Category: Baseball

The General Manager’s Meetings held yearly for MLB executives, agents and players usually kicks off the free agent and trading season between baseball’s end and baseball beginning for the next year. This year is a bit different with an expected labor stoppage and lockout beginning late Dec. 1.

This might be the only chance for all the interested parties to meet before Spring Training begins in 2027, whenever that may be. Super agent Scott Boras even moved up his yearly address to the media that features his puns and stories. Normally, the GM Meetings is a lot of baseball business for the executives. Reviewing rule changes, assessing goals, discussing plans but not a lot of action with players.

As it turns out, this one looked very similar. The thought that lots of free agency business would be carried out turned out to be a myth. But there was some progress made for the San Diego Padres.

A.J. Preller adds some spice

We all know not to expect any details or specifics from anything Preller says during any of his media sessions. He is usually vague and talks in circles for the most part. This time he did a lot more of the same but was willing to be specific about wanting to re-sign Michael King. He will have no definite timeline for Yu Darvish but trusts him to do what is right for the team. Darvish will let them know if he is pitching next year at an appropriate time and is putting his family first.

Preller is in consistent contact with Joe Musgrove and they will have a plan in place for him in the next couple of weeks.

He detailed the decision to pass on Nick Pivetta’s option, saying they are still interested in a reunion but with a different contract. The unspoken message is that Pivetta is not necessarily healthy, and the team needs protections.

Most importantly, Preller said that the team payroll plan will be set after returning from the meetings. They were feeling out the market, talking to all players and agents about the parameters and where contracts will fall, numbers-wise.

Preller, Vice President Josh Stein, CEO Erik Greupner, and owners Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano will set the payroll and budget for 2027 based on the needs and players on the wish list. 

Preller was asked if he wanted three or four starters for the roster and he replied, “keep going.” He also specified a need to add a bat and to shore up the bullpen that has lost Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon to free agency.

The rumors continue to fly regarding the Padres being interested in Tarik Skubal. It was even leaked that Skubal will meet with Padres owners and executives next week in Orange County. Scott Boras is the agent for the ace starter and would not schedule a meeting if he didn’t think the team was serious. It seems a stretch, considering all the needs the team has, that Skubal would be a fit.

More wiggle room

The Padres have a little money coming off the books this year and even more the next two years. The new owners have signalled to baseball their willingness to invest in winning. The word flexibility was used by Preller when describing his payroll situation this offseason. 

Assuming the Spotrac numbers to be correct, the Padres have approximately $208.6 million committed, using estimates for the arb and pre-arb players. The 2026 payroll settled at $260.7 million by the end. If they are just aiming to keep the payroll level for 2027, that gives the front office $52 million to add in salary. If they are willing to go above last year, there is even more wiggle room.

Those numbers include Darvish and all three catchers. There remains a stubborn rumor going around that one of the three catchers will be part of a trade package. Preller even mentioned the popularity of his catchers when discussing how nice it was to have three on the roster.

Japanese players are on the list

The Padres are said to be heavily involved in the free agent Japanese players heading to MLB. The rules are a bit different regarding free agency for Teruaki Sato, Kaima Taira, and Hiromi Itoh. They must sign before the Dec. 1 deadline if they want to play in 2027.

To me, Itoh seems particulary attractive and is considered the safest bet of the two pitchers available. He is a workhorse who throws strikes and could fit directly into a rotation without a lot of adjustments.

Limited trade options

The Padres have some talent in the minors but most have not come into their own yet, if they ever do. Preller always manages to find someone who wants some of his minor leaguers, but it’s getting harder the more he trades away. The major league roster leaves little that is tempting that the team can spare. The two most mentioned names are Jake Cronenworth and one of their two backup catchers, Luis Campusano and Freddie Fermin. That might be enough to get a back-end starter or some relief help. The idea of trading Mason Miller for a starter seems ridiculous if the team really is trying to win.

Preller on the Prowl

The next three weeks could be wild or disappointing. Depends on which way the market decides to fall when it comes to gambling on the new CBA terms. But the Padres seemed to be signaling a willingness to be busy and fill out at least part of their roster before everything comes to a screeching halt. Given the budget to work with, Preller could get a lot of players marked off that wish list.

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Padres News:

• Some would say Manny Machado had a down year. Others would say it was another season with 30 home runs and an example of his consistency. Lincoln Zdunich has a position in that debate and that is reflected in his grade for Machado’s 2026 season.

• AJ Cassavell of Padres.com recaps what was learned about the Padres’ approach to the offseason during the GM Meetings.

• The Padres have one returning starter and nothing to bring up from the minor leagues to address their rotation needs, so they will have to spend.

• The Padres, Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs have all shown interest in adding the same Japanese starter according to MLB Trade Rumors.

Baseball News:

• Here are the latest rumors from around MLB.

• Jake Bauers departs Milwaukee and heads to the Boston Red Sox on a four-year deal.

• The Los Angeles Angels re-signed catcher Tyler Heineman to a one-year deal.

• Ja-Wook Koo is looking to make the move from the KBO to MLB.

It’s a mere formality Tarik Skubal will reset the standard for highest-paid pitcher in Major League Baseball. And deservedly so.

Skubal posted two of the most dominant seasons in recent baseball history in winning consecutive Cy Young Awards in 2024 and 2025. The left-hander doesn’t turn 30 until next week. Viable starting pitchers are running shorter in supply every year, and the cost for the highest-end talent continues rising.

Topping Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 12-year, $325 million pact (and Gerrit Cole’s nine-year, $324 million record for a player drafted and developed in the USA) will happen soon, almost certainly before Major League Baseball shuts down the industry Dec. 1. Skubal is slated for meetings with a handful of teams next week, most notably the Los Angeles Dodgers, who acquired him at the August trade deadline for a championship run that ended in the National League Championship Series.

But Skubal will join the $300 million ($400 million?) pitcher’s club toting an injury history a little more extensive than the average mega-ace. He famously had Tommy John surgery in April 2016 while pitching at Seattle Pacific, recovered and was shrewdly drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the ninth round in 2018.

Just as he was evolving into a potential ace in August 2022, Skubal’s second full season in the majors was disrupted by flexor tendon surgery, which limited him to 15 starts in 2023.

And his bid for a third consecutive Cy Young Award was derailed in May, when he underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his throwing elbow, undergoing an innovative nanoscope procedure that enabled his mound return in just 32 days – and maintain his value heading into free agency.

A team could regard Skubal’s health history in multiple fashions.

On the positive side: He’s had his Tommy John surgery, albeit a decade ago, and has cleared his other hurdles and remained dominant.

A more negative orientation would revive the bromide that past injury is the greatest predictor of future injury.

Yet what can the 10 largest pitching contracts in major league history teach us about how healthy these elite arms were when they signed life-changing pacts, and how they held up after?

We know this much: Four of the 10 highest-paid starters ever won World Series with the teams that signed them. Two more reached the World Series in the life of their contracts.

And the jury is still out on three contracts just getting started – including one ace waylaid by a major injury.

 A look at the 10 largest contracts signed by starting pitchers, and how these deals aged for team and player:

1. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers: 12 years, $325 million

Signed: December 2023, age 25

Résumé at time of signing: Three-time Ejii Sawamura winner (Japan’s Cy Young equivalent) and three-time NPB MVP

Pre-contract health flags: Reportedly pitched through elbow pain in renowned high school tournament, dropping him to fourth round of NPB draft. Revised training methods apparently quelled the pain. Dodgers contract contains opt outs after 2029 and 2031 but are pushed back to 2031 and 2033 if Yamamoto undergoes Tommy John surgery or is on the injured list for 134 consecutive service days due to right elbow injury.

Post-contract health: Missed three months in June 2024 due to strained rotator cuff.

Post-contract performance: After 2024 IL stint, he’s been one of the game’s greatest pitchers and a crucial and selfless piece of the Dodgers’ consecutive World Series titles in 2024 and 2025. Two-time All-Star, World Series MVP, 2.61 ERA in 76 starts.

Outlook: The World Series trophies make this deal worth every penny already, with plenty more in the offing. Take his three-year sample into account and Yamamoto has a strong case as the best pitcher in baseball.

2. Gerrit Cole, Yankees: Nine years, $324 million

Signed: December 2019, age 29

Résumé: 2019 AL Cy Young runner-up, major league-leading 326 strikeouts, three top 10 Cy Young finishes, career 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings

Pre-contract health flags: IL stints in 2014 (right shoulder fatigue, right lat fatigue) and 2016 (triceps muscle strain, posterior elbow inflammation)

Post-contract health: Underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2025, a year after missing three months of 2024 season with elbow inflammation. Returned to rotation in May.

Post-contract performance: Won 2023 AL Cy Young Award and finished second in balloting in 2021 while making three consecutive All-Star trips. Has struck out 10.6 batters per nine innings, with a 3.19 ERA and 1.04 WHIP and was Game 1 starter for club that reached 2024 World Series.

Outlook: A nine-year deal for a pitcher is almost guaranteed to invite health woes, but Cole was superb before Tommy John surgery and looked crisp in his get-the-lead-out half-season this year. On balance, deal has been and should continue to be great.

3. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals: Seven years, $245 million

Signed: December 2019, age 31

Résumé: 2019 World Series MVP, three-time All-Star, career 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings, 30-8 record in 2016-2017.

Pre-contract health flags: September 2010 Tommy John surgery, eight IL stints between 2013-2018 (neck, back, elbow, oblique, lat, shoulder, cervical nerve)

Post-contract health: Underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in August 2021, a malady that essentially ended his career.

Post-contract performance: Strasburg made just eight starts from 2020-2022 as he battled direct and indirect effects of TOS. He officially retired in April 2024.

Outlook: An up-and-down health saga for Strasburg reached a sad conclusion, just as he’d reached the apex of the sport with a dominant World Series-winning performance. His talent was so overwhelming and ceiling so limitless that the Nationals re-upped him twice, first a $175 million extension and then the $245 million pact after he exercised an opt-out.

4. Max Fried, Yankees: Eight years, $218 million

Signed: December 2024, age 30

Résumé: Three-time All-Star, 3.07 ERA in eight years with Atlanta, World Series champion

Pre-contract health flags: August 2014 Tommy John surgery, IL stints in 2023 and 2024 for left forearm strain, left forearm neuritis

Post-contract health: Spent two stints on IL, totaling 10 weeks, in 2026 for left elbow bone bruise

Post-contract performance: Other than his bone bruise, Fried has been excellent for the Yankees, posting a 2.83 ERA in 52 starts over two seasons and winning 19 games, earning an All-Star nod, in 2025.

Outlook: He’s been about as good as the Yankees envisioned, and while there’s still six more years remaining, the contract length has more to do with knocking down the average annual value ($27.3 million) for luxury tax purposes.

5. David Price, Red Sox: Seven years, $217 million

Signed: December 2015, age 30

Résumé: Cy Young Award winner, two-time Cy Young runner-up, five-time All-Star, 104 wins, 29.3 WAR in first seven seasons

Pre-contract health flags: One IL trip (strained left triceps) in 2013.

Post-contract health: Missed three months in 2017 due to elbow strain, inflammation. IL trips for wrist (twice) and hamstring.

Post-contract performance: Price was initially the workhorse Boston envisioned, leading the major leagues in starts (35) and innings (230) in winning 17 games in 2016. He was a significant figure on their 2018 World Series championship club, winning 16 games with a 1.14 WHIP and then three more in the playoffs, two in the World Series. He never pitched more than 107 innings in a year again, getting shipped to L.A. in a salary dump tied to the Mookie Betts trade with the Dodgers.

Outlook: Overall, a solid sign that lent credibility and length to the rotation, eventually netting a championship in the second season Chris Sale joined forces in the rotation.

6. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers: Seven years, $215 million

Signed: January 2014, age 25

Résumé: Two Cy Young Awards and a runner-up finish the previous three seasons, 77 wins, 1,206 strikeouts and a 2.60 ERA by age 25.

Pre-contract health flags: Did not appear on injured list in first six major league seasons.

Post-contract health: Amazingly, Kershaw’s first start under his new deal resulted in his first IL appearance – though the fact it involved a long trip to Australia might have contributed to the inflamed muscle in his back, forcing a five-week absence. That would be a bit of a harbinger: A herniated disc in his back sidelined him 10 weeks in 2016 and a lower back strain cost him six weeks in 2017. He’d hit the IL for back issues in 2018 and 2020, as well.

Post-contract performance: Kershaw put up arguably the greatest season of his career in the first year of the deal, winning 21 games with a 1.77 ERA, throwing a no-hitter and winning his third Cy Young Award. The Dodgers won their first World Series since 1988 in the final year of his deal, the COVID-19 shortened 2020 campaign. His numbers over the life of the contract: 98-30, a 2.26 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Outlook: The deal made Kershaw a Dodger for life, in a sense, and remarkably, he had virtually zero arm problems in that span – brief IL stints for shoulder inflammation and biceps tendinitis. His aching back cost him dozens of starts, but never enough to shut him down for a season nor slow down a career that ended with Kershaw as one of the greatest left-handed pitchers of all time.

7. Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks: Six years, $210 million

Signed: December 2024, age 30

Résumé: 2021 NL Cy Young winner, five top 10 Cy Young finishes, four-time All-Star, averaged 208 strikeouts, 197 innings his last three seasons before free agency.

Pre-contract health flags: One IL appearance for a strained oblique.

Post-contract health: Underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2025, sidelining him 15 months.

Post-contract performance: Still waiting on that after Burnes headed to the operating table just two months into this deal. He returned this past September and made three starts, and should be poised for a relatively normal 2027.

Outlook: Definitely not what you want. But the dark pragmatist might note that Burnes got his TJ out of the way, and there’s still four years remaining on this deal.

8. Max Scherzer, Nationals: Seven years, $210 million

Signed: January 2015, age 30

Résumé: 2013 Cy Young Award winner, two-time All-Star, 39-8 record, 3.02 ERA, 10.2 strikeouts per nine in final two years before free agency.

Pre-contract health flags: Two very brief absences in 2009, 2012 due to right shoulder strains.

Post-contract health: Four IL stints of one to three weeks in 2017 (neck inflammation), 2019 (back, rhomboid strains) and 2021 (groin inflammation).

Post-contract performance: Consecutive Cy Young Awards in 2016 and 2017, followed by second- and third-place finishes. Posted a 2.75 ERA in 200 starts, striking out 11.8 batters per nine over 1,297 innings. Won World Series championship in 2019.

Outlook: Wow, what a deal. Strasburg’s injury and other breakdowns ended Washington’s run of playoff appearances and Scherzer was traded to the Dodgers in 2021; he eventually ran into back and other problems as he reached his 38^th birthday in 2023. But he was virtually perfect for the life of this contract and the Nationals got a World Series title out of it.

9. Dylan Cease, Blue Jays: Seven years, $210 million

Signed: November 2025, age 29

Résumé: Two top five Cy Young finishes, including AL runner-up in 2022, when he led the league in WAR. Led AL in strikeouts per nine innings in 2021 (12.3) and the major leagues in 2025 (11.5).

Pre-contract health flags: No major league IL stints since July 2019 debut.

Post-contract health: Landed on IL for first time in May, missing two weeks with a hamstring strain. Placed on IL in late September with shoulder inflammation.  

Post-contract performance: A fine first season in Toronto for Cease, who finished runner-up to Cam Schlittler in AL Cy Young voting after posting a 2.40 ERA, leading the AL in FIP (2.56) and strikeouts per nine (12.7). Walks remain an occasional thorn, as he’s yet to throw a 200-inning season, but Cease has so far been the ace the Blue Jays hoped for.

10. Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks: Six years, $206.5 million

Signed: December 2015, age 32

Résumé: 2009 AL Cy Young winner, 2015 NL Cy Young runner-up, six 200-inning seasons, 48.9 WAR, 3.35 ERA in first 12 seasons. A 19-3 record and 1.47 ERA with the Dodgers in final season before opting out.

Pre-contract health flags: No arm trouble from pitching, but Greinke was sent to the IL with a broken collarbone after taking on Carlos Quentin in a 2013 bench-clearing brawl.

Post-contract health: Greinke maintained his rubber arm rep through the life of the contract, with just an oblique strain in 2016 and a neck strain in 2021 sending him to the IL.

Post-contract performance: Greinke wasn’t as dominant as his brief Dodger stint but remained precise, posting a 1.10 WHIP and walking just 1.8 batters per nine over the life of the contract. The Diamondbacks reached the playoffs in his first year and he started in their wild-card game victory. Two years later, they dealt him to Houston, where he made five playoff starts, including a World Series Game 7 duel against Scherzer. Greinke was a member of the Astros’ playoff rotation in 2020 and during another World Series run in 2021.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tarik Skubal will smash big-money record. What does history say about the risks?

Once again, awards season has come and gone without a Phillies player being named a victor. Cristopher Sanchez was the closest, finishing second in NL Cy Young voting, though even that was close as Chris Sale finished hair’s breadth to him in third. In NL MVP voting, the team had three players on the ballot with Sanchez finishing 8th, Kyle Schwarber finishing 11th and Bryce Harper a distant 15th in voting.

The question for today is: who is the next player from the Phillies that will win a major award? When it comes to the big ones of Cy Young and MVP, those feel difficult for the anyone on the team to attain considering the great players that populate the National League right now. My eyes would be looking at the Rookie of the Year award, focusing on Aidan Miller and Francisco Renteria. Those seem like the two players that might actually have a shot at doing something with that award.

I was one of those fans surprised (yet not surprised) with the Evan Phillips signing. I can squint and see it working out, but it was probably one year and/or $2 MM AAV too much. With one reliever signed, the focus shifts to whether or not Raisel Iglesias returns. There is probably a number there that would make me comfortable with that. But another thought brings me to two pitchers that are recovering from injuries. Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach could serve anywhere from starters to swingmen to multiple inning guys to high leverage. That is, assuming they can pitch at all in 2027.

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Alex Anthopoulos has already told us that he’s not counting on either to start the year in the rotation. But there is a lot of room between being a starter out of Spring Training and pitching at all. Spencer Strider has a career 3.45/2.83/2.72 in the first time through the order. That will definitely play and will play up in a one to two inning outing. Schwellenbach’s numbers are a juicy 2.04/2.79/2.91, which honestly sounds like a lot of fun in high leverage. Of course, if these guys can’t start, the rotation options after Chris Sale are young Didier Fuentes, the Grant Holmes Experience, Bryce Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver, Joey Wentz, JR Ritchie, and Owen Murphy. This is assuming Tyler Mahle doesn’t return.

So how many relief innings will the Braves get from Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach? Will the Braves put them in a position to pitch fewer than three innings at a time? Will injury force their hand? See, this is why I wasn’t super excited for the offseason this year. Too many questions and too much time.

Meet the Mets

The Athletic listed the options the Mets have for filling their first base hole this offseason.

Zac Thornton’s somewhat unusual pitch arsenal helped him achieve major league success this season.

Around the National League East

Battery Power analyzed the Evan Phillips signing and the state of the Braves’ bullpen.

Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh underwent wrist surgery in October and is now ready to resume baseball activities.

The Marlins are reportedly showing interest in free agent lefty pitcher Patrick Sandoval.

Federal Baseball argued that the Nationals should sign Raisel Iglesias to fill a hole in the team’s bullpen.

Around Major League Baseball

One of the first prominent free agent signings has come from the Red Sox, who have inked first baseman Jake Bauers to a four-year, $58 million deal.

ESPN broke down the latest free agency news for all thirty MLB teams.

MLB.com contemplated which players will have the chance to be a first-time winner of either the Cy Young or MVP awards next season.

Another international player is looking to make the jump to the majors, as Korean outfielder Ja-Wook Koo has hired representation to help him explore a move.

Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander issued an apology for his anti-Muslim social media posts from last week.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Thomas Henderson recapped the 2026 season for now-former Met A.J. Minter.

This Date in Mets History

Bing Devine—who would go on to add several of the players who would go on to play major roles on the 1969 Miracle Mets—was hired as president of the Mets on this date in 1966.

I have the sense that this will be a wildly (or perhaps mildly?) unpopular take, but I like the Jake Bauers deal.

I was surprised to hear it happened but that may have had more to do with seeing any extensive activity right now, given the unknowns of the impending lockout. It may also have been disbelief at seeing the Red Sox make a quick move; we all know how they like to watch and wait during the offseason.

Let’s look at the objections to the signing and take them on, one by one.

Objections

Bauers only had one good year

Until recently, he had a pretty unimpressive stat sheet: playing for five teams in eight years, never hitting higher than .235 in any season, or hitting more than 12 home runs, or batting in more than 48 runs prior to 2026. His strikeout rate, always elevated, nearly reached 35% in 2023 and 2024. In fact, he planned to retire, only coming back to the sport due to the need for health insurance.

He started turning things around with a strong September in 2025. His career year, the outlier, was 2026, when his slash line was .266/.389/.484 with 26 home runs and he was named the MVP of the NLCS. He was a big contributor to the Brewers winning the World Series.

So was 2026 a fluke? Time will tell but we can say, despite his struggles, that he has some solid underlying metrics.

• He’s always been disciplined at the plate, with a career walk rate of 12.64%
• He wasn’t just lucky in 2026—his Expected Weighted On-Base Average (xwOBA) of .371 is in the 93rd percentile and backs up his production (.389 OBP / .873 OPS)
• Since 2023, he’s had an excellent barrel rate, that beautiful combination of exit velocity and launch angle

The Sox already have a first baseman

They have a first baseman, Willson Contreras, who could use a backup. The Sox have essentially had a fragile ecosystem at first base for several years now. Don’t get me started on poor Triston Casas.

The Sox already have a DH

The hell they do.

Bauers is a poor fielder

Well, he was acquired to be the designated hitter, so his fielding doesn’t bother me too much. He’ll serve as a backup to Contreras at first.

He does play multiple positions (not necessarily well) but that works with the overall philosophy of having players who can slot in and give guys time off, or be available in case of injury.

What about Triston Casas?

God bless him. I love the guy, I’ve written about him many times, and he’ll probably always be The One Who Got Away for me. I wish it had turned out differently. I loved him as a player and an individual but we can’t count on him at this point because of his health. Breslow said he’s “optimistic” Casas will play winter ball in the Dominican Republic but there’s no date for that since he’s still not healthy enough. Breslow did the right thing by not taking him into account as an option for first base, at least for now. We’ll see what happens with him (and I wish him all the best).

Bauer’s age, or the contract’s age…something won’t age well

Can we give up on this argument, please? The very financial structure of the sport is predicated on a time-based model; young players are typically cheaper players, and as players bank more time in their career, the more they can expect to earn (up to a certain point in time). Once players arrive at the point in their career when they can truly cash in on this system with a lucrative multiyear contract, they are typically “in their prime.” That implies they are at or near their peak. Logically, no peak lasts indefinitely. In evaluating the performance of professional athletes, when does “decline” start and how steep will it be? The ageing process is full of unknowns, as is much of life. Multiyear contracts given out to mid-career players are part of doing business in baseball. Trying to sit that one out would mean passing on all the free agents and that’s not a world I want to live in.

This brings me to the main objection.

It’s a risk

Dan said it; others including Ryan Phillips of Sports Illustrated have said it. I don’t mean to sound flip, but what isn’t a risk? Until we’ve played the games and toted up the stats at the completion of a season, everything is an unknown; nothing is guaranteed. Risk, schmisk.

I would argue that the opposite of taking a risk is doing nothing. Haven’t we had enough of that? I have.

This is the first significant signing of 2026 free agency. It’s also notable that the Red Sox were involved in the very first trade of the 2026 offseason, when they sent Nate Eaton to the Athletics, the day after the World Series (the first eligible day). For several years now, fans have begged the front office to do something.

This is what doing something looks like.

It’s also not a pivot move, à lasigning Ranger Suárez in the wake of the Alex Bregman fiasco late in the 2025 offseason. This time, Breslow moved decisively and early. The Red Sox weren’t beat out by a more competitive bid and won’t be Interest Kings this year. We can confidently say that this is the move Craig Breslow wanted to make.

As with any move, whether in baseball or in life, it may turn out to have been the wrong one. We won’t know that for a long time.

But there’s something to be said for making the first move. I suspect it’s the first hand of several Breslow will play. It may even be the forcing move for finally addressing the no-longer-tenable situation in the outfield, since Bauers can play the corner positions in a pinch. It may also mean moving on from Masataka Yoshida. Breslow probably should have ironed out these sticking points in the roster already but I believe he’s going to do it now. One piece at a time is a good way to begin. Alex Speier has already reported that Duran is being shopped hard and presumably Breslow has lots of other balls currently in the air, a few of which will come to fruition.

As I said when Breslow traded for Adley Rutschman at the trade deadline, the Red Sox are making significant moves and I’m on board. I find it a breath of fresh air. Let’s go.

We’ve had a relatively busy last few days, with Shohei Ohtani finishing second in National League MVP voting and climbing up the all-time award share leaderboard, Yoshinobu Yamamoto voted fourth place for the NL Cy Young Award, and old friend Evan Phillips joining the Atlanta Braves bullpen for three years, $35 million, outpacing several contract projections.

The Dodgers this week also hired Pedro Guerrero as a hitting coach, replacing the departing Aaron Bates on the major league staff. Guerrero has coached the last nine years in the majors, and before that was a minor league player and coach in the Dodgers system.

Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic talked to Guerrero and others about the new hire, including Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough, the Dodgers former first base coach and previous minor league coordinator:

“(He can) meet guys where they are,” McCullough said. “He is a good listener. That’s where he really does his best work. Some of those conversations, either in the cage during the day, with just trying to have a guy be in the best spot mentally that he can be for that given day. Then in the game, not letting some of the anxiety or some of the stress (pile up) for a player, he helps alleviate a lot of that.”

Links

Sam Miller at his Pebble Hunting newsletter wrote about various ways the Dodgers have been beatable, and along the way detailed the various ways baseball is essentially impossible to guarantee a particular outcome.

What has become an annual treat is Davy Andrews at FanGraphs perusing various baseball news items to chronicle various instances of teams saying essentially “we tried” as a way to placate an unfulfilled acquisition. This offseason’s first such instance appeared to come this week.

The 2026 Palm Beach Cardinals had five teenage prospects post a wRC+ above 100 while taking 100+ plate appearances: Miguel Hernandez, Sebastian Dos Santos, Yairo Padilla, Ryan Mitchell, and Alexander Frias. That seems pretty good! There were only 14 players total that met these criteria in the ten-team Florida State League. 

In 2021, the FSL was loaded with prospects. There were 18 teenagers in the Low-A league to accrue at least 100 plate appearances. The wRC+ leaderboard for that season has some names you will recognize.

1. Jordan Walker, 19, 208 wRC+
2. Orelvis Martinez, 19, 149 wRC+
3. Colt Keith, 19, 143 wRC+
4. Masyn Winn, 19, 115 wRC+
5. Jasson Dominguez, 18, 105 wRC+
6. Elly De La Cruz, 19, 105 wRC+
7. Dariel Lopez, 19, 101 wRC+
8. Maikol Escotto, 19, 99 wRC+
9. Victor Mesa Jr., 19, 95 wRC+

Fast-forward to the present day, and the six bolded players have a Steamer-projected wRC+ of 95 or better heading into next year. All except Winn have a projection of 106 or better. From this quick snapshot, I can conclude that the Cardinals should get an MVP candidate and a couple of All-Stars out of their current group of teenage prospects! 

2021 was also the first year that Statcast data was publicly available in the FSL. I thought it would be interesting to compare the underlying metrics of the 2021 class with the Cardinals’ young guns of today. I do want to emphasize that all the numbers we are looking at are super small sample sizes and groups of players. I am not trying to force conclusions by looking at this data, but I do think it is some interesting context to consider. 

Before we get to the comparison with our current Cardinals prospects, let’s see if any metrics jump out as being especially important in predicting future success. I separated the 2021 class into two groups, the Hits (Walker, Keith, Winn, Dominguez, De La Cruz, Mesa Jr.) and the Busts (the 12 teenagers who have not made it yet). Here are the average metrics for each bucket. 

Not surprisingly, the players who ended up being good were better at 18 and 19 than their counterparts. Masyn Winn was the only player from the “Hit” group to post an average exit velocity below 86.6 mph. In this small sample size, max EV was actually even more important with all six Hits posting max EVs of 109.8 mph or higher. Contact% and Zcontact% were fairly good indicators as well. Chase% was actually better for the Busts thanks to some wild early swinging from a trio of future Hits. 

And here is how the Cardinals prospects stacked up. 

A couple of disclaimers when looking at the data for the Cardinals prospects. Padilla, Frias, and Hernandez each had fewer than 130 plate appearances, so take their metrics with a spoonful of salt. The other obvious difference is that the 2021 class of Hits only had one 18-year-old while the Cardinals group included three.

Let’s run through each Cardinals prospect and see how they compare to the 2021 Hits, Busts, and one just-for-fun comp from the Hit group.  

Ryan Mitchell, OF

Mitchell’s metrics aren’t great and fit in comfortably with the Bust cohort. One silver lining is that he was hitting with much more authority earlier in the year before trailing off in July and August (average EV from 87.2 to 81.9). It is reasonable to assume that the grind of his first pro season wore him out in the second half. Hopefully he comes to camp with some added strength. His contact and discipline metrics would look fine for a power hitter, but won’t be playable unless he adds some serious pop. 

Yairo Padilla, SS

Padilla checked in with only 128 plate appearances, but you can see from his Statcast metrics why the Cardinals are so high on him. The concern with Padilla is that he struggles to hit the ball in the air. His FSL groundball rate was a terrifying 64%. For reference, Jordan Walker was at 55% in his FSL stint. Padilla will be a good test for the Cardinals player development group, but this will require him staying on the field. He has played in only 35, 38, and 27 games the last three seasons.

Alexander Frias, OF

Frias only had 110 plate appearances with the Cardinals. The comparison to De La Cruz would look better if we had Frias’ data from his time with the Brewers. He hit a ball 117 mph while in the complex league and carried a 77.7% contact rate at the Brewers’ Low-A affiliate. Frias will, presumably, start 2027 in Palm Beach and hopefully will start bringing more of his prodigious power into game action. 

Miguel Hernandez, SS

Hernandez blitzed the FSL in his 102 plate appearances to the tune of 163 wRC+. His underlying metrics do not jump off the page, but Hernandez is the youngest player in our cohort (turned 18 on June 2). He was listed at 6’0″ and just 145 pounds when he signed, but Brian Walton at The Cardinal Nation now has him up to 165 pounds. Similar to Dos Santos, how he develops physically will go a long way to determining his ultimate ceiling. It is encouraging to see he has already hit a solid 108.8 mph max EV.

Sebastian Dos Santos, SS

Dos Santos had 255 plate appearances in Low-A, so he has a decent sample size. Not captured in this table is the fact that Dos Santos has an elite ability to drive the ball in the air to his pull side. The Cardinal Nation lists Dos Santos at 6’0″ and 173 pounds, up from his weight at signing of 140 pounds. Dos Santos is a switch hitter and had a bit more success, both from a production and underlying metrics perspective, from the left side. 

The Dos Santos/Keith comp is about as close as I am going to get on any of these from a metrics perspective. If Dos Santos can turn into a better defensive version of Keith, that would be a heck of a player. Still, I am holding out hope that Dos Santos can get to another gear in his power as he fills out and matures. 

What next? 

So, what do we need to see next season? All six of the 2021 Hits advanced a level in 2022, and four of the six reached Double-A. Even Dominguez, the lone 18-year-old, repeated Low-A, cleaned up his plate approach, and finished the year in Double-A. The current cadre of Cardinals prospects is young, but to stay on pace with their 2021 forefathers, they will need to advance quickly. I will be watching to see if Mitchell comes to camp with added muscle, if Dos Santos and Hernandez can add a few ticks of EV thump, and if Padilla and Frias can improve their batted-ball quality. 

Good morning, Purple Row!

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

2026 Rockies Defensive Play of the Year

There were some outstanding defensive plays made by the Colorado Rockies in 2026, but Purple Row readers have spoken. Cole Carrigg and Kyle Karros’ remarkable 8-5 double play against the Chicago Cubs on June 17 has been voted the Rockies’ Defensive Play of the Year.

The Rockies were trailing 8-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning at Wrigley Field when Matt Shaw lifted a 345-foot fly ball into straightaway center field. Carrigg tracked it down, getting behind the baseball and positioning himself to make a throw to third base, where Ian Happ was attempting to advance.

Carrigg made the catch and unleashed a 99.8-mph throw toward third, generating so much momentum that he went tumbling into a barrel roll after releasing the baseball.

But the throw was only half the play.

The ball arrived on the infield side of third base, forcing Karros to reach out to make the catch before lunging back toward the bag. He managed to apply the tag to Happ just before the runner reached third, completing the double play.

It was an outstanding throw by Carrigg and an equally impressive piece of glove work by Karros. And considering the two are best friends, it’s fitting that they combined for one of the most memorable defensive moments of the season.

Carrigg’s arm strength was hardly a secret by the end of 2026. He averaged 96.9 mph on his qualifying outfield throws, ranking fourth among MLB outfielders and second among center fielders, behind only Oneil Cruz. His throw against the Cubs was among the hardest of the season to record an out.

The play didn’t ultimately change the outcome of the game. Colorado chipped away at Chicago’s lead but eventually fell 8-6.

Perhaps the best reaction came from the Cubs broadcast, where the announcer couldn’t help but admire what he’d just witnessed.

“Man, Cole Carrigg can play.”

And Kyle Karros can, too.

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Rockies news & links

How Colorado’s depth could help DePodesta make moves this offseason | MLB.com

Thomas Harding spoke with Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta about the team’s positional depth and how it might factor into offseason moves. DePodesta believes Colorado has seven or eight MLB-ready outfielders and acknowledged that there simply isn’t room for everyone. He also confirmed that the team’s surplus has already come up in trade discussions. We’ve spent plenty of time talking about the possibility of moving position players to acquire pitching, and it sounds like the front office is exploring those options as well. The Rockies have some interesting young talent, but figuring out how to turn that depth into pitching could be one of DePodesta’s most important tasks this offseason.

Could trading Hunter Goodman be in play for Rockies? | Denver Sports (Podcast)

Speaking of potential trades, the Shapiro and Piro podcast from Denver Sports discusses whether the Rockies should consider moving All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman. It’s an interesting question. Goodman is one of Colorado’s most productive players and could certainly be part of the team’s future. On the other hand, he’s also one of the few players on the roster who might bring back a substantial pitching return. Trading him would be a difficult decision, but it’s one the Rockies should at least be willing to consider.

Rockies’ Rising Offense May Be Just Getting Started | Sports Illustrated

Maddy Dickens of Sports Illustrated is optimistic about Colorado’s offense heading into 2027. With young players like Cole Carrigg and Charlie Condon entering the picture, Dickens believes the Rockies could reach 80 wins next season if they can add some average pitching. That’s quite a leap for a team coming off 104 losses, but hey, we could all use a little hopium this offseason.

Around MLB

Baseball’s Payroll Disparity Problem Explained. The Case for a Salary Cap and Floor | MLB.com

MLB executive vice president of baseball operations Morgan Sword lays out the league’s argument for a salary cap, salary floor, and expanded revenue sharing ahead of the next round of collective bargaining. The video focuses on the growing payroll disparity between clubs and how MLB believes its proposed changes could improve competitive balance. Of course, the MLBPA sees things differently and has strongly opposed a salary cap. With the possibility of a work stoppage hanging over the next CBA negotiations, it’s worth hearing the league’s position directly, even if you don’t agree with its proposed solution.

New Top 100 MLB Prospect Rankings for 2026-27 Offseason | Bleacher Report

Joel Reuter released his updated Top 100 prospect rankings, and four Rockies made the list. Ethan Holliday checks in at No. 35, followed by Charlie Condon (47), Roldy Brito (55), and Tyler Bell (91). It’s nice to see Colorado represented, but there’s a familiar theme here: all four are position players. The Rockies have assembled some intriguing young offensive talent, but developing pitching remains a significant organizational challenge.

Wheeler, Alvarez earn MLB Comeback Player of the Year awards | Associated Press

Awards season continues with Zack Wheeler and Yordan Alvarez taking home the National League and American League Comeback Player of the Year awards. The Associated Press also provides a rundown of several other honors, including the Hank Aaron Awards for Alvarez and Pete Crow-Armstrong, Relievers of the Year Mason Miller and Bryan Baker, and Executive of the Year Erik Neander. There’s plenty to discuss as baseball continues handing out its 2026 hardware.

2027 Contemporary Baseball Era Committee Candidate: Dusty Baker | FanGraphs

Jay Jaffe of FanGraphs takes a deep dive into Dusty Baker’s remarkable life and career as the longtime manager gets another opportunity at the Hall of Fame. Baker’s story goes well beyond the dugout. He fished with Satchel Paige, spent time with Jimi Hendrix, managed five franchises to the postseason, and eventually won a World Series. Jaffe examines the successes, controversies, and disappointments along the way while making the case for Baker’s induction. If you enjoy baseball history, this is a terrific read.

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Good morning Birdland,

Despite the unknowns of the next CBA, teams are starting to get a little busy this offseason. Emilio Pagán agreed to a deal with the Tigers on Tuesday, Evan Phillips inked a three-year contract with the Braves on Thursday, and then just yesterday World Series champ Jake Bauers joined the Red Sox on a four-year pact.

Bauers was one of the best hitters available in what is an admittedly thin free agent class. He had an outstanding 2026 season, slashing .266/.389/.484 with 26 home runs as a 30-year-old. The campaign sticks out like a sore thumb in an MLB career. According to Baseball Reference, Bauers was worth 3.3 bWAR in 2026 alone, bringing his career bWAR up from the red to 2.0. The Red Sox will be betting that he is simply a late bloomer and can largely maintain that performance moving forward.

FanGraphs had projected Bauers, who did have a qualifying offer attached to him, would get a three-year deal worth $51 million ($17 million AAV). Instead, he gets four years at $58 million ($14.5 million) from Boston. Phillips had a projection of one year at $6.8 million. He was able to land a three-year deal worth $35 million ($11.67 AAV) in Atlanta.

The Bauers deal feels fair. He got less AAV but an additional year despite the QO. That’s pretty good. Phillips, a former Oriole that was born in Salisbury, has to be ecstatic about his new contract. He barely pitched between the end of 2024 and this past July due to injuries to his rotator cuff and then Tommy John surgery. But he was great towards the end of this past season and likely factors into high-leverage innings for Atlanta.

What does all of that mean? Honestly, who knows. Public projections often differ from how team’s are evaluating talent internally. But it certainly doesn’t seem like teams are too worried about the talk of a salary cap, at least not for 2027 anyway. MLB Trade Rumors explains that the Red Sox exceeded the 2026 CBT threshold and are on pace to do so again in 2027, if the system is in place. The signing of Phillips will push the Braves close to the line as well.

All that to say that if the Orioles were hoping Trevor Rogers might give them a discount on account of everyone being artificially strapped for cash, they had better think again. There is money to be spent, and it could come sooner than later, regardless of what’s happening behind the scenes.

Links

Mariners Notes: Infield Needs, Trade Candidates, Sloan | MLB Trade Rumors
Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg are listed as potential trade candidates that fit what the Mariners are looking for. The O’s and M’s have long seemed like good partners due to the former’s glut of infielders and the latter’s wealth of pitchers. And yet, nothing has happened. Maybe that changes this winter.

This, that and the other | Roch Kubatko
Roch touches on the Orioles closing situation. Ryan Helsley and Félix Bautista are both likely to factor in, but injuries are a concern. Yennier Cano has closing experience, though he has never really been a fit in the ninth inning. The team needs a real backup plan. How much they are willing to pay for it is unclear.

As a lockout looms, MLB teams say it’s ‘business as usual.’ Is it really? | The Baltimore Banner
Obviously not. But what else are they gonna say? MLB will have their next season at some point, and the holes on a team’s roster are not going to fix themselves, so they have to make moves to address them. It won’t all happen overnight, and it’s quite likely that there will be a multi-week/month pause in the middle. But for now, they do what they can.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• Freddy Galvis turns 37 today. He spent part of the 2021 seasona s the Orioles everyday shortstop before being dealt to the Phillies for a minor leaguer.
• Curt Schilling is 60 years old. His storied 20-season MLB career began in Baltimore, where he spent parts of three seasons from 1988 through ‘90. The Orioles’ decision to then trade him, along with Steve Finley and Pete Harnisch, to the Astros in exchange for Glenn Davis is widely regarded as the worst trade in team history.

This day in O’s history

1973 – Jim Palmer is named AL Cy Young after winning 22 games and leading the league with a 2.40 ERA. The 28-year-old Palmer is a first-time winner and will go on to earn the award twice more in his Hall of Fame career.

2005 – The Orioles announce that neither Sammy Sosa nor Rafael Palmeiro will be returning to the team next season. Both players claim they wish to keep playing. Sosa will eventually sign back with the Rangers, but not until 2007. Palmeiro never gets another MLB deal.

2023 – Brandon Hyde is named Manager of the Year in the American League. Marlins’ boss Skip Schumaker earns the NL honor.

As Thanksgiving approaches, Astros fans have plenty to be grateful for.    

A year ago, Josh Hader was in the early stages of completing a throwing program with the intent of being ready for spring training. He’d ultimately return to action on June 3rd in a thrilling 11-9 win over the Pirates, overcoming a 5 run deficit. It would be the first save of Hader’s amazing comeback. Hader would appear in 45 contests and convert all 26 of his save opportunities. Opposing clubs managed to only hit .125 against him. We can be thankful that Hader has two more guaranteed years left on his deal.

Speaking of comebacks, Hayden Wesneski returned after enduring a 15-month rehab stint from Tommy John surgery. His recovery began throwing off a mound in the Florida Complex League before steadily progressing to Double-A. On July 29th, Wesneski was activated from the injured list and earned a win in his season debut verses the Angels. His signature sweeper pitch would notch 6 wins for an Astros staff in dire need of quality starts.   

The head of the table for our tribute is none other than Jose Altuve. Sitting at 2,111 regular season contests, he’ll pass Jeff Bagwell next season for second place in all-time games played. As the face of the franchise, he’s worth every penny of his $30 million dollar contract. A pair of championships, along with seven silver slugger awards along with 9 All-Star appearances. His most recent milestone occurred on September 9th when he notched his 2,500th career hit verses the Phillies.    

Last but not least, there’s Yordan Alvarez. After an injury shortened 2025 season, Alvarez would appear in a career high of 158 games. Everyone points to the massive offensive production but for me, the most remarkable stat was centered around his overall plate discipline, drawing 109 walks against only 120 strikeouts. Yordan is entering the prime of his career, set to turn just 30 years of age next June.   

The Astros gave their fans plenty to be thankful for in 2026 and the table is already being set for more.

Today’s Reflections

Good morning, everyone.

It's always been Pete. pic.twitter.com/zVduBUr5Tg

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) November 13, 2026

I appreciate your reading.

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The 2026 PCA MVP tribute section:

• Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Coronation: Pete Crow-Armstrong Wins 2026 National League MVP Award. “There was no drama here. That doesn’t make the moment less sweet or the honoree less deserving. After one of the greatest seasons in baseball history, Pete Crow-Armstrong was officially crowned the best player in baseball Thursday night.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Pete Crow-Armstrong is the UNANIMOUS 2026 National League Most Valuable Player. “The Most Valuable Player Award is still the capstone. You cannot have a season like Pete Crow-Armstrong had and not receive the MVP award to bring it all together.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Pete Crow-Armstrong Voted Unanimous NL MVP. “This is just the latest accolade for PCA, who had already collected Gold and Platinum Gloves, All-MLB First Team, and the NL Hank Aaron Award as the league’s most outstanding offensive player.”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong wins NL MVP to cap all-time season of homers, stolen bases and defensive excellence. “Crow-Armstrong was a unanimous selection, becoming the 12th player to win an MVP award as a Cub.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): Pete Crow-Armstrong caps historic season for Chicago Cubs with unanimous NL MVP: ‘I really know there’s more’. “Crow-Armstrong’s setup changes, combined with a sudden commitment in May to make better swing decisions and stop chasing out of the zone, fueled the best offensive performance in the National League and culminated in his being named Most Valuable Player.”

Free Agency/Trade — Pitching

• Doug Schwamb (Chicago Cubs On SI): One Cubs Free Agent Signing That Still Makes Too Much Sense. “The Chicago Cubs might as well pair Craig Counsell with his old friend this winter.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Cubs, focused on pitching this offseason, show interest in free agent Trevor Rogers: Sources. “The Chicago Cubs entered this week’s general managers’ meetings with a clear priority: pitching. As the offseason unfolds, names are starting to emerge.“
• Jason Burgos (Sportsnaut): Chicago Cubs or San Diego Padres Can Land Legendary Pitcher For Cheap Following New Trade Report. “A Jacob deGrom trade for a bargain price is there for the taking.”
• Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Carter Hawkins Leaves 3 Key Cubs Pitchers on Rotation Bubble, Clarifying Team’s Winter Plan. “It’s not often that a team executive declining to commit to roles for players creates more certainty about a team’s path through the offseason, rather than less. That’s where things stand for the Cubs now, though.”
• Doug Schwaub (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs Have Perfect Trade Chip At Their Disposal as Hunt for Pitching Continues. “The Chicago Cubs have the perfect trade chip to upgrade their pitching. Will they jump at the opportunity?”
• Paul Niemiec (North Side Baseball): If the Cubs Are Out on Tarik Skubal, What Do They Do Next? “How can the Cubs build a brand-new pitching staff without making a bid on Tarik Skubal?”

Free Agency/Trade — Hitting

• Randy Holt (North Side Baseball): Why Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki Leaving Could Be Blessing in Disguise for Cubs. “The Cubs have a clear preference for the style of position player they like to roster. They should look outside that type in pursuit of new corner outfielders.”
• Paul Magno (Yardbarker): Are the Chicago Cubs giving up on the 2027 outfield? “The team can’t afford to let so many key position players go. With so much to do this winter/spring, however, it looks as though Chicago may be deciding to let one of their needs go attended in order to place more attention on rebuilding their pitching staff.
• Micahel Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Is Jarren Duran a Cubs Trade Target? Could They Get Him Another Way? Should They Even Want To? “Duran, 30, has two years of control remaining via arbitration. And because of all those homers and stolen bases and general early-career success, he’s projected to earn some real money this time around.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): Chicago Cubs still weighing their outfield options — and the catcher puzzle is not yet clear. “The avenue they take to fill those spots will depend on whether Suzuki rejects his qualifying offer, which the Cubs expect to happen, and how his market plays out.”

Assorted Stories:

• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): 10 memorable moments from Pete Crow-Armstrong’s MVP season for Chicago Cubs. “Over the course of six months, he provided plenty of highlights, most notably these 10 MVP-defining moments.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): PCA, Bregman land more offseason accolades with All-MLB honors. “As for Bregman, the third baseman did not really catch fire at the plate until the second half of the season. After the All-Star break, Crow-Armstrong led the Majors with 4.7 fWAR, but Bregman was tied for second with Tatis with 3.7 fWAR.”
• Jason Ross (North Side Baseball): Carter Hawkins and the State of the Cubs’ Youth Movement. “At the General Manager Meetings in Las Vegas, Carter Hawkins stood amid a swarm of press and discussed many things, including some young players and their potential future.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Business as Usual at the GM Meetings? Legal Battle Coming? And Other Cubs Bullets. “Folks expecting a mad flurry of deals at the very start of the offseason have been disappointed. Those deals will come, but it seems like a big squeeze in the final week of November is more likely than an early rush.”

Food For Thought:

Ruthie Cecelia Foster (born February 10, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter of blues and folk music. She mixes a wide palette of American song forms, from gospel and blues to jazz, folk and soul. She has often been compared to Bonnie Raitt and Aretha Franklin. Foster has been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards for Best Blues Album and Best Contemporary Blues Album, and won her first Grammy on February 2, 2025.

Foster is from Gause, Texas, and comes from a family of gospel singers. At the age of fourteen, Foster was a soloist in her hometown choir and was certain that her future would revolve around music. After high school, she moved to Waco, Texas, and she began fronting a blues band, learning how to command a stage in the bars of Texas. Hoping to travel and gain a wider world perspective, Foster joined the United States Navy, and soon began singing in the naval band Pride which played pop and funk hits at recruitment drives.

Following her tour of duty, Foster headed to New York City where she became a regular performer at various local folk venues. Atlantic Records heard of Foster’s talent and offered her a recording deal with the intent of cultivating her as a budding pop star, but Foster was not interested in a pop career. When her mother fell ill in 1993, Foster left New York and returned to Texas while she cared for her mother who died in 1996.

In 1997, Foster self-released the album Full Circle, the success of which paved the way to a long relationship with the record label Blue Corn Music. Foster’s awards list includes three Grammy nominations (Let It Burn for Best Blues Album, The Truth According to Ruthie Foster for Best Contemporary Blues Album, and Promise of a Brand New Day for Best Blues Album), her numerous wins at the Blues Music Awards, including three awards for Best Female Vocalist and one for DVD of the Year for Live At Antone’s, and Foster’s crown for Best Female Vocalist at the 2013 Austin Music Awards. Foster earned the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album for her album Mileage, her 13th album. She continues to tour and her shows have spanned across the U.S., Italy, Germany, Spain, and Cuba.

The voice sounds like A.I., but the fish isn’t. 🙂

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

Both Major League Baseball and the Players Association continue to share offers to put an end to the ongoing dispute. This time, MLB released a statement on X with a few proposed changes. 

The league says its proposal would address two major concerns among fans: competitive balance and local blackouts. The plan includes a 50/50 split of baseball-related revenue between teams and players, a salary cap and floor to regulate team spending, and equal sharing of media revenue among clubs. MLB believes these changes would reduce revenue disparities, increase player compensation and create a more competitive game while helping address blackout issues.

Baseball fans have repeatedly told us they have two issues with the game today: blackouts and fairness

We’re proposing to make three major changes to baseball:

1. Entering into a partnership with players where all revenues that are generated are split 50/50 between the teams… pic.twitter.com/GgeKshvFmN

— MLB (@MLB) November 13, 2026

Of course, it remains to be seen whether the Players Association will be willing to agree to MLB’s proposal. With both sides continuing to publicly share their ideas, there is still plenty to be worked out before an agreement is reached.

More Braves News:

Evan Phillips spoke with the media on Friday to discuss his return to Atlanta. 

Our 2026 player review series continues with DaShawn Keirsey Jr.

MLB News:

The Boston Red Sox agreed to a four-year, $58M deal with first baseman Jake Bauers. 

For the first time since 2020, the American League MVP was awarded to a man not named Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani. Those two have dominated the decade of baseball, becoming the national—and in Ohtani’s case—global face of the sport, and that’s been a successful transition away from the likes of Mike Trout and the Houston Astros. Baseball is hot right now!

And maybe we’re starting to see a little bit of a changing of the guard, again. Pete Crow-Armstrong just ended Ohtani’s run of three consecutive MVPs, putting together one of the finest, top-to-bottom baseball seasons we’ve ever seen. Ohtani’s a month younger than me; players and especially pitchers don’t tend to get better after age 33. Judge will turn 35 in April; Father Time comes for all of us.

All of this brings me to one Robert Andrew Witt, Junior. The Kansas City shortstop put up his third-straight seven-win season in 2026, good for second in all of baseball behind PCA. He was once again a finalist for the league’s top individual honor, finishing third, trailing Yordan Alvarez and Junior Caminero. In so many was for the man who, if not for PCA, would be the best all-around player in baseball, it’s a rinse and repeat system.

Last year Witt had an 8.0 fWAR season, finishing fourth in MVP voting behind Judge, Cal Raleigh and the previous perennial MVP nominee, José Ramírez. In 2024, Witt had maybe the best single season by a shortstop…ever. Since integration, only two players—Cal Ripken Jr. in 1991 and Lou Boudreau in 1948—have been better than the Royal’s 10.5 fWAR season. Both Cal and Lou won MVPs.

Bobby just had the misfortune to have to once again go up against Aaron Judge, the man with the best prime of any player since Barry Bonds’ head grew three sizes. Witt’s 2025 season ranks 15th on that list by the way.

J-Ram very famously has the most combined MVP shares without having actually won the award, 3.61 in his Hall of Fame-caliber career, one spent chasing down Mike Trout before Ohtani and Judge took over the AL. After receiving votes in each of the last four seasons, though, Witt is starting to move up that all-time list. His 44.76 percent share this year bumps his career MVP share to 1.8, from 202nd all time in the metric to a tie for 136th, with Rod Carew and Robin Yount, who of course both took home the hardware in their careers (Yount twice).

Part of this as touched on above is Witt having to go up against demons, but another part of it is the way he puts up value. Since entering the league in 2022, Witt has the most second-most fWAR (yes, better than Ohtani!) but critically, Dansby Swanson is the only non-catcher to eclipse him in dWAR. As we saw last year with Cal Raleigh in the MVP race, a supreme offensive performance just gets rewarded at a level that supreme defense does not. Outside of pitchers and catchers for obvious reasons, the slugger gets MVP.

And of course playing for mediocre Kansas City teams doesn’t help the case. Aaron Judge has near single-handedly dragged the Yankees into the postseason, the Cubs season is probably a failure without PCA’s effort this year. That Witt’s only stepped foot on the postseason once—perhaps not coincidentally, his runner-up finish in 2024—has affected how voters behave, even if I wonder whether it should.

If Judge is back to being Judge next year, or Kevin McGonigle takes another step forward, or any number of things happen, there odds are forever against Bobby Witt Jr. winning an MVP. If he should never get there, I hope he ends up atop that MVP shares list, passing J-Ram. Then again, Chris Sale never won a Cy Young until that one year it all went right.

Pretty positive that the Phillies won’t be making a big splash prior to the CBA ending and the lockout beginning. There has been a feel around the comments that Dave Dombrowski has been making that maybe the payroll isn’t where we think it might be, even if the words “generous” have been thrown around. I wonder if they’re just going to see what everything looks like once the dust is settled.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• The GM meetings are over and the sprint to December 1 begins. Here is where the Phillies stand for the next few weeks ($).
• With his year two coming and the team looking to upgrade the outfield, Justin Crawford is hoping he makes a big leap as Chandler Simpson did ($).

MLB news:

• The first big signing of the offseason has been made with the Red Sox agreeing to a four-year deal with Jake Bauers.
• Kaima Taira might be one of the Japanese players coming over to MLB that both Chicago teams are interested in pursuing.
• The Mariners are looking to upgrade either third base or shortstop, with Colt Emerson picking up the slack at the one they don’t sign.