Before Pete Fatse can try to improve the Phillies’ offense, he has to understand it.
The team’s new hitting coach has been on the job less than a week. There’s a lot to take in.
“I’m kind of drinking through a fire hose right now with information,” he said during an introductory Zoom session with reporters Friday.
Fatse was Boston’s hitting coach from 2022 until being let go in April as part of a major staff purge that included manager Alex Cora. He won’t have to dig too deep to see some of the Phillies’ issues.
The team’s offense declined across the board in 2026. It went from eighth in the majors in runs per game (4.80) in 2025 to 19th (4.40), from third in batting average (.258) to 21st (.240) and fourth in on-base percentage (.328) to 23rd (.312). The Phils plummeted from fourth in OPS (.759) to 22nd (.707).
There are many ways to evaluate an offense and Fatse can dig deep into the granular. In the big picture, he’ll work toward raising that OPS.
“It’s a simple concept,” he said. “Teams that are putting themselves on base will be in position to score more.”
Poor plate discipline was at the root of many of the Phillies’ offensive woes in 2026. Phillies hitters ranked 27th in the majors with a 32.6 chase percentage. They got themselves out a lot.
Hitting coaches are positive thinkers.
Where most people see a problem with the Phillies’ plate discipline, Fatse sees …
“An opportunity, for sure,” he said. “It’s one of the things throughout my career that I’ve always paid attention to.
“Every offense is subject to what you swing at, especially before two strikes. How do you prioritize what parts of the zone you want to attack and having a game plan for that while ultimately being agile when the game tells you something else is needed.
“So, it’s working through that thought process. We work through different ways to practice it and train it. Sometimes, it’s a mindset, an execution thing. Ultimately, you start to figure out where different players are because it is so individual at times. You (learn) what messaging is best suited for each guy.”
Fatse, 39, replaces Kevin Long.
Trea Turner will be one of Fatse’s biggest projects. On the night the Phillies’ short postseason run ended in Atlanta, Turner raised his hand and said he was the reason for the team’s overall decline in offense.
Turner won the National League batting title at .304 in 2025. He hit .242 in 2026 and led the majors in outs made. His chase rate was 34.6 percent. His OPS plummeted from .812 to .675. His strikeout rate went from 16.7 percent to 21 percent.
Turner’s defense at shortstop was also poor in 2026 and he must improve it – quickly – or face a position change in 2027. In addition to changing hitting coaches for 2027, the Phillies will have a new infield coach as Carlos Mendoza replaces Bobby Dickerson.
Fatse has already communicated with Turner via text. A personal meeting could come in November, before baseball’s expected lockout.
“Trea is a tremendous, dynamic talent,” Fatse said. “Getting to understand his priorities and building off his strengths is important to me.”
Relationships in general are important to Fatse. They are to all coaches. Without a strong two-way relationship between a player and a coach, messages and lessons go undelivered. Before becoming Boston’s top hitting coach, Fatse was an assistant with the Red Sox. He overlapped with Kyle Schwarber when the slugger was in Boston in 2021. Fatse plans to communicate with all Phillies hitters in the weeks to come.
“You have to earn trust,” he said. “You have to understand why players do what they do. You can study video. You can dive into advanced analytical information and paint a picture, but ‘the why’ is most important to me as a coach. You have to understand and appreciate why someone does things before you can jump in and make an assumption. Hitting is always a collaboration with the player.”
Fatse played minor-league ball in the Milwaukee organization. Like most hitting coaches of this era, he has a strong understanding of analytics and the use of data. Before hiring Fatse, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said he was looking for someone who could use contemporary analytics and communicate the information efficiently to players.
After being let go by Boston in April, Fatse worked as a consultant with Tampa Bay’s analytics/hitting group. The Rays lost to Milwaukee in the World Series. As an opponent, Fatse was quite impressed with the Brewers’ offensive “tenacity and the way they grinded at-bats.”
The goal is to bring some of that to the Phillies. Time will tell if it happens.
Jul 28, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering (50) talks with pitching coach Caleb Cotham (65) against the Miami Marlins in the eighth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
There is an argument that Orion Kerkering was considered a pillar of the team’s future when he arrived in the major leagues. His electric stuff and how it messed with hitters had a deserved reputation that preceded that arrival. You probably remember his debut with the team, how emotional his father was, how feeble he made some Mets hitters look.
Amazing how one play can lead to a meltdown that can lead to open questions about the player and his future with the organization.
The crazy thing about Kerkering? It’s all still there for him to be a really good reliever in the major leagues. He’s still got some peripherals stuff that is great – he doesn’t allow much hard contact, teams don’t really barrel him up often, his fastball still has some giddy-up on it.
The building blocks are still there for him to be more effective.
What went wrong
He just completely fell apart.
There was hope that he had put away his colossal error in the 2025 NLDS behind him and for the start of the season, it looked like he did. On July 28, he had an ERA below three (2.61) and was still striking out more batters than walking them. He had only given up three home runs in 41 1/3 innings to that point, so he was still counted on as a reliable bullpen arm for the Phillies. Then he gave up four runs in 2/3 of an inning on July 31 and the bottom dropped out. Over the next 16 2/3 innings, Kerkering allowed 23 runs, two home runs and saw his walk rate jump.
He just stopped throwing strikes.
Final grade: F
It’s kind of hard to comprehend how much Kerkering dropped off in 2026. The best way to look at it is through the situations he was used in. As you can see from above, Kerkering appeared in 62 games. In the first 58, the average leverage index for his appearances (aLI) was 1.31. The team had enough trust in him that they were putting him into fairly substantial parts of the game. In his final four appearances in the big leagues (granted, a HUGE difference in sample size), the same number was 0.38. They simply did not think he was trustworthy enough to put him into spots where they needed outs. That’s due to the ineffectiveness he showed when actually on the mound.
That gives him a failing grade for the year. When the team had bullpen issues and needed someone to step up and take a critical role behind Jhoan Duran, Kerkering crumbled. They didn’t even think enough of him to keep him in low leverage spots. He simply had to go.
It’s a continuation from the end of 2025 where he probably never should have been with the Phillies in the first place. Instead, the team lingered with him far too long and it cost them games.
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1977: Mickey Rivers #17 of the New York Yankees runs the bases during an Major League Baseball game circa 1977 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Rivers played for the Yankees from 1976-79. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Decades before Yankees fan favorites like Bernie Williams and Brett Gardner patrolled center field, the team featured another player who could really move: Mickey Rivers. He only played three and a half seasons with the Yankees, but “Mick the Quick” instantly became a fan favorite for his solid production as the leadoff hitter for three American League pennant-winning squads and two World Series champions.
John Milton “Mickey” Rivers Born: October 30, 1948 (Miami, FL) Yankees Tenure: 1976-79
Somewhat amusingly, Rivers actually got the nickname “Mickey” for his resemblance to his Aunt Mickey. He developed incredible speed in his youth with the Northwestern High School Bulls in Miami, lettering in baseball, track, football, and basketball before graduating from there in ‘67. Rivers moved on to Miami Dade College for a couple seasons, coincidentally playing alongside future Yankees teammate Bucky Dent. He became one of the finest Junior College players in history, later being named in 1999 to the National Junior College All-Century Team and the Florida Community College All-Time team.
Major League Baseball did multiple drafts per year at this time, and Rivers was drafted out of college four separate times from January of ’68 through June of ’69 by the White Sox, Mets, Senators, and ultimately, the Braves. Rivers held out long enough to play for the team closest to home, but it would not last. After hitting .307/.464/.511 with 31 steals in 67 games on the Pioneer League’s Magic Valley Cowboys, Rivers was traded for the first of three times in his career. Atlanta sought pitching help down the stretch as they sought to clinch their first division title since the move from Milwaukee in ’66, so the 20-year-old was off to Anaheim and the California Angels along with pitching prospect Clint Compton in a September 8th deal for veteran knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm and Bob Priddy.
Rivers spent the offseason with the Puerto Rican Winter League’s Santurce Crabbers, then jumped to Double-A El Paso at the start of the ‘70 season. He dominated the Texas League with a .343/.426/.537 triple slash, impressing the Angels enough to earn a promotion by the end of the season to the majors at age 21. Rivers split parts of the next three seasons between Salt Lake City and the Angels, clearly outclassing his peers in Triple-A, but never impressing any of the three managers to skipper the Angels from ‘71-‘73. In the final month of ‘73 though, he hit .349/.391/.457 in 141 plate appearances with eight stolen bases in 30 games. Manager Bobby Winkles’ eyes were finally opened to Rivers, and he spent all of ‘74 in the majors.
Across his first two full seasons, Rivers hit .285/.335/.373 with a 109 OPS+ and 6.8 rWAR. However, the leadoff hitter’s breakneck speed is what really made him stand out–he led the AL in triples with 11 in 118 games in ‘74, then led the majors in triple with 13 in ‘75. He finished sixth in the AL in steals in ‘74 with 30 before far surpassing that with a league-high and career-high 70 in ‘75 — still the Halos’ all-time record. Outside of Bert Campaneris and Luis Aparicio, the stolen base had become a lost art in the AL since the end of the Deadball Era; Rivers was only the second AL player to notch 70 steals in a 60-year stretch dating back to Ty Cobb’s 96 in 1915.
#17 put up 70!
Angels outfielder Mickey Rivers set the club’s single-season record for stolen bases in 1975. #BHMpic.twitter.com/TNEC1N8oPa
Yankees team president and general manager Gabe Paul had a team that contended in ’75, but could not catch up to the division-winning Red Sox. Thanks to assistant and future Hall of Fame GM Pat Gillick, Paul was able to turn the overachievers on his ’75 squad into multiple players through trades. On December 11th, he pulled off two trades that would make a huge impact on Billy Martin’s team. Starter Doc Medich was sent to the Pirates for pitchers Ken Brett and Dock Ellis in addition to unheralded second baseman Willie Randolph, and 30/30 outfielder Bobby Bonds was dealt to the Angels for Rivers and starter Ed Figueroa. Bonds impressed the Yankees in his only season with them following the controversial Bobby Murcer-for-Bobby Bonds deal, but management expressed concerns over Bonds’ alcoholism. Thus, the Yankees had their third All-Star-caliber center fielder in three years.
Rivers had actually never been named to the Midsummer Classic before, but a strong .310/.322/.448 first half with 20 doubles and 25 stolen bases earned him the only All-Star selection of his career. He proved to be the igniter the Yankees needed at the top of the batting order that year, and while he did not steal nearly as many bases as he did in ‘75, his 43 steals in 50 attempts led to a league-best 86-percent stolen base rate. Rivers also played better defense than he ever had before in his career, leading to a 6.3 rWAR season in total (fifth in the AL). He finished third in AL MVP voting for his outstanding efforts and the Yankees won the AL East to clinch their first playoff berth in 12 years. The Yankees actually voted Rivers team MVP over his teammate and captain, Thurman Munson, despite the fact that the latter was the winner of the AL MVP. The long wait plagued by horrid baseball in wake of the Stengel/Houk dynasty years was over.
The Yankees faced the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS, who were making the first playoff appearance in franchise history. Rivers had a multi-hit game in the opener, and both times, the Yankees’ offense brought him home; they won 4-1. The Royals cooled him off in the next three games, holding him to two singles and a walk in 14 plate appearances, helping them knot the series and bring it to a decisive Game 5. Rivers came up big in this must-win game, going 4-for-5 with a triple with three runs scored out of the Yankees’ seven. When cleanup hitter Chris Chambliss’ solo homer off Mark Littell sailed over the wall in the bottom of the ninth, bedlam erupted. The Yankees were going to the World Series and Rivers was off to his first Fall Classic.
The World Series was a huge letdown from the exciting ALCS. The Cincinnati Reds’ dominant “Big Red Machine” destroyed the Yankees in a four-game sweep. The fact that Reds pitchers limited Rivers to just a trio of hits in 18 plate appearances was crucial to their victory. During this time, Rivers’ off-the-field problems really started to crop up. He would gamble away his paycheck almost immediately after receiving it, and his wife Mary even requested that George Steinbrenner mail his checks directly to her. In the middle of the World Series, she took her wrath out on Rivers in the Yankees’ parking lot, where she literally played bumper cars. It was a terrible distraction to the team and drove Steinbrenner nuts.
On the plus side, Rivers had a season nearly as great as his ’76 in ’77, accompanied by another stellar performance in the ALCS against Kansas City. He pummeled Royals pitching for nine hits and a .391 average as the Yankees proceeded to their second consecutive World Series.
Rivers slumped again to a .222/.222/.296 triple slash against the Dodgers, but he did have a defensive highlight in throwing Steve Garvey out at the plate in the opener. The Yankees prevailed to win it all behind World Series MVP Reggie Jackson. Rivers and Jackson had an interesting dynamic together. Jackson told reporters one time that Rivers should learn how to read and write, to which Rivers replied, “You’d better stop readin’ and writing’ and start hittin’!” On another occasion, Jackson told reporters that he had an IQ of 160, and Rivers quipped back, “Out of what, a thousand?”
Rivers slumped to slightly below league average offensively in ‘78, especially struggling as the Yankees fell 14.5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East. In the second half though, he recovered with an improved .270/.309/.410 triple slash, featuring 19 doubles and 15 steals. He was even better in the playoffs when the Yankees passed the Red Sox to capture the AL East in a one-game playoff. Rivers had his finest overall postseason to date, batting .379/.419/.379 in nine games, finally complementing another superb ALCS (.455/.538/.455 in four games) with a solid World Series against the Dodgers. Rivers was a champion for the second time in his career.
Rivers was off to another mediocre start in ’79 (98 OPS+), and on August 1st, the Yankees dealt away their embattled center fielder to the Texas Rangers in an eight-player deal to reacquire Oscar Gamble. He was still a decent player, but the Yankees had grown tired of his off-the-field problems, and they longed to bring Rivers’ former teammate Gamble back after letting him go following his ’76 season. The deal worked out for both teams, as Gamble played five and a half more years in New York with a 143 OPS+ (albeit somewhat part-time), and Rivers set the Rangers’ single-season record for hits in 1980 with 210, a mark that lasted for 35 years until Michael Young broke it with 221 in 2005. Texas baseball writers selected him as the Rangers’ Player of the Year in ’80.
Rivers hit .303/.327/.397 over the next five and a half seasons with the Rangers, but his caliber of play precipitously fell after his age-32 season in ‘81. His amusing line about season goals of “hitting .300, scoring 100 runs, and staying injury-prone,” was only 33 percent fulfilled … by the last “goal.” His speed declined, as he only stole 48 bases throughout his Texas career, and he played only 115 games from ‘82-‘83. After a modest comeback to a 93 OPS+ in 102 games in ‘84, he called it quits at age 35. Rivers retired as a .295/.327/.397 hitting in 1,468 games over 15 seasons with 267 stolen bases and 32.3 rWAR to his name.
Since retiring, Rivers returned home to Florida, where he brought his interest of racehorses to a healthier state, preferring to raise them rather than gamble away his earnings on them. He’s been a constant presence at Old Timers’ Day since ‘88 (when he amusingly only 39), and he was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in ‘95. Bill James ranked Rivers the 59th-greatest center fielder in MLB history in his 2002 Historical Baseball Abstract. We placed him 92nd on our most recent edition of the top Yankees in franchise history.
Rivers had quite the up-and-down Yankees tenure, but throughout it all, he was a crucial addition to the Yankees’ lineup. Without their sparkplug, it’s unclear whether or not the Yankees could have reached the great heights as back-to-back champions in the late-‘70s.
Here’s hoping that the 1978 champion “Mick the Quick” has an appropriately wonderful 78th birthday!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
Trent Thornton is almost the definition of “fungible reliever.”
After a few middling years in Toronto, Thornton wound up traded to the Mariners near the deadline in 2023. There, he produced a very good second half and another solid year in 2024 before suffering an Achilles injury in 2025, which had him miss the last two months of that season.
He left the Mariners as a free agent after the 2025 season and the Cubs signed him last offseason to a one-year, $1 million deal. He was still rehabbing from the Achilles injury as the 2026 season began, so his first MLB appearance for the Cubs wasn’t until early May.
And that was when he began to put up solid outing after solid outing. Every now and then he’d have a clunker, but in 41 appearances through Aug. 26, Thornton posted a 2.32 ERA and 1.055 WHIP, with only four home runs allowed in 42.2 innings.
Then came a disastrous game Aug. 28 against the Reds, in which he gave up five runs and coughed up a lead. Two home runs were hit off him while he recorded only two outs.
Overall, Thornton’s numbers were a little bit better than he pitched in Seattle in 2024: 3.35 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 0.7 bWAR. He didn’t strike out many — just a 15.8 percent K rate.
That might be the reason to pass on keeping Thornton. As we all know, the Cubs bullpen needs guys who can throw 98+, like so many other teams have, and Thornton, who turned 33 in September, isn’t likely to be that guy. He wouldn’t be expensive; with that $1 million deal for 2025, it probably wouldn’t cost that much more to keep him. But I think I’d pass.
That concludes this series on the 17 Cubs who are either free agents or who have various forms of options for 2027. Next week I’ll begin a series on free agents the team should be interested in.
Milwaukee Brewers take batting practice before a National League Championship Series game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Brewers threw it back on the way to their first World Series title.
Before every game, the Brewers indulged in cigarettes while they took batting practice, hearkening back to the baseball days of yore in which players were synonymous with tobacco usage.
“You walk by the cage and see the cigs lit,” outfielder Christian Yelich told ESPN, “and you’re like, the boys are ready to rock.”
Milwaukee Brewers take batting practice before a National League Championship Series game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
It’s not uncommon to see players celebrating a massive win with cigars in the middle of their champagne-and-beer-fueled clubhouse parties, though cigarettes are seemingly making a comeback in the big leagues. Several Guardians players were spotted enjoying darts after winning the AL Central last season,
This time around, the Brewers used them as “rally heaters,” as a way to get up for big games.
It worked.
Milwaukee entered the 2026 postseason as MLB’s top seed on the strength of a 103-59 record — one of two teams to break the century mark — and ran roughshod through their playoff foes, compiling an 11-2 mark against the Padres (3-1), Dodgers (4-0) and Rays (4-1).
Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers (9) looks on during batting practice before game five of the 2026 World Series. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In the NL Division series against San Diego, they batted .250 with a .688 OPS, and, much like the tips of their cigarettes, were just heating up.
Their sweep of the Dodgers came with a .250/.445/.792 slash line and 2.25 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. Against the Rays, with everything on the line, they mashed to the tune of .280/.396/745.
Players celebrated with them, too. Jake Bauers, Sal Frelick and Brandon Woodruff were caught taking drags following their World Series-clinching 4-1 win over the Rays.
Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, every MLB team has “at least one player who relishes a dart now and again,” even after baseball banned smokeless tobacco as part of the 2016 collective bargaining agreement.
With baseball about to enter what promises to be a lengthy shutdown during the latest round of CBA talks, the Brewers have time to enjoy some extra puffs.
The 2026 MLB season is officially over after the Milwaukee Brewers were crowned World Series champions on Wednesday night. That would usually begin our transition into an offseason of 40-man roster decisions, free agent signings, trade rumors leading into spring training. However, this will not be a typical offseason.
Instead, the black cloud lingering over this offseason is an expiring collective bargaining agreement and a potential lockout over the discrepancies between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association over the need for, and implementation of, a salary cap and floor system. As a result, the normal process of projecting free agent deals and trade targets has been replaced with wondering how many games of the 2027 season might be missed and what the future salary structure of the league will look like.
Yet, we do still have an MLB offseason to navigate, and we're here to give you the key dates you need to have circled as we head into an uncertain few months.
Before diving into the biggest questions surrounding an uncertain MLB offseason, here's a quick look at the important dates and deadlines to know for 2026-27.
October 29: Players become free agents, trades once again allowed for players on 40-man rosters
November 1–17: Major MLB awards announced, including Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and MVP
November 2: Deadline for teams to exercise contract options, extend qualifying offers
November 2 at 5 p.m. ET: MLB free agents can begin signing with other teams
November 10-12: General Manager Meetings
November 17: Deadline for players to accept or reject qualifying offers
November 17: Deadline to protect eligible players from the Rule 5 Draft
November 17-19: MLB Owners Meetings
November 20: Non-tender deadline
December 1: Current MLB collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET
December 2: Potential lockout begins
February 19, 2027: Scheduled start of MLB spring training games (subject to CBA negotiations)
When will we know if there is an MLB lockout?
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 1st. If there has not been an agreement by then, team executives, coaches, training staff, everybody will be prohibited from communicating with any player on the 40-man roster. Yes, that does mean that minor leaguers not on the 40-man roster would be able to have a normal offseason and even to begin their minor league season on time.
At this rate, it seems all but certain that there will be a work stoppage and a lockout on December 2. The question is how long that lockout might last and whether it will impact the 2027 regular season.
What can happen before a potential MLB lockout?
Anything. Teams are free to make any normal moves they would during an offseason. In fact, the Red Sox and Athletics already made a trade on Thursday. It wasn't a major trade, but it was part of the typical roster clean-up that we see each MLB offseason.
All MLB teams have five days from the end of the World Series to finalize their 40-man roster. Since there is no 60-day injured list in the off-season, that means every team will need to activate all the players who ended the season on the 60-day injured list and add them to the 40-man roster. They will then need to either waive, designate for assignment, or trade any remaining players until that total sits at 40 players. Players who are waived or designated for assignment can choose to stay in the organization at Triple-A if they clear waivers, or they can become free agents. This is why Boston traded Nate Eaton, who was on the 40-man roster, to the Athletics for a low-level minor league pitcher. You'll see a bunch of teams make similar moves over the weekend.
When does 2026-27 MLB Free Agency start?
Technically, it already has. After the World Series ends, MLB teams have five days to negotiate with their own free agents. After that five-day period ends, players are allowed to sign with any team. That means that Monday will be the final day teams can negotiate with their own free agents. Starting at 5 p.m. ET on Monday, players can begin signing with other teams.
Since players and teams have no idea what the MLB's salary structure and economic model will be in the new CBA, we should expect a flurry of signings in the month of November. The last time the CBA expired, in December 2021, there were plenty of moves before the deadline because players wanted to have financial security and teams wanted to have a roster in place just in case the negotiations lasted right up until the beginning of the season. Also, teams that sign players early in November can communicate with them for an entire month, bring them to their facilities, and create offseason training/workout plans before they are forced to go dark by the lockout.
What is the qualifying offer this season?
Teams can extend a qualifying offer to a player within the same five-day deadline that they can negotiate with their own free agents. The qualifying offer for 2027 is a one-year, $23.15 million deal.
How long is the 2026-27 MLB Offseason?
Unfortunately, there is no answer to that question this season. As of now, 2027 MLB Spring Training is officially set to begin games on February 19, with players reporting earlier that month. However, none of that will happen until a new CBA has been agreed upon. Back in 2021-22, there was a lockout in the offseason but no regular season games were missed. Perhaps that's the case again this year.
This also means the annual Winter Meetings, which are set to be held in December, will surely be canceled. Instead, executives from all 30 teams will meet in Las Vegas in the middle of November (November 10-12) to negotiate the CBA in person as well as feel out other teams' interest in trades.
What will happen to the Rule 5 Draft?
This part is less clear. The Rule 5 Draft is centered around a rule that players who signed with a team at 18 years old or younger must be added to the 40-man roster within five seasons of signing. Players who are signed at 19 years old or older need to be added within four years. If they are not, they are eligible to be selected by any other organization in the Rule 5 Draft. They must then remain on the active MLB roster (or the injured list) for the entirety of the season or be offered back to their original team. Teams must add players to the 40-man roster by November 17 to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft.
That draft is usually held during the Winter Meetings, and if those are canceled, it would stand to reason that the Rule 5 Draft might be too, as it was in 2021. There is a minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft, and that would still proceed.
When are 2026 MLB Awards announced?
November 1: Rawlings Gold Glove Awards
November 6: Platinum Glove Awards
November 9: BBWAA Rookie of the Year Awards
November 10: BBWAA Manager of the Year Awards
November 11: BBWAA Cy Young Awards
November 11: All-MLB Teams, Reliever of the Year Awards, Comeback Player of the Year Awards, and Outstanding Designated Hitter Awards
November 12: BBWAA MVP Awards
November 17: Silver Slugger Awards
Why is the MLB set to face a lockout?
This is a more nuanced question, and The Athletic has a great breakdown of it here. The short answer is that the owners want a salary cap and floor with the argument of creating more parity. Owners are faced with rising costs of player salaries and operations, while local media money is no longer in such large supply in all markets, and they want to ensure their enterprises can stay profitable, which is made easier when you can prevent salaries from getting too large.
As a result, MLB wants teams to be limited to a $245.3 million payroll in 2027, with a minimum of $154.1 million. That would also require teams to meet a multi-year "floor" salary that would be assigned for each season. Many teams this season, including the Guardians, who made it to the ALCS, were below what the salary floor would be, while teams like the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, etc. were all above the top of the cap.
The issue is that we just saw the smallest market team in the entire league win the World Series, which hurts the argument for increased parity. Additionally, the proposed cap would also deliver less overall money to players than they make today. It would also create a fixed set of money that can be distributed to the players that would be predefined and unchanged even if the labor market changes. There would be new limits on the lengths of contracts and the value of contracts, and many players are worried that star players would still make a sizable amount of money, and the result would be that the vast majority of players in the league would have to take a significant salary hit.
As it stands now, the two sides are extremely far apart, and a deal doesn't seem likely by the December 1 deadline. However, MLB has not missed regular season games due to a work stoppage since the 1994-95 strike. In 2022, games were rescheduled when Opening Day was moved from March 31 to April 7, but no games were missed. When games are missed, both the players and owners lose money, and since the owners and the league are hoping to negotiate new TV rights deals after the CBA is agreed to, it would be detrimental to them to take current games away from these TV stations with a lockout.
So, could we miss games in the 2027 regular season? Yes, but both sides have plenty of reasons to avoid having that happen.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 12: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers warms up on deck during the first inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 12, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, LSB.
Evan Grant writes that the Rangers will likely wait out labor negotiations before attempting to fill the holes on their roster, which Grant calls a dangerous path.
Some Brewers players had an extraordinary celebration after Milwaukee won the 2026 World Series.
Some Brewers players had an extraordinary celebration after Milwaukee won the 2026 World Series.
Brewers third baseman David Hamilton and his wife Mallory Hamilton announced they’re expecting a baby — as well as Brewers pitcher Dustin May and his wife Amelia May after Milwaukee’s 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in a clinching Game 5.
Both couples shared adorable infant onesies while celebrating at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Brewers third baseman David Hamilton and his wife Mallory Hamilton announced they’re expecting a baby after Milwaukee’s 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 to win the 2026 World Series on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Instagram/Mallory Hamilton
“Daddy’s good luck charm & cherry on top of this amazing season,” Mallory wrote, including a snapshot of the pair in an Instagram post. “What a year!!!! WORLD SERIES CHAMPS BABYYYYYY. Baby Hamilton 2027 #dadstrength.”
David and Mallory were married in January after getting engaged in early 2025 when he was with the Red Rox.
The Brewers selected David in the eighth round, with the 253rd overall selection, of the 2019 MLB Draft, before trading him to Boston in a deal for outfielder Hunter Renfroe. Boston traded David back to Milwaukee in February.
This is Dustin’s fourth career World Series title — he won in 2020, 2024, and 2025 with the Los Angeles Dodgers — but his first as an expecting father.
Brewers pitcher Dustin May and his wife Amelia May announced they’re expecting a baby after Milwaukee’s 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 to win the 2026 World Series on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Instagram/Amelia May
“We’ll be telling Baby May about the 2026 World Series for forever ,” Amelia wrote in an Instagram post, including an image of the two holding a No. 21 onesie.
They will celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary in December.
This was the Brewers’ first World Series title in franchise history.
Brewers catcher William Contreras was named the 2026 World Series MVP.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 26: Kade Anderson #13 of the Seattle Mariners comes out of the game after getting hit in the arm with the ball during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on September 26, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners need a lot to go right to get back to the postseason. A lot will probably go right.
One of the things I pointed out in my season recap was that the Mariners are in a tricky spot, in terms of looking ahead. They posted 30.1 fWAR as a team in 2026, which ranked 21st in the majors, and 5.5 of that came from Randy Arozarena. Level performance across the board in 2027 would make the Mariners a bottom five group. Not only that, but to return to the postseason, the Mariners would need to add roughly 15 WAR, from internal improvements and external additions, an amount that feels insurmountable after an all-time bad season. As I wrote at the time:
“… that’s just to get back to mere Wild Card contenders. A bad injury, an underperformance, a failed development, a frowning pythagorus, and the Mariners are out of the playoff picture, firmly trending into a rebuild after six years of a 10-year plan.”
Today, I want to walk through that math, and present the good, great, and horrifying scenarios I see on the back of my napkin.
I took the top nine hitters for 2027 currently on the roster. It works out that this could very well be the Mariners starting lineup on Opening Day. I also found the WAR for the rest of the roster — that is, the “not-top nine.” I don’t much feel like putting names to that group yet, but for the sake of budgeting WAR, we need to remember that bench players typically aren’t very good and subtract some value.
We can see the top nine posted 11.3 WAR in 2026. That is deeply concerning. Obviously, Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez were shells of themselves due to injury, and Josh Naylor and Brendan Donovan were similarly disappointing. But this total also reflects the Mariners are set to give three spots to 2 1/2 rookies. There’s tons of uncertainty about this group, and if they repeat their performance again, it’ll be one of the worst lineups in the majors.
Of course, roughly seven months ago, the projections were far friendlier. The ZiPS column you see here isn’t the latest in ZiPS Technology. It’s instead year two of Dan Syzmorski’s three-year rolling projection he released last December. In other words, it’s old data and missing the latest sample, but I think it’s worth looking at retrospectively. ZiPS once thought these batters to be among the best in the majors.
Now, I also included a third column here, where I sort of make my own guess (heavy emphasis on the “guess”). I came up with about 22.8 WAR, a notable drop from ZiPS but still enough to rank them roughly eighth in 2027.
I gave the assumption that Cal and Julio would each bounce back, though I didn’t think too hard about what that might look like and just gave them 10 total WAR. Donovan I walked back from ZiPS because of injury concerns. I also assumed solid seasons for Naylor, Cole Young, and Dominic Canzone. The bigger question mark is the 2 1/2 rookies. I’m fairly bullish on them overall, and gave them a total of 5 WAR, but I think you could make the case for more.
I did the same with the pitchers. Now, here I have a bit of a treat for you. In my brief tenure at FanGraphs, I wrote about Kade Anderson. While doing so, Syzmborski generously granted me an updated version of his ZiPS model for Mariners pitchers. So rather than being from pre-2026, these figures are roughly from August. His model is still quite impressed with this group.
Personally, I gave Bryan Woo a level performance for his third consecutive four-win season. I gave modest bounce backs to Logan Gilbert and George Kirby, though a step back for Emerson Hancock. I don’t know what to make of Bryce Miller and his tenuous health, and I figured 0.5 is probably what he’d earn out of the bullpen. I also just deferred to ZiPS on Kade Anderson. The bullpen I tried not to think too hard about.
Ultimately, I projected the Mariners at 17.1 WAR for 2027. That would also rank about eighth in the majors, and I think there’s room for optimism if you want to see more. I fear I’ve under projected Anderson by half — I was very, very impressed by his final few starts. I’m also not even projecting Ryan Sloan, and it’s possible he could be the top pitching prospect in baseball come spring.
On the other hand, the Mariners were the very worst pitching staff in the majors in the second half. If we assume that’s a better representation of their true talent, I’m over-projecting them by like 15 WAR. I don’t think that’s the case, but even something in the middle would be hard to overcome.
The Mariners’ roster as currently assembled was once projected for 43.4 WAR, making them one of the five best teams in the majors. If we hedge that projection for what we saw in 2026, they still look like a roughly 40-WAR team. That’s roughly where they’ve been entering the last several seasons, and is generally good news for those looking for a bounce back.
Where could they add? Probably everywhere. They could use another starting infielder. They could upgrade the bench and try to limit some of the negative value there. The bullpen remains barren and there are tons of good options available in free agency. I might even suggest another arm in the rotation, after seeing what happened down the stretch in 2026. That’s what’s exciting about the roster as it stands: It’s young, it’s projectable, and there are still tons of holes. A few good additions, a few bounce backs, and a few positive developments would not only represent a return to form, but would make the Mariners truly one of the best teams in the majors. The scaffolding for greatness is still there.
Still, this group, as it stands, posted 23.1 WAR last year. Most of that came during the first three months of the season. Level performance in 2027 would make this one of the worst teams in the majors. Heck, even a solid amount of improvement only gets them back to last year’s mark of 30 WAR (again, Arozarena did a ton to stave off an absolute worst-case scenario).
And so, the offseason begins at the crossroads for the organization. One way is dynasty, the other a cliff.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Nate Eaton #18 of the Boston Red Sox looks on against the New York Yankees during the third inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Friday everyone!
Today, the Milwaukee Brewers will hold their first World Series championship parade and celebration in downtown Milwaukee. After winning more games than any other team during the regular season, the Brewers stormed through the playoffs, losing just two games en route to a historic title.
Meanwhile, the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays fell short of winning their first World Series title in their third appearance this century. The Rays’ lineup lacked sufficient firepower, while the team’s bullpen faltered at the worst possible time.
With the postseason over, attention turns to the offseason. Left-hander Tarik Skubal headlines this winter’s free-agent class, while teams will look to make trades to bolster their rosters or reduce payroll. Much of the player movement could take place in November before the potential owner-imposed lockout begins on Dec. 1.
The Athletics kicked off the offseason transaction period, as new president of baseball operations Taylor Smith got right to work. Unsurprisingly, he made his first trade with his former employer.
The A's have acquired OF Nate Eaton from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league RHP Jareth Rayo.
The Boston Red Sox traded 29-year-old outfielder Nate Eaton to the A’s in exchange for 18-year-old Nicaraguan pitcher Jareth Rayo, who appeared in the Dominican Summer League this year. Eaton, who can play all three outfield spots as well as third base, hit .160 with a .560 OPS, one home run, two doubles and six RBIs in 24 games this season.
The jury is still out on his bat, but his 96th percentile sprint speed and 97th percentile arm strength could give him a leg up when competing for a reserve outfield spot. Because Eaton is out of options, either offensively challenged center fielder Denzel Clarke or defensively challenged Carlos Cortes may begin next season in Triple-A, depending on how the A’s roster shakes out.
Let’s welcome Eaton to the Athletics. If today was any indication, the next few weeks have the potential to be busy as Smith works to reshape the roster into one built to contend for the playoffs. What trade or free-agent signing would you like to see Smith make next?
This is not a good look. Hopefully, Henry Baez and fellow right-hander Braden Nett deliver bounce-back seasons next year. Baez is the most intriguing prospect in this list, while right-hander Geoff Hartlieb and catcher Brian Serven saw the most major league playing time this past season.
2 of the 4 players A’s got for Mason Miller are already off the roster https://t.co/RukylTtB3b
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 10: Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Picollo before game 4 of the ALDS between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals on October 10, 2024 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are your 2026 World Series Champions. Neat! But whenever the World Series wraps up, there’s only so much time that you can take thinking about the Fall Classic before the Major League Baseball offseason picks up.
Normally, there is a very standardized cadence to this whole thing. In most years, there is some activity that takes place pretty soon after the World Series. In December, the Winter Meetings happen, which is where a lot of wheelin’ and dealin’ gets done and where setups for future wheelin’ and dealin’ happen. During the month afterwards, most moves happen, with some inevitable stragglers in January and February.
This, ah, is not most years. In December, the most recent Competitive Bargaining Agreement between the MLB Player’s Union and the owners will expire. That will almost inevitably lead to a lockout on December 1, and everything will be at a stalemate until parties can agree on a deal.
That’s quite a bit of uncertainty. And if you thought that this uncertainty would likely mean that teams would hesitate to spend money in the short period before a potential lockout, you would be incorrect: expect a fast and furious month of November.
We know this is likely to happen for a few reasons. The first reason is that, the last time the CBA expired, the league spent cash like it was Monopoly money. In the month of November, teams spent a combined $1.7 billion in free agency. Six players—Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Max Scherzer, Robbie Ray, Kevin Gausman, and Javier Baez—signed contracts at $100 million or more prior to the lockout on December 2. Prior to 2021, only four players in the history of free agency had signed a nine-figure deal in November. It wasn’t just prominent free agent signings, either; we got trades, we got extensions, we got all sorts of stuff. The Boston Globe called it a “lockout frenzy.”
It’s likely that this year plays out the same way industry-wide because the scenario is really similar. The CBA ends one day earlier, but that’s about it. And if that’s the case, we could see a huge portion of players signed and traded.
The other reason why a fast November is probable for Kansas City is that the Royals are themselves chomping at the bit to get stuff in. General manager JJ Picollo held his standard press conference on the first game of the final homestand of the year, and I was there to hear his thoughts. Sure enough, he was asked about the offseason plan. And sure enough, his statement seemed to indicate that a fast-paced month is ready (emphasis mine):
November is the month where you have to get some work done. I am anxious to see how fast the industry works, but I know our plan is to push the envelope as much as we can because wewould much rather have some potential pieces to the puzzle in place before a potential lockout.
To Picollo’s credit, it will depend on how the league reacts. But I’m sure that the Royals aren’t the only ones thinking this way. And if they aren’t, buckle up.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Eduardo Quintero #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers swings the bat during a game between the Salt River Rafters and the Glendale Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch on October 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Desert Dogs have played four games this week, and in three of them they’ve scored at least nine runs; in the other one they’ve scored just one. They’re 0-3 when scoring nine or more, and they’ve won that game in which they managed to put a single run across. The latest of these high-scoring losses came on Thursday against Peoria with just a single Dodger in the batting lineup, Eduardo Quintero.
Out of the leadoff spot he occupied in previous games, Quintero was batting third despite his underwhelming numbers in the AFL. Much like the rest of the Desert Dogs offense, he had a productive performance, reaching base in three of his five plate appearances, including two walks and a hit. Once again, it was the same reliable aspects of Quintero’s game that shone here, with the two walks and a stolen base, his sixth in as many attempts.
Touching on how the Desert Dogs blew this game in which they led 10-6 at one point, it was partially the responsibility of a Dodger pitcher, the only one who took the mound in this affair. Williams Salazar got the ball in the seventh and proceeded to walk three and give up a hit, recording just a single out, taking not only the blown save but also the loss in this one.
The Dodgers’ left-hander Luke Fox will be the starter for the Desert Dogs on this Friday afternoon as they hope to avoid a third straight defeat, facing the Salt River Rafters. The game starts at 1:30 p.m. (PT).
Aug 2, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Robert Stock (89) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
36-year-old Robert Stock had last pitched for the Mets on July 20, 2021, in Cincinnati. James McCann was behind the plate, calling the signs in a pre-pitchcom world. The left side of the infield was populated by Jonathan Villar and J.D. Davis. Pete Alonso hit the 88th home run of his career in the top of the first inning. Not a single other player to appear in that game for the Mets was still on their 2026 team, and only two players on the Reds (Tyler Stephenson and Eugenio Suárez) were still on their 2026 roster. But somehow, against all odds, Robert Stock — after three years without major league action, two stints in international leagues, and a pair of appearances in 2025 with the Red Sox — found his way back to the Mets on August 2, 2026.
That 2021 Mets team was on the brink of a late-season collapse when Stock made his two appearances for the team. By the time Stock joined the 2026 Mets, there was nothing left to collapse. No division lead to be blown. The Mets were simply hoping to hold the raft together and find signs of life in the midst of an extraordinarily disappointing campaign. Stock and Sean Manaea were the two veterans in a rotation otherwise filled with energetic young prospects looking to prove themselves — but Stock’s story almost made him fit better with the latter group than the former. There were no guarantees. With each outing, he was pitching for the chance to earn one more day in the big leagues.
Stock was first promoted for a spot start against the Marlins. He leveraged that glimmer of an opportunity into seven starts, one relief appearance, and 30.1 innings of work over the season’s final two months before finger numbness sidelined him. There were some gems in there, too. On August 14, he allowed just one unearned run over 4.1 innings against the Nationals (who scored the third-most runs in MLB this year). On August 19, he allowed a run over 4.1 innings while striking out six against the Padres, arguably the hottest team in the National League at the time. And on August 31, he fired 5.1 shutout innings against the American League pennant winners at Tropicana Field, striking out four Rays batters while walking none.
Stock’s less-than-glamorous 5.93 ERA paints an incomplete picture of his performance. His 3.92 FIP indicates bad batted-ball luck, likely assisted by the Mets’ subpar defense. He struck out just 29 batters in 30.1 innings, a relatively inconspicuous number in today’s fireballing times, but he walked just 15 and allowed just two homers. He also suffered from a pair of disastrous outings, allowing eight runs in Pittsburgh and seven runs in Milwaukee, which inflated his ERA. He allowed one or zero runs in four of his five other starts.
So the question looms: Will Stock be a part of the Mets’ 2027 plans? The case against him is a perfectly reasonable one. He’ll be 37 years old, meaning his 59th-percentile fastball velocity (95.0 mph) will likely only go down from here. His underlying metrics were nothing to write home about, with relatively low chase and whiff rates despite a low hard-hit rate on the positive side. The Mets also have five clear starting options heading into Spring Training, with youngsters Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton, and Jonah Tong to go along with the veteran lefty Manaea. Stock’s position would likely be that of a reliever or swingman, and he doesn’t quite have the wipeout stuff the Mets might look for in a two-inning bullpen arm to serve that role.
The case for Stock? It takes guts to make it back to the majors after years away. It takes guts to perform under pressure with each outing potentially being the last of your career. And it takes good enough stuff and good enough command to show the glimpses of success that Stock did in August and September.
Injuries will always strike. Severe underperformance is always possible. (The current Mets brass should know those two principles better than anyone). If by May 2027, the Mets are already in emergency need of a spot starter or even a full-on rotation replacement, Stock is certainly a more attractive option than someone with zero command, zero experience, or zero ability to meet the moment.
Plus, his twitter account makes for quite an entertaining follow. And if nothing else, Mets fans can always use a bit of humor in their oft-torturous summers.
Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris, center and his father Rob Harris watch practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026.
We have a new World Series champion, and the frightening thing is that the Milwaukee Brewers still have a strong farm system. You thought being dominated by the Los Angeles Dodgers was no fun? Just wait, because this could go on quite a while. The total dismantling of a deep Tampa Bay Rays club served a little added notice that the Brewers have broken through and may be here to stay at the top of the game for a while.
Turns out they didn’t need Tarik Skubal at all. We’ll see who feels like they do really need the former Tigers ace this offseason, but the wait could be a while. In the meantime, let’s line up the offseason with all the key dates, and key decisions for the Detroit Tigers.
As of 9:00 a.m. ET on Thursday morning, pending free agents were eligible to decide on player options and file for free agency. Pending free agents can only talk with their current club until Monday. The trading desk is now open as well, and a few deals and decisions have already gone through.
Dustin May declined his mutual option with the Brewers and is a free agent
Point being, you can expect that the Tigers have most of their decisions in the chute already so we’ll hear from them shortly.
Gold Glove winners will be announced on Sunday, November 1. Dillon Dingler is probably a lock to take home the award for top defensive catcher in the American League, while Zach McKinstry has a pretty good shot at the utilityman Gold Glove.
On Monday, November 2nd, the Contemporary Baseball Era Hall of Fame ballot will be announced. Silver Slugger Award finalists will also be released.
Free agency begins five days after the World Series ends on Monday, November 2nd, at 5:00 p.m. ET. This is also the last day for qualifying offer decisions. The Tigers don’t have anyone to use a qualifying offer on this offseason. The biggest news on this day will come as the Tigers will have to reinstate players off the 60-day injured list, and decide on club option decisions.
The Tigers have eight players to reinstate off the 60-day injured list.
LHP Bailey Horn
RHP Reese Olson
RHP Will Vest
SS Trey Sweeney
OF Kerry Carpenter
OF Parker Meadows
OF Wenceel Pérez
OF Matt Vierling
The Tigers can release minor league outfielder Corey Julks easily to free up one spot. Gleyber Torres and Jack Flaherty are both free agents, as are RHP Burch Smith, RHP Tyler Kinley, and RHP Jacob Waguespack. The Tigers have a $12 million option on RHP Kenley Jansen that they can exercise or buy out for $2 million. They hold a $10 million club option for RHP Drew Anderson. That one is, I think, sure to be exercised, as we wrote about this week.
Currently, leaving aside Jansen and Anderson, the Tigers have 33 players on the 40-man roster before the 60-day IL players are added back. Should they keep both relievers on their options, they’ll have 35 players on the 40-man, with the list of eight players above to be added.
Beyond Julks, there are some cuts they could make that wouldn’t be too painful. RHP Brenan Hanifee is useful here and there but not terribly necessary, though the Tigers need right-handed relief help of all sorts. Keeping Jace Jung just seems a bit cruel since he has no real chance to crack the major league roster. Lefty Jake Miller will probably be kept for his potential, but two years of injury trouble may have changed some minds. Easier to release perhaps is Sawyer Gipson-Long, who wasn’t able to get it going in his first full season post-Tommy John. Horn underwent Tommy John this summer, so there’s a possibility as well.
I would bet that the Tigers keep Sweeney one more year and try to sort out his bat for infield depth, but that ship may be sailing. Kerry Carpenter is pretty much guaranteed to be kept, if only to see if the oft-injured outfielder can get back to form next spring. Probably the same is true for Parker Meadows, whose fluke injury this year cost him nearly the whole season. He’s talented enough that the Tigers will give it one more go. Wenceel Pérez and Matt Vierling are in greater danger to be DFA’d, in my opinion. Would the Tigers make a bigger move, trading Spencer Torkelson or one of their injured outfielders? Eh, it’s possible but does not feel Scott Harris-ish.
From November 9-12 will be the big award announcements. Rookies of the Year, namely our own Kevin McGonigle, will be announced on Monday, November 9. Managers of the Year will be announced on the 10th, the Cy Young awards are announced on Tuesday the 11th, and the MLB awards will be out on Thursday the 12th. All those announcements are set for 7:00 p.m. ET on MLB Network.
The GM meetings are scheduled in Las Vegas from November 10-12. Typically discussions are more about procedural and rule issues, but with the impending CBA negotiations, perhaps there will be a little more news than normal.
Players who have a qualifying offer extended to them have to decide on that by November 17th. This year the qualifying offer is $23.15 million for one year, with a no-trade clause included that lasts until June 15th of the next season.
November 17th is also the date for teams to finalize their 40-man rosters and protect prospects from the Rule 5 draft. The big ones for the Tigers this year are OF Zyhir Hope and INF Max Anderson, who will both be added. That’s another layer of complication on the 40-man roster decisions discussed earlier.
November 20th is the non-tender deadline, by which time teams must offer contacts to pre-arbitration and arbitration eligible players for 2027. Players don’t have to accept at that point, and eligible players may wait for arbitration, but that will bring a new CBA and new rules into play as well.
December 1st is the big day when the collective bargaining agreement expires, and at that point the owners will lockout players, and that battle will begin. The league has already sent out guidelines for team conduct during the lockout. Last time, teams took down all player likenesses and a few other amusing and petty moves, but more importantly, teams and players cease communication at that point, except for private matters.
The Winter Meetings are set to begin on December 7 in San Diego, but they were cancelled during the last lockout and presumably will be again. That will also delay the draft lottery, currently set for December 8th, as well as the Rule 5 draft, currently set for December 9th. Last time the Rule 5 major league portion was cancelled, though the minor league phase was completed, involving only non 40-man roster players.
So, that’s the landscape, but obviously the smart money says that very little will happen until the CBA is complete. The Tigers will have plenty of roster decisions to make, but beyond that we’ll have to see if much in the way of free agency or trading goes on. It should be interesting to see, because early moves could signal to a degree which way teams believe the CBA negotiations are going to blow. If there’s a real possibility of a salary cap actually being put into place, one of the chief indicators could be Scott Boras, who knows which way things are going to blow as well as anyone, deciding to lean in and get Tarik Skubal signed to a new team before the rules change. I don’t expect that to happen, but everyone will be grasping for signs and portents this winter either way.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 28: Majority owner John Sherman of the Kansas City Royals looks on prior to the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Royals need a lot of work after losing 93 games last year. There will likely be a flurry of action this month before the labor deal expires in December. What would you do if you were running the Royals this offseason?
The Royals currently have 35 players on the 40-man roster.
Catchers (2): Carter Jensen, Salvador Perez
Infielders (6): Maikel Garcia, Nick Loftin, Michael Massey, Vinnie Pasquantino, Tyler Tolbert, Bobby Witt Jr.
Outfielders (5): Jac Caglianone, Isaac Collins, Kyle Isbel, Matthew Lugo, John Rave
Pitchers (22): Ryan Bergert, Spencer Bivens, Noah Cameron, Steven Cruz, Jose Cuas, Randy Dobnak, Carlos Estévez, Carlos Durán, Lucas Erceg, Tony Gonsolin, Anthony Gose, Nolan Hoffman, Ben Kudrna, Seth Lugo, Daniel Lynch IV, James McArthur, Nate Pearson, Mitch Spence, Connor Thomas, Michael Wacha, Beck Way, Steven Zobac
Luinder Avila, Stephen Kolek, Nick Mears, and Cole Ragans will be activated from the 60-day Injured List and will join the 40-man roster soon. Carson Roccaforte and Lucas Braun need to be added to the 40-man roster, and you may want to add Brett Squires, Gavin Cross, Felix Arronde, and/or Daniel Vazquez, among other players. Do you add any of them and who do you remove?
The Royals have a $13 million club option on closer Carlos Estévez with a $2 million buyout, and a $2.5 million club option on Tony Gonsolin. Do you exercise either of those?
The Royals have seven players under contract for next year.
Seth Lugo $21.5 million
Bobby Witt Jr. $20.111 million
Michael Wacha $14 million
Cole Ragans $7.583 million
Maikel Garcia $7.26 million
Vinnie Pasquantino $6.9 million
Salvador Perez $6.5 million
Those salaries total just over $83 million. Combine them with your arbitration-eligible salaries, any buyouts, and the salaries of pre-arbitration players. Owner John Sherman projects around $30 million for the team to spend this offseason. Here is a list of eligible free agents. Who do you pursue?
& cherry on top of this amazing season,” 
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