There are bound to be some events of note at some point. Perhaps not today. But we remain vigilant. Pitchers and catchers are due to report in two weeks.
We do have a nice The Compound Podcast if you have time, and several shorter stories, both on video and via text. Randy Holt has a good piece about building the bench, below. Pat Hughes is going to have a fundraiser chat in mid-February.
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Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs’ injured ace is ‘movin and a groovin’ his way back to action. “It’s a heck of a boost,” Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said, “to have a guy that’s a top of the rotation-type talent that potentially could come in here and be that for us later in the year.”
Jack Lindsay (North Side Baseball*): The Cubs’ fourth outfielder battle is wide open. “There’s a crucial roster spot up for grabs this spring. Four Cubs are now in position to fight for it.“
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. We will not wittingly publish A. I. – driven articles or clickbait, and insist on unimpeachable sources.
There has arguably been no bigger weak spot for the New York Yankees over the past few years than the hot corner. Since the departure of Gio Urshela following the 2021 season, the Bombers have tried to fill the hole with veteran placeholders by first trading for Josh Donaldson and eventually giving the role to DJ LeMahieu, who steadily declined to the point where he was released from the roster entirely last July.
Finally cutting bait with LeMahieu made it clear that third base needed to be addressed at the trade deadline, and the Yankees did just that by acquiring Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for pitching prospects Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz. McMahon is a defensive specialist and below-average hitter who strikes out a lot, and that’s exactly what he gave the Yankees in 54 games. He projects to start at third base for the team in 2026.
Another trade deadline acquisition, Amed Rosario, re-signed this offseason and will likely bounce between second base, third base, and the outfield during his platoon appearances. The Yankees’ starting lineup is overwhelmingly left-handed, so Rosario should slot in somewhere anytime they face a southpaw starting pitcher. When given the choice of starting McMahon or Jazz Chisholm Jr. against a lefty, they will likely opt for the latter, meaning Rosario could make most of his appearances in 2026 at third.
McMahon and Rosario’s acquisitions were part of a trade deadline makeover that reshaped the Yankees’ roster in 2025. That makeover cost them a significant chunk of minor-league talent, and third base was one of the positions that was hit hard. Here’s how the rest of the organization lines up at the hot corner:
The minor-league depth at the position is weaker than usual with many of the team’s top young options at third base being dealt away. Jesus Rodriguez emerged as a promising option in Triple-A and Parks Harber tore up Low-A and High-A last year, but they were both traded to the Giants (alongside Trystan Vrieling) in the Camilo Doval deal. Dylan Jasso served as the primary third baseman for Double-A Somerset for most of the year, but he was traded to Miami in the Ryan Weathers trade just a couple weeks ago.
These trades leave a lot of lineup questions at third base throughout the organization. Jorbit Vivas (who was discussed during our second base preview) played 33 games at third in Triple-A last season, but Jeimer Candelario is no longer with the team so Vivas could be the RailRiders’ primary third baseman. The recently-acquired veteran trio of Braden Shewmake, Paul DeJong, and Zack Short (who were discussed during our shortstop preview) could also produce a replacement for Candelario which would allow Vivas to remain at second base.
The departure of Jasso leaves third base wide open at Somerset. Tyler Hardman served as the primary first baseman last season and only played three games at third, but he’s played the hot corner in the past and could be an option for a position change if the team decides to promote Coby Morales to replace him at first. Josh Moylan led High-A Hudson Valley in appearances at third and has spent the past two years at the level, so he could also be in line for a promotion to Somerset. Moylan has been a slightly above-average offensive producer in each of 2024 and 2025, with walk rates between 13-15% and strikeout rates between 25-30%. Juan Matheus was another contributor at third in Low-A and High-A last year, but he was also part of the package that went to Miami in exchange for Weathers.
Other options for starts at third base this year at these levels could include Owen Cobb, Enmanuel Tejeda, Kaeden Kent, and Roderick Arias, all of whom were included in our season previews for shortstop and second base. With so few primary third basemen in the organization, players like these may find an opportunity for more playing time if they’re able to slot into an open role and adjust nicely at the hot corner.
In fact, FanGraphs’ Roster Resource tool only has three minor leaguers in the system listed as primary third baseman, none of them higher in the organization than Low-A. The first of these players is Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, the team’s 20th-round pick from last year’s MLB Draft out of USC. Martin-Grudzielanek didn’t hit very well in his last two seasons in college, and was underwhelming in his first 24 games with Low-A Tampa.
It’s a bit ironic that the most promising third base prospect still in the Yankees’ system may very well be the lowest one on the totem pole. Richard Matic spent his age-17 season repeating the Dominican Summer League in 2025, but the results were night and day compared to his first year. After hitting .196 with a 71 wRC+ at age 16 against DSL pitching, Matic excelled in 46 games last season with a .336/.487/.566 slash line, five home runs, a 20.9/22.5 BB/K% ratio and a 167 wRC+. He’s a right-handed power bat with a 6-foot, 200-pound frame who could emerge as one of the most promising sluggers in the system if he can adapt to the Complex league and stateside competition. The list of DSL bats who fall off a cliff against stiffer competition is long every year, but this is what the ones who do make it look like. The last third baseman listed by Roster Resource is Leni Done, who signed as an international free agent last season and also hit five home runs in the DSL.
Third base is the most chaotic infield position in the organization entering 2026 due to all the roster turnover, though there are a few players who could take advantage of new opportunities due to this uncertainty. It’s unlikely that any of these players contribute at the big-league level anytime soon, but it’s worth following along to see who gets the first crack at filling in for some of these players who were traded away.
Warren Schaeffer is, by any standard, an energetic and positive person. He also tends to keep busy, though that has been especially true since becoming the Colorado Rockies permanent manager as he participated in hiring new staff, communicated with players and a new front office, and began planning spring training.
So, how was his offseason?
“It’s been a lot of work,” he says — but with enthusiasm, not exhaustion.
On the eve of Rockies Fest, Schaeffer answered a few questions about building a staff, communication, and changes coming to Scottsdale.
After being named the Rockies permanent manager, there was the matter of him finding his own staff.
“[It’s been] a lot of interviews,” Schaeffer said, “a whole lot of interviews to get it right — who we need to hire — because we had a lot of people to hire: new pitching coach, new assistant pitching coach, new bullpen coach, new first base coach, new hitting coach. I mean a lot.”
In addition, Schaeffer is currently focused on hiring the minor league coaching staff.
“It’s been a huge collaborative effort,” he said, “all of these hirings between the minor leagues and the major leagues, looking for that unity going up and down the chain.”
Something that can get lost in this Rockies rebuild is that team-building is happening throughout the organization. New front office and coaching stuff are meeting each other and learning to work together just as the players will next month. Prior to Rockies Fest, president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta convened a “summit” where all parts of the organization came together and began sorting out their roles and planning for the future.
“It’s been great getting to know Paul [DePodesta] and what he’s about,” Schaeffer said. “It’s been great getting to know Josh Byrnes and what he’s about and the new assistantGMs, and it’s an exciting time right now.”
It’s not just the manager; the players are enthusiastic about the changes, too.
“They’re all, almost pretty much to a man, extremely excited,” Schaeffer said.
“Players in general are always excited about the next season, and I would say specifically ours because they want to right the wrong that has been going on.”
”[R]ight the wrong that has been going on” would be those consecutive 100-loss seasons with the most recent being historically bad.
He added, “It just seems like the momentum that we’ve got going on, the players are extremely excited about that.”
Schaeffer’s calling card has always been his emphasis on communication, and that hasn’t changed heading into 2026. If anything, it’s even more important.
“I have strong relationships with the players already, and I continue to cultivate those with the new ones coming in and trying to create leaders in that area,” Schaeffer said. “And at the same time, we’re all in this together, in terms of Paul and Josh and Tommy Tanous and Ian Levin, all the new guys, and Walker [Monfort].”
Then he added, “But I love doing that because of the relationships you can build.”
Schaeffer’s plans to revamp spring training are also taking shape, and they start with “higher expectations.”
As Schaeffer puts it, “It’s one thing to talk about them, and it’s another thing to put them into action.”
The changes to spring training will be notable.
“Spring training will look completely different scheduling-wise, where we spend our time, what we spend our time on,” he said.
He was light on specifics since he’s not yet shared the details with the players, but he did says this: “It’ll look clearly different to the players, which is what matters, with a huge focus on winning.”
Too, there will be an emphasis on sustainability.
“We want to build a sustainable winner here for the city of Denver,” he said. “We believe that that could absolutely happen, and this is the first step.”
For Schaeffer, 2025 was a year of learning, and he has two primary lessons he’s bringing into 2026.
“Number one, preparation for the win that night,” Schaeffer said, “how to prepare better, and bringing in Jeff Pickler as a bench coach, who is exceptional at that part of the game, is going to be an enormous help for me and everybody else in terms of preparation.”
Then there’s the second lesson.
“The second thing that I learned, I think big time last year, is that at the big-league level, development never stops. It can never stop,” he said.
“Through the interview process this winter and being with these [new coaches] the past four or five days and getting to talk to them over the phone, the new coaches I’m talking about, it’s clear that they’re going to get that a relentless obsession with getting the player better, which is what they want. The point is, this isn’t the final product of the players we have. They’re going to get better. And that’s a learning experience from last year. We’re not finished getting better. There’s more in the tank.”
This week on the internet
Please enjoy this snippet from Rockies Family Feud, featuring Chase Dollander:
Freeman tells Thomas Harding about his preparation for the 2026 season. Thomas Harding spoke with Paul DePodesta about the outfielder’s role: “We still see him as an outfielder. He’s a right-handed hitter, but he complements Jake [McCarthy] and Mickey [Moniak], but we also see him as the guy who can play in the infield. He’s played second, third and some short in the big leagues. He maybe even snuck in a game or two at first base at some point along the way.”
Two top government officials in Kansas City, Mayor Quinton Lucas and Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota, had a closed-door meeting with MO Governor Mike Kehoe to have stadium discussions.
Lucas and LeVota also emphasized a speedy end to the protracted fight over the team between Missouri and Kansas, which has dragged on for more than 18 months. Both officials said they hope to strike a stadium deal before the end of spring training, which will finish in late March.
“I hope it’s resolved before spring training is concluded, which is kind of opening day,” Lucas said on Wednesday. “I think that what we’re all going to do is work our level best to make sure we can get there.”
That feels incredibly optimistic to me, but we’ll see.
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the MacKenzie Gore trade, the trajectories of the Rangers and Nationals since their respective World Series victories, and why the White Sox signed Seranthony Domínguez. Then (29:38) they bring on baseball buds Brent Rooker and Vinnie Pasquantino for a wide-ranging conversation about their scrapped podcasting plans, the Royals remodeling Kauffman Stadium, how Sutter Health Park played, the good and bad of bat-speed training, the challenge system, Brent’s sinking strikeout rate, the best breakfasts, the Pasqwich, A’s outfield defense, Nick Kurtz and Jac Caglianone, playing with Rich Hill, A’s extensions, playing 162 games, why they haven’t become 30-30 guys, arbitration, players’ pre-lockout messaging, an offseason signing deadline, Vinnie’s interactions with Shohei Ohtani, the WBC, the weather, and more.
Kevin O’Brien at Royals Keep analyzes Nick Loftin’s chances for proving himself in the upcoming season.
There’s a lot to like with Loftin’s profile above. He ranked in the 90th percentile in above in O-Swing%, Whiff%, Z-Contact%, K%, and BB%. He also ranked in the 95th percentile in wOBA and 97th percentile in xwOBA. The latter demonstrates that his performance was legitimate and not just a product of “batted ball luck”. Lastly, he launched the ball well with Omaha (79th percentile) and pulled the ball in the air effectively (89th percentile). Those kinds of batted-ball skills, combined with his plate discipline, are exactly what the Royals are looking for in hitters, especially under new assistant hitting coaches Connor Dawson and Marcus Thames.
Unfortunately, things haven’t clicked in Kansas City for Loftin yet, as they did in Omaha last season. In 67 games and 188 plate appearances with the Royals last year, Loftin posted a .279 wOBA, 73 wRC+, and 0.1 fWAR. He also hit four home runs, scored 17 runs, and collected 20 RBI.
Baseball America has their breakout prospects for the Royals ($). These are prospects outside the top 10 that they think could vault up rankings in 2026.
Freddy Contreras, RHP BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme Adjusted Grade: 30
Track Record: While fellow pitcher Kendry Chourio’s sensational breakout headlined the Royals’ 2025 international signing class, Contreras may not be as far behind his Dominican Summer League teammate as some expected. Contreras, who didn’t turn 17 until the final week of the DSL season, signed for $147,500 and then pitched to a 3.30 ERA with 37 strikeouts to 13 walks in 30 innings, earning a DSL all-star nod.
Scouting Report: Contreras is a lean righthander with a four-seamer that was in the low 90s early in the season, but averaged 95 mph and touched 98 by the end of the year. He commands it well and it projects as a plus offering. His 79 mph curveball has above-average potential with good spin and movement, and Contreras also has feel for an 87 mph changeup. Both secondaries generated plenty of whiffs in the DSL. Contreras is highly competitive and confident on the mound.
The Future: Given his youth, a return to the DSL would make sense for Contreras. However, the Royals haven’t shied away from aggressive assignments for teenage arms, so he very well could open 2026 in the Arizona Complex League with a solid fastball-curveball combination that gives him a high floor for his age.
Mike Gillespie at Kings of Kauffman writes that Drew Waters is probably on his last chance.
Jacob Milham also at Kings of Kauffman writes about three players whose chase rate may make it tough for them to fit in the team’s no-chase hitting philosophy.
The Royals apparently have a new sports betting partner, if you’re into that sort of thing.
MLB The Show ‘26 will not have a new cover athlete. Will they just put a baseball hat? A picture of home plate? Pasquatch? I guess we’ll find out!
Off Topic: My career is in data engineering, and thus AI is a whole big thing since the tools are getting pretty good at writing code. I know there are tons of stories of people using AI to generate slop code that they have to spend more time fixing later. But there are plenty of stories in my company of this…not happening at all. I’ve been using GenAI for code for quite some time and have found it useful. Anyone else code? What are your experiences?
Song of the Day is NOFX with Seeing Double at the Triple Rock.
National prospect list season continued on Monday as Keith Law, prospect writer for The Athletic, dropped his new top 100 list. At this point you won’t be surprised to find three highly ranked Detroit Tigers prospects in his top 30. Max Clark continues to grade almost unanimously as the best all around outfield prospect in baseball, while Kevin McGonigle remains behind the Pirates’ Konnor Griffin as the second ranked prospect in baseball with the best hit tool of any player in the minor leagues.
Law’s intro does have some interesting points, namely that the top 100 at this point is very hitter heavy. There just aren’t many obvious, dominant pitching prospects who have already proven their ability to handle the workload around the game. He mainly cites injury as the cause, noting that as a result of the ever higher rates of injury that teams are pushing their pitching prospects along more and more carefully, focused more on stuff and control rather than on stretching them out, trying to save their workload until they reach the major leagues. In any case, this is reflected in the fact that there are a lot of talented pitching prospects with 45/45+ grades, but they just aren’t as proven enough to really draw certain top 100 level grades, and the demands and more limited workloads make it harder to gauge who might actually emerge to put up 3+ WAR seasons in the bigs.
The Tigers’ Troy Melton is a pretty good example of this. He’s super talented, but the lack of a good third pitch led most to keep him in those 45 tiers entering 2025, including us. Based on his production and outlook, that still seems like an accurate grade. But he’s clearly improved and has the potential to be a 3-4 level starter or possibily more if he commands his splitter more effectively in the coming years. We just don’t know how long it may be until he gets a chance to prove he can do it in a full-time starting role and those usage concerns nowadays make it trickier to forecast future value for pitchers unless the player is already an established stud starter in the upper levels prior to the next season.
None of that pitching development strategy really seems to be working out, however. The Tigers are uber cautious with workload, both in terms of overall innings, length of outings, and frequency of outings, rarely giving a starting pitching prospect two starts in a week’s time, and so far it isn’t doing them a bit of good.
Law has RHP Bubba Chandler of the Pirates as the top pitching prospect in baseball in the 14th spot, with the Mets RHP Nolan McLean behind him at 15. RHP Ryan Sloan of the Mariners is ranked 21st, with RHP Andrew Painter of the Phillies at 22. All together Law has just 12 pitchers in the top 50.
Law says: He’s an elite hitter for hard contact, pairing that with outstanding swing decisions, so the result is that he hits the ball in the air and pulls it a ton, getting to surprising power for a guy with more of a medium build and frame.
#5 Max Clark
Law says: Clark has excellent bat speed and a very advanced eye at the plate, which combined to produce just an 18 percent whiff rate on the season, along with an 18 percent chase rate that dropped to 10 percent on pitches well out of the zone.
His MLB ceiling is as a plus defender with high OBPs and 18-22 homers a year, which is going to at least make him an All-Star and a big fan favorite.
#17 Bryce Rainer
Law says: When he played, he showed a bit of everything, with power (peaking at 111.6 mph EV, with a hard-hit rate over 52 percent), patience, plus defense and, at least before the injury, a plus-plus arm. He had no trouble with better velocity, hitting .333/.440/.476 last year off 94-plus mph in a sample of 80 pitches.
#59 Josue Briceño
Law says: (at the Double-A level) He did still maintain his feel for the strike zone and continued to make plenty of contact in the zone (85 percent), so there’s reason to believe he’ll resume mashing with more reps at the level. It’s plus power already, even to the opposite field, as he understands how to hit the ball where it’s pitched…
#91 Max Anderson
Law says: He focused over the offseason on trying to change how he was making contact from getting on top of the ball to hitting it on the bottom half, and took off from the start of last season, with a .306/.358/.499 line in Double A in 90 games, then a .267/.327/.422 line in Triple A where he still had a 46 percent hard-hit rate. His production is almost entirely in his hit tool; he has average power, below-average patience and below-average speed, so he has to continue to post high contact rates given his lack of a current defensive position.
Summary
Overall the only thing in terms of the Tigers that hasn’t already been covered extensively is Max Anderson making the list. Law cites the defensive concerns we’ve brought up repeatedly the past two seasons, but is more optimistic that he’ll hit enough to make it as an everyday player. I continue to think his pitch selection and overall discipline is going to have to improve quite a bit, as major league pitchers aren’t going to have that much trouble getting the current version of Anderson swinging at pitchers’ pitches and getting him out on the ground.
Anderson does have good hands and makes plenty of contact. There’s just a lot of pressure on the bat to hit for power due to his lack of defensive utility, mostly because of his mediocre range. His fairly strong and accurate arm helps make up for it and will allow him to play back against hitters without the footspeed to beat out choppers and slower rollers hit his way. It’s nice to see some optimism for Anderson, and hopefully Law ends up being in the right on this one.
Yesterday, the San Francisco Giants announced that they have signed outfielder Harrison Bader to a two-year deal. So I wanted to check in and see how people are feeling about the signing.
Personally, I agree with Brady’s assessment in the linked post above. Bader is an improvement on outfield defense, which is great! And if he hits as well as he did in 2025, that would also be a plus! Though I’m not sure if that’s sustainable, as he has tended to be a little under league average.
Bryan pointed out something interesting as well, in that he tends to hit pretty well in NL West parks (except for Dodger Stadium, naturally).
But the defensive improvement is the point! And I’m excited about it.
How are you feeling about the Harrison Bader signing?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Pittsburgh Pirates were last over .500 in 2018. We’ve been waiting eight years now for them to return to winning baseball. With Paul Skenes still on the roster and some improved hitting, is this finally the year? Our question is asking, do you expect the Pirates to be over .500 this season, under .500, or right at .500?
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments. We’ll be back in a few days with the results.
How do you weigh the cost of opportunity when it comes to a long-term build? When I talk to Cardinals personnel, the consistent theme remains “long-term focus.” What exactly does that mean for players who continue to accrue service time but are not quite to the point where they are rental assets? We know that Chaim Bloom said in his introductory press conference as President of Baseball Operations that they are long-term focused but arent willing to concede anything.
Bloom has been true to his word in that regard. This offseason, he has traded away veteran players Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado, committing to a long-term vision for the future of the franchise. He has also remained steadfast on his high price tag for All-Star Utility player Brendan Donovan, who still has 1 more season of control remaining beyond 2026, and has not conceded on his price tag, knowing the value of the player. As evidenced by other moves this offseason, the Cardinals will execute deals when a team meets their price tag. The fact that Donovan remains indicates a team has not met the Cardinals’ ask.
That being said, Bloom still has not indicated a timetable for when he expects the team to return to contention, and for obvious reasons, pending labor strife, a potential shift in the economic landscape, and uncertainty around revenue from RSN and/or Gate sales. There are quite a few question marks that need to be answered before he has a clear picture of how soon he might push in. This does, however, leave room for unintended consequences, such as when the right time might be to sell other controllable assets as they grow closer to their expiration as well?
SPAndre Pallante
Let’s start with Andre Pallante. Last season did not go particularly well for Andre, and he detailed for us at Winter Warm Up what happened last year. According to Pallante, after the 2024 season, he was experiencing a lot of fatigue and said he took a longer rest period than normal to allow his body to heal fully going into 2025. Because of that longer rest period, it took him longer to ramp up his velocity, which was a consistent talking point surrounding him in Spring Training, if you recall, which he didn’t reach until the start of the season. After which, his mechanics were not properly calibrated for the additional arm speed that was being generated, which led to his ineffectiveness with command. Pallante also touted that he’s been developing a “kick change” this offseason, which could allow for another weapon to neutralize hitters on a day he may not have a feel for release on one of his other offerings. In 2024, Pallante posted a 3.78 ERA and a 3.71 FIP in 121.1 IP, which are solid marks for any starter in the Major Leagues. Should Pallante bounce back and perform the way he did in 2024, given the depth of near MLB-ready arms the Cardinals now possess, perhaps the Cardinals look to sell high before he gets too expensive. Mid-rotation starters with control generally bring back a strong package of prospects, and for only 4 million dollars this season, the justification for the investment on the bounce back is more than digestible.
SPMatthew Liberatore
This one specifically, I know fans are going to have mixed opinions on. Not exactly comparable, but looking at what Mackenzie Gore was able to get the Nationals in return, teams will send high upside young talent for controllable lefty starters with upside. With 3 additional seasons of control remaining beyond 2026, it would take a hefty price tag to pry Liberatore away from St. Louis, but, given the theme of this article, the opportunity to acquire premium young talent that the team can continue to add to build around might be too good to pass up if the offers are there. Through July 1st of last season, Liberatore posted a 3.70 ERA and a 3.09 FIP in 92.1 IP in his first full season in the rotation. The key will be to see if he can repeat that success and perhaps put two full halves together. I wouldn’t necessarily expect Liberatore to be a deadline target, but going into the offseason, if he can put it all together, I can see the Cardinals getting a very strong return and one that could really kick the rebuild into a higher gear.
RPRiley O’Brien
This one is a little more unique as O’Brien is already 31 years old, and is, albeit a late bloomer, a guy with loud swing and miss stuff in his profile that could help a contender close down games in the hunt for October supremacy. As a pre-arb pitcher, the time to strike could be at the deadline when teams are notorious for overpaying for relievers as they push for the postseason. After the trade deadline in 2025, Riley O’Brien stepped into a prominent leverage role for the Cardinals down the stretch and posted a 2.57 ERA, 3.61 FIP, and recorded 6 saves in 21 IP. If he can carry that level of performance through the first half of the 2026 season or even a tick better, you can rest assured that half the league or more will come calling about O’Brien, and Chaim Bloom could be in a strong position to take advantage of a reliever-crazed market.
1BAlec Burleson
I have been steadfast since the end of the 2025 season. Alec Burleson positioned himself to be one of the players the Cardinals feel they have to build around. Oli Marmol and Chaim Bloom both have spoken publicly that he was one of the few players who truly took advantage of the “runway” (shutter) season. With that being said, as Burly enters his age 28 season and his physical prime, if he repeats or takes yet another step forward, can secure more hardware, or even an All-Star selection, it will make him hard to ignore as a potential trade chip. Slashing .290/.343/.459 ->.802 OPS with a .346 wOBA and a 124 wRC+, Burleson made himself one of the better hitters in baseball last season and, again, if he maintains or even takes a small step forward with one fewer season of control remaining, that will be a commodity teams will have interest in as he’d have the same amount of control remaining as Donovan does now, next offseason.
2B/3BNolan Gorman
2025 was a microcosm of the Nolan Gorman experience. High highs and extreme lows. Using the metric wRC+, where 100 is exactly league average, anything above is better, anything below is worse. By Month, Gorman’s wRC+ was: March/April – 76, May – 45, June – 142, July – 110, August – 105, September – 24! That is neither a reliable driver of offense nor a player who is already entering his salary arbitration years, someone you build around long-term. This situation feels like the Cardinals are banking on Gorman having one semi-breakout season so they can maximize a return. At this point, the volatility in Gorman’s profile, combined with 2 seasons of control remaining, could be something that Bloom looks to sell high on the soon-to-be 26-year-old former 1st rounder if he can eliminate some of the extreme lows in his profile in 2026.
C/DH Ivan Herrera
Let me be clear, I would hate this, but IF Herrera can successfully regain his status as an everyday catcher with all of the work he is putting in this offseason, and he can continue to hit at the rate he has, he would be a WILDLY valuable trade piece that could truly alter/expedite the rebuild in St. Louis. With the presence of Jimmy Crooks, Leonardo Bernal, and Rainiel Rodriguez, the Cardinals have some very impressive young catchers behind Herrera in their own right. Crooks – former Texas league MVP, Bernal – 2025 Minor league Gold Glove award winner at Catcher and switch hitter with 20+ HR potential, Rodriguez – posted an ISO of .249 in Single A, and loosely compares to Herrera, and is a near consensus top 50 prospect in baseball. If the Cardinals were hesitant to pay for the level of talent that that perspective profile would command, I could see the Cardinals willing to deal the soon to be 26 year old Herrera for a king’s ransom.
I debated adding RF Jordan Walker to this list, but with him being still only 23 years old and so much pedigree and prospect hype around him in the recent past that if he hits, he will be made a part of the core going forward more than the 6 other players listed above.
I’m not saying these players are overly likely to be moved, nor am I suggesting that the Cardinals are all that eager to move them. What I am suggesting, however, is that because we have no real timetable as to when the Cardinals expect to be in a competitive championship window, there is no clear answer on where the line is in terms of players with control and how far out that extends. If Chaim Bloom intends to be aggressive with how he attacks this build and doesn’t believe in patience in doing so, then the Cardinals do have a few chips they can play to try to expedite this process and try to have a majority of their players in the same age range/years of control.
We’re still very early in this process, and how things unfold over the next 18 months should give a clearer idea as to what the timetable may look like going forward. I understand this will likely aggravate a few fans, but that is not my goal or intention. I am not someone who swims in the “hot take” waters. For context, it is something that a few other writers in the community are starting to wonder about alongside me. Perhaps I should just hope that everyone stays healthy and has fun, who knows! (eye roll)
We’re just a couple of weeks away now from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. As of now, that group of Orioles pitchers still does not include Framber Valdez. I will continue to update you as nothing occurs.
In the meantime, it’s prospect hype season, as publications continue to drop their top-100 rankings ahead of the 2026 season. Yesterday, The Athletic’s Keith Law unveiled his list, not long after Baseball America and MLB Pipeline did so, and the Orioles were well represented with five prospects among his top 100. Mark Brown has the details.
One notable thing about the lists released so far is that there’s a wide variety of O’s prospects who are highly regarded by at least one source, even if they’re not all in agreement. Only Samuel Basallo and Nate George are included in all three of BA, Pipeline, and Law’s lists, but there are six other prospects who are included on at least one. Dylan Beavers is a top-100 guy for both Baseball America and Pipeline. BA’s list also includes pitchers Trey Gibson and Luis De León, while Law counts Wehiwa Aloy, Ike Irish, and Enrique Bradfield Jr. among his top 100. That’s a lot of different Orioles prospects with a lot of different skills who are getting some measure of hype from the pundits. That seems like a good thing.
Will any of these prospects contribute to a winning Orioles team in 2026? We know that Basallo and Beavers will be on the roster, and if either one plays well enough to win AL Rookie of the Year, they’ll earn the Orioles an extra draft pick. Gibson and Bradfield will be one level away and could debut this season, but they both have things to work on at Triple-A first. It’ll be a longer wait for De León and the just-drafted Irish and Aloy.
The Orioles might no longer boast the best farm system in baseball as they did in the early years of the rebuild. But there’s no reason to think their talent pipeline is slowing down.
Pete Alonso seems to be exactly the kind of clubhouse leader the O’s were badly lacking in 2025. I like that about him. And also that he hits lots of dingers.
For those who were frustrated by Brandon Hyde’s slavish devotion to lefty-righty matchups, good news: Craig Albernaz appears a bit more willing to let young lefty hitters face lefty pitchers.
Ken Rosenthal takes a deep dive into the baseball mind of the former O’s fan-favorite outfielder and executive, who’s now the Angels’ hitting coach. Trey Mancini has particularly glowing things to say about how Brady revitalized his career as an Orioles prospect.
…and sure enough, Trey Mancini just signed with Brady’s team. I have a feeling that’s not a coincidence.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Four ex-Orioles were born on this day, including Orioles Hall of Famer John Lowenstein (79), who spent the final seven years of his career with the Birds from 1979-1985 and formed a potent platoon with Gary Roenicke. Other former Birds with Jan. 27 birthdays are right-hander Jonathan Heasley (29), infielder Tim Beckham (36), and catcher Ken Huckaby (55).
On this date in 2015, the Orioles acquired outfielder Travis Snider from the Pirates. The O’s hoped that the former first-round draft pick would be a capable right field replacement for Nick Markakis, who’d left in free agency, but he didn’t come close. Snider posted just a .659 OPS in 69 games before the O’s released him in August.
And on this day last year, the O’s signed Dylan Carlson to a minor league contract. He didn’t figure to get much playing time with the Orioles unless things went very wrong for the team…which, of course, they did. Carlson ended up getting 241 plate appearances for the O’s, batting .203 with a .614 OPS. He signed a minor league deal with the Cubs yesterday.
Another offseason day down, another day closer to the beginning of spring. The hot stove has little left to offer us, though Monday did bring some news, with the Yankees officially announcing their signing of Cody Bellinger, as well as the Giants making a move, signing old friend Harrison Bader to a two-year deal. Had Bellinger defected this offseason, it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see the Yankees pivot and try to target their former center fielder Bader, but things seem to have worked out in a beneficial way for all.
On the site today, Nolan continues his informative State of the System series with an analysis of the third base position in the Yankee organization. Also, Jeff writes up Fred Haimach as part of our Yankee Birthday series, and Sam remembers the signing of AJ Burnett, the third piece of the Yankees’ 2008-09 spending spree.
Questions/Prompts:
1. How many starts will Ryan Weathers make for the Yankees this year? Do you expect him to factor in more as a reliever or as a starter?
2. Which international sports tournament are you more psyched for this year, the WBC or the World Cup? The WBC surely won’t ever reach the World Cup’s level of significance, but do you think the WBC will continue its upward trajectory going forward?
Every few years, Major League Baseball rolls out a rule change that reshapes how the game is played.
In 2020, MLB implemented the three-batter minimum for relievers and introduced the automatic runner in extra innings.
Three years later, the league rolled out another wave of changes — adding the pitch clock, limiting pickoff attempts, and restricting defensive shifts — all in an effort to speed up play, encourage action on the bases and restore more balance between hitters and pitchers.
Now, another shift is on the way.
In just under two months, the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system will officially become part of regular-season Major League games. The system has been tested extensively in the Minors and made its Spring Training debut at the big-league level last year. In 2026, it becomes real.
For Phillies manager Rob Thomson, a baseball lifer who has seen the game evolve in cycles, the key factor is simple: whether the players buy in or not.
“I think it’s great,” Thomson said. “When we tried it in spring training last year, a lot of the guys liked it — not everybody — but most did. And I think the umpires liked it as well. As long as somebody doesn’t get embarrassed, I like it. And if the players like it, I think it’s fair for everybody.”
The system itself is straightforward. Each team is allowed two challenges per game, initiated by the hitter, pitcher, or catcher. Challenges are immediate and binary — either the call is overturned or it isn’t — which keeps the pace intact.
One concern often raised is whether ABS diminishes the value of pitch framing. Thomson, a former catcher himself, doesn’t see it that way.
“They talk about whether it’s going to make receiving less important,” he said. “That’s not really true, because you only get two challenges. Framing still comes into play.”
That balance matters for a club like Philadelphia, especially with J.T. Realmuto back behind the plate. While Realmuto hasn’t graded as an elite framer in recent seasons, his feel for the strike zone — and willingness to challenge calls — stood out during last spring’s trial run.
Left-hander Tanner Banks saw that firsthand.
“I know J.T. was excited about it,” Banks said. “There were times in spring when he’d catch a pitch and immediately know it was a strike. You see guys like Bryce [Harper] or Kyle [Schwarber] get rung up on pitches that are balls — the hitter knows the zone better than anybody.”
From the pitching side, Banks acknowledged there’s an adjustment.
“There’s a human element pitchers like with umpires,” he said. “Maybe you steal something because the catcher does a great job. But at the end of the day, you want consistency. The umpires I’ve talked to are for it if it helps make the right call. It’s not a jab at anyone — it’s a matter of game integrity.”
Accuracy, of course, remains another big question. Strike zones differ by hitter stance, height, and approach, and every ballpark presents its own quirks. Whether ABS can apply that consistently across 30 stadiums is something the league will continue monitoring.
Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez views it as another adaptation point.
“It changes the game and you have to adjust,” Sánchez said through an interpreter. “There are a few things that I don’t necessarily like or agree with, but I just try to adapt and keep going.
That perspective carries weight. Sánchez was on the mound for one of the most scrutinized ball-strike calls of the entire 2025 postseason — a missed call in Game 4 of the NLDS that altered the inning and, ultimately, the series.
Cristopher Sánchez said the umpire apologized to him for missing this call.
Alex Call went on to score the tying run after he walked on the next pitch.
Rule changes tend to be judged in hindsight. When they help, they’re praised. When they don’t, they’re criticized.
But MLB’s intent has remained consistent: get the calls right.
Instant replay paired with managers’ challenges, introduced in 2014, once felt intrusive. Now it’s expected. ABS will likely follow a similar path — an adjustment period, some early friction, and then normalization.
When the ball hits the catcher’s mitt in 2026, the margin for error will be smaller. For players and teams built on precision and strategy, that may be exactly the point.
The Athletic | Keith Law ($): It’s preseason prospect ranking time. Today, it’s The Athletic. To the surprise of, I assume, literally no one, George Lombard Jr. is the top-ranked Yankee farmhand on Keith Law’s list. Ranked 24th overall, Law is bullish on Lombard’s future, remarking on the young shortstop’s bat speed and knowledge of the strike zone. “He’s at least a future everyday shortstop and still has upside beyond that because of the potential for a plus hit tool.” He’s joined by one other Yankee prospect, pitcher Carlos Lagrange. Lagrange comes in 88th on Law’s list. Law is complimentary of Lagrange’s stuff and clean delivery, projecting that “He should stick as a starter, and could end up in the top two spots in a rotation depending on how far his control improves.” A homegrown, top-of-the-rotation starter? Be still, my heart.
SNY | Anthony McCarron: It’s been a weird, frustrating offseason for Yankees fans. But it hasn’t been bad, per se, I guess. McCarron takes a look at, and individually grades, each move the Yanks made since season’s end. He assigns high marks to the recent re-signing of Cody Bellinger. Meanwhile, the assorted moves to bolster rotation depth earn the lowest of his grades (C+). It still feels like an underwhelming offseason, but I think I’d feel much worse if there were Ds or, baseball gods forbid, any Fs on that scorecard.
Fox Sports | Ryan Morik: The Captain is coming to the defense of Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner. Derek Jeter addressed the team’s championship drought, offering that “I’m sure Hal is frustrated as well. Hal’s been willing to go out and get players and put the Yankees in a position to win. But ultimately, you have to go out on the field and perform.” Jeets makes an interesting point elsewhere in the article, arguing that the trade deadline is likely to be the critical factor, given that teams can radically transform at the deadline.
Yahoo Sports | Billy Hayen: It’s been a rough stretch for the Yanks in the international free agent market. And the hits keep coming. Dominican infielder Marion De La Rosa, who recently de-committed (to borrow a college football phrase) from the Yankees, has apparently agreed to terms with the Seattle Mariners. De La Rosa won’t be able to sign with them until 2027 and technically teams and players can’t agree to these terms ahead of time, but… anyway, now the challenge for Seattle will be keeping him in the fold for a year until he can sign on the dotted line.
There are 15 days until San Diego Padres pitchers and catchers report to Peoria, Ariz. for their physicals prior to the start of Spring Training. This Saturday is Padres Fanfest and here is hoping that there will be some real news to discuss for the next offseason notes.
As of today, the last significant action for the Padres occurred in December with the signing of Sung-Mun Song and the re-signing of Michael King. Since then, Song has been injured and the Padres have signed a lot of minor league free agents.
International Class
As of Jan. 22, the Padres have signed 29 international players to contracts. Most are for less than $10,000 and don’t count against their bonus pool. At last count, according to MadFriars.com, the organization had about $1 million or more left to sign players before the window closes Dec. 15.
Other than the 16- and 17-year-old international players, there have been other free agents signed to minor league contracts.
Minor league free agent signings
IF Luis Verdugo – Older brother to Padres prospect Rosman Verdugo, he was in the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 2025 and with the Chicago Cubs organization from 2018-2024.
IF Carson Tucker – Played in the Pioneer league in 2025 and was not in a league in 2024. Originally with the Cleveland Guardians organization.
IF/OF Nick Solak – The 31-year-old has played 1B/2B/3B as well as outfield. He was in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 2025 and was with the Texas Rangers 2019-2022. His MLB slash line over parts of six seasons with four MLB teams – .250/.325/.369 in 259 games and 876 at-bats. He played in four games for the Pirates last year. Solak probably gets a spring invite.
IF/OF Samad Taylor – Taylor received a Spring Training invite. Recently DFA’d by the Seattle Mariners, Taylor had some MLB time with Seattle but spent most of the past two seasons in Triple-A. He is known for his on base skills and speed and is out of minor league options.
Preseason Prospect rankings released
MLB Pipeline, Baseball America and The Athletic’s Keith Law have all recently released their preseason rankings of the top MLB prospects. With the Padres farm system ranked in the bottom three of baseball, it should not be a surprise that their players are not well regarded.
Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas has been at spring mini-camp in Peoria since it started last week. Although he hasn’t played any significant time in 18 months, he is reportedly fully recovered from the stress reaction in his back that sidelined him almost all of last season.
Both Law and Baseball America list Salas as their only Padres prospect and he has dropped significantly in those rankings.
MLB Pipeline doesn’t list him at all and lists LHP Kruz Schoolcraft as the only Padres prospect on their list. He is listed at No. 88. Salas is not on the MLB Pipeline list of top 10 catchers in the minor leagues and is noted as only an interesting player to watch for the season. Although noting his Gold Glove caliber defensive skills and 20-plus home run potential, his absence from the game for so long has pushed him out of consideration.
Notable international player
Diego Serna, who will be playing under the name Diego Castelo, was highlighted in an si.com article by Gregory Spicer. Serna, 16, was signed for $1 million by the Padres out of Mexico and is only one of two left-handed pitchers ranked in the top 100 international free agents by Baseball America.
Spicer notes his advanced accomplishments and refers to him as the steal of the class. He could be the international player that debuts professionally in the US instead of the Dominican Summer League.
Mason Miller speaks
Padres reliever Mason Miller appeared on the Foul Territory program on Jan. 15 to discuss his offseason and plans for the new year. He stated his desire to remain in the bullpen for 2026 but specifically said that the decision is for this year and there is no decision about the future. The Miller interview begins at about minute 44:00.
Truck Day
Thursday was Truck Day for the Padres. It is the unofficial start of Spring Training for all anxious baseball fans. Every year the Padres put out a video of the day and this year was no different. With almost no news from the team to get fans excited, we will have to Keep the Faith and get excited for truck day until A.J. Preller gives us something else to talk about.
The Padres hosted a celebration of life for Padres Legend and Hall of Famer, Randy Jones. The team announced that they will be wearing a number 35 patch on their uniforms this season to celebrate the life of the first real Padres star and the first Padre to win a Cy Young Award.
RJ was the first Padre on the cover of Sports Illustrated and about the only thing fans had to be excited about in those early years of Padres baseball. He was a great junk pitcher (sinker, slider) in the days when those pitchers were valued. His most proud accomplishment was pitching 25 complete games in his standout season of 1976, in which he won the Cy Young.
Part of what made him special was who he was off the field. RJ took his responsibilities to the team seriously after retirement and he did the same with fans.
Be it either Qualcomm Stadium or Petco Park, he could be seen walking around with sharpie in hand, always ready to sign and chat with anyone who greeted him. I had many conversations with him throughout the years and he even joined me and friends for a chat during dinner when he had his restaurant in Hazard Center.
Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We so glad you braved the weather to visit us. Please come in out of the cold. It’s plenty warm in here. We can check your coat. There’s no cover charge. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last week I asked you if the Cubs should sign free agent right-handed starter Chris Bassett. You were pretty cool on the idea as 49 percent of you said the Cubs should not sign Bassett. Another 26 percent of you think the Cubs should sign him if he came with a significant discount.
Here’s the part where we listen to music and talk movies. The BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic only has a couple more weeks to run, but you can always stop in at anytime. But as always, you can skip it if you want.
Tonight I’m featuring one of those NPR Tiny Desk Concerts (support public radio!) from 2016, with the now-late pianist Chick Corea and the still-living vibraphonist Gary Burton.
You voted in the second round of the BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic and Terminator 2: Judgment Day said “hasta la vista, baby” to Brazil. I love Brazil and would have voted for it, but it’s hard to argue with something that sold as many tickets at Terminator 2. Plus, those special effects. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton do indeed look cool.
Tonight we the final matchup of the second round. Our number-one seed, The Matrix, goes up against the six seed, [sigh] Back to the Future. Time to break out those old Huey Lewis and the News LPs!
I suppose the advantage of tonight’s matchup is that I don’t think that I need to explain either film to any of you. Both films have become memes—cultural touchstones that people can make reference to and everyone is supposed immediately understand the point. Even if you haven’t seen one of these two movies, you know what they’re about. You know the big beats in the film like the red pill/blue pill choice or a time machine made out of a DeLorean. Or Marty McFly’s mother wanting to make out with him.
The Matrix. (1999) Directed by The Wachowskis. Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss.
Here’s the Kung Fu scene between Neo (Reeves) and Morpheus. Obviously this scene borrows a lot of the Hong Kong action films of the eighties and nineties, but the vast majority of US viewers would not have picked up on that.
Back to the Future (1985). Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson.
Here’s our first look at the DeLorean time machine.
Now it’s time to vote.
You have until Wednesday to vote. Then, we’re moving on the third round as The Day the Earth Stood Still takes on Godzilla. I must warn you, the won-loss record of creatures going up against Godzilla is not good. Maybe Gort will do better.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the movies and music.
Whenever there is a trade these days, most baseball sites will post an evaluation/grade of the deal within a day or two. And in handing out those grades, there’s always a reference to “Compared to what [team x] gave up for [player y], this deal . . .” Trades are not made in a vacuum. Each one sets the market for every other one.
So tonight, I’m going to ask you which deal do you wish the Cubs had made? Of course, the Cubs did make one deal with the Marlins for Edward Cabrera. That’s one option for you to vote for. But there were three other starting pitchers traded this winter. Which deal do you wish the Cubs had made?
Of course, not all of these trades were actually available to team president Jed Hoyer. The team on the other end of the deal has to want players that the Cubs currently have. If the Marlins had wanted a major-league ready strong defensive catcher for Cabrera, for example, the Cubs wouldn’t have been able to make that trade.
On top of that, we all know that the Brewers were highly unlikely to deal Freddy Peralta to the Cubs for rivalry reasons. I’m not saying that it couldn’t have happened, but the Brewers were likely to ask for a major premium in order to deal their best trade asset to a division rival.
Basically, this is just me asking “Which team made the best trade?” Or at least, which of these four traded pitchers fits in with the Cubs needs the best?
Here’s a quick reminder of the trades that we’re looking at tonight. My apologies go out to Ryan Weathers, whom I didn’t include among the choices. Maybe he shouldn’t have had so many injuries over the past two seasons. I suspect Weathers would agree with that.
Edward Cabrera. Age 28. 8-7 3.53 ERA. 9.8 K9, 3.1 BB9 in 2025. Three years of team control left.
You’re probably already familiar with this deal.
December 19. Orioles acquire RHP Shane Baz from Rays for OF Slater DeBrun, C Caden Bodine, RHP Michael Forret, OF Austin Overn and a competitive balance pick (33 overall in 2026)
Shane Baz. Age 27. 10-12 4.87 ERA. 9.5 K9, 3.5 BB/9 in 2025. Three years of team control left.
Obviously the Cubs could not have made this trade because they don’t have any draft picks that can be dealt. But beyond that pick at the end of the first round, the Orioles got back four prospects, all of which were ranked in the top 30 of the Orioles system by MLB Pipeline but none of them in the Orioles top five. However, DeBrun (6), Bodine (10) and Forret (11) were three of the top 11 prospects in a deep Baltimore system. Baseball America ranks those three prospects a little lower, but they also rank Overn a lot higher than Pipeline does. (17th as opposed to 30).
Unlike Caissie, none of these prospects are considered top 100 prospects. So this was a quantity over a quality deal. But it’s a heck of a lot of quantity and there’s that draft pick to consider, who would almost certainly be another top ten prospect.
January 22: Rangers acquire LHP MacKenzie Gore from the Nationals for SS Gavin Fein, RHP Alejandro Rosario, INF Devin Fitz-Gerald, OF Yeremy Cabrera, 1B/OF Abimelec Ortiz.
MacKenzie Gore. Age 27. 5-15, 4.15 ERA. 10.4 K9. 3.6 BB9. Two years of team control left.
Once again, this is a quantity over quality trade, but it’s a lot of quantity. Five prospects in the Rangers Top 30 according to both MLB Pipeline, between fifth (Fein) and 24th (Ortiz). Baseball America didn’t put Fitz-Gerald or Ortiz in their Top 30, although they did like both of them and they thought Fein was the Rangers’ third-best prospect. This is a similar package to what the Orioles gave up for Baz, except that they didn’t get draft pick like the Rays did. The Orioles also get one more year of control on Baz than the Rangers got with Gore.
Freddy Peralta. Age 30. 17-6, 2.70 ERA. 10.4 K9, 3.4 BB9. One year of team control.
Tobias Myers. Age 27. 1-2, 3.55 ERA. 6.8 K9, 2.8 BB9. Four years of team control.
This trade is a bit different because the Mets got Myers as a pretty decent throw-in, but Peralta is the clear headliner here. Peralta certainly has the biggest track record of success among these traded starters, but the Mets also only get one year of control on him. Yes, they can slap a qualifying offer on him so the Mets could be looking at an extra draft pick if they fail to re-sign him, but the way the Mets spend, that draft pick is going to be pretty low.
Going back to the Mets are two top prospects, one of whom, Sproat, has already made his major league debut. But Williams is the big deal here as he was the Mets’ third-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline and fourth according to Baseball America. Both publications think Williams is a Top 100 prospect, although Pipeline (30th) thinks more of him that BA (71st). Williams is also close enough to the majors to make his debut sometime this year.
Sproat was the Mets’ sixth-best prospect according to Pipeline and fifth per BA. He made his major league debut in 2025. In four starts he had a high ERA (4.79) but a very low FIP (2.80), which indicates that he was either the victim of bad luck or bad defense.
This is a real quality over quantity deal for a one-year rental.
So which one of these trades do you wish the Cubs had made? Which team came out the best?
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