Category: MLB

It looks like Braves Country will be on Hall of Fame Watch once again this offseason, as another Atlanta luminary has been named to the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot for the 2027 class of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Former Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner has made the star-studded list of eight candidates for this year’s class.

Ted Turner joins a list that includes legends like Dusty Baker, Lou Pinella, Bruce Bochy, and Bill White. Sandy Alderson, Brian Sabean and Joe Maddon also made the list as well, so this is about as stacked of a ballot as you can get when it comes to former executives, managers and umpires.

As the linked article mentions, Turner was responsible for getting the Braves on TBS during his time as owner, which allowed for Atlanta’s games to be televised across the country on cable — hence the nickname of “America’s Team” during that time period. While Turner was known for that and some colorfully strange hijinks during his time as a hands-on owner, it was only after he took a more hands-off approach that the ballclub blossomed into the perennial contender that it is today.

Turner was the owner as the Braves became a powerhouse throughout the 1990s and with Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz already in the Hall of Fame from that era, it would only make sense if the owner joined them as well. It’s a shame that the honor is coming posthumously (assuming Turner gets into the Hall) but it would still be well deserved for one of the more forward-thinking and unique baseball owners of his time.

As usual, any given candidate must receive 75 percent of the vote from the 16-person panel to receive induction. We’re likely going to see multiple inductions on this ballot and hopefully Ted Turner is among them. We’ll see what happens once the votes are revealed on December 6.

UPDATE: Here’s Jayson Stark explaining the voting process

Former Mets general manager and team president Sandy Alderson has been named a candidate for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Alderson was announced as one of the eight people named to the non-player ballot to be voted on by the Hall of Fame's Contemporary Baseball Era Committee when it meets on Dec. 6 in San Diego. 

Alderson's biggest success with the Mets came in 2015 as New York captured the National League pennant, and he was named Executive of the Year by Baseball America. In eight seasons under Alderson, the Mets made two postseason appearances and had a .485 winning percentage. 

Before coming to Queens, Alderson was the general manager of the Oakland Athletics (1983-1997), winning three straight American League pennants and the World Series title in 1989.

Alderson joins three other executives and four former managers, including Dusty Baker, Bruce Bochy, Joe Maddon, former Yankees manager Lou Piniella, Brian Sabean, Ted Turner, and Bill White. The candidates come from a pool of people whose primary contribution to the game came since 1980.

Any candidate who appears on 75 percent of committee members' ballots earns their place in Cooperstown, with induction set for the summer of 2027. 

Former Royals outfielder Lou Piniella, who was Rookie of the Year with the team in 1969, is up for consideration in Cooperstown. The National Baseball Hall of Fame has announced eight nominees for the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee ballot for potential induction in 2027. The candidates are Sandy Alderson, Dusty Baker, Bruce Bochy, Joe Maddon, Lou Piniella, Brian Sabean, Ted Turner, and Bill White.

Sandy Alderson became the Athletics general manager at age 35 and built the team that won three consecutive American League pennants and a World Series title from 1988-90. Alderson later worked in the Commissioner’s Office as executive vice president for baseball operations before serving in the front offices of the Padres and Mets, where he helped lead both franchises to Postseason appearances.

Dusty Baker managed the Giants, Cubs, Reds, Nationals and Astros over 26 seasons, compiling 13 postseason appearances, 10 first-place finishes and a World Series title in 2022. A three-time Manager of the Year Award winner (1993, 1997, 2000) and three-time runner-up, Baker led his teams to the postseason in each of his final eight seasons as a manager. He was also a two-time All-Star as a player over a 19-year career with the Braves, Dodgers, Giants, and Athletics, and was a champion in 1981 with Los Angeles.

Bruce Bochy managed the Padres, Giants and Rangers over 28 seasons, compiling 2,252 wins while leading his clubs to nine postseason appearances, six first-place finishes and four World Series titles. The 1996 National League Manager of the Year, Bochy finished in the top three of the voting seven times. A former catcher who played nine seasons in the big leagues, Bochy is one of only six managers in history with at least four World Series championships.

Joe Maddon managed the Angels, Rays and Cubs over 19 seasons, winning 1,382 games while leading his teams to the postseason eight times. A three-time Manager of the Year Award winner, Maddon led the Rays to their first American League pennant and first winning season in franchise history in 2008. He later skippered the Cubs to their first World Series championship in 108 years in 2016.

Lou Piniella won Rookie of the Year with the Royals in their inaugural season of 1969. He spent five seasons with the Royals, part of an 18-year career that also included 11 years with the Yankees. He was an All-Star in 1972 with the Royals, and he finished his career with 1,705 career hits. After a stint in the Yankees front office, he got into managing, running the Yankees, Reds, Mariners, Devil Rays and Cubs over 23 seasons, winning 1,835 games and leading his teams to seven Postseason appearances. He won a title in 1990 with the Reds, and led the 2001 Mariners to an American League-record 116 victories. He was named Manager of the Year three times (1995, 2001, 2008).

Brian Sabean joined the Yankees front office and helped sign and develop many of the players who powered New York to four World Series titles from 1996-2000. He joined the Giants in 1997 winning three World Series titles in 2010, 2012, and his 2014 team defeated the Royals. His 18 years as Giants general manager marked the longest tenure in franchise history.

Ted Turner purchased the Atlanta Braves in 1976 and quickly established the team on the national stage by putting their games on his TBS television station, which was distributed to cable providers across the country and helped establish a new model for sports broadcasting. Turner owned the team as the Braves developed into a dynasty, winning 14 consecutive division titles from 1991-2005 in completed seasons, an MLB record.

Bill White spent 13 years in the big leagues as a first baseman and outfielder with the Giants, Cardinals, and Phillies. He was an eight-time All-Star, seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a World Series champion with the Cardinals in 1964. After serving as a broadcaster, White served as president of the National League from 1989-94. White presided over the addition of the Marlins and Rockies to the National League and helped consolidate the American and National leagues under one administrative umbrella. He was named the Hall of Fame’s Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award winner in 2026.

Candidates will have to appear on 75 percent of the ballots of the 16 voters, who have not yet been announced. The results of the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee vote will be announced on Sunday, December 6.

This year’s Royals Hall of Fame ballot features several players from the club’s memorable 2014-15 pennant-winning teams. Zack Greinke, Eric Hosmer, Ian Kennedy, and Mike Moustakas join the list as first-time candidates, joining carry over candidates Carlos Beltrán, Billy Butler, Lorenzo Cain, Wade Davis, Alcides Escobar, Kelvin Herrera, Greg Holland, and Joakim Soria.

Here are the credentials for each candidate.

Carlos Beltrán

795 games, .287/.352/.483, 24.8 rWAR

Beltrán played for the Royals from 1998 to 2004, winning American League Rookie of the Year honors in 1999. He became just the eighth rookie in MLB history to score 100 runs and drive in 100 runs in the same season. He was named American League Player of the Week three times with the Royals and earned Player of the Month honors in April 2004. Beltrán finished among the league’s top ten in stolen bases three times during his Royals tenure and ranks eighth among all Royals position players in rWAR. His 164 stolen bases rank eighth in club history, and he converted on an impressive 87 percent of his attempts.

Billy Butler

1,166 games, .295/.359/.449, 12.5 rWAR

Butler was a first-round pick in 2004 who spent several years as the Royals’ designated hitter, including during their pennant-winning 2014 season. His best season came in 2012, when he hit .313/.373/.510 with a career-high 29 home runs, earning Silver Slugger honors. He also made his only All-Star appearance that year, playing in front of his hometown fans at Kauffman Stadium. Butler finished among the league’s top ten in doubles three times and ranked sixth in RBI in 2012. He is tied for tenth in club history in home runs, ninth in hits, and eighth in doubles. His .295 career batting average ranks sixth in franchise history among players with at least 1,000 plate appearances.

Lorenzo Cain

713 games, .289/.342/.421, 24.6 rWAR

Cain is appearing on the ballot for the first time after receiving a retirement ceremony from the club in 2023. Originally acquired from the Brewers in the Zack Greinke trade, Cain quickly developed into one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball. From 2013 to 2017, he ranked third among all outfielders in Defensive Runs Saved with 75. His defensive brilliance was on full display during the Royals’ 2014 postseason run, when he hit .533 against the Orioles to earn ALCS MVP honors.

Cain made his first All-Star team in 2015 and finished third in American League MVP voting. That season, he ranked fifth in the league in runs scored (101), fifth in batting average (.307), third in defensive WAR (2.1), and fourth in overall rWAR (6.9). His dash home from first base on Eric Hosmer’s single in the deciding game of the 2015 ALCS against the Blue Jays remains one of the most iconic moments in franchise history. Cain ranks ninth in club history in career rWAR with 24.6.

Wade Davis

256 games, 3.39 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 6.6 rWAR

Davis was a starting pitcher in 2013, his first season with the Royals after being acquired from the Rays. But a move to the bullpen transformed his career, turning him into arguably the most dominant reliever in baseball. From 2014 to 2016, he appeared in 185 games and posted a remarkable 1.85 ERA while recording 47 saves. He struck out 33 percent of the batters he faced during that stretch. Davis was a two-time All-Star, received Cy Young votes in 2014 and 2015, and earned MVP votes in 2015. He recorded the final out of the 2015 World Series to clinch the championship for Kansas City. His 49 career saves with the Royals rank tenth in club history.

Alcides Escobar

1,245 games, .259/.292/.344, 8.2 rWAR

Escobar is another first-time candidate. A defense-first shortstop, he frequently hit near the top of the lineup for the Royals’ pennant-winning teams. Originally acquired from the Brewers in the Greinke trade, Escobar became an iron man for Kansas City, playing at least 155 games in six of his eight seasons with the club, including three seasons in which he appeared in all 162 games. He was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2015, then hit .478 against the Blue Jays that fall to earn ALCS MVP honors. He also famously opened the bottom of the first inning of Game 1 of the 2015 World Series with an inside-the-park home run, setting the tone for the series. His 160 stolen bases rank ninth in club history, while his 1,208 career hits rank tenth.

Zack Greinke

266 games, 3.93 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 29.8 rWAR

Greinke was originally drafted by the Royals with the sixth overall pick in 2002 and made his major league debut in 2004. He quickly established himself as one of the team’s best young pitchers, but his breakout season came in 2009, when he won the American League Cy Young Award. Greinke went 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA and 242 strikeouts, leading the league in ERA and finishing sixth in MVP voting. He also earned his first All-Star selection that year. Greinke was traded to Milwaukee after the 2010 season, but returned to Kansas City in 2022 for two more seasons. His 29.8 rWAR ranks fourth among all pitchers in Royals history, and he remains the last Royals pitcher to win the Cy Young Award.

Kelvin Herrera

442 games, 2.75 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 10.6 rWAR

Herrera was a two-time All-Star who recorded four seasons with at least 70 appearances and an ERA below 3.00. He was a key member of the vaunted “HDH” bullpen trio alongside Wade Davis and Greg Holland. Herrera was particularly dominant in the postseason, posting a 1.26 ERA in 22 appearances while striking out 38 batters in 28 2/3 innings. He ranks sixth in club history in saves and third in games pitched.

Eric Hosmer

1,048 games, .284/.342/.439, 15.5 rWAR

Hosmer was the third overall pick in the 2008 draft and quickly became a cornerstone of the Royals’ rebuilding effort. He debuted in 2011 and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. He developed into one of the best defensive first basemen in baseball, winning four Gold Glove Awards with the Royals. His best season came in 2017, when he hit .318/.385/.498 with 25 home runs and 94 RBI. He earned his first All-Star selection in 2016 and was named All-Star Game MVP after hitting a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning. But Hosmer’s most memorable moment came in the 2015 World Series, when his aggressive dash home on a ground ball to first base tied Game 5 in the ninth inning and helped the Royals eventually clinch the championship. His 127 home runs are tied for tenth in club history, while his 566 RBI rank ninth.

Greg Holland

394 games, 2.72 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 11.3 rWAR

Holland was an elite closer and a key member of one of the best bullpens in baseball. Drafted in the tenth round out of Western Carolina University, he made his Royals debut in 2010 and posted a 1.80 ERA the following season. By 2012, he had taken over as the team’s closer. Holland became an All-Star in both 2013 and 2014, earning Cy Young and MVP votes in each season. He recorded 46 saves in 2013 and 47 in 2014, finishing second in the American League both years. He allowed just one run in 11 postseason innings in 2014.

Holland recorded another 32 saves in 2015 but suffered an elbow injury late in the season that kept him out of the postseason. He eventually returned to Kansas City for another stint in 2020-21, appearing in 85 games. His 159 career saves rank fourth in club history.

Ian Kennedy

163 games, 4.48 ERA, 4.83 FIP, 6.3 rWAR

Kennedy signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Royals following their 2015 World Series championship, becoming the team’s highest-paid player at the time. He delivered a solid first season in 2016, going 11-11 with a 3.68 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 195 2/3 innings. Kennedy found new life after moving to the bullpen in 2019, when he converted 30 saves with a 3.41 ERA, giving the Royals a reliable closer. He finished his Royals career with 163 appearances, including 86 starts, and was worth 6.3 rWAR.

Mike Moustakas

934 games, .251/.306/.430, 11.4 rWAR

Moustakas was the second overall pick in the 2007 draft and one of the key prospects in the Royals’ rebuilding effort. He debuted in 2011 and endured some early struggles, but developed into a productive power hitter and an important part of the Royals’ championship teams. He hit .284/.348/.470 with 22 home runs in 2015, earning his first All-Star selection. He had his best season in 2017, when he set a Royals single-season record with 38 home runs and earned another All-Star selection. Moustakas also provided one of the defining defensive plays of the 2014 postseason, making a spectacular catch while tumbling over the third-base dugout in the ALCS. He ranks ninth in club history with 139 home runs and 14th with 441 RBI. “Moose” returned to Kansas City for a retirement ceremony in 2025, signing a one-day contract to retire as a Royal.

Joakim Soria

427 games, 2.82 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 14.3 rWAR

Soria had two separate stints with the Royals, pitching for the club from 2007-11 and again from 2016-17. Originally selected from the Padres in the Rule 5 Draft, he developed into a two-time All-Star with Kansas City and received Cy Young and MVP votes in 2010. Soria finished among the league’s top ten in saves four times with the Royals, including a second-place finish in 2010 when he recorded 43 saves. He ranks third in club history in saves and fifth in games pitched.

To be eligible for the Royals Hall of Fame, a candidate must have spent at least three seasons with the club, accumulated a minimum of 1,500 plate appearances or 300 innings pitched, and been retired for at least three years.

Fans can vote here, with the fan vote counting as three electors. Other electors include members of the Royals Hall of Fame, Royals front office staff, Royals Associates with at least 15 years of service, and select members of the media. The online fan ballot will account for three full votes for each of the five candidates receiving the most votes. Any candidate receiving at least 75 percent of the vote will be elected and scheduled for induction during the 2026 Royals season. Eligible alumni who receive at least 10 percent of the vote can remain on the ballot for five regular-phase election cycles.

Last year, John Wathan was elected into the Royals Hall of Fame. Yordano Ventura is the only candidate from last year’s ballot that did not carry over to this years ballot. The Royals Hall of Fame includes Kevin Appier, George Brett, Joe Burke, Steve Busby, Ewing Kauffman, Muriel Kauffman, Mark Gubicza, Alex Gordon, Larry Gura, Dick Howser, Whitey Herzog, Bo Jackson, Dennis Leonard, Denny Matthews, John Mayberry, Hal McRae, Jeff Montgomery, Fred Patek, Dan Quisenberry, Cookie Rojas, Bret Saberhagen, John Schuerholz, Paul Splittorff, Art Stewart, Mike Sweeney, Cedric Tallis, George Toma, Amos Otis, Frank White, Willie Wilson, John Wathan, and Ned Yost.

The Tampa Bay Rays have officially parted ways with two veteran players that were integral to the team’s run to the World Series this past season.

On Friday, October 30th, the Rays announced that they had declined the mutual options for the 2027 season with RHP Nick Martinez and OF Cedric Mullins.

The Rays signed Martinez just prior to Spring Training to a one year, $9M contract with a $20M mutual option for the 2027 season; the Rays paid Martinez a $4M buyout after declining that option. The signing could not have worked out any better for Tampa Bay and Martinez as the veteran hurler delivered one of his best seasons and was named an All-Star for the first time in his career.

Overall the 36 year old compiled a 3.10 ERA | 3.96 FIP with a 15.1 K% and league leading 3.6 BB% over a career high, 180 IP. Off the field, Martinez’s leadership within the clubhouse was invaluable as he helped guide a young Rays team to their first postseasom berth since 2023. When the Rays reached the World Series for the third time in franchise history, Nick Martinez received the honor of starting Game One against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Early last offseason, the Rays signed the veteran Cedric Mullins to a one year, $7M deal with a $10M mutual option for the 2027 season. The Rays have declined that option and instead paid Mullins a $500K buyout.

Mullins wasn’t able to recapture the magic that had made him one of the top players in baseball while with the Baltimore Orioles several years ago. The now 32 year old Mullins had one of the worst offensive seasons in baseball in 2026 and also posted the lowest OBP% among qualifying players in a single-season for the Rays. Overall Mullins hit .205/.284/.344 with 15 HR and 21 SB, registering a 76 wRC+ (4th lowest of 135 players). Mullins did accrue 1.1 fWAR despite his lowly offensive production thanks to plus defense in center field, producing 11 Outs Above Average, which ranked 4th among 54 qualifying outfielders.

With the departures of Mullins and Martinez, the Rays will likely be on the hunt for new veteran additions to fill their respective roles on the team.

Against Chris Sale, with two outs in the ninth inning of game three of the National League Wild Card in Atlanta, Otto Kemp ended the Phillies season by swinging right over a slider.

Believe it or not, the Phillies had real hopes for Otto Kemp heading into 2026. He put up a .786 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2025, roughly 20% above league average, believe it or not. Kemp notably played through a fractured left kneecap and he needed surgery on his shoulder after the 2025 season.

He clearly checked the intangible boxes and showed some real ability at the plate. He slugged .411 with a 92 OPS+ as a rookie and did not look incompetent against right-handed pitching most of the time. Dave Dombrowski clearly liked what he saw, insisting he thought Kemp could turn into an everyday player but they settled on the short-side platoon LF spot.

He was never a good defender but he wasn’t completely unathletic and should hit lefties. Sounds like a perfectly acceptable platoon partner for Brandon Marsh, right?

Nope.

It was a disaster.

What went right?

Kemp made the opening day roster and the Phillies came into the season with him in mind so clearly something went fine in spring training, at least enough so the Phillies could maintain the course.

What went wrong?

After going 2 for 20 with nine strikeouts, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch, not to mention he was a disaster in left field, Kemp was optioned in the middle of the Phillies 10 game losing streak. Felix Reyes came in his place, hit a home run off Chris Sale but nothing else and would later get optioned.

Kemp would find himself back in the big leagues a month after his option, with another chance to prove he could platoon with Brandon Marsh in left field. He played in three more games, getting five at bats and didn’t record a hit.

With Marsh on a linsanity run against left handed pitchers, there was no place for Otto Kemp on the roster and he would not play for the Phillies for four months.

Until October, Kemp was put on the Phillies playoff roster after a rash of minor league injuries to end the season. The 2026 Phillies postseason roster for their series against the Atlanta Braves included Kemp, Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs, along with Tanner Banks and Chase Shugart in the bullpen. Not that you would need to find a role for all 26 players in a three game series, but that is an insane amount of dead weight going into October.

Kemp would play when Don Mattingly hit him for Brandon Marsh against Chris Sale. It was supposed to be this way heading into the season and it would be the way the season ended. Kemp had no chance on a backfoot slider and the Phillies went home empty handed.

Final Grade: D-

Does Kemp deserve an F? Yes, but I don’t want to give it to him. He wasn’t supposed to be as miscast as a short-side platoon left fielder as he was and nothing worked but the role does have a level of variance to it that should absolve Kemp from an F.

Yesterday, the baseball world learned of the passing of Jerry Koosman, a member of both the 1969 World Champion and 1973 National League Champion New York Mets, at 83 year old. Koosman, a member of the Mets Hall of Fame and whose number 36 is retired by the Mets, is one of the most identifiable Mets from their first golden era.

Born in Appleton, Minnesota, the left-hander was discovered while in the military, and the Mets signed him one his service was over. He made his big league debut in 1967, but joined the Mets full time in 1968, going 19-12 with a 2.08 ERA and 178 strikeouts in 263.2 innings. Koosman finished second to Johnny Bench in the Rookie of the Year voting.

In 1969, Koosman had another fantastic season, and won two games in the ‘69 World Series, pitching 17 and two-thirds innings over two games, and was awarded the ball Cleon Jones caught for the final out of the game.

Koosman continued to be the Mets’ number two starter behind Tom Seaver, and he had a number of very good seasons as Met, including winning 21 games in 1976 and coming in second in the Cy Young voting in 1976. After the Mets’ terrible 1978 season, Koosman requested a trade and was traded to the Twins in exchange for Greg Field and, as a player to be named later, fellow Mets legend Jesse Orosco.

Over his 12 year Mets career, Koosman put up a 3.07, with a 140-137 record. He was an All-Star in 1968 and 1969.

After a fantastic year in 1979 for the Twins, Koosman’s career never quite hit those high marks again. After two and a half seasons with the Twins, two and a half for the White Sox, and two for the Phillies, Koosman retured after the 1985 season. He ended his career with 53.6 bWAR.

Koosman has the third most pitching wins in Mets history (140), behind teammate Seaver and Dwight Gooden. The Mets inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 1989 and retired his number in 2021. He was just the third Met player to have his number retired.

Koosman is survived by three children and four grandchildren.

Everybody loves the big-name acquisition, but sometimes, the small, unheralded move that pays dividends can be a real difference maker for a ballclub. On February 6, 2016, the Yankees made one such move, signing minor league free agent Jonathan Loáisiga after he was cut by the San Francisco Giants, as they sought to add pitching depth to the farm system during a transitory period in the organization’s history. The man who would come to be known as “Johnny Lasagna” would go on to fill a critical role in the Yankees’ bullpen during the 2021 season, before injuries ultimately robbed him derailed his Yankees career.

Jonathan Stanley Loáisiga Estrada
Born: November 2, 1994 (Managua, Nicaragua)
Yankees Tenure: 2018-2025

Born and raised in Nicaragua, Loáisiga signed as an international amateur free agent with the San Francisco Giants on September 23, 2012. He made his professional debut the following season, going on to make 13 appearances with the DSL Giants. Although his performance was encouraging — he had just a 2.75 ERA and 1.107 WHIP in that span — his Giants career was effectively over after that; injuries robbed him of the entire 2014 and 2015 seasons, and as a result, the Giants cut him loose.

As noted above, Loáisiga signed with the Yankees that winter, and was assigned to Single-A Charleston (the Yankees cut ties with them during the 2020-2021 restructuring, and they are now a member of the Rays family). Immediately, the injury woes followed the young right-hander: just 2.1 innings into his first start he tore his UCL and underwent Tommy John surgery. Unlike the Giants, though, the Yankees were willing to be patient, and added him to the 40-man roster in 2017 in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft (something they did not do with Garrett Whitlock a few years later).

When he returned to the mound with the GCL Yankees that summer, Loáisiga rewarded that faith. He flew through the farm system, and by the middle of the 2018 season, when the Yankees needed a spot starter in June, they recalled him straight from Double-A Trenton — bypassing the entire Scranton RailRiders roster.

Making his MLB debut at Yankee Stadium against the Tampa Bay Rays, Loáisiga rose to the challenge, striking out six in five scoreless innings to earn his first major league win. He would make three more starts before being sent down to make his Scranton debut, posting an even 3.00 ERA and allowing just one home run in that span. Arm troubles in the minors, however, prevented him from being an option for the big league roster in July and August, and when he returned as part of September call-ups — this time in a relief role — he struggled to the tune of a 10.80 ERA.

The next three seasons followed the pattern set in Loáisiga’s rookie campaign: flash potential as a starter, miss time with arm injuries, and struggle to gain any real consistency as a swingman. Then, 2021 happened. Finally deciding that Loáisiga’s body could not handle a starter’s workload, the team officially began to develop him as a full-time reliever, and he more than delivered. Taking over Chad Green’s old role as team fireman, he was one of the most reliable bullpen arms not just on the Yankees, but in all of baseball: his 2.4 fWAR ranked behind only Liam Hendriks and Josh Hader, and his 2.18 xERA second to Hendriks among relievers with enough balls in play to qualify for the Statcast leaderboards.

Unfortunately, that campaign would turn out to be the highlight of Lasagna’s Yankees career. He was absolutely terrible to start the 2022 season, with an ERA upwards of seven across the season’s first two months, and he battled shoulder injuries during that time as well. For his part, though, he rebounded well, with a 1.76 ERA after July 17th, and he allowed just one earned run in the postseason. Bone spurs in his elbow limited him to just 17 appearances in 2023, however, all but three of which came after the trade deadline (i.e., after we had already discounted it as a lost season). A right flexor strain and a torn UCL then ended his 2024 before it could begin, and although the Yankees did bring him back for 2025, he struggled with consistency and injuries once again. To nobody’s surprise, the team opted to decline his team option for 2026, making him a free agent.

Loáisiga signed a minor league deal last January with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and to his credit, he made the most of it. Not only did he make the team out of spring training, he put together his best season since 2021, posting a 2.42 ERA and a 1.030 WHIP, recording the lowest strikeout rate of his career but surrendering just three homers all year long. Loáisiga stayed healthy with a personal-best 67 appearances for the Wild Card contender.

Now a free agent once again, he represents an intriguing, if risky, option for teams looking to bolster the middle part of their bullpen; for his sake, hopefully he is able to parlay his bounceback into a nice contract for himself. It may not be in New York, but we wish Loáisiga the best and a happy 32nd birthday to boot!

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

Major League Baseball has angered the Major League Baseball Players Association and agents by informing them that will they not amend the posting agreement with Nippon Professional Baseball, requiring Japanese free agents to sign by the expected Dec. 1 lockout or they would be ineligible to sign with an MLB team in 2027.

The union sent a memo to agents last week, obtained by USA TODAY Sports, that said MLB on Tuesday denied their request, which was made in August, to extend the tolling period in the NPB posting agreement allowing posted players to sign after the lockout ended. This is in direct contrast to the 99-day lockout in 2021 when MLB amended the 45-day negotiating window, and allowed Japanese free agents to sign after the lockout.

MLB confirmed Monday it is not amending its posting agreement.

The MLBPA said it is exploring its options, but informed agents last week to be prepared for a strict deadline for posted players.

This means that the three Japanese players who were posted Sunday, featuring prized infielder Teruaki Sato of the Hanshin Tigers, must sign by Dec. 1 if there’s a lockout, instead of the traditional 45-day window. The other two posted players are pitchers Kaima Taira of the Seibu Lions and Hiromi Itoh of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

The extended window in 2021 for posted players allowed outfielder Seiya Suzuki to sign a five-year, $85 million contract with the Chicago Cubs eight days after the March 10 lockout ended.

Now, Japanese posted players will have less than 30 days to work out a deal.

While all free agents will be permitted to negotiate with all 30 teams beginning at 5 p.m. ET on Monday, MLB players who are unsigned before the collective bargaining agreement ends on Dec. 1, still are eligible to sign once the lockout ends.

Follow Bob Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB sets Dec. 1 deadline for Japanese stars to sign before potential lockout

After signing infielder/outfielder Christian Cairo to a one-year split contract earlier Monday, the Mets have designated him for assignment.

New York also designated Kyren Paris for assignment after signing him to a one-year deal, too, the team announced.

Cairo, 25, had been claimed off waivers by the Mets from the Phillies in September.

In 130 games this past season in Triple-A for the Phillies and Mets, Cairo slashed .230/.381/.300 with 25 stolen bases.

Cairo, the son of former MLB player Miguel Cairo, played shortstop, second base, third base, center field, and left field in 2026.

Paris, who turns 25 later in November, was claimed off waivers by the Mets from the Angels on Oct. 29.

He was hitless over 15 at-bats across eight games during the 2026 season after slashing .190/.266/.381 over 44 games (126 ABs) in 2025.

The moves get the Mets' 40-man roster to 40 players.

At least one member of Aaron Boone’s staff could be on the move.

Bench coach Brad Ausmus is interviewing for the Astros’ open manager job, The Post’s Jon Heyman reported on Monday, putting him in play once again to lead the team he spent 10 seasons with as their catcher.

The Astros recently hired Randy Flores to become their new general manager but still need to find a replacement for former manager Joe Espada, who took over for the World Series winning Dusty Baker.

Ausmus had been a finalist for the Astros job before it went to Baker in 2020 and was also a runner-up for the GM job back in 2023 before they hired Dana Brown. The 57-year-old is known to be close with Jeff Bagwell, who serves as a senior advisor for Astros owner Jim Crane.

According to MLB.com., Ausmus was in the offices at Daikin Park on Thursday, a day before the Astros hired Flores.

Before becoming Boone’s bench coach ahead of the 2024 season when the Mets hired away Carlos Mendoza, Ausmus had previously managed the Tigers (four seasons) and Angels (one season). He had a combined 386-422 record.

Whether or not the Astros ultimately hire Ausmus this time around, it remains to be seen whether there will be changes to Boone’s staff after the Yankees decided to keep him entering the final year of his contract. They have signed pitching coach Matt Blake to an extension while hoping to do the same with director of catching Tanner Swanson.

But there could be changes to the hitting staff after Hal Steinbrenner pinned the disappointing season and playoff exit on the offensive failure.

Here's the latest buzz on free agent left-hander Tarik Skubal...

Nov. 3, 9:49 a.m.

The Mets and Dodgers are viewed as "the primary bidders" for Skubal, reports Kiley McDaniel of ESPN, who spoke with 27 industry insiders about Skubal's market and potential contract. 

Along with the Mets and Dodgers, McDaniel notes that the Tigers are "monitoring for a discount," the Yankees are "thinking about it," and that the Angels, White Sox, and Padres are all sleepers in the Skubal sweepstakes. 

When it comes to long-term obligations, the Mets have about $281 million committed to the payroll for 2027, but just $192 million on the books for 2028, per Cot's Contracts. In 2029, that number dips to $106 million.

As far as the Dodgers, they already have roughly $388 million committed to the payroll for next season, $302 million committed for 2028, and $238 million on the books for 2029. 

Nov. 2, 10:18 a.m.

The "expectation" is that Skubal will sign before the CBA expires on Dec. 1, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN. 

Passan lists the Mets and Dodgers as the "most obvious" suitors for Skubal, adding that the Cubs "badly" want him. However, Skubal notes that there is skepticism within the Cubs organization about their ability to win a bidding war. 

Skubal, who turns 30 on Nov. 20, is not attached to a qualifying offer after being traded from the Tigers to the Dodgers during the season.

After winning back-to-back Cy Young awards in 2024 and 2025, Skubal had a 2.72 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 186 strikeouts in 158.2 innings this past season. 

Oct. 28, 11:25 a.m.

SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes reports that while David Stearns will be "reluctant" to give Skubal a long-term deal, they anticipate that owner Steve Cohen will push for it anyway.

Aside from a serious run at Yoshinobu Yamamoto before the 2024 season, Stearns' free agent pitching pursuits have been measured and looked like this.

Sean Manaea: Three years, $75 million
Clay Holmes: Three years, $38 million
Frankie Montas: Two years, $34 million
Luis Severino: One year, $13 million
Griffin Canning: One year, $4.25 million  

The MLB offseason is officially here, and November 2nd is one of the first big days on the calendar. Due to how the rules work, we could see a lot of minor moves today, and we know how much Paul Toboni loves that. Players are not allowed to be stashed on the 60-day IL for the offseason, so all 40-man rosters actually have to be cut to 40 today by 5 PM.

For the Nats, that means moves will have to be made. Right now, there are five players on the 60-day IL who either need to be DFA’d or re-added to the 40-man. Those players are Mitchell Parker, PJ Poulin, Ken Waldichuk, Matt Waldron and Drew Millas. Several of those guys are likely to be DFA’d, but we won’t know for sure until later in the day.

The Nats are not the only team dealing with this situation. In San Francisco, Buster Posey has a busy day on his hands. As of October 29th, the Giants had 56 players on their 40-man roster. They had a lot of players go on the 60-day IL, but now they will have to trim that roster back down.

Paul Toboni is clearly monitoring that situation. In fact, he has already acquired two players from the Giants. First, he claimed RHP Braxton Roxby off waivers a few days ago. Then, he made a minor trade for second baseman Nate Furman, a speedy, contact oriented infielder. In that deal, the Nats gave up Tony Neubeck, who was an undrafted free agent in 2026. To clear space on the 40-man roster, the Nats DFA’d Richard Lovelady.

I could see Toboni and Ani Kilambi making more moves like this in the coming hours. They clearly like to churn through the back end of the 40-man roster in an attempt to find hidden gems. The results have been mixed so far, but Curtis Mead was a notable success story. There are going to be a lot of players DFA’d today, and I think the Nats will be keeping a close eye on the waiver wire.

The next month should be a hectic one across the league. Unless a deal is miraculously made, the CBA will expire in a month. Once that happens, teams will not be allowed to make any moves. That could mean we see a lot of blockbuster moves made in November. I also think we will see a ton of smaller moves as well. Executives will want as optimal of a 40-man roster as possible.

There are a number of key dates that are coming up. The GM and owner meetings are in the next couple of weeks. After that, the non-tender deadline is on November 20th. Paul Toboni is going to have quite a busy month.

Overall, this will be a busy day around the league. However, I think the Nats will be one of the busier teams. We could see a couple surprise DFA’s or some minor deals like the Furman one. This new regime loves optimizing the back of the 40-man roster, so today probably feels like a holiday for Paul Toboni, Ani Kilambi and the rest of the front office. Let’s see what goes down in the coming hours.

A pair of Japanese pitchers will be posted to Major League Baseball, their NPB clubs announced over the weekend.

The Seibu Lions announced on Saturday they plan to post Japanese pitcher Kaima Taira. On Sunday, the Nippon-Ham Fighters announced they will post ace right-hander Hiromi Itoh.

Players from NPB can be posted any time from November 1 to December 5, and once posted they have 45 days to sign. But expect any Japanese players to be posted on the early end this offseason, with a lockout coming on December 1 at 8:59 p.m. PT.

Players at least 25 years old with at least six years of professional experience in a foreign league can be signed as a major league free agent, rather than be subject to international amateur signing bonus limits like Roki Sasaki was before the 2025 season.

Taira turns 27 years old on November 15 and has pitched nine seasons for Seibu, mostly in relief but some starting. He had a 1.36 ERA with 141 strikeouts and 45 walks in 146 innings in his 23 games in 2026, after a 1.71 ERA and 31 games in 52 2/3 innings in 2025.

From Associated Press:

“As a pitcher, my goal is to win a Cy Young award,” the Japanese news agency Kyodo quoted him as saying. “And I’d like to pitch in the World Series as well.”

In his nine seasons with Seibu, the right-hander has a 1.85 ERA with 676 strikeouts and 252 walks in 633 2/3 innings over 351 games.

Itoh had a 3.18 ERA in 26 games last year for the Fighters, with 159 strikeouts and 34 walks in 172 2/3 innings. The 29-year-old right-hander in six years in NPB had a 2.91 ERA with 914 strikeouts and 247 walks in 1008 2/3 innings.

Michael Clair at MLB.com talked to a Pacific Rim scout about Itoh, Taira, and two other Japanese players expected to be posted to MLB this offseason. On Itoh:

“He could be an up and down starter,” our scout said, “but maybe in relief he might show some more velocity. In the previous WBC, he came out of the bullpen and he was 94-96 with some nasty stuff.” However, what Itoh lacks in size, he makes up for with a deep pitch mix consisting of “10+ unique grips and shapes” as noted by Yakyu Cosmopolitan.

Should he come to the Majors next year, there is one thing Itoh would like to share: “I would like the fans in the U.S. and everywhere else to know that I am not just pitching, but that I enjoy myself on the mound,” Itoh told me this spring. “I like to express my excitement and joy.”

Three Japanese players were posted last offseason. First baseman Munetaka Murakami signed with the Chicago White Sox for two years, $34 million. Third baseman Kazuma Okamoto signed for four years, $60 million with the Toronto Blue Jays. Pitcher Tatsua Imai signed with the Houston Astros for three years, $54 million.

Konner Eaton (No. 28 PuRP) and Fidel Ulloa are very different pitching prospects. 

For starters, Eaton is a left-handed starter, having been drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Ulloa, on the other hand, is a right-handed reliever who was drafted one round later out of Louisiana State University. 

But both have found success in the Arizona Fall League so far. 

Three weeks in, Eaton has made five appearances (one start) and has allowed two unearned runs with six strikeouts, one hit batter and two walks across nine total innings. Ulloa has tossed 7.1 scoreless innings across seven appearances, striking out nine and walking two.

A lot of that success has come as the result of new pitches each is throwing. 

“I’m just working on commanding all my pitches in the zone and working on a new pitch – working on a changeup – so just throwing that more often,” Ulloa said about his Fall League plan. “Obviously, throwing that new pitch, I’m sure it’s not in the database, so I don’t know if guys are expecting it. But I’m just throwing it, trying to be consistent in the zone and it’s working out for me.”

Some of his success has come with the help of Rafters pitching coach Jerry Sullivan – current pitching coach for the Hartford Yard Goats, with whom Ulloa has worked since Single-A.

“Probably the most important thing that he’s done over the last six months is to develop his new pitch – the kick change – so long-term, we can see guys in the big leagues with two pitches that do really well, but they need to be really elite,” Sullivan said. “And we knew the third pitch would help him a lot, and it’s actually started grading out from a stuff-plus model really well. So this is one of those things where it could catapult a guy in their career because he has multiple weapons that would play, and then seeing how it’s doing and working for him in his arsenal.”

As for Eaton, he’s “here for command.”

“[I’m] just really trying to get in the zone as much as I can with all my pitches,” he said. “ Just really trying to pound the strike zone down here.”

Eaton also added three new pitches in 2026 – a cutter, a sinker and a sweeper – upping his arsenal from three to six. And his AFL plan has been two-inning sprints to give him the best possible opportunities to command his pitches.

“We have him on kind of a differential ball program where we’re just getting a feel for him to be in-zone with more pitches,” said Sullivan. “When we got him, he was a three-pitch mix guy. We’ve been adding more to the arsenal, so we’re just putting him in situations where he could have command with more of his arsenal. He’s obviously pretty dangerous when he’s in the zone, so our goal here has been to do that, and he’s been able to make some good adjustments.”

Considering expanded arsenals was a big push during spring training under the revamped front office and coaching staff, it’s unsurprising that’s been a focus in the minors and in the Fall League, as well. Sean Sullivan is also working on his slider and changeup.

“If we approach the game in a way that makes it more difficult to defend the plate – and for us it’s having pitches that can move in different directions,” Sullivan added. “So if you’re a north-south guy or an east to west guy, having the option to force a player to respect more (of) the plate is going to help a pitcher, especially when you have swing-and-miss pitches.”

For Ulloa, that comes from the “swing-and-miss slider, and now he’s proving that he has a swing-and-miss changeup.

“And then kind of in addition to that, he’s holding onto his vertical on his fastball, which also makes his swing-and-miss at the top of the zone,” Sullivan added. “So now he’s becoming a legitimate threat, and now we know what it looks like with the big-league ball.”

But Ulloa’s best pitch remains his slider.

“I think it’s just the intent behind it,” Ulloa said. “I just try to throw it a million miles an hour, and it just breaks and does what it does.”

And for Eaton, it’s working on a “better awareness of how to pitch the game well, and then use the new pitches that he’s developed well.”

“[The] cutter was a big pitch for him this year, getting that into the game – pretty good increase in usage in the second half for him there,” Sullivan said. “Again, just an option away from the four-seamer and the two-seamer – induce some weaker contacts, make it more difficult for the hitter. So that was a big one. 

“And then the changeup has been ongoing,” he continued. “He’s made some huge strides with that over the last three months – a little bit of adjustments to the grip, there. We want it missing arm-side. His tendency was to pull and yank on it, and now that’s happening significantly less. We also shortened up the slider, and there’s a sweeper on the horizon, but it might end up blending to be kind of this power-slurve/sweeper type of thing. But the shorter one has been what we’re working on here, which has been able to achieve and then obviously it’s producing good results. [We’re] not as concerned with the strikeouts yet with it as we are [that] it’s in the zone and a good pitch to complement the cutter, two-seamer [and] changeup.”

Still, Eaton said his best pitch remains, “Whatever gets me in-zone the most.”

“I don’t think it’s anything in particular,” he said. “Obviously, when it comes to scouting reports and stuff like that, whatever I can do to beat the hitter at the end of the day. That’s what my best pitch is.”

In addition to Sullivan, the pitchers are also taking full advantage of the opportunity to learn from players and coaches in other organizations.

“It’s awesome,” Ulloa said. “Obviously, there’s coaches from all over the organizations – even players from different organizations – so it’s just kind of cool to just pick their brains and see how different organizations go about stuff.”

Eaton, on the other hand, looked to AFL alums for lessons. Specifically, Jack Mahoney (No. 15 PuRP), as he was on a similar path last year.

“Anytime I get a question about the Fall League or anything else, I reach out to him,” Eaton said. “He’s awesome. I’m kind of following in his footsteps right now, and he’s a great guy to follow in his footsteps, too. He’s a great guy, and [I’m] just ready to keep on learning out there.”

Looking ahead to the end of the season, each has a specific goal in mind.

“I think it’s really just to kind of go out here and maximize my days as much as I can,” said Eaton. “Obviously, [I] get a little break after this – probably two or three weeks off – but then I’m hitting the ground running again, getting ready for spring ball.”

And for Ulloa: “Obviously, number one is obviously to finish the AFL healthy and just kill a few targets that I have in mind and stay on track.”

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