Category: Baseball

Despite only being in the job for a year, Paul Toboni has already made plenty of moves. He is an active GM who leaves no stone unturned when it comes to trying to make his team better. However, there is one trade I will discuss that has not aged well so far.

Back in Mid-December Paul Toboni made a rare prospect for prospect swap. He made a deal with his old boss Craig Breslow that sent LHP Jake Bennett to the Red Sox in exchange for RHP Luis Perales. It was a fascinating trade because of the one for one nature and the fact that Perales and Bennett are such different pitchers.

The Red Sox went after a polished lefty with great command in Bennett. Meanwhile, the Nats got a high upside flame-thrower in Perales. It was a classic case of stuff vs command. In year one, the command specialist easily won the day.

While Perales was the more well-known name, Bennett was the one who burst on to the scene in 2026. Entering the year, it was difficult to see how Bennett could break into a crowded Red Sox rotation. However, things changed after Garrett Crochet went down and Bennett dominated in AAA.

Bennett was impressing Red Sox fans as early as Spring Training with improved velocity to go with his already elite execution. He did not make the team out of camp, but after a few starts in the minors, it was clear that the lefty was big league ready. Bennett posted a 1.60 ERA in nine AAA starts.

Once injuries hit the Red Sox rotation, he was the next man up. When he arrived, Bennett made the most of his opportunity. In 113.1 innings, Bennett posted a 3.65 ERA with 91 strikeouts to just 21 walks. He became a stabilizing force in the Red Sox rotation and played a key role in turning their season around.

In fact, Bennett was so good that the Red Sox were willing to trade the more highly touted Connelly Early for offensive help, ironically to the Nats. That 3.65 ERA was no mirage either. Bennett’s FIP was 3.51, his xERA was 3.42 and his xFIP was 3.81. He is tracking like a quality number 3 starter for years to come.

Jake Bennett does not have electric stuff, but he makes up for it with phenomenal command and deception. Bennett only walked 4.6% of hitters and generated a 37.4% chase rate. Those are both extraordinary numbers. His fastball and changeup were absolute weapons this season.

It is worth noting that Bennett posted a 4.66 ERA in his last 7 outings. However, his strikeout and walk numbers were actually better in that time. I think that 3.65 ERA number is pretty representative of his true talent. The lack of dominant stuff holds him back from being a top of the rotation guy, but Jake Bennett is rock solid.

In exchange for Bennett, the Nats got Luis Perales, who could not be any more different as a pitcher. While Bennett throws in the 92-94 MPH range, Luis Perales averages 99 on his heater. To go with that heater, Perales has a 93 MPH cutter and a nasty splitter that just falls off the table.

If you are just looking at pure stuff, Perales is world’s better than Bennett. His fastball gets a lot of carry and his splitter drops a lot. However, there is more to pitching than just raw stuff and the Nats are learning that the hard way in this trade.

Like Bennett, Luis Perales started the season in AAA. However, he did not have the same success early on. He really struggled with command out of the gates, and that became a trend. While things got better, and the ERA was not bad, there were some red flags in his profile.

Speaking of that ERA, if that was the only thing you looked at, his AAA season would seem pretty strong. He posted a 3.64 ERA in Rochester over 96.1 innings. However, the underlying numbers told a different story. Perales had a FIP of 4.63, almost a full run higher than his ERA. His xERA was 4.12 and his xFIP was 4.86. Perales walked over 13% of hitters in the minors this year. 

While his strikeout numbers were good, they were not elite. A 23.5% K rate is not enough to make up for all those walks. The reason his ERA was so low is due to a .243 BABIP, which is very low. Perales was getting lucky in Rochester.

As the season finished, Perales was moved to the bullpen so he could get a shot in the big leagues. He actually looked good in that role in Rochester. Perales made three relief appearances in the minors and dominated. In 6 innings, Perales allowed 0 runs, struck out 12 and only walked two batters. That relief role seemed like a great fit for him.

However, things took a turn for the worst once he reached the majors. In his first outing, Perales allowed a grand slam, and that really set the tone. Perales made 6 appearances and tossed 11 innings. In those outings, Perales allowed 14 runs, walked 13 hitters, gave up 15 hits and surrendered 5 homers. It was a complete disaster and Perales did not look big league ready in the slightest. Despite throwing over 100 fewer innings, Bennett walked just 8 more hitters than Perales.

There were some major problems that were easy to identify. The first one is just the command. So many of Perales’ pitches are either uncompetitive misses or right down the middle. He just does not execute at an MLB level, especially with his fastball. In a lot of outings, Perales just had to abandon his triple digit heater because he can’t command it.

Perales’ best pitch is his splitter. When he actually finds a way to get ahead in the count, the pitch is filthy. It generated whiffs at a 48.9% clip and batters hit just .063 on the pitch. However, his splitter is a chase pitch. Unless he is ahead in the count, hitters can just lay off the pitch.

The one pitch he can consistently throw in the zone is his cutter. Unfortunately, his cutter is the one pitch that just is not very impressive stuff wise. Hitters just teed off on his cutter and 4-seamer. Perales’ pitch mix and command just does not work in the MLB right now.

I still believe in the raw stuff and I think he has a chance to be a good reliever with further development. We will see how that development goes because there is a dark cloud looming. Right now, Perales is out of options meaning he will have to stick on the big league roster moving forward. However, there is a strong chance he could get an extra option year due to missing almost all of last season with Tommy John.

We better hope Perales gets that option year because he is not big league ready right now. It would be tough to carry a pitcher this raw on an MLB roster and it would also be a disaster if he were DFA’d.

On the season, Perales posted -0.5 fWAR while Bennett compiled 2.3 fWAR. So far this has been a story of command being more important than stuff. The funky lefty who knows how to pitch is way better than the flamethrowing righty with bad command.

It is worth noting that this was Perales’ first year back from Tommy John. As he gets further removed from the surgery, I hope he regains some sharpness. The stuff is all the way back, but the command still has a long way to go. Control had always been a question for Perales, but prior to the surgery he was headed in the right direction. This season has been a big step in the wrong direction though.

We will continue to go over some of Paul Toboni’s moves as we get deeper into the offseason, but so far this looks like the worst one. Right now, Bennett looks like a mid rotation starter while Perales needs a lot to go right for him to even become an effective reliever.

There is a chance this trade looks better after another year, but so far this has been a big swing and a miss. Toboni’s old boss seems to have got one over on him here. This trade gives us an important reminder that while stuff is very important, it is not everything. Pitchers still need to be able to execute and throw quality strikes. Jake Bennett is a master in that regard while Luis Perales is well below average. Let’s hope Perales can figure it out moving forward because this is not looking good right now.

Diamondbacks News

Diamondbacks moving on from longtime broadcast Steve Berthiaume by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]

The Arizona Diamondbacks will not retain longtime television play-by-play broadcaster Steve Berthiaume, the team confirmed to Arizona Sports on Monday.

Nick Piecoro of AZCentral.com first reported the decision, as Berthiaume’s contract with the club is up. The team has not decided who will take over as the lead TV play-by-play commentator.

Chris Garagiola has been the radio voice of the Diamondbacks since Greg Schulte retired after the 2023 playoffs, and Piecoro reported that he will be considered.

D-backs Reportedly Parting With Longtime Play-by-Play Broadcaster by Alex D’Agostino [SI]

Berthiaume, according to Piecoro’s report, was caught off guard by the news. He told the Arizona Republic he was both “surprised and disappointed” by the decision. 

“I’m very appreciative to have had the opportunity to connect with our fan base these past 14 years,” Berthiaume also told the Republic. “I’ve always tried to put the club first. I enjoyed my Arizona experience and I’m grateful to all my friends and colleagues in our broadcast group.”

D-backs lefty pitching prospect Ariola brings elite K rate to Arizona Fall League by Jesse Borek [MLB]

There were 2,402 pitchers who accrued at least 30 innings this season across the Minor Leagues — and nobody struck out a higher percentage of hitters than the D-backs’ Joe Ariola (45.8%).

The 6-foot-2 southpaw doesn’t throw in the triple digits. He doesn’t spin the ball at an astronomically high rate. His extension is solid but not particularly notable. But he’s intrinsically focused on winning the battle with two strikes in the count. Once there, he goes for the punchout.

“How fast can I get to two strikes? Because my pitches played best in those counts,” Ariola said of his mindset. “I know my two weapons [fastball and curveball] have some swing-and-miss potential. But if you’re not in the right counts to get the swing-and-miss, they’re not going to happen.

Around the League

First home playoff clincher in 120 years? White Sox on cusp of making it happen by Scott Merkin [MLB]

Where were you in 1906?

Since anyone born in that magical time would be a robust 120 years old at this point, clearly nobody was around. But it was that year, on Oct. 14, to be exact, when the White Sox toppled the Cubs at South Side Park to win the World Series in six games.

That was the last playoff-clinching victory for the White Sox at home. Until now, it was their only potential playoff clincher at home. But that statistic could be updated Wednesday at Rate Field.

Relentless Rays give Schlittler fits in 4-run 5th, move 1 win from ALCS by Adam Berry [MLB]

The Rays knew they were in for a challenge against American League Cy Young Award favorite Cam Schlittler on Monday night at Tropicana Field. The Yankees’ ace has shown in a short time that he’s made for big moments, especially in unfriendly environments, and he was as tough to hit as just about any pitcher in baseball.

So, what was Tampa Bay’s plan heading into Game 2 of the American League Division Series?

“Just kind of do what we’ve been doing all year,” shortstop Taylor Walls said.

Another playoff roof ball?! Rays record out after Jones’ fly dings Trop catwalk by Matthew Leach[MLB]

In the second inning of Monday’s ALDS Game 2, Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones hit a high popup into shallow right-center field. And then … the waiting. Four Rays converged on a spot in the Tropicana Field outfield and waited.

For 10 seconds.

Finally, the ball came down, Mesa made the catch and Jones was out. The ball had hit one of the catwalks under the roof of the Trop — specifically the B-ring — and by rule it was in play. The Rays’ fielders kept their cool, and Mesa recorded the out.

Padres deny Miller was pitch-tipping, might limit him to 1 inning by Alden Gonzalez [ESPN]

Side-by-side still shots posted on social media appeared to show Miller’s hand placement in his glove from the set position being slightly different based on whether he was throwing a fastball or a slider, something a runner on second base might notice and relay to the hitter. The Brewers got a runner on second base early, when Yelich drew a one-out walk and succeeded on an attempted steal.

Stammen did not indicate one way or another, but he also dismissed the thought.

“We’ve got a crew of people that are dedicated to that every single day,” Stammen said. “That is their sole job. We’re well aware of what’s going on with our pitchers, well aware of what’s going on with the Brewers’ pitchers and how they do things. It’s part of our daily acumen. The internet can go crazy and take things farther than they need to go. We feel good about our process within that situation.”

Padres Activate Walker Buehler Onto NLDS Roster by Anthony Franco [MLB Trade Rumors]

It remains to be seen if Buehler will be a factor. The Padres have tabbed Nick Pivetta to take the ball in Game 3, the first of what they hope will be three straight must-win games. The Brewers are countering with Dustin May. Neither team has announced plans for a potential Game 4 if the Padres stave off elimination.

San Diego manager Craig Stammen told reporters (including Jared Greenspan of MLB.com) that Buehler is an option for the start in Game 4 but will be available in relief tomorrow. It’s an all hands on deck approach for the Friars with their backs against the wall. Buehler turned in a 4.63 ERA with a slightly below-average 20.1% strikeout rate over 32 starts this year, ranking second on the team in innings. He struggled early but had a solid 3.62 ERA after the All-Star Break.

One full season of ABS challenges by batters, catchers and pitchers is in the books, so I thought it would be interesting to have a look at the results. Of course, the system continues through the postseason — and we already have had a postseason game end on an ABS challenge! — but we have quite a bit of data after one season.

There were 714,483 pitches made during the 2026 regular season. Of those, 2,172 were thrown by position players (not including Shohei Ohtani, who’s considered a pitcher for the sake of this argument). By rule, ABS challenges cannot be made on pitches thrown by position players, so that reduces the challengeable total to 712,311. Of those, 10,557 pitches were challenged.

Thus, about 1.5 percent of all challengeable pitches were actually challenged. Of those, 5,685, or 53.9 percent, were overturned. That’s about eight-tenths of one percent of all challengeable pitches.

So the general lesson learned here is: Umpires are pretty good at making ball-and-strike calls. Of course, there were some challengeable pitches not challenged for a number of reasons:

• In general, players were discouraged from challenging in early innings
• Some potentially challengeable pitches were let go because they were deemed situationally unimportant by players who could have challenged them, and
• Teams were out of challenges on certain pitches they could have challenged

In general, then, I think the system worked well and as the season went on, players did appear to get better at figuring out situational challenging and getting them right.

In addition, though pitchers are allowed to challenge pitches, early in the season it became clear that they were not very good at it and many teams discouraged pitchers from challenging or even flat out told them not to do it. Of the 10,557 challenges, only 182 (1.7 percent) were made by pitchers and of those, only 72 were overturned (39.6 percent of the 182). Hitters made 4,766 challenges and were correct 2,328 times, or 48.8 percent, and catchers turned out to be best at this, making 5,609 challenges and getting 3,285 overturned, or 58.6 percent.

Now let’s take a look at how the Cubs did.

The Cubs ranked 17th among MLB teams with 338 total challenges (the Twins were first with 450). Of the 338, 162 were made by Cubs hitters and those were 51.9 percent correct. Cubs catchers made 174 challenges and were correct 66.9 percent of the time, which was third-best of any team’s catchers (behind the Phillies at 72.7 percent and Reds at 68 percent). Just two Cubs pitchers challenged pitches this year and only one of those was correct.

Matthew Boyd was responsible for that incorrect pitcher challenge and it could have had an effect on where the Cubs finished this year — no kidding. Here’s that challenge, made April 27 against the Padres [VIDEO].

There’s an early season example of 1) why pitchers shouldn’t challenge and 2) why you shouldn’t challenge in the first inning. More on what happened there from Jordan Bastian at MLB.com:

The first domino was the errant first-inning challenge by Boyd. The pitch in question was a 2-1 heater that was shown to be 0.7 inches off the edge of the zone, per the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System. Boyd then missed with another fastball to issue a leadoff walk to [Ramon] Laureano.

“You never know how it’s going to shake out,” Boyd said. “But it’s putting our hitters and our team in a hole when you do something like that in that situation, so early in the game. It was not a smart move on my part. I regretted it. I’ll do my best to not make that mistake again.”

Two batters later, Boyd surrendered a run-scoring single to Jackson Merrill. The lefty later walked Miguel Andujar before giving up a two-run double to Ty France that capped off a three-run push for the Padres in that opening frame.

So who knows? Maybe that mistake rattled Boyd. The Cubs lost that game 9-7 and if they had won it, the Wild Card Series would have been at Wrigley Field. Maybe that wouldn’t have made a difference, but who knows?

The only other Cubs pitcher to challenge a pitch all year was Edward Cabrera. Here’s that challenge, April 11 vs. the Pirates [VIDEO].

As you can see, Oneil Cruz stole second and took third on an error. The pitch was overturned to make the count 2-2 instead of 3-1, but Cabrera walked Brandon Lowe anyway. The Pirates didn’t score in the inning and the Cubs eventually lost the game 4-3 in 11 innings.

After the Boyd mishap, it seems clear the Cubs told their pitchers to leave defensive challenges to their catchers.

And Cubs catchers were very, very good at ABS challenges.

Carson Kelly made 93 challenges and was correct on 68.8 percent of them, quite a bit better than the 58.6 percent league average for catchers. Kelly’s correct percentage was third-best among all catchers who made more than 50 challenges, behind J.T. Realmuto (86 challenges, 81.4 percent) and Salvador Perez (65 challenges, 70.8 percent).

Miguel Amaya made 76 challenges and was correct on 64.5 percent, which ranked ninth among catchers with more than 50 challenges.

The rest of the Cubs catcher challenges were made, before he was traded to the Angels, by Moisés Ballesteros, who made five and got two correct. Ballesteros caught quite a bit with the Angels and made 32 challenges there, getting 20 correct (62.5 percent).

Cubs hitters ranked eighth among all MLB teams in overturn percentage, 51.2 percent. If that doesn’t sound like much, the Diamondbacks were first at 56.9 percent and the Mariners and Braves tied for last at 41.7 percent. It seems clear that catchers are far better than hitters at ABS challenges.

Alex Bregman made the most ABS challenges of any Cubs hitter, 29, and he was just above the team average at 51.7 percent. The best Cubs hitter (15 challenges or more) was Seiya Suzuki, who made 17 and got 12 correct (70.6 percent). The worst (again, 15 challenges or more) was Michael Busch, who made 20 and got only seven correct (35 percent).

Overall, this system has to be regarded as a success. It’s corrected some of the most egregiously bad ball-and-strike calls, and as players got better at it, even some pitches that were closer calls were overturned. I know some here would like MLB to go to full ABS, but as I wrote here earlier this year, MLB likes the current system for a number of reasons. So do I, as it gets fans involved at the ballparks, cheering when their team is successful in a challenge. I like that. The only thing I might change is to give teams a third challenge. That might open things up to have some more challenges made in the early innings, although per this chart, there seems to be a fairly even balance on challenges made per inning.

All the data in this article is from baseball-reference.com, though you can also find detailed ABS data at Baseball Savant.

The Royals’ Single-A affiliate, the Columbia Fireflies finished the season with a record of 64-65, almost winning the division in the first half of the season. There was plenty of good and bad throughout the season, so let’s dive into it.

The good from the position players:

Josh Hammond, the Royals’ first round pick in the 2025 draft out of Wesleyan Christian high school in North Carolina, was great in his first season of pro ball. He just turned 20 two weeks ago, young for his level. In 437 at bats, the shortstop slashed .286/.354/.389 with 24 doubles, 3 triples and 5 homers. He walked 46 times and stole 25 bases in 30 attempts. He moved between shortstop and third base, and had 24 errors on the season, so that’s something he can work on, but again, for a guy that was 19 all season, I think it was a good first step.

Sean Gamble, the Royals’ other first round pick in 2025, finished strong in the second half. The 19-year-old outfielder got off to a very slow start, and was hitting just .114 by May 21. He was able to turn it around after that, hitting .254/.375/.398 over his last 75 games, finishing at .203/.315/.310. On the season, he hit 17 doubles, 3 triples and 7 homers. He stole 38 baseas and was really good in centerfield defensively.

JC Vanek is a lesser heralded guy, he was a 14th round draft pick in the 2025 draft, out of Chipola Junior College. The now 22-year-old first baseman hit .255/.399/.446 over 298 at bats this season, with 14 homers and 20 stolen bases, mostly playing first and left field. Vanek is someone who could be a late bloomer throughout the organization and someone to watch.

Yandel Ricardo is a 19-year-old shortstop who the Royals signed out of Cuba in January of 2024. He hit .266/.351/.398 in his first full season in Columbia, with 17 doubles, 7 triples and 7 homers, with 27 steals. He also worked 48 walks in 109 games. He played a good mix of second base and shortstop defensively and was good at both.

Brooks Bryan, the Royals’ eighth-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Troy University, was phenomenal in 119 at-bats. Battling through injuries, Bryan slashed .319/.406/.496 and hit three homers. He’s another guy I think might be a late bloomer who is worth keeping an eye on in the organization.

The good from the pitching staff:

Jose Gutierrez, a 23-year-old right-hander from Venezuela, was probably the most consistent starter for the Fireflies this season. He went 9-4 on the season, with a 3.62 ERA in 114.1 innings pitched. He struck out 98 batters, with a 1.32 WHIP and .256 opponents’ batting average. He grinded through the Royals DSL systems and is coming into his own now, and could start in Quad Cities next season.

Michael Lombardi, the Royals’ second round draft pick in 2025 from Tulane, had a good season. Lombardi threw 88 innings this season, posting a 3.68 ERA, but striking out 124 hitters. He did walk 52 batters in those 88 innings, but opponents hit just .223 off him.

Randy Ramnarace is a 22-year-old right hander from New York that the Royals selected the 16th round of the 2025 draft. He posted a 3.68 ERA in 44 innings pitched this season. He struck out 41 batters, but did walk 44, so that’s something he will have to work on, but opponents hit just .206 this season.

Darwin Rodriguez is a 23-year-old left-hander, from Venezuela who threw 115 innings, allowing a 3.83 ERA. He struck out 114 hitters. He posted a 1.37 WHIP, opponents did hit .262 off him.

Hiro Wyatt dealt with injuries but was solid when healthy. The Royals’ 3rd round pick in 2023, now a 22-year-old right-hander, started 7 times, going 28 innings, posting a 3.21 ERA. He struck out 24 hitters, with a 1.46 WHIP and .248 opponents’ batting average. If healthy next year, easily a guy that could be at Quad Cities and Northwest Arkansas.

The pitching list isn’t as long, but a good amount of those guys ended up in Quad Cities, who we will talk about next week, so don’t fret. Overall, the Royals Single-A affiliate, the Columbia Fireflies had a lot of positives.

Yesterday saw another Atlanta Braves prospect show up in the Arizona Fall League, as Isaiah Drake got the start in left field for the Glendale Desert Dogs.

Surprise Saguaros 8, Glendale Desert Dogs 7

Isaiah Drake, LF: 1-4, SB

Boxscore

Isaiah Drake had four at bats in this game, which ended with a walkoff in the ninth. In the second inning he reached base because of an error by the second baseman, and went on to steal second base – already his second stolen base of the AFL season. Then there was a fly out in the fourth and a strikeout in the sixth for his next two at bats. He came back up in the eighth and hit an infield single to the third baseman. Drake would be the only Braves prospect to appear in this one.

Hello and happy Tuesday, folks. Hope your week’s off to a good start.

Believe it or not, there’s no Red Sox game on today. Or tomorrow. Or any day for the foreseeable future, actually. That means we’ve got a good amount of free time on our hands.

My question to you: How have you been spending that time over the last few nights? It’s almost been a week since the Sox got bounced by the Yankees. Have you been locked into the rest of the MLB playoffs? Are you and baseball on a break? Something in between? Catch any good movies lately? Gotten into pottery or another art/craft? Let us know in the comments below. God, writing this instead of watching the Sox sucks.

Be good to each other and go Sox.

Fred Claire was an unorthodox choice for general manager, a former sportswriter and public relations man who didn’t play baseball beyond the junior varsity level in high school, and his 1987 promotion to head the Dodgers’ front office was met with skepticism around the game.

A year and a half later, after his shrewd moves helped turn the Dodgers into World Series champions in 1988, Claire was named Major League Baseball’s executive of the year by the Sporting News.

Claire, who spent 30 years in the Dodgers’ front office, died Monday on his 91st birthday. The Dodgers shared the news Tuesday morning.

An avid runner and golfer fit and trim enough to pass for a man a decade younger, the silver-haired Claire was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in 2015 when what looked like a harmless spot on his lip turned out to be cancerous.

The growth was surgically removed, but the cancer returned in August 2016, and spread into the left side of his face. Claire underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments to kill the malignant cells in his body, but the cancer returned again in 2017.

Read more:Plaschke: Almost forgotten, Fred Claire played a crucial role in the Dodgers' last World Series

An immunotherapy clinical trial saved his life, according to a story in Pasadenanow.com, but then an infection forced him to undergo even more extensive facial reconstruction surgery at City of Hope in Duarte, replacing his jawbone with a bone from his leg.

Claire was so impressed with his treatment at City of Hope that he teamed with author Tim Madigan in 2021 to publish a book chronicling his career and capturing the hospital’s history as well the stories of patients and doctors. The book, “Extra Innings,” can be purchased at Amazon, with all net proceeds donated to City of Hope.

“The main thing that I liked and appreciated about the book was people buying it because of their interest in baseball,” Claire told the Desert Sun in 2021, “then to discover what a great place [City of Hope] is after reading it.”

Claire was also active in helping fund research — he and his wife, Sheryl, set up a scholarship fund with the USC Keck School of Medicine for research in head and neck cancer.

Claire was born Oct. 5, 1935, in Jamestown, Ohio. His parents moved the family — Claire had a brother and a sister — to Torrance when Claire was a teenager. After graduating from Torrance High, Claire earned a degree in journalism from San José State in 1957 before taking his first newspaper job.

“I graduated on a Sunday afternoon,” Claire told The Times in 1997, “and by Monday morning, I had a job at the Whittier Daily News.”

Claire spent 11 years as a sportswriter and was covering the Dodgers for the Long Beach Press-Telegram in the spring of 1969 when a position opened in the team’s public relations department.

Claire, who always longed to be involved in baseball, expressed interest in the job and was hired as a public relations assistant, remaining in the position until 1975, when he was promoted to vice president of public relations.

He was instrumental in creating the branding that came to be known as “Dodger Blue” and was directing the team’s marketing efforts when the Dodgers passed the 3-million mark in attendance for the first time. He also hired Ross Porter, a Dodgers broadcaster from 1977 to 2004.

In April 1987, then-Dodgers general manager Al Campanis was fired after making controversial and what many said were racist remarks about Black Americans on “Nightline,” during which he told the show’s host, Ted Koppel, that Black people may lack “some of the necessities” to be the field manager or GM of a major league baseball team.

Claire was then-Dodgers president Peter O’Malley’s surprise choice to replace Campanis, and his hiring raised the eyebrows of his new peers, who saw Claire as an outsider with no background as a player, coach, manager or scout.

Read more:Legendary Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda dies at age 93 of a heart attack

“I knew some people might say, what does this guy know about baseball, he covered it from behind a typewriter?” O’Malley said in 2017. “But I knew Fred could do it. And he did it. He deserves a lot of credit for stepping in quickly, without advance notice, and doing a great job.”

The Dodgers suffered their second straight losing season in 1987, but Claire made several offseason moves — acquiring outfielders Kirk Gibson and Mike Davis, shortstop Alfredo Griffin and pitchers Jay Howell and Jesse Orosco — that fortified the club.

The Dodgers, led by National League Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Orel Hershiser and most valuable player Gibson, won the National League West in 1988 and upset the 100-win New York Mets in the NL Championship Series.

The gimpy Gibson hit his memorable pinch-hit, walk-off homer off Oakland closer Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the World Series to push the Dodgers toward their fifth championship since moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958.

Claire dealt a smallish and seemingly fragile pitcher named Pedro Martínez to Montreal for second baseman Delino DeShields in what turned out to be one of the game’s most-lopsided trades. DeShields hit .241 in three years in Los Angeles, while Martinez went on to have a dominant 17-year career that earned him a 2015 Hall of Fame induction.

But during Claire’s 11-year tenure as GM, the Dodgers won a World Series, two division titles, a wild-card berth and a first-place finish in the strike-shortened 1994 season.

Claire also changed the culture in the front office, hiring an analytics expert, holding regular conference calls with coaches and scouts and canvassing the clubhouse to talk with players about everything from their families to their on-field performance.

“Fred gave us that first edge of being progressive and aggressive,” Hershiser told the Times in 2017. Added former Dodgers utility man Mickey Hatcher: “Fred Claire was amazing. For a guy who was suddenly put into the limelight, he asked all the right questions, listened to everyone and believed in all of us.”

Claire was fired along with then-manager Bill Russell on June 21, 1998, five weeks after executives from Fox News Corp., which purchased the Dodgers earlier that year, engineered a blockbuster trade — deflating to many fans — of All-Star catcher Mike Piazza to the Florida Marlins without Claire’s involvement.

Claire, a man of “integrity and dignity,” as former Times baseball columnist Ross Newhan wrote, walked away with no harsh words or public regrets.

“Honestly, in my heart and soul, it was a thrill and honor to have the opportunity to walk into Dodger Stadium every day and go to work,” Claire told The Times in 2017. “This is truly enough for me.”

After his departure from the Dodgers, Claire worked as a columnist and analyst for MLB.com, a radio show host, an instructor at USC and a consultant to companies involved with sports. He co-authored an autobiography, released in 2004, titled “Fred Claire: My 30 Years in Dodger Blue.”

Read more:Complete coverage: Remembering the life of Dodgers announcer Vin Scully (1927-2022)

His response during an interview with Business Renaissance Quarterly in 2007 shed some light on Claire’s philosophy. The question: What do you want to be remembered for?

“I was once in the presence of the late Dodgers’ owner Walter O’Malley when he was asked this question by a reporter from United Press International,” Claire said. “Mr. O’Malley spun his ever-present cigar, paused for just a second and replied, ‘I want to be remembered for planting a tree.’

“Walter O’Malley’s answer, in my mind, overshadowed the great question. He wanted to be remembered for helping things grow, and in my mind, that meant his family, his friendships, the good causes he was involved in.

“I have seldom planted a tree, but I would proudly borrow Mr. O’Malley’s answer to this question.”

Claire is survived by his wife, Sheryl, and their three children, Jen, Jeff and Kim.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Because the Mets traded or waived nearly all of their pending free agents (Brooks Raley, David Peterson, A.J. Minter, Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, and Luis Robert Jr.), the only notable pending free agent is Frankie Montas, whose two-year deal blew up due to a mix of injury and ineffectiveness.

Beyond that, it's possible Bo Bichette will opt out of his contract. But it would be an upset, considering that Bichette would be leaving $84 million on the table ($42 million each of the next two seasons) after posting a 97 OPS+ in order to join a free agent market that could be impacted by an expected lockout.

If Bichette opts in, the Mets' starting outfield alignment and left side of the infield will be set, leaving second base and first base as the main question marks. 

With that as a backdrop, it's possible the Mets consider moving on from some of the players who have been roster cogs for the last several seasons but haven't yet established themselves. 

One of the players the Mets could part ways with is Mark Vientos.

Vientos, who will be entering his age-27 season in 2027, is arbitration-eligible for the first time.

Will the Mets trade or DFA Vientos this offseason? Should they?

WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO TRADE OR NON-TENDER VIENTOS

Aside from his 2024 season, when it looked like Vientos might be emerging as a lineup regular with serious power potential, it has been a struggle for him in the majors.

Vientos posted a combined .610 OPS in 2022 and 2023 across 81 games in his first taste of the bigs, and he was a below average offensive player in 2025 -- slashing .233/.289/.413 with 17 homers in 121 games.

This past season saw further regression from Vientos at the plate, as he hit just .212/.258/.394 (.652 OPS, 81 OPS+) in 87 games.

His advanced metrics when it came to average exit velocity, hard hit percentage, and barrel percentage remained above average, but Vientos was below average in most other key metrics tracked by Baseball Savant. That included a walk rate that was near the bottom of the league. 

Meanwhile, Vientos' defense remained an issue, as he was worth -9 OAA. Almost all of his defensive innings came at first base, where he appeared 67 times (Vientos' other three games in the field were at third base). While Vientos has worked hard to hone his skills defensively, including extensive work at third base, he's been a consistently below average defender for his entire career. 

When looking at how New York's roster shapes up now and the possible additions they could make this winter, there doesn't seem to be much room for Vientos.

As things presently stand, first base could be a platoon situation with Jared Young getting the bulk of the at-bats against right-handed pitchers. But given Young's relative lack of power and difficulties against left-handed pitching, it can be argued that the Mets should be seeking a starting first baseman via free agency or trade -- or at the very least a right-handed complement to Young. 

The DH situation could also be crowded, with Brett Baty (who could also get time at second base) and Jorge Polanco (health-permitting) among the potential options there. The Mets will also likely look to get Juan Soto off his feet regularly, meaning DH will be his on days he doesn't start in left field. 

WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP VIENTOS

For all of his flaws, Vientos still hits the ball really hard and has legitimate home run power. 

Vientos is also under team control for three more seasons and is set to make only $2.4 million in 2027 via arbitration.

And while the DH situation could be crowded, it's also possible the opposite comes to be. In a scenario where the Mets add a legitimate starting first baseman, Baty is starting regularly at second base, and Polanco's injury issues persist, there could be lots of at-bats to go around. 

Beyond Vientos, the Mets don't have many other DH options, unless they're prepared to give a serious look to Ronny Mauricio, who is out of options and has never shown any indication his chase rate will drop low enough to make him a viable big league player. 

It's also conceivable the Mets keep Vientos as a bench piece/part-time player who can provide right-handed pop.

If the Mets don't make relatively big external additions at first base or DH, it stands to reason that there will be more room for someone like Vientos. If the Mets do add at one or both of those spots, it seems likely Vientos will be squeezed out.

VERDICT

Before Vientos returned from the IL at the end of August, then-interim manager Andy Green was blunt about what his role would be. 

"I don't know," Green said. "I was very forthright with him when he started the rehab assignment that a lot of that will be dictated by how others perform and also by how he performs. Still think there’s a very bright future for him out there if he wants to grab a hold of it. That’s on him."

Green added:

"When he gets back in the box, take advantage of the at-bats you do get. Prove you deserve more at-bats," Green continued. "I think people get into different phases in their career at different points in time. He has all the talent that he possessed in ‘24 when he was hitting close to 30 home runs and didn’t start the season with the big league club. It’s all right there. It’s on him for that to come out. We certainly want to see it come out. It’s not going to be a perfectly laid path for him, though, when he does come back."

Given how straightforward Green often is and the way he challenges players, it wasn't a departure for him to speak that way about Vientos. But it was still notable.

After being activated, Vientos was pretty much the player he had been earlier in the season, as he hit .216/.268/.432 with two homers in 41 plate appearances over 14 games.

For all the promise Vientos showed in 2024, his last two seasons have been a disappointing slog. And this offseason feels like the time to move on.

Boy, that Wild Card round was fun.

Not so much what has happened since then.

The team with the best record in baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers, has played like it in the first two games of the San Diego Padres’ second playoff round. After earning a bye in the Wild Card round, the Brewers came out ready to take advantage of the Padres’ weaknesses. The Friars provided those weaknesses in both games, and the Brewers cashed in.

That is not to say that Milwaukee has played flawless baseball; far from it. Mistakes have been made on both sides, but the Brewers have taken advantage, and the Padres have not.

The Friar Faithful now see their team come home with their backs against a wall. The team must win out over the next two home games and then return to Milwaukee for a decisive fifth game in order to advance. 

The first two games were one-run affairs, decided by the Brewers getting timely hits and taking advantage of the Padres’ inability to do the same. There have also been some hiccups with the Padres bullpen that have not been echoed by Milwaukee.

All in all, the Brewers have been the better team. They had home field advantage and played very well.

The good and the bad

The Wild Card Series was tremendous.

Playing the Chicago Cubs, the Padres did almost everything right. Lots of hitting, great baserunning, good pitching, and a home crowd that provided energy. Not much to complain about with those two games.

Let’s start by giving some flowers to the good. Ty France has been spectacular. Hitting .467/.529/.533 over the four games, France has played excellent defense while batting cleanup on offense. He continues to hold up his end of the bargain.

Manny Machado is hitting .385/.438/.769 in the four games with one of the four home runs hit by the Padres. Xander Bogaerts is continuing his late-season surge with a .357 average and 1.081 OPS in his 14 at-bats with a home run. Starter Michael King has two starts and 12 innings pitched with a 0.75 ERA while accumulating 14 strikeouts to three walks.

The Friars hit .454 with runners in scoring position during the Wild Card round. They executed in serious situations while outscoring the Cubs 12-1.

All that changed in Milwaukee.

In the two losses, the Padres were 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position with 20 left on base. Multiple members of the team failed in this area. Machado is 0-for-2 with RISP and grounded out with the bases loaded in the first game.

But the biggest problem facing the offense so far this series is the failure of Fernando Tatis Jr. to make anything happen. For the Padres to turn this around, Tatis has to get going.

Fernando Tatis Jr. is in a slump

In his first two postseason appearances (2020 and 2024), Tatis hit .318 and .423, respectively. In the 2025 Wild Card Series against the Cubs, Tatis joined his teammates in an offensive drought, hitting just .083. During the recently completed regular season, Tatis suffered a power outage for the first two months but has come on strong over the last four months of the season. Finishing the year hitting .289 with a .828 OPS, Tatis had 25 homers and 83 RBI.

The postseason has been a different story. Over the four games and 17 at-bats, Tatis is hitting .176 with a .575 OPS. He has one home run and one RBI while striking out five times.

The stars have to star

For the Padres to rebound from the disappointment in Milwaukee, the star players have to play like stars. France and Bogaerts are performing like the standout players need to play. Tatis has not held up his part of the bargain, and Jackson Merrill has looked a lot like the Merrill of the early season. Hitting .313 in his 16 at-bats, Merrill has a .666 OPS with no extra-base hits and two RBI. He is swinging at balls and has five strikeouts to show for it. 

The offense can still recover but both Tatis and Merrill have to wake up at the plate.

Pitching problems

Michael King and Nick Pivetta have delivered, limiting the opposition to two runs over their combined 15.1 innings pitched. Bradgley Rodriguez and Yuki Matsui have shined out of the bullpen with no runs allowed over seven innings combined. Jason Adam has allowed no hits over two innings pitched.

The problems have come down to the start by Robbie Ray with a 6.75 ERA and rare hiccups from the two highest-leverage and most successful bullpen arms on the team, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller. 

The Brewers hitters have worked both of them for mistakes and took advantage of a rare loss of command by Miller. Those are the difference makers in the two lost games in Milwaukee. 

Giving the bullpen a break

More offense and more timely execution will lead to more runs. Those runs will give the pitchers some breathing room for mistakes or a bad day. The real issue is that the offense needs to be better for the Friars to bounce back from the disappointment of the first two games in Milwaukee. 

Get Tatis and Merrill going to provide more depth offensively and the pressure will ease on the bullpen. That should be the recipe for success in the next three games.

Padres News:

• Talk on social media after the Brewers came back with a walk-off win on Game 2 was that Padres closer Mason Miller might have been tipping his pitches. He does not think so.

• Despite their 0-2 deficit, the Padres believe they can still win the NLDS.

• Ty France is arguably the Padres’ team MVP for the 2026 season, but he is still trying to prove he belongs.

• As Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball stated in the body of this post, the stars are going to have to star if the Padres have any chance to come back in the series and Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune agrees.

• The Padres know it’s win or stay home, so they are taking a direct approach to the next three games with hopes of returning to Milwaukee.

• Adrian Morejon has an additional coach to help him through times he struggles and outside of one pitch to William Contreras in Game 1 of the NLDS, it seems to work.

• Walker Buehler returns to NLDS roster for San Diego after paternity leave.

Baseball News:

• The Tampa Bay Rays scored four runs in the fifth inning en route to a win over the New York Yankees and a 2-0 series lead.

• The Chicago White Sox return home with a chance to win the series after winning both road games against the Cleveland Guardians.

The theme of this Phillies offseason is once again change. That could have been said for each of the last few offseasons except this time, it feels as if the team has no choice but to finally embrace it. There will be new faces in the lineup whenever the 2027 Phillies take the field, the question is how many.

At a minimum, it’s likely that there will be at least two new starters just based on the team’s impending free agents. The biggest possible exit is Alec Bohm, who after two years of the team reportedly trying to trade him, seems an almost lock to be playing elsewhere in 2027. That means the Phillies will have to find a new starting third baseman. Theoretically, that could be top prospect Aidan Miller, but expecting him to make the big league club in the spring despite missing practically all of 2026 with back issues is a foolhardy idea. Miller probably shouldn’t be considered an option until mid-season at best, therefore leaving the starting 3B job open with utility infielder Edmundo Sosa also scheduled to hit free agency. The Phillies will need to find someone to man the hot corner until July at the earliest.

Besides the impending hole at third, there is also the revolving door of corner outfielders to attempt to solve once again. The last two years the Phillies elected to sign a pair of veteran outfielders to one-year deals in Max Kepler and Adolis Garcia. Kepler was woefully ineffective and Garcia wasn’t doing much before being lost for the season with a shoulder injury in June. The options became so dire in 2026 that Derek Hill and Bryan De La Cruz were starting postseason games for the Phillies, especially in the wake of Brandon Marsh’s abysmal second half. The safe bet is that the Phillies will at least have a new starting right fielder next season.

Of course, this offseason is going to be the furthest thing from normal, with an impending lockout threatening the timing of free agency and the season itself. It will be hard to evaluate just exactly what options the Phillies will have in front of them for upgrades, but either way, they will have to find some.

So, how many new regulars will be in the Phillies lineup in 2027?

Good morning.

Kennedi Landry writes about her preseason 2026 Texas Rangers predictions and how no one could have predicted the 2026 Texas Rangers despite the 2026 Texas Rangers being exactly who everyone thought they were.

In other news, Jon Daniels’ Tampa Bay Rays are close to facing Will Venable’s Chicago White Sox in the ALCS if they each can win one more game, though it would take Chicago besting Nathaniel Lowe’s Cleveland Guardians to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since 1906.

Meanwhile, Chris Woodward’s Los Angeles Dodgers are heading to Atlanta to take on Martin Perez’s Braves with their NLDS series tied at one game apiece while Grant Anderson’s Milwaukee Brewers are up 2-0 on A.J. Preller’s San Diego Padres.

And that’s all for today. How’s autumn looking for you? Spice any gourds lately?

Have a nice day!

When the Orioles acquired Blaze Alexander, Jordan Westburg was reportedly only suffering from mild oblique discomfort. The team did not yet know that the former All Star would undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the duration of the season. Jackson Holliday, primed for a breakout year, suffered a broken hamate bone the day after Baltimore made the trade.

Mike Elias missed on plenty of things in 2026, but he was right to trust his instinct that the team needed more infield depth. Alexander was out of minor-league options, so he was always going to make the team, but many projected the 27-year-old to beat out Jeremiah Jackson for a utility spot. Instead, Alexander broke camp as the team’s starting second baseman.

As it turned out, Alexander needed some time to adjust to his new role. Craig Albernaz still leaned on his defensively versatility—Alexander appeared at second base, shortstop, third base, and all three outfield positions by the end of April—but he received at bats like an everyday player. The former Diamondback slashed a disappointing .177/.250/.210 over his first 25 games in Baltimore.

Briefly, fans wondered if Arizona had gotten the best of Baltimore. The Orioles sent right-handed reliever Kade Strowd and two prospects to the Diamondbacks, and the O’s could have used a reliever with Strowd’s 1.71 ERA from 2025.

That notion changed in a hurry. Alexander broke out in the month of May with a .365/.403/.508 line over 25 games. The team struggled to find its footing, but Alexander kept his foot on the gas. He slashed .359/.417/.547 over 23 games in June and carried a .375/.429/.531 line through nine games in July.

Alexander’s strong play helped get the Orioles somewhat back on track. They entered the All Star break riding their first four-game win streak of the season, and a playoff run still felt somewhat obtainable at 46-51. Unfortunately, Orioles fans cannot have nice things.

Royals reliever Lucas Erceg fired a quick-pitch fastball inside to Alexander. The ball struck Alexander and caused a non-displaced fracture in his left hand. The benches cleared, but no punches were thrown. Even after securing an elusive fourth consecutive victory, the 2026 Orioles took another gut punch.

Alexander remained out of the lineup until the end of August, but the team managed to tread water in his absence. Coby Mayo steadied his defense at third base while emerging as one of the league’s best hitters against left-handed pitching. Holliday heated up with a .368/.500/.421 slash line in the month of July. The lineup suffered when Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo went down with injuries, but the team avoided a complete collapse after the trade deadline.

Alexander returned on August 28. The O’s completed a sweep of the Athletics and returned to .500 when Colton Cowser made a game-saving catch against the Rockies. With Alexander back, and the Orioles sitting at 69-69, the postseason felt completely obtainable.

Of course, that’s not how things worked out. Baltimore suffered a letdown in Colorado before melting down against the Red Sox. Alexander, to his credit, attempted to generate a spark in the Boston series, but his teammates simply were not up to the task. The Sox essentially ended Baltimore’s playoff dreams with a four-game sweep. Alexander hit the injured list a few days later with back spasms and missed the remainder of the season.

Alexander ranked as high as Arizona’s 11th best prospect in 2023, and he posted 1.7 WAR with the Snakes in 2025. Baltimore enticed the Diamondbacks to part ways by offering Strowd, Wellington Aracena, and José Mejía. Aracena was ranked Baltimore’s 26th best prospect at the time.

In a surprising turn of events, Strowd made only two appearances for the Diamondbacks last season. He posted a 6.02 and 1.748 over 46.1 innings at Triple-A Reno. Aracena went 2-5 with a 4.83 ERA before posting a 6.91 ERA over six starts at Double-A. Mejía slashed .251/.367/.373 between Low and High A.

Alexander is still out of minor-league options, but he’s under team control until 2031. Baltimore’s infield faces plenty of questions with Westburg’s health, Holliday’s bat, and Mayo’s glove. There’s definitely room for Alexander on the roster, and he’ll continue to earn everyday at bats if he swings it like he did last season.

The path to playing time could be easier in the outfield, but Alexander’s glove plays better in the dirt. The Orioles need to get better defensively next season, and Alexander has yet to play like a plus defender in the outfield. Gunnar Henderson remains entrenched at short, and the O’s would love to see Holliday and Westburg lock up their positions. Will the Orioles look to get Alexander extra reps in the outfield next spring?

Either way, his defensive versatility balances out the lack of options. It took a little time, but Alexander emerged as one of Baltimore’s best hitters in the first half. It’s probably not fair to expect the same results next season, but there’s plenty to like with Alexander in 2027 and beyond.

The drama is at least partly behind us. The Braves feel like they’re getting Full Strength Chris Sale for Game 3.

So, what does that mean? Or, more specifically, what does that mean in light of a game after an off day, but also after the Braves went Johnny Much-of-the-Staff in Games 1 and 2 of this series?

Sale went 6 1/3 in his outing against the Phillies. He averaged right around six innings a start over the course of the season. In his two starts against the Dodgers, he went seven and nine. Of course, the answer is, “He’ll go as long as something resembling prudent,” but I guess my question is, what’s that gonna be? Will it be another six-ish innings, or will the Braves feel compelled, if he’s rolling and stuff is close, to push him further than they otherwise would given the usage of the rest of the pitching roster earlier in this series?

I’ll say that he pitches into the seventh but doesn’t finish it, like his first postseason start. What about you?

Jazz Chisholm Jr. has no regrets about his wild off-balance throw from second base that helped put the Yankees in an immediate hole.

With runners on first and second and no one out, George Lombard Jr. turned a potential double-play ball to Chisholm Jr., who immediately threw out of control to first baseman Luis Garcia Jr., allowing Yandy Diaz to score.

It would have been difficult for Chisholm Jr. to turn the double play with Junior Caminero hustling down the line but Chisholm’s out-of-control throw added to the Yankees’ first-inning woes that started with a Ryan McMahon error on a Diaz grounder to start the game.

“Honestly, I’d probably still throw it,” Chisholm Jr. told reporters after the Rays beat the Yankees 5-2 in Game 2 of the ALDS.

“The play was trying to be made. I just feel like I could have probably tried to make an even better throw. Where I’d throw it, I’d try and throw it a little more closer to the base. My back was turned.”

The admission by Chisholm Jr., or lack of responsibility from him, has sparked some outrage online as the Yankees continued to play poor fundamental baseball in the playoffs.

Aaron Boone’s group made four horrific errors, and made routine plays look difficult for much of the game.

Chisholm Jr. was then a bit too far back on a fifth-inning ground ball where the score was tied 1-1.

Liam Hicks hit a ground ball right to him. The Yankee second baseman was too far back to go home with the ball and instead had to take the out at first, allowing Tampa Bay to retake the lead.

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It is unclear whether Chisholm Jr. was back on the play by design or if he was just not paying enough attention to the defensive strategy of the play, though it was clear his first instinct was to go home.

Chisholm Jr. has had a nightmare season, and he is due to be a free agent ahead of next season.

He came into the season vowing to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases for the Yankees, but he fell far short. 

Chisholm Jr. did steal 41 bases, but hit just 19 home runs and won’t be considered for a Gold Glove anytime soon, leading all second basemen in errors with nine. 

Wednesday’s game in the Bronx could be his final in pinstripes if they are not able to right the ship and play fundamentally sound baseball.

Ernie Clement was picked up as a free agent signing in March of 2023, after his release by the A’s earlier that month. I wasn’t thrilled with taking a castoff of the A’s (one who only played 6 games for one of the worst teams in baseball). It wasn’t like we didn’t already have a couple of dozen utility/middle infielders who likely wouldn’t be able to hit their weight.

But Ernie had good 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Jays, hitting .271/.301/.402 with 21 home runs. 101 RBI, 38 walks and 102 strikeouts. Ok, getting two walk a month isn’t great, but the rest of his batting line was pretty good, especially when you add near Gold Glove defense into the mix. In the two years he’s totaled 7.6 in bWAR

In 2024 he played mostly mostly third base and shortstop. In 2025 he split time between third and second (with a few games at short).

So we were expecting a pretty good 2026 season.