Jul 22, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) celebrates with Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (2) after the game against the Athletics at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Good morning.
Evan Grant writes that the Texas Rangers have done the heavy lifting as far as winter roster moves, but there are still a handful of budget free agents that could make sense ahead of spring training.
At The Athletic, Jim Bowden grades each club’s offseason moves and hands out passing marks to the Rangers for their offseason maneuvering.
Matt Snyder ranks and grades the free agent shortstop signings from recent years where Corey Seager’s deal with Texas lands at No. 1. Winning the World Series as World Series MVP will do that.
And, Russell Dorsey checks out the upcoming top spring training storylines for each team with the hunt to get back to October being the theme for Texas this year.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 3: Dodger Stadium is shown during the Atlanta Braves game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during an opening day game at Dodger Stadium on April 3, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. The Braves defeated the Dodgers 11-10. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) | Getty Images
So, I don’t know if I have been doing daily questions for over a year, but it feels like I have.
Meanwhile, a few days ago, the powers that be put together a set of generic questions that can be used throughout the month of February, and shared them with us. Some are redundant with things I’ve probably asked before. Some just kinda feel off to me. But, some, well, they make coming up with prompts easier since, well, I don’t have to. It’s just ye olde copy-paste and off we go.
This is one of those.
I don’t really know what angle people will take when they read it. I guess the most common is, “My team did/didn’t do X, so now I do/don’t expect Y.” But I guess you can be more literal. Like, I have two thoughts in response initially. I also have a ton more if I just think a bit. Here are a few from me:
2015: juiced ball time. Got the gears turning on what building a team meant in 2015 as opposed to the trend towards pitching dominance pre-2015.
2023: first year of the pitch clock. This is really literal but… before the pitch clock, I had a rhythm going where much baseball was watched while working or doing other stuff, and I had pitchers timed pretty well to be able to look up for the pitch and then go back to whatever I was doing in between pitches. The pitch clock completely ruined this; there’s now not enough time to actually do anything in between pitches. Some might say that’s the point, but it’s made it more that now baseball is on in the background while I do things that either prevent me from seeing each pitch, or that I don’t need to look to do (like washing dishes).
2006: Nothing to do with baseball, but this was my first season that started when I was at college. Before 2006, I watched basically every game from 2001-2005 because there wasn’t much impeding me. In 2006 I had to transition to lugging my laptop with MLB.tv around for day games, making arrangements at my part-time jobs to leave before games, and really started watching games as a secondary thing as opposed to appointment viewing.
The Phillies can annoy us. There are things that they do that can get on our nerves, whether it be a questionable decision by the manager during a game (I’m still not over The Bunt), a trade that was made that returned virtually nothing (that’s all they got for Schilling?) or a season that ended worse than what we believed it would be.
So for today’s question, the question: what is something about the Phillies that still bothers you the most? For fans of a different age, this question could be answered different ways. Take me, for example. The Bunt that Rob Thomson called for may not have been the difference in the series against the Dodgers last year, but you have to wonder what might have been had they been able to score Nick Castellanos from second.
Maybe you’re still sore over Cliff Lee being unable to pitch a good Game 2 of the 2011 NLDS, a series that should have seen the Phillies go to, and win, the World Series.
Maybe it’s Black Friday in 1977 where Bruce Froemming had his eyes closed when deciding if Davey Lopes was safe or out.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 08: Riley Greene #31 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of game four of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park on October 08, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Monday, everyone! We’re getting ever closer to pitchers and catchers reporting, and we’re officially in the same month as Spring Training, so the offseason is almost over, and hot stove season is winding down. In fact, the few remaining players still looking for a team are almost entirely starting pitchers, so we could still see some moves from the Tigers before pitchers and catchers report, as the Tigers look to bolster their starting rotation (or their bullpen, depending on what they feel like focusing on).
Still some fun stories to get into to start the week, so we’ll just jump right into it.
Detroit Tigers News
The Tigers are celebrating Black History Month by celebrating the players who helped make the team great.
We’re celebrating the impact of African-American players in Tigers history throughout February, honoring their careers and lasting contributions as part of #BlackHistoryMonth! pic.twitter.com/HCBddvxtbk
Kind of feels like the Tigers could have afforded this…
Slugger Eugenio Suárez and the Cincinnati Reds are in agreement on a one-year, $15 million contract that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, sources tell ESPN. The best bat left on the market goes to Cincinnati, where he's expected to get most of his at-bats at DH.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 08: Ben Williamson #9 of the Seattle Mariners at bat during the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 08, 2025 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mariners 10-3. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Continuing the experiment where I’m drawing conversations from the Moose Tracks out to give them more space, Husky Mariner asked the other day if there’s room for both Ben Williamson and Colt Emerson on the 2026 Mariners roster. (We’re going to assume Opening Day, optimized roster, in this situation, not the Frankenlineups that sometimes get run out in the dog days due to injury or ineffectiveness.)
To me, I think either of those players would be given the keys to third and second base, respectively; neither of them are going to be on the roster to be bench players. That creates a series of conditions: in this case, Emerson has supplanted Cole Young at second base, which feels unlikely at this moment in time, although who knows how things will play out this spring. I will say I’m higher on Colt Emerson than I’ve ever been after considering his body of work this past season and spending time with him this weekend at Fan Fest. It’s maybe less of a stretch to consider Ben Williamson being permanently installed at third base, especially after Eugenio Suárez signed with the Reds yesterday, extinguishing the last ray of hope Mariners fans might have been stoking for a good vibes reunion.
This setup leaves Cole Young returned to Triple-A with his options, the platoon of Victor Robles/Luke Raley/Rob Refsnyder/Dominic Canzone taking starts in right field and DH, and Miles Mastrobuoni and Leo Rivas battling it out for the backup infielder/pinch runner role (plus either Knizner or Perada as backup catcher).
The idea of Cole Young sent back to Triple-A is one that’s already a little difficult for me to square given the club’s verbal commitment to Young, but I can easily see a world where Emerson challenges Young, who has a similar profile. Williamson might have the biggest question mark around his bat of the three, but his defensive acumen is such that it’s harder for me to see them going with Young and Emerson at second and third, even if that might provide the best offensive production. The bigger issue I have with this is how heavy that platoon is in right field/DH. Four players for two spots with only Raley being defensively versatile (all outfield positions, 1B) feels like a roster construction flaw. That’s not an issue that has anything to do with Young/Williamson/Emerson, though, so I’ve maybe drifted too far afield from the original question.
Also: Ryan Bliss. How does he figure into all of this?
Speaking to the media at Fan Fest yesterday, Justin Hollander reiterated that the club won’t be predicating decisions based on spring training alone. But it does feel like a monster spring from Emerson and Williamson could force some of these questions.
What is your prediction for the roster battles will see this spring, specifically on the infield?
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: Colton Cowser #17 of the Baltimore Orioles runs to third base during a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 24, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just about every member of the 2025 Orioles either underperformed or got injured. Colton Cowser did both, souring what could have been a breakout season. Reports indicate that Cowser will enter 2026 fully healthy, and seems poised to take on the center field job full-time. The Orioles are betting on a bounce back from the former fifth overall pick.
Let’s not forget that Cowser had a pretty great rookie season in 2024. Over 153 games he hit .242/.321/.768 with 24 home runs, 52 walks, and 172 strikeouts. He swung and missed a lot, but made up for it with his ability to take a walk, hit home runs, and play high-end defense. As a result, he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
The Orioles went into 2025 with Cowser as their lead-off hitter, a somewhat forced decision following Gunnar Henderson’s injury. But it didn’t seem like Cowser was terribly miscast in the role. He had demonstrated a keen eye at the plate, had enough pop to keep the defense honest, and was rather quick on the bases.
But just days into the new season, Cowser went down with his first injury of the year. Trying to beat out an infield hit in Toronto, Cowser dove head-first towards first base. His thumb went the wrong way, resulting in a fracture that put him on the shelf until early June. This injury to his left hand came just six months after he broke that same hand in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series, swinging at a pitch that actually hit him.
The final IL stint of the year for Cowser came in August. That is when he missed 11 days due to concussion symptoms, which stemmed from a play in Philadelphia a few days prior. His symptoms were reported as a “mild,” but the Orioles took precautions.
Looking at Cowser’s splits for the year is rather brutal. The only month of positive production came in June, when he hit .250/.310/.550 with six home runs, 14 RBI, four walks, and 25 strikeouts over 22 games. His OPS for every other month was .594 or worse, and his batting average never got above .210 in any other month.
The best Cowser looked was immediately following the three games he sat after fracturing his ribs. From June 16 through 27, he slashed .314/.385/.714 in a span of 10 games. For a few days that pushed his season OPS above .800 and had him looking like the 2024 version of himself.
But that moment was fleeting, and it was a steep decline from there. From June 28 through the end of the year Cowser slashed .180/.257/.336 and struck out 100 times in 69 games. Although he was 13-for-13 on stolen base attempts and walked at a decent clip in that stretch.
Cowser’s nightmarish season had some members of the Orioles fan base asking questions about his future. The team had Tyler O’Neill signed to a big-money deal. Dylan Beavers was emerging from Triple-A. And then early on in the offseason the team went and traded for Taylor Ward. Seemingly, there were too many corner outfielders for not enough spots on the big league roster.
At the same time, the O’s continued their years-long search for a “frontline” starting pitcher. If they weren’t going to wade into the deep end of the free agent pool, it seemed like a trade involving a young, controllable hitter was a viable alternative. Cowser, among others, fit the bill for the type of player to center a deal around.
But theoreticals like that made less and less sense as the offseason progressed.
The Orioles weren’t involved in talks for any significant options in center, limited as they were. Luis Robert was traded to the Mets. Harrison Bader signed with the Giants. The only center fielder the O’s added to the organization was Leody Taveras, a World Series winner with a useful skillset, but far from an everyday big leaguer following two subpar seasons.
Internally, there wasn’t much to speak of either. Beavers could play center in a pinch but not every single day. Reed Trimble was protected from the Rule 5 Draft, and could be an interesting fourth outfielder option. Enrique Bradfield Jr. is likely to get a big league call at some point in 2026, but he still has plenty to prove. His glove and his legs are ready for the big leagues. His bat, on the other hand, needs some work. The 15 games he played in Norfolk last year did little to force the Orioles hand on a further promotion.
That leaves Cowser as the logical solution in center, a position in Baltimore that had belonged to Cedric Mullins for years. Cowser has plenty of experience in the role. He spent 47 games there in 2025, 45 games in ‘24, and 10 in ‘23. That doesn’t even account for his minor league work. While not as sterling as his performance in left field, advanced metrics like his movement in center. He has been worth 1 OAA in each of the last two seasons despite it not being his full-time position. And his throwing arm is one of the most feared in the league. Defensively, it should fit him just fine.
The bigger questions pertain to his bat. Orioles center fielders posted an 87 wRC+ in 2025, putting them in the bottom half of the league. Cowser himself had an 83 wRC+ overall and it dipped to 78 when he played center.
As constructed, the Orioles probably don’t need Cowser to bounce all the way back to his 2024 form, when he had 119 wRC+. They will be relying more on Henderson, Ward, Pete Alonso, and Jordan Westburg for most of their offense. But their center fielder will need to be closer to league average in order to be a viable everyday option. He has shown an ability to do that before, and if healthy he should be able to get there again.
The only worry is that there is no built in safety net for Cowser or the Orioles. They don’t have immediately viable solutions in-house, and there here aren’t many useful center fielders available via trade or free agency. Most, if not all, of their eggs are in the Cowser basket.
As far as bets go, it’s not a bad one. Injuries derailed his 2025 campaign, and by the time he came back the Orioles season was already down the drain. Now healthy and some pressure of expectations relieved, the O’s will be hoping their former top prospect can thrive in a new position.
Boston, MA - February 3: Boston Red Sox fans pose for a photo with mascots Wally and Tessie during the team's annual Truck Day outside of Fenway Park. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Hello and happy Monday, friends.
It’s not just any regular Monday, though…it’s Truck Day! Did Wally leave you any baseball equipment under your Truck Day Tree this year? Hope your work gives you the holiday today. If not, I guess time-and-a-half ain’t so bad.
While the rest of the sporting world will have its eyes on the Super Bowl in a few days, we’re more concerned about the fact that baseball returns in earnest this month. Pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers in eight days, and the full squad follows five days after that. We’re currently eighteen days off from the first game of Spring Training, and the World Baseball Classic will soon follow.
We’re almost there, gang.
Drop whatever you fancy in the comments below. Any plans for The Big Game™ this weekend? Are you gonna be out front of Fenway for Truck Day? What are you most excited for leading up to Opening Day? What is a horse shoe? What does a horse shoe do? Are there any horse socks? Is anybody listening to me?
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Juan Soto #22 of Team Dominican Republic makes a catch against Team Israel during their World Baseball Classic Pool D game at loanDepot park on March 14, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 17: A view of the New Era hat worn by Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on August 17, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
This week could be a fun week for the remaining MLB free agents. With the start of Spring Training less than two weeks away for nearly all of baseball, many notable names remained unsigned. As a result, we could see several signings this week, and teams will continue to fill needs for 2026 and beyond. For the Braves, all eyes are on what starting pitching target they may finally agree to a deal with. Should be a news worthy week ahead.
Also coming up in the near future is the World Baseball Classic. However, the big storyline is more and more players learning they may not have the insurance coverage needed to make it sensible to participate. This includes being such a big for Pureto Rico that they may have to drop from the event.
Los Angeles, CA - August 27: Starting pitcher Cole Irvin #19 of the Baltimore Orioles throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.(Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Add another name to the pitching depth chart this year, as the Dodgers signed left-hander Cole Irvin to a minor league contract that includes a non-roster invitation to spring training, per multiple reports.
Irvin pitched last season for the Doosan Bears in the Korean Baseball Organization, and put up a 4.48 ERA in 28 starts, with 128 strikeouts and 79 walks in 144 2/3 innings. The left-hander pitched parts of six years in the majors with the Phillies, A’s, Orioles, and Twins, with a 4.54 ERA and 4.45 FIP in 134 games, including 93 starts, with 434 strikeouts and 142 walks in 593 innings.
Irvin, who turned 32 on Saturday, was born in Anaheim and went to high school there at Servite. The Phillies drafted the left-hander out of the University of Oregon in the fifth round in 2016.
In other words, Irvin has a puncher’s — or perhaps pitcher’s — chance of pitching for the Dodgers this season. Or at the very least, he could use his spring training to open eyes for another opportunity elsewhere.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 06: Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates his three-run home run with Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of the Kansas City Royals in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium on September 06, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jaylon Thompson gets the word from Vinnie Pasquantino about his new deal at Royals Rally.
“Happy to be here, and I’m glad we got that done,” Pasquantino said. “They didn’t have to do that, and I think the negotiations went pretty well. I’m glad that it’s over. This would’ve been an interesting two-week span here — I think just because of the lack of contact — which is weird for me to not be talking to people. I think it’s good for both sides and I think both sides are taking on some risk. I think both sides understand the value there, and I’m happy we got it done.”
“Vinnie is a premier run producer, a huge part of our team and someone our fans have really connected with,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said in a news release. “We’re proud of the player he’s become, and that he’s earned this contract. We are happy as an organization and for Vinnie personally to have stability moving forward.”
“I know J.J. [has] a couple of objectives,” CEO/chairman John Sherman said Saturday. “I can’t tell you, depending upon the day, whether those opportunities are narrower or wider. If he could add another bat, I think he’d do it. We have a surplus of pitching talent, particularly starting pitching talent, that’s valuable. … I think we have some opportunities.
“By the same token, if this is where we are, the good news is that the pitching talent will be deeper. And I think we feel like we’re going to compete for the division. That we’ll be right in this thing. We had some regression last year, but we also think there are some areas that we’re going to fix. I can’t predict whether he’s done or not. But if the opportunity was there, I think we would still add to our team.”
Even remaining at Kauffman Stadium beyond the current lease that expires after the 2030 season, undesirable as it might be, remains a possibility.
“That’s always a fallback position, we have that option,” Sherman said. “But that’s not something we intend to happen. That would be, from my perspective, kicking the can down the road relative to making sure we settle the Royals into their next generation.”
“Just like in any business, you have to be willing to adapt and be flexible to achieve that ultimate goal that we talked about,” Sherman said. “But I think if you have your druthers, I would love to see us in the heart of the city and cultural part of the city, where we can enhance some other things already going on and make it better. That’s probably a soft spot, but I also have to be open to other ideas to make sure we accomplish that goal.”
“Our plan with them is to stick with our partners, as long as they can convince us that there will not be a risk of an interruption during our season on bringing our games to our fans. That’s the most important thing,” Maxey said. “They have actually done a great job, and I think it’s documented, of expanding our reach and throughout our television territory.
“They’ve also had a successful launch of our direct-to-consumer product, and that has been very well received as things continue to go in that direction and in the way people consume our games. So we would like to stick with them, but we do need to feel very stable that there will be no interruptions during the season, and that decision will come soon. If we do pivot from FanDuel Sports Network, we’ll be going to Major League Baseball.”
Oct 19, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez (28) reacts after striking out against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning during game six of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Happy Monday, everyone! We’ve got some fun little news tidbits to start your week with, all while we count down the days (less than two weeks!) before pitchers and catchers report. Yes, friends, we’re currently in the same month that Spring Training will begin, meaning the offseason is winding down. The hot stove is cooling, and we’re starting to see the version of teams that will likely take the field when the new season begins.
One of the bigger stories for those watching the NL Central specifically is the return of Eugenio Suarez to the NL Central, specifically to the Reds. He’s only on a one-year deal, though, so small comfort for those who don’t want to see him in so many games again.
We’ve got that and more in the links today, so let’s get right into it.
Slugger Eugenio Suárez and the Cincinnati Reds are in agreement on a one-year, $15 million contract that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, sources tell ESPN. The best bat left on the market goes to Cincinnati, where he's expected to get most of his at-bats at DH.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - JUNE 22: Leonardo Bernal #44 of the Springfield Cardinals celebrates after the game between the Corpus Christi Hooks and the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field on Sunday, June 22, 2025 in Springfield, Missouri. (Photo by Shanna Stafford/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
I saw a little bit of surprise that Leonardo Bernal, voted as the sixth best prospect in the system, wasn’t voted in the top 5. I am not surprised. Doing this for three years, catchers usually end up lower than I expect, not higher. Bernal was ranked 8th last season and that definitely surprised me (I had him 5th). I can’t think of an instance where a catcher outkicked their coverage in the way that, say, Victor Scott did when he was voted 2nd. It just doesn’t happen. Catchers are not trusted by this voting bloc. And yes, I know Rainiel Rodriguez was voted 3rd, however I’m talking relative to expectations and 3rd in the system is pretty much in line with what national publications think. And I think a good many of us don’t think he will actually be a catcher. That leaves the current list at:
JJ Wetherholt
Liam Doyle
Rainiel Rodriguez
Quinn Mathews
Joshua Baez
Leonardo Bernal
Comparable Player Corner
Once again, here is a very immediately relevant comparable player poll. I won’t say that the winner will be on the next vote, but that whomever wins will determine who gets added next. That’s because one of these players has already been in this feature a couple times. Once the voting has established what you, the readers, think of a player, I can learn more information about the complete unknown player I am comparing him to.
Yhoiker Fajardo is the complete unknown. I didn’t really know when to add him and I’d like a little more information first. Acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the package for Willson Contreras, Fajardo will be 19 heading into the 2026 season. He pitched part of the season in the complex league and part of the season in Low A and he did well at both, striking out over 27% of hitters, walking 9% and getting groundballs over 50% of the time at both levels. Presumably he will be in High A.
Tanner Franklin was last year’s 72nd overall pick out of Tennessee. On a stacked Tennessee team, he was relegated to the bullpen, striking out 32% of hitters and walking just 5.5%. With an MLB ready fastball, the Cardinals will attempt to transition him to starting. He pitched at both Low A and High A last season, although only 6 innings in 3 appearances. He will be 22 next season and I’m guessing also at High A.
This will be the last time Franklin is in this section. I just really liked this comparison. Both should be at the same level and probably for just about the entire season, due to Fajardo’s age and Franklin needing to establish a starter’s workload. Franklin has better stuff and a better floor, but threw 30 less innings than Fajardo and is three years older. They are similar in terms of future value, but represent different types of prospects philosophically.
I thought it was about time to add Yairo Padilla, the teenage prospect who got very overshadowed by Rainiel Rodriguez. Who could have known Rodriguez would explode in his stateside debut? Anyway, last year Yairo Padilla finished 15th, which is both why I’m adding him now and also why he’s being added this late.
This might be a good time to ask about a few players I have no intention of ever adding to the vote who did make last year’s top 20 since Padilla is one of the last players. Last year’s #13 player, Sem Robberse, got DFA’d and is going to miss most of the 2026 season. Last year’s #14 player, Matt Koperniak, is now 28, got DFA’d and is coming off a poor season. #17 prospect Zack Showalter did not build off his 2024, suffered a few more injury problems, and could not throw strikes when he did pitch. #20 (or #21, the voting results have been lost) prospect Max Rajcic was bad in AAA and barely made the list.
Those seem straightforward. I also kind of think #16 prospect Darlin Saladin doesn’t need to go in the voting either. He’s more borderline than the above, but I feel like he was only on the top 20 because his stats made it impossible to not include him, and then he pitched worse at a level it seemed like he already conquered. The scouting on his pitches was never that great, so I’m not sure what the hook would be to get him on a top 20 now. Let me know if I’m right about these players. I’m asking so that I don’t have to include them on this section either for the record.
Scouting (FG): 30/45 Hit, 35/50 Game Power, 50/55 Raw Power, 40/40 Speed, 40/45 Fielding
I think Baez is bound to get overlooked in this ranking, because it does not seem like recent trade acquisitions do not do particularly well in the voting – fans haven’t had a chance to attach themselves to them yet. On top of that, Baez did not play particularly well as a Cardinal, although he did finish strong. But Baez can’t legally drink for a few more weeks, had a fairly successful season at High A and if he doesn’t start the year in AA, he’ll be there soon. The scouting doesn’t love his approach, although it’s not really seen in his stats yet, but the Cardinals’ success with Alec Burleson does give me some hope with Baez.
I could say the same thing for Clarke. The Cardinals just got Clarke, so fans do not yet have an attachment to him. One could argue that leads to a more objective view of a player, but one could also argue their attachment to other prospects causes them to overrate them and thus put them above the “objective” prospect. In either case, Clarke had sort of a Tink Hence season, where he didn’t remotely convince you he’s more likely to avoid his downside, but he still pitched good enough to believe in the possibility of his upside. That’s a hard player to rank honestly.
Scouting: 35/40 Hit, 40/45 Game Power, 50/50 Raw Power, 20/20 Speed, 60/70 Fielding
I don’t know where I stand on Crooks. I reflexively defend players who seem to drop when I’m not really sure why. Or I don’t like the reasons. Interestingly, I think I disagree with the scouting on Crooks by Fangraphs, although it might lead to the same place. I am a little skeptical of their defensive scouting, but at the same time, they might be lower on his offense than I’d predict too. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could manage a 90 wRC+ or so, and I think a 40 hit tool with below average power describes a worse hitter than that.
One thing about Hence that might not quite come across if you just look at last season is that I think he’s absolutely ready for AAA. If you look at his 2024 season, I don’t see how you wouldn’t come to that conclusion. He didn’t pitch in AAA last year for health reasons and that’s it. He never quite got past the rehab status. He spent most of his season working his way up to AA, struck out 8 to 1 BB in 4.1 IP where he didn’t allow a hit. He then got rocked in his next start and made just one more start after that where he was removed after just 11 batters. I imagine they wanted him to throw 5 innings before they promoted him and it never happened. Of course, Hence isn’t on the list yet because of health, so that isn’t exactly comforting.
As more of a stat follower than someone who scouts players or even looks at scouting reports of players, I am rather surprised how Fangraphs rates his pitches. If forced to guess, I would have predicted his secondaries were good, but his fastball was below average. It’s almost the opposite. I don’t know if this is accurate of course. But he’s a fastball/slider pitcher who needs a third pitch – according to this person’s opinion of course. Certainly, these scouting numbers for his pitches suggest an easy transition to the bullpen at the least.
It is easy enough to see why Hjerpe is still making top 20 lists despite having the durability of Mark Prior. And this is only kind of a joke – the mechanics of a Carter Capps. He has the stuff to start. Look at that scouting. Two above average pitches, including a strong putaway pitch, and two other average pitches (or we hope in the case of the cutter). That’ll play. We just need Cooper Hjerpe to actually play.
2026 will prove to be an important year for Mautz. I feel like we’ve seen a few of the underwhelming scouting starters who nonetheless manage to pitch well reach AAA and just hit a roadblock. I will say that usually that type of pitcher doesn’t strike out 28.6% of batters in AA however. That gives me more hope that he either has better stuff than what the scouting says or that he’s better at utilizing and knowing his stuff than pitchers in the past. Either way, it’s hard to argue with his results.
Speaking of players with underwhelming scouting whose stats force you to pay attention to them, welcome to the poster child. I don’t actually have scouting on Ortiz, that’s how under the radar he was last year. He was a 16th round pick back in 2024, so it’s hard to blame the scouts. The Cardinals would have drafted him higher if they knew this 2025 was in him. They probably saw something in him that other teams didn’t certainly, but it’d be wild to wait 16 rounds – which is well past the point where you expect anything from your draft picks – and you just gambled correctly that nobody would pick him.
I honestly did not know how long I could or should wait to put Padilla into the voting. The main reason was that I didn’t know how much success at a rookie league improved a player’s stock in these type of rankings. And that goes for me and where I’ll rank him personally. Padilla was not in my top 20 because I don’t trust the DSL. He will be in my top 20 this year. Where, I have no idea at the moment. Because he certainly took a big step in showing he could succeed in the states – Jonathan Mejia very much failed this test for example. I will be curious if the Cardinals put him in Low A to begin the 2026 season. It will tell us a lot.
Roby had Tommy John surgery in July of 2025, so his ability to pitch next year is a little more in question than Hjerpe. But he pitched well last year, re-establishing himself as a prospect. Without the injury, I wonder how high he would be selected. I also feel that Roby was an example of a prospect that didn’t get as much love because he was a deadline acquisition so there was less attachment. However, fans have gotten familiar with him for now two and half seasons, so he’s probably not harmed by this effect anymore.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 23: Casey Mize #12 (L) and Reese Olson #45 of the Detroit Tigers look on from the dugout during the game against the San Diego Padres at Comerica Park on July 23, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Padres 3 to 1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Picking the best starter on the Detroit Tigers roster is easy. There’s a cliff looming beyond the 2026 season when Tarik Skubal will presumably be gone to greener pastures, but for one more season the Tigers have their ace leading the way. Beyond him the question is a lot tougher.
Reese Olson continues to post the best performance by most statistical measures, but he’s also dealt with significant shoulder injuries both of the past two seasons. That makes it hard to depend on him to give the Tigers a strong 140-150 innings this year. He controls contact well and racks up a solid share of strikeouts, but he can be a little too walk prone as well. But you’re not providing value on the injured list so it’s a bit of a roll of the dice guessing how much he’ll give the Tigers in 2026.
Jack Flaherty is still punching out the most hitters, but his walk rates are a bit high and he sometimes has trouble with home runs. There are stretches where he looks great and stretches where he’s getting knocked out early, but it added up to above average performance but certainly a real drop off from his 2024 resurgent campaign.
Casey Mize controls contact and doesn’t issue many walks, but the upgraded fastball since Tommy John surgery and various attempts to dial in his splitter haven’t led him to the promised land of higher strikeout rates. Mize did strike out 22.2 percent of hitters faced in 2025, which is his first time over 20 percent for a season. However, he had his own trouble with home runs at points throughout the season.
Beyond them there’s a group with Troy Melton and Drew Anderson competing for the last rotation spot, and a host of guys from Keider Montero on down to provide depth along the way.
Maybe the Tigers still have another signing in them once Skubal’s arbitration case is resolved, but right now who is your pick for second most valuable starter on the roster in 2026?
Since the season ended, the McCovey Chronicles staff have been doing player reviews that go over each member of the San Francisco Giants’ 2025 season. Today, I’m going to continue our community reviews where we ask you all to weigh in on how you feel like each player did this year and what your favorite highlights were.
Today, we’re going to take a look at Robbie Ray. Steven wrote a fantastic review earlier this offseason, which I would encourage everyone to revisit. These fine folks do the hard-hitting analysis, so as usual I’m going with the vibes.
Much like the 2025 San Francisco Giants, the vibes were great! (Until they weren’t.) Ray came into the 2025 season raring to go after having previous seasons shortened due to injury. He finished the 2025 season with 2.8 bWAR, with a 3.65 ERA, 3.93 FIP, with 186 strikeouts to (a league-leading) 73 walks in 182.1 innings pitched over 32 starts.
Much like the team, he started off the season strong, with the team winning his first nine consecutive starts. Ray even earned himself an All Star appearance. But things went downhill after the break, particularly in the last month or so where he was averaging roughly 4.6 runs allowed.
That said, he was coming off of two shortened seasons. So I’m hopeful that we won’t see the same thing this season.
With all of that said, I’m giving Ray an A- for 2025. Because I’m grading on a curve, and he was absolutely one of the bright spots of the season.
How did you feel about Robbie Ray’s 2025 season? And what were your favorite highlights?
