LAS VEGAS – The Dodgers could re-sign Tarik Skubal.
They could inject youth in their lineup.
They could improve their bullpen.
None of that will matter if Shohei Ohtani isn’t healthy in October, and based on what general manager Brandon Gomes said on Tuesday, there should be serious concerns that he won’t be.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani watches from the dugout during the ninth inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
While Gomes refrained from saying how Ohtani would be managed in 2027, every indication was that Ohtani will be permitted to attempt what he failed to do this year, which was to be a two-way player from the start of the season to the finish.
“It doesn’t mean that if he goes wire to wire, [next] year plays out in the same way,” Gomes said.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Los Angeles, Oct. 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But Gomes didn’t sound as if the Dodgers were thinking of delaying the start of Ohtani’s season as a pitcher to control his workload.
Gomes said Ohtani would have a “normal” offseason.
Their plans for his winter throwing program?
“Leave it up to him,” Gomes said.
Leave it up to Ohtani and he will almost certainly prepare himself to be ready to pitch when the Dodgers open their season.
And once he does that, why wouldn’t he want to pitch from the start?
“I think the competitor in everybody is always that they’re gonna play 162 [games],” Gomes said. “Knowing Shohei, that’ll be his mindset.”
And that could be trouble.
Wagering on Ohtani to deliver in the batter’s box or on the mound is entirely defensible.
Wagering on him to remain healthy as a full-time two-way player at this stage of his career borders on reckless.
The last time Ohtani was a hitter and pitcher for an entire season was in 2022.
He turns 33 next year.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani walks to the dugout after striking out in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
By now, the Dodgers have to know that Ohtani can’t be trusted to recognize his own physical limitations.
A person’s strengths and weaknesses spring from the same well, and in the case of Ohtani, he has an extraordinary tolerance for pain as well as a drive to win. The qualities have shaped him into the No. 1 player in the world, but they were also responsible for him blowing out his elbow with the Angels in 2023 and for what happened this year.
The responsibility to protect Ohtani from himself will be that of the Dodgers, who can’t be as passive with him as they were this year.
“I think it’s just making sure that we are taking all of the information into account and trying to set up a system that allows him to pitch and be successful and be healthy towards the end because we know how dominant he can be on the run,” Gomes said.
Gomes offered a couple of examples of what the Dodgers could do. They could start him less frequently early in the season. They could give him more days off as a hitter.
Ohtani will be consulted.
“I think for us to unilaterally decide that doesn’t make sense,” Gomes said. “So, it’s really bringing him into the conversation and figuring out how to navigate a full season.”
Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes speaks with the media Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, at the MLB General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas. Getty Images
That arrangement produced disastrous results this year, as the Dodgers listened to Ohtani when he said he believed he could play through injuries to his knee and arm.
His condition worsened to where he couldn’t make his final pitching start before the All-Star break. By mid-July, his physical problems were starting to affect him in the batter’s box.
The Dodgers were able to win their division with a limited version of Ohtani, but the playoffs were a different story.
Gomes made it sound as if Ohtani would be given the chance to have his dream season – to be a dominant two-way player from opening day to the final game of the World Series. By granting him that opportunity, however, they will be exposing themselves to the possibility of reliving their worst nightmare.
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BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 21: Andrew Kittredge #39 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on after pitching against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 21, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles’ decision to reacquire Andrew Kittredge from the Chicago Cubs was their first attempt at reshaping the 2026 O’s into a contender. And, like many of the Orioles’ efforts in 2026, it turned out to be a little misguided as Kittredge’s second run in Baltimore had more lows than highs.
Baltimore purchased Kittredge’s contract from the Cubs on November 4th, 2025. The move brought the veteran reliever back to Baltimore just over three months after Mike Elias sent him to Chicago at the 2025 trade deadline.
At the time, it looked like a stroke of genius from the Orioles front office. In sending Kittredge to Chicago, the Orioles brought back teenage SS propsect Wilfri De La Cruz (now Baltimore’s No. 30 prospect). To be able to buy the 36-year-old right-hander back for cash considerations just months later gave the Orioles a way to bolster their bullpen at virtually no cost.
With the Orioles also adding veteran closer Ryan Helsley last offseason, the assumption was that Kittredge would slot into the 7th/8th inning role for Baltimore. That plan was put on hold to begin the year, as he started on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. When he finally made his 2026 debut on April 24th, he slotted right back into that set up role, working a scoreless 7th inning in a win against the Red Sox.
Over the next month, eight of his 13 appearances came in the 7th or 8th innings. If you ignore a May 3rd blow up against the Yankees that saw him give up seven runs while only recording one out, Kittredge pitched to a 1.74 ERA over his first 12 appearances of the season. Over those same outings, he racked up 12 Ks across 10.1 innings while allowing a .179 batting average against. By all accounts, his return to the Orioles as a set up man was going according to plan.
Kittredge’s role changed as it became clear that Helsley couldn’t stay healthy. Though the Orioles would-be closer first landed on the IL on May 1st, it wasn’t until June that Kittredge started consistently getting the call in the 9th inning. From the beginning of June until the All-Star break, the veteran righty made nine of his 16 appearances in the 9th inning. Across those 16 outings, Kittredge continued to shine, posting a 1.88 ERA and .218 BAA while picking up three saves and three holds.
The veteran continued to lead the Orioles bullpen in the second half as the O’s pushed to get back in the playoff race. Kittredge earned a save in the Orioles’ most topsy-turvy game of the season, coming in for the final out of a 12-inning affair against the Tigers when Baltimore completed a comeback from a 7-0 deficit. From July 17th to August 29th, he continued to keep runs off the board, posting a 1.56 ERA while adding five more saves and five more holds. Even his bad nights didn’t cost the Orioles, as his only two blown saves during that stretch both ended in Baltimore extra-inning victories.
However, there were signs that Kittredge’s strong performance was heading toward a regression. After his BAA hovered around .200 for most of the first half, his first 19 second-half outings saw him give up an opponent’s avearge of .284.
That regression finally bore real consequences during the Orioles’ three-game road set against the Rockies. In the first game of the series, Kittredge should have taken the blown save and loss, but for Colton Cowser making the defensive play of the season with a walkoff home run robbery. Two days later, Kittredge entered in the 9th with the Orioles up 3-2 and looking to secure a series win. After starting the inning with a strikeout and flyout, Kittredge allowed back-to-back two-out doubles to blow the save, with the Rockies going on to win the game in extra innings.
The Orioles’ inability to secure a series win vs. the Rockies was seen as the first death knell for their playoff chances. Manager Craig Albernaz also seemed to lose faith in Kittredge down the stretch, as that blown save vs. the Rockies was one of only six appearances he made in September. Across those six outing, Kittredge had a 7.20 ERA and .318 BAA as he potentially ended his Orioles career with a whimper.
Kittredge finished the season with -0.4 bWAR after compiling a 3.54 ERA, 11 saves and 40 Ks over 48.1 innings in 55 appearances. His 1.37 WHIP was his worst since 2018, while his 7.4 K/9 was his worst since 2022. He also became the first Orioles closer since 2021 to lead the team in saves with 11 or fewer. Sure, the Orioles went 36-19 in games Kittredge pitched. And yet, his negative WAR, negative Win Probability Added and mediocre stats across the board paint the picture of a pitcher whose appearances felt like he was just accumulating service time instead of consistently making a difference.
As of two weeks ago, Kittredge is officially a free agent. With Rico Garcia, Grant Wolfram, Yennier Cano and the hopefully healthy Helsley and Félix Bautista leading the back end of the bullpen, there’s little reason to think Kittredge will return to Baltimore. And yet, with the organization prioritizing starting pitching and outfield depth this offseason, maybe a cheap deal could see the Orioles reunite with Kittredge a second time.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: A general view of the "Atta Babe, Kruck" sign in the outfield as the San Francisco Giants honor Mike Krukow before a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park on September 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
With today being a holiday, I thought we could take a look at the behind the scenes footage from Mike Krukow’s final broadcast for the San Francisco Giants.
The 2026 season was hard to watch, quite literally in multiple ways. But there was always one saving grace, as there always has been for the team in my lifetime. And that was the wonderful broadcasts from Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper.
Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. And eras have to end, even when we don’t want them to. And we had to say goodbye to Mike Krukow on the call at the end of this season. That hurt way more than anything else the organization did to us this year. Because Krukow has always felt like part of the family. Like part of every family that enjoyed Giants baseball broadcasts. We’ve filled our homes with his familiar voice and enjoyed his sense of humor and anecdotes for decades.
So today, let’s watch the behind the scenes of his final broadcast.
Sep 17, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) tries to throw out Chicago White Sox center fielder Brenton Doyle (7) at first base during the sixth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Good morning.
Awards season has started and Brewers manager Pat Murphy won the National League Award for the third season in a row. That’s a record. White Sox manager Will Venable took home American League honors.
Before we get to all the speculation about the Hot Stove market, the Tigers have signed reliever Emilio Pagan to a one-year, $11 million deal. I think that’s the first major league deal of the season. Or at least the first major, major league deal. But not that major.
There is this problem with the trade market, however:
Hearing MLB trade candidates with 1 year of control left — Logan Gilbert, Steven Kwan, Joe Ryan, Sandy Alcántara, et al — are unlikely to be moved for prospects this month, because teams aren’t sure what kind of 2027 season to expect.
Braves team president Alex Anthopolous said Atlanta will not trade star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. There have been lots of rumors that they’d consider it, and he said he doesn’t know who came up with that. It always seemed far-fetched to me as well.
Yankees pitcher Max Fried had surgery to remove some bone spurs from his elbow. The team says he should be ready for Spring Training which to tell you the truth, doesn’t tell us much about Fried’s recovery schedule.
One of the new Padres’ owners said that the Padres are about “inclusion.” But then he added “not in a woke sort of way,” which just means everyone is likely to take offense to his statement. Kurt Badenhausen with the story.
Sad news as former All-Star catcher Bob Boone has died at 78. Boone was one of three generations of major leaguer players as his dad Ray and his sons Bret and Aaron were all major leaguers. Our condolences go out to Boone’s friends and family.
I don’t think we can pretend there aren’t still holes in Caglianone’s game. We don’t really know where his long-term defensive home will be. The eye test and the metrics showed he was a much-improved right fielder early in the year, but when he shifted to first base for a bit while Vinnie Pasquantino was hurt, he struggled there and then struggled again in the outfield upon his return. Does that suggest the improved defense was a small sample, or that if they left him alone, he’d figure it out? He’s not a bad athlete. He doesn’t have great sprint speed, but his arm is such a weapon that it almost feels like a shame to waste it at first base.
But his positional ambiguity certainly makes him a tougher case when looking at comps. I’ll tell you right now that Caglianone’s team will want to market him as a right fielder while the Royals would save money if they viewed him as a first baseman. Since this would be a negotiation between team and player, I don’t think it’ll get to a point where they need to present that, but the numbers are different for a corner outfielder vs. a first baseman.
It’s always exciting when recent first-round picks or international signings make early-career appearances in the Arizona Fall League. The Royals have provided prospect hounds following the Fall League with a double dose, thanks to Angeibel Gomez and Zion Rose. The latter had his best week of the AFL season, as he reached base 12 times in 20 plate appearances and stole six bases without being caught. Rose has stood out for his ability to get on base and put pressure on the defense with his speed. He’s struggled against velocity at times in AFL play but, overall, he’s been highly productive, hitting .328/.494/.517 with two home runs in 15 games. Rose ranks sixth in on-base percentage, eighth in OPS and fifth in steals. In many ways, those marks perfectly encapsulate Rose’s strengths as a player.
Braun’s stuff is never going to wow anyone, but he’s spent the past three years at the upper levels and is ready for a shot. He scuffled a bit after getting dealt from the Braves to the Royals at the Trade Deadline, but he’s been a very durable starter, topping 140 IP twice in the last two years (over 130 IP this past season) and could be a very solid inning-eating back-end starter in 2027.
When hitters did manage to put the ball in play against him, they struggled to lift it, as shown by Soto’s 46.1% ground-ball rate. The Royals have a highly capable defensive infield backed by Maikel Garcia, Bobby Witt Jr., Michael Massey and Vinnie Pasquantino, who are all built to maximize a ground-ball pitcher’s effectiveness. Putting a heavy sinker lefty in front of Kansas City’s talented defensive infield is a great recipe for quick, efficient outs.
While premier closing pitchers and late-inning bullpen arms demand high-dollar contracts, Soto sits in a sweet spot as an impactful yet realistic target. Soto will likely fetch a multi-year contract somewhere in the range of $8-$10 million per season this winter. If the Royals want the opposite of what happened to them last season with the bullpen, making Soto an offer would be a step in the right direction.
The point I was trying to make isn’t the specific values; it’s that the biggest change in Wacha’s home run suppression was not his home park but the change in contact allowed relative to what you’d expect from the shape and location of his pitches.
There’s no reason to expect anyone to be as good at this skill as Wacha was in 2024 and 2025. For example, he wasn’t nearly that good at the skill in the previous years of his career, when his xbotHR and actual home runs allowed were roughly equal. So if you’re forecasting how many homers Wacha will allow next year, you probably shouldn’t ascribe some kind of outlier contact suppression value. And in fact, Steamer projects him for 28 homers allowed in 2027, and it projected him for 26 this year. Maybe I was wracking my brain for reasons Wacha was beating the odds when the real reason was just random variation and short-term swings that don’t stick in the long run; both my breakdown and Steamer’s projections sure seem to think that way, at least.
“Our outfield hasn’t been as productive as we needed it to be over the last two or three years,” Picollo said ahead of the 2025 GM Meetings. “We’re back at it again, trying to figure things out.”
Well, a year later and Picollo and the Royals find themselves in the same position. The team’s outfield graded out as one of the weakest aspects of the entire roster this year. Outside of Jac Caglianone, the Royals’ outfield offered the team very little in terms of offensive production throughout the 2026 season. That doesn’t mean that Picollo didn’t try to make changes last offseason. He just didn’t make the right changes.
His changeup has elite vertical separation from his four-seamer and doesn’t sacrifice zone rate in doing so. In 2025, it had a 39% whiff rate and a 68% ground-ball rate. He mixes that with an ability to create depth at velocity on his breaking balls. He’s throwing both his sweeper and short slider ~1 mph harder than the average for a lefty starter and generating 2-4” more drop. Neither of those pitches has performed as well as the underlying shapes indicate, but they’re both good offerings.
It’s going to take a risk-tolerant team to pay Bubic, but there are several of those in MLB. Teams like the Dodgers and Rays have shown a tendency to embrace variance with past deals. The “what do you get when you win” with Bubic is better than many of the arms priced below $15 million per year. That said, I do think Clemens’ $17 million per year is a bit inflated for a pitcher with his health track record. A 110-inning, 3.50-ERA season with strong peripherals will create surplus value. Anything better could pay off this contract in one season.
Despite last appearing in a game in 2022, infielder Adalberto Mondesí is attempting a comeback. Mondesí, 31, recently started playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Over the past few years, lower-body injuries played a role in derailing his career.
Today’s song of the day is Frostbite by Waylon Wyatt.
My note on today:
As you read this on November 11, 2026, today marks Veterans Day. The day falls on this date each year to remember the end of World War 1, 108 years ago. “The war to end all wars” formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the Armistice of Compiègne. That time period and the people who shaped it feel so far away, but people around the world still recognize Veterans Day or an equivalent holiday to mark the end of this war.
There is a difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day; just remember. Veterans Day recognizes the living and deceased among us who served in wartime or peacetime. I remember in elementary school, there at St. George Elementary, old World War II veterans would come and talk to the class or help us with remembrances in the days leading up to Veterans Day. Like many children, I imagine, I thought those veterans would always be around. I knew World War II was bad, so they could make it through anything. But I think of veterans from that era, including the Korean War, and none are still here. All taken by old age despite dodging the reaper on foreign shores decades before. That feeling has some reality, as of the 15.8 million veterans the U.S. Census Bureau reported back in 2023, only 0.6%, or 94,800, were from World War II.
I remember them so vividly not because of medals or scars or what rank they were. There was a light in their eyes when they spoke about what they could to young ears, trying to paint a grim and deadly scene through PG-rated lenses. To them, I think Charles Dickens’ opening to A Tale of Two Cities is appropriate. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The light I talked about illuminated the parts they may have taken for granted: the brotherhood they never found again, the life purpose that they never quite reached, or the sanity and well-being they had before going into a war-torn setting.
I wonder if that will ever be me one day. This Veterans Day marks my last of active-duty service, after joining the Navy in January 2015 and separating this month. It is an uncertain time, but one that I am willing to enter and happy to find who Jacob Milham is outside MC1 Milham.
Will I be the one who sits in the diner booth, letting my coffee go cold as I reminisce about my days at Diego Garcia? How will I remember my destroyer days, from earning my sea legs to telling the stories of Sailors from all walks of life? Will I be the plankowner who returns to CVN 79 long after the PCU title is swapped for USS, that of a commissioned vessel? The answer is that I don’t know. But I do know that I ponder this and already know I am not the only one out there who has faced this uncertainty or these questions.
Being able to look on the calendar and see when I will move from one side of the aisle to another, I know this: talk to a veteran you know. Don’t assume anything; don’t expect a star-spangled story that is akin to a Prime Video show. Just ask them what they remember the most from service, and listen. Have a conversation with them. Let that light come back to their eyes for a moment, and you just might learn a thing or two about a thing or two.
To all the veterans out there, may you feel seen, heard, and cared for this Veterans Day. You have come from all walks of life to serve a purpose, while facing adversity and strife both abroad and at home. Reach out to your battle buddies, shipmates, squadmates, and those you served alongside, no matter the setting.
This day can be emotionally charged. If today or ever veterans in your life need help, call 988, then press 1, or text 838255 for free, confidential support 24/7, 365 days a year. You can find more information at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/.
LAS VEGAS — A clouded haze hung over the first tentpole event of the MLB offseason, and no, it wasn’t the cigarette and cigar smoke on the casino floor of the ARIA Resort and Casino, where the league’s annual general managers meetings continued Tuesday.
The GM meetings rarely offer anything more than an appetizer for the rest of the winter. But the anticipated lockout means there will be no winter meetings, the typical main course. If a new CBA hasn’t been ratified by 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, teams will be barred from making any major-league transactions or even contacting players or their representatives.
In other words, the stove will hardly have time to heat up before the gas gets shut off.
Posey possesses a minority ownership stake in the Giants, in addition to his title as the team’s top baseball official, but said that he would “not [be] a part of any of the bargaining.”
He is more focused on turning around a team that lost 97 games last season. In the next three weeks, he will try to add pitching, pitching and more pitching. The Giants’ 4.34 ERA as a staff ranked 23rd out of 30 teams, while their strikeout-to-walk ratio was fourth from the bottom.
“Obviously the bullpen for us was a big talking point with our struggles last year,” Posey said. “So our focus is going to be trying to improve the rotation.”
San Francisco Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey speaks with the media on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Getty Images
With only Logan Webb, Landen Roupp and Adrian Houser in the fold, the Giants are expected to target at least one free-agent starting pitcher. And after going most of last season without a defined closer and their most electric late-inning option, Randy Rodriguez, returning from Tommy John surgery, at least one high-leverage reliever is also on their shopping list.
But can Posey realistically get anything done before hitting the pause button?
“I don’t know yet,” he said. “Maybe it is; maybe it isn’t. I wish I could say definitively, but I can’t.”
The Giants have had about six weeks to evaluate their roster and the upgrades available to them in free agency, which officially kicked off last Monday. They have a list of priorities.
Given the circumstances, those talks could move more aggressively than in other winters.
“Probably, yeah,” Posey said. “But there’s a lot of variables that go into before you get to a final yes or no. … It’s interesting having different conversations. You get some agents that are much more direct with what their expectations are and what their players’ expectations are, versus some [who] are just a little bit more guarded and not going to give you as much.”
San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb throws a pitch during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
When it comes to bullpen help, Posey said his “preference would be more than one.” However, Posey added that the Giants may shy away from free agents with a qualifying offer attached, which would require them to part with a draft pick, potentially limiting their late-inning options.
Eight players received qualifying offers, including arguably the two best relief arms on the market in Adrian Morejon and David Bednar. The Orioles also extended one to Trevor Rogers, one of the starting pitchers who might have piqued the Giants’ interest.
“I think it’s gonna be harder for us” to sign anyone from that group, Posey said.
Posey, a three-time world champion, knows better than anyone that the Giants’ results weren’t up to snuff last season. He’s now on the clock to turn it around for 2027.
And this winter, time only seems to be ticking faster.
“I think we have to be realistic with where we are right now,” Posey said. “I do think we underperformed. … I do think we can contend. I’m also realistic in knowing we lost 97 games last year, and we have to be willing to do some things differently.”
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DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 27: Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers looks on prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park on September 27, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. The Pirates defeated the Tigers 4-2. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Happy Wednesday, everyone. MLB Awards season is in full swing. Kevin McGonigle netted the Rookie of the Year Award for the AL, to no one’s surprise, though there is the question of the two voters who gave him a second-place selection…. side-eyeing them. Then on Tuesday night we got the Manager of the Year Awards, and Pat Murphy three-peted, not a shock. We’ve also got some hot stove rumors to get into, specifically about Tarik Skubal and which teams are showing the most interest in the ace.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 22: General Manager Josh Byrnes of the Colorado Rockies speaks to the media prior to a game against the Boston Red Sox at Coors Field on June 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
Good morning, Purple Row!
Here’s what’s going on with the Colorado Rockies and the rest of Major League Baseball.
Kevin Henry is down in Las Vegas at the GM meetings and caught up with Josh Byrnes. The Rockies GM mainly talked about the team being ready to be busy over the next few weeks before the expected lockout.
Despite some financial freedom and many obvious needs, Laura Lambert laments the fact that Sports Illustrated’s free agent predictions didn’t include the Rockies at all.
Charlie Condon (No. 2 PuRP) is listed as the Rockies’ best option for a Rookie of the Year candidate next season, and if he can tap into his power and be productive, that may get him some buzz.
This week, Evan Lang and I discuss the news that came out from DNVR about the disconnect that led to Alon Leichman’s dismissal. We also dive into the hiring of Ethan Katz before rounding things out with some Arizona Fall League talk!
Baseball lost another one of its storied players with the passing of Bob Boone. Regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his generation, Boone won seven Gold Gloves and had four All-Star Game selections over his 19-year career.
Was there really any doubt that Pat Murphy wouldn’t win another Manager of the Year award? After leading the Brewers to the best record in baseball (and subsequently a World Series victory), Murphy becomes the first manager in MLB history to win three times in a row.
Meanwhile, Will Venable won Manager of the Year for the American League. Venable guided the White Sox to a playoff appearance, breaking a streak of three consecutive 100-loss seasons for Chicago, returning to the postseason for the first time since 2021.
Mike Axisa has a nice roundup of rumors from the day. Among the news is that the Mets and Padres are interested in Tarik Skubal; both Chicago teams want to add starting pitchers, and the Red Sox are quite ready to make a commitment to Trevor Story at shortstop next season.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 10: President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias for the Baltimore Orioles speaks with the media during the 2026 MLB Gerneral Managers Meetings at Aria Resort & Casino on November 10, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
The GM Meetings are underway in Las Vegas, which gave reporters a chance to chat with the Orioles front office duo of president of baseball operations Mike Elias and brand new general manager Jared Banner. Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner provide a wrap up of the answers that Elias and Banner provided.
First, Banner confirmed that Mike Shildt will return as upper-level coordinator of instruction. That’s noteworthy since that sort of thing falls directly under Banner’s defined purview. Seems like he was satisfied to maintain some continuity there. On top of that, the entire major league coaching staff is expected to return unless they are poached. That is somewhat surprising, at least on the offensive side of things.
Elias said that he has already told a few current infielders that they may see time in the outfield during the spring. He stopped short of naming those players. It has long been speculated that Coby Mayo would fit better in a corner outfield spot than he does at third base, and some have suggested that Jackson Holliday’s speed would be useful out on the grass.
Jordan Westburg is on track to be a “normal citizen” to begin spring training, which seems to be Elias-speak for being 100% recovered from his elbow surgery. The same is true for Holliday and his wrist. Let’s see if that ends up being true come February.
The back of the bullpen is a question mark, and the Orioles are being honest about it. Ryan Helsley and Félix Bautista will factor in but, as Elias says “With both having injured 2026s, I don’t know if that’s entirely what we can rely on. We’ll see what moves we make over this winter.” That is good to hear.
And finally, Elias essentially confirmed the report from earlier this offseason that everyone on the roster is available, but provided additional clarity. “A lot of our key, core players are very unlikely to go anywhere…We’re talking to everybody about everything right now. … It’s part of our job, especially if a guy is not on a big, long-term contract, we’ve got to listen. But it doesn’t mean we’re motivated to trade players.”
All of this sounds perfectly reasonable on November 11. Elias is admitting to the team’s flaws in the bullpen and outfield. He also talked about how they want Trevor Rogers back but will have other avenues if he signs elsewhere, so the rotation is supposed to get some love as well. The guy understands where the weaknesses are.
Addressing those weaknesses and bringing in the correct players to fill those holes is where the struggles have been in recent years. The outfield will be a particularly tough problem to solve since the free agent market is thin, and the internal solutions are all huge variables. But they have to do something because it is probably the team’s most glaring need.
Mountcastle feels good and is waiting to find out which team might benefit from it | Roch Kubatko It was a bummer to see Ryan Mountcastle’s time with the Orioles come to such an unceremonious end. He was a fun personality and had been quite productive prior to 2025. He will get a job somewhere this offseason, likely a one-year, prove-it deal, where he can get back to hitting home runs somewhere other than the now-cavernous left field at Camden Yards.
Orioles retain ex-MLB manager to lead on-field education | The Baltimore Banner This is a deeper dive in Shildt’s role and how he is sticking around. It makes sense for Banner to keep things somewhat steady. It’s so early in his tenure that he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. Might as well learn how things function before you start poking too many holes.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Vinny Nittoli turns 30 today. He pitched in two games for the Orioles during the 2024 season.
J.R. House is 47 years old. During the 2007 season he played in 19 games as a reserve catcher for the O’s.
The late Ike Delock (b. 1929, d. 2022) was born on this day. The right-handed pitcher wrapped up his 11-season career with a seven-game stint on the Orioles in 1963. He had spent the prior decade with the Red Sox.
This day in O’s history
1953 – Jimmy Dykes is named manager of the Baltimore Orioles, succeeding Marty Marion in the role.
1970 – Boog Powell is named AL MVP. Although he did not lead the league in any one statistic, his entire stat-line of a .297 batting average, 35 home runs, and 114 RBI was impressive enough to beat out Tony Oliva, Harmon Killebrew, and Carl Yastrzemski beneath him.
1982 – The Orioles name a new manager for the first time since 1968. Joe Altobelli is tapped to replace legendary skipper Earl Weaver.
2014 – O’s boss Buck Showalter wins his third career Manager of the Year award
Happy birthday to Scott May, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 1987 – Jim Frey*, who managed the Chicago Cubs to the 1984 NL Eastdivision title, and spent last season as a broadcaster for the Cubs, is named the club’s director of baseball operations. His first major move will be to hire longtime friend Don Zimmer as manager on November 20th, and other stories as well.
Today in baseball history:
1891 – The National League meets and dismisses the charges of collusion and game throwing against the eastern clubs brought by the Chicago Colts, thereby formally giving the Boston Beaneaters the pennant. The league also plans its strategy for conquering the American Association by consolidating the four strongest Association clubs into a 12-team league for next year.
1899 – Chicago Orphans star outfielder Bill Lange returns to San Francisco, CA and vows he will never appear on the diamond again. He is only 28 and hit .325 this season.
1948 – Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees undergoes surgery for bone spurs on his right heel. DiMaggio will miss 65 games in 1949 because of continuing problems with his heel.
1996 – John Smoltz, who won a major league-high 24 games for the Atlanta Braves, wins the 1996 National League Cy Young Award in a runaway. Smoltz, the NL leader in strikeouts (276), innings pitched (253.2), and winning percentage (.750), receives 26 of 28 first-place votes. Kevin Brown of the Florida Marlins, the major-league ERA leader (1.89), receives the other two first-place votes. Since 1991, five of the six Cy Young winners have been Braves.
2008 – Tim Lincecum wins the Cy Young Award in his first full season in the majors. Lincecum led the league in strikeouts and was second in both wins and ERA. Brandon Webb finishes second for the second consecutive season. The NL Western Division has now produced eight of the last ten NL Cy Young Award winners.
2019 – Winners of the Rookie of the Year Award are announced, with Mets 1B Pete Alonso, who led the majors with 53 homers, receiving the honor in the NL and Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez doing so in the AL. Alonso receives 29 of 30 first-place votes, while Alvarez is a unanimous choice.
1620 – Mayflower Compact is signed by Pilgrims at Cape Cod, establishing the first framework of government in the territory that is now the USA.
1675 – German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz demonstrates integral calculus for the first time to find the area under the graph of the function y = f(x).
1714 – A highway in Bronx is laid out, later renamed East 233rd Street.
1807 – Washington Irving‘s Salmagundi periodical, the first to associate the name “Gotham” with New York City, is published.
1918 – World War I Armistice signed by the Allies and Germany comes into effect, with hostilities ending at 11 a.m., “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month”.
1921 – US President Warren G. Harding dedicates the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
1925 – American scientist Robert A. Millikan announces discovery of cosmic rays.
1926 – U.S. Route 66 is established from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, spanning 2,448 miles.
1940 – Willys unveiled its General Purpose vehicle (“Jeep”).
1999 – Last upside-down date until January 1, 6000.
Today in music history:
1925 – Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five begin their first recording session at Okeh Records in Chicago.
1957 – Sun Record’s release single “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis; sells a million copies in first ten days.
1969 – Apple Records releases single “Get Back” by ‘The Beatles with Billy Preston‘ in UK.
1974 – Operatic soprano Maria Callas makes her final public appearance in Sapporo, Japan.
2003 – Reprise Records releases “Closer,” the second studio album by pop-opera singer Josh Groban; featuring his signature song “You Raise Me Up,” it goes to No. 1 on US charts and becomes his biggest seller.
2008 – Taylor Swift releases her second studio album “Fearless” (Billboard Album of the Year, 2009; Grammy Album of the Year, 2010, American Music Awards, 2009).
2022 – Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen‘s 21st studio album “Only The Strong Survive”, his covers of American 60s and 70s R&B and soul songs.
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 1980: Darrell Porter of the Kansas City Royals prepares to slide into home guarded by Bob Boone of the Philadelphia Phillies during the World Series at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri in October of 1980. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images) | Focus on Sport via Getty Images
The Phillies lost a franchise icon yesterday, so that will probably dominate the local headlines with nothing much else going on.
This time, rival teams believe there’s a better chance of it happening, even though the divorce could be messy.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have placed All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte on the trade block again, still upset that he refused to show up a weekend series last year Aug. 17-19 against the Boston Red Sox, one that could have been the difference between the D-backs making the postseason or sitting home.
Marte missed three games while on the restricted list, and 10 games for being on the injured list at his request. And the Diamondbacks missed the postseason by two games.
Marte apologized to his teammates and to the organization after the incident, but the acrimony continues to linger.
And as of April 2026, Marte has 10-and-5 rights – meaning he can veto any trade.
“I think my stance with on all of the guys has been the same," Mike Hazen, D-backs president of baseball operations, said Tuesday afternoon after his GM availability with reporters. “I don't think we're in a position to just like run back what we did. We haven't made the playoffs in three years. …
“If you don’t make the playoffs, I think just making some small tweaks at the edges of the roster is necessarily going to get bigger change. I think we have to just be open-minded that there might be some other things, other ways out there, and explore those things.
“I don't feel like we're in a position in the market, I don't feel like we're in a position as a team, I don't feel like we're in a position of what we've accomplished over the last couple of years, to just say that we're good."
So, does that require another conversation with Marte to let him know that he’s on the trade block again?
“No, I don’t think so," Hazen said. “I think it is what it is at this point. I mean, the expectation at this point is that we’re going to be active, we’ll see. I don’t know where it’s going to take us yet, but I don’t think we have wrapped our heads around, “Are we good enough as currently constructed, and just run it back out there and hope that we get two more wins this next year?’
“I think that’s the problem we need to solve."
When the season ended last year, everyone from Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick to president Derrick Hall to manager Torey Lovullo insisted that they would no longer put up with any further unexcused absences. It has now happened in four consecutive seasons. It won’t happen a fifth year.
“The decisions you make are going to be on you now,” Lovullo said after the season. “I’m going to eliminate protecting you the way I have. And I will allow you to go out there and answer the questions on your own behalf instead of me protecting you.’’
Kendrick told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM: “That is what his manager should be doing, not me. I don’t mean it to come out as if I don’t have any responsibility in all of this. I do. But the primary responsibility for the ballplayers is the field manager, once they’re selected by the general manager. We’ve had a lot of good results from Ketel, and we’ve had some unfortunate acts of immaturity, and that needs to end.”
Marte, 32, who hit .249 last season with 22 homers, 76 RBIs and a .748 OPS in 141 games, still has five years and $89.25 million remaining on his contract. While he could veto any trade, the D-back have yet to ask him what teams he’d be willing to accept a trade.
“For me it's hard to go to players and have conversations that don't end up happening," Hazen said. “You know what gets put out there publicly a lot of times isn’t even remotely true. So, I don't know how to even defend against that. I can't go out and deny everything that gets sent out there.
“I know guys don't like having their name in the paper in the offseason. No player does. I respect that, and I try not to talk about that, but I feel like talking about things that don't end up happening end up creating more issue.
“That's just my personal stance on it. I know everybody's different. Everybody wants to be communicated to differently. Everybody appreciates different levels of communication. Some don't want to know anything. Some want to know everything. It's just hard to understand all that.’’
If someone makes an offer that appeals to the D-backs, then they’ll approach Marte, but only then, knowing it’s still quite possible he’s back with the team next spring.
“Look, he’s an incredible player," Hazen said. “We’re focused on trying to build the team the best way we can, and then we’ll tackle whatever we need to tackle next year when we get to spring training."
NORTH PORT, FL - FEBRUARY 16: New York Yankees Manager Aaron Boone poses for a photo with his dad Bob Boone during the Grape Fruit League Media Availability at CoolToday Park on Monday, February 16, 2020 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Yesterday morning, the Boone family announced that their beloved patriarch, Bob, had passed away. The son of a former All-Star himself, Bob became an incredibly long-lasting catcher in 19 seasons, earning seven Gold Gloves, four All-Star appearances, and a 1980 World Series ring with the Phillies. Seven years before that, his son Aaron was born; he and his brother Bret became the third generation of Boone All-Stars. Bob followed his father Ray into the great cornfield in the sky on Monday at the age of 78. Our thoughts are with Aaron and his family this week; it almost goes without saying, but speaking from personal experience, it’s such a tough time.
Today on the site, it’s a mix of our current rolling series and breaking news. Jonathan will provide the grade and writeup for erstwhile backup catcher J.C. Escarra’s 2026 campaign, and Peter will celebrate the 124th birthday of a New Jersey native who became a nine-year big leaguer and forgotten Yankee: Ownie Carroll. Also keep an eye out tonight for Michael on the AL Cy Young Award announcement and Jeremy on the reveal of which Yankees made the 2026 All-MLB Team.
Questions/Prompts:
1. Will Cam Schlittler be the unanimous AL Cy Young Award winner tonight, or will someone else get a first-place vote?
2. Same question, but with the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski over in the National League.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 02: Emilio Pagan #15 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch during the 7-3 win against the San Diego Padres at Great American Ball Park on September 02, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After midnight on Tuesday, Jon Heyman reported that the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a one-year contract worth $11.5 million with veteran closer Emilio Pagán. The 35-year-old has been with the Cincinnati Reds for the last three seasons, but declined a $10 million player option to come to Detroit instead for an extra million and a half. That assumes there are no potential bonuses available. We’ll wait for the full details to emerge and the physical to be completed before we’re sure on all the details.
The theory here is reasonably sound. Pagán consistently posts good strikeout and walk numbers, and he has a reputation as a bullpen leader. His one fatal weakness is his vulnerability to home runs. Obviously the Tigers are banking on getting him out of Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati to drive down the home run rates. That’s a predictable bit of reasoning, but after watching the Tigers high leverage relievers perform well in the overall stats columns in 2026, but blow a ton of games by giving up a homer at the worst possible time, it’s hard to love trying another older veteran reliever with home run issues next year.
Pagán racked up 25 saves in 45 appearances last year for the Reds. He posted a reasonably solid 3.38 ERA with a 4.18 FIP. His 25.9 percent strikeout rate is pretty good, and we like his low 6.3 percent walk rate. The fly in the ointment is a home run rate of 1.48 per nine innings.
The profile here is extremely fly ball heavy. He had a 59.3 fly ball rate in 2026. If he can keep the ball in the park a little more the Tigers outfield will collect a ton of routine outs, but it’s certainly a very volatile profile. His HR/9 for each of the last three seasons is 1.42, 1.31, and 1.48 in 2026. Pagán has always had home run problems everywhere he’s been, including San Diego, Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Oakland, and Seattle earlier in his career. It’s not just a Great American Ballpark issue. Here’s hoping the Tigers are right about Comerica suppressing home runs much more than the Reds fairly notorious ballpark.
Pagán relies heavily on his fourseam fastball, throwing it 62.8 percent of the time in 2026. He has a cutter and a splitter and uses them equally, deploying the splitter mainly to deal with lefties. He generally keeps balanced splits with those two secondary offerings, and that flexibility appeals to the Tigers and was one of the features Scott Harris mentioned looking for at the GM Meetings on Tuesday.
Pagán has plus extension, which helps as the fastball averaged 94.9 mph last year, down a tick from 2025. It does have some hop to it however, averaging 18 inches of induced vertical break. His whiff rates are generally average across the three pitches, but he does manage to minimize hard contact. It’s just that when the hard contact arrives, it tends to leave the park. He helps himself there by posting better than average walk rates, at least.
This is a perfectly fine acquisition, but it feels very Kenley Jansen 2.0 to be honest. Pagán is a little younger at 35, so we’ll hope the little downtick in velocity last season was just a blip. He also is much better than Jansen at locating the zone even when not at his best, so at least walks shouldn’t be an issue. Pagán is only a part-time closer as well, so the Tigers won’t be guaranteeing him save chances, which helps in terms of flexibility. If the Tigers go add a better reliever elsewhere, we’ll be thrilled. If not, we’ll cross our fingers again and hope for the best in terms of home runs allowed in unfortunate moments.
