This World Series matchup is truly a treat for the baseball nerds out there. It may not get massive ratings, but the Brewers and Rays provide a guide on how to build a winning team without a big budget. These two clubs have a lot in common, but one thing that ties them together is their ability to make a savvy trade.

When you look at the WAR breakdown of these two teams, it is easy to see how important trades are to these clubs, especially the Rays. Out of the 47.1 WAR that Tampa generated this year, 31.2 of those came from trades. Stars like Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz and Drew Rasmussen all came to Tampa via trade. It is not as extreme for the Brewers, but they also made plenty of big moves as well.

Being active on the trade market and constantly looking for ways to upgrade the roster is how these small market teams stay competitive. It is a formula the Nats have used in the Toboni era and under Mike Rizzo. After all, the Nats two best players came over in the Juan Soto trade. Sometimes these tough and painful moves are what sets a team up for long term success.

At the trade deadline, the Nats made some unpopular moves that signaled the team was punting on the 2026 season. They traded Foster Griffin, Luis Garcia Jr., and Curtis Mead despite being within shouting distance of the playoffs. Those moves were made with an eye on turning the Nats into a sustainable winner like the Rays and Brewers. It is too early to say if those moves will work out, but that is what the plan is.

While the Brewers lean more on homegrown players than the Rays, they made a couple painful moves which helped them in the long term. Josh Hader and Corbin Burnes were both stars in Milwaukee, but they were approaching free agency. The Brewers decided to trade both, which gave them multiple pieces which have been valuable in the playoffs. Here are some of the players the Brewers acquired via trade.

Robert Gasser has stepped up in a big way this postseason. The Brewers acquired the lefty from San Diego in the Hader deal back in 2022. Gasser missed time with injuries, but now he is showing why the Brewers wanted him. The Corbin Burnes trade netted Milwaukee Joey Ortiz and DL Hall. Ortiz is a defense first player who has been a solid starter while Hall is part of the Brewers stacked bullpen.

One thing I like about how the Brewers operate is that they don’t trade their stars until they are about one year away from free agency. That allows them to get the most out of their homegrown talents while still netting value. They still got plenty of great years out of Hader, Burnes, Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta, but they also did not lose them for nothing. 

The Rays are even more trade heavy than the Brewers. In fact, most of the Brewers core pieces are homegrown and the depth of the roster is built by trades. On the other hand, much of the Rays core has been built by trades, as we have mentioned. These trades are both big and small. 

One thing the Rays are masters at is finding hidden gems in deals that nobody pays attention to. Junior Caminero is the best example of this. The Rays traded Tobias Myers to Cleveland for an 18 year old Caminero. At the time, this was a minor move, but it had massive consequences. Caminero blossomed into a superstar in the Rays system and is now the face of the franchise.

Rays mainstay Yandy Diaz is another case of Tampa fleecing Cleveland. The Rays do not spend much money at all, even compared to the Brewers. That means they need to be creative on the market. They have mastered the art of being a small market team over the past 18 years. In addition to Caminero and Diaz, Bryan Baker, Liam Hicks, Freddy Peralta, Drew Rasmussen and Victor Mesa Jr. all came in trades.

With how active Paul Toboni has been on the trade market in his first year on the job, this is certainly a model that he follows. You will not win every trade, not even the Rays do, but if you make enough smart moves, they stack up. The Nats should be spending more money than the Rays, but that model is one that has proven to be effective.

Hopefully the likes of Connelly Early, Harry Ford, Will Dion and minor leaguers like Devin Fitz-Gerald can play big roles on the next great Nats team. This offseason will also be an interesting one to follow. Toboni has a tough decision to make with CJ Abrams. Will he trade him with two years of control like he did with MacKenzie Gore or will he hold onto his star. 

Those are the types of decisions that shape the future of your franchise. It seems like the Nats are following a Brewers and Rays type model. Fans have looked at that pejoratively, but now these are the two teams in the World Series.

It turns out that formula works and it starts by making smart trades and developing talent. The two smartest teams in the league are squaring off in the World Series, which is very fun to see. Hopefully the Nats can be among the league’s best and brightest soon. Under Paul Toboni, they at least seem to be headed in the right direction.

The sky is blue, the water is wet, you never get anywhere on the Major Deegan, and Brian Cashman is the Yankees’ general manager. All these things are true. All these things will continue to be true.

The Yankees just conducted their end-of-season press conferences, and during the media sessions, Cashman confirmed to reporters that he had a new deal with managing partner Hal Steinbrenner, who was sitting with him: “We’ve agreed on a new contract, we just have to bang out some minor stuff on the back end of it. But yeah, we’re locked and loaded.”

Cashman signed his previous deal after the 2022 campaign, and the four-year contract was set to expire at the end of October. But there was never any real doubt that Steinbrenner would bring him back. Cashman has Hal’s full, complete trust after decades of working together. Cashman has been with the Yankees so long that Hal was still in high school when the former first joined the organization as an intern before gradually ascending to an assistant general manager role and then the top job in February 1998.

Cashman is the longest-tenured GM in baseball, and it’s all but understood that the Steinbrenner family is comfortable with him in the job until whenever he decides to step back. Cashman will turn 60 in 2027; at 70, the Phillies’ Dave Dombrowski is the oldest head of baseball operations in the league. So whether or not you like Cashman, he’s probably in it for the long haul.

Under Cashman’s watch, the Yankees have never finished with a losing record, which is not nothing considering that every other good franchise around the league has had multiple awful seasons during his 29-year reign. If you ask people in front offices around the game, they are sincerely awed by that. But expectations are higher in the Bronx, and Cashman has added to the Yankees’ World Series trophy collection just once in the past 26 years. That was in 2009, which is already long enough ago that the only remaining active(-ish) MLB players from then (Max Scherzer, Andrew McCutchen, and Carlos Carrasco) could very well retire this offseason.

Cashman has also been steadfast in his support of the recently-confirmed-to-return Aaron Boone. Eyebrows were raised when the Yankees let Joe Girardi’s contract expire and instead selected Boone to manage an upstart team that went from a playoff absence in 2016 to within one win of a World Series berth in 2017, despite the latter having no coaching experience whatsoever.

On my most generous day, I will acknowledge that for the most part, Boone has been a succesful regular season manager; they’ve made the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons, they’ve reached the ALCS on three occasions, and they at least snapped their pennant drought in 2024. By that measure, only the Dodgers’ Dave Roberts is better. However, they’ve also only won three AL East crowns, with midsummer swoons forcing them to accept Wild Card berths in multiple seasons this decade that have put them in bad position under the current playoff format, and while they could have overcome it anyway, they promptly fell pretty meekly to the actual AL East winners—the Blue Jays and Rays—in the ALDS. That’s to say nothing of the lapse in fundamentals that seem to occur annually at this time of year, which were ugly to watch in 2025 and 2026, but never more miserable than in that lone World Series appearance two years ago. Boone’s full playoff record is under .500 at 27-30.

Much like Steinbrenner has been steadfast in his support of Cashman, Cashman has been resolute in his support of Boone. The 2027 season will be his 10th as big-league manager; no one in franchise history has been allowed to manage this long without a championship. Cashman did let Girardi go after a decade on the job when his contract expiring; perhaps he’ll do the same with Boone next year assuming another quiet October.

We won’t find out until then. All we know is that while Steinbrenner’s pointed comments about the offense mean that the Yankees’ roster won’t “run it back” to the same degree that they did last offseason, the management apparatus will indeed remain the same. So… huzzah for them, I guess.

The first trade rumor of the Guardians’ offseason is a bit unexpected, as rumors are percolating about Stephen Vogt potentially interviewing for the job of managing the Seattle Mariners.

To be abundantly clear, as I am NOT trying to clickbait anyone, we have no confirmation from Vogt or from any team sources that he is even interested in the Mariners’ job. What we do have is speculation from Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com and Zack Meisel of the Selby is Godcast and the Athletic that Vogt to Seattle MIGHT be a possibility, without any indication that it is anything but a slim one. With that said, Stephen Vogt is openly a very committed husband and father (to three young kids) whose family lives in Olympia, Washington during the school year and then comes and stays with him in Northeast Ohio during the summer, meaning he is with them only approximately eight months of the year. “Why don’t they just move here?” Well, folks… I love Cleveland, but, if I had to move anywhere else, I’d probably move to the Pacific Northwest, too. And, if that’s where my wife’s family was located, and I had the financial means to make it work, it would probably push the Pacific Northwest to the top of the list. Vogt and his family are human beings and the opportunity to manage in Seattle is not guaranteed to come open again any time soon. Teams WANT to find mangers to retain and Seattle is not going into some kind of rebuild (they’ll be aiming for 85 wins annually, as P.O.B.O. Jerry Dipoto once famously let slip).

So, let me establish a few things, here:

1. I love Stephen Vogt and want him to manage the Guardians FOREVER

2. I don’t have any inside knowledge of his feelings about the opportunity to manage the Mariners

3. If Vogt would ask the team to let him interview with Seattle, find the job a good fit, and proceed to request a trade there, I wouldn’t hold the slight bit of resentment for a husband/dad trying to find a way to do an impossibly time-consuming job in a manner easier for him to fulfill the dual role all of us husbands and dads have to worry about.

Vogt signed a contract extension (terms not disclosed) following the 2024 season, so he is still under contract in Cleveland for 2027 and would need to be traded. What would the compensation for trading for a manager who has won three division titles in three years, reached two ALCS’s and won two manager-of-the-year awards look like? In 2012, the Blue Jays traded John Farrell and a middling relief pitcher (David Carpenter) for utility infielder Mike Aviles. The Blue Jays then traded Aviles to, you guessed it, the Cleveland Indians for reliever Esmil Rogers. Oh, the Blue Jays also threw in a minor league catcher… named Yan Gomes. So… needless to say, a good manager was not necessarily seen as much of value in onfield talent fourteen years ago, given the return Toronto netted, here.

Has the value of a manager changed since then? I don’t think we have any way to know the answer to that, for certain. We do know that Vogt is considered by players and, likely, executives as among the best managers in the game. So, whatever the top amount for a trade return would be, that’s what the Guardians would have to consider for trading him. We also know that the Guardians have been among the leading teams in MLB for compensating their managers in the past, so I would say it is safe to assume that Vogt is well-compensated for his work here in Cleveland. So… if Seattle wants Vogt, they will need to offer a notable trade return and be willing to pay Vogt in a manner commensurate with what he is currently receiving in Cleveland.

What is a notable trade return? I have trouble assuming it would be more than, AT MOST, a reliever with potential to be high leverage or maybe a platoon bat of some kind with defensive flexibility. As great as a manager can be, it’s hard to prove they have significant impact over a replacement level manager (i.e. if Seattle wants Stephen Vogt, can’t they hire one of his assistants or Kai Correa and get something similar in managerial production without giving up on-field talent?). The Guardians aren’t getting Julio Rodriguez, Bryce Miller or George Kirby for Stephen Vogt.

One more fun little piece of speculation for you – it’s pretty clear that managing Josh Naylor was not Stephen Vogt’s favorite part of the job in Cleveland. Would going to a team where Naylor is under contract for four more years be something he was willing to put up with to be closer to home? I don’t know that it would be THE deciding factor, but perhaps Naylor’s surliness could be a small additional reason for Vogt to stay put.

And, ultimately, the reason I think Vogt stays in Cleveland is because I doubt Seattle would meet Cleveland’s asking price to trade for Vogt. On the slight possibility that Vogt indicates he wants to be in Seattle at all costs, maybe the Guardians’ hand would be forced. But, I suspect it is far more likely the team indicates that they value Vogt higher than the Mariners do and that this is a factor that encourages Vogt and his family to know this is the place to stay.

Stephen, we love you here in Cleveland. Any possibility we can convince the family to move out here for longer periods of the year so you can be a dad/husband on a more regular basis? Let us know, because we’ve got a good thing going and we don’t want to lose it.

It was a somewhat surprising return engagement with the big league Atlanta Braves for 37-year-old backstop Sandy León in 2026. When injuries struck Atlanta’s catchers six weeks into the regular season, the veteran was called upon to fill the void.

How Acquired

León was re-signed by the Braves on a minor league contract on October 7, 2025 for a third season in the organization. The long-time MLBer debuted in 2012 and appeared in the big leagues every season until 2024. He made his Braves debut in 2025, seeing action in five games, and served as a presumably important mentor at Triple-A Gwinnett for pitchers and catchers alike.

The Braves granted León his release in late April 2026 to sign in the Liga Mexicana. Three weeks later, the Braves signed him to the active roster, where he’d stay for more than a month after Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy were both placed on the Injured List.

What were the expectations?

With Baldwin, Murphy and a returning Chadwick Tromp, León was the fourth catcher on the organization’s depth chart heading into Spring Training. But with Murphy still recovering from surgery that ended his 2025 season, Jonah Heim was inked in early February as the big league back-up to Baldwin to start the season.

Heim’s addition made it unlikely that León would get a big league opportunity, meaning the he’d be likely to play the mentor role again in Gwinnett.

There wasn’t really anything to expect production-wise, as Leon was an all-glove catcher (career 56 wRC+ coming into 2026) who hadn’t posted an above-replacement season since 2018.

2026 results

When Murphy was ready to be activated from the Injured List, the organization designated Heim for assignment and then traded him to the Athletics, only for Murphy to return to the shelf a week later. That opened the door for León’s return as Baldwin’s backup. A week later, Baldwin landed on the IL and thrust León into a regular role with Tromp for the next month.

In 21 games, León slashed .091/.091/.091 (-59 wRC+) but was able to steady the pitching staff and was a master of the ABS challenge system. That didn’t help him not post -0.5 fWAR in just 44 PAs, but it is what it is.

What went right?

Defensively, despite his age, he was still a fine enough framer and blocker, although his pop time was below average.

Where he excelled was leveraging the ABS challenge system. In only 134 1/3 innings, he led the Braves by being 0.8 Runs Above Average on his ABS challenges. And it wasn’t that he just led the Braves, he was 20th in baseball despite his limited appearances behind the plate based on Savant’s ABS tracking stats. Getting nearly a framing run in less than a month is pretty good.

Given that Leon had four hits, all singles, it’s hard to find a positive offensive contribution. But, he did have slightly positive (0.01) WPA in two games. Unfortunately, these weren’t very interesting: one was a one-out single off Shota Imanaga in the third, that was followed up with another single by a 2026 Braves short-timer (Jose Azocar), but then rendered meaningless by a double play right after. The other was also a one-out single that didn’t go anywhere, against his former team, the Red Sox.

What went wrong?

Offensively, León was cooked, as the kids say. In 44 plate appearances, he had four singles and struck out 18 times. That was it. No extra base hits, no walks, no runs, no RBI. That led to his -59 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR overall despite some positive defensive value. The Braves also couldn’t quite keep him away from meaningful situations, as he posted seven games with a WPA of -0.06 or worse — basically a third of the time the Braves gave him playing time, he substantially lowered their win expectancy. The worst came in a 3-2 loss on May 16, though he didn’t really do anything especially bad, just going 0-for-3 in a one-run loss with two of the outs leading off an inning.

2027 outlook

This time last year, it looked like León might be done as a big leaguer, but lo-and-behold, he returned and was the ace of the ABS in a tiny sample. He ended the 2026 season on the IL with Gwinnett and he’ll turn 38 in March. He if wants to continue playing, it’s likely an organization would bring him in on a minor league deal to work in the upper minors. The last time he appeared in more than 33 big league games was 2021, so at this stage in his career, any role would be limited. He’s been often mentioned as a future coach or manager, and that future could come as soon as next season.

If this was the end for León, he was a fun addition, proving his excellence behind the plate, while sporting a fantastic beard, to boot. And, if it wasn’t, then he’ll likely produce the same no-bat, some-glove, limited exposure line that he has from 2019-onward.

Last time, we reset the roster for the offseason. That was the easy part: cutting a bunch of guys we didn’t need anymore and bringing home our 60-day-IL journeymen. J.J. Picollo mentioned in the postseason presser that the team was prepared to make some painful trades, and while they wanted to be aggressive in adding to the roster, they preferred not to be aggressive in spending money. So I decided the next step for rebuilding the roster, doing things my own way but in accordance with the guidance ownership seems to have provided, meant I should start by making some splashy trades and then come back and do my free agency work once I saw what that did to my payroll.

In keeping with the old Offseason Simulation tradition, I chose to negotiate against another SB Nation writer rather than to simply write up some trades I liked. I chose my Royals Rundown podcast co-host Jacob Milham both because he was convenient and because I felt like I could trust him to force me to give up more than I might otherwise have been willing to do if I were negotiating against myself or just using Baseball Trade Values. You can listen to us negotiate together on the latest episode of Royals Rundown, but I was very pleased with how he pushed back on me, and not every deal I wanted to do was available to me, forcing me to pivot a couple of times. He’s planning to write why he did these trades from his own perspective later, so keep an eye out for that.

Ultimately, I still think I got some pretty good trades done, so let’s go over what we did, then we’ll figure out where that leaves the roster and the payroll before I start looking into what free agents I could sign next time.

Trade 1: Acquire Reid Detmers from the Angels for Blake Mitchell, David Shields, and Jack Slightom

It’s funny, this was probably the most painful trade, but not nearly as painful as I feared it was going to be going in. Sure, I gave up a couple of top-100 guys (or fringe top-100 guys, depending on the outlet) but I started my offseason acquisitions with a bang, acquiring the guy I expect to lead my pitching staff for at least the next two seasons.

Detmers has always been an exceptionally talented pitcher, and he finally put it all together last year for the Angels. He accrued 4.9 fWAR with a 20% K-BB% leading to a 3.36 ERA and 3.29 SIERA. He got off to a bit of a slow start, but from June on, he had a 2.62 ERA in 20 starts. He’s going to be my Opening Day starter, and if we went a bit deeper, I’d probably already be working on negotiating an extension for him. He only just turned 27, and he’s not been especially injury-prone; it just took him a while to figure out the big leagues.

I wanted an ace for the staff; Detmers was my first target; and I managed to get him without giving up either of my two most valuable trade chips. According to MLB Pipeline, I gave up the team’s #4, #5, and #12 prospects. I went into thinking I was going to have to give up at least one of Angeibel Gomez or Kendry Chourio, though, and I managed to keep both of them.

Trade 2: Acquire George Kirby from the Mariners for Ramon Ramirez, Lucas Braun, and Dash Albus

I initially approached Jacob as Jerry Dipoto, hoping to get the last year of Logan Gilbert. But Jacob wanted a lot for Gilbert, who has been the better pitcher the last couple of years. Unfortunately, the asking price was more than I was willing to give up for one year of him. Kirby hasn’t been quite as good the past couple of years as he was before, but he’s still been more than serviceable. I also think a change of scenery and introduction to a different, good pitching coach could help him find whatever it is he’s lost.

The Royals have experience with pitchers who throw the entire kitchen sink like Kirby. Though, honestly, looking at the above chart, I wonder if the answer might be as simple as throwing his four-seamer less and his sinker more.

Regardless, instead of one year of Gilbert, I got two years of Kirby. And even if he isn’t a guaranteed number-two quality starter, I think he can easily slot in as my third-best starter with some possible upside. That means two trades in, and I’ve already got a rotation with four starting pitchers I feel really good about.

Yes, I had to give up my other high-octane minor league catcher and the freshly acquired Braun, but I think Kirby’s certainty is higher than Braun’s likely ceiling, and after looking at how the Rays and Brewers constructed their playoff rosters, I think aggression in trading prospects for more known quantities in young big leaguers is the path forward. Kirby may not be that young at 29 next season, but he beats the 36 and 37 of Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo.

Braun is ranked as the Royals’ 16th-best prospect, and Ramirez as the 7th-best according to Pipeline. Albus isn’t ranked. At this point, I’ve made a couple of really big deals, but I still have holes to fill. Time for a smaller-scale match.

Trade 3: Acquire Ryan Feltner from the Rockies for Felix Arronde and Darwin Rodriguez

Ryan Feltner was someone I identified early on as a low-cost guy who I think might have traits that Brian Sweeney and friends can polish into a much better pitcher. It also probably wouldn’t hurt to get him out of Colorado, even though, by some measures, he’s been a better pitcher at home.

I was particularly interested in how the slider and sweeper – two pitch types the Royals have had a lot of success with – grade out well, but perform exceptionally poorly. I really like the extension numbers and his ability to pitch in the zone, too. I’m not counting on him to be in my rotation, but I’ll give him a shot to compete with Seth Lugo and Tony Gonsolin for the final spot, with the losers becoming swingmen and the first guys into the rotation when someone gets hurt.

This is kind of a funny trade because Feltner is a non-tender candidate for the Rockies, but Arronde – despite being the Royals’ 21st-ranked prospect by Pipeline – is a Rule 5 problem. I didn’t choose to protect him. So we’re both giving up players we didn’t think we were going to get to keep.

Trade 4: Acquire Dylan Crews from Nationals for Daniel Lynch IV and Sean Gamble

The Royals need a right-handed center fielder platoon partner regardless of which of their three current internal candidates for the position they have – though, again, I’ve traded Kyle Isbel, so I’m down to two. Dylan Crews has a huge prospect pedigree, but he hasn’t lived up to it. Trading for Crews means I don’t have to spend the money in free agency it would take do something like bring back Lane Thomas, with perhaps more future upside if he can finally play up to the talent that got him drafted second overall in 2023.

I initially thought about trying to deal Yandel Ricardo straight up for Crews, but Jacob made me aware that if I tried that, he’d simply hang up on me. There were other options I could target, but Crews felt like the move I could make with the highest upside. So I decided to bite the bullet and offer Sean Gamble, too. Then Jacob surprised me. Turns out the Nationals need some bullpen help as they want to try to be a bit more competitive next year, so they wanted the Royals’ most reliable reliever from last season. That was an easy call for me because I feel like Lynch is cruising for a relief collapse, especially since he’s made it clear he wants to be a starter, and I wonder if that could affect his excitement for the game if I shoved him back into a relief role. Daniel Lynch IV was never going to make it to 2027 with the Royals if I had anything to say about it, and he did way more for me than I thought he could when Jacob-as-Anirudh Kilambi asked for him to get this deal done.

The new 26-man roster and fallout

Before I start trying to sign some free agents, it’s time to pause and see where we’re at, how much we still have left to do, and see how much money I have left to do it with. I’m not using a hard-and-fast limit because John Sherman says he’ll always listen for the right deal, but I’m probably aiming to be around $160-$165 million in payroll.

The roster

The position players:

• C Salvador Perez
• C Carter Jensen
• 1B Vinnie Pasquantino
• 2B Michael Massey
• 3B Maikel Garcia
• SS Bobby Witt Jr.
• OF Jac Caglianone
• OF Carson Roccaforte
• OF Dylan Crews
• OF Isaac Collins
• OF John Rave
• UT Nick Loftin
• UT Tyler Tolbert

And the pitchers:

• SP Reid Detmers
• SP Noah Cameron
• SP Michael Wacha
• SP George Kirby
• SP Seth Lugo
• RHP Ryan Feltner
• RHP Lucas Erceg
• RHP Nate Pearson
• RHP Steven Cruz
• LHP Connor Thomas
• LHP Anthony Gose
• RHP Nolan Hoffman
• RHP Tony Gonsolin

The 40-man roster crunch and current salary

I’ve added four players to the 40-man roster, but I only traded away two. I had two spots open, though. So that leaves me at 40! When I sign free agents, I’m going to have to start DFA-ing guys, but that’s a problem for next time.

Using MLB Trade Rumors projections for all of the arbitration-eligible guys, and factoring in Carlos Estévez’s buyout, my payroll is currently sitting at just a touch under $126 million. I’ve still got plenty of room for at least one big free agent and some smaller ones. What do you think so far?

When the World Series concludes and the offseason officially begins, it’s hard to predict how the market will progress before a presumed lockout at the start of December. The free agent market could especially be slow as owners push for a salary cap and teams may be hesitant to commit to players before they know the economic landscape.

The position-player free agent class doesn’t exactly project particularly strong this offseason despite the abundance of decent players. It may take a very intriguing player to make teams splurge, but perhaps they are sure to be excited about another Japanese phenom making the jump to the big leagues.

It was just announced this week that Teruaki Sato of the Hanshin Tigers will be posted once the offseason begins, starting a 45-day window for him to seek an MLB opportunity. It’s worth noting that his posting window will freeze during the lockout and resume whenever it ends; otherwise, he would return to Nippon Professional Baseball for another year.

Sato isn’t just any international free agent — he’s coming off a monstrous 2026 season in NPB where he captured the Central League Triple Crown, slashing .306/.383/.609 with 39 home runs and 106 RBIs. That follows a 2025 campaign in which he won Central League MVP honors.

Naturally, MLB contenders across the league are licking their chops. But what about the Colorado Rockies? Should Paul DePodesta and the front office throw their hat into the ring for one of Japan’s most electric power hitters?

The offensive perks

Since debuting in 2021 at 22 with the Tigers, Sato has proven to be one of NPB’s premier sluggers. Over the course of his six seasons, Sato has slashed .271/.337/.514 across 803 games. He has been a dependable and durable player during his career, appearing in at least 120 games each season (NPB plays a 143-game schedule).

What has truly set Sato apart has been his knack for power, with 163 home runs in his career. He has managed at least 20 home runs a year in five seasons, including 79 over the last two seasons combined. The ability to generate bat speed and elite exit velocities was on display in a short five-game sampling with Japan in the World Baseball Classic last March, where he hit three balls with an exit velocity of 100 mph or better.

He’s not just a home run hitter, either, as doubles are his forte as well. In 2026, he had 40 doubles, which would have easily led the Rockies (Troy Johnston had 32), adding to his total of 185 career doubles alongside 25 triples. His career .851 OPS showcases a player who can punish opposing pitchers and provide the type of consistent thump that the Rockies didn’t quite have beyond Hunter Goodman last season.

During a time in which offense has been decreasing in NPB, Sato didn’t slow down and has put himself in line for another Central League MVP. Hitting from the left side, Sato’s offensive profile could benefit greatly from the altitude of Coors Field, but even more from the spacious gaps he would have to play with in the outfield.

What team wouldn’t want to add a second 40-homer bat into the lineup?

Defensive prospects

Sato primarily plays third base with around 262 appearances in the outfield during his career. He has mostly been able to hold his own, even going so far as to win a Golden Glove — the NPB equivalent of a Gold Glove in MLB — at third base in 2025.

Naturally, there is already some versatility built into his game, but there is concern about his long-term fit on the infield at third base.

He owns a career .941 fielding percentage at the hot corner, having committed at least 20 errors in two of the last four seasons. In 2026, he committed 18 errors, but that was after just six in his 2025 Golden Glove season. He has fared better in the outfield, but his overall defensive ability is a concern. Teams may be willing to swallow that because of the bat.

Seems that Sato may have to follow in the footsteps of Munetaka Murakami, who moved over to first base for the Chicago White Sox full time after signing with them. It would certainly make sense to then just let the bat do the talking.

The drawbacks

The defensive aspect of where to play Sato presents a problem for the Rockies, who are sure to focus heavily on improving defensively. Kyle Karros and TJ Rumfield have the corner infield locked down, and the outfield is crowded in the corners.

Sato could be plugged in as the designated hitter, but the Rockies like to use the DH spot as a cycling position, meaning players will constantly cycle through it. There is also the matter of Sato being left-handed, which the Rockies already have enough left-handed bats to utilize. It would also be another instance of blocking an opportunity for right-handed hitter Charlie Condon (No. 2 PuRP), who the Rockies are already having to try to find a spot defensively.

If there’s a red flag in Sato’s profile, it’s his contact consistency. Sato struck out 164 times in 143 games in 2026. High strikeout rates in NPB often translate to elevated swing-and-miss rates against elite MLB velocity and breaking pitches. Rockies fans know all too well how high-K profiles can get exposed when adjusting to MLB pitching while dealing with the “Coors Field Hangover” effect on the road. Looking again to Murakami with the White Sox, he saw a 28.8% strikeout rate over his last two NPB seasons balloon to 35.4% in his first MLB season. His ability to draw walks still translated, but can Sato do the same?

Then there is the monetary aspect. Because Sato is over the age of 25, there will be no restrictions on the money that can be offered to him. On top of a multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract, the acquiring team must pay a posting fee to the Tigers based on the contract’s total value. The Rockies have a lot of holes to fill, and unfortunately, spending big on Sato would come at the cost of a lot of other areas where the money could go. Having to compete with the financial might of many of the teams in the league hasn’t exactly worked out for the boys in purple in the past.

Should the Rockies pursue Sato?

Absolutely, the Rockies should pursue Sato, at least conceptually.

A young left-handed slugger at Coors Field is always a sight to behold. If the Rockies want to accelerate their rebuilding timeline and show fans a commitment to competing, making a splash in the international market for a marquee power hitter like Teruaki Sato would be a massive statement move.

However, the financial uncertainty for the club, the commitment to internal development as much as possible, and the massive need for pitching make Sato a bit of a long shot. I’m sure the front office will do their due diligence and at least check in with Sato and hopefully continue building a reputation with the Japanese market (which was a bonus of signing Tomoyuki Sugano).

Wherever Sato ends up, it will be interesting to see what he can do in MLB after the splendid seasons of Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto this year.

In the meantime, the Rockies may want to take a closer look at the other Japanese stars looking to pitch in MLB in 2027.

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In his first comments since the Yankees lost to the Rays in an ALDS sweep, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner cited the offense as one of the reasons for yet another early postseason exit for the Bombers.

Steinbrenner was asked what changes the Yankees have to make to “get over the hump.”

“I was disappointed, frankly, with the offense throughout the course of the year as a whole,” Steinbrenner said Wednesday morning during a Zoom session,

“As a whole, they were very inconsistent and for long periods of time. This has been twice now where the offense hasn’t lived up to their end of the bargain and got the job done. The offense was a big disappointment for me and it has to be better.”

Steinbrenner went so far as to call the Yankee offense “detrimental.”

He admitted that losing star sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton for over 80 games certainly affected them — with Judge not playing in the postseason — but he stated that he and the Yankees will be evaluating everything “from the top” when figuring out where their offseason priorities lie.

The Yankees’ offense regressed in several major categories.

The team scored 739 runs in 2026, down from 849 in 2025.

They batted .235 compared to .251 the year prior.

The absences of Judge and Stanton were clear with a decline in home runs from 274 in 2025 to 223 in 2026.

On-base percentage also fell from .332 to .311.

Even with these struggles, the team plans to move forward with manager Aaron Boone, who’s heading into the final year of his contract, and has a new deal in place with general manager Brian Cashman.

Whatever tiny amount of doubt there might have been about Brian Cashman coming back can now be squashed.

The Yankees general manager has agreed to a new contract to remain in his post, he revealed on Wednesday, with next year marking Cashman’s 30th year on the job as the franchise hopes the continuity in leadership will finally lead to its 28th World Series championship.

“We just have to bang out some minor stuff at the back end of it, but yeah, we’re locked and loaded,” Cashman said during a joint Zoom press conference with Hal Steinbrenner from Tampa.

Cashman’s job status was not in as much question as Aaron Boone’s, but the manager will also be coming back next year for his 10th season, which is the last on his current contract. Steinbrenner defended the job that both of them did this season despite a similar ending, with the Yankees getting swept by the Rays in the ALDS.

Cashman, 59, has built a winning team every year of his tenure, but the Yankees have not won the ultimate prize since 2009. Another early October exit this season had much of the fanbase up in arms about the club’s leadership, but Steinbrenner has instead opted for stability instead of any kind of housecleaning.

Now, Cashman will once again be tasked with finding the right formula in roster building, which will look a little different this offseason with a lockout looming, during which all player transactions (involving the 40-man roster) will be frozen.

The Yankees have a strong core of players to build around, especially a deep rotation led by soon-to-be AL Cy Young winner Cam Schlittler. But they also have holes in their lineup, one that largely cratered without Aaron Judge, who missed over half of the season with a broken rib and then the playoffs with a calf strain and will play next year at the age of 35.

Cashman will also face some difficult decisions including what to do with veteran DH Giancarlo Stanton (whom the Yankees owe $15 million next season in the final year of his contract) and third baseman Ryan McMahon ($16 million). 

Entering this season, only five teams had never won a World Series: the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, and Colorado Rockies. The Brewers already had to go through one of those teams to get to this point, defeating the Padres in four games in the NLDS. They then took out the Dodgers, who were going for a third consecutive World Series title. Now, they have to take out one more team to finish the job, and it’s another team that has never won a title before — the Rays.

Earlier today, Harrison looked at the current connections between these two teams. However, these two teams have been connected since the Rays were founded in 1998. They have had similar struggles, but also similar success. Over the past 28 years, these two teams have been building up to this moment, working through those struggles and that success to get here.

The connection between these two teams starts all the way back in 1995, when MLB was in the process of expanding from 28 teams to 30. They awarded expansion franchises to two cities — Phoenix and Tampa Bay. One was placed in each league, bringing each up to 15 teams starting in 1998. However, that caused a problem since interleague play was not part of the schedule yet. If they left it as is, one team in each league would be forced to be idle every day. Their solution was to move one team from the American League to the National League, and the Milwaukee Brewers were chosen to move. Instead of the Brewers and Rays both playing in the AL, they ended up in different leagues.

These two teams then saw their first modern success in the same season. In 2008, the Brewers ended a 26-year postseason drought when they clinched the NL Wild Card spot (only one was awarded at this time) on the final day of the season. In that same season, the Rays made a drastic turnaround. After rebranding and dropping the “Devil” from their name, they won a team-record 97 games and won the AL East, clinching the second seed. Prior to that year, they had not won more than 70 games in a year. Their drought was considerably shorter — this was only their 11th season in MLB — but it was still history for them.

That year’s postseason was drastically different for the two teams. The Brewers’ run was short, falling to the Phillies in four games in the NLDS. They did claim their first postseason win since 1982, but that was about it. On the other side, the Rays made a postseason run. They defeated the third-seed White Sox in four games, then the fourth-seed Red Sox in seven games. Their run would end against the Phillies in the World Series, losing in five games.

From there, the teams had different trajectories over the next few seasons. The Brewers only made it back to the postseason once in the next decade — in 2011, when they won the NL Central for the first time and made it to the NLCS, losing to the Cardinals in six games. The Rays made three more postseason appearances, winning the AL East again in 2010. They then claimed the AL Wild Card spot in 2011 and one of two spots in 2013 (the second Wild Card spot was added in 2012). However, they didn’t advance past the ALDS in any of those three years.

Both teams then entered a period of rebuilding. The Brewers didn’t make it to the playoffs for six straight seasons between 2012 and 2017 before breaking that streak in 2018, when they won the NL Central for the second time. The Rays missed the playoffs for five straight seasons between 2014 and 2018, but broke that streak in 2019 when they claimed one of the two AL Wild Card spots.

Since then, both teams have been regular participants in the postseason. The Rays made it to the postseason in five straight seasons from 2019 to 2023. They had another World Series run in that period, losing to the Dodgers in six games in the shortened 2020 season. The Rays also led the AL in 2021 with 100 wins, their only 100-win season in franchise history.

Meanwhile, following the 2018 postseason run to the NLCS, the Brewers clinched Wild Card spots in 2019 and 2020 (the latter as a 29-31 team in a season that featured five Wild Card teams in each league). They then won the NL Central in five of the next six seasons, only narrowly missing the postseason in 2022.

The Brewers and Rays now enter the 2026 World Series at the top of their leagues. The Brewers won the NL Central for the seventh time. It’s also their four straight title and fifth in the last six seasons. The Rays won the AL East for the first time since 2021, and it was their fifth division title. Both teams led their leagues in wins, with the Brewers also recording their first 100-win season in franchise history with 103 wins.

That sets up what will be a historic World Series. For only the second time in the last 100 years, the World Series will feature two teams that have never won a title. The only other occurrence happened in 1980, when the Phillies defeated the Royals for their first title. You have to go back to 1920 to find the previous occurrence before that one, when the Cleveland Indians faced the Brooklyn Robins. It’s also guaranteed to be a first-time winner for the first time since 2023, when the Rangers won.

It’s going to be a hard-fought series to get to that final goal. History will be made either way. It all starts in just two days in Milwaukee.

While the Yankees may be known for its prolific sluggers than for its hurlers, the organization does have a strong tradition of left-handed aces: CC Sabathia and Lefty Gomez have been enshrined in Cooperstown, and Andy Pettitte and Ron Guidry in Monument Park. In each of the past two seasons, a different southpaw took the ball on Opening Day — Max Fried this year, Carlos Rodón last year — a testament to the enduring legacy of the lefty starter in the Bronx.

Even among this great history, though, one pitcher stands alone: the “Chairman of the Board” himself, Whitey Ford, who came in at No. 8 in our Top 100 Yankees list two years ago — the highest among starters, and second among pitchers only to Mariano Rivera.

Edward Charles “Whitey” Ford
Born: October 21, 1928 (Manhattan, NY)
Died: October 8, 2020 (Lake Success, NY)
Yankees Tenure: 1950, 1953-67 (player); 1964, 1968, 1974-75 (coach)

Born in Manhattan and raised in Astoria, Ford came to the attention of the Yankees at an open tryout in 1947. A first baseman for the Manhattan School of Aviation Trades high school team, the Yankees scouts instead saw potential in his left arm, taught him a curveball, and watched him dominate the Queens-Nassau semipro league. After the Red Sox offered him $1,000 to sign, his hometown team offered him an initial $5500, upped their offer to $7000, and got him to sign the dotted line just like that.

After two years in the minors, during which time the man called Eddie’s blonde hair earned him the nickname “Whitey” from manager Lefty Gomez, Ford got the call to the Bronx halfway through the 1950 season. His first appearance, working out of the bullpen, was an absolute disaster, as he surrendered 5 runs on 7 hits and 6 walks in 4.2 innings. As it turned out, though, Ford was tipping his pitches, and after some work with the pitching coach, he settled in as a starter/multi-inning reliever: across his final 19 appearances, he posted a 2.52 ERA in 107.1 innings, earning him some down-ballot MVP votes and making him the runner-up in the Rookie of the Year vote. He made his postseason debut that October, throwing 8.2 innings to help the Yankees clinch a sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The outbreak of the Korean War put Ford’s career on pause, as the young man was drafted into the Army. While he did engage in some real military work — he fell off a telephone pole not once, but twice, while working for the Signal Corps — much of his time was spent playing for the Fort Monmouth Signaleers baseball club. Although I’m sure the Yankees balked at his extensive usage, as he pitched four or five times a week, the arrangement was conducive for Ford: he was close enough to home to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in his Army uniform in 1951, and to marry his high school sweetheart, Joan, while on leave in New York.

Following his return from military service, Ford slotted back into the rotation, as the team’s fourth starter behind Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi, and Eddie Lopat — already a fairly dominant rotation. Soon, however, it became clear that the real ace of the staff was the young southpaw. Manager Casey Stengel realized it and was often selective in how he used Ford, as he would skip a start here and there so that “Slick” was almost always starting against the American League’s toughest foes. Ford himself chafed at this, as he would’ve preferred to just have a consistent spot, which he wouldn’t get until Ralph Houk took over for Stengel in 1961 — perhaps not coincidentally the same year he won his first and only* Cy Young Award with a career-high 283 innings and 39 starts.

*Ford could have won more Cys, but the honor was first awarded in 1956 and it was an overall MLB honor until 1967, when the AL and NL began issuing separate Cys.

For a span of 13 years from 1953 through 1965, Ford was one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball. The numbers are, themselves, impressive: in this span, he posted a 2.77 ERA (a 131 ERA+), averaged 17.2 wins and 11.3 complete games per season; the accolades, even more so — eight All-Star appearances, the aforementioned 1961 Cy, 10 AL pennants, and five more championship rings. He won the 1961 World Series MVP against Cincinnati as well, as this was the Fall Classic that saw him break Babe Ruth’s then-record with 33.2 consecutive scoreless innings in World Series play.

But these don’t stats don’t do Ford’s performance justice. His left arm, consistent in its performance even as it battled injuries as his career progressed, served as one of the anchors of more than a decade of Yankees dominance — an anchor often overshadowed by other events on the team (e.g., the Maris/Mantle race for 61 in ‘61) and by other pitchers throughout the league (e.g., Sandy Koufax), but an anchor without which the dynasties of the 1950s and 1960s do not occur nonetheless.

By 1965, years of injuries — he had been dealing with circulatory problems in his left arm since his Cy Young season — had finally begun to truly take their toll, and he was scuffing the ball more and more while combining for only 177 innings between 1966 and ‘67. He retired at the end of May 1967, at 38 years of age. Seven years later, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame alongside his longtime pal Mantle.

While he stopped pitching, he never truly stepped away from the game: he had multiple coaching stints, saw his No. 16 retired on August 3, 1974, received a plaque in Monument Park in 1987, and was honored on the 50th anniversary of his original signing in August 2000. A local and familiar face at Yankees Old-Timers’ Day and spring training, Ford was also no stranger to ceremonial first pitches on Opening Day or in the postseason.

The last surviving key member of the mid-century dynasty, Ford passed away on October 8, 2020, watching Yankees southpaw Jordan Montgomery lead the Yanks past the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the ALDS — a fitting activity for one of the all-time greats. Today would be his 98th birthday, and we wish Whitey’s family well!

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

It’s a difficult task to follow a season like the one Kyle Schwarber had in 2025. He finished first in the National League and second across all of baseball with 56 homers, led all of baseball with 132 RBIs, tied his career best with a .928 OPS, played in all 162 games, and finished second in MVP voting. It was a tall order, but Schwarber looked well on his way to not only equaling that season but possibly passing it in the first half of 2026.

However, Schwarber was decidedly not himself in the second half, as his production dropped mightily after suffering a mysterious back ailment in late June that caused him to change his swing. His full season numbers still averaged out for him to finish the year in a tie for the MLB lead in home runs with 45, but Schwarber’s second half slump will lead to concerns slipping into 2027 as he gets another year older.

2026 regular season stats: 156 games played, .232/.354/.503, .853 OPS, 45 HR, 97 RBI, 130 wRC+,2.9 fWAR

What went right

Schwarber picked up right where he left off from 2025 in the early parts of 2026. He slugged 22 home runs through the season’s first 56 games at the end of May, just ahead of his pace from last year when he had 19 homers through 58 games by Memorial Day. By the end of the year, he had been personally responsible for 45 of the Phillies’ 182 total homers, placing the teams with the 17th most after ranking ninth with 212 last season. Outside of Bryce Harper, Schwarber was the Phillies only real source of consistent power, as no other Phillies player besides those two had more than 19 HRs in 2026.

With the All-Star game being held in Philadelphia for the first time at Citizens Bank Park, it was widely expected that Schwarber would take advantage of that prodigious power and take part in the Home Run Derby, especially after his performance in the swing off to end the 2025 All-Star game that earned him MVP honors. And take part he did, and Schwarber put on a show in front of a raucous home crowd before ultimately falling short as the runner up to Jordan Walker of the Cardinals.

Schwarber also finally broke the team’s three-year streak without a walk-off home run, as his mammoth blast on August 23rd that hit the batter’s eye in center field capped off a historic six-run comeback that preserved the Phillies then nine-game winning streak. In a season filled with frustration that ended with a whimper, that two-out rally was easily one of the highlights of the year for the Phillies.

What went wrong

It flew under the radar a bit as the Phillies offense as a whole struggled in the second half, but Schwarber fell off dramatically after the All-Star break. After slashing .254/.367/.560 in the first half, Schwarber slumped to a .199/.336/.416 batting line in the second half. The team routinely downplayed the impact of the mysterious back injury, but its existence coupled with his second half performance casts doubt on just how healthy Schwarber was as the season went on.

Schwarber also struck out at his highest career rate since 2017, as he punched out in 31.4% of his plate appearances in 2026, way up from the 27.2% mark from 2025. He chased at a higher rate than normal, offering at 26.1% of pitches he saw out of the strike zone, a notable increase from his 21.5% chase rate in 2025 and his highest since the shortened 2020 season. That combination led to Schwarber racking up 220 strikeouts, just seven shy of Colson Montgomery of the White Sox who set the new MLB single season record for strikeouts in a season, dethroning Mark Reynolds’ 223 Ks from 2009. Schwarber has always been one to rack up the strikeouts, but this much of a jump as he enters his mid-30s should be cause for some alarm.

Final Grade: B+

Schwarber was one of the only two above average hitters in the Phillies regular starting lineup and was a legitimate All-Star in the first half, but his crash in the second half keeps this grade from being any higher.

Fair or not, Schwarber and his counterpart Harper are judged to a higher standard than the rest of the offense as they are the two biggest threats in a lineup that severely lacks them. If they don’t perform, the offense suffers. Therefore, it’s no coincidence that the Phillies struggled in September as Schwarber bottomed out with a .172 AVG and .710 OPS in the month. The Phillies will need Schwarber to age well, as he is only entering the second year of his new five year, $150M contract. The absolute last thing the team needs is another anchor of a contract weighing them down.

Speaking during the Yankees' end-of-season news conference Wednesday, owner Hal Steinbrenner said in a roundabout way that he's in favor of MLB adopting a salary cap.

With the CBA set to expire and a lockout expected to begin on Dec. 1, MLB has sent numerous proposals to the MLBPA, with each proposal including a salary cap and floor. 

"I'm not gonna get into a whole lot of labor," Steinbrenner said. "I've said before, let me put it this way as a member of the labor policy committee -- I helped craft, one of many, the proposals that we have given at the bargaining table. And I support those proposals in their entirety. That's absolutely the case, so that should answer your question."

The MLBPA is vehemently opposed to a hard salary cap, potentially setting up a contentious negotiation and prolonged lockout.

Asked to explain how a salary cap would benefit the Yankees, who are perennially one of the league's biggest spenders, Steinbrenner wouldn't answer. He instead chose to talk about not taking attention away from the upcoming World Series between the Brewers and Rays, while touching a bit on his optimism about MLB and the MLBPA reaching a deal. 

"Guys, we're two days away from the World Series, okay? This in my mind is the time to celebrate the game," Steinbrenner said. "We've got two teams that were the best in their respective leagues record-wise. They deserve to be there. We've got two fanbases, two cities, they're ecstatic. 

"Now is not the time we're gonna start labor conversations. It just is not. What I will say is as a member of the labor policy committee is that we are working hard on our end. We are completely focused on the task ahead of us, on the negotiating. And I'm optimistic we're gonna get a deal done, and we're gonna get a deal done that's favorable for both sides. That's really all I'll say -- I don't want to take anything away from what's going on right now and the excitement in the game because the World Series is getting ready to start. It's just not appropriate."

The Yankees had the third-highest payroll in baseball this season, coming in at $336 million for luxury tax purposes. The only teams ahead of the Yankees were the Dodgers ($422 million) and Mets ($358 million).

Steinbrenner being in favor of a salary cap, while notable, is not surprising.

During the 2024 season, Steinbrenner said the Yankees' current payroll level was "not sustainable for us financially."

"I’m gonna be honest, payrolls at the levels we’re at right now are simply not sustainable for us financially," Steinbrenner explained. "It wouldn’t be sustainable for the vast majority of ownership [groups], given the luxury tax we have to pay."

Steinbrenner added at the time:

"I’ve been a broken record [on this topic]: I don’t believe I should have a $300 million payroll to win a championship. I believe I need a good mix of veterans, who are gonna make a lot more money, but, also, we’ve put a lot of money into our player development system in the last five-to-10 years. And in my opinion, we have one of the better ones in baseball now."

Hal Steinbrenner is blaming the players.

The Yankees owner threw the 26-man roster under the bus for their ALDS debacle this year in his first comments since the Bronx Bombers got swept by the Rays, particularly the offense.

“The bottom line is the players didn’t live up to their end of the bargain in the playoffs,” Steinbrenner said Wednesday morning in a Zoom session.

He later added: “The offense, not the pitching, but the offense, had a big part … why we didn’t get to where we strive to get every year.”

Steinbrenner took aim at the players Wednesday after lauding general manager Brian Cashman and returning manager Aaron Boone for their performance this year.

He called the roster built by Cashman — who said Wednesday he’s agreed to a new contract — as good as any in baseball exiting spring training, and Steinbrenner believed that this roster could have won a World Series this season.

Steinbrenner also praised Boone for his performance during the season, particularly how he handled a rotation that dealt with injuries and a bullpen he labeled as “absolutely exhausted” by the end of the year.

He then pinned the blame for a 17th straight championship on the players and specifically called out the offense, which he labeled as “detrimental.”

The Yankees bats went cold against the Rays’ stellar pitching, slashing .130/.192/.239 with two home runs — both from Ben Rice — and totaling five runs, including a Game 1 shutout.

Cody Bellinger went 1-for-12 against the Rays, Trent Grisham went hitless in 11 at-bats, Luis Garcia Jr. hit 1-for-10 and Jazz Chisholm Jr. potentially ended his polarizing Yankees tenure by going 0-for-8.

Only one Yankee who appeared in more than one game — Rice — hit better than .250 in the series.

The pitching posted a 2.52 ERA, although starters Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler and Max Fried all took losses in the series.

Steinbrenner also noted how the Yankees didn’t hit Boston’s starters well in two-sweep in the wild-card round, although they beat up their relievers to turn close games into blowouts.

He further remarked that this offensive flop marked the second straight year in which the bats got sleepy in the postseason, after being stymied by the Blue Jays in the ALDS last year.

“The offense was a big disappointment for me,” he said. “It has to be better.”

When pressed whether “World Series or bust” is still the mentality for the franchise despite this lengthy title drought, Steinbrenner insisted that’s still the case.

The Yankees have only made one World Series in 17 years since their last title in 2009, and they lost in in embarrassing fashion to the Dodgers in five games in the 2024 Fall Classic.

“That is our mission, that is our goal,” Steinbrenner said. “Yes, we failed at the goal this year but that is always our goal, which is why we put so much resources into the roster every offseason to field a team that can accomplish that and I certainly we had that team this year. It just didn’t pan out.’

The Tampa Bay Rays — the top team in the American League — has held its own to achieve the third pennant in franchise history, and their second this decade.

The Milwaukee Brewers are back in the World Series for the first time since 1982, and they’re doing it as the National League’s best team. The 103-win Crew swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS and now host the Tampa Bay Rays in a matchup of two franchise-first title seekers. Game 1 is Friday at American Family Field.

Here’s a position-by-position look at the Brewers as they prepare for the Rays.

Catcher

William Contreras is the lead backstop for Milwaukee, and one of the most popular Brewers, as he has been one of the more reliable all-around catchers in the National League in recent years and in the playoffs, as his bat has stayed productive into October. He posted a strong 1.157 OPS with three homers through the NLCS while handling a staff that mixes elite velocity with a deep lefty presence.

At backup, the more familiar Gary Sánchez provides a power-oriented option off the bench.

Infield

The Brewers’ infield blends elite defense, speed, and opportunistic offense.

• First base: Jake Bauers. The NLCS MVP has been the postseason story for Milwaukee. A well-known Rays prospect if you’ve read this site for any length of time, Bauers nearly retired but returned for what he considered one more season last year to keep his health insurance benefits after his wife became pregnant with their second child. Fast forward two seasons, and he has delivered lengthy at bats with power and timely hitting throughout October while providing solid enough defense at the corner. Veteran White Sox infielder Andrew Vaughn has also seen time at first and as a right-handed bat off the bench or at DH against lefties.
• Second base: Brice Turang. One of the best all-around second basemen in baseball and the No. 2 hitter. Turang combines Gold Glove-caliber defense with improved power (21 home runs and 100 RBIs in the regular season) and baserunning. He’s a clear mismatch advantage and not to be trifled with.
• Shortstop: Cooper Pratt. The 22-year old rookie shortstop has started the bulk of the postseason games. He’s shown a contact-oriented approach and improving glove work as the year has progressed, and pushing the previous starter Ortiz into a third base platoon.
• Third base: Joey Ortiz / David Hamilton. This has been a platoon/mix-and-match spot. The right handed hitting Ortiz and left handed hitting Hamilton now split time depending on matchups. If we are drawing comparisons, neither matches Junior Caminero’s power, but both offer speed and defensive flexibility that fits Milwaukee’s style.

Outfield

Milwaukee’s outfield is built on athleticism, defense, and a rising star.

• Left field: Jackson Chourio. This 22-year-old superstar has continued his rapid ascent in 2026. Already with multiple 20-20 seasons under his belt, Chourio brings power, speed, and improving defense. He’s the dynamic centerpiece of the lineup, their version of a Junior Caminero, and fun to watch.
• Center field: Garrett Mitchell. Strong defensive center fielder who has delivered several big hits in the playoffs, including a go-ahead home run in the NLCS clincher. He gets on base and covers ground.
• Right field: Sal Frelick. Elite defender with speed and contact skills. Luis Lara has spelled him against left-handers and provides another athletic option. The group ranks among the best defensive outfields in the league.

Technically also an outfielder, the Designated Hitter, Christian Yelich, remains in the lineup and was recently named club captain. While not at his peak production levels, his experience and ability to still impact games remain valuable, especially against right-handed pitching.

Rotation

Manager Pat Murphy has utilized short leashes and heavy bullpen support, but has a solid rotation heading into the World Series:

1. Jacob Misiorowski — The clear ace and yet to be crowned NL Cy Young winner (16-5, 1.80 ERA, 252 strikeouts in the regular season). He’s started Game 1 of both the NLDS and NLCS and will surely open the World Series. To say his high-velocity stuff that ranks among the best is an understatement. I half expected Misiorowski to mean fast in Polish, but apparently it’s something closer to bear.
2. Logan Henderson — The reliable No. 2. Solid second-half performer who has handled Game 2 duties effectively in his sophomore season as a homegrown talent.
3. Robert Gasser — Emerged as the preferred Game 3 option after strong late-season form and solid postseason outings (including shutout work in the NLCS). He was acquired in the Josh Hader trade with San Diego, over came a UCL surgery in 2025, and started the year in Triple-A, making his rise a bit unexpected. His dad’s best friend is evidently Vin Diesel.
4. Dustin May (with Shane Drohan as an Opener) — May has postseason experience but has been used carefully; Florida State alumni Drohan opened Game 4 in the NLCS, and the southpaw seems likely to get the nod again given how well that went last time.

No starter has gone particularly deep in October, which is by design. Milwaukee trusts its relievers to take over after four or five innings, limiting any time-through-the-order penalties.

Bullpen

This unit has been the difference-maker. The Brewers’ bullpen allowed just six earned runs across more than 40 postseason innings heading into the World Series and featured relievers earning the win in all four NLCS games during the sweep of Los Angeles.

• Trevor Megill — 6’8” Closer. Reliable late-inning presence, and a bit of an invention by the Brewers, having been added for a PTBNL in April 2023.
• Abner Uribe — Primary setup man. High-velocity right-hander who has been outstanding, despite blowing a save in Game 3 of the NLCS he’s been their best bullpen arm this month.
• Aaron Ashby — Left-handed workhorse who has been nearly unhittable in October (multiple scoreless multi-inning outings) and got the save in Game 4 of the sweep.
• DL Hall / JoJo Romero — Additional lefty depth options that each were credited wins in the NLCS.

Regular season starter Kyle Harrison will likely find his way into the mix as well. The group throws exceptionally hard on average and enters the series fully rested after the NLCS sweep and the Rays’ longer ALCS.

Conclusion

The Brewers’ formula is clear: elite defense, contact and speed on offense, an electric frontline starter, and a lights-out bullpen that can cover the middle and late innings.

Against a similarly constructed Rays team that also emphasizes pitching, defense, and small-ball elements, the series should be tight, low-scoring, and decided by the margins. Milwaukee holds home-field advantage and the deeper, harder-throwing relief corps—two factors that could prove decisive in a first-time-champion showdown.