ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 19: Bryan Baker #47 of the Tampa Bay Rays prepares to pitch during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game six of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on October 19, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A career year results in more accolades for Bryan Baker as the 31-year old hurler has been named the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year.
This award, which debuted in 2014, is given out by Major League Baseball honoring the top relief pitcher in the American League. The National League honor is named after Trevor Hoffman and was awarded to Mason Miller of the San Diego Padres.
Baker came very close to receiving another award as he finished third for the BBWAA American League reliever of the year; that award went to Louis Varland of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Baker was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 11th round of the 2016 draft. At the 2018 trade deadline, Baker was sent as the Player to be Named Later to the Toronto Blue Jays along with Chad Spanberger and Forrest Wall for Seunghwan Oh. Baker toiled away in Toronto’s system for several years before making his MLB debut in 2021.
That November, Baker was designated for assignment and then picked up off of waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. For the next few years, the Orioles turned to Baker frequently but he was never the type to be used in the highest leverage situations.
During the 2025 season, Baker’s K% soared and he caught the interest of the Tampa Bay Rays. On July 10th, the Rays pulled the trigger on a deal that brought Baker to Tampa Bay in exchange for the 37th overall selection in the upcoming draft; the Rays would actually acquire the player drafted, Slater de Brun, back in December in the Shane Baz trade.
Baker pitched well but the on field results didn’t fully show it. But there was reason to believe in Baker for the 2026 season.
With the new season, Baker took over as the Rays closer with a devastating fastball-change-up combo. Baker utilized this arsenal to become one of the elite relief pitchers of the game, appearing in 65 games during the regular season and compiling a 1.44 ERA | 3.07 FIP with a 25.5 K% and 9.0 BB% over 62.1 IP. Baker converted 41 of 44 save opportunities, and set a new franchise record with 29 consecutive saves.
During the postseason, Baker was incredible as he didn’t allow a run over 9 appearances, securing saves in 5 of the Rays 8 playoff victories.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 20: Tim Hill #54 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on June 20, 2024, in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians, according to Jon Heyman, are in the mix for free agent, left-handed reliever Tim Hill.
I, for one, am tired of watching 65 year-old Tim Hill dominate the Guardians with his 85 mph fastball, so, I say, sign him.
MLB believes that MLBPA is floating the possibility of dissolving the union and then filing anti-trust lawsuits to take CBA negotiations to federal court once the lockout goes into effect. I do wonder if this is potentially a negotiating tactic to see if the league will back off early from its demand for a salary cap. And, again, I don’t want to think about the nightmare of ridiculous negotiating tactics ahead of all of us baseball fans for the next 5-12 months.
Cade Smith finished second in AL Reliever of the Year honors, Parker Messick finished third in AL Cy Young voting (give us ANOTHER draft pick, you cowards!), and Smith also made MLB’s Second All-Star team.
In case you missed it, Zack Meisel of the Athletic provided updates from Guardians POBO Chris Antonetti at the GM Meetings. Antonetti was apparently busy meeting with free agents as the Guardians seem intent on adding a starting pitcher via free agency or trade. Interestingly, Antonetti noted the need isn’t as dire as when they swung deals for Luis Ortiz and Slade Cecconi, so I’d expect only one move in that way. He mentioned looking for a “complementary player” for the offense, which could be a righty-masher or a lefty-masher depending on whom they believe in more among David Fry, Jo Adell, Kyle Manzardo and Cooper Ingle, in my humble opinion.
Emmanuel Clase owed $700K in back taxes which the government is trying to say provides a reason for his exploring gambling.
Winter/Fall Ball Updates:
The Surprise Sagauros won yesterday with Tyreese Turner going 1 for 3, Luke Hill going 0-2 with 2 walks, Cam Schuelke and Kyle Scott each throwing a scoreless inning, and Angel Perez giving up a run in an inning of work.
Jaison Chourio went 3-5 with a stolen base and Alfonsin Rosario went 2-4 in Venezuela Winter League action, and Jose Tena went 1-5 in Dominican Winter Ball.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals looks on during a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on September 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At the GM Meetings, Spencer Nusbaum came out with a big report that the Nationals are likely to keep CJ Abrams. Given the fact that Abrams has been in trade rumors for a year now, this is major news. In his video, Nusbaum said that the Nats want to be competitive in 2027, and obviously keeping Abrams would be pivotal in accomplishing that goal.
Plans can always change, but at the moment, people around MLB and those familiar with the Nationals’ line of thinking all feel it is likely that CJ Abrams remains with the team through the winter. From the GM meetings: pic.twitter.com/BLniSxLElg
The Nats shortstop/second baseman is coming off a career year in 2026. He hit .261 with 33 homers, 34 steals, 106 RBI and an .833 OPS. Those are extremely impressive numbers for a middle infielder. Sure, Abrams hit a bit of a wall in August and early September. However, he finished strong with a .913 OPS in his last 13 games.
It felt like Abrams had a tough time with all the trade rumors and a position switch he did not want to happen. However, seeing him rally and produce well over the last couple weeks of the season was important to see. Heading into 2027, Abrams will need to be a leader for this group.
The 26 year old is now truly one of the veterans on this Nats team. He is entering his 5th full season as a National. Abrams has now made two All-Star teams and posted career bests in most categories last year. That status in the league comes with new responsibilities. We will have to see if Abrams is up for the challenge.
By making it clear that they are not trading him, the Nats are putting a lot of faith into Abrams. I am sure their analytical models are saying this would be the time to sell high on Abrams. However, Paul Toboni is making it clear that he wants to build a winner with Abrams on the team.
Don’t get it twisted, this is a risky move from a value perspective. We could be looking back at this in July and wondering why we didn’t sell high on CJ Abrams. If the team does not take real steps forward next season, moving Abrams would be the smart thing. By keeping Abrams, the Nats are betting that they could at least compete for the Wild Card.
Hopefully this bet comes with increased spending, but I would not be so sure. In his video, Nusbaum said that keeping Abrams and wanting to push for the playoffs does not necessarily mean the Nats will go on some massive spending spree. He also wrote another article where he said the Nats are unlikely to throw massive multi-year contracts at relievers.
Those kinds of reliever contracts do often blow up in your face, but the bullpen is such a big need. The Nats need to secure the back end of the bullpen somehow. We will see if that comes from a trade or a one-year deal on a veteran like Raisel Iglesias. If you don’t want to sell high on Abrams, you need to build the right team around him.
From a fan’s perspective, it is really nice to see them come out and say Abrams is likely to stay. When he is rolling, Abrams is a wonderful player to watch. His combination of power and athleticism is mesmerizing to watch. There are not many players who can truly carry a lineup for weeks, but Abrams is one of those guys.
— Baseball Performances (@MLBPerformances) July 26, 2026
This decision not to trade Abrams is one of the biggest decisions this regime has made so far. In these big decisions, I think the front office has done a good job so far. They sold high on MacKenzie Gore, made a good managerial hire in Blake Butera and brought in a great staff. Now, they need to be right again because Abrams has plenty of value on the market.
It is important to note that Nusbaum did say that Abrams could go if a “godfather offer” came in. However, his reporting makes me think Abrams is pretty much off the market. Toboni comes from a school of thought where anybody could go for the right price, but I think the price he has on Abrams has basically taken him off the market.
The news that Abrams is likely to stay makes the 2027 Nationals a lot more fun. It also makes me very curious to see what the Nats do in these next few weeks before the lockout. This team still needs pitching help if they want to compete. The bullpen and rotation need reinforcements.
I also think the Nats could use another piece or two on offense. While the offense was elite last year, they will no longer have Curtis Mead or Luis Garcia Jr. in 2027. Those guys were key supporting characters last season. The hitting development has been stellar, but another corner infielder would be helpful.
For Abrams, a 2027 storyline to watch will be his position. He and his representation have made it clear that he wants to be a shortstop. However, his defense at the position has not been good enough. Paul Toboni said on the Nats Chat podcast that Abrams will play short and second, but probably more of the latter. With Seaver King coming up soon and Eli Willits on the horizon, the Nats have an infield puzzle to solve.
As a fan of the team, it is good to hear that Abrams will be part of that puzzle. Without his production, the offense would just not be the same. It is nearly impossible to replace a 30-30 middle infielder. That is probably why Paul Toboni decided to hold on to CJ Abrams. He wants to win more games in 2027, and you cannot do that without Abrams’ production.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 05: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees reacts during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game two of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 05, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello everyone!
Today is the final day of the GM Meetings, so hopefully we see another move or two before festivities conclude. Let’s get you all of the latest news as you get your day started.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 16: Jacob Wilson #5 of the Athletics bunts into a force out during the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Sutter Health Park on August 16, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Thursday A’s fans!
There has been a report making the rounds online that young shortstop Jacob Wilson could be on the trade block this offseason thanks to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale:
Athletics infielder Jacob Wilson is a potential trade chip as the club searches for starting pitching, per @BNightengale
While the A’s have “zero urgency to trade him,” Nightengale notes they’re desperate for starting pitching and Wilson could be a valuable trade chip
That’s begun a larger-than-expected debate about Wilson’s trade value and whether or not the Athletics would really consider trading him. On it’s face it seems like a far-fetched idea for the A’s to even consider moving Wilson, let alone pulling the trigger on a trade to eject their starting shortstop. The A’s are one year away from making the move to Las Vegas. Don’t we want some core players around when the new stadium opens?
Wilson will be turning 25 at the beginning of next season. That’s around the time a lot of players even makeit to the big leagues, let alone establish themselves. Establishing himself is an understatement for Wilson after he started the All-Star Game in 2025 as a rookie. That earned him a nice contract extension, getting $70 million early to tie him to the A’s for the next seven years. Granted, his sophomore campaign wasn’t as thrilling as his rookie season but a lot of that can probably be chalked up to fluke injuries. Wilson was having a fine campaign before the All-Star break, and dumping him now would be at a sell-low point for a young player locked into a long-term deal.
On the other hand, there are obvious reasons to consider a swap if it makes sense. Wilson did after all have a tough second half, and then to cap his year off he underwent major shoulder surgery. While the expectation is that he’ll be fully healed and good to go come Spring Training, shoulders have been known to be tricky sometimes. If the club believes that his shoulder could become a recurring problem that they don’t want to deal with regularly, they could be more amenable to moving him we think.
While it sounds far fetched, it really does make sense to at least consider it on paper. The contract isn’t especially onerous, even for small-market teams. He’s affordable for even the lowest-payroll teams and that broadens the potential market if the A’s really wanted to make Wilson available. New President Taylor Smith isn’t connected to Wilson at all and might not be as enamored with him as other teams may be. Wilson’s contact-oriented approach would make lots of slugging teams more balanced.
And then you have the roster fit. The A’s best prospect and one of the best in the entire sport, Leo De Vries, is on the cusp of making his big league debut, which will almost certainly come in 2026 (if there is a season). And he happens to be a shortstop. There’s been some debate over whether Wilson moves off to second base or De Vries to third to fit them both in the lineup, but a trade of Wilson would free up De Vries to take his natural spot.
Overall the chances of a swap coming together are probably small. The A’s would need pitching, pitching, and more pitching in exchange, and that’s not really a debate. This organization is starving for quality arms and Wilson could be the one that’s dangled to get them, but it just doesn’t seem likely at this point. Not with the move to Vegas almost here, Wilson coming off a down season and already signed to the team long-term. What do you guys think? Would/should the A’s consider making Wilson available?
The MLBPA could have a potential nuclear option in its upcoming labor battle with MLB.
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, players could pursue a disclaimer of interest, a strategy previously used by the NFL and NBA players' unions to challenge league restrictions through…
Great point. Where has the spending been these last two years? And when will the wallet open up?
With the obvious caveat that I'm NOT surprised, it's hilarious that Rosenthal lays out how #athletics have fallen far short of their reported payroll "ramp up" in Sacramento (creative math mentioned within, notwithstanding). https://t.co/gWmsa9I1IO
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 29: Bo Bichette #19 of the New York Mets reacts after being called out against the Houston Astros during the game at Citi Field on August 29, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caean Couto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bo Bichette, a former second round draft pick of the Blue Jays and son of four-time All-Star Dante Bichette, authored one of the biggest plays of the iconic Game 7 of the 2025 World Series when he cracked a three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani in the third inning. At the time, it was impossible to imagine Bichette, a two-time All-Star with Toronto, as anything other than a Blue Jay for life, despite his impending free agency. It seemed like he and the Jays were inextricably linked, and his return that winter was a mere formality.
Then, a series of unforeseen events happened along the way, as they often do in the MLB offseason. The Mets let their own homegrown star Pete Alonso, sign elsewhere, and they traded another, Brandon Nimmo, to the Rangers. In an effort to beef up their offense, they made an aggressive play for Kyle Tucker, who ended up with the Dodgers on a short-term, high-AAV deal. Needing something to appease the fanbase and looking to plug a hole in their lineup, they landed Bichette within 24 hours of losing out on Tucker, much to the surprise of the entire league. The deal was for $126 million over three years ($42 million AAV), with opts out strategically offered after each year.
The deal seemed, at the time, like a win for both sides. Given his age, the high AAV, and the ability to re-enter the market in search of that elusive long-term contract, it seemed like the marriage would be convenient for both parties. Thomas Henderson, in his Bichette season preview, went so far as to predict the following:
The Mets and Bichette agreed to the three-year deal, but in all actuality it is likely a one-year contract…In all likelihood, Bichette will perform well enough to forgo the $84 million left on his contract to chase long-term stability, which is part of the reason why the Mets were into him in the first place.
To Thomas’ credit, this was an extremely rational and level-headed prediction, and one that I’d guess 99% of Mets fans envisioned when the deal was announced. However, a not-so-funny thing happened along the way: Bichette performed well below his career norms, becoming one of the most disappointing Mets during the course of an overly-frustrating 2026 season. As a result, the near-certainty of his opt out has reversed, and Bichette exercised his player option for 2027. Given his overall numbers and the uncertainty associated with the looming lockout, it’s hard to blame him.
Bichette fell victim to one of the most common occurrences of star players coming to New York—the slow start. And oh boy, was it ever slow. Bichette gave fans immediate buyer’s remorse with a 2-for-22 start over his first five games. He strung together hits in 10 of his next 11 games and raised his slash line to .250/.300/.328 while also finally contributing his first home run in his 15th game in orange and blue, but he hit another dry spell that saw him go 13-for-62 (.210) to close out the month.
At the end of April, he had posted a paltry .590 OPS and 64 wRC+, not just well below his career norms but also below his career-worst 2024 season, one that was marred by injuries. To that point, he only had two home runs and seven total extra base hits, while driving in just 14 runs as the Mets continued to slide out of contention before the calendar even turned to May. His May was even worse, as he hit .207/.279/.297 across the calendar month, his worst month as a Met. He finished the month with a 64 wRC+ and a .576 OPS, well below what you’d expect from Bichette. During this span, he suffered through a career-worst 71 at-bat stretch in which he failed to pick up an extra base hit, a streak that mercifully ended with a home run on May 18 against the Nationals. It was at this point that fans really began to wonder if we’d ever see the elite version of Bichette at Citi Field.
After two consecutive goose eggs to begin June, Bichette turned a corner on June 3. The third baseman picked up his first four-hit game as a Met while driving him three runs to help New York beat the Mariners 7-1. It seemed like a positive development, and Bichette ran with it as he finally started to resemble the guy who owned a career 122 wRC+ and an .806 OPS. From June 3 through the All-Star break, he raised his batting average by 42 points and his OPS by 107 points, as he hit .331/.354/.515 with five homers and a 137 wRC+ across 35 games. This was, undoubtably, his best stretch as a Met, as Bichette finally seemed to be entering his comfort zone.
Bichette was demonstrably better than he was in April and May throughout the remainder of the season, but he was still far from what the team was hoping he’d be, which is an impact bat in the lineup. He hit .289/.337/.447 with 13 home runs and a 117 wRC+ in his final 99 games of the year after hitting .213/.271/.229 with five homers and a 61 wRC+ in his first 61 games. Despite that, and this is not something that can be quantified well with statistics, but it never felt like Bichette ever had a defining moment with the club. I even searched Google for his biggest moments as a Met in 2026 to refresh my memory, and not much really came up. The best I could unearth was his six-RBI game in a 7-5 win against the Braves on June 12, his five-hit game against the Pirates in an 11-1 victory on August 9 and his go-ahead, three-run home run in the eighth inning of the team’s 7-5 win over the Giants on September 6. Perhaps it’s due to the team’s place in the standings, but none of these really stood out as particularly impactful or meaningful, except maybe his home run against San Francisco.
He finished the year with a 96 wRC+ and a .702 OPS, his second-worst output in both categories behind only his 2024 campaign. After posting at least 3.8 fWAR in four of his previous five seasons, he managed just 1.9 fWAR in 160 games. On the bright side, he avoided injury and managed to play in a career-high 160 games while falling one plate appearance short of matching his career-high from 2022. He also walked at a career-best 7% clip in 2026, so that’s something.
Nearly 1,100 words into this review and I have not touched upon his defense, which was the one thing fans couldn’t accurately gauge heading into 2026. Bichette had spent his entire career at shortstop, but as a consequence of signing here, had to shift to third base—shortstop is, after all, occupied by Francisco Lindor, and Marcus Semien was penciled in at second. Having never played an inning in the field outside of shortstop in the majors, it stood to reason that this change could be a disaster, especially given the uncertainty of how his arm would play making those long-range throws. After some early-season growing pains, his defense was pretty much a non-factor, which isn’t the worst thing in the world.
Perhaps it’s because his offensive shortcomings took center stage, but you basically forgot he was playing a new position. He posted a 1 OAA but -8 DRS at third in 943 2/3 innings at the position. Because of Lindor’s injuries, he saw more time at short than we would have otherwise liked, and he posted -2 OAA and -2 DRS in 391 1/3 innings there. He also played one inning at second, his first and only inning at the position in the majors to date. He had already started showing decline at short in 2025, finishing his final year in Toronto with -13 OAA and -12 DRS, which is not ideal. Given his defensive output in 2026, you’d take those numbers going forward.
So that brings us to Bichette exercising his player option for 2027. Bichette took the safest option, which was a guaranteed $42 million coming off the worst fully-healthy season of his career and with the chance that offseason will be completely chaotic given the truncated free agency period leading up to the lockout. Bichette gave himself security and can still opt out after 2027, but even that seems unlikely. More realistically, he’ll take the guaranteed $84 million in front of him and re-enter the market at 30 years old and get the long-term deal he’s been seeking. That’s not a bad deal for Bichette, and it makes too much sense.
How you view that mostly depends on how you gauge his 2026 season. The best-case scenario is that Bichette has an incredible bounce-back performance, which means the Mets get a bona fide stud in the middle of their lineup next year to give Lindor and Juan Soto the support they were hoping for this year. If you’re more of a cynic, another year like last year at a $42 million tag would not be ideal for the Mets’ plans.
All that is to say that fans should get comfortable seeing Bichette manning third and batting in the middle of the team’s lineup. Bichette, despite what he showed for parts of this year, is a professional hitter and an All-Star talent, so there are worse problems to have than worrying about Bichette returning to your team for another season.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 08: Zion Rose #8 of the American League fields the ball in the fourth inning during the 2026 Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game between the American League Fall Stars and the National League Fall Stars at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Sunday, November 8, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Arizona Fall League is an opportunity for prospects to get some extra work in against high-level competition after the minor league season has ended. For some, it’s a chance to make up for lost development time after an injury. For others, it’s an opportunity to get noticed, work on specific parts of their game, or make a strong impression heading into the offseason.
The Royals have nine prospects participating this fall, including several familiar names and a few who could be on the radar of more fans in the coming years. Some have put together impressive performances, while others have struggled to find their footing. Let’s take a look at how each of them has performed so far.
Felix Arronde
The 23-year-old right hander from Cuba has made three starts in the AFL this season. In those three starts, he has totaled 6.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks while striking out 8 hitters. Arronde holds a 2-1 record. He is coming off his first year in Northwest Arkansas. This past season he threw 105.1 innings, with a 6.49 ERA. He walked 54 and struck out 91. He had a 1.66 WHIP. He has been with the Royals since he was 18 and coming through the DSL.
Josh Hansell
Josh Hansell is a 24-year-old right hander. The Royals drafted him in the 16th round in 2023 out of Arizona State. He has never made it past Quad Cities. So far in the AFL, he has made 9 appearances, all out of the bullpen. He has totaled 8.2 innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 runs, walking 6 and striking out 12. His WHIP is at 1.50. This past season in Quad Cities, he made 16 appearances and 6 starts, posting a 4.87 ERA over 40.2 innings. He walked 25 and struck out 41, with a 1.40 WHIP. He missed the last month plus of the season due to injury.
Justin Lamkin
Justin Lamkin was the most talked about prospect early in the season (at least by me). Before the 22-year-old lefty went down with an injury that cost him the rest of the season, he made eight starts, totaling 39.2 innings, striking out 53 batters between Quad Cities and Northwest Arkansas. He was drafted in the second round of the 2025 draft by the Royals out of Texas A&M. So far in the AFL, he has made five starts, totaling 16.1 innings, allowing 10 hits, 8 runs (7 earned), walking 5 and striking out 14.
Dealin' in the desert.@Royals' No. 8 prospect Justin Lamkin spins 4 1/3 perfect frames in Arizona Fall League play: pic.twitter.com/8dzxOSQq35
I expect him to start next year in Double-A but wouldn’t be surprised if he made a quick jump to Omaha. He is one name to keep an eye on as a prospect.
Frank Mozzicato
The 23-year-old is coming off a rough 2026 campaign in Northwest Arkansas. The lefty hasn’t fared a whole lot better in the AFL. In his seven relief appearances, he’s totaled 5.2 innings, 4 hits, 4 runs, 7 walks while striking out 9 batters, and a WHIP of 1.94. This season in Double-A, he posted 71.2 innings with an 8.04 ERA, walking 72 batters. I don’t know how much time he has left in the KC organization. It’s getting to now-or-never territory.
Hiro Wyatt
Hiro Wyatt is a 22-year-old right hander, who the Royals took in the third round of the 2023 draft out of high school and has yet to make it past Columbia. In the AFL, he has four relief appearances, totaling 8.2 innings, allowing 9 hits, 8 runs (7 earned), walking 6 and striking out 6. This past season in Columbia, he made 7 starts, totaling 28 innings, walking 16 and striking out 24. He got hurt in late May and never made it back during the season.
Brooks Bryan
Brooks Bryan is a 22-year-old catcher, who the Royals drafted in the eighth round of the 2025 draft out of Troy. Bryan is a left-handed hitter. In 33 games in Columbia this past season, he slashed .319/.406/.496. He hit 12 doubles and 3 homers. He walked 16 times and struck out 27 times. He got hurt on June 1 and missed the rest of the season. So far in the AFL, he is slashing .317/.397/.583. He has hit 4 doubles and 4 homers in 60 at bats. He has walked 8 times, to 13 strikeouts.
Austin Charles
Austin Charles is a soon to be 23-year-old infielder. The Royals took him in the 20th round of the 2022 draft out of high school. He has never made it above Quad Cities. Last year with the title winning team, he slashed .285/.353/.491 in 165 at bats. He missed almost three months due to an injury. So far in the AFL, he is slashing .146/.143/.292 in 48 at bats, with two doubles, a triple. and a homer. He has yet to walk and has 17 strikeouts.
Angeibel Gomez
Angeibel Gomez is arguably the Royals top prospect, and if not, soon to be. The 17-year-old outfielder exploded onto the scene in the DSL this season. He slashed .361/.467/.653 in 144 at bats. He clubbed 13 doubles, a triple and 9 homers. He walked 28 times to just 19 strikeouts. He stole 15 bases and played exceptional defense in centerfield. So far, after coming stateside, in the AFL, he is slashing .286/.388/.405 with 3 doubles and a triple. He has stolen 4 bases and walked 6 times to 10 strikeouts. Mighty impressive for just 17.
Zion Rose
Rose was drafted sixth overall in the 2026 draft by the Royals out of Louisville. The 21-year-old outfielder went straight to Quad Cities where in 19 games and 71 at bats, slashed .268/.389/.338. He hit 2 doubles and a homer, while stealing 14 bases. So far in the AFL, he is slashing .322/.494/.508 in 16 games and 59 at bats. He has hit a double, 2 triples and 2 homers.
Zion Rose mashes his second Fall League roundtripper!
The @Royals' No. 6 prospect — one of two 2026 draftees in the desert — has slashed .311/.475/.489 through 12 games. pic.twitter.com/ocWGwvss2q
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 15: Agent Scott Boras speaks to the media during a press conference to introduce Alex Bregman (not pictured) at Wrigley Field on January 15, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning, all!
The Rangers have hired Tommy Joseph as a hitting instructor, who previously played two seasons with the Phillies and had coaching stints with the Mariners and Orioles.
Joseph has received positive reviews from players that have played under him, and is the first Ranger hitting coach who played during the Statcast era.
Scott Boras is not inclined to be very forthcoming about Corey Seager’s future with Texas
A one-time Yankee and former World Series champion is hanging up his spikes.
Chris Martin, a right-handed reliever who pitched parts of 11 seasons in MLB, has retired at age 40, FanSided reported Wednesday.
Injuries derailed Martin’s big-league dream early in his career, to the point that he left baseball.
Chris Martin pitches for the Yankees in 2015. Getty Images
He had jobs unloading trucks for UPS, moving refrigerators for Lowe’s and stocking washers and dryers at a Texas appliance store, per Milb.com.
He returned to independent ball in 2010 and parlayed that into a minor-league deal with the Red Sox.
He reached the big leagues for the first time with the Rockies in 2014 and then spent 2015 with the Yankees, pitching to a 5.66 ERA in 24 appearances while splitting time with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Martin then pitched in Japan for the Nippon-Ham Fighters for two years, where he learned how to throw a splitter from none other than Shohei Ohtani.
He returned to MLB with the Rangers in 2018 and had varying degrees of success over the ensuing eight seasons.
Chris Martin celebrating the Braves’ World Series win in 2021. Staff photographer
The Braves acquired Martin at the 2019 trade deadline, and he ended up being a key piece of their bullpen during their 2021 World Series championship run.
During that postseason, Martin allowed one run in 4 ⅓ innings with three strikeouts across five appearances, including Games 4 and 5 of the World Series against the Astros.
After splitting 2022 with the Cubs and Dodgers, his career peaked with the Red Sox in 2023, when he recorded a 1.05 ERA in 51 ⅓ innings across 55 appearances.
His performance earned him a Cy Young vote that put him 12th in the voting.
Martin finishes his career with a 3.53 ERA and 409 strikeouts in 434 regular-season appearances.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres delivers the pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on October 07, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller was named the National League Reliever of the Year by the Baseball Writers of America Association and his was named Reliever of the Year as part of the MLB Awards for his efforts during the 2026 season. Miller was a unanimous selection and is the first recipient of the BWAA award which recognizes him as the best reliever in the NL. He beat out the other nominees for the award Johan Duran of the Philadelphia Phillies and Trevor Megill of the Milwaukee Brewers. It should also be noted that Adrian Morejon finished fourth in the voting, providing further proof of how dominant the back of the San Diego rotation was in the 2026 season.
Miller appeared in 66 games and threw 70 innings for the Padres last year. He finished with a record of 5-2 with 38 saves in 41 opportunities and an ERA of 1.67. Perhaps the most impressive numbers on his stat line from 2026 was his strikeout to walk ratio. The right-hander finished with 129 strikeouts to just 25 walks, illustrating just how dominant he was throughout much of the season.
Miller and his teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. were also named to the All-MLB First Team. With that being the case, it is still hard to imagine that Tatis was not nominated for a Gold Glove Award either as a right fielder or utility player, but the recognition for both players as two of the best in the sport is well deserved.
Padres News:
David Morgan was unable to replicate the success he had in his rookie season last year. How did that affect his grade from Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball? Find out here.
There were limited details available about the Ryan Weiss signing initially, but Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball tracked down all the information you need to know about the new addition to the San Diego roster.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 25: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox ion action against the Chicago Cubs at Fenway Park on September 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by CJ Gunther/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s two years too late, but Craig Breslow is finally trying to trade Jarren Duran — like trying really, really hard, apparently. According to one executive from a National League team, Duran is “very available” — and not just in a “we’re listening” kind of way, but in a “they’re looking to move him” kind of way. But trading Duran may be easier said than done, as his roller coaster production and contract status make it hard to determine his true value. (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
When he does enter trade negotiations for Duran, Breslow will be doing so with a new title, as he’s now the President of Baseball Operations, as opposed to his former title of Chief Baseball Officer. “I don’t know,” Breslow said when asked why the change was made. “Perhaps there was, like, unnecessary confusion.” (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
A Jarren Duran trade may or may not return a significant piece for Breslow and the Red Sox. But whatever they might get could pale in comparison to the production bump that might arise from two players already in the organization. “We need to have a more consistent offense. We need to score more runs,” Breslow said. “There’s a bunch of different ways to do that and we saw this postseason that there’s a bunch of different ways to do that. I also don’t want to discount what another full season of Willson (Contreras), a full season of (Curtis) Mead and a full season of Adley (Rutschman) can bring. When you talk about power, outside of Willson, we anticipate Mead, Roman (Anthony) and Adley — none of whom was healthy and with us for a full season — those could be the sources of some real power. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
Do we dare to dream about adding a healthy and productive Triston Casas to the 2027 lineup as well? Casas plans to play for the Tigres de Licey in the Dominican winter league this offseason, though he is still not quite ready to step on the field. “[He] still needs to ramp up in terms of game speed and intensity,” said Breslow. “but he is feeling good, so we’re optimistic he’s gonna be able to compete in Winter League games.” (Sean McAdam, MassLive)
Is it possible that Casas’ incredibly lengthy absence was caused in part by mismanagement from the medical staff? That’s an impossible question to answer from the outside, but the Red Sox front office apparently has enough questions about how recent injuries have been handled that they’re conducting a “sweeping” review of their medical processes. “I think it’s important to try and decouple — are we getting the diagnosis or the rehab wrong, or do we need to make sure that communication with our players, with our staff internally, with the media externally is tightened up,” Breslow said. (Conor Ryan, Boston.com)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 10: President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski of the Philadelphia Phillies speaks with the media during the 2026 MLB Gerneral Managers Meetings at Aria Resort & Casino on November 10, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski spoke this week at the GM meetings regarding the team’s plans for the offseason. Dombrowski obviously did not fully tip his hand on anything the Phillies will do, but he did outline their shopping list of an outfielder, a utility infielder, and starting rotation depth. However, Dombrowski also hinted at the possibility that the Phillies will not be among the biggest spenders this offseason, as they are perhaps running up against some sort of internal cap on payroll.
“I don’t know,” Dombrowski said. “I guess it just depends on what ends up happening with different things. … We have a lot of high-end salary players. They’re not young. They’re not old, but they’re in that age bracket. You have to make a decision. Maybe we have enough high-end players, and we can complement them with other players overall. That’s a decision we have to make. But I’m not necessarily looking for our club to continue to get older. So you kind of factor all those things in and make a decision.” – from Matt Gelb in The Athletic
The Phillies finished last season with a $322 million payroll after factoring in competitive balance taxes according to Cot’s Contracts, placing them with the fourth highest payroll in baseball. As of right now, the Phillies are projected to have the third highest payroll for 2027 at $281M, once again factoring in CBT penalties. The biggest numbers that came off of their payroll were the final years of dead money for Nick Castellanos and Taijuan Walker.
That total number for 2027 will likely change for two reasons. One is the obvious that the Phillies will make at least a few signings even if they are not major, while the second is that the financial system of the sport may be dramatically different in a new collective bargaining agreement, thus possibly changing the amount owed with CBT penalties in the future. The second would likely not directly affect 2027, as one could assume that there would be at least a one-year grace period, but it may affect how the team views its long term payroll.
However, Dombrowski later reiterated that he has still been given authorization from principal owner John Middleton to have a healthy payroll. His direct quote once again from Matt Gelb in The Athletic:
“John’s always been tremendous,” Dombrowski said. “He’s very flexible, but I have a proximate area of what we’re going to be. And it’s very generous.”- from Matt Gelb in The Athletic
That gives no indication that the Phillies will necessary be looking to slash their payroll, but it paints a full picture of the team perhaps having placed an internal cap on their spending. They will in all likelihood still be among the top five in money spent for 2027, but they may not reach the number they hit at the end of 2026.
So, how much do you think the Phillies will spend this offseason? Will they hand out a multi-year deal to an external position player for the first time since 2023?
November 17th is an important day on the MLB calendar as that is the deadline for teams to add eligible minor leaguers to their 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft on December 9th.
2025 was a big year for protections in the Twins organization as they added Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, Andrew Morris, John Klein, Hendry Mendez, and Gabriel Gonzalez to their 40-man ahead of the November deadline. This year will be a much lighter protection deadline, and we may not even see any 40-man additions at all. I have selected a group of eligible players that I think are at least worth talking about as potential roster additions as we approach the deadline.
RHP C.J. Culpepper
C.J. Culpepper went unprotected and unselected last offseason, but he is one step closer to being a major league reliever now, and there is bound to be some interest. He is like a righty version of Kody Funderburk. Culpepper has average strikeout stuff, but he succeeds by generating a ton of weak ground contact with his cut fastball, sinker, and breaking balls. He needs to throw more strikes, but there is a quality middle relief profile here if he can put it all together in 2027. The Twins have a tough decision on there hands here deciding if C.J. is worth a 40-man spot.
RHP Paulshawn Pasqualotto
Paulshawn Pasqualotto was a force at every level of the minors this summer as he trekked from High-A to Triple-A, posting a 3.73 ERA and 3.62 FIP while striking out 95 batters in 70 innings. He has an interesting pitch mix, leading with a mid-90s fastball that is limited by poor shape but performed well enough in the upper levels. He complements it with two offspeed offerings. He has a changeup at 80-82 with elite velo separation and some strong fade, and he also throws a splitter in the mid-80s that drops off a table with a completely different shape. Pasqualotto has always had a good changeup, but he took its usage to a new and unique level in his breakout 2026 campaign. If he can improve his fastball shape, there is long-term bullpen potential here. Other teams will certainly be scouting up on Pasqualotto if the Twins decide not to protect him.
OF Yasser Mercedes
Yasser Mercedes is an interesting one, because he is the biggest prospect on this list but also the furthest away from the majors. With his 22nd birthday approaching next week, Mercedes possesses all of the raw talent you could ever want. He has easy plus raw power with blazing speed and a plus arm that plays across the outfield. He totaled 18 homers and 52 stolen bags this season, playing most of his games at the High-A level. Hit tool issues and questionable swing decisions have limited his offensive production throughout his minor league career, but if Yasser can find a little bit of success in those areas, he has big potential in all phases. We are seeing good signs is Arizona Fall League right now as he is slashing .302/.389/.488 with 8 walks and 8 strikeouts in 13 games. It is unlikely that he is selected in the Rule 5 Draft, but the slight possibility is there that a team decides to take a full-court shot on this kind of talent, and the success this fall is only going to bring him more into the spotlight.
INF Tanner Schobel
Tanner Schobel is unlikely to be protected and unlikely to be drafted, but he is still worth mentioning in this conversation. He doesn’t quite have the same speed or defensive utility as Ben Ross, but he is a similar defensive profile with a fringy bat. Schobel has quality contact skills with a patient approach but is lacking in the power department. He runs well and plays reliable defense across the infield. One more step forward as a hitter and he could find himself in a major bench league role.
Looking at the Rule 5 Draft itself and seeing what the Twins may do, they have made a selection in each of the last two years. They selected RHP Eiberson Castellanos in 2024, but returned him before the 2025 season after he posted a 7.59 ERA in spring training. They drafted C Daniel Susac in 2025, but he was immediately traded to San Francisco for catching prospect Miguel Caraballo, who has shown off a powerful bat and athletic catching profile as a teenager in rookie ball.
I can see the Twins taking another shot at a talented catcher or reliever as they have done in each of the last two years. There is always room for another big arm on the spring training staff, and there will likely be more players in the Rule 5 Draft pool that are more worthy of a roster spot than those mentions above.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 07: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning in game three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 07, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Max Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million contract during the 2024-2025 offseason, the scouting report said that the Yankees were getting one of the game’s premier southpaws with impeccable defense, but who had regularly battled injuries throughout his career. Now at the contract’s quarter pole, that scouting report has played out as advertised. Across his first two years in pinstripes, Fried’s 8.3 fWAR and 2.83 ERA rank eighth and fifth, respectively, among starters with at least 300 innings pitched, and he took home the 2025 AL Gold Glove. After a mostly healthy 2025 that saw him throw a career-high 195 innings, however, the 32-year-old battled injuries this season, culminating in an offseason elbow surgery announced earlier this week.
2027 Contract Status: Entering third year of eight-year, $218 million contract
With Ace of the Past Gerrit Cole still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and Ace of the Future Cam Schlittler about to explode on the scene, Fried was tabbed as the Yankees’ Opening Day starter in San Francisco — his fourth career Opening Day start, and first in pinstripes. He was characteristically dominant in that first start, allowing just two runs in 6.1 scoreless frames to set the tone not just for his 2026 performance, but that of the Yankees’ rotation as a whole.
When healthy this season, Fried was the definition of consistency. Across his 20 regular season starts, he allowed more than three runs just three times. One came against the LA Angels on April 16th, during that strange four-game set in the Bronx where the Yankees’ pitching staff randomly crumbled to pieces (they gave up 32 total runs against the American League’s second-worst offense). The second came on May 8th, where the future World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers put together a four-run second inning courtesy of four singles and a pair of walks; since he would hit the injured list with an elbow bruise following his next start, it’s fair to wonder whether he was beginning to feel the effects of the injury here. The third, and final, came in the final week of the season, as the Rays offense broke through in the seventh as he was outdueled by Tampa Bay ace Drew Rasmussen. Even in these three starts, however, Fried managed to give the Yankees length, going 5.1, 6, and 6.1 innings in each, respectively.
In his other 17 outings, Fried was magnificent. He surrendered one run or fewer in 12 of those outings, and struck out six or more nine times. More importantly, he continued to be elite at generating soft contact, ranking in the 99th percentile in barrel percentage, 97th percentile in hard hit percentage, 96th percentile in average exit velocity, and 83rd percentile in ground ball percentage.
Furthermore, when the lights shone brightest, Fried came up big. Taking the ball against Boston in Game 2 of the Wild Card Round, he spun six innings of one-run ball, striking out six and walking just one; the only blemish came on a Willson Contreras home run with two outs in the sixth, a wall-scraper that was Boston’s first postseason run since the sixth inning of Game 2 of the previous year’s Wild Card Round. He wasn’t quite as strong a week later, getting tagged with the loss as the Yankees got swept, but honestly, he pitched well enough to keep the Yankees in the ballgame: in truth, he really only made two bad pitches all night, although both unfortunately ended up in the seats.
As we look ahead to next season, there is a concern on the horizon: Fried’s injury history. As we know, elbows are a ticking time bomb for pitchers, even those like Fried who rely less on swing-and-miss stuff and more on soft contact. Even though Fried is on track to be a full go for the hypothetical spring training that starts on time, and will almost certainly be ready for whenever the teams actually report, we’re still going to want to keep an eye on his elbow going forward. That’s true for all pitchers, though, and at least with Fried, we know that, when he’s on the mound, he’s going to be an ace.
See more of the Yankees Roster Report Card series here.
SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Seiya Suzuki #27 of the Chicago Cubs singles in the fourth inning during Game Two of the National League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Orioles need several things to go right next season if they hope to make the playoffs. The infield could do its part if Gunnar Henderson returns to form, Jordan Westburg stays healthy, and/or Jackson Holliday takes a step forward. The rotation could carry its weight if Kyle Bradish and Shane Baz pitch like top of the rotation arms, the team resigns Trevor Rogers, and/or a young guy or two hits the ground running. The bullpen could do some heavy lifting if Ryan Helsley and Félix Bautista remain active, Alex Hoppe and Anthony Nunez develop, and/or Yennier Cano pitches to his potential.
But what about the outfield? Is there any world where Colton Cowser, Dylan Beavers and Tyler O’Neill carry this team to the postseason? I don’t think so. With respect to Christian Franklin and Rece Hinds, I don’t exactly see that duo making the difference either.
The outfield, as it is currently constructed, is not viable for a playoff team. Fortunately, the Orioles have an opportunity to add a difference maker or two this offseason.
Seiya Suzuki is available after accumulating 16.2 bWAR over five seasons in Chicago. A quick Google search of Suzuki geneates plenty of articles just like this one. The Mariners view Suzuki as a potential replacement for free agent Randy Arozarena. The Padres have interest, as do the Phillies. Some believe Suzuki should make Toronto his next home, while others think he belongs in Boston. It’s no secret that the Orioles would face plenty of competition in a pursuit of Suzuki. ESPN listed the Tokyo native as the fifth best free agent available this offseason.
The 32-year-old cut his teeth in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) before he was posted and signed with the Cubs in 2021. He tallied at least 20 home runs in each of the last four seasons while playing above average defense in the outfield corners. He slashed .270/.368/.473 with a 131 OPS+ and 12 Defensive Runs Saved in 2026. The OPS+ would have been good for second among the Orioles regulars behind only Pete Alonso (149). Christian Encarnacion-Strand posted a 134 OPS+ over 58 games. Cowser (95), Beavers (93) and O’Neill (92) all posted a below average OPS+ last season.
There’s no question that the Orioles need to add in the outfield, but is Suzuki worth the money? MLB Trade Rumors projects Suzuki to sign for four years, $105 million. The same site projects Arozarena to receive a similar four-year, $100 million deal. There’s plenty to like with Arozarena as well, and I won’t knock you if he’s more your taste. Baltimore should pursue both outfielders, but it’s far from a guarantee that the organization could land either one.
Mike Elias has repeatedly stated that the team has the financial power to go out and acquire players like Suzuki. “It doesn’t mean we’re definitely going to do a five-year, $100-plus million deal this offseason, or every offseason. But we have the ability to talk to those players this winter and we’re going to do that.” Suzuki is one of those players.
The team desperately needs some stability in the grass. O’Neill simply cannot stay on the field, and he’s streaky at the dish when healthy. Cowser wowed with his defense, but it’s unclear if he’ll ever match the offensive output from his rookie season. Beavers failed to carry his momentum into 2026, and player development is not linear. Suzuki would immediately become the most dependable outfielder on the roster. He eclipsed 130 games played in each of the last four seasons, posted an above average OPS+ each year, and routinely demonstrated the ability to take a walk.
Suzuki and Arozarena are both expected to reject the qualifying offer, so Baltimore would need to relinquish draft pick compensation if they signed either one. A hundred million and a draft pick is a steep price to pay for a corner outfielder in his 30s, but Suzuki feels like the closest thing to a lock out of the available outfielders to produce over the next few seasons. The Orioles could offset the loss with draft compensation from another team if they fail to resign Rogers.
Maybe Heston Kjerstad fills this role in another universe, but things never worked out in Baltimore. Cowser still has time to improve at the plate, but he brings more value in the outfield grass. Enrique Bradfield Jr., another former first round pick, should debut this season. Unfortunately, Bradfield projects as another plus defender with minimal power.
Elias also floated the idea of some infielders getting reps in the outfield this spring. Blaze Alexander has already played some center, but does the team really trust Coby Mayo or Encarnacion-Strand to cover ground out there? Shouldn’t Jackson Holliday figure things out at the plate before learning a new position?
Signing Suzuki would take a significant financial commitment, but the team needs a difference maker in the outfield. That’s easy for me to say—it’s not my money. Pony up, David!
