TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 27: Baseballs sit in a baseball glove during the second inning of an MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Toronto Blue Jays on September 27, 2026, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Major League Baseball has created a new proposal that includes the implementation of a salary cap/floor system in 2028. The MLBPA quickly rejected this proposal in a statement on social media. The proposal is likely to become a major point of contention as MLB and the union prepare for negotiations ahead of the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement.
Braves News:
Our 2026 player review series continues with right-hander Rolddy Muñoz.
The Seattle Mariners have hired Jason Kanzler as their next manager. He has spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Cubs, working as their director of player development.
From the Feed:
Which of these shortstops do you think would be best for the 2027 Braves?
We've talked here and here and here (and elsewhere) about the Mets' need to seriously address a starting rotation that was the main reason their 2025 and 2026 seasons went off the rails.
Specifically, New York left its rotation too short depth-wise both years, and also relied on too many expected bounce backs and what-ifs. They can't do that again in 2027, which means their offseason goal should be adding two legitimate starting pitchers to the rotation -- including one who profiles at the very top.
With free agency open and a relative frenzy likely between now and the start of the expected lockout on Dec. 1, the easiest way for the Mets to address their biggest need is to turn to the free agent market.
Available there is Tarik Skubal, arguably the best pitcher in baseball. And since Skubal was traded during the season from the Tigers to the Dodgers, he won't be attached to the qualifying offer and the associated damaging penalties that would've come along with it for any team that signed him. All he'll cost is money -- lots of money.
Beyond Skubal are other strong free agent options, including Michael King and Clay Holmes, who should both do well in terms of average annual value but whose deals won't be in the same stratosphere as Skubal's.
As far as the trade market, there are a handful of very intriguing options who could be available.
The Mariners, rich with quality starters, could possibly dangle George Kirby and/or Logan Gilbert, who are both nearing free agency.
The Twins could listen on Joe Ryan, who is set to hit free agency after 2027.
Meanwhile, the Rays recently picked up the $20 million option for next season on ace right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who is one year away from free agency.
Tampa's head of baseball operations Erik Neandersaid on Tuesday that the team has "every intention" of keeping Rasmussen, but did not rule out a trade this offseason. And with that slightly open door will come speculation that the Rays could deal Rasmussen -- a tactic they've used many times when it comes to expensive players on the cusp of free agency (including recently with Tyler Glasnow and Brandon Lowe).
With all that to consider, should the Mets strongly pursue a trade for Rasmussen? Here are the pros and cons...
/ IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
PROS
Rasmussen has been a dominant force since his first real taste of the majors in 2021.
This past season for the Rays, he had a 2.67 ERA and a AL-best 0.91 WHIP. In 172 innings, Rasmussen allowed just 125 hits while striking out 174 batters and walking only 1.7 per nine. That followed up a 2025 campaign where he posted a 2.67 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 150 innings.
The right-hander was also nails during Tampa's run to the World Series, allowing just seven runs in five starts across 28.2 innings.
Rasmussen features mainly a four-pitch mix, utilizing a cutter, four-seamer, sinker, and changeup. In 2026, Rasmussen's pitching run value graded out in the 99th percentile. That included a fastball that was in the 99th percentile and an off-speed run value in the 93rd percentile. Hitters struggled to do much of anything against Rasmussen's main arsenal in 2026, slugging .360 or lower against his four most-used offerings.
Meanwhile, a look at Rasmussen's advanced metrics via Baseball Savant reveal a pitcher who was above average to elite in most areas, including hard hit percentage, barrel percentage, chase percentage, xERA, and groundball rate.
After missing most of the 2023 and 2024 seasons due to elbow surgery (more on that below), Rasmussen has made 30+ starts each of the last two seasons while featuring average fastball velocities that have sat right around where they were earlier in his career.
For the Mets, Rasmussen would be a true ace who can top their young, promising rotation that will also include Nolan McLean and Christian Scott.
While it would take a serious package to pry him away from the Rays, the cost the Mets would have to pay should be blunted by the $20 million Rasmussen is owed in 2027 and the fact that he's a one-year rental.
Additionally, the Mets trading for Rasmussen would theoretically not preclude them from signing a big starter -- whether it's Skubal, Holmes, or King.
Oct 3, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) reacts in the sixth inning in game one of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
CONS
The health concern when it comes to Rasmussen is real.
While he has been durable over the last two seasons, another major elbow injury could be ruinous. That's because the righty has already had two Tommy John surgeries (in 2016 and 2017) and underwent an internal brace procedure in July of 2023.
However, the Mets' risk would be low since Rasmussen is only under team control for one season. And they can further mitigate that risk by not only acquiring Rasmussen but by signing another high upside starting pitcher.
There is also the matter of cost.
New York's farm system looks a lot different today than it did a year ago, due in large part to graduations of a handful of the players at the very top and an influx of new talent during their recent trade deadline selloff.
The top 10 of SNY's updated top 30 Mets prospects list is comprised mostly of position players, and it's fair to believe that Tampa would be looking for young, controllable pitching in a world where they made Rasmussen available.
If Rasmussen hits the market and the Mets are interested, it's possible someone like left-hander Jonathan Santucci could intrigue the Rays. Jonah Tong, who had a breakout season in the minors in 2025 and showed promise in the majors late in 2026, might also pique their interest. But would the Mets be open to trading so many years of control of someone like Santucci or Tong in a deal for a one-year rental?
They did something like that last offseason, when right-hander Brandon Sproat and infielder Jett Williams were traded to the Brewers for pending free agent Freddy Peralta. Could a repeat be in the cards, or is it smarter to simply fill the rotation via free agency only?
VERDICT
Go for it.
If the Rays make Rasmussen available, he would very likely be the best starting pitcher on the trade market. And the Mets should be greedy when it comes to bolstering a rotation that has been their undoing two seasons in a row.
Pairing Rasmussen with Skubal would be seismic. But even if the Mets aren't the top bidder for Skubal, they could still transform their rotation by trading for Rasmussen and signing someone like King or Holmes.
Obviously, Masyn Winn and JJ Wetherholt should have been awarded gold gloves in 2026. Who is MLB fooling? they are only fooling themselves and fans who you could barely call baseball aficionados. Ok, they’re not real fanatics, if they are fooled that easily by shiny awards foolishly chosen.
Whoever determines the gold glove awards should be fired, all of them. Winn is better than Perdomo at Fielding Run Value, a metric on baseball savant provided to us by MLB. Even their own numbers cannot back up their decision making. Oh so, yeah, it was super close! Winn was better still, don’t be coy. By Fielding Run Value, Winn isn’t worse than Perdomo, MLB. Don’t lie.
Ok, so, how about OAA? Outs Above Average? Winn 19, Perdomo 16. Again, a lie coming from MLB and google AI. Gemini thinks that Perdomo lead the league and that is what it is telling people. Baseball Savant says otherwise, Winn leads in OAA. I don’t like illusions, I’m rather disillusioned.
Ok so why are you taking this so seriously, it was pretty close… Winn had one of the best arms at shorstop in all of MLB at 96th percentil. Perdomo was only 50th percentile, or as we say, rather mediocre. And who helped his team to be leader in ground into double plays turned because of an incredible arm? Masyn Winn, not whoever this Perdomo is. Sorry bud, but you were given a prize out of some other thing that is not called reality.
So yeah, you made the wrong decision there, Major League Baseball. But you often award the Gold Glove Award (a stretch to capitalize that) to the wrong person! How can we trust your decision making process? Oh yeah, you care more about hitting than defense. But this is a GLOVE award, you freak. Might as well just get rid of the silver slugger if the gold glove includes offense. And for what it’s worth, Winn lead all shorstops in Defensive Runs Saved, to add to the salt rub in the wound. Thanks for not doing the right thing again, MLB, NOT!
JJ Wetherholt was the leader in OAA. 100th percentile. And yet, MLB decided to rob Wetherholt too. The gold belongs in the St Louis middle infield, #MLB! The so called winner, Turang, is only 99th percentile. Brice has a very weak throwing arm too, weaker than JJ’s which is mediocre at least. So how is Turang a winner at defense here? DRS seems to favor Turang, but I ain’t buying it. Depends on where you look. Turang had more than twice as many errors as JJ, and yet not as rangey. I don’t see how you give Turang the gold glove unless you add in something other than defense.
So yeah, the Cardinals middle infield dynamic duo got robbed by MLB. They cannot defend their awards here, other than Turang played in more games. So if you want to ignore Turang’s weak arm, then there you go.
But Gold Glove historically has been a bit of a fluff award, not very real or to be taken seriously.
My hope is that Masyn will stop getting snubbed, and no more jobbery for JJ either. They’re legit gold glovers. Please don’t let them become players like…
Ian Kinsler lost in 2014 to Jose Altuve, Kinsler at +19 DRS (Altuve +3)
center fielder Franklin Gutiérrez put up a historically AMAZING season in 2009: +32 DRS… and didn’t win the gold glove
Brett Gardner 2010: +34 DRS no recognition
2005 and 2006 AL shortstop: awarded to Omar Vizquel even though Adam Everett and Craig Counsell were far better defenders
2012 AL shortstop: Brendan Ryan should’ve won it as a Mariner with a 14.7 UZR, +19 OAA and +17 FRV… the gold glove went to JJ Hardy instead
Unfortunately, the Cardinals franchise is no stranger to Gold Glove snubbery, please add to the list in the comments! I’m not bitter, I’m bitter sweet! I still love baseball, but I wish they woud go by the book more when doing these awards, which seem to be more about favoritism and fame than about reality. Rookie of the Year will be more important, since it is tied to a draft pick. Hopefully they will get that one right. Defense is real.
Music Picks from 1999
Last week, I got the heavy metal out of my system, at least for 1999… so here are my top 20 music picks for the year ‘99! As it turned out, 1999 was a REALLY good year for music! ‘00 up next week…
Pinback – self-titled debut from the get to, Pinback was unmistakably Pinback. Defining sound. You could say they were emo, but that would be selling them short. They were so much more… (San Diego)
Beck – ‘Midnite Vultures’ weirdo funky art rock extravaganza from a mainstream artist, a big sidestep for Beck but to me, one of his very best releases and a big showcase of his talent (LA)
Mr. Bungle – ‘California’ multi-genre sweeping production, top tier talented musicians, and american ingenuity, utter perfection (uh, California of course)
Mouse On Mars – ‘Niun Niggung’ perhaps the most damn fun album on the whole list! (Germany)
Stereolab – ‘Cobra And Phases Group Play Voltage In The Milky Night’ one of the most adventurous Stereolab listens and probably even better than the two more famous albums before it! Festive space-age French pop-progressive rock electronic music voyage! (France)
Tom Waits – ‘Mule Variations’ circus blues Americana detour… the question is: What’s He Building In There? (California)
Brant Bjork – ‘Jalamanta’ a really cool psychedelic desert rock solo release from Brant Bjork, a famous stoner rock drummer who also plays guitar and sings, this is one of his first trips away from the drumkit and I think it’s among his best non-Kyuss releases! (California)
Monolake – ‘Interstate’ experimental electronic music that is really lighthearted and fun to listen to, still sounds futuristic even though this came out in 1999 (Germany)
Coil – ‘Musick To Play In The Dark’ industrial ambient noise legends at their peak! if you like synths and sound effects and an interesting sonic experience, check it out. (London)
Cerberus Shoal – ‘Homb’ mysterious, or mystical? Sounds like a tape from a lost culture. Highly recommended. (Boston)
Sweep The Leg Johnny – ‘Tomorrow We Will Run Faster’ a really cool jazz/post-rock listen! I don’t know how to describe this other than I want you to hear it. (Chicago)
Fiona Apple – ‘When The Pawn’ jazzy alt-pop from the top-notch singer-songwriter Fiona Apple! I was unfamiliar with this album, but I’m digging it quite a bit now!
Nine Inch Nails – ‘The Fragile’ as far as good content goes, this is peak NIN since it’s a double album. In some ways surpassing The Downward Spiral, I would not rank it quite that highly, but as an expansive double album with new sounds, The Fragile works perfectly and NIN would never reach this level again after.
The Magnetic Fields – ‘69 Love Songs’ this outdoes the double album! At nearly 3 hours of music, this is just a songwriting spree. But it’s surprisingly good considering how many freakin’ songs there are! Amazing.
The Dismemberment Plan – ‘Emergency and I’ “Post-indie-post-hardcore-jazz influenced-electronic-influenced-modern pop” couldn’t have said it better (from the youtube comments section)
Those are my can’t miss albums of the week, thanks for reading! Hopefully JJ somehow wins rookie of the year to make up for the snubs!
Daniel Wright turned a rough start into a solid first pro season, with a brief stop in Triple-A along the way. | (Daniel Wright/Instagram)
Daniel Wright Right-Handed Relief Pitcher 6´9´´ 245 pounds Age: 24 First Appearance on the South Side Sox Top 100 2026 High Level Charlotte (AAA) Age relative to high level -3.2 years SSS rank among all right-handed relief pitchers in the system 18 Overall 2026 season stats 2-1 ⚾️ 33 games (1 start, 10 finishes) ⚾️ 1 SV ⚾️ 42 1/3 IP ⚾️ 2.98 ERA ⚾️ 1.441 WHIP ⚾️ 39 K ⚾️ 7 BB ⚾️ 1.3 WAR
The Chicago White Sox took a flier on the right-handed reliever, selecting him in the 10th round of the 2025 MLB draft (No. 286) out of the University of Iowa.
Wright had an unconventional start to his baseball career. A native of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, Wright was a multi-sport standout in high school in football, baseball and, yes, basketball, even earning himself a McDonald’s All-America nomination. After graduation, he initially pursued a career in college football, walking on as a quarterback for the University of Wisconsin before returning to baseball.
Prior to landing in Iowa City, Wright had stops at Iowa Western Community College and the University of Houston. With the Hawkeyes in 2025, he went 2–2 with a 3.41 ERA in 18 games, striking out 20 over 29 innings. The full college tour? He went 6–5, with 60 Ks, in 80 innings, over 49 appearances. Not exactly world-beater numbers, but he got the job done.
On the mound, the 6´9´´ righty features a fastball that sits 91–93 mph and can touch 95, complemented by a much more interesting mid-80s cutter/slider.
The 24-year-old spent all but one game with the Single-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers in 2026, usually working toward the back end of the bullpen in the seventh and eighth innings. His first full professional season got off to a rocky start, posting a 5.84 ERA in April over 12⅓ innings. But Wright settled in as the season progressed, including a stretch of seven consecutive appearances in May and June without allowing an earned run.
He even squeezed in a successful Triple-A cameo. Called up to Charlotte for one game on August 9, Wright picked up the win after handling the third and fourth innings, allowing one run on two hits, walking none and striking out two. Not a bad way to spend a day away from the Ballers.
Wright’s improvement after that rough opening stretch gives him something to build on heading into 2027. He will likely open the season with the Double-A Birmingham Barons, and a strong start could earn him a longer look with the Charlotte Knights.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 11: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning in game one of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Free agency has officially begun, and the Dodgers are now on the clock to try to fortify their roster before the impending lockout.
Left-hander Tarik Skubal is atop the list of the most highly coveted free agents this offseason, and the Dodgers are not the only bidder for his services. Jeff Passan at ESPN reports that the New York Mets will compete with the Dodgers for the highest offer, while the Chicago Cubs want Skubal “badly.”
The two most obvious suitors are the two teams with the highest payrolls in baseball: The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. There are bound to be others. The Chicago Cubs badly want Skubal. They also are skeptical that they will be willing to compete at the sort of dollars Skubal is expected to get — well in excess of $300 million, potentially in the $400 million-plus range.
Alden Gonzalez of ESPN is more optimistic about the chances of Skubal returning to Los Angeles for 2027 and beyond.
He truly seemed to relish his 2½ months in Los Angeles. He loved the culture, particularly being among so many established, veteran players who were singularly focused on winning. He became besties with Blake Snell, was awed by the organization’s resources and, overall, seemed to fit in seamlessly.
Buster Olney of ESPN shared his thoughts on what type of deal Skubal is projected for, noting that a deal for him would resemble Kyle Tucker’s current deal with the Dodgers compared to Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s record setting deal.
After two fantastic years of Shohei Ohtani in Dodger blue, the two-way superstar and still reigning two-time NL MVP award winner mired in a power drought in the second half and beyond that rendered him obsolete in the starting lineup. That was until he hit a towering three-run home run that gave the Dodgers their final runs of the 2026 postseason.
David Adler of MLB.com notes that Ohtani’s Game 4 home run in the NLCS could help him get back on track hitting-wise before the start of the 2027 season.
When we’re seeing Ohtani connect with the baseball with bat speeds like that, we know his swing is in the right place. Are we overanalyzing one home run? Maybe! But we think that one home run was a harbinger of what’s coming next year: the return of MVP-level Ohtani.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 12: RJ Petit #58 of the Colorado Rockies plays catch during a spring training workout at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 12, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
Good morning, Purple Row!
Here’s what’s going on with the Colorado Rockies and the rest of Major League Baseball.
In case you missed it, 2025 Rule 5 pick RJ Petit was returned to the Detroit Tigers. Petit underwent Tommy John surgery in spring training and missed the entirety of the 2026 season. He had begun throwing in August, but the nature of the injury and the need for more roster space made it an easy decision to send him back to his original organization, where he can hopefully make his debut finally at some point.
The rumors of trading Hunter Goodman will again be a hot topic over the next few weeks. The team needs pitching, and Goodman is still the most valuable piece they have that could net them a couple of arms as needed. Whether or not they give in to that temptation remains to be seen, though.
On this week’s episode, Evan Lang and I discuss the Milwaukee Brewers’ World Series victory before breaking down the 40-man roster heading into the offseason activity. (This was recorded before moves were announced on Monday and Tuesday).
DNVR’s Christian Saez heard Alon Leichman’s side of the story as to why he was fired and heard the Rockies’ front office corroborate bits of the story. A lot of interesting stuff you can hear in the podcast episode below. To make a long story short, it came down to dysfunction.
MLB made another CBA proposal centered around a salary cap. This time, they offered to implement the system in 2028 with a floor of $180.2 million and a cap set at $258.2 million that year. This comes along with all the other proposals included in other offers. Needless to say, the players didn’t like the idea.
Our pals at our sister site, Lookout Landing, break down the news of the Seattle Mariners’ new manager, Jason Kanzler. It’s definitely an interesting hire that could also be a risky one for the Mariners.
Jim Callis runs through the rookies who graduated from the Top 100 prospects lists this year and assesses what their long-term value could be in MLB. There are a lot of talented rookies from that list, with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konner Griffin expected to have the best long-term value.
The Home Run Derby for the Arizona Fall League will happen on Saturday and it includes a handful of intriguing power-hitting prospects, including Jack O’Dowd (HM PuRP) of the Rockies.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Coach Jason Kanzler of the Houston Astros poses for photo during Photo Day at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on March 16, 2022 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Wednesday, everyone. Two big things will be guiding our news roundups over the coming weeks: free agency, which should begin to heat up soon, and also the looming labor dispute between MLB and MLBPA, which was dealt an interesting blow today that we’ll delve into more shortly.
We’ll also take a look at the new choice for the Mariners’ manager, potential trade targets, and why the heck is Pat Murphy apologizing?
All that and more below, so let’s just jump right into it.
With free agency already underway, and recognizing that Clubs will need a full offseason to operate within the cap and floor system, MLB is proposing to phase in the salary cap and floor in 2028
The projected cap and floor payrolls for 2028 would make 12 clubs increase payroll… pic.twitter.com/EfMErTa1Jo
The MLBPA already has something to say about the new cap proposal.
In response to the league's revised salary cap proposal, the MLBPA says "MLB owners continue to propose blowing up the current system and replacing it with one designed to line their pockets and increase their franchise values." pic.twitter.com/D8sIgMuFcR
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 23: A general view of play between the Bay FC and the Washington Spirit at Oracle Park on August 23, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/NWSL via Getty Images) | NWSL via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Yesterday, we took a look at all of the walk-offs from the 2026 San Francisco Giants season. Today, let’s take a look at the best strikeouts of the year, according to the team’s social media compilation below.
So grab your coffee, settle in, and enjoy!
What was your favorite strikeout moment from the 2026 Giants season?
Happy birthday to a World Series winner but an utterly hopeless infielder, five-year South Siders Skeeter Webb.
1909 Skeeter Webb was born, in Meridian, Miss. The five-year White Sox player has the distinction of being one of the worst second basemen of all time, ranking as the 1,513th-best at the position per JAWS as of 2026. Aside from a one-game debut in 1932 for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1932, every season Webb played in the majors was a negative-WAR effort, including five years in Chicago that amassed -2.5 WAR.
1959 White Sox pitching standout and central Black Sox World Series fixer Lefty Williams died in Laguna Beach, Calif.
Williams had just six games under his belt (1913-14) with the Detroit Tigers when the White Sox bought him out of the Pacific Coast League, where he’d spent 1915 killing it with the Salt Lake City Bees (33-12, 2.84 ERA in 418 2⁄3 innings pitched). Almost immediately he took on a regular load with the White Sox, averaging 287 2⁄3 innings pitched in his four full White Sox seasons (discounting 1918, part of which was spent in the shipyards as World War I service).
His numbers, though amazing by today’s standards, were average in pre-Live Ball times (for example, his career 3.13 ERA is actually just a 99 ERA+, a step below average). Still, in his two true, full-time starter seasons (1919 and 1920), Williams ran up 9.0 WAR, on the brink of All-Star level play — and at 27 years old, several peak seasons could still have been on the board for Lefty.
However, that all changed, as Williams lost a record three World Series games in 1919 and was unquestionably the player with the biggest impact on the thrown Series. While Williams had a -0.58 WPA for the series that was matched by Swede Risberg, his -24.38% cWPA far outpaced anyone else on the roster; in traditional numbers, the starter went 0-3 with a 6.61 ERA and eight walks against four Ks.
After his suspension by Charles Comiskey and subsequent banishment from baseball in 1921, Williams barnstormed and drank, often at the same time. He we worked in landscaping, and unlike co-conspirator Chick Gandil, never spoke of or professed his innocence over the Black Sox scandal.
1965 “El Señor,” manager Al Lopez, resigned his position with the White Sox for health reasons. Perhaps the greatest manager in franchise history, Lopez had nine winning seasons in his nine full-time years as Sox manager. He won the 1959 American League pennant, and was coming off of back-to-back-to-back 90 plus-win seasons in 1963, 1964 and 1965. The Sox averaged 96 wins per season during that time span, and those seasons remain the best three-season stretch in team history. Lopez’s 840 wins are second-most all-time for the White Sox. His 11 years managing in Chicago combined with six in Cleveland earned him induction into the Hall of Fame as a manager in 1977.
Lopez had expressed a desire to retire from managing after each of those stellar mid-60s seasons. He moved into the front office as a team vice president, helping steer the manager search along with GM Ed Short and owner Art Allyn.
Yankees scout Mayo Smith and Sox coach Charlie Metro were early favorites to replace Lopez, the club had amassed a list of nearly two dozen possible replacements. Eddie Stanky would be named to replace Lopez on December 14, but Lopez would come back to manage the White Sox in 1968 … replacing Stanky.
2012 Legendary Chicago Bulls announcer and Chicago native Jim Durham passed away in Tomball, Texas. Durham broadcasted play-by-play for the White Sox in 1988-89 and was a national baseball voice for ESPN Radio from 1998 to 2012.
Durham’s most memorable broadcasting call was for “The Shot” by Michael Jordan that upset the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs in 1989:
The inbounds pass comes in to Jordan. Here’s Michael at the foul line, the shot on Ehlo … GOOD!
(Johnny Kerr: THE BULLS WIN! THEY WIN!)
They upset the Cleveland Cavaliers! Michael Jordan hits it at the foul line!
(Kerr: WOOOH!)
101-100! 20,273 in stunned silence here in the [Richfield] Coliseum. Michael Jordan with 44 points in the game hit the shot over Craig Ehlo. What tremendous heroics we have had in Game 5, from both teams, what a spectacular series this has been. In my days in the NBA, 16 years, this is the greatest series I’ve ever seen!
2023 After an utterly dismal 2023 season of -2.0 WAR that ranked in a tie for third-worst ever in White Sox history among position players, Tim Anderson was released. The club bought him out for $1 million rather than commit to Tim’s $14 million option for 2024.
Anderson left the White Sox with 16.2 WAR for his career, ranking 39th all-time among hitters and as the ninth-best shortstop in club history. He was Chicago’s first round choice in 2013, and matriculated to the majors just three years later. His natural shyness quickly gave way to a motormouth personality that tended to get under the skin of opponents. Anderson was a two-time All-Star, won one Silver Slugger, and finished seventh in 2020 MVP voting while in Chicago.
The gamble taken by the White Sox did pay off, as Anderson signed a one-year deal with Miami and had an even worse season in 2024, sucking -1.5 WAR from the Marlins in just 63 games played.
As it stands — it seems unlikely that Anderson will see the major leagues again — Anderson’s closest career comp, with a 93.7% similarity score, is Alexei Ramírez, who Anderson replaced at shortstop for the White Sox.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 14: Aidan Miller #4 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a warm up toss during a game between the Peoria Javelinas and Surprise Saguaros at Surprise Stadium on October 14, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Election season is over, which means no more political commercials on TV. Now, we just get to hear about the politics of baseball via negotiations.
Dec 7, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; MLB commissioner Rob Manfred looks on during the presentation of the Allan H. Selling Award for philanthropic excellence during the 2022 MLB Winter Meetings at Manchester Grand Hyatt. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Good morning Birdland,
November is usually a “paperwork” type of month in baseball. Options getting accepted or declined. Qualifying offers and arbitration decisions going out. 40-man roster shuffling. The bigger stuff tends to happen later. But whether or not we can even get to those marquee moves all depends on if/when a new CBA can be agreed to. At the moment, it’s all up in the air. But we do have some news there.
Major League Baseball has delivered a proposal that makes a couple of headline changes from their last offer. First, the salary cap and floor system they wish to implement remains, but they have increased the threshold for both. Second, implementaion for those requirements would be delayed until 2028, giving teams one full season to become compliant.
The floor in this latest proposal has been lifted from $171.2 million to $180.2 million, while the cap has gone from $245.3 million up to $258.2 million. All of these numbers refer to the Competitive Balance Tax numbers. The Orioles CBT for 2026 was about $220 million. The Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, Padres, Red Sox, and Cubs would have some cutting to do. Twelve other teams would need to spend, at least a little, to reach the necessary payroll, including both the Brewers and Rays.
In addition, there were several other changes or agreements from the prior proposal:
The period to hit free agency would be reduced from six years to five years for 30-year-old players
The qualifying offer system would be eliminated, so no more draft pick compensation attached to free agents.
Minimum salaries would increase from $780,000 to $1 million for players with at least two years of service, and up to $900,000 for players with less than two years.
The Pre-Arbitration Bonus Pool will increase by 30% from $50 million in ‘26 to $65 million in ‘27, and then eventually to $75 million by the end of the CBA.
The Prospect Promotion Incentive program will be expanded to allow prospects to earn their team up to two selections in their career (one domestic and one international)
The number of times a player can be optioned in a season would be reduced from five to four and there would be no more fourth option years
Weekly rosters would be implemented, preventing players from being optioned or outrighted during the “playing week”
Changes to Rule 5 draft that would require players to be protected one year sooner, and would allow claiming clubs to option players to the minors.
None of this has been finalized, and it is entirely possible that much of this changes before an agreement is actually made. Many of these things are quite good for the players, but the continued presence of a cap is going to be a sticking point. Players do not want it. The owners clearly do. That single reason is why a lockout feels inevitable.
With that understood, it’s fair to say that this proposal feels more like public relations than it does a real offer from the league at this point. The changes read as very conciliatory and player friendly. And yes, there is certainly some good stuff in here. But it will be interesting to see if all of these stick should the proposed salary cap eventually be removed. Ultimately, that is the whole ball game.
Notes on arbitration eligibles, Kjerstad’s exit and latest free agent projections | Roch Kubatko It’s a shame how things worked out for Heston Kjerstad here in Baltimore. There is clearly offensive talent in him, but his health just would never cooperate for long enough to show it. Hopefully he gets a chance somewhere that can give him some extended big league at-bats to prove himself.
5 big-swing trade ideas for the Orioles to consider | The Banner The headline is no joke! Some of these ideas would be a massive trades. Reid Detmers is mentioned, and he does feel like “The Guy” that Mike Elias would covet this offseason. Young, left-handed, under team control for a long time. It would be great. But he’s also coming off of a career-best season, and every other team sees the same thing. A deal would be expensive.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Johnathan Rodríguez turns 27 today. The outfielder played in seven games for the Orioles this past season, including several starts as the team’s clean-up hitter. It was a weird season.
Larry Bigbie is 49 years old. The O’s first-round pick in 1999, Bigbie would play parts of five seasons in Baltimore from 2001 through ‘05. Then he was traded to the Rockies in a swap for Eric Byrnes.
Doug Corbett is 74 today. The right-handed reliever appeared in 11 games out of the Orioles bullpen in 1987.
The late Tito Francona (b. 1933, d. 2018) was born on this day. His MLB career began with the Orioles from 1956-57. After the ‘57 season he was part of a seven-player trade with the Chicago White Sox.
This day in O’s history
1975 – Jim Palmer wins his second Cy Young Award, coming off a season in which he led the AL in wins, shutouts, and ERA.
2002 – Orioles pitcher Rodrigo López finishes second in the voting for AL Rookie of the Year. He had a 3.57 ERA over 196.2 innings. Blue Jays slugger Eric Hinske finishes first.
2014 – J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones, and Nick Markakis are named Gold Glove winners at their respective positions. It’s the third straight year for Hardy and Jones, but it’s Markakis’ first win since 2011.
Happy birthday to John Grabow, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 1959 – Ernie Banks wins his second National League MVP Award in a row on the strength of his 45 home runs and 143 RBI for the Chicago Cubs. Eddie Mathews finishes second, and 2016 – Five million fans turn out for the Cubs’World Series victory parade in downtown Chicago, IL, 108 years in the making. The Chicago River is dyed in blue to celebrate the long-awaited title, and other stories as well.
1973 – NHL Chicago Black Hawks center Stan Mikita registers his 1,000 NHL career point in 5-3 loss to the Minnesota North Stars at the Met Centre, Bloomington, Minnesota.
1979 – 500 Iranian students loyal to Ayatollah Khomeini seize the US Embassy in Tehran, taking 90 hostages for 444 days.
1989 – Alexanderplatz demonstrations for political reforms draw over half a million people in East Berlin, significant event that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
1884 – Grover Cleveland (D) beats James G. Blaine (R) for his 1st presidential term, later becoming first US President to serve 2 non-consecutive terms.
1924 – Calvin Coolidge is elected to a full term as President of the United States, defeating Democrat candidate John W. Davis.
1980 – Republican candidate Ronald Reagan is elected President of the United States, defeating incumbent Democrat US President Jimmy Carter by a landslide.
2008 – Barack Obama becomes the first African-American to be elected President of the United States, defeating Republican candidate John McCain.
Today in music history:
1961 – American folk singer-songwriter Bob Dylan makes his Carnegie Hall (NYC) debut; tickets priced at $2.00.
1967 – British rock band Pink Floyd make US live debut, sharing the bill with Big Brother & The Holding Company, and singer-songwriter Richie Havens, at the Winterland Auditorium, San Francisco, California.
1968 – Capitol Records releases “Wichita Lineman,” the 12th album by Glen Campbell (Billboard Album of the Year, 1969).
1984 – Funk-rocker Prince opens his “Purple Rain” tour featuring his new band ‘The Revolution’ with the 1st of seven shows at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
1996 – British girl group the Spice Girls release their debut album “Spice,” it goes on to sell 23 million copies.
1997 – Mercury Nashville Records releases “Come On Over,” the third studio album by country music singer Shania Twain (Billboard Album of the Year, 1999).
2003 – “Shock’n Y’all,” the eighth studio album by Toby Keith is released (Billboard Album of the Year 2004).
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 11: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after pitching in the first inning during Game One of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
ESPN | Riley McDaniel: The Yankees are reportedly weighing making a play for Tarik Skubal, the top free agent on the market. Considering their depth at starting pitcher, the move would likely come with corresponding offloading of others at the position. The Dodgers and Mets are still considered the frontrunners for the two-time Cy Young Award winner, with the Angels, White Sox, and Padres looming as dark horses. In this roundup of free agency, former Yankees David Bednar, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Trent Grisham rank among the top 40 options as well.
ESPN: On the heels of his team’s championship, Brewers manager Pat Murphy has expressed regret for a Yankees gibe that has gained headlines. After the Game 5 clincher, Murphy invoked “that horses— Yankees team” where “you guys were all playing for yourself” to former Bomber and NLCS MVP Jake Bauers. “I called Brian Cashman right away when I heard [my comments] got out,” said Murphy, who added the remark was geared more towards big-market teams as a whole and less towards the 2026 Yankees in particular. The hot-mic moment struck a nerve for many as an echo of the Dodgers’ deriding of New York after toppling them in the 2024 Fall Classic.
New York Post | Christian Arnold: After the Yankees elected not to extend the qualifying offer to Chisholm Monday, his departure from New York appears a fait accompli. While the second baseman excelled in his first year and a half in pinstripes, he faltered this season, underperforming while drawing ire for playing with a lollipop in his mouth and making mental errors in the field. At 28, Chisholm is a fascinating free agency case who may draw interest for his talent despite a difficult walk year.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks fields a ball during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What is the biggest offseason priority for the Diamondbacks?
James Attwood: Pitching. They are losing Soroka, Gallen, Ginkel, Puk, Loaisiga, and Thompson just to start with. Is Ryne Nelson going to stay healthy? How about Rodriguez and Kelly? Oh yeah, then there is whether or not Corbin Burnes will ever be an effective starter again. So the answer is pitching n general, but starting pitching in particular.
Spencer: Avoid a lockout.
1AZFan1: I see the three biggest priorities as filling in the bullpen, adding one more starting pitcher, and adding a lefty bat who could also play 1B. Of those, the biggest priority to me is finding one more starter. Right now, our starting rotation is Burnes, ERod, Pfaadt, Merrill and Ryne(?). Questions abound in that group and the MLB-ready depth behind them in case of injury or ineffectiveness is suspect.
At first base, worst case you can run Tim Tawa out there and I think you could get reasonable production from him. He had a 98 wRC+ from July 1st on (102 wRC+ against righties) which was better than Freddie Freeman, Josh Naylor, Christian Walker and Nathaniel Lowe among 1B over the same time period. Then the bullpen, while a glaring weakness considering all the arms who are moving on via free agency, was always going to be a throw-stuff-at-the-wall solution to see what sticks.
Makakilo: Perhaps the biggest priority is to develop the performance of the current players, who have exceptional potential.
Ben: It’s a tossup between the starting rotation and first base in my opinion. In 2026, those were two standout weaknesses for the team by wins above average (WAA), ranking 15th in the NL by WAA for first base and left field while ranking 11th for their starting pitching. That last number also includes shocking bounceback seasons from both Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Soroka. I don’t think you can necessarily count on both of those pitchers re-creating those remarkable seasons two years in a row – assuming the team was able to re-sign Soroka.
Sam Bradfield: A serviceable first baseman/DH — whether that’s moving Arenado to first, or going out and getting someone else (Paul Goldschmidt reunion, perhaps?)
Who is your most optimistic, but still realistic, get for the Diamondbacks?
James Attwood: Michael Soroka. There is still the chance he appreciates the treatment he received in AZ and that he likes the atmosphere where he was given a mile of leash. He also took a massive hit to his free agent value when he went to the IL for more than just a game late in the season. Of the starting caliber players on the free agent market, he may actually be obtainable by Arizona, assuming no one else offers him a Merrill Kelly or better contract.
Spencer: The third baseman from Japan. Sato? He’s probably going to be out of the price range, but maybe.
1AZFan1: I think Michael Soroka fits the bill here. I’m not sold that he’ll be worth the money just because I’m worried that injuries will be a regular part of his career moving forward, but if we pay up for a starting pitcher it might as well be him.
Makakilo: Ty France, who would play at first base.
Ben: I think they could realistically target someone like Ty France. He was one of the most valuable defensive first basemen last year with 0.9 defensive WAR from Baseball Reference to go along with a 139 OPS+ in 2026. At 32 years old, he could be a good candidate for a medium-long contract to allow someone else to bubble up from the farm system like LuJames Groover. Spotrac estimates a 3 year/$49 million contract for him, but everything is up in the air given the potential labor unrest this offseason.
Sam Bradfield: If they decide to move Nolan Arenado to first, perhaps they could go after Ryan McMahon from the Yankees? He could be another former intra-division reclamation project, and he’d be a good left-handed platoon for when Nolan needs a day off from third.
Does Ketel Marte get traded? Should Ketel Marte get traded?
James Attwood: I honestly don’t think he’ll be traded, even though Arizona might be better off without his attitude in the clubhouse. Ketel Marte apparently loves it in Arizona, at least as far as living and for his family. It is also fairly common knowledge he dislikes Florida and Texas, which eliminate four teams off the bat. Add in teams like Colorado, Pittsburgh, and a handful of others, and there are maybe 8-10 teams in all of MLB that would be an eligible fit. Except, if Marte doesn’t want to go, he doesn’t have to go. If Arizona is going to trade him, it is almost a certainty that they will have to incentivize Marte to accept a trade. Those sort of incentives are usually monetary in nature, meaning that any money saved by moving Marte is probably eaten by the incentive.
Would Arizona be better off trading him? Should they trade him? If they can get a deal in the same tier as the trade offer put up by Boston last winter, they should probably ask Marte to accept the move. Boston isn’t even going to have a lick of interest though, so chalk off another potential trade target. Because of all the complications, and because the Snakes don’t have a real alternative available right now, it seems unlikely to me he gets traded.
Spencer: Yes. And no. There’s no iteration of this team that’s better without Ketel. But if he’s as big a clubhouse cancer as twitter would have us believe, the long term health of the franchise might depend on him being elsewhere for the rest of his career.
1AZFan1: Yes. I think ownership is done with Ketel and they will pressure Hazen to move on from him. I don’t think Ketel should be traded, at least not for what we will likely get back for him.
Makakilo: Early last season, two AZ Snake PIt articles discussed Ketel Marte’s batting. Despite concerns, the positives were improved squared up percentages for five pitch types, and the average exit velocity was better than 2025.
In October, the following AZ Snake Pit article discussed reasons that next season Marte’s performance could improve or dwindle.
https://www.azsnakepit.com/arizona-diamondbacks-analysis/98356/which-direction-marte As far as predictors for next season, my take (perhaps a too-quick conclusion) from a FanGraphs article (link follows) was that exit velocity and hard-hit percentage are somewhat good predictors of next season’s performance. From that viewpoint, I’m optimistic about Marte’s performance because among qualified Diamondback batters, his 101.5 MPH EV50 tied for best, and although his 43.0% hard-hit percentage was third best, his 18.9% percent of hard-hit swings was the best. Data from Baseball Savant.
In conclusion, his performance will likely bounce back, and his hitting fundamentals are among the best players on the Diamondbacks, and therefore he should remain a Diamondback.
Ben: I don’t think Marte gets traded. It wouldn’t shock me if a team inquired and even put together an offer for him, but I would be surprised if he actually accepted waiving his 10-5 rights for such a trade to actually take place. Whether or not Ketel should get traded is a separate question I don’t quite know how to answer. His behavior clearly has been a distraction the past two seasons, but he’s also been the face of this current contention window and one of the emotional centers of the team. I’m not convinced his behavior can’t be improved and he can return to form.
Sam Bradfield: I don’t think he will be traded, but it all depends on what they’re able to get for him in return.
Does Ken Kendrick do his thing and blow the budget for one entirely unexpected player, and if so, who?
James Attwood: Almost certainly not. For one thing, outside of potentially Tarik Skubal, there isn’t anyone on the free agent market that is even remotely worth spending for, especially once ages are taken into consideration and the fact that 2027 if probably going to be abbreviated. Ken Kendrick in his wildest dreams is not in the running for Tarik Skubal, no matter how badly he might want him. There simply is no path forward for Arizona to even be allowed to sit at the negotiating table.
Spencer: Not this year. But Skubal if he does….. and it’ll be bad.
1AZFan1: I doubt it. He’s been burned each time he’s done it (I suppose we could give the Burnes signing an Incomplete, though). I really do think that he’s trying to trim the budget and given his track record in last minute splurges, he’ll exercise self control and let Hazen do his thing.
Makakilo: If I could predict the player, it would no longer be entirely unexpected.
Ben: Ian Happ feels like the kind of player that Ken would like to sign randomly. He’d be a relatively expensive (2 years/$40 million per Spotrac) addition who could be valuable as a veteran voice on the team. Of course, at 32, he’s a prime candidate for regression and the outfield is one area that has some excellent depth on the roster and in the farm system.
Sam Bradfield: I don’t think so — I think the lockout means a lot of owners will play things closer to the vest this year, unfortunately.
Thoughts on Ben Fritz joining the team?
James Attwood: Meh.
Spencer: Never heard of him. He sounds perfect
1AZFan1: Obvious caveat that I have no idea how impactful a bullpen coach is, but Fritz has overseen one of the best bullpens in baseball over the last several years. The thing I like most about the signing is that we’re taking a good coach away from one of our direct competitors in the NL West which hopefully doubles the impact of this move.
Makakilo: The best candidates get chosen early in the offseason. Check! The best candidates are currently in a similar job. Check! For the Diamondbacks, injury prevention is essential to prevent a repeat of last season. The following two quotes show that Ben Fritz has that skill. Check!
“He’s very good at reading body language. He knows when a guy needs a day or a second day. That’s kind of helped us keep most of these guys healthy.” — Craig Stammen, July 2026 https://www.si.com/mlb/padres/onsi/padres-lose-key-pitching-coach-nl-west-rival-diamondbacks
“He knows deliveries, he knows pitching, he knows analytics. He’s been a coordinator, he’s been a pitching coach, he’s been a rehab coordinator, and he’s been in the Major Leagues these past two years.” — Jayce Tingler, August 2021 https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/who-is-ben-fritz-get-to-know-the-padres-new-pitching-coach/2700294/
Ben: I mean, Fritz clearly did a good job handling an excellent San Diego bullpen so that gives me some optimism that he could re-create that somewhat here in Arizona. Of course, it helps that he was working with some of the best relievers in the sport. It’s the third pitching coach over the last five years with mixed results. What exactly will Fritz do to change that dynamic?
Sam Bradfield: I think he’s a good hire. The Padres’ bullpen was nails last year. Granted, they had some excellent arms with Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon, which I’m sure helped. But overall, I’m optimistic.
Place Your Bets, Offseason edition: What date does the season start?
James Attwood: At some point in 2028
Spencer: July 15
1AZFan1: May 1st. I think ownership caves once games start getting missed. I don’t think I’ll be satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations, either. Probably a salary floor gets introduced, but no meaningful salary cap will get through and the deep-pocketed teams will continue to soak up every small market’s favorite player, forcing the small markets to spend their money on locking up players super early or on mid-tier free agents to meet the minimum spend requirements.
Makakilo: How about 2 July because it would add to the celebration of the fourth of July?
Ben: May 30th. As worried as I am about missing the entire season, I’m optimistic there will be enough pressure from the inside and outside that after missing around six weeks of the regular season will be enough for the sides to compromise somehow.
Sam Bradfield: I’m predicting May — after both sides lose a month of salary, they’ll be ready to come back and get things going.
With a new owner who has a history of being ready to sign a blank check, the organization finds itself handcuffed as they enter free agency.
MLB Insider of The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal, made his per usual regular appearance on “Foul Territory” on Tuesday and spoke about the complications that linger in the Angels offseason.
Could new Angels ownership look to make a SPLASH by signing Tarik Skubal? @Ken_Rosenthal explains why it's a little more complex than you'd think… pic.twitter.com/jNNouNBmts
“Ownership is not expected to be approved until at least December. So they can’t really act, even to hire a president of baseball operations, much less sign a Tarik Skubal,” Rosenthal said. “And will Skubal’s agent, Scott Boras, be willing to wait if, before the lockout starts on December 1. they can get the deal they want.”
When the Angels announced the sale, they added that they don’t expect it to be approved by MLB until the end of the first quarter of 2027.
Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke on the sideline at an NFL game. Getty Images
OFFICIAL: Kroenke Sports & Entertainment ("KSE") announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling interest in the Los Angeles Angels Baseball Club from the Moreno Family.
While landing the most highly coveted in free agency might be a pipe dream for the Angels, they will have a long way to go before they start signing free agents.
As Rosenthal mentioned, the priority for the Angels during November will be to find a new president of baseball operations. From there, they will have to sign a new general manager and manager.
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Los Angeles Angels slugger Mike Trout hitting a home run against the New York Yankees. Robert Sabo for NY PostLos Angeles Angels middle infielders Zach Neto and Christian Moore during an MLB game. JASON SZENES/NY POST
On October, 21. the Angels announced that they would be relieving Kurt Suzuki of his duties as manager after they endured their first 100-loss season in franchise history.
Mozeliak was originally hired as baseball operations consultant while doing the roles as interim general manager after team president Molly Jolly fired Perry Minasian of his duties as general manager.
“I think it’s best that I just honor the role I signed up for and then ultimately turn that over to people that are going to be committed to this for the long term,” Mozeliak said to Fletcher.
