TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 10: Teruaki Sato #7 of Team Japan hits a double in the first inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Czechia and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 10, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Gene Wang - Capture At Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! There’s still baseball being played. There might be a lock on the gates at Fenway Park, but it is NOT yet the offseason, and not yet time for the return of our Pulitzer Prize-winning* Smash or Pass series.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t start dreaming about some big offseason signings.
The whole world knows that the Red Sox need to add some thump to the lineup. Unfortunately, the MLB free agent class isn’t looking too thumpy this year. The top power hitters on the market are guys like Randy Arozarena, Seiya Suzuki, Brandon Lowe, and Jake Bauers, all of whom are on the wrong side of 30. But a new, not-technically-a-free-agent-but-still-kind-of-a-free-agent name is now out there. Teruaki Sato, who just won the Triple Crown in Japan’s Central League, will be posted this offseason.
There are a number of similarities between Sato and Munetaka Murakami, who was posted last year. Both were primarily third basemen in Japan, both were/will be posted at age 25, and both of them strikeout a lot. Sato, though, is considered to be a better athlete and defender (he’s won the NPB equivalent of the Gold Glove), with better contact skills but worse on-base skills.
Obviously things didn’t work out as everyone hoped the last time the Sox dipped into the Japanese market, but it’s not as if there isn’t plenty of MLB All-Star quality out there.
Talk about Japanese sluggers, the ALCS, or whatever else you want in this space and, as always, be good to one another.
*I give out my own Pulitzer Prizes. You’re allowed to do that if you want.
The Baltimore Orioles have hired Jared Banner as general manager to work alongside team president Mike Elias.
The Orioles announced the move Monday. Banner was the assistant GM of the Chicago Cubs, taking on that role in 2024. He’s also been a vice president of special projects and vice president of player development for the Cubs.
“When I first heard Mike’s vision, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of,” Banner said in a statement. “The Orioles are a storied franchise with a passionate fanbase, a historic ballpark, and an organization full of talent.”
Banner’s arrival comes with Baltimore’s front office under increasing pressure to reverse the team’s decline the past couple seasons. Elias appeared to have built the Orioles into a force when the team won 192 games in two seasons from 2023-24. Since then, Baltimore has managed only 75 wins in 2025 and 79 this year.
“Jared has been one of the rising talents in our league for some time, now,” Elias said. “He has demonstrated success running multiple different departments and has worked alongside some of the best people and front office talent in the league across multiple stops. He is a perfect fit to grow, evolve and improve the Orioles’ baseball operations.”
Banner is a Brooklyn, New York, native. He played baseball at Amherst College and was a fellow in the baseball operations department of the Boston Red Sox in 2007. He spent 11 years with the Red Sox, working in player development and amateur scouting before becoming assistant director of player personnel in 2013.
He was Boston’s vice president of player personnel in 2017-18 before becoming executive director of player development of the New York Mets. Then he joined the Cubs in late 2020.
Aug 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Griffin Jax (22) in action during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
The Rays are one win away from setting up a World Series matchup with the Brewers. Old friend Griffin Jax could be lining up for a Game 7 start (can you imagine saying that just last year?) if the Guardians do win Game 6.
In other Twins Territory news, the Twins also quickly moved on from former pitching coach Pete Maki, hiring Brian Reith, who was the pitching coach for the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate. In addition, Brooks Lee was named a Gold Glove finalist and will be up against Caleb Durbin and Nick Loftin for earning honors.
The Past Week on Twinkie Town:
Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
Just a few months ago, Freddy Peralta looked lost in a New York Mets uniform. Jorge Castillo at ESPN looks at how the Rays (somewhat predictably) resurrected his career and brought out his best right before a potential World Series appearance.
The Dodgers were swept out of the NLCS, ruining their opportunity for a three-peat. Jake Mintz at Yahoo looks at the questions that Los Angeles faces in the offseason.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: BJ Upton #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays salutes the fans after hitting his third home run during the game against the Texas Rangers on September 9, 2012 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Charles Sonnenblick/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The American League Championship Series is returning to Tropicana Field and with it, the Rays will bring back another of the franchise’s greatest players to toss out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game.
Earlier this postseason, the Rays have already called upon Kevin Kiermaier, Carlos Pena, and Carl Crawford to throw out the first pitch and now they’re bestowing the honor upon BJ Upton.
The Rays drafted BJ Upton with the 2nd overall selection of the 2002 draft. The franchise accelerated Upton through the system and had him make his big league debut just over two years later at just 19-years old. Despite his young age, Upton displayed offensive potential but his defense needed serious improvement.
Upton spent the entirety of the 2005 season and most of the 2006 campaign in Triple-A before making his way to the big league roster for good starting in 2007. With this advancement, Upton found a new home in center field where he showcased plus defense due to his elite speed and arm strength.
Over the next six seasons, Upton would be an above average offensive player and stellar defender. From 2007 through 2012, Upton hit .255/.338/.430 with 113 HR and 217 stolen bases, registering a 110 wRC+ and accruing 22.7 fWAR (3.8 fWAR per season).
Upton was an integral part of the Rays 2008 American League pennant run, providing the team with a historic offensive performance in the postseason as tied the record for most RBI in the ALCS and launched 7 HR during the playoffs. During game two of the 2008 ALCS, it was BJ Upton who lifted the walkoff sacrifice fly that tied the series for the Rays. At the end of the 2012 season, Upton became the first player in franchise history to hit for the cycle.
Following his departure from the Rays as a free agent following the 2012 season, Upton signed with the Atlanta Braves and eventually played for the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, last playing in 2017 in the San Francisco Giants minor league system; Upton officially retired in 2019.
At the end of play in 2026, Upton currently ranks 5th among Rays position players all-time in fWAR, 6th in homeruns, and 2nd in stolen bases.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 01: Jacob Young #30 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on September 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The other day a report came out that the Yankees have had interest in Jacob Young for a long time. This report brings up the interesting conversation of whether the Nats should trade their center fielder. On the one hand, the Nats have options to replace Young. However, Young’s defensive ability gives him a higher floor than the likes of Dylan Crews.
The Yankees have “long liked” OF Jacob Young of the Washington Nationals and have talked about him in the past, per Joel Sherman (NY Post).
Young is coming off an excellent 2026 season where he took massive strides offensively. The 27 year old hit .252 with a .708 OPS this season. That is after hitting just .231 with a .583 OPS last season. The biggest reason for Young’s offensive improvements are a change in his approach. Young was looking to do damage this year instead of just slapping the ball on the ground.
We wrote a deep dive article into this approach change during the season. That article looked at his lower ground ball rates, his changing swing path and more. The results speak for themselves though. Young went from an awful hitter to close to an average one. With his defense, a .708 OPS makes him a very valuable player.
The most shocking thing about Young’s season was his power. Heading into the year, Young had only hit 5 career homers. This year alone, Young hit double that. He reached double digits, slamming 10 homers on the season. In a year with a ton of offensive surprises, this power surge was one of the biggest shocks.
Now that we covered that, would it be wise to trade Young? I don’t think Jacob Young should be untouchable or anything, but I’m not sure if I would actively be shopping him. If the Nats do move Young, they would be going all in on Dylan Crews as the center fielder despite not having the results to match his draft pedigree.
In a lot of ways, Young is a Dylan Crews insurance policy. With his defense and newfound offensive competence, Young has a relatively high floor. You know he will provide elite defense if nothing else. Crews is a good defender, but he is not on Young’s level. Based on Crews’ prospect pedigree and his power upside, I still think he has more offensive upside, but I have healthy skepticism about him.
This would be the time to sell high on Young though. It is not a guarantee that his offensive gains will stick, though I personally think at least some of them will. The center field position on the free agent market is also very weak this year after down seasons from Daulton Varsho and Trent Grisham.
That could lead to a perfect storm scenario where a team like the Yankees gives you an offer you can’t refuse. Unless you think you are getting a great deal though, I would just keep Young. He provides relative certainty on a team with a lot of uncertainty. Young also has three more years of team control.
We know that defense is special. In the last three seasons, PCA is the only center fielder with more outs above average than Young. He gets insane jumps which make tough plays look easy. Young also has the flair for the dramatic, making some of the best catches you will ever see at the wall including this insane play against the Marlins.
Jacob Young WHAT A PLAY to scale the wall and turn the double play!
If the Nats were to trade Young to the Yankees, I would want the package to be centered around one of the Bronx Bombers young arms. An arm like Elmer Rodriguez or Ben Hess would make sense. If the Nats wanted to make a bigger trade that involved Young and some other pieces, they would look to acquire Will Warren or Ryan Weathers.
Getting Warren or Weathers in a deal involving Young would be something I would like. It would really set up the rotation nicely and bring certainty. The Yankees have a lot of pitching, but they could use outfield help. Of course, the Yankees are not the only team that could trade for Young. The Astros, Reds, Orioles and Rangers are other clubs that could use a center fielder.
Overall, I would be open to the idea of trading Young, but I would have to be very moved by the offer. Young’s defense and high floor are something I value. He is also a very positive figure in the locker room. Those things make him someone I would like to keep around, but he is not untouchable by any means.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 13: A general view of Tropicana Field during Game Two of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The 2026 MLB Playoffs continue today with Game 6 of the American League Championship series between the visiting Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays have taken a 3-2 series lead, so the Guardians are in a must-win situation. We’ll see if they do.
As of the time this is being written, the Guardians have not yet announced a starting pitcher to take on Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta. Tonight’s game starts at 5:08 p.m. PT and will air on TBS/HBO Max, with national radio coverage available on ESPN Radio.
Personally, I’m rooting for the Guardians today. I would love to see this series go a full seven games so that the Milwaukee Brewers get to face a tired opponent, as I am rooting for them because they eliminated the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.
Sandy Alomar would be a recognizable name in baseball circles if for no other reason than he fathered two major leaguers – his namesake Sandy, who caught in the bigs for almost two decades, and Hall of Famer Roberto, who also won a pair of World Series championships with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The elder Sandy had a major league career of his own though, one that included a brief stop in New York for a couple of seasons. He was gone before the Yankees broke a long World Series drought in 1977, but Alomar’s tenure in the Bronx did enable him to experience postseason baseball for the one and only time in his career.
Santos Alomar Conde Born: October 19, 1943 (Salinas, Puerto Rico) Died: October 13, 2025 (Salinas, Puerto Rico) Yankees Tenure: 1974-76
In 1973, Sandy Alomar was 29 years old, playing for the California Angels, his fifth club since he debuted with the Milwaukee Braves in 1964. To that point, his durability was his claim to fame. By September, he’d appeared in 648 consecutive games. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken leg while turning a double play against the Chicago White Sox. That broken leg snapped his iron man streak. It also changed the trajectory of his career.
That offseason, the Angels brought in Denny Doyle from Philadelphia to man the keystone, relegating Alomar to a utility role for the Angels. That lasted until July 8, 1974, when the Yankees purchased his contract from California.
Alomar quickly acclimated to New York, hitting .269 for the Yankees in 1974. Unfortunately, the Yanks finished two games back of the pennant-winning Orioles, so instead of playing October baseball, Alomar returned to Puerto Rico as he did every winter to play ball there.
Alomar got off to a very slow start in ’75. By late July, he’d been mired in a four-month slump. Murray Chass wrote for the New York Times that:
“…physically he doesn’t really resemble Rip Van Winkle. For a while, though, it seemed as if the Yankee second baseman might challenge the Sleepy Hollow napper for the New York State sleeping title.”
But Alomar started to come out of his funk and carried a hot stick into August. Over a nine-game stretch that culminated in a three-hit, two-stolen base performance on August 7th, Alomar went 13-for-34 (.382), raising his batting average 23 points, safely above the Mendoza Line at .217.
Alas, there was no playoff baseball in ’75 either. The Yanks finished the season 12 games back of the Red Sox, who went on to lose an all-time great World Series to The Big Red Machine, depriving Alomar of playoff baseball yet again.
The 1976 season saw Willie Randolph come into his own as the Yankees’ second baseman. Accordingly, Alomar once again found himself the utility man. For the ’76 Yanks, Alomar played all over the field. He neither pitched nor caught but otherwise manned every position on the diamond. And the ’76 Yankees won the pennant, their first since 1964. For the first and ultimately only time in his career, Sandy Alomar got to play October baseball. He pinch-hit in Game 4 of the ALCS, flying out to end a Yankee loss to Kansas City. It was the only playoff plate appearance of his career.
He did have the best seat in the house though for Chris Chambliss’ famous pennant-winning home run in Game 5. Having pinch-run for DH Carlos May earlier in the game, Alomar was in the on-deck circle when Chambliss propelled the Yankees to the World Series.
Alomar did not appear in the World Series, which the Yankees lost to the Reds, who notched their second consecutive title.
That was it for Alomar in pinstripes. In February 1977, the Yankees dealt him to the Rangers in a deal that brought Brian Doyle and Greg Pryor to New York. Alomar played two seasons for the Rangers before they released him, ultimately ending his major league career. Baseball was not done with Alomar, however. He coached the Puerto Rican national team from 1979-1984 and, obviously, had two sons who went on to long and distinguished major league careers.
Sandy Alomar died less than a week before his 82nd birthday, on October 13, 2025, in his hometown in Puerto Rico.
Sandy Alomar was not a Yankee for long. But his stay in the Big Apple allowed him his sole taste of MLB postseason baseball, though his time came to end a year too early for him to win a championship. Happy birthday to the patriarch of one of baseball’s most famous families.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford #2 hits the ball during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers on September 23rd, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
There are two questions about how we assess Justin Crawford’s rookie season. How is he impacting a club that intended to contend for a World Series title in 2026? And does his rookie season, even if it wasn’t perfect, show a player that can stick on the roster for 2027 and beyond?
Since the Phillies have not had many rookie position players to get significant playing time during this run, we have to go back to Bryson Stott’s 2022 season for a second. It wasn’t some great year. He had an 84 wRC+ for the season and looked ok at shortstop but not enough to stick there. But there were generally positive signs, he finished with 1.3 fWAR, and as the year went on he improved more and more with facing major league arms.
Justin Crawford’s rookie season was… not like that.
In a Phillies outfield that faced significant questions as the season went on, Justin Crawford played against right-handed pitching. It never quite got to the point it with Andrew Painter where he needed a AAA stint despite no other alternatives. Whether it was Adolis Garcia’s ineffectiveness at the plate, Brandon Marsh’s second half, or trotting out players like Gabriel Rincones jr, Felix Reyes, and Otto Kemp, Crawford was never the biggest question mark they had. In the month of August, he was the best thing going for them in the outfield.
His raw athleticism stood out on a team without a lot of it. He stole 17 bases, showed off a couple of bunt hits as time went on, and he sometimes showed off plus range in center field. There will be questions asked later about how often this stuff actually needs to happen but there are a few moments where he looked the part.
What went wrong
This is where it gets tough to separate what the Phillies needed him to be in 2026 and how to project him moving forward.
Objectively speaking, the Phillies needed better play in center field. He had an 80 wRC+ with concerning trends. Crawford’s swing and approach are polarizing but it just didn’t translate to the big leagues. He had a 57.5% groundball rate and carried a .317 BABIP in spite of it. The put it on the ground and win with your legs approach only goes so far in an age where infield defense is more important to teams than ever.
He did not walk nearly enough to make the profile work. He also didn’t hit for any power, which isn’t surprising given how often he is smacking the ball into the ground but a .089 ISO is not good enough.
The overall offensive profile doesn’t show enough proof of concept to expect much improvement over time without significant changes. He needs to hit more line drives and to walk more. Doing both of those things will better unlock his baserunning potential as well. No, I’m not asking Justin Crawford to try and hit 40 home runs but he does require significant changes. Changes the Phillies may not be willing to make.
Some of this would be a lot easier to justify if the defense was strong. Crawford graded out as one of the worst defensive center fielders in baseball. He ranked 27th in Defensive Runs Saved among 29 outfielders with at least 500 innings in center field. He finished 25th in Outs Above Average in the same set.
He just did not get consistent jumps or good enough routes. He has great speed but so does nearly every center fielder in 2026 so the technical issues are harder to handle.
Just taking a look at one play, Crawford took a banana route on this line drive hit by Brett Baty. This is a play every center fielder has to make, probably without a slide at all. He has to trap it in his glove.
If you want to look at it metrically, it had a 95% catch probability according to BaseballSavant.
Given how bad the Phillies were defensively, it’s not just Trea Turner who warrants a position change but if Justin Crawford is going to be on the Phillies in 2027, it should probably be in left field.
Final grade: C-?
I don’t feel great about it but I will grade on a curve because he is a rookie and it is just hard.
To me, the concern is in the numbers from his 2026 season but just looking at the bigger picture, what ceiling here can Justin Crawford actually obtain? That question just seems hard to answer because he just didn’t do enough well or put together enough underlying trends to feel good about.
Without significant changes that are different than anything he did in the minor leagues or in 2026 with the Phillies, this doesn’t look like a player to keep around long-term. Or even in 2027.
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 13: Charles Davalan #6 of the Glendale Desert Dogs makes a play for an out during the game between the River Rafters and the Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 in Glendale, AZ United States. (Photo by Norm Hall/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Some news and notes from the Arizona Fall League, in which Dodgers prospects play for the Glendale Desert Dogs.
Charles Davalan, the outfielder who was named 2026 Midwest League MVP for his work this season with High-A Great Lakes, had been playing second base in the AFL. He has just five hits in 30 at-bats — plus three walks and five times hit by a pitch for a .333 on-base percentage — but four of those hits came in the last week. That included a solo home run last Monday in Scottsdale.
Charles in charge 💣@dodgers No. 6 prospect Charles Davalan blasts his first home run of the fall. In 2026, Davalan launched 24 across High-A and Double-A pic.twitter.com/CiK1e17LOa
Third baseman Chase Harlan has two home runs, a double, and seven walks in eight games thus far in Arizona, hitting .269/.444/.538 in his 36 plate appearances. His second home run of the season came last Sunday, October 11.
“Dodgers right-hander Sam Horn threw an inning in that game, working 94-95 mph with a slider at 82-84 mph. The fastball was fairly flat, and the curveball was mostly down and out of the zone,” Law wrote. “Seeing him throwing at all in the AFL was a positive. He showed a good pickoff move, for what that’s worth.”
Dodgers prospect Sam Horn strikes out the side in his second outing this Fall!
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) October 7, 2026
Brooks Auger, the Dodgers’ sixth-round pick in 2024 out of Mississippi State, allowed two runs in two innings with three strikeouts last Monday in his second start thus far in Arizona. Law at The Athletic wrote, “ had the best arsenal among potential starters, showing five distinct pitches, highlighted by a 95-98 mph fastball and a plus changeup with a ton of fading action.”
A season after the Mets (and every other team but the White Sox) passed on slugging Japanese infielder Munetaka Murakami, another intriguing Japanese star is about to hit the market.
The Hanshin Tigers have granted infielder and reigning NPB MVP Teruaki Sato's request to be posted this offseason, according to Yakyu Cosmopolitan, paving the way for him to sign with an MLB team before the expected lockout on Dec. 1.
Sato, 27, won the Triple Crown in Japan this year after slashing .306/.383/.609 with 39 home runs, 40 doubles, 100 runs scored, and 106 RBI in 143 games for Hanshin.
He hit .278/.345/.579 with 40 home runs, 34 doubles, and 102 RBI in 139 games in 2025 as he won the Central League MVP award.
Sato, a third baseman, would very likely have to slide over to first base in a world where he lands in Queens and Bo Bichette doesn't opt out of his contract.
New York's in-house options at first base for next season include Jared Young and Jorge Polanco. However, Young doesn't hit for much power and struggles against left-handed pitching, while Polanco is an unknown following a 2026 season that was derailed by injury.
Regarding Bichette, he has opt-outs after this season and the 2027 season. However, it's difficult to envision him exercising it this offseason, with him set to get an AAV of $42 million in both 2027 and 2028.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 18: Richie Palacios #1 and Chandler Simpson #14 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate their 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians in game five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Team news
[MLB] D-backs prospect Patrick Forbes discusses his pitching repertoire, his development playing in the Arizona Fall League and more
[Roundtable.io] Will Diamondbacks’ Garcia Take Another Leap in 2027? – Depending on which veteran players end up departing, some of the Diamondbacks’ younger players may end up having greater responsibility. One such player is left-hander Brandyn Garcia… Garcia joins a list of young players, such as Ryan Waldschmidt and Jordan Lawlar, who can play bigger roles for Arizona in the future. Given the amount of time they have logged so far, it would not be surprising to see them become mainstays on the field as soon as next season.
[MLB] Confident Rays quiet Cleveland, return home one win from World Series – The Rays are just one win away from the World Series, headed back to Tropicana Field with every ounce of momentum in the ALCS. Sunday’s 3-1 win in Game 5 felt even more convincing than the low score suggests, giving the Rays a 3-2 lead in the series. If the Rays advance, it would guarantee a first-time champion as neither the Rays nor the Brewers have won a World Series since their organizations entered the league. “We need to rebound tomorrow,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “I know we’re going to have a tough matchup tomorrow. But we need to get guys on base and we need to score runs. And we just haven’t done that enough over the last two days.”
[CNN] Why baseball teams party so hard and so often in October – Every year, as the postseason approaches, a carpet-cleaning company in Boston knows to stand by; if a series is clinched, they’ll be called in for a shampooing assignment at 2 a.m. The clubhouse managers try to protect as much of the property as possible, but there is only so much they can do. “No matter how much you clean it, it smells horrible for days,” [Red Sox Clubhouse manager Tom] McLaughlin said, adding that the ceiling tiles turn brown, almost black, and must be replaced.
[Tampa Bay Times] For Rays, stability in dugout is a big part of their onfield success – Cash, completing his 12th season, is the longest-tenured manager in the majors with his current team. Mottola, who was promoted from the minors in September 2016 to replace Derek Shelton, is the longest-serving active hitting coach in the majors. And Snyder, who was promoted from Triple-A Durham after the 2017 season, is tied with Cleveland’s Carl Willis for the second-longest run among current pitching coaches, trailing only Toronto’s Pete Walker (hired in 2013).
[SI] The Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Decade – More collectors have embraced building smaller, more focused collections. Consolidating and selling off lower-value cards can make it possible to own several iconic rookie cards that might otherwise seem too expensive or unattainable. If a collector just wanted to own the very best rookie card from each era, which cards would make the cut? Beginning with the 1910s, I selected the most valuable baseball rookie card from each decade… For each decade, I also included an iconic “budget” rookie card under $1,000 for collectors to target with a more modest hobby budget.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 18: Chandler Simpson #14 of the Tampa Bay Rays bunts during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Monday everyone and welcome to a new week!
The Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays are giving us one heck of a series. The Rays took yesterday’s contest and now find themselves just one win away from the World Series. One of the newest additions to the league, they’ve already made it to the Fall Classic twice but have yet to win it in their 28 year of existence. Not bad all things considered but they’re still waiting to hoist that trophy.
The Guardians meanwhile wasted a golden opportunity to take a stranglehold over this series at home after stealing a game in Tampa. Now they’ll be tasked with winning two straight games on the road in Florida or else their season is over. Like the Rays they have their own championship drought hanging over their heads and that might be too much pressure to overcome in a short series for the Stephen Vogt-led Guardians.
While the Brewers and all of the baseball world wait to see how the ALCS ends up, the Athletics meanwhile have their own major decisions going on in the back round at this very moment. The team is still looking for its new leader in the front office, presumably the person that will take charge of the club as we head into our new home park in Las Vegas. Red Sox assistant GM Taylor Smith is reportedly a favorite, but in what role? The Athletics were willing to offer the title of President to the Phillies’ Sam Fuld, but is that something they’re offering all of the candidates? Or is that what’s holding up any sort of announcement of a hire? We’re all waiting with baited breath and would like to know our newest General Manager before the end of the World Series. So, you know, chop chop A’s.
A reliable closer is like an endgame security blanket for ball clubs made jittery by the generally-fickle nature of relievers and the pitfalls of the treacherous ninth inning. That’s why David Bednar figures to do well in free agency this winter.
He’s coming off a strong season with the Yankees in which he converted 35 of 39 save chances, notched a 2.47 ERA and allowed only 52 hits in 69.1 innings while striking out 76.
Now the Yanks have to figure out their endgame strategy with Bednar, who made $9 million this season. He just turned 32 years old, jacked up his ground ball rate to a career-best 50 percent, well above the MLB average (41.2 percent), and proved he can handle the Bronx cauldron, overcoming an early wobble or two.
And he threw three scoreless innings in the postseason, giving him a 1.00 ERA in nine playoff innings with the Yanks.
Sounds like a prime resume for a return. What will the Yanks do?
Here’s a look at whether Bednar should stay or go:
WHY IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO RE-SIGN BEDNAR
Bednar was by far the best thing to come out of the Yanks’ reliever splurge at the 2025 trade deadline, cementing an uncertain closer role that year and carrying that into 2026. He has a 2.39 ERA as a Yankee, not including the postseason.
In other words, he can hack it here.
It’s impressive that he’s still evolving, too. He threw his splitter much more this season and it was a devastating pitch for him. Opposing batters hit just .149 in at-bats ending on the split, with a .189 slugging percentage. According to Statcast, Bednar’s split was tied for 17th in Pitching Run Value, suggesting it was among the best single pitches in all of baseball.
He reduced his walk rate to 7.1 percent, career best for a full season, and had a 1.04 WHIP. Only the Rays’ Bryan Baker and Cade Smith of the Guardians had more saves than Bednar this year.
We could go on and on about Bednar the bullpen bedrock. We haven’t even brought up how much we like his entrance song – “Renegade” by Styx.
The Yanks will have to decide whether to extend him the $23 million-plus qualifying offer. They should. Even if he takes it, he’s probably worth that for one year. If he accepted, it’d be the top average annual value ever for a reliever, just above the $23 million Edwin Díaz is making with the Dodgers.
WHY IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO LET BEDNAR GO
We can’t think of any real reasons. No, seriously.
Jul 19, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher David Bednar (53) follows through on a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Fine, we’ll nitpick: He had an ERA of 5.14 as late as May 18 (but it was 1.30 afterward). He made four appearances against the Mets and the Mets scored against him three times.
The Yanks have been adept at developing bullpen arms in recent years, so could they have an in-house replacement lurking?
There are options on the free agent market, too. Raisel Iglesias has more saves than anyone in MLB over the last three seasons, as well as a sparkling 0.931 WHIP. He’ll be 37 in January, but if the Yanks feel they have a closer-in-waiting and Iglesias will accept a shorter-term deal than Bednar, is that a move?
Lefty Adrian Morejon remains appealing. Two-time All-Star Andrés Muñoz is coming off a 4.24 ERA, but is tied for the second-most saves over the past three years. However, the Mariners hold a relatively inexpensive $9 million club option on Muñoz for 2027.
VERDICT
Stay.
Don’t overthink this. Quality bullpen arms should be hoarded and everyone’s mood is elevated when a team can cling to any smidge of ninth-inning certainty. Paul Blackburn, a relief revelation this year, is also a free agent, so there’s already some uncertainty in the Yankee pen. Lefty Brent Headrick enjoyed a sparkling season, but there’s work to be done. Retaining Bednar is an easy stabilizer.
In the 13 seasons since great Mariano Rivera retired, the Yanks have had seven different pitchers lead the team in saves, including Bednar this year. Aroldis Chapman (five times) and Clay Holmes (three) are the only pitchers who did it more than once.
Díaz, Josh Hader ($19 million per year), and Tanner Scott ($18 million) are the three highest-paid relievers in MLB via AAV, according to Spotrac. Bednar likely will be in that kind of company.
The Yanks would be smart to be the team paying him.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 18: PitcherDrew Rasmussen #57 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates at the end of the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! The Tampa Bay Rays will head home with a chance at the American League pennant after their 3-1 win last night. Up 3-2 in the ALCS, the Rays will face the Cleveland Guardians tonight for Game 6 at 5 PM.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 30: A general view inside the stadium from outfield seating during the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Mikayla Schlosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Kansas City Royals cited two big reasons why they chose to change the dimensions at Kauffman Stadium for the 2026 season. First, the front office hoped that the dimensions would play more fairly, particularly on home runs. Second, the staff hoped that hitters would be able to have a more consistent approach at home and on the road, not needing to tailor their swings based on whatever park they happened to be in.
As far as the former goal goes, it’s too early to tell based on one season of data, butThe K played like a true hitter’s park this season—one of the best hitter’s parks in the league. As far as the latter goal goes, it’s again hard for us to know whether guys had a more consistent approach at home versus on the road. It’s much more difficult for us to judge intent and approach as fans. What we can judge, however, are results, and the results on the road during the first year of the new dimensions at The K were not good.
Here’s a table breaking down how the Royals performed at home at the plate versus on the road:
Location
PA
BB%
K%
BB/K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
ISO
BABIP
wOBA
wRC+
Home
3019
8.50%
18.80%
0.45
.266
.334
.439
.774
.173
.303
.337
110
Away
3064
8.30%
23.00%
0.36
.229
.299
.366
.665
.136
.279
.294
86
The Royals at home were a very good offense. If the 110 wRC+ they accumulated at home was their full-season number, they would slot between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers as the third-best offense in the league. This isn’t a fair comparison, as almost everyone performs better at home than on the road, but it shows that if you thought at times the Royals had a great offense, it was likely during one of their home stands. They have the fifth-highest home wRC+ in baseball, and ended up just one point behind the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates, the third- and fourth-place finishers, respectively.
The batting eye at Kauffman Stadium is considered excellent, and we see that contrast in the offense’s results on the road this season. The Royals struck out 150 times more on the road than at The K. They hit 16 more home runs at home this season. Their batting average was 36 points higher in Kansas City. Interestingly enough, they drew a similar number of walks between home and road games.
Overall, the Royals finished with a slightly below-average offense (a 98 wRC+). Their 24-point gap between their home wRC+ and their road wRC+ was the biggest gap in baseball this year. As good as the Royals were at home this year, they were significantly worse on the road, which brought down their overall average. Not for nothing, the Royals had a 40–39 record at home this season to go with a 28–53 record on the road.
What does all of this mean? Is batting at the new-look Kauffman so great for hitters that we need to expect a Coors Field hangover effect? Were the Royals just a bad hitting team buoyed by a great hitter’s park? Was this a large but not unexpected variance between home and road, and due to various factors outside of the batters‘ control, will look more normal next season? Why are we even alive?
I don’t think we have enough information to get good answers to these questions, but for this season we can say that whatever the Royals hoped moving the walls would do to help the team’s consistency between home and road results did not work. Whether this is just variance, whether the Royals need to petition to install the Kauffman batting eye in all stadiums, or whether something else entirely is causing this difference in results (such as needing to get more sleep on the road or something) is up to the Royals to figure out and implement changes.
