Category: MLB

Every offseason, Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Picollo picks up the phone and tries to convince 29 other front offices that his prospects are worth more than they think. Or at least we hope he is this active.

On The Royals Rundown Podcast, we had Jeremy Greco play Picollo, while I served as the opposing general manager. We negotiated trades, and Jeremy wrote about his offseason plan in Playing Picollo Part 2. If you missed that episode, you can listen to it here.

The rules were simple. Jeremy ran the Royals with a shopping list of team needs. I played opposing GMs, and my only job was to protect my team and get a fair deal. No charity, no hometown discount, no pretending a Low-A reliever is a future closer because he’s wearing powder blue. While I am not a front office executive, I tried considering what holes my imaginary organization had, where their competitive timeline stood, and ultimately get the help they needed and could use.

We talked through six players. Four deals got done, two fell apart, and by the end Kansas City had a new rotation and a much thinner farm system. Here is the logic behind every call I made from the other side of the table.

All prospect rankings are from MLB Pipeline.

Reid Detmers (Angels): deal done

Royals get: LHP Reid Detmers

Angels get: LHP David Shields (#4), C Blake Mitchell (#5), RHP Jack Slightom (#12)

If you’re going to ask me for my best starter, you’re going to pay for my best starter. Detmers threw 185 innings with a 3.36 ERA, struck out 211, and was worth 4.2 WAR, and he comes with two more years of team control. His changeup generates whiffs like a buy-one-get-one coupon generates foot traffic, and he got better as the year went on, posting a 2.05 ERA after the All-Star break. Bring him to Kauffman Stadium, and he’s not a back-end piece, he’s likely the Royals’ Opening Day starter.

Jeremy’s opening offer leaned on Slightom and red-hot outfielder Angeibel Gomez. It was tough to reject, but Gomez is still far away from a big-league debut, so I countered with Shields, Mitchell, and Kendry Chourio. Neither of us was getting everything we wanted, so we met in the middle: Shields, Mitchell, and Slightom.

From the Angels’ chair, I liked it. I told Jeremy I felt I got the better end, and that the deal only swings back their way if both the arm and the bat miss. Jeremy’s response was that both carry red flags. That’s fair. It’s also exactly what a GM says after they’ve already hung up the phone.

The headline of this deal is not a single prospect, but rather two in Shields and Mitchell. Shields had an electric 2026 season, staying all year in the High-A Quad Cities rotation en route to the Midwest League championship. There are concerns about Shields’ velocity, but the then-19-year-old hurler had little problem this year against more experienced batters.

He is a starter through and through, and few pitchers are better poised to start their age-20 season in Double-A than Shields. While the minor-league run environment exploded this season, I looked at Shields’ 2.48 SIERA in valuing him. For comparison, Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski led MLB with a 2.35 SIERA this season. The results will not translate one-to-one from High-A to MLB, but they show how elite a pitcher Shields was in 2026.

The wild card here is Mitchell, the uber-athletic catcher with a polarizing batting profile. His 23 homers and 27 stolen bases in High-A this season put him in elite company, while his 131 wRC+ shows how much more productive he was than his peers However, the 34.1% strikeout rate is a huge red flag, even weighed against a 22.1% walk rate. That ratio would be among the better in MLB, but it was only tied for 212th among High-A batters alone. Add in his contact issues, and Mitchell feels like an all-or-nothing prospect Kansas City could move on from after the 2026 season. The Angels lack a clear top catching prospect better than Mitchell, so shoring up that position with an MLB hole to boot feels feasible.

Slightom is more of a wild card, not because of any flaws or red flags, but because he has yet to show what he can do in professional games. Kansas City liked him enough to give him an above-slot deal after drafting him this year in the second round, thanks to projectable stuff and a starter’s build. But with no affiliated action yet, the jury is still out on what Slightom will be. I looked at that build and his fastball, coupled with a unique delivery, and think there is a solid prospect there to work with on his secondary offerings. Here is a quick look at him down in Arizona.

Logan Gilbert (Mariners): no deal

My ask: 3B Josh Hammond (#3), UTL Nick Loftin (MLB), LHP Dash Albus (NR)

The Gilbert talks are where I learned the most about playing the other side. Jeremy kept offering pieces that made sense for the Royals to move. I kept asking for pieces that made sense for the Mariners to own.

Michael Massey was the easy no. Seattle’s middle infield is already a crowded elevator, with Cole Young, Brendan Donovan, Michael Arroyo and Brock Rodden all waiting for the doors to open. Adding another second baseman solves nothing. Third base is the real long-term hole, especially with Donovan hitting free agency after 2027. That’s why I pushed for Hammond.

I also wasn’t going to let Jeremy forget what they were buying. Gilbert has one year of control left and projects to make about $15.4 million in his final arbitration year. One year of an ace is still one year. I wanted Loftin, not Isaac Collins, and Jeremy wouldn’t budge on Loftin. The talks did not last long on Gilbert, but opened another door in Seattle.

George Kirby (Mariners): deal done

Royals get: RHP George Kirby

Mariners get: C Ramon Ramirez (#7), RHP Lucas Braun (#16), LHP Dash Albus (NR)

So we stayed in Seattle and changed the name on the jersey. I countered with Ramirez, Braun, and Albus for two years of Kirby, and Jeremy took it.

My pitch was simple. Kirby is coming off a down 2026, a 4.33 ERA in 174.2 innings, which is the only reason he’s available at this price. The Royals get a surefire rotation arm with two years of control, and the Mariners turn a pitcher in a dip into three young pieces. Jeremy walked away thinking they gave up very little in Braun and Albus. Sometimes the best trades are the ones where both sides think they won the coin flip.

Ramirez is the headline piece here for Seattle, banking on the still underappreciated catching prospect in the Royals’ system. While an injury took some time from him this summer, his High-A performance went well overall. Looking at his skills behind the plate from 2025 to 2026, I feel comfortable with him sticking as a catcher after some fielding and blocking concerns raised eyebrows last season. His bat is what will carry him, and the bat speed remains tantalizing after a 2025 injury saw his power decline following his return. He would join Seattle’s organization as a well-rounded alternative to Luke Stevenson, the Mariners’ current top catching prospect.

The Royals need pitching depth heading into 2027, but if there was room to let Braun walk, I was going to take it. With youngsters Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan pushing for MLB roles in 2027, there is a steep drop off to the Mariners’ next wave of pitching talent. Braun serves more as an insurance policy than a high-ceiling add, but with a 3.69 SIERA in Triple-A action last season, that is his best role in any organization. The control is his calling card, but Braun lacks a tool that screams MLB regular to me. Still, you carry insurance for a reason, and Seattle will likely need some on their supporting starting staff.

This was the second time I tried to get Albus, and I finally landed him for Seattle. Albus is not a top-30 prospect, but relievers rarely are. The 19th rounder from the 2024 MLB Draft now has two steady seasons in the Royals organization, pitching at least 55 innings each year. His jump from 13.8% K-BB% in 2025 to 21.4% K-BB% in 2026 gives him some helium. Albus was also among High-A’s best pitchers at inducing chase swings (39.8%, 98th percentile) and limiting in-zone contact (73.5%, 94th percentile). Those are not aberrations, but rather him improving on what he was strongest with at Low-A last season. Heading into his age-24 season, Albus should start next season at Double-A.

Nick Lodolo (Reds): no deal

My ask: LHP Justin Lamkin (8), OF Asbel Gonzalez (15)

Lodolo’s 2026 was a story told mostly by blisters. He finished with a 4.97 ERA in 108.2 innings. Look past that and you find a pitcher who, in his healthy 2025, posted a 3.33 ERA over 156.2 innings and 4.7 WAR. He has one year of control left at a projected $5.7 million, which is a bargain for a guy who can pitch like that when his fingers cooperate.

So I asked for Lamkin and Gonzalez, essentially the price of the 2025 version. Jeremy refused to pay 2025 prices for a 2026 Lodolo. I understood the logic. I also pointed out that they had just paid exactly that kind of price for a George Kirby coming off his own down year. Consistency is a lot to ask from a general manager. Apparently it’s even more to ask from a podcast host. This was also before Lamkin really started taking off in the Arizona Fall League, so my buy-low attempt on the Texas A&M alum fell short. Thank goodness for Royals fans.

Ryan Feltner (Rockies): deal done

Royals get: RHP Ryan Feltner

Rockies get: RHP Felix Arronde (#21), LHP Darwin Rodriguez (NR)

Feltner found a niche in piggyback and bulk relief work, and his changeup is the kind of pitch that looks better the farther it gets from Coors Field. He projects to make about $3.8 million in arbitration and isn’t a lock to be tendered. Getting him out of Colorado is a bet that he becomes something else. Plenty of pitchers have walked out of that altitude and found out who they really were.

Of every deal we made, this is the one I like most from the opposing side. Colorado turns a non-tender candidate into two arms. Kansas City gets a lottery ticket with a really good changeup.

Arronde had a ton of helium coming into 2026, after pitching 128.2 High-A innings with a 2.80 ERA in that span. He was not a dominant strikeout pitcher, but adeptly limited home runs and induced ineffective contact in his 26 appearances. But the burgeoning minor-league run environment was a brick wall for him in 2026, where he jumped to Double-A and pitched his third consecutive 100-plus-inning season. The strikeouts ticked up, but the walk rate spiked from 8.1% to 11.2%. His home run rate was one of the worst in minor league baseball, allowing 2.14 home runs per nine innings, or 25 in his 24 total appearances. He was a consistent presence in the strike zone this year, and hopefully a repeat of Double-A this coming season gets him back on track.

Rodriguez is a nice-to-have in this deal as a guy who, like Albus, has factors that say he could develop into a big-league contributor in coming years. The Venezuelan pitched a career-high 115 innings this season, all at Low-A Columbia, with a 3.83 ERA, 3.55 FIP, and 3.54 SIERA all showing how consistent he was in Columbia. His control sets up a so-so arsenal well, somehow getting batters to chase at a 32.4% rate while only whiffing 23.5% of the time. He was a late starter to his professional career, but has been remarkably consistent over the past three years. High-A offers the next test, though, and his lacking stuff might be his downfall. But finding that next fastball shape for Rodriguez and honing the changeup, that is on my organization.

Dylan Crews (Nationals): deal done

Royals get: OF Dylan Crews

Nationals get: LHP Daniel Lynch IV (MLB), OF Sean Gamble (#10)

The first position player added in this exercise is banking on a blue-chip prospect benefitting from a change of scenery. Crews has the pedigree and a solid glove, but no track record of production yet. He hit .223/.289/.374 with an 82 OPS+ in 2026, good for 0.7 WAR. My honest projection is that he peaks as a 1- to 2-WAR player. Talent doesn’t win ballgames. Production does. But he would still serve as an improvement to the current Royals outfield and give the team room to add another impact bat in the outfield, where hopefully Crews would serve more as a supplementary role in center field or left as needed.

What Crews does offer the Royals is cost certainty. He’s pre-arbitration through 2027 and under team control through 2030, and that matters for a payroll that just swallowed Detmers, Kirby, and Feltner. When the rotation gets expensive, a cheap outfielder with upside starts to look like a necessity.

Jeremy’s offer included Yandel Ricardo (#11 in the farm system). I swapped Ricardo out for Lynch and asked for Gamble and Lynch. The logic was based entirely on Washington’s needs. With Seaver King and Eli Willits holding down shortstop, Washington needs a future multi-position outfielder with some base power more than another infielder, and Gamble fits. Lynch fills a bullpen that needs left-handed arms, and with Washington’s recent track record of testing out pitching reclamation projects, I think the 2018 first-rounder would offer them a starting option that I know Kansas City fans do not want to see pitching against them.

Gamble’s season is a Rorschach test. He finished with a 72 wRC+ at Low-A as a 19-year-old, but he also stole 38 bases, including 12 in his final 23 games. His power ticked up late, too, with a .123 ISO from August on compared to .107 for the year. Squint one way and he’s a speedster still learning to hit. Squint the other, and he’s a young hitter starting to find damage. As the Nationals, I’ll happily take that ink blot.

He was exclusively in center field for Columbia last year, flashing his speed and reaction on plenty of highlight-reel plays. I am still interested in the versatile profile he had coming out of IMG Academy last year, but his future likely lies in center or left. The Nationals do have some outfield prospects, but like Gamble, all are far from the league. Luke Dickerson is a similar profile to Gamble, but is not a surefire guy to push Gamble off Washington’s radar altogether.

The final tally

When the dust settled, five of the Royals’ top 12 prospects were wearing new uniforms: Shields, Mitchell, Ramirez, Gamble, and Slightom. In return, Kansas City added three starting pitchers and a cost-controlled outfielder. Taking that opposing general manager hat off after this exercise, I feel that is the aggressive stance Kansas City needs to take this offseason if they want to improve the big-league product, without hedging their bets on a litany of prospects who have not played above High-A.

But give Jeremy credit for what he didn’t move. They held on to Chourio and Gomez, the two best players in the system, and Hammond stayed put because he wouldn’t part with Loftin in the Gilbert talks. A front office can survive trading depth. It rarely survives trading the future, and all three have hopeful roles in the next great wave of Royals prospects.

There was a strange beauty in playing the other side of this equation. I was able to go get guys I want to see progress like Rodriguez and Albus, while adding prospects who would be likely top-ten additions to any system out there. Will our thought process come to fruition? Likely not, just like many free agent or trade predictions we will see over the offseason ahead. But that intent on Kansas City’s end is what needs to materialize if fans are to believe 2026 was an injury-fueled fluke rather than a return to the baseball purgatory Kansas City has occupied for much of my adult life.

The Braves gave veteran infielder Kyle Farmer the opportunity to return to his hometown of Atlanta. They didn’t give him much of an opportunity to do much else, though, as Farmer spent most of the season on the big league roster but barely played.

How Acquired

The Braves brought in Kyle Farmer as a free agent in early February 2026 before releasing and then re-signing him in March. The nine-year MLB veteran had spent the 2025 season with the Colorado Rockies.

What were the expectations?

Farmer was added as an end-of-bench utility option that could provide infield depth, including shortstop. The Braves were potentially interested because of Ha-Seong Kim’s injury. Farmer also gave the team some additional outfield depth and, having limited MLB experience at catcher earlier in his career, was able to serve as the de facto third catcher when on the active roster.

As a player who’d seen action in 97 or more games in every non-2020 season since 2019, Farmer seemed to be in line to see a decent amount of action as a pinch-hitter and reserve. That said, he had an awful 2025 (-1.0 fWAR in 300 PAs), which interrupted a streak of fine-if-below-average performances in 2021-2024. Put those things together and he was projected to be above replacement-ish, but nothing resembling solid bench production or anything like that.

2026 Results

Farmer made the Opening Day roster but saw limited action until landing on the IL in mid-May. Limited action is kind of overselling it: in about six weeks, he got 15 PAs across ten games. He returned on July 4, got one PA across two games, and then was released on the 21st of the same month. He then came back on a minor league deal and returned to the big league club when rosters expanded on September 1, getting three PAs in two games down the stretch.

Add that all up, and he appeared in only 14 games during the season, his lowest total since debuting with the Los Angles Dodgers in 2017. He mustered only 19 plate appearances, slashing .222/.211/.278 (25 wRC+) with three RBI. Defensively, he appeared at third base, second base and shortstop and didn’t do anything to distinguish himself in a tiny sample. He finished 2026 with -0.1 fWAR, his second consecutive sub-replacement season.

What went right?

Farmer was able to spend most of the season on the big league roster — only about six weeks was he on a minor league deal — but otherwise it was a very quiet campaign for the 36-year-old. He only started one game: April 30 at home against the Detroit Tigers, when he went 1-for-3 as the team’s DH. That was the most WPA he earned on the season, too (0.03), as his second-inning single helped push across the first run of the game. If that wasn’t his most notable game, then it was probably his 1-for-3 performance against Cleveland on April 12 when he doubled and knocked in two runs after pinch-hitting for DH Dom Smith.

The fact that the organization kept him on the active roster while avoiding giving him playing time likely speaks to how the team valued his off-the-field contributions.

What went wrong?

After May 15, Farmer only appeared in four games with Atlanta — two in July and two in September. Given he only played in 10 of the team’s first 45 games, the lack of playing time stands out given he’d been a regular or highly-used reserve for the prior seven seasons. He went hitless for the remainder of the season after singling on April 30. Could the Braves have found a better use for his roster spot? That’s probably the biggest “what went wrong” with regard to his season, though given that the Braves won 94 games, it’s not a huge concern.

WPA-wise, his worst performance came during a meaningless contest against the Marlins on September 27. Farmer replaced Ozzie Albies and went 0-for-2, including a strikeout with two out and the tying run on base in the seventh.

2027 outlook

Atlanta has serious questions at shortstop with Kim unlikely to return after a disastrous season, and Mauricio Dubón a free agent. The team has multiple shortstop prospects, but they are all likely at least a season away. The team tends to hoard middle infielders at Gwinnett, so it isn’t out of the question that Farmer might return to the organization on a minor league deal if a better opportunity doesn’t come knocking, or if he doesn’t retire.

Farmer could serve minor league depth or in a big league role similar to the one he had in 2026 — and one Luke Williams held for several seasons — a utility man capable of handling shortstop as a reserve and serving as an emergency catcher. That said, it’s now been two years since Farmer actually provided any value to a team, and he’s now a half-decade removed from his one solidly average season, so, much like 2026 — if any team rosters him, it probably isn’t for what he can provide on the field.

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.