As it turns out, the 37-year-old’s “unretirement” was merely an administrative move so he could participate in this year’s World Baseball Classic for Team Canada.
Aumont is not pursuing an MLB comeback with the Blue Jays. MLB Photos via Getty Images
Since Aumont voluntarily retired after spending the 2020 campaign in the Blue Jays organization, he needed to be activated from that list and released to be eligible for the WBC, according to The Athletic.
The 2026 WBC will mark the Gatineau, Quebec, native’s fourth time in the tournament after appearing in 2009, 2013 and 2023.
And while his fastball still hit 92 mph during the 2023 tournament, Aumont – who totaled three innings over two appearances – insisted at the time he was not pursuing a comeback.
“After this, I want to keep it where I can still throw a baseball a little bit and then if I get another call [for the national team], it won’t be as big of a mountain to climb to get back to it,” Aumont told SportsNet in March 2023.
“So I definitely want to keep throwing. I don’t feel interested in going anywhere else than that. But I think I have enough in the tank to come back here and help out somehow and bring some experience.”
Aumont became a full-time farmer after he retired from baseball. Phillipe Aumont/Instagram
Taken 11th overall by the Mariners in the 2007 Draft, the highly-touted prospect was later dealt to the Phillies as part of a blockbuster trade that brought Cliff Lee to Seattle.
The 6-foot-7, 265-pound right-hander appeared in parts of four seasons with the Phillies, tallying a career 6.80 ERA in 46 appearances.
Aumont bounced around baseball after the 2015 season, including stints with the Blue Jays, Tigers and White Sox organizations.
In 2020, Aumont joined Toronto on a minor league deal – his second stint with the organization.
However, after COVID wiped out the entire minor league season, he hung up his spikes to focus on crop production instead of run prevention.
“There’s a meaning to it. I want to touch nature. I want to learn about animals, and growing vegetables and fruit crops,” Aumont said during an interview with CBC’s “Ottawa Morning” about his decision to leave the game. “Just the endless possibilities for me on a farm are priceless.
“Baseball has been great. Baseball allowed me to do a lot of things in life, and I’m very thankful. But when the pandemic hit you saw what it caused in our cities. I just felt a need to start something, to just go back to nature and get away from negative stuff.”
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole #45, throwing on a back field as pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training today, at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.
TAMPA — At a time when managers around Florida and Arizona are delivering bad news in the form of new injuries at the start of camp, no news was good news from Aaron Boone and the Yankees on Wednesday.
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As pitchers, catchers and World Baseball Classic participants reported to spring training and underwent physicals at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Boone indicated that they had a healthy bunch — aside from the four players who they already disclosed would begin the season on the injured list: Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt and Anthony Volpe.
There is still a long way to go before now and Opening Day, but the Yankees at least seem to be starting off on the right foot, which is not always the case.
“As far as I know, I think we’re in a good spot,” Boone said.
Rodón, who had a bone spur shaved down and loose bodies removed from his left elbow in October, is “probably not far behind from the start of the season,” Boone said, which would seem to keep a late April return in play.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throwing on a back field as pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 11 Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Cole, meanwhile, threw “a number” of bullpen sessions back home before arriving at camp, about 11 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The former AL Cy Young winner is scheduled to begin facing hitters “in a couple weeks” and could even get into Grapefruit League games before camp ends, Boone said.
The Yankees will not rush Cole, but the possibility of pitching in exhibition games by the end of spring is a positive sign for Cole’s rehab as he tries to return by May or June.
As for Volpe, who underwent left shoulder surgery in October for a torn labrum, the shortstop is scheduled to begin his hitting progression within the next two weeks, which is the last step to begin ramping up.
“He is doing well,” Boone said. “Strength is all there in the weight room and stuff like that. He’s got all that back. That’s the thing that took a little while. His range of motion is tremendous.”
Feb 10, 2026; North Port, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider (99) and teammates workout during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Well, nobody went on the 60-Day IL today so I’d consider that a success! The night is still young so I’m definitely knocking on wood here but hopefully we’re past the bad injury luck for the time being. That clubhouse needs it and the fanbase needs it as well. Phew.
Anyways, here’s a random clip. The floor is now yours.
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 03: New York Yankees pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga (43) delivers a pitch during a MLB game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees on April 3, 2024, at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This is the final batch of right-handed pitchers. I’d not be surprised if one or more of these ended up in our Opening Day bullpen, and there is a non-zero chance every one we talk about here, sees some MLB action over the course of the 2026 campaign…
Jonathan Loaisiga (43)
With eight years of major-league experience, and a 120 ERA+ across almost 250 innings of MLB work, Loaisiga is a very credible option for the Arizona ‘pen. All of that time came with the Yankees – he was their longest-tenured pitcher at the end of last season – peaking in a stellar 2023 campaign where has worth 3.3 bWAR, entirely in relief. Last year was a bit of a struggle, with a mediocre 4.25 ERA across 30 appearances in pinstripes, and an ugly 5.83 FIP. It’s possible he was still recovering from elbow surgery – an internal brace, rather than traditional Tommy John – which ended his 2024 season after just three games. He also had back and flexor problems, so staying healthy is going to be key.
Alfred Morillo (78)
Not to be confused with right-handed relief pitcher Juan Morillo, who is already on the 40-man roster, Morillo is also Dominican rather than Venezuelan. He has been part of the Arizona farm system for four years, splitting 2025 between Double-A and Triple-A. Morillo does need to get the walks down – 20 over just 29 innings for Reno, and control has been an issue through his minor-league career. But he only turned 24 in November, so time is on his side. In September, Preston called him “most likely a shuttle-riding mid-inning option, but there is a small chance of greater upside.”
Taylor Rashi (54)
It was a bit of a surprise when Rashi was non-tendered in November, especially considering he was pre-arbitration, so was still set to earn league minimum this season. After all, he had looked good in his MLB debut, striking out 22 batters over 16.1 innings to give him a 1.91 FIP, while notching a pair of saves (above). Across a bigger sample size with Reno (67.1 IP), he also had a 3.48 ERA – the best of any Aces pitcher with 30+ innings last year. But a couple of weeks later, he re-signed with the Diamondbacks, so no harm done. It did take him until almost the end of August to reach the majors last year, but if he can reproduce his 2025 form, he should see Phoenix considerably sooner.
Landon Sims (87)
Our first-round pick (#34 overall) in 2022, Sims spent all of last season in Double-A Amarillo, where his 3.63 ERA was very credible given the environment. Of particular note, he allowed only two home-runs to the 233 batters he faced. It has been a process for Sims, since Tommy John surgery a couple of months before the draft, meant his pro debut was delayed until mid-2023. The initial results were short of impressive, but they have improved as Landon’s strength has returned. However, Fangraphs were unimpressed, calling him “a relief-only prospect now, and a bit of a fringy one… it’s a low-ceiling, low-leverage profile.”
Sep 23, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Bryce Eldridge (78) takes the field before their game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
The buzz out of Spring Training camp today came from the news that Bryce Eldridge will get some work out in left field. The Giants’ San Francisco Chronicle beat writer Shayna Rubin has the full breadth of the story summed up in this social media post:
Well, that’s a sweet capper to the story and I hope there’s a follow-up question in a couple of days asking what treat or gift his mom packed along with the glove.
But the news is not a total shocker. Eldridge began his pro career getting some time in right field for the ACL Giants and San Jose Giants. He was also a pitcher. So, you know, he’s an athlete. And he’s just 21 years old. Trying him around the diamond — especially during Spring Training — just makes a lot of sense.
Rafael Devers ought to be slated as the starting first baseman specifically because he’s just 29 years old. Having lived through my twenties and now thirties, I have to say that people should wring as much physical activity out of their twenties as possible. I am of the belief that Devers’ 1,270 games at third base makes him a great candidate to play most of the time at first base, and while he wasn’t amazing last season in the brief sampling he had with the Giants, he looked physically capable over there. Penciling him in there for the bulk of the work makes all the sense in the world. Rafael Devers isn’t baseball young and not nearly as young Eldridge, but he’s still young, so use the youth!
The Devers situation makes the Giants’ decision to callup Bryce Eldridge at the end of 2025 all the more questionable. He was already struggling at first base in the minor leagues. The team didn’t put him in the outfield after 2023. On top of that, he didn’t need to be added to the 40-man roster until after the 2027 season. So now, the Giants find themselves with the unenviable task of having to develop a 21-year old position player.
Developing position players of any age has been tough for the franchise since their move to San Francisco and it’s not a scenario any reasonable person should expect to work out well, even if you are feeling generous towards the Giants. Most prospects don’t pan out. There are already whispers that Eldridge isn’t going to be close to the player the Giants had hoped for — unless you want to discount Eno Sarris entirely.
There was already a lot of hype for and pressure on Eldridge, but with the September callup it would appear the Giants have transferred that pressure from the player and onto themselves. Maybe almost entirely. The Giants are tying up a roster spot on a 21 year old DH/1B unless Tony Vitello college coaches him up to being a good enough defender to be flexible for left field, too. That doesn’t seem like a guarantee, not only because Vitello has a whole roster to worry about, but because he’s aware that Eldridge is still very much a prospect. In response to a question about him being on the Opening Day roster, Vitello said of Eldridge:
It’s amazing that he was able to accomplish what he did last year but for right now I think he’s just got to mature as a player. He’s incredibly mature as a kid. But repetitions and conversations and just maturing so that he’s a complete player I think is the key to him becoming the best version of himself. And if he becomes the best version of himself […] he’s around the Giants pretty danged often and maybe even Opening Day.
So, now the Giants have to find field time for him to keep him in the lineup to see if he’ll hit his way onto the Opening Day roster. If he does, then that means the Giants have a meaningful power threat in their lineup. They also set themselves up for an extra draft pick through the Prospect Promotion Incentive. If it doesn’t work out it might become a reflection on the player down the road (especially if Eno Sarris’s prediction proves correct), but let’s not forget that the Giants have rushed him along because he’s the one prospect in several years that the industry has mostly agreed is a good one and has the type of (theoretical) power the lineup has sorely lacked since the championship era.
The other part of this that I think is worth exploring is what happens if Eldridge does stick and proves capable in left field. What happens with the outfield then? Does Jung Hoo Lee get more time in center than Buster Posey envisioned when they signed Harrison Bader? Does Heliot Ramos DH a lot more? All of that would seem to fall in “good problem to have” territory, but I can’t imagine Eldridge’s defensive ceiling being enough to supplant any of the current options, even if the bat plays. But at the same time, an outfield of Eldridge, Lee, and Ramos sounds, uh, pretty good — if all three hit to their expectations. I would hope that the Giants are trying to see if there’s something to Eldridge in the outfield that can actually stick, because making a 6’7” left-handed power hitter some sort of utility player strikes me as something that would’ve been condemned by most of the fandom had it been the plan of the previous front office, and it doesn’t seem like making a prospect positionless puts a prospect in the best position to succeed.
Eldridge could wind up as a left-handed Aaron Judge, who didn’t become AARON JUDGE until his age-25 season. So, development isn’t linear and it usually takes a decent amount of time. I’m not sure where “finding extra playing time for a prospect who has been rushed through the minors” falls, exactly. Is it evidence of desperation and they’re just trying to find something that makes him fit on the roster or are they simply trying to give him as many reps against major league competition as possible to aid in his development?
Well, that’s why we true baseball sickos watch Spring Training: to find out.
Nick Castellanos #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Nick Castellanos’ days in Philadelphia appear numbered.
The veteran outfielder remains on the Phillies’ roster, “but there is no locker in the clubhouse for him,” per The Athletic’s Matt Gelb.
The Phillies told the 33-year-old outfielder “not to report to the team’s complex this week,” Gelb added, as they look to get off his contract.
Castellanos is expected to be traded or released “in the next two days.”
Nick Castellanos of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a two-RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning in game two of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 6, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images
It’s been a long winter for Castellanos, who was reportedly on his way out of Philly in October shortly after the team was eliminated by the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.
That was all but confirmed after the Phillies signed Adolis Garcia, leaving little room for a player like Castellanos on a roster full of other slow-footed sluggers like Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.
Last season, Castellanos, who turns 34 next month, posted full-season lows with a .250 average and an on-base percentage of .294.
The two-time All-Star also posted a career-worst negative-1.0 WAR.
He is due $20 million in 2026 in the fifth and final year of his $100 million pact with the Phillies.
Castellanos also appeared to be butting heads with manager Rob Thomson during the season.
Nick Castellanos of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
After Castellano was pulled from a late August game for the slick-fielding Harrison Bader, he appeared to call out Thomson, saying there was “no conversation” about the move.
In June, Castellanos was benched one game for an “inappropriate comment” to Thomson after getting taken out of a game against the Marlins.
Castellanos has consistently ranked as one of the worst outfielders in baseball, sitting in a tie for last with Schwarber in terms of outs above average (minus-39) over the past five seasons.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman recently pushed back on the popular notion of "running it back" in 2026, arguing their latest roster -- fully stocked with familiar names and faces from a brief ALDS exit last season -- has the requisite makeup of a championship contender.
But the months-long argument about Cashman's architectural work and attitude means very little to Jazz Chisholm Jr. Whether or not the club is truly starting fresh with a rotten plan, he's on board with the group assembled and unbothered by the front office direction.
"We're running it back because, at the halfway point, we thought we built a team that was going to go to the World Series," the Yankees infielder said on Wednesday down in Tampa. "We still believe that, wholeheartedly. I don't see a problem with running it back with four MVPs on your team."
Not too long ago, Chisholm's future with the Yankees was somewhat in doubt. He was mentioned in base-level trade rumors during the offseason, and while he avoided arbitration last month with a one-year, $10.2 million contract, he's currently slated for free agency after the 2026 season.
It's still unclear if the Yankees envision a long-term relationship with Chisholm, but the two-time All-Star is coming off a highlight year. As their primary second baseman, he slashed .242/.332/.481 with a career-high 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 130 games, finishing as one of just seven players to produce a 30-30 campaign in 2025. He also earned Silver Slugger honors.
When asked about his personal goals for 2026, Chisholm set the bar rather high -- with his own twist on the "running it back" topic.
"Basically, the same personal goals I have every season. Go out there, win MVP, and go win a World Series," he said. "I can make as much money as I want, but if I don't have the MVP, I'm not going to be satisfied. That's more important than that."
Yankees pitchers and catchers officially reported to camp on Wednesday, and the first full-squad workout of spring training is scheduled for Thursday.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch in the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Queens, NY. (Corey Sipkin...
Zack Wheeler appears to be a fan of spare ribs.
The Phillies ace and former Mets starter revealed Wednesday that he kept a rib that doctors removed during a September procedure on his right shoulder.
Wheeler missed the end of the 2025 season due to a blood clot and thoracic outlet syndrome. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The 35-year-old ultimately underwent two separate procedures.
“You have to do a bunch of stuff to [the rib], so I guess it doesn’t decay,” Wheeler told reporters at BayCare Park in Clearwater, Fla., noting that Phillies head trainer Paul Buchheit helped “preserve” the bone.
“I just have it sitting in the house.”
The first procedure was thrombolysis performed by Dr. Paul DiMuzio at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in late August. Weeks later, he underwent thoracic outlet decompression surgery with Dr. Robert Thompson in St. Louis, per The Athletic.
The second surgery required the removal of his first rib near the right shoulder.
Wheeler, who spent his first five MLB seasons with the Amazin’s, was asked exactly where the rib resides now that he has it.
“It’s in my closet,” a laughing Wheeler said. “It’s just in a case.”
The right-hander said Dr. Thompson typically waits about a month before returning surgically removed body parts to patients, but expedited the process in his case.
“He gave it to me in a bag,” Wheeler added. “It was pretty gross.”
Wheeler has said he will retire at the end of his current contract. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
The blood clot and subsequent TOS procedure were a scary ordeal, but Wheeler’s recovery is going well.
While Wheeler will not be ready by Opening Day, team president Dave Dombrowski expects the three-time All-Star to be ready soon thereafter.
“I don’t think it’s going to be long that he’ll be ready,” Dombrowski said Tuesday, according to The Athletic.
Before the injury, Wheeler was in the midst of another spectacular season, sporting a 10-5 record with a 2.71 ERA in 24 starts.
Wheeler will be vital to the Phillies’ postseason aspirations, but his days in Philadelphia appear numbered.
Months before the blood clot, Wheeler said he would retire at the end of the three-year, $126 million extension he signed in March 2024 — even if he’s still an elite pitcher.
“Doesn’t matter. No,” Wheeler said at the time. “It’ll be easy to walk away.”
The desert sun hasn’t even fully stretched over Camelback Ranch yet, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto is already working on his follow-through.
Not on a bullpen mound. On a tee box.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during game two of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center on October 25, 2025. Getty ImagesLos Angeles Dodgers player Yoshinobu Yamamoto tries his hand at golf. reddit/DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers player Yoshinobu Yamamoto tries his hand at golf. reddit/Dodgers
As Dodgers pitchers and catchers report to spring training this Friday, video surfaced of the 2025 World Series MVP taking smooth, deliberate cuts on an Arizona golf course. The right-hander’s swing—compact, explosive, balanced—looks eerily familiar. The torque through his hips mirrors the whip in his delivery. The finish is pure Yamamoto, and it put’s Charles Barkley’s golf swing to shame.
“Our MVP has an amazing golf swing as well!” one Dodgers fan raved on Reddit, summing up what the internet quickly decided—Yamamoto doesn’t really do anything halfway.
Los Angeles Dodgers player Yoshinobu Yamamoto tries his hand at golf. reddit/Dodgers
Of course, he’s not alone. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is a known golf addict. Catcher Will Smith and shortstop Mookie Betts can often be found chasing birdies from Scottsdale to Southern California when the schedule allows. A Yamamoto-Roberts-Smith-Betts foursome suddenly feels inevitable, a World Series-caliber scramble waiting to happen.
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Los Angeles Dodgers World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto holds his trophy as teammates celebrate their win in Game 7 of baseball’s World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. AP
Last October, Yamamoto owned the biggest stage in baseball. He went 3-0 in the 2025 World Series, allowing just two runs across 17.2 innings. He threw a complete game in Toronto in Game 2. He forced a Game 7 with a Game 6 victory. Then, on no rest, he delivered 2.2 scoreless innings of relief in Game 7 to secure the title—and his MVP trophy.
The Dodgers have reloaded with Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker, but Mariners superstar Julio Rodriguez isn’t exactly shaking in his spikes over the way Los Angeles has retooled this offseason.
The Seattle outfielder chatted with The California Post during Super Bowl week, and while he said he admired the way the Dodgers approached free agency after winning their second-straight World Series title, he likes the Mariners’ chances against the MLB’s overwhelming 2026 favorite.
Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodriguez spoke with The California Post while out in San Francisco during Super Bowl week. Getty Images for Fanatics
“I think we’re going to size up really well on the field,” Rodriguez said of how the Mariners match up with LA. “That’s where we’ll do all the talk.”
The Dodgers return almost every key player from their championship roster, including Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
On top of that, they opened up their wallet to lock in Diaz and Tucker, giving them a lineup that former MLB player Eric Chavez said “might be the best team ever constructed.”
Julio Rodriguez and the Mariners nearly played the Dodgers in the 2025 World Series. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
But Rodriguez said out in San Francisco that he’s welcoming of the challenge, should the Dodgers ultimately stand in the way of the Mariners earning their own ring.
“I think they’re doing something good,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like they’re investing where they need to invest. They want to be able to compete. I think it’s going to be really exciting to face them this next season.”
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The Cincinnati Reds officially reunited with Eugenio Suárez last week, adding the proven slugger to the lineup that the entire baseball world knew they needed. Whether or not he’ll play the position he’s played almost every day for the last ten years remains to be seen, but his bat will be in the lineup in some form or fashion most every time the Reds suit up.
The addition of Suárez wasn’t perfect, per se. Spencer Steer and Sal Stewart and Ke’Bryan Hayes and JJ Bleday will all see their paths to 700 PA impacted because of it, as this roster has beaucoup moving parts and nary a truly ‘established’ position player at one everyday spot outside of Elly De La Cruz. That’s perfectly fine, though, because a) said flexibility of the rest of the roster and b) the inevitability that some folks penciled-in now will miss some time for something.
The same can be said for the starting rotation at the moment, really. The impact of full seasons from Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder (and Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiar) should, in theory, have every bit the boost of impact as bringing in Suárez offensively. That’s four starting options already, and that’s on top of Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Brady Singer – a cadre that’s the envy of every franchise in the sport right now.
The old rule of chucking the ball from the mound still holds true, regardless – you can never have too much pitching depth. Just last year, for instance, the Reds had every single one of those names within the organization as well and still needed Nick Martinez to throw 165.2 IP (and make 26 starts). They still needed to trade for Zack Littell at the deadline and hand him 10 starts. Chase Petty and Carson Spiers each started twice, and the club nutured the return of veteran Wade Miley into a trio of appearances (and a pair of starts himself).
It’s Miley, in particular, that prompted this post. This time a year ago he was a veteran familiar with the staff and the club, a guy working his way through some things – injuries, age, rust – and leaned into signing with a club where there was both familiarity and upside. He was a bargain-bin veteran, a reclamation project, a potential ‘flip’ or ‘lightning in a bottle’ candidate – he was every single catch-phrase we’ve come to learn as Reds fans, though this time he was precisely that without being someone on who they had to lean.
For years, a guy like that would’ve been brought in and been thrust into a key role as soon as physically possible, even if that was despite not being physically capable. Though things didn’t go swimmingly for Wade last year, the fact is that the Reds got him for depth, didn’t need him in any real urgency, and spent their money on a little lottery ticket that didn’t have to hit big for them to have a chance at the postseason.
That’s the one real thing I do not yet see in Reds camp this year. They haven’t brought in anyone from outside the organization who has done it before, done it well, not done it recently, but maybe, just maybe, could be tweaked in a way that would unlock their ability to do it again. It wouldn’t need to be on Opening Day, per se. It wouldn’t need to be throwing 6 innings every fifth day right away, either. Ideally, it could be in a fashion akin to Martinez last year – a guy who can be a reliever and good at it, or slide into the rotation and chomp innings when the situation comes up.
Anyone who fits that role and is still on the market right now most definitely has their flaws. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be unsigned, nor would we be talking about them as if they were only really to be leaned upon in a break glass in case of emergency scenario – or, unless they came into camp and showed they’d figured out what had put them so down in the first place and threw their way right back into the discussion.
There is one name out there that has kept popping into my head that ticks a lot of these boxes, though.
He’s twice been an All Star, won a World Series, and twice finished in the Top 10 of Cy Young Award voting. He’s also had major elbow surgery, missed a year, and pitched to just a 5.10 ERA (5.62 FIP) with a trio of franchises in his most recent two seasons. Still just 31 years old, he also grew up a Reds fan in Reds Country, and even was part of Derek Johnson’s final recruiting class at Vanderbilt before Johnson moved to the pro ranks to coach – a class that included the likes of Carson Fulmer, Matt Olson, and Dansby Swanson, among others.
That guy is Lexington, Kentucky’s own Walker Buehler.
Now, I do not know if his camp is holding out for a guaranteed spot in some team’s starting rotation. I do not know if he and his agent have priced themselves out of what remains of Cincinnati’s budget. I do also realize those ugly stats I’ve mentioned since he had TJ and missed the 2023 season, and that his average fastball velocity in 2025 (94.1 mph) was down from the upper 96 mph territory it sat during his heyday before surgery.
I also do not know if he’s willing to wait into the season to see what teams get smashed by the injury bug and suddenly need him more than they do now.
What I do know, though, is that he’s pretty much exactly the kind of guy that would be nice to have around if, say, Williamson and Aguiar – both coming off their own Tommy John surgeries – don’t come back exactly the way they were before just yet. He’d be the kind of guy you’d like Johnson to work with and maybe, just maybe, rediscover enough form to take innings off Burns and Lowder to keep them fresh down the stretch. And while you hope he’d come in off the heap and land running the way Dan Straily did back in the day, he’d come into the team this time in a way more like Miley in that if it simply didn’t work out both sides could move on without denting the roster too badly at all.
We’ve reached the point of the offseason where some team is going to do it, and rightfully so. It sure does make a lot of sense for that club to be the Reds.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 2: Miles Mikolas #39 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Athletics in the first inning at Busch Stadium on September 2, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, the Washington Nationals have made a free agent signing. It is not exactly a sexy addition, but according to Jake Mintz of Yahoo Sports the Nats have signed Miles Mikolas. The 37 year old Mikolas had been with the St. Louis Cardinals since 2018. At his peak, he was a solid mid rotation starter but now he is a true innings eater.
Nats are signing veteran SP Miles Mikolas, sources tell Yahoo Sports.
This is not going to be a pretty season for the Nats pitching staff, and they need bodies to soak up innings. That is exactly what Mikolas can do. Mikolas has thrown at least 155 innings every season since 2022, and has made at least 31 starts every year in that time. The results have not been amazing in that time, with a 4.51 ERA over the last four years, but he takes the ball every fifth day.
After a disastrous 2024, where Mikolas posted a 5.35 ERA, he bounced back slightly in 2025. He posted a 4.84 ERA in 31 starts last year. Mikolas is a control first starter. He has walked less than two batters per 9 innings for his career. That allows him to go deep into games and give his team a chance to win. Since 2022, he is tied for the second most starts by a pitcher.
Mikolas, 37, had a 4.84 in 31 starts for the Cardinals last year. He's tied for the second most starts in MLB over the last four seasons.
Nats now have a second player older than their new manager, Blake Butera.
This is obviously not a flashy addition, and I think there were more interesting innings eating options available. However, he can be a mentor for the young pitchers and take the ball every fifth day. I cannot say I am exactly excited by this news, but I understand the appeal I guess.
Maybe Simon Mathews can do something to help him out, but old dogs like this do not really learn new tricks. One potential option could be to just really trim his 4-seam fastball usage, but he does not really have a standout secondary pitch either. This really is just the epitome of an innings eater.
Mikolas actually does have some history with the Nats. Back in the 2019 playoffs, he and Juan Soto had a bit of a feud over the Soto shuffle. Mikolas was not a fan of the move, and when he got Soto out, he grabbed his crotch as retribution. So, there is that.
I am not a massive fan of this move because I do not see any real upside, but someone has to eat those innings. With Mikolas in the fold, I wonder how the rotation will look. Before his addition, the rotation consisted of Cade Cavalli, Josiah Gray, Brad Lord, Jake Irvin and Foster Griffin. It will be interesting to see which one of those five get the boot.
Lord was much more effective in a relief role last season, so that could be the plan. Gray’s spot will be dependent on how he looks this spring. He has missed a lot of time due to injury and we will have to see what his stuff looks like. In a rotation full of question marks, the Nats now have a proven commodity in Miles Mikolas.
Nathan Flewelling, C 19 | L/R | 6’2” | 200 A | .229/.393/.336 (126 wRC+) 439 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 20.3% BB, 27.6% K A+ | 22 PA, 4 H, 5 BB, 6 K
The 94th overall pick from 2024, Flewelling made his debut at 18 years young and caught a full season (75 C, 26 DH), plus a five game cup of coffee (3 C, 2 DH). Taking the longview, he could grow into 50-60 grade power with 50 grade defense, which makes him one to follow. His plus zone awareness at the plate offsets his lagging contact, and most importantly for the position his ability to call games and frame pitches are already plus. A strong season with the bat at High-A could vault him into Top-100 consideration.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
NA
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
NA
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
NA
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
NR
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
NA
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
NA
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
NA
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
NA
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
NA
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
NR
Made a judgement call in Testers and am adding Cooper Flemming from the 2025 draft. It would be helpful for folks to add votes in Testers if you have an opinion on the next candidate profile! And remember, if you don’t see who you want to vote for, put them in Others.
Candidates
Jackson Baumeister, RHP 23 | 6’4” | 224 AA | 4.62 ERA, 4.15 FIP (15 GS) 62.1 IP, 19.5% K, 9.6% BB AFL | 6 ER (1 HR), 9.0 IP (4 G, 3 GS), 10 K, 9 BB
A shoulder injury derailed what should have been Baumeister’s coming out party, as his previously plus breaking ball was expected to carve up Double-A. After a tough start to the year and two months on the sidelines, Baumeister returned in August and salvaged the season with a brilliant finish. The tough luck continued, however, in the Arizona Fall League, where a line drive struck him in the head, but he escaped without significant injury. Currently, Baumeister has taken on a fastball/slutter profile, with a slow curve in his back pocket, and has shown teachability and pitchability over the years. The former Seminole currently thrives on his frequently used major league fastball that may be better challenged by a promotion to Triple-A.
Homer Bush Jr. 24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215 AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K
Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Brailer Guerrero, OF 20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215 A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA
Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.
Harrison entered the season as Baseball America’s top pitcher in the system thanks to a cleaned up delivery and high heat. He ran into some bumps in the road by running up his pitch count against batters, but he still made it over 100 innings in 22 starts. A power pitcher through and through, his hard slider flirts with cutter classification and could evolve into two distinct pitches down the road. It will be interesting to see how his change up plays as he’s challenged at higher levels, but for now he has premium stuff and the upside of a rotation anchor. (video)
OF Victor Mesa Jr. 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Morgan continued to hit without power in 2025, a great discouragement for some evaluators, but his present 50-grade hit tool and feel for the zone allow a major league projection. He continued his improved, quieter two-strike approach in 2025 that built on his success retooling his swing in the AFL last year. The Rays gave Morgan 14 starts in Left Field last season, and Baseball America called the defense “playable,” but his value is tied to his plus-plus defense at First.
Acquired in the Arozarena trade, Smith became the prince who was promised, a five tool athlete with a strong bat, good face, and a preternatural glove in center field. That promise unraveled a bit in 2025, with his strikeout rate rocketing nine percent and his power stroke faltering after facing harder velocities in High-A, causing both his hit and power grades to drop into the 40’s. It was a full transformation into a “center field” profile, but with his ceiling that’s not a compliment. He plays with a fire, but the dip in contact rate left some evaluators feeling burned.
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Jose Urbina, RHP 20 | 6’3” | 180 A | 2.05 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 92.1 IP (19 GS), 26.4% K, 8.2% BB A+ | 2 ER (2 HR), 4.0 IP (1 GS), 5 K, 0 BB
Good pitchers grow and adjust, and Urbina has done that consistently at an age young for his level. Physically he has grown in strength, sitting at 96 with the fastball after flashing high octane in 2024, and technically he has grown, refining his dialed up slider and his two-plane curveball into complementary pitches — which lack plus command but are thrown with feel. He shouldered a starter’s workload at 19, and was awarded one additional start at High-A, where he allowed two solo shots and struck out five. Overall, the age, body, and body of work have him on the trajectory of top prospect lists in the near future.
In this edition, we look at the Cubs’ Japanese southpaw.
Shōta Imanaga, the ‘throwing philosopher’, has been with the Cubs for two interesting seasons now. It’s impossible to say whether Shōta, the crafty lefty with fool-me stuff is going to start a given game, or if his alter ego ‘Mike’ will take the ball for as long as it stays in the park.
Imanaga was an All-Star in that splendid rookie campaign, going 15-3, 2.91, allowing 1.4 HR/9, with a strikeout an inning. in 2025, Mike took the ball far too often, and the erstwhile Ace went a thoroughly disappointing 9-8, 3.73, allowed 1.9 HR/9 and struck out 7.3 men per nine-inning stint. The difference was solo homers, more or less. He threw less of them in 2025. 3.0 bWAR, 1.5 bWar, consecutive years.
Most prediction systems see him as even more average than that, with ERAs in the low 4s and win totals of 8 or 9. At that point, I can see the Cubs cutting their losses with Imanaga and just putting Jordan Wicks out there, since that’s what you get from him and he’s way cheaper. Or say Jaxon Wiggins is armed and ready. Something like that. Something Cub.
Might happen before the All-Star Game. You never know.
He’s gonna be okay but I suspect he is going to wear a different uniform next year. He’s 32 and has pitched a lot of innings. Mike is going to show up a few times. But good Shōta is very good indeed.
The stats above are kind of misleading. I remember 2025 as much worse than that. I recall Mike had really bad timing, at least. He needs to pitch in a cavern. Shōta doesn’t.
AKRON, OHIO - JUNE 18, 2024: Nate Furman #2 of the Akron RubberDucks runs to third base on a double hit by Yordys Valdes during the fourth inning against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at Canal Park on June 18, 2024 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Spring Training is here! San Francisco Giants players are in action! Excitement — and more importantly, baseball — is in the air!
And still our Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List marches on, as we grow oh so close to finishing our communal rankings of the top 44 prospects in the Giants organization. Only one more name and we’ll have a top 40!
Despite there being seven names on the ballot, the last chapter wasn’t all that close. Earning the title of the No. 39 prospect in the system is someone new to the list: second baseman Nate Furman.
Giants fans haven’t gotten to watch much Furman, as he’s only played 36 games for the organization. The left-handed hitter, who will turn 25 over the summer, came over the Giants in the 2024 deadline deal that sent Alex Cobb to the Cleveland Guardians (Furman was the player to be named later, with LHP Jacob Bresnahan — No. 11 on this list — the headlining piece). The short infielder, who was selected by Cleveland in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, was injured at the time of the trade, and didn’t debut with the Giants until 2025.
Unfortunately, his 2025 was shortened due to injuries as well. He was injured when the year began, and didn’t get on the field until late July, nearly a year after the trade had taken place. But once he got on the field, he wasted no time showing why the Giants love him. He played one rehab game in the Complex League, and drew two walks. He spent five games with the Low-A San Jose Giants, and hit 5-12 with two extra-base hits and three walks.
He spent the bulk of his time with the High-A Eugene Emeralds, getting back up to speed at a level he had conquered in 2024 while in Cleveland’s system. He conquered it for the Giants as well, playing 21 games and slashing .364/.490/.649, for a 1.139 OPS and a 211 wRC+. It was abundantly clear that he was way too good for the level.
Furman concluded the year with a brief stint with the AA Richmond Flying Squirrels, though it wasn’t his first attempt at the level — he played 13 AA games in 2024 before the injury. In nine games with Richmond, Furman didn’t slow down at all, hitting .387/.486/.484 for a .970 OPS and a 188 wRC+.
Those numbers are absolutely dandy, but the real reason for optimism probably comes from somewhere else: the Giants choosing to send Furman to camp as a non-roster invitee. That certainly speaks highly to how they view his skills considering his lack of playing time in the upper Minors, and the fact that players with more experience, like Diego Velasquez, were passed over.
In many ways, Furman mirrors the player he’ll be backing up in Scottsdale, Luis Arráez. He has arguably the best bat-to-ball skills in the entire farm, but struggles to use those skills for power, and his defense is quite suspect. But we know the Giants love contact skills, and across the four levels last year, Furman hit .369 with just an 11.7% strikeout rate.
Those K numbers underscore just how impressive his contact is (some of the strikeouts came by passivity). The Giants had 95 Minor League hitters with at least 100 plate appearances last year, and only six of those 95 had swinging strike rates under 7%. Furman led the way at 3.5%, miles ahead of second place (Turner Hill, 4.7%). His ability to put the bat on the ball is truly impressive. It’s just a matter of what he’ll be able to do with the ball when he does that.
Despite playing just 22 games in AA, it wouldn’t be a shock if Furman starts 2026 with AAA Sacramento, especially if he has a strong showing at Spring Training. That would allow Velasquez to continue developing in Richmond, while placing Furman in good position to establish himself as a depth piece for the Major League roster.
Now let’s add to the list, and a reminder that voting now takes place in the comment section, using the “rec” feature.
Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.
No. 40 prospect nominees
SabinCeballos — 23.5-year old 3B — .670 OPS/102 wRC+ in AA (420 PA)
JakobChristian — 23.4-year old OF/1B — .950 OPS/155 wRC+ in High-A (92 PA); .815 OPS/119 wRC+ in Low-A (318 PA)
ReggieCrawford — 25.2-year old LHP — did not pitch in 2025; 1.04 ERA/4.07 FIP in AAA in 2024 (8.2 IP); 4.66 ERA/4.93 FIP in AA in 2024 (9.2 IP)
JuanSánchez — 25.2-year old LHP — did not pitch in 2025; 3.93 ERA/5.17 FIP in AAA in 2024 (34.1 IP)
CharlieSzykowny — 25.7-year old 3B/1B — .816 OPS/122 wRC+ in High-A (549 PA)
JancelVillarroel — 21.0-year old C — .699 OPS/91 wRC+ in High-A (61 PA); .746 OPS/123 wRC+ in Low-A (372 PA)
Note: Each player’s first name links to their Baseball-Reference page, and their last name links to their Fangraphs page.All stats are from the 2025 season.
