WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Ronny Mauricio #0 of the New York Mets rounds the bases after hitting a home run during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This was not the year for Ronny Mauricio (again). In 2026, he once again was up and down and only showed flashes of potential during his time at the plate. His offense was usually lackluster, and his defense often reminded you of the players you were missing.
Mauricio was first recalled from Triple-A on April 6, when Juan Soto went on the Injured List. He was optioned to Triple-A on April 13. He was recalled from Triple-A on April 23, when Francisco Lindor found himself on the IL for two months. It should have been an opportunity for Mauricio to prove himself, but on May 3, he fractured his left thumb sliding into first base and landed on the IL himself.
After completing his rehab assignment on June 24, he was optioned to Triple-A. He was recalled the next day when Marcus Semien was placed on the IL. On July 7, he was optioned to Triple-A, where he remained until September 18. Mauricio was recalled for the final time when Jared Young was placed on the 7-day concussion IL. In 2026, he played in 25 games and had 62 plate appearances. He hit .220/.258/.441 with a wRC+ of 91 and fWAR of -0.2.
There were some nice moments in Mauricio’s cameos this season. In April, he had his first walk-off hit, in extra innings, no less. At the beginning of May, he bludgeoned a 421-foot go-ahead home run that sealed the Mets’ win against the Angels. When he returned in September, he looked like a different hitter: more patient, better plate discipline. During his last seven games, he hit .294/.400/.824. He capped it off with three homers in his last two games. The totality just wasn’t quite enough, especially given the timing of his turnaround.
COLUMBUS, OHIO - JUNE 04, 2026: Connor Kaiser #16 of the Omaha Storm Chasers hits a single during the sixth inning against the Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park on June 04, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Kansas City Royals Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers finished the year with a record of 65-81. It was a balanced season of sorts for the team, as they finished both halves of the season 8 games under .500. However, which players were able to produce a good season?
The good from the position players:
Brett Squires was someone that most Royals fans probably hadn’t heard of before the season started. Then, the 26-year-old first baseman just kept hitting. Squires was an undrafted guy that the Royals signed. He has slowly worked his way through the system. He was very good in Quad Cities in 2024 and had a middling year in Northwest Arkansas in 2025. But 2026 was all good for Squires. Between 32 games in Double-A and 100 games in Omaha, Squires slashed .277/.351/.549. He smacked 34 doubles, 3 triples and 31 homers, driving in 103 runs. He walked 56 times, striking out 141. He mainly played 1st base, with a little bit of left field sprinkled in. I would love to see him get a chance in Kansas City next season.
Carson Roccaforte had a phenomenal season. The 24-year-old centerfielder, who the Royals took as a Comp B pick in 2023, out of Louisiana-Lafayette looked the part. It’s been somewhat of a slow grind to get to Omaha, but Roc finally did. This season, he played 110 games in Double-A and the final 28 in Omaha. Between the two stops, Roc slashed .257/.338/.519. He hit 26 doubles, 5 triples and 35 homers, while driving in 96 runs. He stole 32 bases. The issue with Roc is he struck out 181 times. The primary centerfielder is unbelievable defensively as well. As much as I’d like him to be the Opening Day centerfielder next season, I think he starts in Omaha for the first month or two. Not because he’s not worthy, but because the Royals probably want him to get more time in Triple-A first.
Jack Pineda is a late bloomer type of guy. The 27-year-old infielder put together a good season. The Royals took Pineda in the 12th round in 2022 out of Baylor. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Pineda slashed .351/.413/.530 in 81 games. He hit 20 doubles, 3 triples and 9 homers. He walked 23 times, striking out 46. He stole 18 bases. Defensively, he played shortstop, third and second base, all very well.
Peyton Wilson had a nice season, slashing .276/.358/.433 in 94 games this season. He hit 29 doubles and 8 homers, walking 41 times, stealing 17 bases. Wilson is a 26-year-old infielder, who the Royals took as a Comp B pick in 2021 out of Alabama. Defensively, he played second, third and left, very solid infield numbers.
Gavin Cross got off to a rough start, but finished nicely, finishing the season with a .247/.306/.434 slash line. He hit 20 doubles, 5 triples and 17 homers. He stole 25 bases, walked 32 times and struck out 149 times. The Royals took Cross 9th overall in 2022 out of Virginia Tech, he is now 25 years old. He can play all three outfield spots well.
If I am going to be completely honest with you, the Omaha Storm Chasers pitching staff is somewhat bleak. Mainly because it was a lot of older guys, some of them might be considered “washed”. So, this list isn’t that long. Most of the guys aren’t even with the team anymore or won’t be next season. They aren’t pieces for the future.
Ryan Ramsey is a 25-year-old lefty, who the Royals drafted in the 13th round in 2022 out of Maryland. He has grinded his way through the organization and finally got his first full year in Omaha. Ramsey made 28 appearances and 21 starts, throwing 115.2 innings. He walked 65, striking out 110. Opponents hit .275 off him. It wasn’t the most encouraging season, but a guy that could be in Kansas City next year.
Henry Williams is a 25-year-old right hander, who the Royals got from the Padres in the Scott Barlow trade. Williams made 28 appearances, 26 starts this season. Between Double and Triple-A, Williams threw 132 innings, striking out 120 hitters, walking 63. Opponents hit .277 off him. I think he could also get a shot in Kansas City next season.
Ethan Bosacker is another 25-year-old right hander. The Royals took him in the 13th round in 2023 out of Xavier. Between Double and Triple-A, Bosacker threw 62.2 innings. He struck out 48 hitters, walking 34, with opponents hitting .254 off him. This could be a bullpen option next season.
The final one who could be a Royal next season came over late in a trade. Lucas Braun is a 25-year-old right hander. He came over from Atlanta in the Lane Thomas and Bailey Falter trade. In his 8 starts with Omaha, Braun threw 37.2 innings, striking out 38 batters, while walking 13. Opponents hit .282 off him. He provides starting depth for the Royals next season.
Next year will be an interesting year for the Royals Triple-A affiliate. I hope they can get some more youth in there, especially pitching wise. Thank you for following along all year with Royals minor league coverage!
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Eduardo Quintero #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers jogs to the dugout during a game between the Salt River Rafters and the Glendale Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch on October 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Out of the 10 Dodgers currently on the Desert Dogs roster, seven made an appearance in what was a 25-run thriller as Mesa defeated Glendale 13-12. The visiting Solar Sox overcame what was at one point a six-run deficit, handing the Desert Dogs their 13th loss in 18 games.
Three of the first four pitchers for Glendale were members of the Dodgers organization, including starter Brooks Auger, who was pulled an out shy of finishing the third inning, having allowed three earned runs—all of them in the opening frame. Mesa scored 13 runs with just a single home run, one that came in the first inning with a runner on base, as Antonio Anderson took Auger deep.
Dodgers’ Sam Horn and Cody Morse each pitched in with a clean inning, striking out two—it wasn’t until Samuel Carpio of the Marlins came on in the sixth that the wheels came off with an eight-run rally for the visiting side, losing this one despite out-hitting their opponent 16-to-9.
Productive one through nine offensively, the Desert Dogs saw eight of their nine starting hitters reach base multiple times, including all four Dodgers. Charles Davalan and Chase Harlan each secured two hits in six at-bats and drove in a run, while Eduardo Quintero walked twice and singled once in five opportunities up at the plate. Reaching base so often, Quintero made the most of it, responsible for three of Glendale’s six stolen bases in seven attempts. Lastly, down in the ninth spot, Anson Aroz had an RBI, going 1 for 4 with a walk.
The Glendale Desert Dogs look for their sixth win as they welcome the Mesa Solar Sox for an afternoon matchup, with first pitch scheduled for 1:30 p.m.(PT).
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Robert Gasser #54 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game three of the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field on October 26, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! The Milwaukee Brewers took a commanding 3-0 World Series lead over the Tampa Bay Rays last night with a dominant 10-1 win. What are your predictions for Game 4? Will the Brewers sweep, or will the Rays get one back at home?
MLB Postseason scores…
The Milwaukee Brewers erupted for a 10-1 win at Tropicana Field over the Tampa Bay Rays thanks to an eight-run fifth inning. Brewers starter Robert Gasser allowed just one hit in six scoreless innings, and left fielder Jackson Chourio logged four hits by the end of the fifth inning.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 29: Amed Rosario #14 of the New York Yankees takes the field prior to Game One of the American League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Before the 2026 season, the Yankees re-signed utilityman Amed Rosario to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. Long rumored to be a trade target for the Bombers, Rosario spent the latter half of 2025 with the team after being acquired from the Nationals at the Trade Deadline. The move was low-risk and really seemed like a fit that was too good to be true.
The organization brought Rosario back to balance the lineup against left-handed pitching, and he earned solid marks from PSA last year for doing just that. His ability to play multiple positions also made him a useful bench piece, allowing him to slide around the infield and outfield as needed. Still, I think we all know the vision was for him to serve as the other half of a platoon at third base alongside Ryan McMahon. To say that dream fell short would be an understatement.
After participating in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic, Rosario got off to a strong start to the season. During April and May, he looked much like the player he had been for most of his career, batting around .270 and occasionally getting a hold of a pitch or two. His bat and versatility were useful as he moved around the infield, plugging holes as they arose due to injury. However, his production plummeted after he returned from the paternity list in early June.
In June and July, Rosario slashed .195/.241/.366. His strikeout rate climbed to 34.5 percent over that stretch, and it felt like he was swinging at flies in every at-bat. By this point, it was also becoming apparent that Rosario wasn’t hitting lefties remotely as well as he was righties, making the daily chess match that much harder.
Over the last third of the season, Rosario’s numbers settled in the middle of his previous two segments as he batted .258 in August and .231 in September. In another strange twist, after hitting a big blast at the end of July, Rosario’s power dried up, and he failed to hit another home run in either month. In a lot of ways, Rosario’s season was a microcosm of the Yankees’ year. What looked like a low-risk move that was too good to be true got off to a promising start before ultimately falling short of expectations in ways that were almost impressive.
Rosario made the Wild Card roster and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout and a walk in his lone postseason appearance against Boston. He was then left off the ALDS roster against the Rays as the coaching staff opted to carry another pitcher in his place. I assume Rosario’s baseball future will be somewhere other than the Bronx next season after his year and a half run with the Yankees.
Defensively, Rosario’s versatility was somewhat useful with the injuries the club faced, but the results were ugly as his Outs Above Average came in at -9. He appeared in 55 games at third base, seven at second base and designated hitter, five games in right field, and four in left field. Rosario’s defensive numbers at the infield spots were as rough as the eye test, as he posted a .911 fielding percentage at third and .882 at second. He was perfect in the limited action in both outfield spots, but overall he wasn’t a very reliable defender at any position making his versatility less valuable.
Rosario’s biggest highlight came on July 31, when he launched a 450-foot home run against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. It was the second-longest home run hit by a Yankee all season. Another noteworthy performance came in April against the Athletics, when Rosario hit two home runs, including the go-ahead three-run blast in the bottom of the eighth inning off former Yankee reliever Mark Leiter Jr.
In 2026, Rosario, the man meant to mash lefties, ended the season batting .208 against southpaws, well below his .287 career average. His .606 OPS against left-handed pitching was a far cry from what the Yankees needed. The splits against righties made the situation even more head-scratching: he hit .295 with an .833 OPS, compared to a .265 career average against right-handers.
The final Statcast numbers showed a 39.3-percent hard-hit rate and an average exit velocity of 90.2 mph. His average bat speed reached 74.0 mph, a career high, and he set a new career high with a 112.1 mph exit velocity. Additionally, Rosario might have suffered from some poor luck, as his expected batting average (xBA) was .250, 12 points higher than his actual average.
Rosario finished the season with negative WAR, posting a -0.2 mark. When you literally have one job and you fail to do it, a failing grade is fair and is what the group consensus here at PSA concluded. I personally gave Rosario a D- due to the fact he hit righties well this year, if nothing else. What grade would you place on his report card?
See more of the Yankees Roster Report Card series here.
When ranking the Mets' offseason needs, finding an ace to front a promising young rotation is right at the top. Beyond that, New York still has a glaring hole at first base, which they should aim to fill with a legitimate offensive upgrade to their in-house options.
But while the rotation and first base might be 1A and 1B on the Mets' checklist, rebuilding the bullpen isn't far behind.
The Mets' relief corps was a strength in 2026, both before and after the trade deadline sell-off that saw four late-inning arms (two pending free agents, two players under team control beyond 2026) shipped off.
Overall in 2026, New York's bullpen ERA was 3.76, which ranked 10th in MLB and was just a tick below the Dodgers (3.74 ERA).
Of the nine teams who finished with a better bullpen ERA than the Mets, eight of them reached the postseason, with the Brewers (No. 3) making it all the way to the World Series.
So New York clearly has something to build on. And for all of David Stearns' missteps in 2026, he deserves credit for building a strong bullpen ahead of the season and pressing the right buttons to keep it humming even after so many key members were traded.
Still, there are big questions when it comes to who will be closing games in 2027, whether Kodai Senga will be a factor in relief, and which relievers who shined down the stretch can be counted on.
Who are the Mets' bullpen options for 2027, and how should they proceed? Let's break it down...
The Internal Options
If you had to list pitchers who are guaranteed to be in the bullpen -- assuming everyone is healthy -- on Opening Day of 2027, there would probably just be one name on the list: Devin Williams.
There are other likely members, including Daniel Duarte and Austin Warren (who are both out of minor league options).
Left-hander Nate Lavender, who excelled down the stretch this season in what was his first taste of the majors, also feels like close to a lock.
Senga acclimated well when he was shifted to a late-inning relief role this past season, and his fastball/forkball combination played up. But his preference is to start. Beyond that, it is fair to wonder whether his health would hold up over a full season of short-relief usage, and whether he's suited for the role given his meticulous routines.
Reed Garrett could be a key cog if he's back healthy, which is the expectation after he spent the last year-plus recovering from Tommy John surgery. But he hasn't pitched in a big league game since September of 2025.
Dedniel Núñez, who emerged as a late-game arm in 2024 and missed 2025 after having TJS, rounded into form after returning last season and was very impressive -- posting a 3.32 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 19 innings. While he figures to be a key part of the bullpen next season, he has minor league options remaining, meaning New York could possibly start him in the minors if there's a roster crunch.
Lefty Cionel Perez is an interesting case, since he's arbitration-eligible and out of minor league options. During a nine-year career with the Orioles, Astros, Reds, Nationals, and Mets, Perez has shown enough to keep getting chances. He had a terrific season for Baltimore in 2022 (1.40 ERA in 57.2 innings) and was also good for the O's in 2023 (3.54 ERA in 53.1 innings), but it's been tough sledding since then. Over the last three years, Perez has a 5.30 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 120.2 innings.
However, Perez was solid for the Mets in 24 appearances over 29.1 innings in 2026, with a 3.99 ERA (3.75 FIP) and 1.33 WHIP while walking just 2.5 per nine and striking out 10.7 per nine.
Perez also has a fastball that can touch close to 99 mph, so perhaps the Mets roll the dice and see if they can unlock what made him a key cog for the Orioles a few years ago.
Then there's Tobias Myers, who had an up-and-down season in 2026, but could be an option as a long reliever.
Elsewhere on the 40-man roster are depth options such as Jonathan Pintaro, Justin Hagenman, and Jefry Yan -- a hard-throwing lefty whom Stearns spoke highly of after the season.
Minor leaguers who could possibly contribute in 2027 include hard throwers Dylan Ross and Ryan Lambert.
Adrian Morejon / Imagn Images via Reuters Connect/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image
The External Options
The Mets have enough intriguing bullpen depth on the roster that wholesale changes aren't needed. But it can be argued that they should be targeting a closer.
That's because as dominant as Williams can be at times, he is coming off back-to-back subpar seasons.
Spanning 2025 (with the Yankees) and 2026, Williams has posted a 4.65 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 102.2 innings. In 2026, Williams' WHIP was an unsightly 1.57 as his hits per nine (9.5) and walks per nine (4.6) shot up, while his strikeout rate (11.4 per nine) dropped to its lowest level since his rookie season.
That Williams' FIP over the last two seasons is 2.83 suggests he has also been unlucky. But even with that being the case, he is about to be four years removed from his last full season of dominance, which came with the Brewers in 2023.
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). A glance at Morejon's advanced stats via Baseball Savant suggests that his dominance should be sustainable. 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.
If the Padres place the qualifying offer on Morejon, however, things could get complicated.
If New York turns to the free agent market for a reliever who profiles in the late innings but might not unseat Williams as the closer, Jonathan Loaisiga and Bryan Abreu stand out.
The Mets should also be on the lookout for an established left-hander, with Alex Vesia being among the best options.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 07: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves hits a double during the eighth inning of Game Four of the Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on October 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A companion piece to yesterday’s, if you will. Some people already shared the reverse of what yesterday’s question was about, but we’ll do it in earnest now. And since Joel Payamps was my to-little-avail I told you so, I’ll share something I was (happily) wrong about.
The 2026 Braves June experience was pretty crazy. I looked it up, and no team in as far as I bothered looking (2001 or so) that ultimately made the playoffs had an aberrantly bad month like that. In other words, either having that bad of a month knocked the team out of the playoffs, or it was more normal than abnormal for that team, and as such it wasn’t going to make the playoffs anyway.
So, after June, and amid some rumblings from the team that I heard about a few weeks later, I figured that the Braves basically had met a fork in the road: either they improved their offense a lot post-June, or they’d collapse. To be more specific, I figured that the Braves had to be a top-ten offense by something from some specific stretch like July-on, the “second half,” etc., or else they’d fail to make the playoffs.
Well, that didn’t happen. They did make the playoffs.
From July 1-on, they were 20th in xwOBA and 18th in wOBA
From the All-Star Break on, they were 18th and 19th, respectively
From August 1-on, they were 26th and 21, respectively
From September 1-on, they were 19th and 21st, respectively
None of those are even close to top ten, and they’re all pretty much the same, too. This was not a good offense after June. And, yet, the Braves kept playing .580ish ball either way. Amazing.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 24: Yandy Diaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays strikes out for the final out against the Milwaukee Brewers to end the ninth inning in game two of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In case you haven’t been paying much attention to the World Series, Game 2 on Saturday night ended with a little bit of controversy. Yandy Diaz of the Rays was up with two outs in the ninth inning with the tying run on third base. Diaz worked the count full before Brewers’ pitcher Aaron Ashby threw a curveball in the dirt that Diaz checked his swing on. Home plate umpire Jim Wolf ruled it a ball, but Milwaukee catcher William Contreras called for a review from first base umpire James Hoye who determined that Diaz did indeed go around for the strike out, ending the game with Tampa Bay going down 0-2 in the series.
The MLB rulebook does not officially define what a swing is, rather leaving it up to the judgement of the umpires to rule on whether a hitter offered at a pitch. Because of this, any two people can look at this Diaz incident and have differing opinions on whether it was a swing or not. In a world where many parts of the game are now reviewable with the help of technology, check swing incidents stand out as something that is still entirely reliant upon the umpires on the field.
That may not be the case much longer though. Earlier this year, MLB began testing check swing challenges in the minor leagues two years after doing so in the Arizona Fall League. This process follows the one that the new automated balls and strikes system underwent before it was officially brought to the major leagues. Therefore, it’s not hard to see that the check swing challenge is likely going to be coming to the majors soon as well.
If the aforementioned Diaz play was able to be challenged, it would not have been ruled a swing under the system currently in use in the minor leagues.
No replay system is perfect, but so far, it’s hard to argue against the efficiency of the ABS now that it’s been implemented in MLB. Would the automated check swing system bring similar results or would it cause unintended consequences?
So, should check swing calls be reviewable? What is your judgment on the Diaz play? What do you think about the system being tested in the minor leagues?
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 23: Anthony Nunez #66 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 23, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fifteen months ago, with the 2025 Orioles in the midst of a lost season, Mike Elias put a metaphorical Clearance Sale sign on the O’s roster. Everything that wasn’t nailed down was up for grabs, and in the span of a week, Elias made seven trades that jettisoned eight players from the major league squad, including Cedric Mullins, Ryan O’Hearn, and nearly half the bullpen. In return, 14 newcomers joined the Orioles’ organization.
One notable fact about those 14: not a single one of them was a major league player. Even with the trades creating a litany of holes in the Orioles’ active roster, the O’s didn’t acquire anyone who would immediately fill those slots. For Birds fans anxious to get their first look at the return haul from the fire sale, they’d have to wait a while longer.
Enter Anthony Nunez. The rookie right-hander, acquired from the Mets in the Mullins deal, was the first of that 2025 prospect bonanza to arrive in the bigs after earning a surprise inclusion on this year’s Opening Day roster. And by the time the season ended, he’d become one of the Orioles’ most-used arms out of the bullpen, with his 52 appearances ranking fifth on the team.
Nunez’s path to the majors was circuitous, to say the least. A standout shortstop at Miami Springs HS, Nunez was drafted by the Padres in the 29th round in 2019, but was released two years later after topping out in Low-A. He took advantage of an NCAA rule that allowed former high school signees to return to college as long as it wasn’t with a Division I school, joining Division II University of Tampa in 2022.
With the Spartans, Nunez became a two-way player, taking the mound for the first time in 2024 and striking out 20 batters in 11.2 innings. With his arm clearly much more intriguing than his bat, Nunez landed a minor league deal with the Mets as a full-time pitcher, where he flew through the minors and reached Double-A Binghamton in 2025.
At the time the O’s acquired him for Mullins — along with fellow righties Raimon Gomez and Chandler Marsh — Nunez was laying waste to minor league hitters. He had a 0.80 WHIP, a 40% strikeout rate, and batters were hitting just .119 against him. The O’s immediately promoted him to Triple-A Norfolk, where Nunez had a bit of a ruder greeting, posting a 4.85 ERA and allowing 18 baserunners in 13 innings. He still racked up 21 strikeouts.
FanGraphs in particular loved Nunez, ranking him as the Orioles’ sixth-best prospect in May, ahead of Ike Irish, Nate George, and Joseph Dzierwa, among others. Eric Longenhagen and Brendan Gawlowski pegged him as “a premium reliever with three plus or better pitches and uncommon strike-throwing consistency,” and also suggested that he could eventually be stretched out as a starter. They praised Nunez’s fastball, changeup, and a slider that they called “an elite swing-and-miss pitch.”
It seemed certain that Nunez would make his MLB debut this season, but it happened sooner than most expected. His impressive spring training — five scoreless innings, with no walks and six strikeouts — earned him an Opening Day roster spot, even though he’d been optioned to minor league camp weeks earlier.
Nunez dazzled in his major league debut March 28, throwing two perfect innings in mop-up work against the Twins, and soon he worked his way into high-leverage roles, earning holds in three consecutive appearances in early April. After his first dozen games, Nunez was rocking a 1.35 ERA and 16 strikeouts, looking like a great find for the Birds’ bullpen.
But baseball is a game of adjustments, and hitters adjusted to Nunez. Just one month later, at the end of May, Nunez’s ERA had ballooned to 5.67. He suffered six outings in which he allowed multiple runs, including a four-run blowup in Tampa Bay on May 20 when he turned a 3-1 Orioles eighth-inning lead into a discouraging 5-3 loss.
In June, when closer Ryan Helsley returned from the injured list, Nunez lost his roster spot. The O’s optioned him to the minors, and he spent most of the rest of the year riding the shuttle between Norfolk and Baltimore. He spent the majority of September in the Orioles’ bullpen, and ultimately finished the season with a 4.07 ERA (and an exactly league-average 100 ERA+) in 52 games. He struck out 10 batters per nine innings, and he did a good job of keeping the ball in the park, with a 0.8 HR/9 rate. His walk rate was a bit high (3.9 BB/9) but not disastrously so.
The results may not have been overly impressive, but there was a lot to like about Nunez’s repertoire. His offspeed arsenal was especially sharp. The slider that the FanGraphs duo crowed about (which is classified in Baseball Savant as a sweeper) was Nunez’s most-used pitch. He generated a 45.8 whiff percentage with it, holding batters to a paltry .147 average and .200 SLG. His changeup was also elite (.102 AVG, .163 SLG), as was a cutter that he threw only 6% of the time (.125 AVG, .313 SLG).
Where Nunez struggled was with his fastball, which averaged a strong 96.1 mph but didn’t have enough movement to keep hitters off balance. Batters pounded his four-seamer for a .316 average and .561 slugging, and his sinker was simply non-competitive, surrendering a .458 AVG and .667 SLG. He’ll need to do some work on his heater this offseason so that opponents can’t just start sitting on his offspeed stuff.
Nunez’s 2026 performance had its ups and downs, but he showed promise as a 25-year-old getting his first introduction to the majors. It’s not out of the question that the Orioles could try to convert him into a starter, though as yet they haven’t announced any such plans. Even if not, Nunez should have a leg up for a spot in next year’s bullpen.
Not too shabby for a guy who was an infielder two years ago.
The Boston Red Sox are stuck. If you’re the type of person who is content finishing third within the division and being bounced by your arch rivals in just a handful of games in back-to-back seasons, you might disagree. If you’re not an idiot, you know difficult decisions need to be made and that things need to change.
I’ve decided to task myself with analyzing which players can be part of the turnaround and which should be shown the door, all as a way to take the heat off chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. If you’re not down with that, I’ve got two words for ya: Problem or Solution?
I genuinely have no idea what the plan is…
Kristian Campbell was supposed to be part of the future, but the same guy who signed an eight-year contract extension before making his big league debut just spent the entire season in the minor leagues and has been surpassed by several replacement-level players and new acquisitions on the depth chart.
I’d love to blame the organization for all that, but they’ve tried him at multiple positions and have given him plenty of time to fix the issues that started to plague him at the plate after his torrid start to professional baseball. If you look at his numbers and positions played the last two seasons, you can see that there has been plenty of time and energy placed into making this whole thing work.
ONCE AGAIN… I genuinely have no idea what the plan is.
WHAT WE KNOW The Red Sox are stuck trying to figure out what to do with this guy — for better or worse.
Campbell spent last season rebuilding his swing, which seemed to be an edict from the organization as it looked to help get him back to being the guy it dished out that contract to. I don’t necessarily know if they got him there, but improvements were made and he definitely seemed to find his footing defensively as an outfielder/designated hitter.
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW I don’t know if he’s good enough to play over the likes of Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, or Curtis Mead.
Boston currently plans to fill all three outfield spots and second base with those four players, while it has also made it known that designated hitter is reserved for players who need a day off from playing the field or veterans who suck doing anything else. I can’t see them making that plan work, though, which is both good and bad news for the positionless guy with a big fat contract that needs to be paid out.
There’s still a ways to go, but Kristian Campbell looks like a different player than earlier in the season. Here’s an open-side look at his swing from April and then from tonight. pic.twitter.com/T2dgzRntGV
The Red Sox are able to turn him into the platoon outfielder that they’ve needed since losing Rob Refsnyder. If you can get him into the lineup consistently against left-handers, you can get that outfield trio off its feet and try to keep it healthy while also lengthening the lineup.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO It’s a lost cause…
$80 million has been poorly spent and will now sit on the books long enough to make it a consistent issue we have to hear about when discussing why they refuse to spend money year after year.
CONCLUSION I can’t give up on the guy, and neither will the organization. Campbell will be a positive contributor next season.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 14: Jack Leiter #22 of the Texas Rangers looks on between innings of a baseball game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on August 14, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning.
Kennedi Landry writes about Jack Leiter hoping to bounce back from a flukish injury that started what became a lost season for the young righty.
In today’s Sebastian Walcott update, FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen checks out the prospects at the Arizona Fall League where Walcott has looked like the cream of the crop in the desert.
And, after a victory last night to go up 3-0, Thad Levine’s Brewers will have four shots at winning one more game against Jon Daniels’ Rays to join most recently the Rangers in winning the first World Series in franchise history.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Francisco Lindor and Katia Reguero Lindor pose for a photo during the Roberto Clemente Award presentation prior to game three of the 2026 World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on October 26, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Francisco Lindor was named the recipient of the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award, “the annual recognition of a Major League player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field” according to Major League Baseball. It is considered to be the league’s “most prestigious individual player honor.”
This was Lindor’s fourth time being nominated for the honor, and he becomes the fifth Met since 1971 to be recognized for the honor, and the first since Curtis Granderson in 2016.
Lindor reflected on what it meant to receive the Roberto Clemente Award.
Anthony DiComo looked at some Mets players who made their case for individual awards this season.
In their hunt to improve the team, the Mets should target pitching depth, argued Chelsea Janes.
In her piece, Janes revealed that Clay Holmes is open to a return to the Mets if the contract is right.
Kevin Long spoke to the Mets about a role on the coaching staff but is no longer being considered, as there was not a match between the two sides.
Cubs’ hitting coach John Mallee has also withdrawn his name from consideration for a role in New York, opting instead to stay in the Windy City.
The Mets did reportedly hire Mariano Duncan to the newly-created role of “Major League Coach”, which will Duncan most recently served as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies’ bench coach.
The Mets are holding their annual MetsGiving Food Drive on Thursday, November 12. Swing by Citi Field and donate 10+ non-perishable items to receive your voucher for two tickets to select 2027 home games.
Around the National League East
The Phillies have hired Peter Fatse as their hitting coach.
Spencer Nusbaum analyzed a pivotal offseason for the Nationals and what levers they may pull to boost their offense.
Around Major League Baseball
The Brewers blitzed the Rays 10-1 and now sit one win away from their first ever World Series title.
Milwaukee’s “drag ‘em” approach was on full display in a fifth inning in which they scored eight runs with two outs.
That unprecedent fifth inning was one of many ways the Brew Crew were rewriting the Fall Classic record books.
Jackson Churio became the youngest player to pick up four hits in a World Series game in at least 80 years.
Freddy Peralta made it clear that, while he enjoyed his time as a fan favorite in Milwaukee over the eight seasons, he still sees every opponent on competition.
The Rays are looking to Junior Caminero’s bat and leadership as they try to climb out of their World Series hole.
Joe Maddon took the hill before Game 3, and he called down to James Shields in the bullpen to throw out the first pitch.
Even though the Brewers may win the World Series, their formula may still lead them to trading away the players that helped get them there.
Despite turning down the Phillies’ job, Alex Cora did not rule out managing in 2027.
Micah Noe reviewed Hayden Senger’s 2026 season for the Mets.
This Date in Mets History
On this date in 1986, my parents celebrated their first wedding anniversary by watching (on TV) the Mets beat the Red Sox 8-5 to win the second World Series in franchise history.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 01: A view of a Atlanta Braves baseball cap in the dugout before the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today could potentially the last day of the 2026 season, which will be the case for each remaining game of the World Series after the Brewers dominated the Rays in Game 3. The Brewers are arguably on the verge of completing one of the most dominant postseason runs in recent memory, as they have only lost one game the entire postseason. The Rays will try to keep their season alive tonight in Tampa.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 31: A general view of the Savannah Bananas Show on Arthur Ashe Kids Day during the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sunday, August 23, 2026 in Flushing, NY. (Photo by Brad Penner/USTA via Getty Images) | USTA via Getty Images
The Savannah Bananas have taken the baseball world by storm with their wacky version of the game. On Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that the Bananas will have a two-game series next spring when the Dodgers are away in Washington to play the Nationals.
Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium will host the Bananas and the Firefighters for games on April 23-24. Enter into a drawing at bananaball.com/tickets by Oct 31 2026 by 8:59pm PST.
Additional details regarding game times and event information will be announced soon.
In other news in the baseball world, Andy McCullough of The Athletic says that for the Milwaukee Brewers to keep winning, they may trade away many of the players that got them there. That is the antithesis of what the Dodgers have been doing. The Brewers are close to winning their first World Series ever after making the NLCS last year.
In other roster news, the normally cranky Dylan Hernandez of the California Post says that the Dodgers could’ve used a player like Miguel Vargas on their team this year, and maybe going forward as the team needs to turn from it’s ‘old’ roster into using their deep farm system.
ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 27: The Boston Red Sox celebrate after winning game four of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on October 27, 2004 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 3-0 to win their first World Series in 86 years. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hello and happy Tuesday everybody. Hope you’re doing well. Happy 22nd anniversary of Game 4 of the 2004 World Series: the night where the curse was officially reversed!
Who needs to talk about the Brewers being on the brink of a title when we already did that 22 years ago and when we can take a trip down memory lane?!
Where were you on this day in 2004?
Little 8-year-old me was at my home in Quincy with my mom. My dad was not at home; he was at Busch Stadium, the lucky jerk. I napped before the game to make sure I didn’t miss anything if that night was the night. When Foulke stabbed that ball before tossing it to Mientkiewicz, I was picked up and swung around living room like I was a goddamn ceiling fan. I remember waiting by the house phone waiting for a call from my old man—he said he would call if they won—for what felt like an eternity. It finally rang, and all I could hear was screaming for about two minutes before I could make out his voice (also screaming, of course). I can still remember it clearly.
Share how you celebrated 86 years of hurt being washed away in the comments below.
