Category: Baseball

The first transaction of the offseason has arrived as the Cubs have come to an agreement on a one-year deal for $2 million with right-handed reliever Jacob Webb. Robert Murray appears to have been first with the story.

Right-handed reliever Jacob Webb and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a new one-year, $2 million contract that includes a $4 million club option for 2028 ($500K buyout), according to a source familiar with the deal.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) November 2, 2026

Webb already had a team option for 2027 at $2.5 million. So what this deal does is move $500k of that money to 2028 (in the form of the buyout) or it gives the Cubs a $4 million option for 2028. For Webb, it means that 20 percent of his salary will be deferred for a year but also a smaller amount will be subject to being cut if the lockout cuts out a significant part of the seasons. A lockout that extended one month into the season would only cost Webb 1/6 of $2 million rather than $2.5 million, for example.

The Cubs had a lot of problems with the bullpen this past year, but Jacob Webb was not one of them. After playing for the Rangers in 2025, Webb signed a one-year deal with the Cubs for $1.5 million last winter, plus the option for this year. He went on to make 68 appearances for the Cubs and went 6-5 with a 3.38 ERA. The 33-year-old Webb eventually became the Cubs’ closer for a while, until a few blown saves by Webb in August caused manager Craig Counsell to go with a more mix-and-match approach to the ninth inning rather than relying on just one guy. In any case, Webb did lead the team in saves last year with nine.

The Cubs will likely look to other pitchers to get saves in 2027, but this deal means they clearly expect him to pitch important innings in games. It also means the Cubs have their first piece of rebuilding the bullpen done by brining back one of the better pitchers of 2026.

A quartet of Word Series-winning managers headline the eight Contemporary Era finalists for the 2027 Baseball Hall of Fame.

Dusty Baker, Bruce Bochy, Joe Maddon and Lou Piniella all spent at least 19 years in a major-league dugout with a total of seven World Series rings among them. They are joined on the ballot by former executives Sandy Alderson and Brian Sabean, along with broadcasting pioneer and former Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner, and eight-time All-Star and former National League president Bill White.

A 16-member panel selected by the Hall will consider those eight candidates who made their contributions to the game after 1980. The ones who receive at least 75% of the vote will be announced on Dec. 6 before the start of the Winter Meetings in San Diego.

Here's a look at the eight Contemporary Era finalists:

Sandy Alderson, executive

After two years serving as general counsel, Alderson was named general manager of the Oakland Athletics in 1983. He was the architect of an A's team that went to three consecutive World Series from 1988-90. After leaving the club in 1997 (and being succeeded as GM by Billy Beane), Alderson became MLB's executive vice president for baseball operations from 1998-2005. He also served as CEO of the San Diego Padres and general manager of the New York Mets.

Dusty Baker, player/manager

Though Baker is perhaps best known as a beloved manager for five different major league teams, he also had a 19-year career as a player. An outfielder, Baker hit .278 with 242 home runs for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's, earning two All-Star nods, a Gold Glove and two Silver Sluggers. He went on to manage the Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and Houston Astros to a total of 2,143 wins (eighth-most all-time) and a .540 winning percentage. The only manager in history to take five different teams to the postseason, Baker finally won a World Series in 2022 with the Astros.

Bruce Bochy, player/manager

After nine years in the majors as a catcher, Bochy began his managerial career with the San Diego Padres in 1995, taking them to the World Series in his fourth season. He then moved to the San Francisco Giants in 2007 and guided them to World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014 before retiring after the 2019 season. However, he came out of retirement in 2023 to manage the Texas Rangers and lead them to a World Series championship that season. Retiring again after the 2025 season, Bochy ranks sixth on the all-time wins list with 2,252 in 28 seasons.

Joe Maddon, manager

A three-time manager of the year with the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs, Maddon became the first skipper in 108 years to lead the Cubs to a World Series title when they accomplished the feat in 2016. He began his coaching career in the Angels organization, serving as interim manager in both 1996 and 1999. He got his first full-time managing job in 2006 with the lowly Tampa Bay Devil Rays, a franchise he turned into an AL pennant winner in his third season. After managing the Rays for nine years, he moved to the Cubs in 2015, making the playoffs in four of his five seasons. He left Chicago to return to Anaheim in 2020 for three more seasons, finishing with a career record of 1,382-1,216 (.532).

Lou Piniella, player/manager

A fiery competitor as both a player and coach, Piniella won two World Series rings as an outfielder for the New York Yankees in 1977 and 1978. The 1969 AL Rookie of the Year with the Kansas City Royals, Piniella was a .291 career hitter over 18 seasons in the majors. Two years after he retired, he was hired to manage the Yankees, but was fired by owner George Steinbrenner in the middle of Year 3. Hired by the Cincinnati Reds in 1990, Piniella guided them to a World Series championship in his initial season. He went on to manage the Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Chicago Cubs − totaling 1,835 wins in 23 seasons.

Brian Sabean, executive

A former scouting director and player development director with the New York Yankees, Sabean was hired by the San Francisco Giants as general manager in 1997. He remained in that role for 29 seasons and became the architect of three World Series championship teams under Bochy from 2010-2014. Sabean was twice named Baseball America's Executive of the Year.

Ted Turner, executive

The founder of Turner Broadcasting and CNN, Turner was a lifelong baseball fan who paired his TV reach with his ownership of the Atlanta Braves to turn the franchise into "America's Team" in the 1980s. With unprecedented live coverage of every regular-season game, the Braves developed a national following as they built a National League dynasty in the early 1990s. Turner, who died earlier this year at the age of 87, finally got a World Series title in 1995 before selling the team the following year.

Bill White, player/broadcater/executive

An eight-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glover as a first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York/San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies, White joined the broadcast booth of the New York Yankees once his 13-year playing career came to an end. He teamed with Phil Rizzuto for 18 seasons before being named president of the National League in 1989. The first Black president of any major North American sports league, he served in that post until 1994. He received the Hall of Fame's Buck O'Neil Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bruce Bochy, Dusty Baker headline Baseball Hall's Contemporary Era ballot

Bernie Miklasz on the Cardinals’ Future: Insights and Speculations

What Randy Flores’ departure means for St. Louis baseball.

As the off-season unfolds, the chatter around the St. Louis Cardinals intensifies, especially following the recent news of Randy Flores leaving for the Houston Astros’ General Manager position. In this episode, Jake Wood is joined by Bernie Miklasz, a seasoned sports writer, to dissect the ripple effects of this significant shift in the Cardinals’ front office.

Randy Flores’ Departure

Bernie expresses his excitement for Flores, stating, > “I’m thrilled for Randy Flores. He certainly earned this and is worthy of it.” His transition from player to front office executive has been impressive, and while Bernie acknowledges Flores’ contributions, he admits uncertainty about the impact of his departure.

“It’s too early to say whether this is a blow to the Cardinals.”

Bernie points out that the Cardinals have a capable team in Zach Mortimer overseeing scouting and drafting, assuring fans that the organization remains in good hands.

The Implications for Talent Pursuit

The discussion shifts to whether Flores’ exit will alter how the Cardinals pursue amateur talent. Bernie believes that the team’s reputation is on the rise, noting, > “It’s a great indication that the Cardinals are back in play as an organization that other organizations kind of look to or look up to.”

Scott Plaza adds to this sentiment, reflecting on how being coveted by other teams signifies the organization’s solid standing in baseball.

Possible Coaching Changes

A captivating topic emerged regarding potential coaching shifts, with Jake Wood probing if Flores might take former Cardinals like Daniel Descalso or Jon Jay with him. Bernie acknowledges the possibility, stating, > “If Randy Flores would be interested in either one of those guys, it makes perfect sense.”

Jake and Scott discuss the intriguing idea of Yadier Molina stepping into a coaching role. Bernie raises valid concerns about the dynamics this could create with current manager Oli Marmol, saying, > “Bringing Yadier Molina as a bench coach could complicate things, especially considering the pressure Marmol is already under.”

Conclusion

As the Cardinals navigate this transitional period, the insights from Bernie and the team illustrate a thoughtful approach to change. With new opportunities on the horizon, the fanbase watches closely, eager to see how these developments will shape the future of their beloved team.

For more detail and to dive deeper into the conversation, check out the full episode of the Viva El Birdos Podcast.

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-Thanks for reading

Welcome to the 2026 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2026. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.

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No. 3o, Victor Vodnik (0.1 rWAR)

RHP Victor Vodnik first arrived in Denver via trade at the deadline in 2023 when the Colorado Rockies traded pitcher Pierce Johnston to the Atlanta Braves.

Colorado receives RHP Victor Vodnik and RHP Tanner Gordon in exchange for Johnson, per source. Vodnik is the Braves' No. 10 prospect and Gordon is No. 26 per @MLBPipeline.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 24, 2023

At the time, Vodnik was Atlanta’s #10 prospect as ranked by MLB Pipeline. As Skyler Timmins wrote,

Vodnik, 23, was originally drafted by the Braves in the 14th round of the 2018 draft out of Rialto High School in California. In five minor league seasons, he has a 3.48 ERA in 99 games and has primarily worked specifically out of the bullpen since 2022. Vodnik is currently having one of his best seasons so far with the Double-A Mississippi Braves, posting a 3.10 ERA across 40 ²⁄₃ innings in 30 games. He boasts a 12.4 K/9 this season but can struggle with walks at a 5.5 BB/9 rate. He features a primary mix of a fastball and changeup, with his fastball able to occasionally reach triple digits.

In his three years with the Rockies, Vodnik saw plenty of action. After pitching just 8.2 innings in 2023, he had 73.2 IP (4.28 ERA) in 2024, 50.2 IP (3.02 ERA) in 2025, and 36.0 (5.25 ERA) in 2026 before being traded to the Miami Marlins. (He spent more than a month on the Injured List early in the season with right ulnar nerve inflammation and returned to the Rockies on June 15.)

Cory Cohen wrote, “The hard-throwing right-hander has shown glimpses of closer-like stuff but has struggled with consistency in parts of four seasons for Colorado.”

According to Baseball Savant, Vodnik features a six-pitch mix, relying most heavily on his four-seam fastball (45.6%), his slider (27.7%), and his changeup (14.8%). In 2026, he began using his slider more, a pitch with a 33.6% Whiff%. As James Riggenbach explained in July, Vodnik’s slider evolved at the expense of his changeup.

He also finished the season with a 56.5% GB%.

No one doubted the stuff — Vodnik regularly hit 98.5 mph with his four-seamer. However, the control was erratic. A 6.50 K/9 (the worst of his career) could not outweigh his 4.75 BB/9.

Presumably, the Marlins hoped they could fix what altitude and Rockies player development could not.

It helps, too, that Vodnik saw significant improvement over the course of the season. In March-April, he tallied a 7.82 ERA that rose to 8.44 in May. However, June and July saw significant improvement as Vodnik posted a 2.84 and a 2.53 ERA, respectively, in both months. Given that his road ERA was 3.82 compared to 6.31 at Coors, it’s easy to see what the Marlins are hoping for.

After arriving in Miami, Vodnik wracked up 22.2 IP and earned a 4.37 ERA — so better but not amazing.

Put him down as a work in progress.

Why did the Rockies trade him? Probably for two reasons. First, Vodnik’s trade value was high — less high than it was in 2025 but high enough that moving him in August made sense. Second, his inconsistency was never going to play with a team committing to not giving up walks.

Now to see how things go with Miami.

The trade deadline is a strange time in an MLB clubhouse. The players, like everyone else, are on edge, waiting to see if they will be moved and where that place might be. Everything is distraction.

Vodnik’s trade was announced just as the clock was running out. After a player is traded, their things are removed almost immediately from the clubhouse. When media entered the Rockies clubhouse following the Rockies game against the Tampa Bay Rays, no trace remained of Brenton Doyle, Antonio Senzatela, or Victor Vodnik, and their lockers were already occupied by former teammates.

I wondered how it had happened so quickly.

That night as I was leaving Coors Field, I waited at the light to cross 20th Street. The Rockies had lost to the Rays, 13-9, and a thin crowd was long gone. Across the street, I saw someone else waiting to cross. The light changed, and we started across. Then I realized as I was leaving Coors, Victor Vodnik was headed back, presumably to collected this things and officially finish his time as a Rockie.

In the middle of the street, we said, “Hello,” exchanged fist bumps, and I wished him good luck in Miami.

Then it was over — just like Vodnik’s time with the Rockies.

Such is baseball.

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The 2027 non-player Contemporary Baseball Era ballot has been released today, and former Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is among the eight candidates up for consideration. Joining Bochy on the ballot are former managers Dusty Baker, Joe Maddon, and Lou Piniella, executives Sandy Alderson and Brian Sabean, broadcaster and former National League president Bill White, and owner Ted Turner.

The cases for Baker and White to be elected are potentially enhanced by the fact that they had long and successful playing careers. Baker spent parts of 19 seasons in the major leagues, putting up a career .278/.347/.432 slash line and 37.0 bWAR while being a key part of several playoff teams with the Los Angeles Dodgers. White spent 13 years in the majors, won seven Gold Gloves at first base, was named to the All Star team in five different seasons, and finished as high as third place in the Most Valuable Player voting. He ended his career with a .286/.351/.455 slash line and a 38.6 bWAR.

Piniella and Bochy, of course, also had lengthy careers, though neither’s career was as illustrious or successful as Baker and White.

Bochy spent parts of nine seasons in the majors as a backup catcher, with his last season coming in 1987. He managed the San Diego Padres from 1995 through 2006, putting up a 951-975 record with the club and winning the division four times, advancing to the World Series in 1998. Bochy then managed the San Francisco Giants from 2007-19, making the playoffs four times with them as well, and winning the World Series three times with the Giants. Bochy retired in 2019, but came out of retirement to manage the Texas Rangers from 2023 to 2025. I don’t remember if the Rangers did anything good during his time here. Maybe someone can remind me.

Bochy ended his career with a 2252-2266 record. He is 6th all time in managerial wins, and fourth all time in games managed.

Sabean is inexorably linked with Bochy. After coaching at the college level and then working as a major league scout and front office executive, Sabean was hired as the general manager for the Giants after the 1996 season. He ran the baseball side of things for the Giants through 2018, and was in charge for the three titles that the Giants won with Bochy as manager. He has been working for the New York Yankees as an advisor since 2023.

Dusty Baker started his managerial career with the San Francisco Giants in 1993, and in his first year as manager, he was at the helm for what has been described as the “last great playoff race” in MLB. 1993 was the last season when MLB had just two divisions and only the division winners advanced to the playoffs. The Giants led most of the season, but an eight game losing streak in early September saw their lead, once 9 games, vanish.

Down four games in the division with 16 to play, the Giants went on a tear, winning 15 of 17, and heading into the final game of the regular season, Atlanta and San Fran were tied at 103-58. The Giants fell, 12-1, to the Dodgers on the last day, while the Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3, allowing the Braves to win the division by one game and advance to the NLCS.

Baker ended up spending ten years with the Giants, ultimately winning the pennant in 2002, though they lost to the Angels in the World Series in 7 games. Baker left the Giants after 2002 to join the Chicago Cubs, for whom he was the manager from 2003-06. Baker subsequently managed the Cincinnati Reds from 2008-13, the Washington Nationals from 2016-17, and the Houston Astros from 2020-23. It was with Houston, in 2022, that he finally won the World Series as a manager. Baker ended his career with a 2183-1862 record, and is 8th all time in manager wins.

Piniella won the 1969 Rookie of the Year Award for the Kansas City Royals, and spent parts of 18 seasons in the majors as a corner outfielder/DH, most of them with the Royals and Yankees. He had a .291/.333/.409 slash line and a career 12.5 bWAR in 1747 career games.

Piniella debuted as a major league manager for the Yankees in 1986, and moved into the general manager role for the team after the 1987 season. After Billy Martin was fired halfway through the 1988 season, Piniella took over the managerial job for the rest of the season. Piniella was hired as the manager of the Cincinnati Reds in 1990 and won a title with the team his first year with them. He left the Reds after the 1992 season and joined the Seattle Mariners, where he was managed from 1993-2002. He then managed the Tampa Bay Rays from 2003-05 and the Chicago Cubs from 2007-10. He finished his career with an 1835-1713 record.

Maddon was a largely unknown bench coach who had two brief stints as an interim manager for the Angels when he was tapped by the Rays to take over for Piniella when Piniella left after the 2005 season. Maddon skippered the Rays for nine seasons before a change in management allowed him to exercise an out clause in his contract and join the Chicago Cubs for the 2015 season. Maddon was with the Cubs from 2015-19, and was the manager in 2016 when the team won their first title in roughly a century. He managed the Angels from 2020-22 before being fired a little over a third of the way into the 2022 season. Maddon has a career 1382-1216 record.

Alderson was the general manager of the Oakland A’s from 1983-97, during which time he brought in a former player named Billy Beane, who eventually became the team’s general manager. He subsequently worked for the commissioner’s office from 1998-2005, joined the San Diego Padres as the team’s top executive from 2005-09 (the first two years of which overlapped with Bruce Bochy’s time as manager there), and then joined the Mets as their general manager after the 2010 season. He took a leave of absence from the team in the summer of 2018 due to cancer, and did not return. He spent a couple of years as an advisor for the A’s, then returned to the Mets as the team’s president of baseball operations until the end of 2022.

White was a broadcaster for a number of years after his playing days, doing play by play for the Yankees, and was the National League President from 1989-1994.

Ted Turner is Ted Turner. He raced yachts and owned TV stations and married Jane Fonda and was a rich gadfly.

FanGraphs released their top 50 free agents today… are their any fits for the Guardians on the list?

It’s the usual time of year where I post something about free agents and everyone reminds me that the Guardians never spend in free agency and I pretend this is new information. So, let’s leave all that palaver aside and look at a few names on the bottom third of the top 50 free agents list assembled by FanGraphs’ Ben Clemens and imagine the Guardians actually spending a little of their ALCS-home-game money this offseason on one of nine potential fits. The contracts below are Clemens’ projections; the article contains crowdsourced projections which tend to be higher, but no one really knows what to expect right now:

JoJo Romero, LHrP – 2 years/$16M, 30 years old, 3.36 ERA/3.94 FIP in 2026
Analysis: To be honest, I can’t imagine the Guardians going two years on Romero, but I included him here because if he slips to one year, it’s within the realm of possibility. He’s a solid lefty for middle innings and probably an improvement over post 2024-Tim Herrin.

Brandon Woodruff, RHSP – 1 y/$10M, 30 years old, 2.98 ERA/3.19 FIP in 2026
Analysis: Woodruff will be looking for a pillow contract to prove he is healthy and able to compete at reduced velocity. To me, the Guardians seem about as good a place as any for him to get that opportunity. At $10M, the risk should be fairly minimal and the reward is a guy you could start in a playoff game and feel good about his chances of giving you a shot to win.

Alex Vesia, LHrP – 2 y/$18M, 30 years old, 2.64 ERA/3.18 FIP in 2026
Analysis: He’s a better version of what JoJo Romero provides. I am not sure the Guardians would go two guaranteed years for a reliever, but this is the kind of arm that levels up a pen.

Evan Phillips, RHrP – 2 y/$20M, 32 years old, 3.46 ERA/3.87 FIP in 2026
Analysis: While recovering from injury, Phillips showed he still has a special arm and can be a high leverage reliever. Were the Guardians to make a move like this, it would demonstrate a willingness to go beyond the “Shawn Armstrong-level” of arms and it allows you to move Hunter Gaddis and Daniel Espino into the 6th-7th innings instead of 7th-8th. I’d love this kind of move.

Ty France, RHH 1B – 1 y/$13M, 32 years old, 141 wRC+ in 2026
Analysis: France is the only hitter on the list I could see the Guardians getting at the listed price. Would it be wise to bet on France to reproduce his 2026 season? Probably not, but he does have a career 114 wRC+ vs. LHP (137 wRC+ last season) and provides excellent first base defense. It’s at least a plausible signing and would be a dramatic upgrade from David Fry and Rhys Hoskins if he can do something remotely similar to 2026.

David Peterson, LHP- 1 y/$13M, 31 years old, 4.79 ERA/3.94 FIP in 2026
Analysis: He’s 6’6 and gets good pitch release extension. I could see the Guardians getting the most out of Peterson on a pillow deal and convincing him that will be the case. And, if for some reason, he’s not up for starting, he’s probably an excellent reliever against left-handed hitters.

Foster Griffin, LHP – 1 y/$14M, 31 years old, 3.60 ERA/3.96 FIP in 2026
Analysis: You know about Griffin. If he wants multiple years, as I’m sure he does, I doubt he signs here. However, if he surveys the market and looks for a pillow-deal to show he deserves the big contract, I could definitely imagine the Guardians being in on that.

Tyler Mahle, RHP – 2 y/$30M, 32 years old, 3.99 ERA/3.99 FIP in 2026
Analysis: How is Mahle getting two years? I don’t think he will. And, I could see the Guardians being in on Mahle for one year, and I know they attempted to acquire him at a trade deadline a few years ago.

Nick Martinez, RHP – 2 y/$30M, 36 years old, 3.10 ERA/3.96 FIP in 2026
Analysis: Martinez has tortured us enough. It’s time to sign him and show everyone we can maximize him just like Tampa Bay did. Hand Martinez your third starter role, Antonetti, and forget about the rotation. Also, he’s 36. Let’s get him on a one-year deal.

Summary: It’s Nick Martinez and Evan Phillips who make me most excited if I were to hear the Guardians were interested in them, but if they make a move of ANY kind of significance in Free Agency, we won’t complain.

Every Monday we take a moment to check in on the Cubs’ Boys of Autumn playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League.

In case you missed the earlier installments, the Solar Sox are a team in the Arizona Fall League, a minor league that plays every October and November in Spring Training stadiums. The Mesa Solar Sox play their home games at Sloan Park, the Cubs’ Spring Training home. This year, their roster is made up of minor leaguers from the Cubs, Athletics, Angels, Blue Jays and Red Sox.

If you missed them or just want to relive them, you can check out the introduction, week one, week two and week three updates.

We’re fortunate enough to have another Solar Sox interview with catcher Miguel Useche coming up later today. I provided some questions to Sam Bradfield of Purple Row, our sister site for the Rockies. So be sure to thank her if you find yourself over there.

The Solar Sox played five games this past week with Friday’s schedule getting wiped out by rain. The Solar Sox won their first game of the week, then lost the next two and won the final two for a record of 3-2. That puts the Solar Sox at 9-11 on the year and in fifth place out of six teams. However, the top five teams are all pretty bunched up and first-place Peoria is only up three games on the Solar Sox at 13-9.

Here’s how those five games went. The home team is listed last.

Monday, October 26: SOLAR SOX 13, Glendale Desert Dogs 12

Tuesday, October 27: Scottsdale Scorpions 11, SOLAR SOX 6

Wednesday, October 28: Surprise Saguaros 13, SOLAR SOX 2

Thursday, October 29: SOLAR SOX 21, Salt River Rafters 5

Saturday, October 31: SOLAR SOX 5, Scorpions 4

Here’s how the individual Cubs on the Solar Sox did this past week, including some disturbing injury news.

Infielder Juan Cabada: As an 18-year-old playing in a league with prospects much older, Cabada continues to struggle at the plate. Cabada played second base for the Solar Sox on Monday and Wednesday and went a combined 9 for 7 with two walks. He did score two runs.

For the AFL season, Cabada’s averages have dropped down to .135/.273/.162 with one steal. He’s scored five runs and has three RBI.

Outfielder Harrison Feinberg: Feinberg did not play this past week. In fact, he hasn’t played since last Monday. In the five games he has played in this year, Feinberg is hitting 333/.455/.333 with two RBI and two runs scored. He also has two steals.

Outfielder Kade Snell: Snell played three times this past week and managed to cover all three outfield positions. Snell was the right fielder on Monday, the center fielder on Wednesday and the right fielder on Thursday.

Snell also had a good week at the plate. He was 1 for 4 with a walk and two steals on Monday. On Wednesday he was 2 for 4 with a solo home run, his first home run in the AFL. In Thursday’s blowout, Snell was 3 for 6 with a walk and four runs scored. He scored six times this week and had just the one RBI.

Over the 15 games Snell has played this year in the AFL, Snell has put up a line of .291/.443/.400 with five steals.

Here’s some great defense by Snell in center field [VIDEO].

Here’s Snell’s home run.

Only fitting to hit No. 1 at Sloan Park.@Cubs prospect Kade Snell puts the Solar Sox on the board with his first homer of the Fall. The homer traveled 409 ft (107.9 EV) and fittingly comes at the spring home of the Cubs. pic.twitter.com/eDePF2wNJm

— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) October 28, 2026

Catcher Miguel Useche: Useche had a monster week in the AFL this week, earning a place among the AFL performers of the week. He played three games this week, serving as the catcher on Tuesday and Thursday and playing first base on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Useche was 2 for 4 with a walk and a two-run home run, his first in the AFL. He had four total RBI in that game.

On Wednesday, Useche was 1 for 3 with a walk. But in Thursday’s 21-run explosion, Useche went 3 for 5 with three doubles and two walks. He had five runs batted in and two runs overall.

In 12 games in the AFL, which includes a couple of games on the Salt River Rafters, Useche is hitting .282/.408/.513 with four doubles, one triple and a home runs.

This isn’t our interview with Useche, but it’s a good interview anyways. [VIDEO]

A two-run single and a two-run home run for Useche [VIDEO].

Here are Useche’s three doubles on Thursday. [VIDEO]

Right-hander Juan Cabral: Cabral relieved Dominick Reid in the second inning of Tuesday’s game (more on that below) and allowed one inherited runner to score and one run of his own in an inning of work. Cabral’s final line was one run on one hit and two walks over one inning. He struck out two.

Right-hander Anhuar Garcia: Garcia had a better outing on Thursday, throwing 2.1 innings of relief without allowing any runs of his own, although Garcia did allow an inherited runner to score in the third inning. He did give up two hits and walked three while striking out three. He also hit one batter.

On the season, Garcia has pitched five times, totaling 12 innings. Garcia has a 6.75 ERA and has walked 11 and struck out eight.

Right-hander Yoendris Gonzalez: Gonzalez was having a terrible AFL campaign over the first half of the season, so it’s good to see that he had one good outing. But before we get to that, Gonzalez pitched an inning on Monday and gave up two runs on two hits and a walk. He struck out two.

But on Thursday, Gonzalez pitched two scoreless innings, closing out the 21-5 blowout in a non-save situation. He allowed just one hit. Gonzalez did not walk or strike anyone out.

Gonzalez’s line on the season is still pretty ugly, however. Over 4.2 innings and five appearances, Gonzalez sports a 19.29 ERA. But that’s way down from the 43.20 ERA he had this time last week.

Right-hander Dominick Reid: Reid had been one of the best pitchers in the AFL this year, but something went wrong on his start on Tuesday. After giving up a run in the first base, Reid walked the first batter of the inning and then left the game after uncorking a very wild pitch to the next batter. He left along side the trainer, so there was clearly some kind of injury there.

Cabral relieved Reid and Cabral ended up walking the batter that Reid was facing when he left. Both runners scored, so Reid’s final line was three runs on two hits and three walks over 1+ innings. He struck out three.

On the season, Reid is 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA over 13 innings. He’s struck out 17 batters and walked eight. It seems very possible that Reid’s wild pitch was the last pitch he’ll throw in the AFL this year.

Right-handers Luis Rujano: Rujano just pitched on Saturday, giving up a run in the seventh inning but getting the win after the Solar Sox scored three times in the top of the eighth. Rujano’s final line on Saturday was one run on three hits over one inning. He did not walk or strike anyone out.

For the season, Rujano is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA over five relief appearances and six innings. He has struck out five and walked four.

With the Brewers now crowned the champions of the baseball world, there has been a lot written about lessons to be learned from them and how said lessons could be applied to various team around the game. The Phillies have not been immune to this discussion as there have been a few think pieces about which ideas and/or practices they could adapt to how they have constructed their various rosters and what the Phillies could learn from that. It’s all well and good, but it sort of feels like an exercise in them trying to catch up.

Instead, I wanted to take a different approach to this. Both the Brewers and Rays have reached the pinnacle of their leagues mostly because they have zagged where others have zigged philosophically, made good players even better with a successful player development system and eschewed the big move to continue making smaller moves that have paid off in a big way. One area that people always think that the Phillies could be better at is in the drafting of players. Had they drafted better players, they would now be in the position to stock a roster full of players capable of piling up victories. But what if I asked you this: what would you have done were you the Phillies? Would you have made the same moves that they did? If given the chance to draft a certain player based solely on a scouting report held in front of you, are you sure you’d take the same player that is on the roster of the current world champion?

Thanks to the Baseball America archives, we can go back and look at scouting reports from when players had been drafted to see which player you would take were you in charge of making the final decision. I’ve edited a lot of this by blanking out names, positions, handedness if necessary and where the player was drafted from – college or high school. That way, you can’t just say, “Oh, that’s Player X, I’ll just take him.” I also promise you that all of these are accurate, straight from the pages of Baseball America. Outside of these minor edits, these were the actual scouting reports at the time of the draft.

It’s a fun little game, so let’s play!

Player A:

Perhaps more impressive than ______’s power output is his improved plate discipline this season. He’s cut his strikeout rate and significantly improved his walk rate, taking the free pass more frequently than striking out for the first time in his ______ career. He has an exceptional understanding of the strike zone and always seem to have a plan when he steps in the batter’s box, with the ability to make adjustments within an at-bat. 

Player B:

Even with that said, _____ was still voted a first-team Preseason All-American, the best pure hitter in the class, the best defensive infielder in the class with the second-best arm, and the No. 3 athlete in Baseball America’s preseason survey to major league scouting directors. ______ is among the more polished _____ players with an advanced ____-handed hit tool and rarely swings and misses with a patient approach that allows him to hit the ball where it’s pitched. 

Both infielders then when they were drafted, both infielders still. Based on these reports, which player are you taking?

If you said Player A, congrats – this is who you drafted. If you said Player B, congrats – this is who you drafted.

Alright, alright, maybe you got that one. However, about these two outfielders. Which one are you taking?

Player A

His speed translates to good range in center field, where he has a fringe-average arm with good accuracy. ________ hit .359/.443/.559 in 2021, showing a simple, direct swing from the left side without much movement. [He] mostly stays within that zone, with good hand-eye coordination to make frequent contact, even on times when he does chase. ______ does a good job of going with where the ball is pitched, with quick hands, and he’s able to pull inside fastballs up and in while also sending pitches on the outer third to left field. ________ has some sneaky power for his size, with the ability to drive the ball out pull side when he gets a pitch up in the zone, but it’s more occasional pop that plays below-average in games. 

Player B

However, his second half was impressive, and he managed a .319/.430/.550 line with eight homers and more walks (33) than strikeouts (20). As evidenced by those walk and strikeout numbers, _______ controls the zone well and also has a solid all-fields approach, with the power to drive pitches on the outer half over the fence to the left-center gap. Some scouts think his swing is a bit too stiff to truly be a plus hitter, but he does have plus raw power. Those offensive tools are the carrying tools for _____, who profiles as a left fielder thanks to limited arm strength and below-average running ability—though he did steal nine bags in 13 attempts this spring. 

Which player are you taking? If you said Player A, congrats – this is who you drafted. If you said Player B, congrats – this is who you drafted.

See? Fun, right? I have to admit, when I looked at that, I thought I’d fool a lot of people.

There are other players that you’d like to also compare, but it’s almost not possible. During the draft, there are misses on a player simply because of where they are picking in that draft. For example, I could try and fool you into thinking the Phillies picked a different pitcher over Jacob Misiorowski, but that wasn’t the case. In that year that Misiorowski was selected, he was taken in the second round, a round in which the Phillies did not have a pick in the first place. Would they have taken him if given the opportunity? We’ll never know that answer, but you can see why an exercise like this isn’t always apples to apples.

But it sure is fun! Here is another.

Player A

He’s maybe ______ tall, and while he can touch 94 mph, he generally sits at 90-92. But his high-spin rate fastball gets swings and misses up in the zone and he has three average or better pitches that all play up thanks to his plus control and command… ________’s plus mid-70s changeup is a weapon with excellent deception and late drop. He’ll use it against righties and lefties and is comfortable pitching in and out. He also throws his fastball to all four quadrants of the strike zone with plus control. His mid-70s curve is an average offering as well and like everything else he throws, he commands it well. 

Player B

_________ has been one of the most heavily scouted pitchers in the state of Michigan this spring and is an exciting projection arm who’s young for the class. Listed at 6-foot-4, 175 pounds, _______ only turned 18 in May and has shown a solid three-pitch mix. He typically pitches in the 89-92 mph range and has touched 93-94 in the past and has two solid secondaries in a mid-70s spike curveball and a changeup in the low 80s that he’s shown good feel for as well. Scouts might want to see more present stuff, but it’s hard to see _______ not throwing harder in the future as he adds weight to his frame. The curveball has good traits now with plenty of depth and could be a real weapon when he’s able to add more power to the offering.

Which player are you taking? If you chose Player A, congrats – this is who you drafted. If you chose Player B, congrats – this is who you drafted.

This one was kind of easy as we all probably would take the guy with the advanced changeup. Still, would you have guessed that the player the Phillies chose was taken two picks before the player the Brewers chose? Of course you would.

What does any of this mean? Nothing really outside of it being something fun to do. If you were looking to draw some conclusions about these two teams, the easiest thing is to see the drastic difference in how the Brewers develop players compared to how the Phillies have done it. Who knows what might have happened had the Phillies actually taken Bohm and turned him into a slugging third baseman from the right side. Would it have changed the course of the franchise? It’s possible, but we can at least see that they aren’t really all that great at bringing players close to their full potential.

That’s one of the biggest differences between the two teams and a reason for why the gap between them exists. If the Phillies don’t close it soon, the championship drought is likely to continue.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame has announced the candidates on the ballot for the Contemporary Baseball Era, and Sandy Alderson is among them.

Alderson was at one time a private attorney before becoming general counsel to the then-Oakland Athletics in 1981. After two years in that role, he took Billy Martin’s spot as the general manager of the A’s, and built teams that reached the World Series in 1988-1990. They took home the pennant in 1990.

During his first time with the Mets, Alderson was the executive vice president of baseball for Major League Baseball starting in 1998 and ending in 2005. He next took a job as CEO of the San Diego Padres until 2009. In 2011, he joined the Mets as their general manager.

During his time with the Mets, he had a limited budget to work with. Nonetheless, Alderson made moves such as extending David Wright, trading for Zack Wheeler, and drafting Jacob deGrom. In 2015, the Mets made it back to the World Series, only to lose in five games to the Royals. However, Alderson was named Executive of the Year in 2015. He remained in his role as general manager with the Mets until 2018

After a brief return to the A’s, Alderson returned to the Mets as the team president when Steve Cohen purchased the team. He transitioned to an advisory role in 2022. His career in baseball has been long and storied, thanks to a high baseball IQ, good business sense, and probably vampires, and his nomination to the ballot is well deserved.

This morning, the National Baseball Hall of Fame announced eight nominees for its Contemporary Baseball Era Non-Player Ballot of 2027, which includes Managers, Executives & Umpires whose primary contributions to the game have come since 1980. It’s an extraordinarily Giants list and a reminder of just how good we’ve had it over the last 46 years: Dusty Baker, Bruce Bochy, and Brian Sabean are the Giants headliners, but one-time advisor Lou Piniella and former New York & San Francisco Giant Bill White are also on the list. Former Atlanta owner Ted Turner and manager Joe Maddon are also on the list. What are the chances someone we know makes it?

Well, let me first get this out of the way: Barry Bonds is not in the Hall of Fame specifically because of the PED use; but, I personally find that this makes the Hall illegitimate, especially since it went out of its way to alter its rules to keep him, specifically, out of it. But at the same time, Bonds Stands Alone, and his notable exclusion is both enough of a pock and enough of a distinction that I’m just happy to see these (to me, anyway) legends recognized one last time by the baseball community, and in baseball’s last, best way.

Dusty Baker

I think it probably took him until that World Series win for this to really become real. He’s 8th in career wins (2,183), was Manager of the Year three times, and has that world championship from 2022. There’s also DUSTINY, the toothpick, those wristbands, Darren Baker in the NLCS, managing Barry Bonds AND Jeff Kent, as well as starting Livan Hernandez in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series instead of Kirk Rueter — NO!

Noooo.

No… this is a happy time.

Deep breath.

Okay. Better now.

He also co-created high fives; so, yeah, put him in.

Bruce Bochy

Won three World Series in five seasons and is sixth in career wins, but then he came out of semi-retirement to add a fourth for good measure. He has been written about on this very website maybe, oh, 6 million times, so, please don’t interpret this brief blurb as anything other than a, “Well, yeah, obviously. Look at what he accomplished.” But when you put him next to Dusty Baker you really see the magnitude of their contributions to the game. Just these two guys. And not just for the Giants. But, bullpenning is basically the default setting for the postseason now thanks to Bruce Bochy — yes, it helped that he had the right personnel (we know what happened when he didn’t). It feels like we’ve been preparing for his inclusion for the last decade now.

Brian Sabean

Like Bochy, it feels like we’ve been preparing for his inclusion for a long time now. After news broke that the Yankees hadn’t renewed his contract to continue on as an advisor, I looked him up and was surprised to see that he’s now 70 years old. He has always occupied the Patrick Stewart part of my brain — this sort of ageless icon I just assume will always be there in old man form. If you think I’m giving him a short shrift, please note that he has been written about on this website, oh, 6 million times. Savvy Sabes, Sabey Sabes, “I Am Not An Idiot” Sabes… a legend.

In a perfect world, these three go in together. These three were the architects of joy for a lot of Giants fans for a couple of generations. But, we’ve been saying this about Kruk & Kuip for a longtime now and how they need to be inducted into the Broadcaster Hall of Fame together. We know beyond that situation that we live in a far from perfect world, to. But there are also some details that ground the doomerism in fact. Hall of Fame monitor/expert Jay Jaffe offers this analysis:

He then cites a piece written in 2022 about the candidate bottleneck created by these new rules. The Hall notes its committee formation and selection process:

Lou Piniella

The eight Contemporary Baseball Era finalists were selected by the BBWAA-appointed Historical Overview Committee from all eligible candidates among managers, umpires and executives whose most significant career impact was realized since 1980.

[…]

The Contemporary Baseball Era non-player ballot was determined this fall by the Historical Overview Committee, comprised of 11 veteran historians: Adrian Burgos (University of Illinois); Bob Elliott (Canadian Baseball Network); Steve Hirdt (historian); La Velle Neal (Minnesota Star Tribune); David O’Brien (formerly The Athletic); Jose de Jesus Ortiz (Our Esquina Media), Jack O’Connell (BBWAA); Jim Reeves (formerly Fort Worth Star-Telegram); Glenn Schwarz (formerly San Francisco Chronicle); Susan Slusser (San Francisco Chronicle); and Mark Whicker (formerly Southern California News Group).

The 16-member Hall of Fame Board-appointed electorate charged with the review of the Contemporary Baseball Era non-player ballot will be announced later this fall.

Without knowing who will make up the selection committee, it’s probably worth erring on the side of what makes the most sense. So, it’s not a given that the obviously deserving Giants-themed candidates are selected. As the Hall’s press release notes, “All candidates except Turner are living.” Lou Piniella, 83, has been battling with cancer off and on for a few years now — though, he’s been cancer-free recently and threw out a first pitch this past August. Sandy Alderson has also dealt with cancer-related health problems in the past decade. Bill White is 92 and just received the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hall of Fame (partial speech here — but, warning, it’s a Facebook video link). And I’m discounting Ted Turner along with Joe Maddon, but probably at my peril.

I must also note another thing pointed out to me about this list:

I don’t know if that hurts or helps Dusty, Piniella, or Maddon, but it’s something to note! As Giants-centric as I feel this list is, Lou Piniella is a big deal in the world of baseball. Really, they all are, which is the entire point of the Hall of Fame! No matter who gets in, I always try to get people to realize that this is a great time in the baseball calendar to not just Remember Some Guys but to take another — maybe even last — opportunity to celebrate the genuine accomplishments of some memorable people in the game of Baseball.

Ahead of a crucial offseason, the Mets' farm system received a huge boost from what they acquired by being sellers at the trade deadline. 

Systems naturally go through ebbs and flows, and the Mets are in a unique spot where they graduated five big prospects in 2026: Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Zac Thornton,and Jonah Tong, who should not be forgotten about after flashing improved stuff in September.

The goal of a player development system is to produce major leaguers, and if you include Christian Scott, the Mets roster is becoming more and more homegrown. As you will read below, there are more prospects on the way who could make a real impact on the 2027 Mets. 

Successful player development in addition to spending on premium major leaguers is the model of how sustained success is achieved.

Here are the Mets' top 30 prospects for the 2026-27 offseason:

1. INF Jefferson Rojas

The Mets acquired Rojas from the Cubs at the 2026 trade deadline for Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor. He is a consensus top 100 prospect in baseball, ranked No. 68 by MLB Pipeline.

All Rojas did was hit upon joining the Mets organization. In 35 games post-deadline split between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse, Rojas hit .285/.338/.611 (.949 OPS) with nine doubles, 12 home runs, and 36 RBI.

Rojas came to the Mets being considered a hit over power type of player, but his power took a step forward this year and there is reason to believe it's real. He has shown above average exit velocities, and is up to 200 pounds. He has an aggressive approach at the plate, not walking a ton, but he also limited his strikeouts to a reasonable 17.3 percent.

Defensively, Rojas played shortstop, third base, and second base in the Mets organization. Scouts I speak to believe his best fit is third base, with his above average throwing arm. But he should be able to play second base as well.

Rojas, who is on the precipice of the big leagues, looks like an above average hit and above average power type of hitter with a chance to hit 20-to-25 home runs at the next level. Depending on how the offseason shakes out, it is possible Rojas gets an opportunity to compete for a starting job to open the 2027 season.

MLB ETA: 2027

2. LHP Jonathan Santucci

Santucci, the top pitching prospect in the system, is coming off a season where he led minor league baseball with 163 strikeouts in 125 innings pitched between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse on his way to being named the organizational Pitcher of the Year.

He earned a promotion to Triple-A after an excellent final 10 starts with Double-A, where Santucci posted a 2.54 ERA in 49.2 innings, allowing only 33 hits and striking out 67 in those final 10 Double-A starts.

Santucci hit an adjustment period in Triple-A, including going from the minor league ball to the major league ball. But he closed out the season on a strong note. Over his final four Triple-A starts, Santucci posted a 3.54 ERA in 20.1 innings with 25 strikeouts against just five walks.

Santucci is equipped with two plus pitches -- a fastball in the mid-90s that will touch 97 mph and an upper-80s slider that is his best swing-and-miss offering. Coming into the season, the changeup was the main pitch of focus, and he has found a grip that he is comfortable with -- but that changeup was just slightly surpassed by his low-mid 80s curveball. Santucci told me on The Mets Pod that the curve tunnels well off his fastball and slider.

An excellent athlete on the mound as a former two-way player, the Mets believe Santucci still hasn't scratched the surface of what he could become, since he is coming off only his second year as a full-time pitcher. With continued refinement of his third and fourth pitches and his command, Santucci looks the part of a future mid-rotation starter who should get the opportunity to enter the Mets' rotation mix some time in 2027.

MLB ETA: 2027

3. INF Mitch Voit

Voit was the Mets' first-round pick in 2025 out of Michigan. The Mets helped Voit remake his swing mechanics last offseason prior to his first full pro campaign. He had an adjustment when he started the season with High-A Brooklyn, where he got off to a slow start, posting a .696 OPS in April and .699 OPS in May.

Once the calendar flipped to June, things began to click. Voit was promoted from High-A to Double-A on July 27 and his numbers jumped even more, with him hitting .347/.430/.517 (.947 OPS) in 29 games at the Double-A level. This led to him being named the Mets' organizational Player of the Year.

While Voit may not possess much more than average hit and power tools, he does have bat speed, and his swing naturally leads to lofting the ball.

Voit is a plus athlete (45 stolen bases) and defender. Despite being a natural second baseman, the Mets played him a lot at shortstop in 2026. They have been impressed with his actions there, though scouts I talk to still believe second base is ultimately where he will end up long-term. He could be an everyday second baseman at the next level with a well-rounded skill set, and could push for opportunity in the majors in 2027.

MLB ETA: 2027

4. SS Sammy Stafura

The Mets received Stafura from the Pirates in exchange for Luke Weaver at the trade deadline fresh off a July in which he hit .358 with 14 home runs in 18 games. Unsurprisingly, he did not carry that level of performance over to the rest of the season with a new organization. With High-A Brooklyn, Stafura was fine, hitting .244/.357/.415 (.772 OPS) with two home runs in 21 games.

This trade was a situation of the Mets buying into plus-to-elite traits and working to improve one. Stafura has an aggressive approach, going up looking to do damage with at least above average raw power that found its way into games in 2026. He shows plus bat speed and exit velocities to back up his improving power.

With Stafura's approach, strikeouts are going to be a part of his game, and that's a fair part of his profile to criticize. There are some scouts who wonder if he will make enough contact to maximize his plus tools.

In the small 21-game sample size with the Mets, his strikeout rate was trimmed down to 24.5 percent, which is a tolerable number. If the Mets can help him keep that strikeout rate in that range or a little better, perhaps sacrificing a tiny bit of the "go for it" approach, that would play just fine.

Stafura is a plus runner, with sprint speeds that match what Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz brings to the table. That athleticism shows on the basepaths as well as in the field, where I couldn’t find an evaluator who didn’t think he’d be able to stick at shortstop and be plus at the position. If needed, he has some experience at second base, and there’s little doubt that his athleticism would play in the outfield.

He has the ingredients of what could be an impact player at the next level as a plus athlete, plus defender, and the potential for plus power at a premium position, which doesn’t grow on trees. There are still real things to work on with his approach to maximize his tools, and that task is on the Mets player development group.

A big year in 2027 could have the soon to be 22-year-old Stafura cracking top 100 prospect lists.

MLB ETA: 2028

5. SS Elian Peña

Peña was the Mets' top international signing in 2024 for $5 million, which is the largest bonus the organization has given to an amateur international free agent.

One of the youngest players in the Low-A Florida State League, Peña more than held his own, slashing .271/.388/.397 (.785 OPS) with eight home runs in 96 games. The Mets have been most impressed with his advanced plan at the plate, with a 13.9 percent walk rate. He hit a little bit of a wall toward the end of the season where his strikeout rate rose to 21.4 percent, which is a higher number than should be expected from Peña’s skillset.

Peña struggled in his very brief stint at High-A, but the objective of that was just to get him a look at the level he will face in 2027.

Though it's not surprising given his age and need for some physical maturation, Peña has not impacted the baseball consistently from an exit velocity standpoint quite yet, though a max exit velocity of 109.1 mph shows there is ability to do it. With that maturation and perhaps some more aggressiveness early in counts, there is belief that there is more in the tank.

Defensively, Peña has played shortstop. However, as an average athlete with room for physical maturation, he is most likely to be a third baseman long term, which should work just fine with his above average throwing arm.

A baseline combination of advanced swing decisions, bat-to-ball skills, and power potential leads to an exciting prospect. Peña will play the entire 2027 season at 19 years old, starting back with High-A Brooklyn, and he has the chance to get to Double-A prior to his 20th birthday.

MLB ETA: 2029

6. SS Wandy Asigen

Asigen was the Mets’ top international signing in 2026, when he agreed to a $3.9 million bonus after breaking a verbal commitment with the Yankees. He was ranked as the No. 2 international free agent in the 2026 class by MLB Pipeline.

After a delayed start to his season in the Dominican Summer League due to a hamstring injury, the 16-year-old performed well with a .279/.470/.525 (.994 OPS) slash line and three home runs in 23 games.

Asigen has unteachable electric bat speed that has routinely generated plus exit velocities, peaking at 114 mph in games this season which is insane for his age.

He is a power over hit profile who will swing and miss, but there is 30 home run potential, especially as he physically matures.

Asigen is a plus athlete with the actions to handle shortstop, but scouts wonder if his arm will fit better at second base. Asigen, who will be 17 years old for nearly the entire 2027 season, is an exciting prospect who has the skillset to top this list if his success carries over stateside.

MLB ETA: 2030

7. 3B Jacob Reimer

Reimer has missed time in two of the last three seasons. He missed nearly the entire 2024 season with a torn hamstring, had a breakout 2025 season, but was limited to just 88 games in 2026 due to a groin injury.

When he is right, Reimer has an average hit tool with a good eye at the plate, and plus raw power that noticeably made it into games in 2025. He has played mostly third base, where he is a below average athlete with plenty of arm for the position. Scouts I have spoken to over the last couple of years still believe his best defensive home is first base, which would put additional pressure on the bat to play.

Reimer is Rule 5 eligible this winter, so the Mets will have to decide whether to add him to the 40-man roster or risk him being available in the Rule 5 Draft (if it even happens with the pending lockout). Reimer needs to stay healthy, but if he does, he has a chance to be a 20-to-25 home run corner infield bat.

MLB ETA: 2028

8. RHP Carson Wiggins

Wiggins was the Mets' first-round selection out of Arkansas in the 2026 MLB Draft in what I described as a home run swing type of pick. He missed the entire 2026 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but is considered a healthy player who is ready to go heading into 2027. Wiggins had the best fastball in the draft and now has the best stuff in the Mets organization. When healthy, Wiggins averaged over 98 mph and touched 102 mph with his heater. He also has a wipeout slider, with one scout telling me he has two plus-plus pitches.

Wiggins is an excellent athlete on the mound -- just look up his high school basketball highlights on YouTube to see his athleticism. At the MLB Draft Combine, he showed the ability to spin a curveball, averaging over 2,700 rpm, while his changeup is behind the other offerings right now. Wiggins has been quite open that improving the curve and changeup are focuses of his entering his pro career.

There is a wide range of outcomes with Wiggins, with a real need to improve command. But the Mets believe there is frontline starter potential here if the package could be put together, which New York's pitching development group has proven the ability to do over the past few years. If the command doesn’t quite get there, being a closer is a realistic outcome given Wiggins' lethal fastball/slider combination.

MLB ETA: 2028

9. 2B Émilien Pitre

Pitre was the top prospect the Mets acquired from the Rays in the Freddy Peralta trade. The Quebec native grew up speaking exclusively French and began to learn English in high school and during COVID at a training facility in Ontario. He is now fluent in English.

He was named a breakout prospect by MLB Pipeline after slashing .306/.420/.427 (.847 OPS) in 118 games between Double-A (with both Tampa Bay and the Mets) and Triple-A Syracuse with six home runs and 80 walks to 58 strikeouts.

As you could deduce from the above, Pitre has plus bat-to-ball skills as well as plate discipline. Power and impacting the baseball is not much of a part of Pitre’s game, and at times the ball is hit on the ground more than you’d want to see, but he routinely works professional at bats.

Pitre is an average to a tick above athlete who may be nearly a second base only profile at the next level. He looks the part of a player who should hit for average, get on base, and avoid strikeouts with not a ton of impact on the baseball for extra-base hits, while not being a plus runner. That caps his upside, but there is everyday player potential here in a contact-based profile.

Pitre debuted in Triple-A late in the season, and between him, Rojas, and Voit, the Mets believe their long term second baseman is in-house already. Pitre should get the chance to compete for big league playing time in 2027.

MLB ETA: 2027

10. OF Aiden Robbins

Robbins was the Mets' third-round pick in the 2026 draft out of Texas. He had first-round buzz leading into the draft but fell due to questions about consistently hitting breaking balls and his future defensive home. His college career was a tale of two different players. He was a hit-over-power guy at Seton Hall, then he dominated the Cape Cod League, leading the league in batting average, slugging, and OPS. At Texas, Robbins became a power-over-hit player, doubling his two-year Seton Hall home run total (12) in one season with the Longhorns (24).

The Mets will look to find a blend of the two players offensively. Robbins is an average athlete and defender who might project as a left fielder at the next level, which puts pressure on the offensive profile coming together.

MLB ETA: 2029

11. RHP Jack Wenninger

Wenninger was a breakout prospect in 2025, but upon his promotion to Triple-A in 2026 things started to trend backward. His velocity and command backed up with the major league ball that is used at Triple-A. His fastball averaged 92-94 mph rather than the 95 mph he was averaging in Double-A in 2025. The splitter remains a plus pitch, and his slider is slightly above average, plus he'll mix in a sinker and sweeper. Wenninger's walk rate nearly doubled, from 7.6 percent in 2025 to 13.3 percent in 2026, but there is certainly still hope that he will adjust to the new ball and new level. Still, at this point it’s hard to project any more than a back-end starter.

Wenninger is Rule 5 eligible, so the Mets will have to decide whether to protect him or not. Entering year two in Triple-A, Wenninger could rebound and become a piece of pitching depth for the Mets in 2027.

MLB ETA: 2027

12. OF Nick Morabito

Morabito got into 19 games at the major league level in 2026 after posting a .742 OPS with 13 home runs and 42 stolen bases with Syracuse.

He has a roughly average hit tool with below average power, though his 13 home runs in 2026 are more than he had in 2024 and 2025 combined. Morabito is a plus runner and above-average fielder who can play all three outfield spots. He looks the part of a prototypical fourth or fifth outfielder and could get consideration in that role in 2027 if the Mets do not get a veteran to fill it.

MLB ETA: Already made it

13. RHP Gary Gill Hill

Gill Hill was the lone pitcher acquired in the Peralta trade. The 22-year-old was the Rays’ sixth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of JFK Catholic in Somers, N.Y. As mentioned above, the Mets targeted prospects at the deadline who had at least one plus trait to build around. Gill Hill’s is his plus control and command of a four-pitch mix, none of which are truly plus offerings, but are mostly average to a tick above. He has a fastball that ticked up after joining the Mets, sitting 94-95, topping out at 98 mph with a cutter, sweeper, and changeup that is a focus of the Mets’ pitching development system as he enters 2027.

Gill Hill looks like a high probability back-end starter or swing man. He is Rule 5 eligible this winter, so he will need to be added to the 40-man roster. If so, he stands out as a pitcher who could make his debut in 2027.

MLB ETA: 2027

14. OF Aidan Smith

Smith was the third player the Mets received from Tampa Bay in the Peralta trade. He had previously been traded from Seattle to Tampa Bay in the deal that brought Randy Arozarena to Seattle. In 2024, he looked like someone who was on the verge of becoming a consensus top 100 prospect in baseball. His last year and a half as a member of the Rays organization did not go as expected. In 2025 (.719 OPS) and the first half of 2026 (.672 OPS), it looked like Smith was heading in the wrong direction.

The Mets took a shot on the tools and upside that Smith provides in combination with the higher floors of Pitre and Gill Hill. In a small sample of 21 games, Smith was the best performer among prospects the Mets acquired at the deadline, hitting .321/.414/.524 with five home runs, 13 RBI, and 11 stolen bases.

Smith possesses above average raw power and is an above average runner who can play center field, where he has a strong throwing arm. That toolset does come with swing and miss (30.2 percent strikeout rate) that will need to be reined in.

Mets player development is getting a ball of clay in Smith, who I look at as an upside flier who will need some swing and approach tweaks to make more contact and try to maximize the above average tools he has.

MLB ETA: 2028

15. RHP Gabe Davis

Davis was the headlining piece of the Huascar Brazoban trade. The 2025 fifth-round pick of the White Sox was college teammates at Oklahoma State with Nolan McLean and Carson Benge. In 21.1 innings with Double-A Binghamton after the trade deadline, Davis posted a 2.53 ERA with 24 strikeouts against 11 walks, eclipsing 60 pitches in four of his six appearances.

He is a massive 6-foot-9, 235-pound right-hander who was a college reliever converted into a pro starter, but more in 50-to-70 pitch increments. Davis possesses some big stuff, with two plus pitches: a fastball that sits mid-90s and touches 100 mph, and an upper 80s slider that will reach the low 90s. He had some growth with the changeup this year, generating whiffs at an above average rate despite less usage, and he will mix in a curveball. Davis’ control has taken a step forward from what it was in college, but is still below average.

Most scouts I spoke to since the trade believe Davis’ future is in the bullpen, and he has the kind of stuff that could potentially fit in a high leverage role. But the Mets may continue to look to grow his pitch counts and see if starting/being a true bulk type of arm is possible.

MLB ETA: 2028

16. LHP Shane Sdao

Sdao was the Mets' fourth-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Texas A&M. After a big 2024 season, he was positioned to be a high draft pick that year, but he ended up missing the season with Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2026, and statistically it wasn’t what he expected (7.03 ERA in 71.2 innings), but that did not change what scouts thought about him. His stuff got better as the spring wore on and he began to look more like himself late in the season.

The Mets believe there is physical maturation left on Sdao's 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame that could lead to an uptick in stuff. He is a pure strike thrower who has a four-pitch mix headlined by an above average, low-80s slider and fastball that will get up to 97 mph. Sdao also mixes in a curveball and cutter. He looks like a back-end starter with a chance for more if the stuff improves.

MLB ETA: 2029

17. RHP Luke Gabrysh

Gabrysh was the key piece in the Brooks Raley trade. The results from an ERA perspective weren’t great in the minors with the Phillies (5.14 ERA), but were better with High-A Brooklyn (3.38 ERA). And he looked better in his four starts with Double-A than the baseline statistics would suggest.

The Mets were buying the under-the-hood swing-and-miss stuff (121 strikeouts in 93.1 innings). And Gabrysh's Stuff+ graded out among the best in minor league baseball. Gabrysh has a starter’s build at 6-3, 200 pounds, with a five-pitch mix, throwing both a four-and two-seam fastball. His velocity ticked up this year, averaging 95 mph and up to 98. He also has a plus slider and mixes in a sweeper and a changeup that could use some work. With some refinement with his command and secondaries, the Mets might have identified an under the radar arm here who could be a future big league starter.

MLB ETA: 2028

18. 1B/OF Ryan Clifford

Clifford is the biggest faller on this list after a season that went in the wrong direction. In 115 games for Triple-A Syracuse, he hit .180/.277/.363 (.641 OPS) with 18 home runs and 56 RBI. In those 115 games, he struck out 174 times, which is a 37 percent strikeout rate. There naturally is an expectation of strikeout rates rising from Triple-A to the major leagues, so there is real concern about whether Clifford will make enough contact to hit at the big league level.

On the positive side, Clifford still hits the ball very hard, with his exit velocity and barrel numbers all grading out as plus-to-elite. Defensively, he played more outfield in 2026, but is still best as a first baseman. There simply needs to be a reduction in strikeout rate here for the bat to play at the next level. Clifford is Rule 5 eligible and should get the chance to rebound in Triple-A in 2027.

MLB ETA: 2027

19. LHP Daviel Hurtado

Hurtado was an international signing out of Cuba in 2023 for $500,000. The 21-year-old posted a 2.93 ERA in 21 games (18 starts) between Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn this season, with 89 strikeouts in 86 innings, with a 54.6 percent groundball rate. Hurtado is a strike-throwing, pitchability lefty up to 95-96 mph with two above average breaking balls in his slider and curveball. He will also mix in a changeup. Hurtado has a chance to be a back-end starter.

MLB ETA: 2029

20. 1B Cole Mathis

Mathis was the return from the Cubs in the David Peterson trade. The former second-round pick has battled some injuries since being drafted, having Tommy John surgery, an elbow sprain, and a wrist sprain. He got back into game action toward the end of the season and is currently playing in the Arizona Fall League. If he is right, it’s an average hit tool with above average raw power that he can utilize to all fields.

Mathis was a third baseman, but after the injuries, he has shifted to first base. If he can stay healthy and continue to grow offensively, he has a chance to be a second division regular at first base at the next level.

MLB ETA: 2028

21. 1B/OF Randy Guzman

Guzman is one of the most exciting power hitters in the system, with true plus power. He is an aggressive hitter who flashes elite exit velocities (109 mph 90th percentile EV and a max EV of 117.6 mph). He has swing and miss to his game and does not draw many walks. He also tends to chase -- struggling more with offspeed pitches and breaking balls. The growth of the hit tool is going to tell the story of what his offensive profile becomes, especially as he moves toward the upper minors.

It’s 30 home run type of power, but Guzman has to make enough contact to get there. He is a below average runner who has split time in the corner outfield spots, but he is likely a first baseman long term.

MLB ETA: 2029

22. C/OF Chris Suero

Heading into 2026, Suero was a prospect who had some helium as a riser, but he did not have the type of season that many expected, slashing .201/.347/.395 with 18 home runs in 114 games. He will take his walks (16 percent walk rate) and has above average power, flashing plus exit velocities. But there is concern on the swing and miss, with an over 29 percent strikeout rate.

On the defensive side, Suero was a hyper versatile player who played almost exclusively catcher this year, where he profiles as a below average receiver with an above average arm. He profiles as a backup who can occasionally play first base or the outfield. He is Rule 5 eligible this winter.

MLB ETA: 2028

23. RHP Will Watson

Watson entered the 2026 season as one of the top pitching prospects in the organization, and he struggled early on with stuff that ticked back. Meanwhile, he was limited to just 37 innings due to an oblique injury. When Watson is right, his fastball sits 93-95, touching 97 mph, with a slider, cutter and changeup. His command needs to take a step forward to become a possible back-end starter. Otherwise, he could potentially translate in relief, which is a role he filled while at college at USC.

MLB ETA: 2028

24. LHP Nicolas Carreño

Carreño was acquired from the Pirates for left-hander Josh Walker back in 2024. The 20-year-old posted a 3.42 ERA in 24 games (18 starts) across 100 innings this year with 124 strikeouts, split between Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn. He is mostly a sinker/slider lefty, averaging 94 mph on a sinker that is up to 98. His mid-upper 80s slider is his most used pitch, throwing it more than 40 percent of the time. Carreño has dominated left-handed hitters to the tune of a .124 batting average against. Control and command can be an issue, which leads to likely a reliever profile.

MLB ETA: 2029

25. C Yovanny Rodriguez

Rodriguez was the Mets’ top international signing in 2024 for $2.85 million. The soon to be 20-year-old came stateside for the first time in 2026 and hit .259 with an .818 OPS and 13 home runs in 74 games split between the Florida Complex League and Low-A St. Lucie.

He profiles as an offensive-minded catcher who shows the ability to barrel the ball in the air to the pull side and posts well above average exit velocities. Defensively, he needs continued development as a receiver but has always had a plus throwing arm.

MLB ETA: 2030

26. INF Bruin Agbayani

Agbayani is the son of former Mets outfielder Benny, but he is an interesting prospect in his own right. Part of the A.J. Minter trade, he is a hit over power profile, though in the small sample size of games played he flashed some elite bat speed, which has Mets people thinking there could be more pop in the bat than he’s shown. Agbayani missed most of the season recovering from shoulder surgery and is currently playing in the AFL. Defensively, he likely fits best as a second baseman or a left fielder.

At just 19 years old, Agbayani could bounce back and is the type of talent who could move up this list in 2027.

MLB ETA: 2030

27. 1B/3B Billy Amick

Amick was acquired in the Minter trade. The 23-year-old former second-round pick has plus power with strong bat speed and exit velocities. He slashed .222/.328/.520 (.848 OPS) with 38 home runs in 122 games split between Double-A with the Twins and Mets and Triple-A Syracuse

Defensively, he has split reps between third base and first base, but he profiles more as a first baseman/designated hitter type. The question is whether he will make enough contact (161 strikeouts in those 122 games) to be able to consistently get to that power in Triple-A and eventually the major leagues.

MLB ETA: 2027

28. OF/SS Cleiner Ramirez

Ramirez was the Mets' second biggest international signing in 2026, signing for $1,372,500 out of Venezuela. He was named the Mets' organizational DR Academy Player of the Year after slashing .241/.357/.462 (.819 OPS) with 11 doubles, seven home runs, and 18 stolen bases in 41 games in the Dominican Summer League.

The 17-year-old does not currently present an elite tool, but he is average-to-above-average across the board. He played both center field and shortstop, with most scouts believing he is a more natural fit in the outfield. He is years away, but Ramirez is a prospect the Mets are excited about, and he should make his stateside debut in 2027, which is the first huge test for international prospects.

MLB ETA: 2031

29. RHP Ryan Lambert

Lambert was a top 20 prospect in the system heading into 2026, and he looked as good as any reliever in the Grapefruit League in spring training. The regular season did not go as Lambert and the Mets expected, though. Injuries and inconsistencies led to him falling off this list in the midseason update. He is now pitching in the AFL and his stuff is looking back to normal.

The command and control need improvement, but I think Lambert and his upper-90s fastball and swing-and-miss slider could make an impact in the Mets' bullpen in 2027.

MLB ETA: 2027

30. INF Marco Vargas

Vargas at one time was a top 10 prospect in the system before injuries and inconsistencies knocked him off of this list. He returned from injury to Double-A Binghamton in July, and in the last 35 games of the season, Vargas raked while slashing .331/.399/.463 (.891 OPS) with six doubles, two triples, four home runs, and 17 stolen bases. He is at least an above average defender up the middle at shortstop and second base.

While Vargas may never reach his everyday player upside, he might be a utility infielder at the next level. He is Rule 5 eligible and is a sneaky name who could get added to the 40-man roster.

MLB ETA: 2029

Former Guardians’ closer Emmanuel Clase and starting pitcher Luis Ortiz begin standing trial for their alleged involvement in a gambling scandal today. Sam Blum of the Athletic has promised updates on Twitter here.

Tanner Bibee won an AL Gold Glove yesterday.

For clarification on a point raised in the comments, Ben Lively is signed for a minor-league deal with the Guardians for 2027 BUT if a team wanted to take him in the Rule-5 draft (thereby guaranteeing him a spot on the active roster, they could do so). That’s pretty unlikely given he had an unspecified injury to end the season and given his age. Also… they aren’t going to have a Rule-5 draft this year, I am pretty sure.

Luke Hill and Welbyn Francisca have been performing extremely well for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, with Hill boasting a .999 OPS while playing second base and DH and Francisca a 1.237 OPS while playing shortstop and second base. You can follow along (weather-permitting) with the Saguaros box score tonight at 8:30PM ET here.

I was off last week so forgive me for rehashing old news, but I was struck watching the Milwaukee Brewers celebrate their first championship in franchise history while on the road at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

Milwaukee followed the 2024 Dodgers script in the World Series, with two close wins at home followed by a hope-crushing road win to go up 3-0 in the series. In both cases, a loss in Game 4 was followed by the series clincher in Game 5. The Brewers’ win was less in doubt than the Dodgers’ in 2024, but both achieved the same result, and shared another commonality.

Celebrating a championship on the road.

That’s been the norm of late, with only one team in the last 13 years has celebrated winning a championship in their home ballpark:

• 2014: Giants won Game 7 in Kansas City
• 2015: Royals won Game 5 in New York
• 2016: Cubs won Game 7 in Cleveland
• 2017: Astros won Game 7 in Los Angeles
• 2018: Red Sox won Game 5 in Los Angeles
• 2019: Nationals won Game 7 in Houston*
• 2020: Dodgers won Game 6 in Arlington, Texas^
• 2021: Braves won Game 6 in Houston
• 2022: Astros beat Phillies in Game 6 in Houston
• 2023: Rangers won Game 5 in Phoenix
• 2024: Dodgers won Game 5 in New York
• 2025: Dodgers won Game 7 in Toronto
• 2026: Brewers won Game 5 in St. Petersburg

*Every game of the 2019 World Series was won by the road team. Wild stuff
^Dodgers were the “home” team in Game 6 in 2020, but every game of that series was played at Globe Life Field in Texas

The only home team in the last 13 years to clinch a World Series was the Houston Astros, who beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games in 2022, finishing things up at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Every other title involved Major League Baseball setting up the celebratory stage on a field that was not that of the home team, though in the case of this year, Milwaukee fans traveled quite well and made the Brewers feel quite comfortable at The Trop.

The recent spate of road celebrations have titled the scales, such that in the history of the World Series, a road team clinched the Fall Classic 67 times compared to just 55 final-game home wins.

Winning any championship requires much more than merely the final game, obviously, and it feels like a pretty whiny thing to complain that a team isn’t winning its titles at home. Every title in itself is a gift, and should be appreciated in its own right.

But it’s still cool to clinch a championship at home.

When the Dodgers beat the New York Mets in the 2024 National League Championship Series, they finished things off at home, their first pennant-clincher at Dodger Stadium since 1988.

“I’ve been a part of three World Series teams and I’ve never been able to clinch at home,” Kiké Hernández said after the 2024 NLCS. “In 2020 we were wearing white when we clinched the pennant. But we weren’t at home, we were in Texas.”

The Dodgers clinched another pennant at home in 2025, sweeping the Brewers behind Shohei Ohtani’s three home runs and 10 strikeouts. Milwaukee returned the favor this year, making Dodger Stadium only the fourth ballpark in the divisional era to see a pennant clinched in three straight seasons.

“It’s always fun to clinch,” manager Dave Roberts said in 2024. “But to be able to do it at home is really special.”

The Dodgers have won three championships in the last seven seasons, but none were finished off at home in Los Angeles. They were technically the home team in Game 6 in 2020, but that was the pandemic-shortened season and the Dodgers played their NLDS, NLCS, and World Series games all at Globe Life Field in Texas. The home team and not at home.

Only once in the Dodgers’ history have they won a World Series at home. Their first title, in 1955 for Brooklyn, was finished off at Yankee Stadium in Game 7, and in 1959 in Los Angeles the World Series ended at Comiskey Park in Chicago in Game 6.

The second year of Dodger Stadium saw the only time the Dodgers clinched a World Series at home, as they swept the Yankees. Sandy Koufax struck out eight in a complete-game victory in Game 4 to close out the championship with a 2-1 win.

Other teams have won their titles at Dodger Stadium since the Dodgers last did so – the Yankees in Game 6 in 1978, the Astros in Game 7 in 2017 followed by the Red Sox in Game 5 the next year.

The Dodgers finished off the 1965 World Series in Minnesota, celebrated in 1981 at Yankee Stadium, and did the same in 1988 in Oakland, the latter courtesy of yet another Orel Hershiser complete game, before this latest run of three titles, all clinched while away from home.

But they haven’t won a World Series at home in a long time. Then again, hardly anyone has of late.

Every offseason, Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Picollo picks up the phone and tries to convince 29 other front offices that his prospects are worth more than they think. Or at least we hope he is this active.

On The Royals Rundown Podcast, we had Jeremy Greco play Picollo, while I served as the opposing general manager. We negotiated trades, and Jeremy wrote about his offseason plan in Playing Picollo Part 2. If you missed that episode, you can listen to it here.

The rules were simple. Jeremy ran the Royals with a shopping list of team needs. I played opposing GMs, and my only job was to protect my team and get a fair deal. No charity, no hometown discount, no pretending a Low-A reliever is a future closer because he’s wearing powder blue. While I am not a front office executive, I tried considering what holes my imaginary organization had, where their competitive timeline stood, and ultimately get the help they needed and could use.

We talked through six players. Four deals got done, two fell apart, and by the end Kansas City had a new rotation and a much thinner farm system. Here is the logic behind every call I made from the other side of the table.

All prospect rankings are from MLB Pipeline.

Reid Detmers (Angels): deal done

Royals get: LHP Reid Detmers

Angels get: LHP David Shields (#4), C Blake Mitchell (#5), RHP Jack Slightom (#12)

If you’re going to ask me for my best starter, you’re going to pay for my best starter. Detmers threw 185 innings with a 3.36 ERA, struck out 211, and was worth 4.2 WAR, and he comes with two more years of team control. His changeup generates whiffs like a buy-one-get-one coupon generates foot traffic, and he got better as the year went on, posting a 2.05 ERA after the All-Star break. Bring him to Kauffman Stadium, and he’s not a back-end piece, he’s likely the Royals’ Opening Day starter.

Jeremy’s opening offer leaned on Slightom and red-hot outfielder Angeibel Gomez. It was tough to reject, but Gomez is still far away from a big-league debut, so I countered with Shields, Mitchell, and Kendry Chourio. Neither of us was getting everything we wanted, so we met in the middle: Shields, Mitchell, and Slightom.

From the Angels’ chair, I liked it. I told Jeremy I felt I got the better end, and that the deal only swings back their way if both the arm and the bat miss. Jeremy’s response was that both carry red flags. That’s fair. It’s also exactly what a GM says after they’ve already hung up the phone.

The headline of this deal is not a single prospect, but rather two in Shields and Mitchell. Shields had an electric 2026 season, staying all year in the High-A Quad Cities rotation en route to the Midwest League championship. There are concerns about Shields’ velocity, but the then-19-year-old hurler had little problem this year against more experienced batters.

He is a starter through and through, and few pitchers are better poised to start their age-20 season in Double-A than Shields. While the minor-league run environment exploded this season, I looked at Shields’ 2.48 SIERA in valuing him. For comparison, Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski led MLB with a 2.35 SIERA this season. The results will not translate one-to-one from High-A to MLB, but they show how elite a pitcher Shields was in 2026.

A Midwest League All-Star

AND

The Midwest League Pitcher of the Year!

Way to go, David Shields! 👏 #RaisingRoyals👑 pic.twitter.com/Hmex4Ez9kJ

— Raising Royals (@KCRoyalsPD) September 16, 2026

The wild card here is Mitchell, the uber-athletic catcher with a polarizing batting profile. His 23 homers and 27 stolen bases in High-A this season put him in elite company, while his 131 wRC+ shows how much more productive he was than his peers However, the 34.1% strikeout rate is a huge red flag, even weighed against a 22.1% walk rate. That ratio would be among the better in MLB, but it was only tied for 212th among High-A batters alone. Add in his contact issues, and Mitchell feels like an all-or-nothing prospect Kansas City could move on from after the 2026 season. The Angels lack a clear top catching prospect better than Mitchell, so shoring up that position with an MLB hole to boot feels feasible.

Slightom is more of a wild card, not because of any flaws or red flags, but because he has yet to show what he can do in professional games. Kansas City liked him enough to give him an above-slot deal after drafting him this year in the second round, thanks to projectable stuff and a starter’s build. But with no affiliated action yet, the jury is still out on what Slightom will be. I looked at that build and his fastball, coupled with a unique delivery, and think there is a solid prospect there to work with on his secondary offerings. Here is a quick look at him down in Arizona.

Figured this would be a good battle. Kansas City Royals 2026 2nd rd draft pick Jack Slightom vs Padres 2026 free agent signing Josh Skowronski. Slightom gets Skronk here. pic.twitter.com/GDTxxpull7

— TheJerryEspinoza (@JEspinoza1634) August 27, 2026

Logan Gilbert (Mariners): no deal

My ask: 3B Josh Hammond (#3), UTL Nick Loftin (MLB), LHP Dash Albus (NR)

The Gilbert talks are where I learned the most about playing the other side. Jeremy kept offering pieces that made sense for the Royals to move. I kept asking for pieces that made sense for the Mariners to own.

Michael Massey was the easy no. Seattle’s middle infield is already a crowded elevator, with Cole Young, Brendan Donovan, Michael Arroyo and Brock Rodden all waiting for the doors to open. Adding another second baseman solves nothing. Third base is the real long-term hole, especially with Donovan hitting free agency after 2027. That’s why I pushed for Hammond.

I also wasn’t going to let Jeremy forget what they were buying. Gilbert has one year of control left and projects to make about $15.4 million in his final arbitration year. One year of an ace is still one year. I wanted Loftin, not Isaac Collins, and Jeremy wouldn’t budge on Loftin. The talks did not last long on Gilbert, but opened another door in Seattle.

George Kirby (Mariners): deal done

Royals get: RHP George Kirby

Mariners get: C Ramon Ramirez (#7), RHP Lucas Braun (#16), LHP Dash Albus (NR)

So we stayed in Seattle and changed the name on the jersey. I countered with Ramirez, Braun, and Albus for two years of Kirby, and Jeremy took it.

My pitch was simple. Kirby is coming off a down 2026, a 4.33 ERA in 174.2 innings, which is the only reason he’s available at this price. The Royals get a surefire rotation arm with two years of control, and the Mariners turn a pitcher in a dip into three young pieces. Jeremy walked away thinking they gave up very little in Braun and Albus. Sometimes the best trades are the ones where both sides think they won the coin flip.

Ramirez is the headline piece here for Seattle, banking on the still underappreciated catching prospect in the Royals’ system. While an injury took some time from him this summer, his High-A performance went well overall. Looking at his skills behind the plate from 2025 to 2026, I feel comfortable with him sticking as a catcher after some fielding and blocking concerns raised eyebrows last season. His bat is what will carry him, and the bat speed remains tantalizing after a 2025 injury saw his power decline following his return. He would join Seattle’s organization as a well-rounded alternative to Luke Stevenson, the Mariners’ current top catching prospect.

LVPB (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League) meet Ramón Ramírez! #RaisingRoyals👑 21-year-old slugger went 2 for 2 with a home run and a 2-run single and walked twice last night in his debut for @labarrabrava.

🎥 Beisbolplay on IG pic.twitter.com/sX2VWQSYNL

— Raising Royals (@KCRoyalsPD) October 23, 2026

The Royals need pitching depth heading into 2027, but if there was room to let Braun walk, I was going to take it. With youngsters Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan pushing for MLB roles in 2027, there is a steep drop off to the Mariners’ next wave of pitching talent. Braun serves more as an insurance policy than a high-ceiling add, but with a 3.69 SIERA in Triple-A action last season, that is his best role in any organization. The control is his calling card, but Braun lacks a tool that screams MLB regular to me. Still, you carry insurance for a reason, and Seattle will likely need some on their supporting starting staff.

This was the second time I tried to get Albus, and I finally landed him for Seattle. Albus is not a top-30 prospect, but relievers rarely are. The 19th rounder from the 2024 MLB Draft now has two steady seasons in the Royals organization, pitching at least 55 innings each year. His jump from 13.8% K-BB% in 2025 to 21.4% K-BB% in 2026 gives him some helium. Albus was also among High-A’s best pitchers at inducing chase swings (39.8%, 98th percentile) and limiting in-zone contact (73.5%, 94th percentile). Those are not aberrations, but rather him improving on what he was strongest with at Low-A last season. Heading into his age-24 season, Albus should start next season at Double-A.

Nick Lodolo (Reds): no deal

My ask: LHP Justin Lamkin (8), OF Asbel Gonzalez (15)

Lodolo’s 2026 was a story told mostly by blisters. He finished with a 4.97 ERA in 108.2 innings. Look past that and you find a pitcher who, in his healthy 2025, posted a 3.33 ERA over 156.2 innings and 4.7 WAR. He has one year of control left at a projected $5.7 million, which is a bargain for a guy who can pitch like that when his fingers cooperate.

So I asked for Lamkin and Gonzalez, essentially the price of the 2025 version. Jeremy refused to pay 2025 prices for a 2026 Lodolo. I understood the logic. I also pointed out that they had just paid exactly that kind of price for a George Kirby coming off his own down year. Consistency is a lot to ask from a general manager. Apparently it’s even more to ask from a podcast host. This was also before Lamkin really started taking off in the Arizona Fall League, so my buy-low attempt on the Texas A&M alum fell short. Thank goodness for Royals fans.

Ryan Feltner (Rockies): deal done

Royals get: RHP Ryan Feltner

Rockies get: RHP Felix Arronde (#21), LHP Darwin Rodriguez (NR)

Feltner found a niche in piggyback and bulk relief work, and his changeup is the kind of pitch that looks better the farther it gets from Coors Field. He projects to make about $3.8 million in arbitration and isn’t a lock to be tendered. Getting him out of Colorado is a bet that he becomes something else. Plenty of pitchers have walked out of that altitude and found out who they really were.

Of every deal we made, this is the one I like most from the opposing side. Colorado turns a non-tender candidate into two arms. Kansas City gets a lottery ticket with a really good changeup.

An excellent outing from Ryan Feltner tonight.

6.0 IP
1 H
1 ER
2 BB
4 K

Jaden Hill will pitch the seventh for the #Rockies. @blakestbanterpic.twitter.com/5Ja6IJVrom

— Eli Whitney (@eliwhtney17) June 6, 2026

Arronde had a ton of helium coming into 2026, after pitching 128.2 High-A innings with a 2.80 ERA in that span. He was not a dominant strikeout pitcher, but adeptly limited home runs and induced ineffective contact in his 26 appearances. But the burgeoning minor-league run environment was a brick wall for him in 2026, where he jumped to Double-A and pitched his third consecutive 100-plus-inning season. The strikeouts ticked up, but the walk rate spiked from 8.1% to 11.2%. His home run rate was one of the worst in minor league baseball, allowing 2.14 home runs per nine innings, or 25 in his 24 total appearances. He was a consistent presence in the strike zone this year, and hopefully a repeat of Double-A this coming season gets him back on track.

Rodriguez is a nice-to-have in this deal as a guy who, like Albus, has factors that say he could develop into a big-league contributor in coming years. The Venezuelan pitched a career-high 115 innings this season, all at Low-A Columbia, with a 3.83 ERA, 3.55 FIP, and 3.54 SIERA all showing how consistent he was in Columbia. His control sets up a so-so arsenal well, somehow getting batters to chase at a 32.4% rate while only whiffing 23.5% of the time. He was a late starter to his professional career, but has been remarkably consistent over the past three years. High-A offers the next test, though, and his lacking stuff might be his downfall. But finding that next fastball shape for Rodriguez and honing the changeup, that is on my organization.

Darwin Rodriguez fans nine Woodpecker batters in 5.2 innings, a new career high for the Fireflies southpaw! 😎🔥 #LetsGlowpic.twitter.com/bH2rZVusUh

— Columbia Fireflies (@ColaFireflies) June 6, 2026

Dylan Crews (Nationals): deal done

Royals get: OF Dylan Crews

Nationals get: LHP Daniel Lynch IV (MLB), OF Sean Gamble (#10)

The first position player added in this exercise is banking on a blue-chip prospect benefitting from a change of scenery. Crews has the pedigree and a solid glove, but no track record of production yet. He hit .223/.289/.374 with an 82 OPS+ in 2026, good for 0.7 WAR. My honest projection is that he peaks as a 1- to 2-WAR player. Talent doesn’t win ballgames. Production does. But he would still serve as an improvement to the current Royals outfield and give the team room to add another impact bat in the outfield, where hopefully Crews would serve more as a supplementary role in center field or left as needed.

dylan crews is in the lab

full cut: https://t.co/jHGMpzFwS6 x @inovahealthpic.twitter.com/74yBFk1Fjj

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 26, 2026

What Crews does offer the Royals is cost certainty. He’s pre-arbitration through 2027 and under team control through 2030, and that matters for a payroll that just swallowed Detmers, Kirby, and Feltner. When the rotation gets expensive, a cheap outfielder with upside starts to look like a necessity.

Jeremy’s offer included Yandel Ricardo (#11 in the farm system). I swapped Ricardo out for Lynch and asked for Gamble and Lynch. The logic was based entirely on Washington’s needs. With Seaver King and Eli Willits holding down shortstop, Washington needs a future multi-position outfielder with some base power more than another infielder, and Gamble fits. Lynch fills a bullpen that needs left-handed arms, and with Washington’s recent track record of testing out pitching reclamation projects, I think the 2018 first-rounder would offer them a starting option that I know Kansas City fans do not want to see pitching against them.

Gamble’s season is a Rorschach test. He finished with a 72 wRC+ at Low-A as a 19-year-old, but he also stole 38 bases, including 12 in his final 23 games. His power ticked up late, too, with a .123 ISO from August on compared to .107 for the year. Squint one way and he’s a speedster still learning to hit. Squint the other, and he’s a young hitter starting to find damage. As the Nationals, I’ll happily take that ink blot.

He was exclusively in center field for Columbia last year, flashing his speed and reaction on plenty of highlight-reel plays. I am still interested in the versatile profile he had coming out of IMG Academy last year, but his future likely lies in center or left. The Nationals do have some outfield prospects, but like Gamble, all are far from the league. Luke Dickerson is a similar profile to Gamble, but is not a surefire guy to push Gamble off Washington’s radar altogether.

Sean Gamble lines a stand-up triple to the right field wall that scores Henry Ramos to give us a first-inning 1-0 lead. #LetsGlowpic.twitter.com/nEDB9k6Sju

— Columbia Fireflies (@ColaFireflies) May 27, 2026

The final tally

When the dust settled, five of the Royals’ top 12 prospects were wearing new uniforms: Shields, Mitchell, Ramirez, Gamble, and Slightom. In return, Kansas City added three starting pitchers and a cost-controlled outfielder. Taking that opposing general manager hat off after this exercise, I feel that is the aggressive stance Kansas City needs to take this offseason if they want to improve the big-league product, without hedging their bets on a litany of prospects who have not played above High-A.

But give Jeremy credit for what he didn’t move. They held on to Chourio and Gomez, the two best players in the system, and Hammond stayed put because he wouldn’t part with Loftin in the Gilbert talks. A front office can survive trading depth. It rarely survives trading the future, and all three have hopeful roles in the next great wave of Royals prospects.

There was a strange beauty in playing the other side of this equation. I was able to go get guys I want to see progress like Rodriguez and Albus, while adding prospects who would be likely top-ten additions to any system out there. Will our thought process come to fruition? Likely not, just like many free agent or trade predictions we will see over the offseason ahead. But that intent on Kansas City’s end is what needs to materialize if fans are to believe 2026 was an injury-fueled fluke rather than a return to the baseball purgatory Kansas City has occupied for much of my adult life.