball historian Bill James once ranked Bell as the 62nd-best left fielder of all time, though he may have slipped a few spots since then. Rob Neyer named him the Blue Jays’ best left fielder ever, and Bell is honored on the Rogers Centre’s Level of Excellence.
Bell was also known for his fiery temper. Many recall his flying kick at pitcher Bruce Kison after being hit by a pitch. He was ejected from 13 games and often clashed with the media and managers. Notably, he once invited Canadian fans to “kiss my Dominican ass.” I think the word purple was in there somewhere. While some of his confrontations stemmed from cultural differences, much was attributed to his hotheadedness. His reputation may have shortened his career, but by all accounts, he was a loyal teammate and friend.
Bell later assisted the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic team and developed into a skilled golfer. He is married and has four sons.
Happy birthday, George. Wishing you all the best.
Today marks the 71st birthday of Jerry Garvin, the original left-handed pitcher for the Blue Jays.
Garvin was selected as the Blue Jays’ fourth pick in the 1976 expansion draft, coming over from the Minnesota Twins.
Garvin started the Blue Jays’ third-ever game as a rookie in 1977, delivering eight strong innings in a 3–1 win over the White Sox. He allowed five hits and four walks, striking out two. Pete Vuckovich earned the save, while Canadian Dave McKay drove in two runs and Gary Woods added another.
That year, Garvin started 34 games, finishing with a 10–18 record and a 4.19 ERA. Remarkably, he logged 244.1 innings and completed 12 games as a 21-year-old rookie. For perspective, no Blue Jay has thrown more than 240 innings in a season since David Price in 2014, and Garvin’s total still ranks 17th in franchise history. Unfortunately, arm issues caused him to miss significant time over the next few seasons.
Garvin was renowned for his exceptional pick-off move, famously recording 26 pick-offs at first base in 1977—a feat noted on his Wikipedia page.
In 1978, Garvin appeared in 26 games (22 starts), posting a 4–12 record with a 5.54 ERA across 144.2 innings. His workload diminished in 1979, as he pitched in only eight games.
By 1980, Garvin transitioned to a full-time bullpen role, appearing in 61 relief outings with a 2.28 ERA and eight saves over 82.2 innings.
In 1981, he pitched in 35 games (four starts), posting a 3.40 ERA over 53 innings.
Garvin’s final season came in 1982, when he made 32 appearances (four starts) with a 7.25 ERA in 58.1 innings.
Over six seasons, Garvin compiled a 20–41 record and a 4.43 ERA in 196 games, including 65 starts.
Happy birthday, Jerry.
Today, Danny Barnes celebrates his 37th birthday.
Barnes was selected in the 35th round of the 2010 draft.
He worked his way gradually through the minor league system but broke out in 2016, posting a stellar 0.73 ERA across 61.1 innings between New Hampshire and Buffalo.
Barnes received his first major league call-up in August and returned in September, appearing in 12 games with a 3.95 ERA.
In 2017, Barnes joined the Blue Jays in mid-April and remained with the team all season, pitching in 60 games with a 3.55 ERA, a 3–6 record, and 11 holds.
The 2018 season was more challenging, as Barnes posted a 5.71 ERA over 47 games, though he managed eight holds, most of which came early in the year.
Barnes was designated for assignment and outrighted to Buffalo before the 2019 season, spending much of that year on the injured list.
Happy birthday, Danny.
Today marks Gabe Gross’s 47th birthday.
Gross was the Blue Jays’ first-round pick in the 2001 draft.
He was ranked among Baseball America’s top 100 prospects prior to both the 2002 (#75) and 2004 (#72) seasons.
Gross appeared in 44 games for the Blue Jays in 2004, hitting .209/.311/.310 with three home runs, and 40 games in 2005, hitting .250/.324/.348 with one home run.
Following the 2005 season, he was traded to the Brewers along with Dave Bush and Zach Jackson in exchange for Lyle Overbay and Ty Taubenheim.
Gross spent two and a half seasons with the Brewers, hitting .251/.357/.440 with 16 home runs over 226 games. He was then traded to the Rays, where he played two seasons and hit .235/.333/.396 with 19 home runs in 242 games. He finished his MLB career with a season in Oakland.
In total, Gross played seven MLB seasons and 657 games, compiling a .239/.330/.385 batting line with 40 home runs. While he didn’t quite live up to early prospect expectations, he put together a respectable career.
Two low-spending teams making the 2026 World Series begs the question: is a salary cap or floor truly necessary for Major League Baseball?
It is the central question in the looming standoff between owners and players with the MLB collective bargaining agreement is set to expire Dec. 1, as the owners argue that the absence of a salary cap creates a competitive imbalance between the high-payroll teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and the low-payroll teams like the Miami Marlins.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays are this season’s league champions, who rank 19th and 29th, respectively, in total payroll, according to Spotrac.
Athletics owner John Fisher, whose team ranks 26th in total payroll, credits both teams prioritizing resources elsewhere besides player salary expenditures.
“I think it’s incredible that those teams are both in there,” Fisher said Wednesday during newly hired A’s executive Taylor Smith’s introductory press conference. “They both also have put tremendous resources into their player operations piece, not just into the payroll. And I think I’ve seen an ability to get the most out of their players.”
The Brewers have finished with the best record in baseball in back-to-back seasons despite their low expenditure. Their two top-performing players in the MLB playoffs, William Contreras and Jackson Chourio, made just $9.45 million and $7.25 million this season, respectively.
Their World Series opponent, the Rays, led the American League with 98 wins this season. Their highest paid player this season is Yandy Diaz, who earned $12 million this season.
Smith, the new A’s president of baseball operations, worked in the Rays’ front office for seven years. In his introductory press conference, he highlighted three areas that any front office needs to prioritize: acquiring talent, development and in-game strategy.
The Rays are widely regarded to be on the cutting edge of all three.
“I think those are two teams that excel in each of those three areas that I mentioned,” Smith said. “They’re great at acquisitions, great at development and they get the most of the players based upon the way they use them in the game and the situations that they put them in.”
In other words, both teams have shown an adept ability to identify prospects to target in the draft and undervalued talent to acquire via trade.
Dishing high salaries to proven talent has been a successful strategy for the Dodgers, but teams like the Brewers and Rays have done the tough work on and off the field to make deep runs in the postseason.
“Obviously we’ve seen the Dodgers win the last two [World Series championships]; we see the Yankees be highly competitive every year,” Fisher conceded. “Certainly, it’s not all about money, but as my grandmother said, ‘it’s not all about money, but it makes you sleep better.'”
Identifying young talent has been the bread-and-butter for successful small-market teams like the Brewers and Rays. Holding onto that talent after arbitration is another story.
Both franchises have a shot to win their first ever World Series in 2026, but it doesn’t seem like they will foot the necessary bill that will keep their championship window open as long as a high-spending team like the Dodgers.
3 Nov 2001: Luis Gonzalez #20 of the Arizona Diamondbacks swings at a pitch during game 6 of the World Series against the New York Yankees at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks beat the Yankees 15-2 to force a game 7. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Jeff Gross/ALLSPORT | Getty Images
With the 25th anniversary of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Series title approaching, MLB Network Presents will debut Destined: The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, October 29th at 5 p.m. Arizona time. Marking the 50th film in the MLB Network Presents series since its launch in 2015, the 90-minute documentary recounts the remarkable rise of the Diamondbacks from expansion franchise to World Series Champions in four seasons, culminating in their unforgettable seven-game victory over the three-time defending champion New York Yankees in 2001.
Among those interviewed are World Series co-MVPs Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, former Diamondbacks general manager Joe Garagiola Jr., 2001 manager Bob Brenly, and championship players Jay Bell, Steve Finley, Luis Gonzalez, Mark Grace, Damian Miller, Reggie Sanders, Matt Williams and Tony Womack. Together, they provide firsthand perspectives on the organization’s beginnings, the construction of the championship roster and the experiences that defined the 2001 season.
“When you put the right people in the right room, there is no unachievable goal. …I think the 2001 season was the perfect baseball season for that team … everything about it was perfect,” said Schilling during the film.
MLB Network Presents – Destined: The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks features past-and-present-day interviews, along with extensive archival footage from the Diamondbacks’ historic 2001 season. The film revisits the decisions, personalities and performances that shaped one of the fastest championship ascents in MLB history, from the organization’s creation to the arrival of Johnson and the credibility he brought to the franchise.
Destined: The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks details Gonzalez’s leadership and career year as well as big-game pitcher Schilling joining forces with Johnson to form a historic combination atop Arizona’s starting rotation. Featured in the film, Schilling shares original notes he took with him to the dugout during his playing career, offering a look at the preparation and attention to detail behind his performance during Arizona’s championship run.
The film also explores how Brenly proved to be the right manager for a veteran roster largely united by a common goal: winning the first World Series championship in franchise history. Destined: The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks reflects on the 2001 World Series against the backdrop of the September 11th attacks, including the emotional return of World Series baseball to New York, a series of dramatic late-inning finishes and Arizona’s comeback against Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7, capped by Gonzalez’s championship-winning hit.
The film features new footage and exclusive access captured during the Diamondbacks’ 25th anniversary ceremony for the 2001 championship team this past September, as former teammates reunited to commemorate their historic season.
Destined: The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks marks the 50th film in the series and will re-air following its premiere at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT on MLB Network.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: Kurt Suzuki #8 of the Los Angeles Angels watches the game in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Anaheim Angels have announced that manager Kurt Suzuki will not return as the team’s manager in 2027.
In my much younger days, I regularly watched the HBO stand up comedy specials. One that I watched probably dozens of times was the 13th Annual Young Comedians Special, which came out in 1989. Dennis Miller hosted the special, and the young comedians were Jann Karam, Drake Sather, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Fred Stoller, and Warren Thomas. Stoller, now a character and voice-over actor, wrote a book about the experience, and how each of their lives and careers progressed afterwards, which is a really good read.
Sather had a particular line that stuck with me:
People get so weird when celebrities die. I was watching this documentary on Fred Astaire. They said “Friends and family were shocked at the death of the 88-year-old.” Yeah, I was shocked, too: I thought he died 10 years ago.
Similarly, my first reaction was, damn, I thought the Angels canned Suzuki well before now.
Actually, my first reaction to reading this was, “Wait, isn’t Ron Washington the Angels’ manager?” before remembering that he was fired in the middle of the 2025 season. But then after that it was, oh yeah, they hired Suzuki, and I thought he was cut loose already. That’s probably because general manager Perry Minasian — who, like Suzuki, was under contract only through the end of the 2026 season — was fired four months ago, and while I knew Suzuki was not fired at the same time as Minasian was, I think in my mind I had just already consigned Suzuki to the ranks of former managers.
Suzuki appeared to be brought in as a caretaker manager. He was hired as the manager exactly one year ago after the Angels failed to convince Albert Pujols to take the job. Suzuki had been in the front office as a special assistant to the general manager since 2023, after spending the previous two seasons as part of the Angels’ active roster. The announcement today indicated Suzuki had been offered the opportunity to return to his previous role.
Suzuki is now the second A.L. West manager who is a former major league catcher to be fired this month, with the Mariners’ having terminated Dan Wilson already. Another A.L. West team, the Astros, fired their manager, Joe Espada, though he was never a major league catcher. I don’t think the Rangers’ other divisional rival, the Sacramento A’s, have fired their manager this year, though honestly, I’m not really sure they have a manager. They may just pick a random fan from the stands every game to fill out the lineup card and make pitching changes.
ESPN’s Alden González reported Wednesday that the Los Angeles Angels are moving on from Kurt Suzuki after he spent just one season as manager.
Los Angeles Angels manager Kurt Suzuki is out as manager after one season. Getty Images
That one season was historically bad for the Angels’ franchise. Their 62–100 regular season set the franchise record for the most losses and the worst winning percentage (.383) in the organization’s 66-year history.
González also mentioned that Suzuki, who spent two seasons playing for the Angels, has been offered a role with the organization as a special assistant, but it’s unclear whether Suzuki will want to stick around the franchise that just fired him as manager.
Suzuki’s one-season tenure was historically bad, setting the franchise record for the most losses and the worst winning percentage. William Liang for CA Post
Pujols spent parts of 10 seasons with the Angels and served as the Dominican Republic’s manager for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Albert Pujols will likely be in the running to be the Angels’ new manager, as he was in contention last year. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
The Angels are opting for a fresh start in several respects, as longtime owner Arte Moreno finally sold the team to Rams owner Stan Kroenke after years of fans pleading for him to.
This wave of fresh faces should spark some optimism around the Angels’ franchise and fan base.
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The Red Sox are once again making changes to their coaching staff.
The organization is reassigning third base coach Chad Epperson and first base coach Pablo Cabrera to minor league roles next season, according to MassLive.com.
Epperson will take over as manager of Triple-A Worcester in 2027.
Chad Epperson #81 of the Boston Red Sox stands on the field before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Monday, June 8, 2026. Getty Images
Cabrera will return to his previous role as the franchise’s minor league defensive coordinator, a position he held before joining Boston’s big league coaching staff.
Epperson, in particular, came under fire this season after a number of Red Sox baserunners were thrown out at home plate.
During a stretch in May, four runners were gunned down at home plate over a six-game period.
The team has not yet announced replacements for the pair of base coaches leaving at least two vacancies on manager Chad Tracy’s coaching staff heading into the 2027 season.
The moves come less than a year after the Red Sox cleaned house in April, firing manager Alex Cora and four members of his coaching staff — hitting coach Peter Fatse, bench coach Ramon Vazquez, third base coach Kyle Hudson and assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson — while reassigning game-planning coach Jason Varitek.
First Base Coach Pablo Cabrera looks on during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Monday, April 28, 2025. Getty Images
The Red Sox are coming off a rollercoaster of a 2026 season.
After a dreadful start that saw Cora and Co. lose their jobs, Boston got red-hot over the summer, winning 32 of 37 games at one point during a stretch that included a 15-game winning streak.
The shocking turnaround got the Red Sox into the postseason and earned Tracy the full-time managerial job.
But their season ended in disappointment after they were outscored 18-2 in a two-game sweep by the Yankees in the American League Wild Card Series.
TALKING STICK, AZ - OCTOBER 05: Luke Holman #29 of the Peoria Javelinas pitches during the game between the Peoria Javelinas and the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Monday, October 5, 2026 in Talking Stick, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
There have been ample foibles foisted in the laps of Cincinnati Reds fans from the seemingly bulletproof front office over the last few decades of copious losing. We need not rehash them all here, of course, as this is simply put out to highlight that perhaps the lone reason why the powers that be are still the powers that be is due to their ability to draft rather well each and every year.
It’s looking more and more like the front office nailed the 2024 draft, for instance.
Chase Burns cracked the big leagues within his first full season as a professional and during the 2025 season established himself as a bona fide ace who was in NL Cy Young Award talk before the Reds chose to curtail the innings on his prized young arm. He also landed a nine-figure contract, and rightfully so.
Tyson Lewis was who the Reds selected with their next pick in 2024. He rocketed into Top 100 overall prospect lists on the backs of a 2025 season that featured incredible exit velocities, the SS/3B now firmly on the national radar.
Lewis isn’t even the top rated prospect drafted by the Reds in this class, though. That honor goes to Mike Sirota, who eschewed concerns about his college production coming up north from tiny Northeastern University to surge all the way into many Top 20 overall prospect lists by late 2026. The only problem there is, though, that the front office saw fit to deal him away for a single awful season of Gavin Lux, so Sirota is doing this within the system of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Leading a draft class with that trio would be impressive enough, but the Reds actually took someone else in between Lewis and Sirota in 2024. That honor belongs to former LSU righty Luke Holman, who we’ve seen for a grand total of 15.2 IP across two years after being drafted.
Holman, now 23, needed Tommy John surgery early in 2025 in his first year as a pro, and that paired with a groin problem in 2026 cost him almost two full seasons of rehab with only 6 games on the mound in any form. That was before this month’s Arizona Fall League, however, and like many of the recent players the Reds have sent to the AFL, Holman’s job there wasn’t simply to soak up the spotlight in a great environment for future experience, it was to use it as a bridge after injury-plagued seasons so that he can hit the ground running again in 2027.
So far, that’s precisely what he’s done. David Laurila of FanGraphs caught up with Holman after his most recent outing left him having fired 9.0 IP in AFL play and having allowed just a lone earned run – with a brilliant 15 strikeouts against just a lone walk in that time. Holman talks shop about his bevy of pitches and how his arm feels as good as ever at the moment, and it’s enough to give hope that the arm FanGraphs rates as the #17 prospect in the system (he ranks 23rd at MLB Pipeline) may well be back and 100% within a Reds farm system that’s seriously devoid of solid starting pitching prospects at the upper levels.
‘Upper levels’ may sound like a stretch when talking about a guy who’s thrown just 15.2 IP in two years across rookie ball and Low-A Daytona, but at 23 with a trio of years spent in the SEC with LSU it wouldn’t shock me at all to see him climb quickly this season if he can simply stay on the mound and prove he’s healthy.
And if he does, the Reds have some long-awaited depth in their pitching ranks again.
Kurt Suzuki never really had a chance as manager of the Los Angeles Angels. Signed to a one-year contract by a lame-duck owner with an industry lockout looming, Suzuki might have needed to win the World Series to save his job.
Suffice to say he didn’t do either.
The Angels announced Wednesday, Oct. 21 that they have fired Suzuki after one season as their manager, during which he presided over the first 100-loss season in franchise history.
Suzuki, 42, served as a special assistant in former general manager Perry Minasian’s front office. After Ron Washington’s managerial tenure ended after last season, Minasian appointed Suzuki to run the club, although the former catcher was granted just a one-year contract to do so. He had a club option for 2027 and the club announced he will be offered a position as a special assistant with the organization, which he held from 2023-2025.
Minasian was fired midway through the season and interim GM John Mozeliak traded away veterans more aggressively than his predecessor, signaling at least a shift toward rebuilding.
Eventually, Moreno agreed to sell the team to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who has collected a very successful sports portfolio. If the one-year deal and Minasian’s firing didn’t seal Suzuki’s fate, the agreement to sell the team certainly did.
A new owner will surely want to select his dugout boss, and the impending Dec. 1 lockout means Kroenke might not need to hire a manager until after the sale of the club is finalized early in 2027. The club announced that "in coordination with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, will search for a new manager and coaching staff for the 2027 season."
Suzuki played 16 seasons in the major leagues, winning a World Series with the 2019 Washington Nationals before finishing his catching career with the Angels in 2021 and 2022. He joins Brad Ausmus – who managed the club in 2019 – as an Angels skipper for just one season.
It may be a long shot, but two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff would love to have a spot on the Milwaukee Brewers' World Series roster.
The one-time staff ace hasn't pitched since going 3⅔ innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 4 due to right shoulder inflammation. However, he was at American Family Field on Tuesday, Oct. 20, throwing 23 pitches to several of the Brewers' best hitters − Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, William Contreras, Christian Yelich and Jake Bauers.
Once his shoulder flared up for a second time after spending nearly two months on the injured list in May and June, Woodruff was supposed to undergo season-ending surgery in August. However, he gradually started feeling better and opted for another attempt at building up his arm strength.
He's since progressed to throwing off the mound, and in Tuesday's session, registered between 90 and 92 mph with his fastball. It's an encouraging sign for him ... but it could make things much more difficult for the Brewers' decision-makers with the final roster due on Friday morning.
“I know where I’m at. I’ve only faced live hitters once and the World Series starts in three days,” Woodruff told MLB.com. “As far as a decision, I haven’t heard anything. I’m sure they are discussing it.”
Woodruff said he'll see how his shoulder reacts over the next couple days.
"I get it from their vantage point. The apprehensions, I understand that," he said. "All I could do was put myself in a position to be an option.”
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 29: Keegan Thompson #34 of the Colorado Rockies pitches in the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on May 29, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the 2026 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2026. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
No. 38, Keegan Thompson (-0.2 rWAR)
Keegan Thompson’s first season with the Rockies may have been short, but it mirrored his career. It started off on a good note, but didn’t last.
Thompson made his debut on May 23 for the Rockies, who signed the 31-year-old RHP in January after he was waived by the Cincinnati Reds. The third-round pick from the 2017 MLB Draft threw 2.2 scoreless innings in a 5-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving up three hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
Thompson allowed one run on one hit and posted one strikeout against the Giants in the Rockies 8-6 win on May 29.
The next three outings went much worse.
He was hit hard in the following 8.1 innings, being tagged for 10 runs on 15 hits. Thompson struck out eight during the stretch and didn’t walk any; however, by the time his five appearances were done, he had an 8.25 ERA — the worst season in his five-year MLB career.
Thompson cleared waivers and spent the rest of the season with Triple-A Albuquerque where he made 25 appearances, including 15 starts. He posted a 5.28 ERA with two holds, one save, 56 strikeouts, 35 walks and a 2-5 record in 73.1 innings. He also missed two-and-a-half weeks on the IL from the end of August through early September.
Thompson, who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs, made his MLB debut in May of 2021. For two years, he served as a starter and reliever and enjoyed a decent amount of success. In 2021 and 2022, Thompson posted a 3.64 ERA in 61 innings (23 starts) with a 13-8 record and 2.2 rWAR.
Paralleling the end of his 2026 season in Colorado, he spent the next two seasons splitting his time as a reliever for the Cubs and their Triple-A Iowa squad. He made 43 appearances out of the bullpen for the Cubs in 2023 and 2024 with a 3.66 ERA, but just a 0.6 rWAR. By the end of 2024, he declared free agency and was signed by the Reds. He never appeared in the big leagues in 2025, pitching in 33 MiLB games with a 4.50 ERA.
When Thompson signed with the Rockies, he inked a one-year, $1.3 million deal. Thompson’s arsenal includes a four-seamer, a cutter and a sinker, with an occasional sweeper, curve or changeup. His velocity maxes out at about 92 mph, but his known for his ability to pound the strike zone, which the Rockies value under 2026’s new front office and coaching staff. Unfortunately for Keegan, it often resulted in other teams teeing off on him.
In the end, the inconsistency that has plagued Thompson throughout his MLB career continued in 2026.
It makes his future anything but certain come 2027.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 30: Luis Robert Jr. #88 of the New York Mets looks on during the game against the Houston Astros at Citi Field on August 30, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caean Couto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is sort of amazing just how different the acquisition of Luis Robert Jr. looks in October than it did in January. Robert was brought in to play center field and be an offensive upgrade over Tyrone Taylor. Even though a lot of the underlying tools looked problematic, the possibility of 25+ HR power, elite center field defense, and above average speed was an enticing mix.
Unfortunately, like has been the case with Robert for much of his career, injuries got in the way. Robert was on the injured list with back issues from April 30 to July 20. And the team that he came back to was a very, very different one from the one he left.
Specifically, the team he returned to had A.J. Ewing manning center field and doing his best Luis Robert impression.
In 58 games for the Mets, Robert hit .223/.303/.399 with 10 home runs, while playing a good center field. Ewing played just about twice as many games as Robert did, and he hit .252/.324/.376 with 11 home runs. Ewing was not a perfect player for the Mets this year, and his age and inexperience showed. He has a lot of work to do on his game, but his natural abilities, especially his speed on both sides of the ball, presented a player that has looks like he may be able to grow into what Robert has been at his best, and do so for the league minimum salary.
When Robert returned from the IL, Ewing was already firmly ensconced as the everyday center fielder, and it looked like Robert wasn’t long for the team. While they couldn’t find a trade partner for him, he was claimed off of waivers by the Orioles in August. With a $20 million option on the table, the Mets just didn’t have a need for Robert as a fourth outfielder, and the team wasn’t going to put him on the depth chart ahead of Ewing.
It is a shame how his story with the Mets ended, because Robert looked like a fantastic fit for the club: some real power, decent speed on the basepaths, and bona fide elite center field defense. But you can’t blame the team for prioritizing developing a young player versus overpaying an older one, and that’s exactly what the Mets did.
The Wrigley View rooftop club on Waveland | | Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Well now, that’s a provocative headline.
Here’s the story. Wrigley View Rooftop was one of a handful of rooftop clubs that were not bought out by the Ricketts family over the last few years (those that were, you can tell by the WRIGLEYROOFTOPS.COM signs on the buildings). Instead, they continued to operate under a deal made back in 2004 that gave the Cubs 17 percent of their revenue. That deal expired in 2023, and on Sept. 30 the rooftop club was permanently enjoined from selling tickets to watch Cubs games. You can read about that in detail in this ESPN.com article by Ben Strauss.
The owner of that club, Aidan Dunican, has appealed the ruling in federal court.
Per Michael McCann at Sportico, here’s why that appeal is very important not only to the Cubs and to Wrigley View Rooftop, but perhaps to all of Major League Baseball:
The sides are arguing over whether U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman should unseal the trial court record and all the financial information, contracts and potential trade secrets it contains.
Oh.
Yeah, that would be pretty important. Here’s more from the court filing:
The Cubs, Wrigley View Rooftop insists, “pick and choose what information” to reveal in court filings “so as to unfairly frame” the Cubs’ image “while deriding” Wrigley View Rooftop. The company maintains it would be in the “public interest” for the record to be released.
In addition, Wrigley View Rooftop argues the Cubs have violated the terms of a confidentiality order issued by Coleman, who set parameters for the two sides to discuss which materials ought to be designated as confidential and sealed. Wrigley View Rooftop maintains that the Cubs haven’t explained the rationale for opposing the removal of confidentiality designations.
The “public interest” is noted there. Yes, I think I, as a member of the public, would be pretty interested. So would you, most likely.
Here’s what the Cubs said in the filing in response:
Through a brief authored by Martin Roth and other attorneys from Kirkland & Ellis, the Cubs argue that it is unconvincing for Wrigley View Rooftop to ask Coleman to unseal documents both parties agreed to keep sealed—including documents Wrigley View Rooftop wants sealed—on the basis that the sealing “has somehow rendered [Wrigley View Rooftop] unable to speak to the press.”
The Cubs, which say they’re open to unsealing some documents with appropriate redactions, object to unsealing the entire record, particularly given that both sides have “legitimate business needs for confidentiality” that include “privacy required to protect the Cubs’ trade secrets or their customers’ personally identifying information.”
What the Cubs say in that filing doesn’t appear to be completely unreasonable, either. The team added:
“That a baseball team would incur expenses related to ballpark operations, payroll, construction and equipment, and related topics is obvious and comports with the Court’s comment that it also relied on ‘common sense,” the Cubs write.
In addition, the Cubs note that sharing “detailed financial information,” including the Cubs’ contracts with other rooftop businesses, runs counter to the fact that the Cubs, Wrigley View Rooftop and other rooftop businesses are all, to some degree, competitors.
The Cubs’ contracts with other rooftop businesses could contain “highly sensitive competitive information such as audit rights, margins, and payment terms,” the disclosure of which, the Cubs insist, “could harm competition in a competitive market environment.”
You can read more at the Sportico link, though yes, I’ve quoted quite a bit of it, which I think is important to the point being made. Wrigley View Rooftop didn’t sell out to the Cubs as many of its competitors did. You can learn more about that in the ESPN.com article. I take no position here on whether the Cubs should or should not be required to open that financial information to the public, as I am not an attorney and don’t know all the details of this case.
But you can be sure that U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman’s ruling on this will be anxiously awaited not only by Aidan Dunican, but Cubs fans and owners of other MLB teams. And that’s because, per the Sportico article:
In professional sports labor disputes, players’ unions often argue that teams are more profitable than they claim. Unsealed financial records from the Cubs could attract attention well beyond this litigation, including from the MLBPA as it prepares for a potentially contentious labor fight.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone and team brass spoke at the end-of-year news conference Wednesday and hit on a number of topics...
Status of Giancarlo Stanton
Stanton is in the final guaranteed year of his contract. While the team has a club option following the 2027 season, at this point it seems unlikely they would pick it up.
GM Brian Cashman was asked what Stanton's status with the club is following what was essentially a lost season for the slugger, and the longtime exec was seemingly optimistic about what Stanton can bring. But he said there were discussions that need to be had this offseason.
"He finished the season healthy, so he enters the winter healthy," Cashman said. "We know what he’s capable of when he is healthy. We look forward to seeing if we can deploy a healthy version of him next year. But obviously, that DH spot is up for grabs for other people that could benefit from it at the same time. We’ll have those conversations."
Stanton played in just 24 games after suffering two separate calf strains during the regular season. In that short span, he hit .256 with an OPS of .724 to go along with three home runs and 14 RBI.
The Yankees owe Stanton $25 million for 2027 -- $15 million if you count what the Marlins are on the hook for -- but that hasn't stopped the organization from DFA'ing other notable veterans once their most productive years are over.
Cashman wouldn't reveal what the organization is thinking at this moment, but hopes Stanton can be a realistic option for the team in 2026.
"G is a very accountable, responsible, wired-correctly, professional athlete. It destroyed him that he wasn’t available to us to try to help us, impact us in a positive way," Cashman said. "He continues to fight through it, as someone who is wired right should. His leadership in there is not in question. His care factor is not in question, just obviously, keeping him on the field so he can help us in that win column. It was a huge problem for us, especially in 2026.
"I can’t tell you how this roster is going to shake out as we enter this winter and assess what is available for us. I hope he becomes a legitimate choice once again for Aaron Boone to play with when he puts lineups together on a daily basis. But we’ll see."
Stanton was healthy enough to make the Wild Card and ALDS rosters. He had two pinch-hit at-bats and struck out both times.
Luis Garcia Jr. at 2B?
As the Yankees assess their roster this winter, there is a noticeable hole in second base.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. will hit the free agent market and it seems the infielder will not be back in pinstripes. Is there a possibility that Garcia could slide in to play second base? Boone said there is, but gave the caveat that potential winter additions could affect the team's thinking on that front.
"He’s played second base a lot in his career prior to this season. Just watching him move and take ground balls and throw, he’s got a lot of infielder qualities to him. It’s possible," Boone said. " Never know how the winter is going to shape out. It’s at least possible that it could be a part of the equation."
Boone was asked about Garcia potentially playing third base, but didn't seem keen on the idea, despite not ruling it out.
Garcia has played 508 games (480 starts) at second base in his career but has had a negative OAA in four of his six seasons playing the position.
Aaron Boone is asked about managing the Yankees in 2027 on an expiring contract:
"Doesn't bother me at all...I feel blessed to be able to do this job alongside a lot of amazing people" https://t.co/vYbAdOEU4e
Boone will enter the 2027 season in the final year of his contract. Owner Hal Steinbrenner said he hasn't spoken with the skipper about a potential extension, and it seems the Yankees are okay letting Boone manage his way into a new contract.
And Boone said Wednesday that the fact he doesn't have a guaranteed job past next season won't affect his ability to manage.
"Doesn't bother me at all...I talk about perspective a lot. I feel blessed to be able to do this job alongside a lot of amazing people. And I'm going to go out there and do it to the best of my ability this year," Boone said. "That potential thing hanging over...it's fine. My focus is only on looking towards next year and trying to help us be the best possible team that we can be. That's where my focus lies."
Boone has one of the best all-time records as a Yankees manager. He's managed nine winning seasons, and has made the postseason in all but one. He's captured an AL pennant, but has yet to win the big one. The last two postseasons have seen the Yankees bow out quietly in the ALDS to AL East rivals, and questions about Boone's managerial style have swirled around the organization.
At the end of the day, Boone understands the questions and he can only go out and prove his worth.
"I believe [we can win a World Series] with me at the helm, but any answer I give in defense of that won't satisfy people. I think I'm good at my job. I think we have a lot of the right people in the building," he said. "At the end of the day, we haven't won a championship with me at the helm. That's what has to happen to satisfy myself and to answer those questions ultimately. Haven't been able to do it yet."
With the Mets out of contention at the end of July, the team began a sell-off that resulted in four key relievers getting traded.
Left-handers Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter were pending free agents, so their departures at the deadline will have no bearing on how this offseason goes. But in addition to moving them, the Mets also traded two key cogs who were under team control beyond 2026.
The biggest loss was Luke Weaver, who was in the midst of a terrific season (1.84 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in 42 games for New York) and under contract through 2027. Had he remained, Weaver would've been a late-inning option next season, and perhaps someone to turn to at closer if needed.
While it put a dent in their bullpen for 2027, it was easy to see the rationale in trading Weaver given the year-to-year fluctuation of relief performance. Whether it showed the Mets selling high was prudent or was just randomness in a small sample size, Weaver's performance sagged on his new team as he posted a 4.96 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 18 games for the Pirates.
The Mets also traded Huascar Brazoban, who was under team control through 2029. But the impressive numbers Brazoban put up with the Mets in 2026 were viewed as a bit fluky, and he regressed after joining the White Sox, pitching to a 4.40 ERA (5.19 FIP) in 14 games over 14.1 innings while striking out just seven batters.
Looking ahead to 2027, the Mets' bullpen depth chart looks something like this:
Devin Williams Kodai Senga Dedniel Núñez Nate Lavender Daniel Duarte Austin Warren Tobias Myers
That group is solid, but filled with question marks.
With all of that as a backdrop, should the Mets sign free agent left-hander Adrian Morejon?
PROS
No matter how you analyze Morejon's numbers, the end result is that he's really good.
Looking at his standard stats, Morejon posted a 2.83 ERA (2.37 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with 107 strikeouts in 86 innings across 76 appearances in 2026 for the Padres. Along the way, he allowed just four home runs as he pitched in 60 or more games for the third straight season.
Over the last three years, Morejon has a 2.58 ERA (2.46 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP in 223.1 innings while striking out 248 (a rate of 10.0 per nine).
In 2026, Morejon was in the 90th percentile or better in hard-hit percentage, xERA, average exit velocity against, xBA, fastball velocity, chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, barrel percentage, and ground ball percentage.
Meanwhile, his stuff -- primarily a two-seam fastball and four-seamer that both average a tick under 100 mph, and a changeup -- graded out near the top of the league.
Morejon is also young (entering his age-28 season in 2027) and has been relatively injury-free since 2023.
With Devin Williams' 2026 season being mediocre and with him perhaps best suited for a setup role, the Mets adding Morejon to close would be huge.
May 1, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) and pitcher Devin Williams (38) celebrate the victory against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. / Gary A. Vasquez - Imagn Images
CONS
You can't poke holes in Morejon's performance, can't worry about his age, and shouldn't be concerned about his durability. There are possible drawbacks, though.
The first is that the Padres will almost certainly place the qualifying offer on Morejon, meaning a team that signs him will incur staff draft pick penalties.
Beyond that, it's possible the deal Morejon receives could be beyond David Stearns' comfort level.
Before Edwin Diaz left the Mets for the Dodgers last offseason, New York offered him a three-year deal worth $66 million that they eventually made small tweaks to. But the Mets reportedly didn't budge beyond that when asked by Diaz's camp for some additional sweeteners, and he wound up inking a three-year deal with Los Angeles for $69 million.
It felt like something might have gone haywire toward the end of the Diaz negotiations, though, so perhaps the Mets would be more flexible in a potential pursuit of Morejon.
Either way, given Morejon's age and dominance, he's likely in line for a pretty big deal in terms of both average annual value and years.
In a world where New York doesn't ink Tarik Skubal to lead the rotation and/or passes on an impact player at first base, there should be a bigger emphasis placed on trying to sign Morejon, who could anchor the relief corps for years to come.
If the Mets go big elsewhere, a more prudent move in the bullpen could be to target lower cost but high upside options, such as Jonathan Loaisiga.
