KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 06: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates his three-run home run with Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of the Kansas City Royals in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium on September 06, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jaylon Thompson gets the word from Vinnie Pasquantino about his new deal at Royals Rally.
“Happy to be here, and I’m glad we got that done,” Pasquantino said. “They didn’t have to do that, and I think the negotiations went pretty well. I’m glad that it’s over. This would’ve been an interesting two-week span here — I think just because of the lack of contact — which is weird for me to not be talking to people. I think it’s good for both sides and I think both sides are taking on some risk. I think both sides understand the value there, and I’m happy we got it done.”
“Vinnie is a premier run producer, a huge part of our team and someone our fans have really connected with,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said in a news release. “We’re proud of the player he’s become, and that he’s earned this contract. We are happy as an organization and for Vinnie personally to have stability moving forward.”
“I know J.J. [has] a couple of objectives,” CEO/chairman John Sherman said Saturday. “I can’t tell you, depending upon the day, whether those opportunities are narrower or wider. If he could add another bat, I think he’d do it. We have a surplus of pitching talent, particularly starting pitching talent, that’s valuable. … I think we have some opportunities.
“By the same token, if this is where we are, the good news is that the pitching talent will be deeper. And I think we feel like we’re going to compete for the division. That we’ll be right in this thing. We had some regression last year, but we also think there are some areas that we’re going to fix. I can’t predict whether he’s done or not. But if the opportunity was there, I think we would still add to our team.”
Even remaining at Kauffman Stadium beyond the current lease that expires after the 2030 season, undesirable as it might be, remains a possibility.
“That’s always a fallback position, we have that option,” Sherman said. “But that’s not something we intend to happen. That would be, from my perspective, kicking the can down the road relative to making sure we settle the Royals into their next generation.”
“Just like in any business, you have to be willing to adapt and be flexible to achieve that ultimate goal that we talked about,” Sherman said. “But I think if you have your druthers, I would love to see us in the heart of the city and cultural part of the city, where we can enhance some other things already going on and make it better. That’s probably a soft spot, but I also have to be open to other ideas to make sure we accomplish that goal.”
“Our plan with them is to stick with our partners, as long as they can convince us that there will not be a risk of an interruption during our season on bringing our games to our fans. That’s the most important thing,” Maxey said. “They have actually done a great job, and I think it’s documented, of expanding our reach and throughout our television territory.
“They’ve also had a successful launch of our direct-to-consumer product, and that has been very well received as things continue to go in that direction and in the way people consume our games. So we would like to stick with them, but we do need to feel very stable that there will be no interruptions during the season, and that decision will come soon. If we do pivot from FanDuel Sports Network, we’ll be going to Major League Baseball.”
Oct 19, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez (28) reacts after striking out against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning during game six of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Happy Monday, everyone! We’ve got some fun little news tidbits to start your week with, all while we count down the days (less than two weeks!) before pitchers and catchers report. Yes, friends, we’re currently in the same month that Spring Training will begin, meaning the offseason is winding down. The hot stove is cooling, and we’re starting to see the version of teams that will likely take the field when the new season begins.
One of the bigger stories for those watching the NL Central specifically is the return of Eugenio Suarez to the NL Central, specifically to the Reds. He’s only on a one-year deal, though, so small comfort for those who don’t want to see him in so many games again.
We’ve got that and more in the links today, so let’s get right into it.
Slugger Eugenio Suárez and the Cincinnati Reds are in agreement on a one-year, $15 million contract that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, sources tell ESPN. The best bat left on the market goes to Cincinnati, where he's expected to get most of his at-bats at DH.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - JUNE 22: Leonardo Bernal #44 of the Springfield Cardinals celebrates after the game between the Corpus Christi Hooks and the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field on Sunday, June 22, 2025 in Springfield, Missouri. (Photo by Shanna Stafford/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
I saw a little bit of surprise that Leonardo Bernal, voted as the sixth best prospect in the system, wasn’t voted in the top 5. I am not surprised. Doing this for three years, catchers usually end up lower than I expect, not higher. Bernal was ranked 8th last season and that definitely surprised me (I had him 5th). I can’t think of an instance where a catcher outkicked their coverage in the way that, say, Victor Scott did when he was voted 2nd. It just doesn’t happen. Catchers are not trusted by this voting bloc. And yes, I know Rainiel Rodriguez was voted 3rd, however I’m talking relative to expectations and 3rd in the system is pretty much in line with what national publications think. And I think a good many of us don’t think he will actually be a catcher. That leaves the current list at:
JJ Wetherholt
Liam Doyle
Rainiel Rodriguez
Quinn Mathews
Joshua Baez
Leonardo Bernal
Comparable Player Corner
Once again, here is a very immediately relevant comparable player poll. I won’t say that the winner will be on the next vote, but that whomever wins will determine who gets added next. That’s because one of these players has already been in this feature a couple times. Once the voting has established what you, the readers, think of a player, I can learn more information about the complete unknown player I am comparing him to.
Yhoiker Fajardo is the complete unknown. I didn’t really know when to add him and I’d like a little more information first. Acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the package for Willson Contreras, Fajardo will be 19 heading into the 2026 season. He pitched part of the season in the complex league and part of the season in Low A and he did well at both, striking out over 27% of hitters, walking 9% and getting groundballs over 50% of the time at both levels. Presumably he will be in High A.
Tanner Franklin was last year’s 72nd overall pick out of Tennessee. On a stacked Tennessee team, he was relegated to the bullpen, striking out 32% of hitters and walking just 5.5%. With an MLB ready fastball, the Cardinals will attempt to transition him to starting. He pitched at both Low A and High A last season, although only 6 innings in 3 appearances. He will be 22 next season and I’m guessing also at High A.
This will be the last time Franklin is in this section. I just really liked this comparison. Both should be at the same level and probably for just about the entire season, due to Fajardo’s age and Franklin needing to establish a starter’s workload. Franklin has better stuff and a better floor, but threw 30 less innings than Fajardo and is three years older. They are similar in terms of future value, but represent different types of prospects philosophically.
I thought it was about time to add Yairo Padilla, the teenage prospect who got very overshadowed by Rainiel Rodriguez. Who could have known Rodriguez would explode in his stateside debut? Anyway, last year Yairo Padilla finished 15th, which is both why I’m adding him now and also why he’s being added this late.
This might be a good time to ask about a few players I have no intention of ever adding to the vote who did make last year’s top 20 since Padilla is one of the last players. Last year’s #13 player, Sem Robberse, got DFA’d and is going to miss most of the 2026 season. Last year’s #14 player, Matt Koperniak, is now 28, got DFA’d and is coming off a poor season. #17 prospect Zack Showalter did not build off his 2024, suffered a few more injury problems, and could not throw strikes when he did pitch. #20 (or #21, the voting results have been lost) prospect Max Rajcic was bad in AAA and barely made the list.
Those seem straightforward. I also kind of think #16 prospect Darlin Saladin doesn’t need to go in the voting either. He’s more borderline than the above, but I feel like he was only on the top 20 because his stats made it impossible to not include him, and then he pitched worse at a level it seemed like he already conquered. The scouting on his pitches was never that great, so I’m not sure what the hook would be to get him on a top 20 now. Let me know if I’m right about these players. I’m asking so that I don’t have to include them on this section either for the record.
Scouting (FG): 30/45 Hit, 35/50 Game Power, 50/55 Raw Power, 40/40 Speed, 40/45 Fielding
I think Baez is bound to get overlooked in this ranking, because it does not seem like recent trade acquisitions do not do particularly well in the voting – fans haven’t had a chance to attach themselves to them yet. On top of that, Baez did not play particularly well as a Cardinal, although he did finish strong. But Baez can’t legally drink for a few more weeks, had a fairly successful season at High A and if he doesn’t start the year in AA, he’ll be there soon. The scouting doesn’t love his approach, although it’s not really seen in his stats yet, but the Cardinals’ success with Alec Burleson does give me some hope with Baez.
I could say the same thing for Clarke. The Cardinals just got Clarke, so fans do not yet have an attachment to him. One could argue that leads to a more objective view of a player, but one could also argue their attachment to other prospects causes them to overrate them and thus put them above the “objective” prospect. In either case, Clarke had sort of a Tink Hence season, where he didn’t remotely convince you he’s more likely to avoid his downside, but he still pitched good enough to believe in the possibility of his upside. That’s a hard player to rank honestly.
Scouting: 35/40 Hit, 40/45 Game Power, 50/50 Raw Power, 20/20 Speed, 60/70 Fielding
I don’t know where I stand on Crooks. I reflexively defend players who seem to drop when I’m not really sure why. Or I don’t like the reasons. Interestingly, I think I disagree with the scouting on Crooks by Fangraphs, although it might lead to the same place. I am a little skeptical of their defensive scouting, but at the same time, they might be lower on his offense than I’d predict too. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could manage a 90 wRC+ or so, and I think a 40 hit tool with below average power describes a worse hitter than that.
One thing about Hence that might not quite come across if you just look at last season is that I think he’s absolutely ready for AAA. If you look at his 2024 season, I don’t see how you wouldn’t come to that conclusion. He didn’t pitch in AAA last year for health reasons and that’s it. He never quite got past the rehab status. He spent most of his season working his way up to AA, struck out 8 to 1 BB in 4.1 IP where he didn’t allow a hit. He then got rocked in his next start and made just one more start after that where he was removed after just 11 batters. I imagine they wanted him to throw 5 innings before they promoted him and it never happened. Of course, Hence isn’t on the list yet because of health, so that isn’t exactly comforting.
As more of a stat follower than someone who scouts players or even looks at scouting reports of players, I am rather surprised how Fangraphs rates his pitches. If forced to guess, I would have predicted his secondaries were good, but his fastball was below average. It’s almost the opposite. I don’t know if this is accurate of course. But he’s a fastball/slider pitcher who needs a third pitch – according to this person’s opinion of course. Certainly, these scouting numbers for his pitches suggest an easy transition to the bullpen at the least.
It is easy enough to see why Hjerpe is still making top 20 lists despite having the durability of Mark Prior. And this is only kind of a joke – the mechanics of a Carter Capps. He has the stuff to start. Look at that scouting. Two above average pitches, including a strong putaway pitch, and two other average pitches (or we hope in the case of the cutter). That’ll play. We just need Cooper Hjerpe to actually play.
2026 will prove to be an important year for Mautz. I feel like we’ve seen a few of the underwhelming scouting starters who nonetheless manage to pitch well reach AAA and just hit a roadblock. I will say that usually that type of pitcher doesn’t strike out 28.6% of batters in AA however. That gives me more hope that he either has better stuff than what the scouting says or that he’s better at utilizing and knowing his stuff than pitchers in the past. Either way, it’s hard to argue with his results.
Speaking of players with underwhelming scouting whose stats force you to pay attention to them, welcome to the poster child. I don’t actually have scouting on Ortiz, that’s how under the radar he was last year. He was a 16th round pick back in 2024, so it’s hard to blame the scouts. The Cardinals would have drafted him higher if they knew this 2025 was in him. They probably saw something in him that other teams didn’t certainly, but it’d be wild to wait 16 rounds – which is well past the point where you expect anything from your draft picks – and you just gambled correctly that nobody would pick him.
I honestly did not know how long I could or should wait to put Padilla into the voting. The main reason was that I didn’t know how much success at a rookie league improved a player’s stock in these type of rankings. And that goes for me and where I’ll rank him personally. Padilla was not in my top 20 because I don’t trust the DSL. He will be in my top 20 this year. Where, I have no idea at the moment. Because he certainly took a big step in showing he could succeed in the states – Jonathan Mejia very much failed this test for example. I will be curious if the Cardinals put him in Low A to begin the 2026 season. It will tell us a lot.
Roby had Tommy John surgery in July of 2025, so his ability to pitch next year is a little more in question than Hjerpe. But he pitched well last year, re-establishing himself as a prospect. Without the injury, I wonder how high he would be selected. I also feel that Roby was an example of a prospect that didn’t get as much love because he was a deadline acquisition so there was less attachment. However, fans have gotten familiar with him for now two and half seasons, so he’s probably not harmed by this effect anymore.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 23: Casey Mize #12 (L) and Reese Olson #45 of the Detroit Tigers look on from the dugout during the game against the San Diego Padres at Comerica Park on July 23, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Padres 3 to 1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Picking the best starter on the Detroit Tigers roster is easy. There’s a cliff looming beyond the 2026 season when Tarik Skubal will presumably be gone to greener pastures, but for one more season the Tigers have their ace leading the way. Beyond him the question is a lot tougher.
Reese Olson continues to post the best performance by most statistical measures, but he’s also dealt with significant shoulder injuries both of the past two seasons. That makes it hard to depend on him to give the Tigers a strong 140-150 innings this year. He controls contact well and racks up a solid share of strikeouts, but he can be a little too walk prone as well. But you’re not providing value on the injured list so it’s a bit of a roll of the dice guessing how much he’ll give the Tigers in 2026.
Jack Flaherty is still punching out the most hitters, but his walk rates are a bit high and he sometimes has trouble with home runs. There are stretches where he looks great and stretches where he’s getting knocked out early, but it added up to above average performance but certainly a real drop off from his 2024 resurgent campaign.
Casey Mize controls contact and doesn’t issue many walks, but the upgraded fastball since Tommy John surgery and various attempts to dial in his splitter haven’t led him to the promised land of higher strikeout rates. Mize did strike out 22.2 percent of hitters faced in 2025, which is his first time over 20 percent for a season. However, he had his own trouble with home runs at points throughout the season.
Beyond them there’s a group with Troy Melton and Drew Anderson competing for the last rotation spot, and a host of guys from Keider Montero on down to provide depth along the way.
Maybe the Tigers still have another signing in them once Skubal’s arbitration case is resolved, but right now who is your pick for second most valuable starter on the roster in 2026?
Since the season ended, the McCovey Chronicles staff have been doing player reviews that go over each member of the San Francisco Giants’ 2025 season. Today, I’m going to continue our community reviews where we ask you all to weigh in on how you feel like each player did this year and what your favorite highlights were.
Today, we’re going to take a look at Robbie Ray. Steven wrote a fantastic review earlier this offseason, which I would encourage everyone to revisit. These fine folks do the hard-hitting analysis, so as usual I’m going with the vibes.
Much like the 2025 San Francisco Giants, the vibes were great! (Until they weren’t.) Ray came into the 2025 season raring to go after having previous seasons shortened due to injury. He finished the 2025 season with 2.8 bWAR, with a 3.65 ERA, 3.93 FIP, with 186 strikeouts to (a league-leading) 73 walks in 182.1 innings pitched over 32 starts.
Much like the team, he started off the season strong, with the team winning his first nine consecutive starts. Ray even earned himself an All Star appearance. But things went downhill after the break, particularly in the last month or so where he was averaging roughly 4.6 runs allowed.
That said, he was coming off of two shortened seasons. So I’m hopeful that we won’t see the same thing this season.
With all of that said, I’m giving Ray an A- for 2025. Because I’m grading on a curve, and he was absolutely one of the bright spots of the season.
How did you feel about Robbie Ray’s 2025 season? And what were your favorite highlights?
03 OCT 2008: Scott Kazmir of the Rays delivers a pitch to the plate during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays in Game #2 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. | Location: St. Petersbuerg, Florida, USA. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images)
This post is part of a series of daily questions that we’ll ask the community here at Amazin’ Avenue throughout the month of February. We hope you find the questions engaging and that our prompts can spark some fun conversations in the comments. We’ll see you there and plan to have staff chiming in, too.
Which Mets loss, trade, or season bothers you the most?
Apr 16, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles mascot waves a flag before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Cleveland Guardians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images | Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images
Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! We start another day without any news from the Orioles. After a flurry of activity in the early offseason, things have come to a halt. If you think the Orioles still need changes to be successful this season, it is frustrating for sure. But as each day passes, with or without a move from Orioles, we get one day closer to the 2026 baseball season.
The Orioles pitchers and catchers report on February 11th and the first full-squad workout is February 16th. The team’s first Grapefruit League game is on the 20th vs the Yankees. There will be a month of spring games, along with the World Baseball Classic from March 5-17. Then, finally, the Orioles will host Opening Day on Thursday, March 26th. Spring training games aren’t too exciting, but the WBC should be a good time.
But speaking of the WBC, news broke over the weekend that Puerto Rico may pull out of the game over insurance issues. A league-approved insurer would cover a player’s salary if he is hurt in the WBC, and the insurer is declining to insure at least eight players scheduled to play for Puerto Rico. That includes superstar Francisco Lindor, who has had multiple surgeries in the recent past.
It would be a real blow to the tournament if Team Puerto Rico has to pull out. They are one of the powerhouse teams in the tournament, and the first round of the tournament is being hosted in San Juan. Talk about awkward. I am actually traveling to Puerto Rico to attend two WBC games, but don’t have tickets to Puerto Rico’s games. They sold out too quickly.
In former Orioles news, there have been a pair of signings. Austin Hays signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. The contract comes with a mutual option for 2027. And the Dodgers agreed with a minor league deal with pitcher Cole Irvin. The deal includes an invitation to big league camp at spring training. Irvin spent 2025 in Korea with the Doosan Bears. He made 28 starts with a 4.48 ERA.
Links
Bunch of questions for the 2026 season – MASN Sports Roch Kubatko’s post from yesterday morning raises many questions about the upcoming season. For his question about who will hit the most home runs, I am going to go out on a limb and say Pete Alonso.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have six Orioles birthday buddies, including two Orioles Hall of Famers. Today is Don Buford’s 89th birthday, so happy birthday to him! Buford played for the Orioles from 1968-1972. For the first four of those years, Buford played All-Star caliber baseball, though he made the All-Star team just once. He excelled in the postseason as well, with an .851 OPS over 22 games. In 1970, when the Orioles won the World Series, Buford reached base 12 times in six games with two home runs.
The second Orioles Hall of Famer celebrating today is Melvin Mora (54). Mora was a late bloomer who didn’t make his major league debut until age 27. He came to the Orioles in 2000 as part of the Syd Thrift fire sale and spent a decade with the team. He was a bright spot on a bad baseball team, with single-season bWARs over 4 in each of 2002-2005. In 2003 and 2004, his OBP topped .400, which was unheard of on those mid-aughts teams.
The other former Orioles born on this day in history are Travis Snider (38), Scott Erickson (58), Pat Clements (64), and Paul Kilgus (64).
On this day in 2005, the Orioles trade for Sammy Sosa was made official. The Orioles sent Jerry Hairston, Jr. to the Cubs for Sosa. Sosa was awful for the Orioles in a painful season for the team.
In 2009, the Orioles sent cash to the Cubs for Rich Hill. Hill had a 7.80 ERA in 14 games that year at age 29, his only season in Baltimore. He went on to pitch for 16 more seasons. That’s right, he appeared in two games with the Royals last season at age 45. Hill announced just a couple weeks ago that he will not attempt to pitch in MLB in 2026.
In 2021, the Orioles traded Alex Cobb to the Angels for Jahmai Jones. Cobb had 2.5 disappointing seasons with the Orioles, but bounced back for a bit with the Angels and later the Giants.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 20: Eugenio Suárez #28 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
There is no such thing as a bad one year contract. This is something that I have been told and come to believe. There are bad one year contracts insomuch as players turn into pumpkins during that one year, but there is nothing tethering them to the team long term. That’s what makes it a good contract.
Luis Arraez going to the Giants seems like a big waste of money.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths.
“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire.
Happy birthdayRonny Cedeno*,the Cubs go back to flannel,and other stories.
1925 – The N.L. inaugurates its Golden Jubilee Year by holding its spring meeting in the same room of New York’s Broadway Central Hotel where the league was founded on February 2, 1876. (1)
1943 – After experimenting with a vest worn over knit jerseys, the Cubs return to conventional baggy flannels for 1943. The outfitting change saves the organization $2,000 on the cost of uniforms. (1)
1989 – Former All-Star first baseman Bill White is elected president of the National League. White succeeds Chub Feeney, becoming the first African-American to be named president of either league and the highest-ranking black executive in the four major sports. (1,2)
2018 – Frustration over the slow pace of free agent signings continues, which some observers think is a sign of a return of collusion. The latest salvo in the ongoing war of words comes from agentBrodie Van Wagenen, who claims that players may decide to boycott the start of spring training if things do not improve quickly. (2)
1536 – Pedro de Mendoza founds Argentine city of Buenos Aires.
1653 – New Amsterdam becomes a city (later renamed New York)
1709 – British sailor Alexander Selkirk is rescued by William Dampier after being marooned on a desert island for five years, his story inspires “Robinson Crusoe.”
1848 – Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the Mexican–American War: US acquires Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona for $15 million
1901 – Queen Victoria’s funeral takes place in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, England
1922 – James Joyce’s “Ulysses” published in Paris (1,000 copies)
1971 – Idi Amin ousts Milton Obote and appoints himself President (dictator) of Uganda
Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, in order to help correct the record.
Oct 20, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez (28) throws out Toronto Blue Jays right fielder George Springer (4) at first base in the second inning during game seven of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates came up empty once again in their search for a marquee third baseman with Eugenio Suarez signing with the division rival Cincinnati Reds.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Suarez signed to a one-year deal worth $15 million that includes a mutual option for 2027 with the Reds on Sunday. Suarez previously played with Cincinnati from 2015-2021.
Suarez was a name that was reportedly on the Pirates’ radar for the entire offseason. Following the team’s trade of Ke’Bryan Hayes the club has been pursuing another strong corner infielder that can also add a quality bat to their lineup. Suarez was one of the best power threats in baseball in 2025 as he finished with 49 homers, 118 RBIs and a .526 slug rate. Only five other players have hit more home runs than Suarez since 2018.
Pittsburgh Pirates beat reporter, Alex Stumpf, reported that the Buccos offered the same AAV to Suarez in their pitches that the Reds did and were even willing to do a multi-year deal. Stumpf cited that the familiarity Suarez had with the club and the favorable hitting venue of Great American Ball Park played a factor as Suarez signing with Cincinnati. Given that this kind of player is not often on the market for that price, the Pirates should have done more than just match the Red’s offer and went all in on signing the best bat left on the free-agent market.
Pirates offered the same AAV for Suarez as what he signed for with the Reds (and were willing to go higher), according to a source. Sounds like Suarez chose a more favorable ballpark and familiarity with Cincy for a prove-it deal
Because of how late in the offseason that Suarez signed with a team, it leaves the Pirates very little options left in free-agency, especially considering the fact that pitchers and catchers are going to be reporting for Spring Training in about a week. The clock is not on the Pirates’ side, nor is the shrinking market.
General Manager Ben Cherington has been aggressive in the trade market but the organization is running out of pieces that they can move without sacrificing too much from the core of the team. Pittsburgh may have arguably already traded away too much from their pitching stock this offseason so that will be off the table, and all of their top position players are still prospects. These factors will make it difficult for Cherington and company to find many trade partners.
With Spring Training coming quickly, all signs are pointing to Jared Triolo being the Pirates’ starter at third base. As a defender Triolo is world class. In the past he’s been primarily used as a utility player, but he has shined in that role and won a Gold Glove Award in 2024 when MLB started recognizing utility fielders for nomination. There were many times when Triolo filled in for an injured Hayes and excelled defensively.
Triolo’s offense has been largely underwhelming, which is a big reason why Pittsburgh was looking to add a power bat at their hot corner. Triolo’s numbers last year were average at best, but perhaps with a more consistent role in the lineup he will show more improvements in 2026. Triolo appeared in 107 games in 2025, slashing .227/.311/.356 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs.
Pittsburgh’s offseason is far from over though they are running out of time. Management has hinted at wanting to add another arm to their rotation, preferably a lefty, as well as adding a depth piece to their outfield. With that being said it is not looking likely that the Pirates will be getting their next third baseman of the future this winter.
We're less than two months from non-fake baseball. And almost every gain to be had over the winter has been spoken for.
With that, USA TODAY Sports rolls out its first power rankings for 2026, an alignment with many nods to the year that passed, yet allowances for all that transpired since the Los Angeles Dodgers converged in a disbelieving dogpile on the Rogers Centre infield, their consecutive World Series championships narrowly secured.
No, nobody "wins the winter," but it's impossible to ignore the many seismic shifts that unfolded. Check back around Opening Day, but for now, here's how Major League Baseball's 30 title hopefuls (well many have such hope) stack up:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
If you think a threepeat is a fait accompli, keep in mind: These guys finished fifth in these here power rankings at the end of last season.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Brooks Lee #2 of the Minnesota Twins makes a throw to first base during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello everyone! Welcome to our new Daily Question series for the month of February. With Spring Training around the corner, we want to hear what you think 2026 holds for your Minnesota Twins. Let’s get excited for baseball!
If the Twins are going to compete for a division title in 2026, they’re going to need some young players step up and take the reigns. We all know what Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan, and Pablo Lopez can do, but a big part of Minnesota’s underperformance in recent seasons came due to the lack of development from the young bats in particular.
In fact, the Twins’ two best seasons in recent memory came on the backs of those breakouts. 2019 saw Mitch Garver (3.9 fWAR), Max Kepler (3.9), Jorge Polanco (3.3), and Jake Odorizzi (4.3) emerge for the best seasons of their careers in their mid-to-late twenties. 2023 saw the same from Edouard Julien (2.7) and Willi Castro (2.5), while Lopez (4.6) and Sonny Gray (5.4) took a massive leap from mid-rotation arms to All-Stars.
The obvious candidates are ones who have shown flashes but need to be consistent. Ryan Jeffers is in line to get there with his projected increased workload. Matt Wallner, Luke Keaschall, and Zebby Matthews should reach the 3.0 fWAR threshold if they can stay on the field. Royce Lewis made big strides in the health and defense departments in 2025, but he hasn’t hit well since before the 2024 trade deadline. Brooks Lee is in line to play shortstop every day and, without a clear backup, will get every opportunity in the world to prove he can stick.
Or perhaps an advanced prospect will come up and surprise us like Julien, Lewis, and Wallner did in 2023. Consensus top 20 prospect Walker Jenkins is on the doorstep should any of the regular outfield starters miss extended time. The same can be said for Emmanuel Rodriguez, though he’s much more in the Wallner feast-or-famine mold and won’t have as much runway.
Personally, my money is on Lee who has a chance to settle into the position he’s played his whole life and has shown great bat control already. If he can improve his eye at the plate and take a few more walks, his big frame should allow him to tap more into his power as he’s more selective with the pitches he attacks. But which Twin do you see taking a leap in 2026?
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees jogs back to the dugout in the third inning during Game One of the American League Wild Card Series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning everyone, we’re one day closer to actual, bonafide MLB baseball being played. As we draw nearer, we’ll be using our first posts of the day to ask One Big Question about the Yankees. Today, let’s focus on Cody Bellinger. The offseason saga of Bellinger and the Yankees was a slog, but after months of posturing, the two sides managed to reunite, as was expected after the partnership proved so fruitful in Bellinger’s first year in the Bronx.
Bellinger may have been the Yankees’ best position player not named Aaron Judge in 2025, hitting 29 homers and providing capable defense across the field. His 4.9 fWAR trailed only Judge on the Yankees, and indeed was a top-ten figure among all American League hitters. Suffice to say, Bellinger’s contributions were vital last year, and the Yankees will expect something close to a repeat as they pencil him in as their starting left fielder.
So, will Bellinger be able to repeat his superlative 2025? Bellinger certainly did enough in his Yankee debut to make one optimistic. At age-30, he’s not at the point on the aging curve where decline feels inevitable, and Bellinger’s athleticism looked, at least to the naked eye, to still be largely intact last year. Moreover, even though Bellinger’s been inconsistent throughout his big-league tenure, his strong 2025 came in right around his career averages, with his .813 OPS last year in line with his career .817 OPS. Why shouldn’t we expect Bellinger to continue trucking right along near that mark?
On the other hand, the unfeeling projections forecast some regression, with FanGraphs pegging him for a solid yet unspectacular 3.3 fWAR. Plus, Bellinger arguably ran a little hot last year, his expected wOBA of .322 lagging behind his actual mark of .347. Where will he ultimately land in 2026? Lay out your case in the comments below.
And today on the site, gear up for the 2026 season with the start of our season preview series! Leading off, Jeremy will preview David Bednar’s upcoming campaign. Also, Matt will celebrate George Halas as part of our Yankee Birthday series, Josh will look back at a tense negotiation between Derek Jeter and the Yankees during The Captain’s first foray into free agency, and Madison will put out the call for this week’s mailbag.
Jul 13, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Josh Hader (71) throws to the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Continuing our February Daily Question series, we’re beginning today’s conversation with the question, “Which trade still bothers you the most?”
The Brewers haven’t had many terrible trades, at least in recent memory. But every fan seems to have at least one lingering trade that haunts them from time to time.
Whether it be the Josh Hader trade (remember, though, it ultimately netted Milwaukee William Contreras), sending Nelson Cruz and Carlos Lee to the Rangers, or a straight-up Kevin Reimer-for-Dante Bichette swap back in 1993, there’s sure to be at least one deal you’d like to talk about.
My personal least favorite Brewer trade? Sending Khris Davis to Oakland for Jacob Nottingham and Bubba Derby. Davis would go on to put together consecutive solid seasons with the A’s, slugging 133 homers over three seasons and 159 homers over six seasons. The return in that deal? Derby reached Triple-A Nashville in 2021, but never made it to the majors, while Nottingham played in 43 games across four seasons with Milwaukee, hitting .205/.293/.477 with seven homers, 21 RBIs, and 13 runs scored to total just 0.7 bWAR (Davis, just for comparison, had 2.4 bWAR in his first season in Oakland and 7.4 over the six seasons).
Not as dismal as some other teams’ worst trades (looking at you, Miami Marlins), but you can’t win them all. So what’s your white whale? Is it a guy (or guys) who ended up with great careers, or just a trade that left you with a bad taste?
Weigh in in the comments, and join us throughout the month as we keep these conversations rolling into spring training.
The Phillies bullpen has long lacked identity. And commitment.
It starts with the ninth inning. The last Phillie to post multiple 30-save seasons with the club was Jonathan Papelbon in 2012 and 2014. The last 30-save season, period, came from Jeanmar Gómez in 2016.
The Phillies tried to change that narrative two seasons ago when they acquired closer Carlos Estévez from the Angels at the trade deadline. At the time, he had 20 saves paired with a 2.38 ERA. Pairing him with a group that included Matt Strahm and Jeff Hoffman gave Philadelphia its deepest relief unit in years.
Estévez was solid across 20 regular-season appearances, but his season ended with a series-clinching grand slam allowed to Francisco Lindor in the NLDS. The right-hander then left for Kansas City that offseason, and the late-inning picture quickly returned to feeling fluid.
Until now.
Dombrowski and the front office made another deadline move last season, this time targeting a lockdown reliever with years of team control. The Phillies sent two of their top five prospects — catcher Eduardo Tait and pitcher Mick Abel — to Minnesota for Jhoan Duran.
Duran’s routine triple-digit fastball and closer entrance immediately played at Citizens Bank Park. The production matched the buzz: a 2.18 ERA in 23 appearances and 16 saves — the same total he recorded in 49 games with the Twins.
Bolstering the back end remained a priority into the winter. The Phillies signed Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million deal, a move that reads as a setup-man investment. It also stood out historically as the first multi-year, double-digit annual value deal the Phillies handed out since the 2011–12 offseason, when they landed Papelbon.
The organization still views pitching as a strength. The difference now is how much of that responsibility sits in the bullpen.
Over the past two seasons, Phillies relievers have posted a 4.06 ERA, ranking 19th in baseball.
What makes this group more compelling, however, is how the pieces fit together. This unit can win matchups without being locked into a single lane because the looks are genuinely different.
Two lefties, two different profiles
The bullpen still begins with two southpaws, but the approach has shifted. With Strahm traded, the Phillies are leaning further into matchup usage — and the two left-handers who remain offer entirely different problems.
José Alvarado is coming off a turbulent 2025, but the raw traits remain intact. His sinker averaged 99.1 mph and ranked in the 99th percentile in fastball velocity. It wasn’t even his most effective pitch.
Alvarado leaned heavily on his cutter, which has long been a foundation of his success. Excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season, opponents have hit .181 or lower against the pitch. It’s not a finesse approach — it’s built on tunneling the two kinds of fastballs.
Tanner Banks offers the contrast. The softer thrower of the pair, Banks made his biggest leap in 2025 by limiting free passes. He leaned into his strengths, mixing a slider/sweeper and four-seamer as part of his five-pitch mix, with the sweeper continuing to improve year over year.
Among left-handers who faced at least 110 left-handed hitters last season, Banks allowed the fewest earned runs in the majors (five) and posted a 1.47 ERA. There may be another layer coming. His changeup averaged 36.6 inches of vertical drop, giving it the shape to develop into a late-count swing-and-miss option if he leans on it more in 2026.
Why Keller’s 2025 relief jump sticks out
Part of what fueled the 30-year-old’s breakout in relief in 2025 — a 2.07 ERA across 68 appearances — was nearly a four-mph jump in his average four-seam fastball, which sat at 97.2 mph. Keller also used the pitch the most since 2018. He became a Statcast standout for a reason.
That fastball success (opponents slugged .295 against it) allowed the rest of his arsenal to play up. His sweeper–sinker–changeup combination produced significant soft contact, contributing to a 30.6 percent hard-hit rate (99th percentile) and a groundball rate that ranked in the top five percent of the league.
Strahm’s calling card in Philadelphia was neutralizing right-handed hitters. Keller did that even better last season, which helps explain why the Phillies felt comfortable dealing Strahm to Kansas City.
Against righties, Keller held opponents to a .466 OPS. The usage tells the story: despite the fastball’s overall effectiveness, he primarily threw it to left-handers (57 percent usage). Against righties, his sinker–sweeper combination accounted for 50 percent of his pitches and allowed just two extra-base hits combined.
If the Phillies are serious about building a bullpen that thrives in multi-dimensional matchups, Keller is central to that vision. He can absorb leverage innings without needing a narrowly defined pocket of hitters.
Kerkering’s look still plays
The end of Orion Kerkering’s season is easy to remember — for the wrong reasons. But he’s 24 years old and has just over two years of major league service time. Across three seasons with the Phillies, he owns a 2.79 ERA.
In 2025, Kerkering leaned less on his most trusted pitch, the sweeper. The result was a groundball rate that dipped by roughly 10 percent, but the quality of contact held steady. His look continues to disrupt swings, largely because of his arm slot.
Kerkering’s arm angle sits at 31 degrees. Paired with the arm-side run on his sinker and four-seam fastball, it creates a shape no other right-hander in the bullpen offers.
Assuming the NLDS ending is behind him, Kerkering should remain a key matchup piece, particularly in right-on-right situations alongside Keller.
Duran ties it together
Duran is the connective piece. His 100.6 mph average fastball — in the 100th percentile leaguewide — grabs attention, but it isn’t even his most-used pitch. He leaned more heavily on his split-finger last season, and that pitch led all of baseball in run value (12).
While it’s tempting to credit his swing-and-miss profile solely to velocity, the curveball is where most of the empty swings come from. Among pitchers who threw at least 200 curveballs, Duran’s 41.8 percent whiff rate ranked seventh among relievers.
Even then, there’s more ceiling. His 2025 swing-and-miss rate on the curveball was a career low, underscoring how effective he remains regardless of usage patterns.
A 30-save season for the “Durantula” is well within reach in 2026. More importantly, his presence finally gives the bullpen a defined end point — and the rest of the roles stop feeling like monthly experiments.
Under-the-radar names
A quieter but important part of the Phillies’ bullpen construction has been how they’ve filled out the 40-man roster, setting the stage for real competition in Spring Training.
That group includes optional arms and veterans with big-league experience, such as right-hander Zach Pop. Two trade acquisitions, however, add real intrigue.
Jonathan Bowlan, acquired in the Strahm deal, features a five-pitch mix highlighted by a four-seam fastball that is exceptionally difficult to square up. In 2025, among 357 pitchers who threw at least 200 four-seamers, Bowlan generated the highest swing-and-miss rate on the pitch (43.5 percent).
The next closest was Oakland’s Elvis Alvarado at 39.6 percent — nearly four points lower. That rate would have also led all 362 qualified pitchers in 2024 by a similar margin.
Bowlan’s sinker could also take on a larger role in 2026. Among pitchers who threw at least 100 sinkers last season, he ranked third in opponents’ hard-hit rate (10.7 percent). Keller ranked second, and the two new Phillies produced identical run values on the pitch (five).
Another acquisition, left-hander Kyle Backhus, brings a completely different look. The 6-foot-4 southpaw features a low-velocity, three-pitch mix and delivers from the fourth-lowest arm angle among left-handed pitchers. What separates him from others near that slot is extension.
Backhus releases the ball 7.2 feet from the rubber, ranking in the 96th percentile leaguewide. That extension can make his 91 mph sinker play quicker than the radar gun suggests. Despite a 4.62 ERA with Arizona in 2025, he profiles as a potential matchup left-hander capable of limiting barrels and disrupting timing with his sidearm delivery.
The identity isn’t tied to one arm or one role. It’s built on contrast and different looks. For the first time in a while, the pieces connect without having to force matchups.
