Category: MLB

There will rightfully be a ton of attention paid to the Mets' options in free agency, with ace left-hander Tarik Skubal potentially at the very top of their list of targets.

But the trade market could be percolating, too. 

Shortly after spinning a handful of trade deadline deals this past summer, bringing in a bevy of intriguing prospects while bolstering the Mets' farm system, head of baseball operations David Stearns was not shy about the possibility that some of those recently-acquired prospects could be quickly turned around as part of other deals that help New York.

That doesn't mean the Mets are in a rush to trade any of them, but the infusion of talent into their system likely makes it easier to swing an impact trade or two. 

And given New York's plethora of infield options who are close to the majors (including Jefferson Rojas, Mitch Voit, and Émilien Pitre), it's not outlandish to think Stearns could deal from that relative glut in an effort to improve the team elsewhere -- perhaps in the starting rotation. 

With offseason moving and shaking beginning soon, there's every reason to believe there will be a free agent and trade frenzy over the next month with the lockout looming on Dec. 1 when the CBA expires. So the Mets, and every other team, could be in a race to that theoretical deadline.

Here are the five players the Mets should have highest on their list of trade targets, ranked:

5. Hunter Brown, RHP

Brown is at No. 5 instead of the very top of this list simply because the Astros don't have to be in a rush to trade him. Set to enter his age-28 season in 2027, Brown is under team control via arbitration for two more years. And he's still very inexpensive, expected to make roughly $8 million next season.

But while the Astros can take their time if they so choose, there are a few reasons why dealing Brown this offseason could make sense.

For one, Houston is in a period of transition, currently searching for replacements for outgoing GM Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada. Meanwhile, despite winning the putrid AL West in 2026 with a record of 81-81, the arrow is pointing down for the Astros. Jeremy Peña will be a free agent after 2027, Yordan Alvarez will be a free agent after 2028, the high-priced Carlos Correa can't stay healthy, and Jose Altuve (who will turn 37 years old next May) seems to be running out of gas.

There's also the fact that (with the exception of Altuve) Houston has typically been unable or unwilling to extend its stars, as was the case relatively recently with Gerrit Cole and George Springer, who both walked as free agents. 

Adding all of that up, it could be smart for Houston to start retooling for the future. 

And if the Astros decide to dangle Brown, who has emerged as a legitimate frontline starter over the last three seasons, the Mets should race to the phone. 

4. Joe Ryan, RHP

Ryan was a buzzy name attached to the Mets last offseason, and could be again this time around.

With Ryan almost certainly set to depart Minnesota via free agency after 2027 (there is a mutual option for 2028 worth $13 million that he would likely only accept if his season is derailed by injury or poor performance), it would behoove the Twins to trade him this offseason.

One thing to note, though, is that the Twins actually became buyers at the 2026 deadline even though they were under .500 (56-57) and 4.0 games back in the mediocre AL Central on Aug. 3. So it's possible they simply roll the dice again in a still-underwhelming division and try to win. 

If they don't, Ryan -- who has a 3.79 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 10.1 K/9 rate across six big league seasons -- could be one of the most intriguing names on the trade market.

For the Mets, he would be a strong fit in the middle of a rotation that is expected to include Nolan McLean and Christian Scott, and could feature a legitimate ace at the top -- with a Skubal signing a possibility. 

3. George Kirby, RHP

When you look at the Mariners' starting rotation depth chart, which features Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, Kade Anderson, Bryce Miller, and Emerson Hancock, it makes sense why people are looking at Seattle as a potentially big player on the trade market this winter.

As far as Kirby, he has backslid a bit since putting up very strong seasons from 2022 to 2024 in what were his first three years in the league. In 2026, while posting a career-worst 4.33 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, the value of Kirby's stuff also regressed in a big way. But it wasn't due to a loss in velocity, as Kirby's four-seam fastball averaged a career-high 96.7 mph. It also seemingly wasn't an issue with his extension off the mound (something that hampered Freddy Peralta during his time with the Mets).

Kirby's elite command (his walk rates in 2023 and 2024 were 0.9 and 1.1, respectively) has also become simply very good. 

But the tools are still there for Kirby, who will earn roughly $10 million in 2027 via arbitration and is under team control through 2028. 

An undeniable plus is that Kirby is a New York native who grew up in Rye, so he wouldn't be overwhelmed by the market. 

2. Drew Rasmussen, RHP

The Rays hold a $20 million option on Rasmussen for the 2027 season, but Tampa has typically traded their higher-priced players ahead of free agency -- as they did recently with Tyler Glasnow and Brandon Lowe. So they could theoretically pick up Rasmussen's option and then deal him. 

Perhaps their run to the World Series changes the calculus with Rasmussen. If it doesn't, he would be one of the most sought-after pitchers available.

There will always be some lingering concern about Rasmussen's health given that he has had multiple serious elbow surgeries, including an internal brace procedure that kept him out for most of 2023 and 2024.

But when Rasmussen is healthy, he's one of the best pitchers in the sport. And he's been healthy the last two seasons, throwing a combined 322 regular season innings for the Rays while posting a 2.71 ERA and 0.96 WHIP while striking out 301 batters and allowing just 241 hits.

Rasmussen, who will be entering his age-31 season in 2027, would give the Mets a true ace to slide in atop their rotation.

1. Logan Gilbert, RHP

Yes, every top target is a starting pitcher. 

With Gilbert set for free agency after the 2027 season, it's possible the Mariners are more motivated to move him than Kirby.

Gilbert, 29, has been an inning-eating machine for Seattle, tossing 185.2 or more innings four of the last five seasons.

In 2026, he posted a 3.73 ERA and 1.08 WHIP while striking out 205 batters and allowing only 153 hits across 186 innings spanning 32 starts. His advanced metrics were also mostly in the red, including xERA, xBA, chase percentage, and extension.

Like Kirby, Gilbert's arsenal is expansive, though he is especially reliant on his four-seam fastball and slider.

Gilbert might not have quite the upside of Rasmussen, but could be a safer bet due to his mostly clean injury history.

The Brewers have won the first World Series in team history and the long-awaited victory party will carry on through the streets of downtown Milwaukee.

On Friday, Oct. 30 the team will celebrate its championship – Commissioner's Trophy in tow – with a parade beginning at 10 a.m. local time (11 ET). The parade route will start on Wisconsin Avenue and weave its way through downtown Milwaukee before concluding on the lakefront at Henry Maier Festival Park for a rally that in all likelihood with be rollicking.

There will be a variety of ways to watch the championship parade, either on MLB Network, or streaming on YouTube, MLB+, MLB.TV, Brewers.TV or Brewers.com.

The Brewers secured their first World Series title with a 4-1 victory in Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Get Milwaukee Brewers championship book and gear!

Meet the Mets

Bo Bichette is reportedly exercising his $42 million player option to stay with the Mets.

Bichette will remain under contract for the 2027 season but he has the option to opt out again next year.

The Mets claimed infielder Kyren Paris off waivers from the Angels and designated Cristian Pache for assignment.

Tarik Skubal should be at the top of the Mets shopping list this offseason, but Clay Holmes shouldn’t be too far behind the Cy Young winner.

Tylor Megill had a front row seat to his brother winning the World Series and he can only hope he can help his team find that same success.

With the offseason officially upon us, there are important dates to mark down on your calendars before a potential lockout.

Around the National League East

The Braves unsurprisingly exercised their options for Ronald Acuña Jr and Ozzie Albies.

José Alvarado was a bit of a disappointment for the Phillies this past season.

With players on the IL the Nationals currently have 45 players on their 40-man roster so they will have some decisions to make in the coming days.

Around Major League Baseball

Righty Michael King declined his player option with the Padres and is now a free agent.

The Athletics acquired outfielder Nate Eaton from the Red Sox in exchange for prospect Jareth Rayo.

Let the free agency speculation begin!

It took 57 years for the Brewers to capture their first championship and all the right ingredients had to come together to make it happen.

There are now only four teams that haven’t won a World Series championship, so who will be the next team to break the drought?

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Michael Drago reviewed Marcus Semien’s subpar first season in Queens.

Vasilis Drimalitis wrote about Bichette exercising his option.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 2015, David Wright blasted the first World Series home run in Citi Field history to help propel the Mets to a 9-3 victory over the Royals in Game 3.

The World Series is over. There will be no baseball played today. There will be no baseball played tomorrow. And sadly, we have no idea when Major League Baseball will be restart again, if at all, in 2027.

Usually, this is where we turn to the famous Rogers Hornsby quote:

“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”

But that depressing reality doesn’t quite capture the mood this year. There’s no guarantee spring will bring us relief from the hellscape the owners are about to unleash. So instead, I’m just angry. Angry at the owners, angry that the sport I love is about to do unspeakable levels of damage to itself, and angry that we have no idea what things are going to look like on the backside of this completely unnecessary carnage.

Back in 1994, baseball lost eight months of action from the time the strike ensued in August all the way through Opening Day in 1995, which was delayed until late April. With Covid, we technically went nine months without baseball as the season didn’t start until July, but the offseason leading up to it was relatively normal, and we even had spring training games start on time.

Over the last 150 years, nothing has disrupted an MLB season like this looming lockout could. Not World Wars, not the Great Depression, and not even the infancy of the sport back in the late 1800s. Since the Western Frontier closed, we’ve never gone more than nine months without a professional baseball game. Today marks the beginning of a stretch that could end that fact. We’re sailing straight into a sea of uncertainty.

What we do know is that the Milwaukee Brewers — The smallest market in the sport — just won the World Series over the Tampa Bay Rays, who ooze overachievement an on annual basis. And yet, the owners are preparing to shut down everything down over the guise of competitive balance. They could not be more full of shit!

At least now, after the way this October unfolded, we can get a little bit more serious: The real reason the owners want a cap is because they need a line on a graph to go up. Nothing more, nothing less. Valuations of franchises tend to be much higher when you get to put a limit on how much you pay the guys who make your product magical, and since baseball has and always will reflect the American reality, we now get to sit back and watch as a small group of billionaires prepare to make life worse for everybody else.

And along those lines, there’s something else that has me very concerned. We as a society don’t compromise on much of anything anymore. Two sides dig in, never abandon hardline positions, and nothing gets done while everything crumbles around us. Is there any reason to believe this impending lockout will be any different? The owners have made it pretty clear they’re not going to budge unless they get a cap. The players meanwhile have always seen a cap as a nonstarter. Even if we didn’t live in the most unproductive debate environment in American history, it’s hard to see how this ends without one side emerging completely victorious.

There’s either going to be a cap, or there’s not. Baseball will either be changed forever when we resume, or we’ll be rebuilding the current structure and way of things when it’s time to pick up the pieces. I don’t see much of an in-between, but then again I don’t see much of anything right now as we stare into an apocopic abyss.

All I know for sure is that I’m angry right now, and it’s hard for me to direct that anger at any place other than the owners. The wonderful story of what the Milwaukee Brewers just did juxtaposed with what these jackals are about to do is deeply poignant at this hour, and with no more baseball games to distract us from the impending tsunami, I’m dreading just how ugly this is about to get.

The Commissioner’s Trophy resides in the city of Milwaukee for the first time in 69 years after the Brewers secured their first World Series championship.

In doing so, they trampled over the Dodgers in a lackluster four-game series sweep, crushing the Dodgers’ dreams of becoming the first baseball team to three peat in 26 years. Reflecting on being eliminated for the first time in three years, Dave Roberts sat down with Buster Olney of ESPN about the Brewers’ tenacity, noting that while the Dodgers were hungry to win, the Brewers were “starving.”

“I was telling my wife after we got eliminated that I know our guys were hungry, but the Brewers were starving.”

Paul Sporer of Fangraphs lists four players to keep an eye on in fantasy baseball for the 2027 season, with right-hander Emmet Sheehan cracking the top spot on the list. Sheehan struggled to stay afloat at the big league level throughout the majority of the regular season, but had flashes of brilliance during the final stretch run.

He either needs to greatly improve his fastball command or alter it in some way, perhaps even switching to a sinker. I tend to find homer issues something that can be overcome, though, so while it is a significant wart for Sheehan, the core skills are too strong for me to ignore so I’ll happily rebuy even around pick-160.

At least one player to have worn a Dodgers uniform was crowned a World Series champion this year, that being right-hander Dustin May. May discussed being in this year’s Fall Classic with Robert Flores of MLB Network prior to the start of the series, noting that this year was more significant due to his near-death experience two years prior.

“It means more to be in this moment today knowing two years ago, looking back at it, I wasn’t really sure if I was ever going to play again.”

The Dodgers are not going to win the World Series every year— as evident by this year’s postseason— but, as Cary Osborne of Dodger Insider notes, they are the ultimate challenge for any team’s chances of winning it all.

The Dodgers have built up this reputation: To win the World Series, one has to go through the Dodgers.

Through two seasons with the Orioles, Tyler O’Neill has played in just 139 total games, hit 19 home runs, and made five trips to the IL. While the 2026 campaign was a slight improvement from his debut season in Baltimore, the Canadian outfielder was once again a gigantic disappointment.

The Orioles attempted to handle O’Neill more gently this time around. He was limited to just 54 games in 2025, and the hope was that they could avoid a similar fate in 2026. Of the 85 games in which he appeared in this year, only 61 of them were starts, and he played defense in just 67 of them. It was not a massive workload, particularly for someone being paid $16.5 million per year. But that didn’t stop the injuries from coming anyway.

O’Neill suffered a concussion early in the season when an illness led to dehydration, which resulted in him fainting and hitting his head. That left him sidelined from April 9 through April 23. He returned to the lineup in late April, and would remain an outfield option for much of the year until late August, when he suffered a rotator cuff strain. There was some hope at the time that O’Neill could rehab the injury quickly and return before the end of the season. But it didn’t work out that way. O’Neill received PRP injections in September, and his season was over.

There really weren’t any positives to speak of for O’Neill through the end of June. To that point he owned a .182/.282/.270 batting line with two home runs, six doubles, 17 walks, and 43 strikeouts. You could squint and see some potential for positive regression in things like hard hit rate and lower than expected BABIP, but it was grasping for straws.

July is where O’Neill finally became a spark for the lineup. From July 1 through August 17, O’Neill hit .289/.359/.602 with eight home runs, two doubles, nine walks, and 26 strikeouts across 30 games. His season totals jumped up to a respectable (if still underwhelming) .223/.310/.395 thanks to that seven-week stretch.

That would be the peak of O’Neill’s campaign. He finished his season by going 0-for-11 over his final four games, and then hit the IL with the shoulder injury that shelved him. His last game of season came on August 22.

There is an argument to be made that O’Neill had finally figured something out in July. It’s possible that the early-season concussion lingered and, paired with a less consistent role in the everyday lineup, it was difficult for him to get into an offensive groove. Then, as soon as things were clicking, the injury bug bit him again. Just bad luck.

But it’s pretty much impossible to actually make that argument for O’Neill given his history. The guy gets hurt a lot. The most games he has ever played in a single MLB season was 138, which came way back in 2021 with the Cardinals. He played 113 games for the Red Sox in ‘24, his platform year before inking the three-year contract with the Orioles prior to 2025. So, even when he is productive, he is good for at least one lengthy IL stint per season. In order to be of value, he needs to play really well in those games he can actually suit up for. As an Oriole, that is yet to happen with any sort of consistency.

As the Orioles plan for 2027, the reality that O’Neill is probably going to miss time has to be factored into roster planning. It cannot be assumed that he will hold down an outfield corner for 140 games next summer. That’s not something he has ever done, and it’s unlikely he starts now. The fact that he ended the season on the IL with a rotator cuff injury for which he received PRP injections already sounds dicey, though reports indicate that he should be ready for spring training.

O’Neill will be entering the final season of his contract in 2027. That gives the Orioles more flexibility with him if he struggles, if the team falls out of contention, or if he is consumed by injuries again. The team has already paid out a majority of his salary, and the chance for him to “turn things around” will dwindle by the day. Should the team need a 26-man roster spot sometime midsummer while O’Neill toils, cutting him will be on the table.

But in all likelihood, that is a consideration for sometime during the regular season. At the moment, the Orioles outfield, outside of Colton Cowser’s glove, is one big question mark. O’Neill, despite his flaws, may be closer to a productive and known commodity at the plate than any other outfielder on the Orioles 40-man roster. And it’s not as if the team is going to be able to save any money by cutting or trading him now anyway. So the incentive for doing so before other plans are in place is basically zero.

The outfield should be a top priority for the Orioles this offseason, whenever it is that they can actually make moves. It’s a shallow free agent class, and many of the top options (Randy Arozarena, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki) are already older than O’Neill is now, so it doesn’t feel like a market where the Orioles are going to seriously compete. Perhaps the trade market is more open. Or, and this could be the best path, the Orioles explore converting some of their infielders into corner outfielders. Coby Mayo and Blaze Alexander feel like the two most prominent candidates should their peers on the roster come into the spring healthy.

The O’Neill experiment has been a failure through two years. Given the uncertainty on both the roster and in baseball broadly, he’s unlikely to be going anywhere this offseason. At this point, he can be a very expensive insurance policy if the Orioles fail to solve their outfield issues this offseason. Hopefully the organization holds a similar view, because going into 2027 with the plan being for O’Neill to be an everyday option in one of the corner spots is a recipe for yet another underperformance.

Good morning, baseball fans!

The 2026 MLB playoffs have officially come to an end, with the Milwaukee Brewers defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1, and securing the franchise’s very first World Series Championship!

Congratulations to the Brewers and their fans! And thank you, once again, for eliminating the Los Angeles Dodgers and keeping us from having to endure a three-peat. There are not enough words in any language to describe how much of a relief that was.

Next week, we’ll get back to discussing the Giants (oh god, no, please, don’t make me) but in the meantime:

What were your favorite moments from the Brewers postseason run?

With the World Series over, it’s time for wheeling and dealing!

Well, ok, they’re not big moves, but necessary and expected ones:

The Royals made the first of many potential significant moves Thursday to address their bullpen for 2027 when Kansas City announced that it declined the $13 million club option on closer Carlos Estévez while exercising a $2.5 million club option on right-hander Tony Gonsolin.

At The Star, Jaylon Thompson profiles 2026 first-round pick Zion Rose:

Rose relies on an unconscious swing at the plate. He isn’t trying to overthink and, in turn, overcomplicate the situation. His plan revolves around sticking to an approach and letting his natural instincts and abilities take over.

“The unconscious behavior is just the muscle memory of what your body has been working on this whole time,” he said. “(It’s) what you have been preparing for. So yeah, that’s the unconscious one. You never want to think while you are in the box — at least about mechanics.”

Pete Grathoff highlights a fan’s silly Halloween idea:

One Royals fan thought it would be fun to dress as catcher Carter Jensen, but with a twist. Remember when Jensen was scratched from the starting lineup early in the season because he overslept?

That’s all for “official” stories for the Royals. How about a little MLB section for the World Series? Then we’ll get to the Royals blogs.

Drew Lerner at Awful Announcing reports that the ratings for the World Series were not the catastrophe some predicted:

When including the preliminary figure from Game 5, the full five-game series averaged 11.83 million viewers across Fox, Fox Deportes, and Univision, which would put the series’ viewership level with Astros-Phillies in 2022 (11.76 million viewers) and Braves-Astros in 2021 (11.74 million viewers), both of which had six games. Viewership will predictably fall short of Dodgers-Yankees in 2024 (15.10 million viewers) and Dodgers-Blue Jays last year (15.49 million viewers), but will easily surpass Rangers-Diamondbacks in 2023 (9.08 million viewers), the least-watched World Series of all time.

Hey, didn’t someone make that prediction last week? Oh, right, it was, checks notes, Drew Lerner at Awful Announcing, as linked to by everyone’s favorite Friday Rumblings host last week. So, wait? We don’t need the Yankees and Dodgers in the World Series to get decent ratings, though it would have been helpful if this went more than 5 games.

Milwaukee Public Schools are closed tomorrow so kids can go to the victory parad— I mean, for safety, of course:

MPS specified that schools will be closed “due to operations and safety impacts from the Brewers parade and celebration.”

Who says judges can’t have fun:

Michael Maxwell, the presiding judge in neighboring Waukesha County, declared Brewers attire will be formally considered “in compliance with professional decorum expected of courtroom staff, litigants and attorneys appearing before the court” through the conclusion of the victory parade.

(NSFW) Brewers manager Pat Murphy had some NSFW advice for Jake Bauers and threw shade specifically at the Yankees, but more generally at large market teams:

“You’re going to be a rich f—er. Just remember when you’re on that horses— Yankees team and you’re all playing for yourselves, just remember this is the way we used to do it.”

(/NSFW)

The Brewers didn’t suffer ill effects from the World Baseball Classic. A trio of their players won the WBC title and World Series title:

Seven months after becoming World Baseball Classic champions with Team Venezuela, Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio, William Contreras and Antonio Senzatela pulled off a rare double, joining Alex Bregman and Luke Gregerson as the only players to win WBC and World Series titles in the same calendar year. Bregman and Gregerson did so for Team USA and the Astros in 2017.

Also, I linked to a Dan Szymborski (Szymborksi! Szymborski!) article a month ago that said there’s basically no effect across the board, though effects on individual players may vary.

Over at ESPN, Jeff Passan wrote his longform story about the Brewers.

Steve Megargee of the AP wrote about the connection between Bob Uecker and Christian Yelich.

Finally, Jordan Shuterman wrote about the Rays and how “being the best team in the American League simply wasn’t enough”.

Blog Time!

David Lesky continues to flood Inside the Crown ($) with awesome offseason content. He did his “JJ for a Day” three-parter. Yesterday was his “Offensive Free Agent Guide”. Today, it’s time for his Less Offensive Free Agent Guid— oh, wait “Pitching Free Agent Guide”:

Free agency is always a little kinder on the pitching side. I think I mentioned this in a comment yesterday, but teams are just more willing to let pitching go year-to-year and hit free agency than young talent, so there’s a little more out there every year. I think, for example, you can completely build a bullpen through free agency. It’s better if you don’t have to, but you could put together an expensive but not stupid expensive bullpen just from guys on the list above. It’s a little harder with starting pitching, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible to supplement what they already have. Ultimately, if the Royals are going to make good on their stated goal of competing in 2027, some of these guys above are going to need to be with the Royals whenever the season starts. I’ll be fascinated to see which ones they end up signing.

At Royals Keep, Kevin O’Brien looks at whether the Royals should keep Jame McArthur:

Because McArthur missed two full years at the Major League level, he will come cheap in arbitration. According to MLB Trade Rumors, his projected arbitration amount is $800,000, $10,000 less than a year ago. For context, Mears ($2.2 million), Alex Lange ($1.7 million), and Alec Marsh ($1.1 million) were expected to command higher amounts this offseason. McArthur is not only cheaper than those three, but he’s also more likely to be healthier and/or more effective.

While McArthur posted high ERAs in 2023 and 2024 with the Royals, his FIP numbers suggested he’s a much better pitcher. The now-30-year-old righty probably isn’t a fit for closing situations anymore, but his stuff, ability to generate CSW (31.9% career CSW%), and groundball-inducing style make him an ideal low- to medium-leverage arm who can eat the middle innings. Even in a small sample, McArthur showed decent stuff last year, with his curveball rated as a pretty plus pitch based on TJ Stuff+ and grade numbers.

We’ve reached the offseason and not as many people are reading. So it’s time for me to point out that in our link post, I’m linking to Royals Keep’s link post linking back to Royals Review. Royals Linkception!

Brian Burrows at KOK: 6 Royals prospects who could be protected no matter what happens with Rule 5 Draft

Matthew Swigonski at KOK: Grading every Royals infielder reveals who stood out in 2026

It’s not going to be a long OT, but I feel like I should do something Halloween-related.

I can’t exactly do tiers of Halloween specials like I’ve done with Christmas specials (and again and again). There’s It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. That’s it. That’s the list. Because of this, we watch The Nightmare Before Christmas most Halloween seasons, even though it’s more of a Christmas movie than a Halloween movie.

Of course, there are tons of horror movies… but I’m not really into horror movies. However, I did review the Scream series a couple of Halloweens ago.

Last year, I wrote about candy. Maybe it’s time to revisit that for a second. I didn’t write about a specific type of candy or candy tiers or anything like that. It was more a rambling screed in a couple of different directions.

I still feel the same way about the four major candy holidays, though, as I noted last year, my consumption has gone down with age. I also haven’t been able to discover the missing flavors I was chasing.

The real downer here is that candy prices keep going up. And we keep getting the same dumb excuses, just like last year:

Notice how all of those stories also talk about how candy is “outpacing inflation”, as above? That’s weird – it’s almost as if there’s a new cover story every year. I’m sure it’s not the expensive acquisitions, failed buyouts, and stock buybacks that need to be paid for by the consumer in an ever less competitive marketplace.

That’s whether you’re getting your information from Delaware Online:

The cost of a bulk bag of 100 pieces of candy has gone from $9.91 in 2021 to $16.96, a 71% increase over five years. The national rate of inflation over those five years was 22%.

The biggest increases have taken place over the last three years, with an increase of $2.45 from 2023 to 2024, $2.34 from 2024 to 2025 and 57 cents from 2025 to 2026. Combined, that’s a $5.36 increase over the last three years.

Or ABC7 in New York:

According to an analysis by the ABC7 Data Team, candy prices are up about 7.7% from a year ago, compared with a 1.8% increase in grocery prices overall. The analysis found candy prices have risen at more than four times the rate of overall grocery inflation.

NPR’s Marketplace brings all the numbers:

Overall, the price of candy and chewing gum has risen by more than 47% since 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. Marketplace looked at price changes for popular chocolates and candy between 2020 and 2026 using the Wayback Machine, finding that some products rose even more, with prices increasing between 60% and 100%…

A bag of party-size Hershey’s Kisses weighed 35.8 ounces in 2020 and retailed for $8.98 at Walmart. Now, the party size weighs 30 ounces and costs $14.92. That’s a 66% price increase. But if you look at the cost per ounce, the price actually doubled, rising from 25 cents an ounce to 50 cents an ounce. The largest bag of Brach’s Classic Candy Corn shrunk from 44 ounces in 2020 to 34 ounces in 2026. But the price per ounce doubled from 11 cents to 22 cents.

They talk about some of the cocoa and sugar shortages we looked at last year. They don’t talk about the consolidation in the industry that we also mentioned.

Even as prices go up and people are facing hard financial situations:

It’s not just that candy costs more—economic think tank Groundwork Collaborative, in association with the Century Foundation, found candy prices are up 15% on average over last year. For many shoppers, Costaglia said, they simply “don’t have the financial means to buy it this year.”

…Forbes seems almost happy to report that companies will still make tons of money from us:

Halloween is still going to be a big celebration this year, with NRF predicting a total of $13.5 billion in spending—candy making up about 30% of the spending total at $4.1 billion, up 5% from last year but far below the overall 15% uptick in prices.

So there’s that. In other words, same story as last year. Prices continue to go up for consumers and businesses continue to take an ever bigger cut. Yay?

In light of (Sir) Patrick Stewart’s passing earlier this week, I thought I should feature a game that he was in. Obviously, he was more known as a star of stage and screen, but for Friday Rumblings, video games are our sandbox. I don’t think he was in any Star Trek games that were well received. However, the pair of X-Men Legends games were highly rated, back in the sixth generation of consoles.

Per wiki:

It was basically Final Fantasy with X-Men. Over time, however, it really started to evolve. As development moved along, we added more and more elements of action and combat to it… -— Co-project lead Patrick Lipo on the development of the gam

I remember playing some co-op games with friends on the GameCube and it was quite fun.

Here’s a chapter of the game with some voice acting from Stewart:

Despite an all-time final-day comeback to win the American League Central Division title, the 2006 Minnesota Twins season didn’t end in as positive a manner. But one thing that cannot be taken away from the ‘06 campaign: it produced perhaps the most hardware-heavy season in franchise history.

Justin Morneau: AL MVP

• The Canadian sensation put up this line to take home top-of-league honors: 157 G, 661 PA, 97 R, 190 H, 37 2B, 34 HR, 130 RBI, .321 BA, .934 OPS, 140 OPS+, 4.3 bWAR. Was this a 100% deserved MVP? Ehhh…David Ortiz, Travis Hafner, & maybe even resident MN 1B-coach Grady Sizemore had pretty compelling cases. But it’s not like Morneau has to give it back.

Johan Santana: AL Cy Young

• This is one that the voters got exactly right—no one eclipsed ’06 Santana: 19-6 W/L, 233.2 IP, 245 K, 2.77 ERA, 162 ERA+, 1.00 WHIP, 7.6 bWAR. In what should have been Johan’s third straight Cy Young Award, there’s a case to be made he could have double-dipped as AL MVP considering that WAR total.

Joe Mauer: AL Batting Champion

• A .347 batting average was tops in the Junior Circuit. This was the first time a backstop brought home the batting bacon since Ernie Lombardi (.330 BA) did so for the Cincinnati Reds in 1942. 2006 was Mauer’s third season in the bigs—and his second functional campaign (missing almost all of 2004 due to injury)

Torii Hunter: Gold Glove

• Ho hum—just the sixth consecutive gilded glove-trophy for the CF-er.

Four incredible individual performances that render 2006 memorable 20 years hence despite the ALDS thud.

Happy Friday, everyone! Fair warning for today’s news post… it’s very Brewers-heavy for obvious reasons. We know, we know, we normally don’t love to share so much positive press about division rivals, but we suppose given the circumstances we need to make an exception. The Brewers did, indeed, end their own lengthy World Series curse this weekend by finally winning their first World Series championship, defeating the Rays in five games. They made their run through the postseason losing only two games in all of October, something that will surely put them among the names of the most dominant postseason teams in history. And catcher William Contreras became the first catcher since 2015 (when Salvador Perez did it for the Royals) to win World Series MVP.

So, of course, there’s a lot of discourse about the Brewers win to get through, and we’re just going to jump into it, because next week we start looking ahead to the big awards, and to a likely frenzied free agent market ahead of the MLB lockout.

• Michael Baumann sings the praises of the World Series-winning Milwaukee Brewers.
• The Brewers lost only two games in their entire postseason run, Jay Jaffe looks at other teams who dominated in the postseason.
• Anthony Castrovince looks at the path that took the Brewers to their first World Series victory.
• Anthony Castrovince explains why William Contreras earned his World Series MVP title.
• Dan Gartland explains that there’s more than one way to win a World Series.
• How the Brewers’ stars came through when the team needed them most. Story by Ryan Phillips.
• Jorge Castillo shares that the Rays are still proud of smashing expectations, even if they didn’t win the Series.
• Evan Drellich has a guide to surviving the looming baseball lockout. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• This might be the best shot of the World Series.

• We saw the Tampa Bay ground crew out a lot on Wednesday night re-grooming the mound. Let’s take a look at whether or not there’s a good reason for that. Story by Davy Andrews.
• Max Ralph looks at what an incredible year it was for the Contreras brothers.
• Sarah Langs figures out just how dominant the Brewers were this October.
• Some items from the Brewers’ historic run are headed to the Hall of Fame. Story by Max Ralph.
• What’s next for the Brewers? Karl Rasmussen looks ahead. He also assesses what comes next for the Rays.
• Doug Greenberg shares that the Dodgers are still the odds-on favourites to win the World Series next year.
• Cody Stavenhagen looks at how much this World Series win meant to long-suffering Brewers fans. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Classic.

• Michael King has declined his player option and opted to become a free agent. We’ll see a lot more of this over the coming week. Story by Max Ralph.
• Keegan Matheson looks at which Blue Jays players could be up for awards consideration in the coming weeks.
• Anthony DiComo spotlights the trio of Brewers from Venezuela, who are now two-time champions this year.
• How Christian Yelich honored the late Bob Uecker after the Brewers’ big win. (AP)
• Congrats to the Brewers.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.

Good morning, Purple Row!

Here’s what’s going on with the Colorado Rockies and the rest of Major League Baseball.

Rockies News & Links

Antonio Senzatela’s Stunning Turnaround Since Leaving Rockies Gets Perfect Ending | Si.com

Outside of the joy of not having the Dodgers win the World Series, and having a first-time champion in the Milwaukee Brewers, the icing on the cake is seeing Antonio Senzatela celebrating. After helping Venezuela win the World Baseball Cup earlier this year, along with his Milwaukee teammates Jackson Chourio and William Contreras, the former Rockie is now soaking in another world title. This piece by Laura Lambert revisits Senzatela’s career from when the Rockies signed him at age 16 to pitching in the World Series.

Rockies have longest odds in all of MLB to win the 2027 World Series | Denver Sports (The Fan)

All it takes is one day after the World Series, and the odds for next season are out. Of course, this is before trades, free agent signings, and all manner of roster changes that might happen before spring training hits in February. But it already doesn’t look good for the Rockies, who are facing 300-to-1 odds. Slightly more suprising, the Los Angeles Dodgers have the best odds, ahead of the World Series Champion Brewers.

Around MLB

Milwaukee Public Schools to close for Brewers’ championship parade | MLB.com

It’s party time in Milwaukee and school is out. The World Series Champions will bring home their hardware to celebrate with their fans on Friday for a parade starting at 9 a.m. MST. Considering vibrant Brewers crowds at the World Series games at American Family Field and Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay, a giant turnout is expected. The parade will be aired on MLB Network and streamed live for free on Brewers.com.

Treasures from 2026 World Series Headed Home to Cooperstown | Baseball Hall of Fame

Cooperstown will be getting some new gear soon. As soon as the World Series concluded on Wednesday night, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was swooping in to collect artifacts to memorialize the Milwaukee Brewers first-ever championship. Items that will be added to the Autumn Glory section of the Hall of Fame include MVP William Contreras’ catching gear, Jacob Misiorowski’s hat from Game 5, Cooper Pratt’s bat that connected for six straight hits in Games 4 and 5 and more.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

The Atlanta Braves announced Thursday that they have exercised options for both Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies. Acuña Jr. is set to earn $17M next season, and Albies will earn $7M. Of course, both of these figures do not account for the impending lockout. 

The Braves also made a couple of roster moves Thursday, reinstating Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep, and Joey Wentz from the 60-day injured list. 

While none of these moves come as a surprise, they mark another step in the Braves’ offseason preparations ahead of the looming labor dispute.

More Braves News:

Otto Lopez and Jeremy Peña have been linked to the Braves as shortstop trade candidates.

Our 2026 player review series continues with José Suárez. 

MLB News:

Though subject to change, we have outlined current important offseason dates.

From the Feed:

When do you think the 2027 season will begin?

Free of charge for the discerning reader.

Happy birthday to Roe Skidmore, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history, in 2016 – The Cubs remain alive in the World Series with a 3-2 win over Cleveland in Game 5. The Indians score first, on a solo homer by Jose Ramirez off Jon Lester in the second but Chicago scores three against Trevor Bauer in the fourth. Aroldis Chapman* gets the final eight outs to record the save, and other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

• 1963 – Sandy Koufax wins again. The Dodgers pitcher, who finished with 25 victories and 11 shutouts, outpolls Cardinals shortstop Dick Groat, 237 to 190, for the National League MVP Award. Six days ago, Koufax unanimously won the Cy Young Award.
• 1974 – Catfish Hunter of the Oakland Athletics is named the American League Cy Young Award winner. He led the league with 25 wins and a 2.49 ERA.
• 1975 – San Francisco Giants pitcher John Montefusco (15-9, 215 strikeouts, 2.88 ERA) outpoints Montreal Expos catcher Gary Carter for National League Rookie of the Year honors.
• 2001 – George W. Bush becomes the eighth President of the United States to attend a World Series game, and the first since Dwight D. Eisenhower to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Wearing a New York Fire Department windbreaker in honor of the heroes of the September 11th attacks, the President walks to the mound by himself, gives a thumbs up, and throws a perfect strike much to the delight of the stadium faithful. In Game 3 of the 2001 World Series, the Yankees win, 2-1, over the Diamondbacks, behind strong pitching by Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera.
• 2010 – In Game 3 of the 2010 World Series, Colby Lewis throws six shutout innings before fading and rookie Mitch Moreland hits a three-run homer as the Rangers beat San Francisco, 4-2. It is the first World Series win by a Texas-based team in seven tries. Neftali Feliz, at age 22, surpasses Rangers owner Nolan Ryan as the second-youngest man to save a game in the Series – Bob Welch set the record at age 21 in 1978.
• 2013 – The Red Sox win the World Series with a 6-1 victory over the Cardinals in Game 6. Shane Victorino hits a three-run double off Michael Wacha as the Sox take a 6-0 lead after four innings. David Ortiz collects four walks – three of them intentional – on his way to winning the Series MVP Award.
• 2015 – The Mets win Game 3 of the World Series, 9-3 over the Royals, behind the pitching of Noah Syndergaard and two-run homers by David Wright and Curtis Granderson off Yordano Ventura. 20-year-old Raul Adalberto Mondesi becomes the first player of the modern era to make his major league debut in a World Series game when he strikes out as a pinch-hitter.
• 2019 – The Nationals win their first-ever World Series, defeating the Astros, 6-2, in Game 7. Zack Greinke is masterful for Houston, facing only one batter over the minimum through the first six innings, while Max Scherzer has to work hard to limit the Astros to two runs in his five innings, as he strands a boatful of baserunners. Things turn around in the seventh when Anthony Rendon hits a solo homer off Greinke, and Howie Kendrick hits a two-run shot off the right foul pole against Will Harris to give Washington the lead they will never relinquish. In an unprecedented development, the visiting team wins all seven games of the series. Stephen Strasburg is honored with the Willie Mays Award as the Series’ MVP after winning both of his starts, in Games 2 and 6.
• 2021 – The Braves take a three-games-to-one lead in the World Series by winning Game 4 at home, 3-2, over Houston. The Astros take an early 2-0 lead, scoring a run against unlikely openerDylan Lee in the 1st and another on a solo homer by Jose Altuve in the fourth, but they also strand ten baserunners through the first six innings. The Braves score once in the sixth before leaving the bases loaded, and then strike with back-to-back homers by Dansby Swanson and pinch-hitter Jorge Soler to take the lead in the seventh.
• 2023 – The Rangers win Game 3 of the World Series by scoring all three of their runs in the third inning against Brandon Pfaadt, on a single by Marcus Semien and a two-run homer by Corey Seager. After having a runner thrown out at home in the second, the Diamondbacks can only reply with a single run in the eighth. Rangers starter Max Scherzer has to leave the game after three innings with back tightness, but Jon Gray steps in ably to earn the victory.

Cubs Birthdays:Roe Skidmore, John Burrows, Roy Joiner, Kettle Wirts, Charlie Deal, Rudy Sommers, Tom Nagle. Also notable, Leon Day HOF. Leon Day HOF. Ed Delahanty HOF.

Today in history:

• 1866 – Jesse James‘ gang robs bank in Lexington, Missouri ($2000).
• 1873 – P. T. Barnum‘s circus, “Greatest Show on Earth,” debuts in New York City.
• 1938 – A radio broadcast of H. G. Wells‘ “The War of the Worlds,” narrated by Orson Welles, allegedly causes mass panic.
• 1960 – Michael Woodruff performs the first successful kidney transplant at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in the United Kingdom.
• 1970 – English metal band Black Sabbath make US concert debut at Glassboro State College in Glassboro, New Jersey; show interrupted twice when they blow out the power.
• 1973 – The Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, is completed, connecting the continents of Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus for the first time.
• 1974 – Muhammad Ali KOs George Foreman in the eighth round in “The Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire, regaining the world heavyweight boxing title using the famous “rope-a-dope” tactic.
• 1987 – “Faith,” the debut album by George Michael, is released.
• 1988 – Brazilian McLaren driver Ayrton Senna wins the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, his record 8th Grand Prix win of the season, and clinches his first Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 1990 – Britain and France complete the “Chunnel” under the English Channel.
• 1990 – George Michael releases his single “Freedom 90” with a music video starring supermodels Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford.
• 1997 – Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona announces his retirement from football on his 37th birthday.
• 2022 – Dutch Red Bull driver Max Verstappen wins the Mexican F1 Grand Prix in Mexico City for his record-breaking 14th GP win of the season, surpassing Michael Schumacher and fellow German Sebastian Vettel

*pictured.

One day to Halloween. An unknown, but certainly much greater, number of days until baseball returns.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

Garrett Stubbs will be DFA’d. ($)

The Phillies need depth in the rotation.

And they’ll try to play every month of their next season like it was August 26. ($)

MLB news

Free agents, ranked.

The Red Sox and Athletics made a trade.

Tatsuya Imai will be staying with his current club.

And the same goes for Bo Bichette.

With the Brewers’ first World Series title now in the rearview, it’s time to enter the baseball hibernation months. Here are some of the key dates to remember as the offseason begins. Remember, this will be one of the weirder offseasons we’ve seen in some time, with a lockout expected to begin in December.

Free Agency & Options

Free agency officially began on Thursday for any players with six or more years of MLB service time who are not under contract for 2027. Negotiations begin immediately, but players cannot sign with a new team until Monday, November 2 at 4 p.m. CT (five days after the conclusion of the World Series).

Likewise, contract options are exercised (or not) within five days of the end of the World Series.

For the Brewers, impending free agents and options include:

• 1B Jake Bauers (free agent; top qualifying offer candidate)
• C William Contreras ($15.5 million club option, but also arbitration-eligible for 2027 even if option isn’t exercised)
• RHP Dustin May (already declined $20 million mutual option; $500,000 buyout)
• LHP JoJo Romero (free agent)
• C Gary Sánchez ($1.75 million mutual option with $250,000 buyout)
• RHP Antonio Senzatela ($14 million club option, no buyout)
• RHP Brandon Woodruff (free agent)

60-Day Injured List Activations

As it stands now, the Brewers’ 40-man roster sits at 39 players, with three on the 60-day injured list — Brian Fitzpatrick, Quinn Priester, and Angel Zerpa. With at least three free agents departing in May, Romero, and Woodruff, the Crew will have no problem activating those three. Senzatela and Sánchez may not have their options picked up, meaning they would join that free agency group, and if Bauers is offered and declines a QO, he would also be a free agent. If the Brewers opt to make some more space on their roster, non-tender candidates may include Grant Anderson, Jared Koenig, Bryse Wilson, Akil Baddoo, and Tyler Black.

Minor League Free Agency

This is the point where the Brewers could add any players eligible for minor league free agency to the 40-man roster and/or to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. This year’s Rule 5 protection deadline is Tuesday, November 17. Players who have been released from their original pro contracts or with six full years of minor league service can opt for free agency if they aren’t on the 40-man roster. They can also opt to sign a new minor league deal to remain in the organization.

It should be noted that the Rule 5 Draft, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 9, during the Winter Meetings, won’t take place if there is a lockout.

Last season, the Brewers opted to protect right-handed pitcher Coleman Crow, who had a cup of coffee in the majors in 2026, appearing in five games (18 2/3 innings).

As a reminder, to prevent players from becoming eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, organizations must add players who signed at age 18 or younger to their club’s 40-man roster within five seasons and players who signed at age 19 or older to their club’s 40-man roster within four seasons.

Qualifying Offers

After Brandon Woodruff was offered and accepted a qualifying offer last season, the only real candidate for Milwaukee this year is first baseman Jake Bauers. While he made just $2.7 million in 2026, Bauers became a key player for the Crew in 2026, putting up 3.7 fWAR as he hit .266/.389/.484 with 26 homers over 144 games, earning NLCS MVP honors and helping the Brewers win it all.

This year’s top candidates for qualifying offers ($23.15 million for 2027) include Bauers, Randy Arozarena, Brandon Lowe, Seiya Suzuki, Trevor Rogers, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Adrian Morejon, Ian Happ, Ryan Jeffers, David Bednar, and Matthew Boyd.

If a team gives a qualifying offer to a player who then signs elsewhere, the club that lost the player is eligible for Draft pick compensation the following year. A team’s highest first-round pick is exempt from forfeiture.

Last season, 13 players received qualifying offers ($22.025 million) and four accepted (Woodruff, Trent Grisham of the Yankees, Shota Imanaga of the Cubs, and Gleyber Torres of the Tigers). Bo Bichette, Dylan Cease, Edwin Díaz, Ranger Suárez, Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez, Zac Gallen, Michael King, and Kyle Schwarber all declined their offers, though each of the last three re-signed with their original team.

Award Dates

• November 1: Gold Glove Awards (8 p.m. CT on ESPN)
• November 2: National Baseball Hall of Fame announces its eight-person Contemporary Baseball Era Players ballot
• November 2: BBWAA award finalists (5 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
• November 5: Silver Slugger finalists (10 a.m. CT)
• November 6: MLBPA Heart & Hustle Award (MLB Network)
• November 6: Rawlings Gold Glove dinner and announcement of Platinum Glove winners
• November 9: Rookie of the Year Award (6 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
• November 10: Manager of the Year Award (6 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
• November 11: Cy Young Award (6 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
• November 11: Hank Aaron Award, Comeback Players of the Year, Relievers of the Year, Outstanding Designated Hitter of the Year, MLB Executive of the Year, and selections for All-MLB First and Second Teams (8 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
• November 12: MVP Awards (6 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
• November 16: BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot released, with voting taking place through December 31
• November 17: Silver Slugger Awards
• December 6: Contemporary Baseball Era Committee of the Hall of Fame will meet and announce results (7 p.m. CT on MLB Network)
• December 9: Winner of Hall of Fame’s Frick Award (for broadcasters)
• January 19: Hall of Fame announces 2027 class (5 p.m. CT on MLB Network)

Other Key Offseason Dates

• November 9-12: General managers meetings (Las Vegas, Nevada)
• November 17-19: Owners meetings (New York)
• November 17: Qualifying offer deadline (3 p.m. CT)
• November 17: Rule 5 protection deadline (5 p.m. CT; see more details above).
• November 20: Last day for teams to offer 2027 contracts to arbitration-eligible unsigned players on their 40-man rosters. More commonly known as the “non-tender deadline.” Last year, the Brewers tendered contracts to all arbitration-eligible players.
• December 1: Likely lockout; some of the events listed below might not happen or be rescheduled.
• December 7-9: Winter meetings (San Diego, California)
  • December 8: MLB Draft lottery, determining the first 18 picks of the 2027 draft. As World Series winners, the Brewers hold the No. 30 pick in 2027.
  • December 9: Rule 5 Draft (1 p.m. CT)
• December 15: 2026 international signing period closes (4 p.m. CT)
• January 8: Salary arbitration exchanges take place between players and teams
• January 15: 2026 international signing period opens (8 a.m. CT)
• Late January/early February TBA: Salary arbitration hearings

2027 Season Dates

• February 10: Pitchers and catchers report to spring training
• February 14: Remainder of players report to spring training
• February 19: Spring Training schedule begins
• March 25: The Brewers begin the defense of their title with a series against the Los Angeles Angels at American Family Field