SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Kyle Hart #68 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on September 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability).
A Reliever Who’s Hard to Pin Down
Kyle Hart is a tough nut to crack. Prior to 2025, his big-league career was limited to just four games (three starts) with the Boston Red Sox. He spent the remainder of his career in the minor leagues with a short stint in the KBO. That year with the NC Dinos revitalized his career. Hart won the Choi Dong-won Award in 2024 (KBO’s equivalent of the Cy Young award) with a 2.69 ERA over 157 innings. That led to the Padres signing him to a one-year deal in 2025. He was mostly solid but couldn’t hack it as a full-fledged starting pitcher, eventually becoming a bulk reliever for the club.
Overall Grade: D
His solid production as a bulk reliever in 2025 led to San Diego re-signing Hart ahead of the 2026 season. That includes a $2.5 million club option for 2027 that the Friars seem likely to exercise. If nothing else, Hart covers innings well. He’s not elite by any means, but he can eat innings and has shown flashes of dominance throughout his tenure with San Diego.
Hart did improve markedly on his 2025 season. In 21 more innings, he lowered his ERA by almost a full run. None of his marks were particularly incredible (4.92 ERA, 1.20 WHIP), but he still showed improvement. Command was his biggest problem. Hart walked a career-high 26 batters despite a .218 opponent batting average. If he could find the zone a little more often, Hart could develop into a better relief weapon in the San Diego ‘pen.
That being said, Hart underperformed in 2025 and ‘26. In both years, his expected ERA was more than a full run lower than his actual ERA. That gap was more noticeable in 2026 since he threw more innings, with Hart’s serviceable 3.65 xERA compared to a 4.92 actual ERA. This could be due to a handful of things (defense, environmental factors, etc.), but Hart’s stuff could finally prove up to snuff in 2027 if the Padres give him a chance.
Well, that was quick. It feels like almost before it started, the World Series was over. But the good news is, we can now start looking forward to the 2026 campaign, because the wheels are in motion. The bad news? Nobody known when or in what form that’ll take place. But below, you’ll find an overview of some of the important dates on the calendar, and what they mean for the Diamondbacks. I’ll pin this just off the front page for reference over the winter.
October 29: Free Agents File
Eligible players file for free agency today, the day after the World Series ends. It begins a five-day “quiet period” where teams can negotiate with their own free agents, but the players are unable to sign anywhere else. They also come off the 40-man roster at that point. Those in question are:
Taylor Clarke
Zac Gallen
Kevin Ginkel
Jonathan Loaisiga
James McCann
Dennis Santana
Michael Soroka
Ildemaro Vargas
In addition, Ryan Thompson and A.J. Puk will become free agents, but are currently on the 60-day Injured List, so do not free up 40-man spots. That’ll take our 40-man roster, currently at 39, down to 31 spots.
Teams must decide whether to extend one-year Qualifying Offers to any free agents. To be eligible for a QO, a player must have spent the entire 2025 season with his team and never previously received one. There’s only one potential candidate for Arizona, in Soroka. But as we’ll see below, that seems unlikely. Any player that does get one will have 10 days to accept or decline it. If a player declines and signs with a new team, then his old team will receive draft pick compensation. I trust we all remember what happened last winter with Gallen.
November 1: Rawlings Gold Glove Winners announced
As discussed, Arizona have four candidates among the final nominees. Gabriel Moreno at catcher; Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop; Corbin Carroll in right field; and Ildemaro Vargas as a utility player. I think we’ll end up with just one, Moreno and Carroll probably being the most likely.
November 3: Free Agency Opens
Free agency begins and players are free to sign with clubs. This is also the last day that teams can issue Qualifying Offers to eligible free agents.
November 3: 60-day injured list reinstatement
Players that are currently on the 60-day Injured List must also be added back to the 40-man roster five days after the World Series ends. In addition to Puk and Thompson, mentioned above but departing as free agents, we have Andrew Saalfrank, Cristian Mena and Tyler Lockler on the 60-day IL. Adding that trio back in, brings the roster up to 34. At least it’s less of an issue than the D-backs had last winter, when we had nine players for whom room needed to be found.
November 3: Contract options deadline
The same day is also the deadline for clubs and players to execute or decline any options built into their current contracts. This means the mutual option on Soroka, and Corbin Burnes deciding whether or not to opt out. Odds seem very high that neither of those will be executed. Soroka will want to test free agency after an impressive 2025 campaign, while after ten innings of less than whelming baseball, Burnes isn’t going anywhere. And while not formally official, Bob Nightengale confirmed today that Corbin will be staying.
November 9-12: GM Meetings in Las Vegas
November 9-12: Awards Week
This is when the bulk of the honors get handed out, with the Rookie + Manager of the Year, Cy Young and MVP in each league announced over these four days. Though the Silver Slugger Awards are announced on November 17, and the Heart & Hustle Awards are November 6. Be interesting to see where any D-backs end up. Though I wouldn’t expect any winners, I would not be surprised to see Gabriel Moreno and Eduardo Rodriguez get some down-ballot mentions for the MVP and Cy Young respectively. At least it seems we will be spared another Ohtani love-fest this year.
November 17: Rule 5 Draft Protection deadline
The team will need to make decisions on which prospects they need to add to the 40-man roster, to protect them from the Rule 5 draft. However, there is a real question as to whether there will be a Rule 5 draft this year, as it is scheduled to take place after the expiration of the CBA. Last time it happened, the entire event was simply wiped from existence, so that’s a very real possibility this winter too.
November 17: Qualifying offer deadline
This is the day when players have formally to accept or reject their qualifying offers. Any player not accepting by this date will be considered to have declined, therefore granting his former team draft pick compensation, if they change teams in the off-season. The precise nature of the pick will depend on the value of the contract he signs, and where the team stands in regard to things like revenue sharing and whether they pay Competitive Balance Tax. But this winter, it’s not likely to be of much relevance to the Diamondbacks.
November 20: Tender deadlines
This is the deadline for teams to offer the pre-arbitration and arbitration eligible players a contract for the 2026 season (whatever and whenever that might be!). Players who don’t receive an offer are considered non-tendered and become free agents. Just four D-backs fall into the category this winter. Here’s who Arizona will have to decide on, with their service time and projected salaries for 2026.
Lars Nootbaar (5.076): $6.3m
Pavin Smith (4.144): $2.5m
Gabriel Moreno (4.061): $6.1m
Ryne Nelson (4.020): $3.4m
There’s probably just one candidate to be non-tendered, in Pavin Smith. But he may yet stick around. I kinda hope he does, purely to see the incandescent rage which results from the Twitteratti.
TBD: Hall of Fame Ballot released
None of the returning names reached even sixty percent on last year’s ballot. Chase Utley did jump from 40% to 59%, so if that’s repeated this time, he could be going to Cooperstown. Otherwise, the focus might be more on the new names joining the ballot. They’re likely headed by Buster Posey, with Jon Lester, Brett Gardiner and Ryan Zimmerman also in the 40+ bWAR club. Former D-backs who might be mentioned are mostly a “What, they played for us?” Gambo’s favorite catcher Alex Avila is eligible, as are Will Harris, Jon Jay and Joachim Soria. And a Cy Young winner, in the shape of some guy called Trevor Bauer. No possibility for controversy there…
December 1: CBA expires
Yep, at the end of the first day in December, everything seems to indicate that we will be heading for a lockout, as the players and owners butt heads, about who gets to stick their heads deeper into the trough of MLB revenue. I really don’t care about that. I just want a landscape on the far side, where teams do not need a $400 million payroll to have a chance of competing in the NL West. If the price for that is a summer where I get through my Tubi queue instead, I am fine with it.
Therefore, everything below is potentially likely to be rescheduled and/or canceled.
December 7-9: Winter Meetings in Orlando
December 8: MLB Draft Lottery
With Arizona having had the best record of the teams who did not qualify for the postseason (as well as a better record than some who did, grumble grumble), their odds of a good pick in the draft are slight. According to Tankathon, the Diamondbacks have a 2.3% chance of moving up for a pick in the top six, but only a 0.23% of getting the #1 overall choice. Hey, weirder things have happened. It’s better than no chance at all, which would have been the odds before the draft lottery. The Rockies (surprise!), Angels and Athletics are the favorites for the top pick each having about a 19% chance.
December 9: Rule 5 Draft
Minor League players not on a team’s 40-man roster who have been in professional baseball for four (for college players) or five (for high school players) are eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. During the Major League portion of the draft, any player selected must remain on that team’s active roster for the entire season or be offered back to their original club (with some stipulations around time spent on an Injured List). This has been a point of pain for Arizona in the past, losing Dan Uggla. We haven’t picked anyone in the major-league portion since Zach Pop in 2020, and he was immediately traded to the Marlins. If you’re asking “Who?” though, that’s kinda the point…
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 15: Bo Bichette #19 of the New York Mets looks on during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field on September 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a move that should hardly come as a surprise to anyone who watched the 2026 Mets, Bo Bichette is expected to exercised his player option and return to New York in 2027, according to sources cited by Will Sammon. Bichette will earn $42 million next season, and also carries a player option for the same amount for 2028.
The Mets signed Bichette within 24 hours of whiffing in their pursuit of Kyle Tucker (Tucker eventually signed with the Dodgers). Bichette joined the Mets shortly after the team let Pete Alonso go and traded Brandon Nimmo away, so the move was, in part a measure of appeasing the fans who wanted the team to make a splash and in part a move to fortify a lineup that needed someone to protect Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto. Bichette was coming off a 2025 season in which he posted a 134 wRC+, a career best in a full season, and 3.8 fWAR while leading the Blue Jays to the American League pennant.
Bichette hit the market presumably seeking a long-term deal as he prepared to enter his age-28 season, he failed in that endeavor. As a result, he landed a short-term contract with the Mets, with the expectation that he would perform close to his career norms and exercise the opt out to get that long-term deal the following offseason. That scenario did not play out as expected.
Bichette started out slow, slashing .213/.271/.229 with five homers and a 61 wRC+ through June 2, but he picked it up after that point, hitting .289/.337/.447 with 13 home runs and a 117 wRC+ over the final 99 games of the season. He finished the year hitting .260/.312/.390 with 18 home runs, 76 runs scored, 78 runs batted in, a 96 wRC+, and 1.9 fWAR in 160 games.
Mets fans got a glimpse of the player Bichette could be from June 3 onward, but the surge following the slow start and overall numbers made opting out a foolish move for Bichette. With the lockout looming and an uncertain 2027 season ahead, taking $42 million guaranteed is a no-brainer. Combine that with his final stat line, and you have a recipe for a second year in New York. That doesn’t mean Bichette can’t rebound, and doing so would give the Mets another solid weapon in a lineup that already includes Lindor and Soto—both hoping to bounce back from injury-plagued seasons—and youngsters like Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing (as well as a couple of impressive prospects waiting in the wings).
Bichette exercising the option is the first domino to fall in what is expected to be a frenetic offseason leading up to the anticipated lockout on December 2. With a flurry of activity expected between now and then, you can expect many more moves to follow before all transactions and activity are shut down.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 7: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres walks off the field at the end of the fourth inning during Game Four of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park on October 7, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts signed an 11-year, $280 million contract with the San Diego Padres prior to the 2023 season. After a decade with the Boston Red Sox, Bogaerts hit the free-agent market. He rejected an initial four-year, $90 million offer, followed by a six-year, $162 million offer from the Red Sox. By turning down offers of $22.5 million a year for four years and $27 million a year for six years, Bogaerts made it clear that a long-term deal was the only option for a team wanting to sign him.
Gaslamp Ball’s Lincoln Zudnick began his Padres roster review after the Friars were eliminated from the playoffs. His grade for Bogaerts, a C+, reflected the shortstop’s decidedly mediocre performance in a Padres uniform. It would be hard to argue with the grade. Bogaerts arrived in San Diego and has never resembled the player he was in Boston. Taking into account injuries that significantly affected his performance in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the past season was basically injury-free, yet it was his worst offensive season yet.
A look at the underlying numbers shows a career-low effectiveness against offspeed pitches. After hitting .318 versus offspeed in 2025, Bogaerts had a .138 batting average in 2026. Looking back over past seasons, offspeed and breaking pitches have challenged Bogaerts in the past but never to the extent as in this past season.
After being unable to bring his average above .212 for any month following April, Bogaerts and the Padres’ hitting coaches brought the split grip into Bogaerts’ approach. For the month of September, Bogaerts hit .315 with a .479 slugging percentage.
He carried that over into the postseason, hitting .286/.348/.476 in the six games.
The big question remains: what happened to Bogaerts’ power after arriving in San Diego?
His bat speed and exit velocity remain consistent. His launch angle and sweet spot numbers have taken the biggest drop over the past three seasons, but his hard-hit percentage also remains consistent.
The defense is still good
With average to below-average arm strength, Bogaerts is still an above-average shortstop. Over his four seasons with the Padres, his Outs Above Average have always been three or above, even during the two seasons when injuries curtailed his effectiveness. He will be in his age 34 season in 2027, past his prime and having to work much harder to stay in his position. No doubt that will change at some point before the end of the contract, and his position will need to change.
One thing seems clear: he is not an option for DH with his offensive struggles. First base would be a likely spot for the future, a subject not yet publicly addressed.
Getting the most out of the investment
Per Fangraphs, which places a dollar value on players in their stats pages, Bogaerts was worth $36.8 million in his first season with the Padres (2023). Since then, his value has been $16.3 million (2024), $25.9 million (2025), and $21.1 million for the past season. The average annual value for his contract is $25.45 million.
Most of his value has been placed on the defensive side since his 2023 season.
Manager Craig Stammen obviously recognized the need to move the veteran down in the batting order as his struggles went on for most of the season. At the bottom third of the batting order, Bogaerts can be more effective as he has consistently had an on-base average over .300 and mostly above .320 as a Padre. His strikeout rate is consistent, and he had his highest walk rate this past season.
Minimizing the damage
There is no arguing that the Padres have a payroll weighed down by two aging veterans with crippling contracts. Both Manny Machado and Bogaerts will be well past their productive years by the time the two contracts expire in 2033.
Making the most of that investment will be the challenge the organization has to deal with in the coming seasons. Machado is still highly productive, despite having his worst season offensively. Bogaerts will need to be open to change in order for the team to minimize the damage done by signing a player who has not been able to repeat his previous success.
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 27: Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (4) is seen after the eighth inning of an MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Toronto Blue Jays on September 27, 2026, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Jays have eight players who declared free agency today: Shane Bieber, Patrick Corbin, Yimi Garcia, Max Scherzer, Paul Sewald, George Springer, Jameson Taillon, and Luis Urias.
Only six teams have more free agents:
The Braves have ten free agents. Including our old friends Rowdy Tellez and Lane Thomas.
The Yankees also have ten free agents: David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Michael Fulmer, Paul Goldschmidt, Trent Grisham, Tim Hill, Amed Rosario, John Schreiber, Ryan Yarbrough.
The Dodgers have nine free agents: Kris Bubic, Brusdar Graterol, Enrique Hernandez, Eric Lauer, Evan Phillips, Miguel Rojas, Tarik Skubal, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia.
The Padres have nine: Old friends Ty France and Robbie Ray are among them.
The Cubs have nine: Old friend Kevin Gausman and Trent Thornton are on their list. Seiya Suzuki is an interesting name on the list.
The Diamondbacks have nine: Taylor Clarke, Zac Gallen, Kevin Ginkel, Jonathan Loaisiga, James McCann, A.J. Puk, Dennis Santana, Ryan Thompson, Ildemaro Vargas
Other old friends becoming free agents: Chris Bassitt, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Randal Grichuk,Trevor Richards, Jordan Romano, Jacob Waguespack, Daulton Varsho, Luke Maile, and Travis d’Arnaud.
Another old friend, Bo Bichette has decided to stay with the Mets, keeping his $42 million option. I was pretty sure he would.
You can see the whole list of free agents here. If there is someone you think the Jays should chase, tell us about it.
The infielder has decided to opt in to his $42 million player option for next season, The Post confirmed, after a disappointing first season in Queens.
The development was first reported by The Athletic.
Another season with the talented 28-year-old suggests there will be more stability within the Mets’ position-player group, after David Stearns acknowledged that the amount of upheaval previously may have contributed to the disastrous 2026 season.
With Bichette back in the fold, the Mets have a top (and middle) of a lineup that — barring what would be an unexpected, immediate implementation of a salary cap — almost certainly will feature himself, Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing.
Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens figure to return as the catching duo. If the Mets stick with the declining Marcus Semien, who is due $46 million over the next two years, and perhaps platoon him with Brett Baty at second base, the only positions not accounted for would be first base and designated hitter (either of which could belong to Jared Young).
For Bichette, the decision was expected but not a sure thing. In such a weak free agent market, in which the best second/third basemen are Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis Arráez and Brandon Lowe, perhaps he could have topped the $84 million he would be opting out of, but certainly not approach his current average annual value.
For Bichette, the decision was expected but not a sure thing. In such a weak free agent market, in which the best second/third basemen are Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis Arráez and Brandon Lowe, perhaps he could have topped the $84 million he would be opting out of, but certainly not approach his current average annual value.
New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette hits an RBI single in the eighth inning against Citi Field in Queens, New York, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST
Last winter, after a strong platform season and excellence in the World Series with the Blue Jays, Bichette — the Mets’ backup plan after missing out on Kyle Tucker — signed a three-year, $126 million pact with player opt-outs after each season.
The expectation was the Mets would pay him plenty in what would be a short-term deal before he could opt out, test the market again and secure the length he sought, but no one was planning on how his 2026 campaign unfolded.
A proven and veteran hitter was among the game’s worst for the first two months, finishing May hitting .219 with a .583 OPS. He bounced back — the rest of the way just about all his numbers improved, including hitting .284 with a .772 OPS from June through September — but the Mets had dug a hole too great for his improved play to matter.
Bichette was not the face of the struggles of the brand-new Mets — that was Jorge Polanco, who barely played and really never played well — but a group that had attempted to replace a core of Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Díaz and Jeff McNeil never got going.
“We and I made a number of decisions that created the potential for almost an uncapped downside scenario,” Stearns said at his end-of-season news conference, which arrived in September and not October. “We had a lot of change. I think change in New York is probably different than change in other markets.”
The Mets undoubtedly hope that the change will be minimized next season when they also will return with manager Andy Green.
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Their greatest needs, at least at the moment, are at the top of the rotation and in the bullpen rather than their everyday players.
Perhaps Bichette — who spent his first seven seasons in Toronto, six of which finished with an OPS greater than .800 before slumping to a .702 mark in his initial year in Queens — will be more comfortable in Year 2.
“The first three months were some of the longest of my career, for sure, a combination of so many different things,” Bichette told The Post’s Mike Puma at the end of the season. “Simply put, my performance and the team’s performance in a new situation. I think I can look at the season and in some ways see it in a positive light and I think the team can as well.
“It was a weird year because I feel positive about this team going forward, and obviously have confidence in myself, so it’s a weird feeling to have that positivity about the team, about myself.”
The Mets claimed infielder Kyren Paris from the Angels and designated outfielder Cristian Pache for assignment.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 01: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates scoring during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on August 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves, who won 94 games, the NL East Division title and the NL Wild Card Series over the Phillies, made the no-brainer decision of all no-brainer decisions today.
The #Braves today exercised options for OF Ronald Acuña Jr. and INF Ozzie Albies for the 2027 season. Atlanta also reinstated RHPs Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider and Hurston Waldrep, as well as LHP Joey Wentz, from the 60-day injured list.
The Braves signed Ronald Acuña Jr to a very hometown-friendly contract that allows Atlanta to retain 2023 NL Most Valuable Player. They will pay him 17 million dollars (eh, in theory if all 162 games are played) for the 2027 season. Ozzie Albies signed a much more team-friendly contract. The Braves will pay Ozzie Albies a lockout-pending 7 million dollars.
Some portions of Braves Country were certain Ronald would not be back. I believe most of those don’t watch the regular season games, believe things on social media, or both. But he’s due to make 6 million fewer dollars than MLB qualifying offers. When healthy, he’s amazing. When not healthy, he hears about it. Much the same goes for Ozzie Albies. The Braves have paid him 38 million for 23 WAR over the last 10 years. He did have a career low in wRC+ this season. But it appears they’ll keep the good vibes going one more season. It would probably prove more trouble to replace Albies this season than to keep him, and should serve as the bridge for prospects waiting in Double-A.
The Braves did some bookkeeping as well today as the postseason kicked off. They reinstated Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep and Joey Wentz from the 60-day Injured List. Alex Anthopoulos has already told us that we should not expect Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider to just pick up where they left off. Joey Wentz’s injury is at least a lower body one, blowing out his right ACL fielding a meaningless Spring Training bunt attempt. But hey, at least it’s not his arm (whistles past Joe Jimenez).
Welcome back, Ronnie and Ozzie. Let’s get this silly labor spat decided and watch some dingers, shall we?
The right-hander declined his player option and will be one of the most coveted arms on the free agent market this winter. Last offseason, King returned to San Diego on a three-year, $75 million deal that included opt-outs after each of the first two seasons.
San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Petco Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
King is likely seeking a long-team deal and he is poised to receive one after posting a 3.21 ERA with 159 strikeouts across 32 starts (185 innings pitched). He accrued a career-high 4.3 bWAR in 2026, highlighting the ace’s productivity and durability.
The Padres reached the National League Division Series, falling to the eventual World Series champion Brewers. King was a monumental part of San Diego’s postseason run.
In the NLDS, King allowed just one run across 12 innings (two starts) and earned the save in Game 3 when he came out of the bullpen to close out the final two frames.
The right-hander’s love for the Padres was evident after their NLDS elimination, when he said: “San Diego has been incredible for me, and it’s all the way across the country from home. I feel like I have a second home on the West Coast. It’s been awesome.
“And I hope to continue it.”
San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King delivers against the Chicago Cubs in the sixth inning of Game 1 of the National League Wild Card baseball playoff series Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in San Diego. AP Photo/Gregory BullSan Diego Padres owners José Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones, look on during batting practice before Game 2 of the National League Wild Card baseball playoff series against the Chicago Cubs. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
King’s comments bode well for San Diego’s chances of retaining the ace, but with the right-hander’s impending popularity on the market, a reunion will be costly. For the Padres, King is the most important free agent as his departure would leaving the starting rotation extremely bleak.
San Diego fans will have to see whether new ownership puts their money where their mouth is.
Oct 11, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros major league coach Jason Kanzler (41) fist bumps designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) during player introductions before game one of the ALDS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Over the past couple of weeks, the Mariners’ search for a Dan Wilson replacement has heated up. A couple of names with connections to the division-rival Astros, Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler, have been at the forefront of the conversation. With rumors continuing to swirl on Tuesday morning, the LL staff Slack channel discussed their thoughts on the most recent developments. Join the discussion down in the comments! (And keep an eye out for added context in italicized parentheticals like this one -JJ). [Or Ed. notes like this one. -KP]
Grant Bronsdon: Adam Jude makes it sound like it’s just Espada and Kanzler in the mix as the two finalists.
(Grant posted a link to a Seattle Times report from Jude in which Espada and Kanzler are described as the two finalists for the job, having been scheduled for in-person interviews with the team.)
Ryan Blake: I like Espada fine enough.
Ben Thoen: I assume his 54% winning percentages in his two seasons prior to last have been referenced. But yeah, I agree, two division titles in three years, familiarity with our rival, and Spanish-speaking are all major pluses.
Zach Mason: Two AL West titles, though.
ZAM(referencing an excerpt from the report that states the Mariners could still talk to candidates with the Rays or Brewers after the World Series): Oh, shit! That’s Daniel Vogelbach’s music!
(At the time of the discussion, Vogelbach was still over 24 hours from becoming a World Series champion with the Brewers.)
Connor Donovan: I forget who wrote it (Chandler Rome?) but I read a profile on Espada after he was let go and came away thinking that he’d be another Dan re: managing the clubhouse and we all saw how that went this past year. Would just be pretty uninspiring, in my opinion.
[Ed. note: I think this is the piece Connor is referring to; Rome also did some radio hits and podcast appearances talking about Espada after he was let go.]
Evan James: Sure feels like they wanted Baldelli and outside of that they’ll have to settle. Shame, he was the only candidate with the native experience to communicate with Dom Canzone.
Ryan: I think Dan managed the clubhouse well and he shouldn’t have been fired, so Dan 2.0 is good with me, re: Espada.
Connor: I think the hands off approach worked fine in 2025 but this past year with guys playing hurt all the time among other things has convinced me that the team needs someone that can put their foot down a bit. I was also a bit of a Dan apologist but it clearly just wasn’t working. Besides, the minute a reliever gives up a run or a pinch hitter strikes out the usual voices will be screaming “fire Espada/Kanzler.”
Evan: Agreed, it’s Kanzler. Younger than me. He also sounds like a Pokemon, which is fun.
John Trupin: Kate, your point about [Nationals manager Blake] Butera that you expanded upon in the blurb is a big question mark here. The Nats seemed to have success with a roster that is super young and had no expectations. That’s not to say Kanzler couldn’t succeed here but it’s a distinct challenge.
Ryan: Every answer I’ve seen him give is a really long nothing-burger. To lead people we need to be people then lead ourselves first. Coding hobbyist is what I used to say when I didn’t know how to code. First meeting he better be asked to speak some Spanish.
Connor:
Kate Preusser: I would read the Athletic profile of Butera linked in the piece. I didn’t know a lot about Butera and I came away pretty impressed and confident in his ability to lead despite his age. It’s a different situation for sure but I don’t think youth is necessarily a problem. I actually think some enthusiastic cringe energy might be good. I also think there’s a chance there’s a secret candidate or two not being leaked but Kramer’s report citing internal sources felt pretty deflating about that.
Ryan: Arthur suggests Espada and Kanzler might both get hired and I don’t hate sticking Kanzler as bench coach assuming we have the vet as manager.
John: Ryan, I’m sorry I think you have explained somewhat but would you mind elucidating your scammer fears comprehensively?
ZAM: We call this management move PIOTS-baiting, and it’s not a tactic we should fall for. [Ed. note 1: “PIOTS” is shorthand for “Put It On The Site” i.e. move these discussions to where people can see them; Ed. note 2: haha.]
Ryan: The few quotes I’ve seen from him have been very long, jargonny, nothingness — he talks like Dipoto. Everything I can find about him screams stereotype millenial ladder climber. I just don’t think the players will respect it. I also think forgetting to scrub socials is a big deal. That’s a massive red flag for a job that’s like 90% image/media management. Maybe he winds up being fine but this is not a good start if it is indeed the Kanzler era.
Connor: It’s one thing if his posting was like, racist or problematic in other ways but it just seemed kinda cringe more than anything. Which yeah, it’s easy to poke fun at but ultimately it doesn’t matter if he’s cringe or not; what matters is that the players buy in. Which, to be fair, is no guarantee.
Kate: I think after Wilson being an energy vortex I am ready for the opposite, even if that energy is cringe millennial-hustle culture, that at least is a vision? And I could see a room full of very Baseball Player Dudes buying into that. That being said, I am writing up some under-the-radar candidates and I want Billy Boyer in this organization like yesterday.
Ryan: That is a fair take, Kate. I don’t know, I could see them laughing in his face or being like “whoa finally my people.”
Isabelle Minasian: Let the record show I am 100% with Ryan on Kanzler who, among other things, seems like a guy who has had raw milk at least once.
ZAM: I know it’s inarticulate to discuss vibes and point to expertise rather than arguing, but I have spent 14 years as a consumer protection lawyer, and Kanzler just really tingles my grifter Spidey sense. But that doesn’t mean it’s not what will work for the players whose jerseys we buy.
ZAM: But I am also just very dispirited that our two choices are both Astros people.
“At Buffalo, Kanzler became best friends and roommates with catcher Tom Murphy, now a prospect with the Colorado Rockies. Murphy and Kanzler became favorites of Buffalo coach Ron Torgalski.”
The discussion ended on a high note with Isabelle pointing out Kanzler’s connection to Murphy, the now-former Mariner. So, LL community, give us your thoughts! Are you satisfied with the Mariners’ managerial finalists? Do you prefer one to the other? Let us know in the comments below!
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 19: Osleivis Basabe #39 and Jason Foley #64 of the San Francisco Giants prepare for the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on August 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t long into September before we all noticed that the San Francisco Giants had a looming numbers bomb waiting for them five days after the conclusion of the World Series. While the team wound up using a record 71 players this season, they had 55 players for 40 spots thanks to those still on the roster via in the injured list. We are now about 15 hours since the conclusion of the World Series (congrats, Brewers!) and the number is down to 52, thanks to the following moves:
LHP Matt Gage was waived, cleared waivers, and outrighted to Triple-A.
IF Osleivis Basabe was waived, cleared waivers, and outrighted to Triple-A.
RHP Jason Foley was waived, cleared waivers, and outrighted to Triple-A.
Mariners claimed OF Grant McCray off waivers.
Nationals claimed RHP Braxton Roxby off waivers.
A month and a half ago, I attempted to clear the brush as a thought exercise and just tracking that, I missed out on two of these: Foley and Roxby. Pretty easy guys to lose, even in the moment, but I thought Foley’s remaining MLB option and Roxby being a recent acquisition might be factors for keeping them. Not so.
As Andrew Baggarly points out in his writeup, Foley’s stuff just wasn’t there in his 26 innings — just 15 strikeouts. If the Giants are committed to adding more stuff to their pitching staff, then yeah, phasing out these pitch to contact relievers supercharges the process. Foley’s career K/9 is just 6.58. Roxby’s has been 11+ per 9 in his MiLB career, but losing a 27-year old reliever with just 5.1 MLB innings to waivers is just the cost of doing business. He’d have been good enough to keep around if they could hold on to him, but they couldn’t and so that just creates a new opportunity for the next guy.
Speaking of, it seems like Grant McCray has been “the next guy” for the last few years. He just hasn’t been able to take advantage. But, he’ll be just 26 next season and he still has an MiLB option. Plenty of dudes have figured it out at this phase of their lives/careers.
The Giants need to deal with at least 12 more players in the next four and a half days. They’ll have a little more time after (November 17th) to figure out who to add to the 40-man to protect in the Rule 5. Right now, we can figure these following players are locks through these next four and a half days: Logan Webb, Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Daniel Susac, Randy Rodriguez, Adrian Houser, Jung Hoo Lee, Harrison Bader, Bryce Eldridge, Marcelo Mayer, Bo Davidson, Matt Wilkinson, Cesar Perdomo, Jonah Cox, Victor Bericoto, Drew Gilbert, Anthony Molina, and Landen Roupp.
19 players for 40 spots. So, really, the choices involve this soup of 33 players:
Catchers
Drew Cavanaugh Andrew Knizner Zach Morgan Jesus Rodriguez
Infielders
Nate Furman Brett Harris Christian Koss Shay Whitcomb
Outfielders
Scott Bandura Turner Hill
Pitchers
Tristan Beck Hayden Birdsong Jose Butto Duncan Davitt Camilo Doval Trent Harris Sam Hentges Joel Kuhnel Seth Lonsway Yunior Marte Trevor McDonald Miguel Mendez Joel Peguero Reiver Sanmartin Carson Seymour Dylan Smith Blade Tidwell Ryan Walker Carson Whisenhunt Rowan Wick Keaton Winn
The Milwaukee Brewers are the World Series champions, and the MLB offseason has begun. But it’s unclear when the next game will be played.
The league’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 1, and MLB owners are expected to initiate a lockout the very next day. The last labor stoppage in 2022 minimally disrupted the schedule, merely pushing back Opening Day a week and keeping all games intact. The 1994 strike, on the other hand, cost baseball 1,200 games across two seasons and resulted in the cancellation of the World Series.
The cavernous divide between MLB and its union signals there’s a long road ahead, and Opening Night on March 24, 2027, will come quickly. Here are the key dates to follow on baseball’s calendar.
Oct. 29
Free agency began the day after the World Series, and trading resumed. After a five-day exclusivity window, players can talk to and sign with other clubs.
Teams’ moves this stretch may indicate what they’re anticipating in the next CBA. For example, if a salary floor was to be implemented in tandem with a cap, that would leave a bevy of low-spending teams scrambling to bring their payrolls up. Doing so before the lockout would, in theory, allow them to spend that money with more optionality. MLB’s proposal does call for a phased-in approach, though, so clubs may have some leeway in sorting their rosters.
A similar phenomenon could play out on the other side as well, as players could rush to lock in the best possible deal while salaries are still uncapped. Existing contracts are expected to be honored under the next labor agreement.
Nov. 1
The posting window for players from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league begins. The annual window runs through Dec. 5, and MLB teams have 45 days after a player is posted to negotiate a contract. A lockout-induced free agency freeze would apply to NPB signings as well. The biggest name expected to be posted this offseason is infield slugger Teruaki Sato.
Nov. 10-12
The clubs’ general managers will meet in Las Vegas to discuss league matters and lay the groundwork for future deals. With just a few weeks to get anything done, that could either kickstart or slow down the process.
Nov. 17-19
MLB owners will get together in New York City the following week. The expectation is that gathering would focus on strategies for the labor fight and protocols for the lockout once it’s officially in place.
Dec. 1
The CBA officially expires. Clubs can no longer talk to players. Players can no longer use team facilities. Transactions cannot occur. Of course, this only applies to the major leaguers. The minor leaguers are governed by their own CBA.
Dec. 7-9
Winter Meetings, held this year in San Diego, tend to build on the previous get-together of executives and yield significant offseason moves. Also, the draft lottery is slated for Dec. 8 and the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 9. A lockout could postpone, or cancel, all three.
January
The new year brings procedural tasks. Arbitration figures are exchanged and settled. The international amateur signing period opens. MLB clubs can still make moves not tied to their 40-man rosters. But anything governing those players will likely get put off until after the labor dispute is resolved.
February
No specific date has been announced for pitchers and catchers to report, but traditionally, it happens around early-to-mid-February. The official start of Spring Training comes shortly after.
Players generally need around four to six weeks to ramp up for the season, so if a deal hasn’t been reached by this point, canceling games comes closer to reality.
March 24-25
The 2027 MLB season is scheduled to begin with a Wednesday night game on Netflix on March 24, followed by a full slate of games on Opening Day on Thursday, March 25. This is the earliest date MLB has ever picked to start its season, short of international accommodations. The previous record for the start was March 26. If the lockout bleeds into March, Opening Day will almost certainly be pushed back or games would be canceled.
May
If MLB loses about 60 games, which means a season wouldn’t start until around late May or later, it could reportedly have major broadcast implications. In that scenario, many of the league’s broadcast contracts would extend another season, according to anonymous sources cited by The Athletic.
July 13
Chicago’s Wrigley Field is set to host the All-Star game in July, but if a significant number of games are lost, it would not be unprecedented for MLB to cut the exhibition. There is reportedly a contingency in place where the Cubs would host the game in 2029 if it is, in fact, canceled, according to USA Today.
Sept. 26
The postseason is set to pick up after the end of the regular season on Sept. 26. Any changes at this point could be a doomsday scenario for the sport, conjuring memories of what baseball lost in 1994.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 15: Minnesota Twins Chairman Tom Pohlad embraces Pablo Lopez #49 after he received his Roberto Clemente award nomination before the game against the New York Yankees at Target Field on September 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers closed out the World Series which means it’s officially time to move to the offseason. After back-to-back championship runs by the big bad Dodgers, it was a small market finale in 2026, providing hope to fans of teams in the Central divisions. Sure, the Brewers also have the best collection of young, cost controlled talent in baseball, including a behemoth likely Cy Young winner who throws 105 MPH for six innings at a time, but somehow the Brewers are still an underdog story.
The Twins will be looking to emulate the success of the Brewers and Rays, something more easily said than done, but their own collection of young talent is nothing to scoff at. There are pretty clear holes for a team that has missed the postseason in five of the past six seasons, but they are also ones that are relatively easy to fill. Wherever they go, it will undoubtedly be an eventful offseason.
November 2: Free Agency Begins
Technically, free agency is already underway, but players aren’t eligible to sign with new teams until November 6th. Players on the 40-man roster are also eligible to be traded again. Players and teams with contract options must also make those decisions by this deadline. Teams must decide whether or not to extend Qualifying Offers to free agents by this point as well.
Twins Players Impacted:
Free agents: LHP AJ Minter, LHP Taylor Rogers, C Ryan Jeffers
Josh Bell: $10M mutual option with $1.25M buy out
Joe Ryan: $13M mutual option with $100K buy out (Ryan is still controllable via arbitration for 2027 either way)
Ryan Jeffers: QO decision
November 9-12: GM Meetings
These are typically quieter than the Winter Meetings in December, but with the owner lockout looming on December 1, the Winter Meetings are likely to be cancelled anyway, making this much more significant especially when it comes to trade discussions. Last time there was a lockout, there was a flurry of moves at the GM meetings, not the least of which being Byron Buxton’s long-term extension to stay in Minnesota.
November 17: Rule 5 Protection and QO Deadlines
By the 17th, MLB teams will have to add players to the 40-man roster if they want to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. The Twins don’t have any glaring prospects to add to their list this year, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see one or two. Players also have to decide whether or not to accept the qualifying offer by this day. Jeffers will be a unique case of the QO system, so long as the Twins extend him one.
November 20: Non-tender Deadline
Teams must decide whether to offer contracts to their arbitration-eligible and pre-arb players by this date. You don’t have to agree to a specific contract, just tender a contract with the final figure to be decided at a future date either via negotiation or the arbitration process. There’s typically of flurry of deals around this date for teams that prefer not to settle salaries in court. The Twins announced deals with all of their arbitration-eligible players on the deadline last year.
This will be potentially the most intriguing time for roster decisions in Minnesota. The Twins have a number of high-profile players who could be removed from the roster.
Twins non-tender candidates: Royce Lewis, Bailey Ober, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, Tristan Gray, Cole Sands, Anthony Banda
All of November: Awards Season
Various awards are announced throughout the first few weeks of November. Here is the complete list.
November 1: Gold Glove winners
November 2: HOF eight-person Contemporary Baseball Era ballot
November 11: Cy Young, Reliever of the Year, All-MLB teams, Hank Aaron Award, Comeback Player of the Year
November 12: MVP
November 16: 2027 HOF Ballot
November 17: Silver Slugger winners
December 1: CBA Expiration, Lockout Begins
The big, scary deadline finally arrives after Thanksgiving. When the current collective bargaining agreement expires, the owners are widely expected to initiate a lockout, preventing any team-initiated games, training, or transactions. This only affects players on the 40-man roster, as minor leaguers are not yet considered MLB employees and are not governed by the same rules.
Minor league trades, signings, and transactions can still take place without a MLB CBA in place, but those will still be slow coming as the types of players who typically sign minor league deals only do so once it’s clear a 40-man roster spot isn’t coming their way. That, of course, can’t happen until teams sign or trade for better options on the market, so things usually come to a standstill.
I’m of the opinion that, despite what the owners would like you to believe, they’re in a worse negotiating position than the players as they really need the positive momentum of the last half decade to keep up.
To that end, I largely avoid politics and stick to baseball here, but given the tenor of this conversion it is a very relevant point. So here is your warning to skip the next two paragraphs if you don’t want that in your baseball diet…
There is a current window in the American economy and political system that allows billionaires and private equity firms to act with near impunity thanks to, inarguably, the most corrupt and easily influenced president in American history. With the midterms around the corner and a general shift in the American psyche against the ultra-rich, that window will close within the next half decade.
These billionaire owners want to sell now while franchise values are high and the 1% controls more of the economy than ever. If there is a prolonged labor stoppage, they lose that negotiating window by trying to build back brand equity and customer trust. For the first time maybe ever, the rich, old billionaires have to operate on a much tighter time table than the players do. That’s why they are pushing so hard for a salary cap and using MLB’s official channels to push their propaganda. Nothing will provide a short-term spike in franchise value like controlled labor costs. There is absolutely merit to finding ways to reign in the increasingly high spending of the Dodgers and the Mets and raising the floor for our beloved smaller market franchises, but a blanket cap system is not the solution.
Also, to be clear, the owners don’t have to lock out the players, but after the 1994 World Series was cancelled due to a players strike, the owners have chosen this route in every CBA negotiation since.
Events Likely to be Postponed or Cancelled
Due to the lockout, the following will likely be either postponed or cancelled altogether. Maybe we’ll all be surprised and the players union and owners make an agreement early on, but neither side tends to negotiate in earnest until we’re at risk of games getting cancelled. Once an agreement is reached, most things below will get rescheduled, but something like the Rule 5 draft could be skipped altogether.
December 7-9: Winter meetings
December 8: MLB Draft Lottery
December 9: Rule 5 draft
January 8: Arbitration figures exchanged
January 15: 2027 international signing period opens
Sep 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Andres Munoz (75) pitches in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
With the Brewers wrapping up the World Series last night, the first day of Hot Stove season is upon us, and with it comes a bevy of decisions on options – player, club, and mutual – across the league. In the Mariners’ case, they had three club options to resolve for Andrés Muñoz, Víctor Robles, and Bryce Miller, and the org announced this afternoon that they have picked up Muñoz’s for $10 million, while opting to decline both Miller’s and Robles’s at $6.075 million and $9 million, respectively.
None of these decisions should come as a surprise. While Muñoz battled through a career-worst season, blowing an eye-popping ten saves and seeing his ERA more than double from 2025’s 1.73 to 4.24, underlying numbers suggest a strong chance for a bounceback next year. He posted the best strikeout and walk rates (37.1% and 10.0% respectively) since his first full season with Seattle in 2022, which led to a FIP of 3.34 – nearly identical to his first All-Star season in 2024. A surprising homer problem was the main culprit of Muñoz’s struggles, as he allowed nine after serving up just two in 2025 despite his ground ball rate holding steady. An uptick in hard-hit rate in 2026 could be cause for concern, but with his kick change continuing to develop into a real weapon against left-handed hitters – his kryptonite for the first couple months of 2026 – it would come as no shock to see him as his usual self in 2027.
Víctor Robles stole the hearts of Mariners fans with a scintillating 2024 season upon his arrival to Seattle after the Nationals cut bait, bursting onto the scene with 3.2 fWAR and a 155 wRC+ across 262 plate appearances, while bringing tremendous baserunning and solid outfield defense. The M’s rewarded him with a two-year, $9.75 million extension with the aforementioned club option for 2027, but the injury hits kept coming for Robles over the next two seasons, as he limped to a composite 81 wRC+ and 0.3 fWAR over a combined 263 plate appearances. When healthy, however, he remained a strong baserunner, and it’s not out of the question that Seattle opts to bring him back on a cheaper deal or as a non-roster invitee. As things stand with Lázaro Montes and Michael Arroyo standing in the open doorframe, though, it seems likely that he will move on to a team with some more room in their outfield. If this is the end, thanks for all the memories, Vic.
Despite Bob Nightengale continuing to be Bob Nightengale, Bryce Miller remains under team control after the org declined his club option, opting to pay a $15K buyout. During negotiations last winter, Miller and the Mariners reached an agreement on a one year contract at $2.4375 million for 2026 alongside the club option. While he improved on an injury-wracked 2025 after returning from the IL in May, cutting his season ERA from 5.68 to 4.17 and FIP from 5.17 to 4.41, the wheels fell off in the second half as he posted a 6.05/5.63 ERA/FIP after the All-Star break, with a brutal August (9.00/6.35 ERA/FIP in 20 innings) doing much of the heavy lifting. With Kade Anderson making a strong first impression and Ryan Sloan waiting in the wings, Miller’s time as a starting pitcher in Seattle may be coming to an end. He’s set to enter his second year of arbitration, with MLB Trade Rumors projecting him to earn $3.9 million.
The Mariners’ 40-man roster currently sits at 35, with eight players on the 60-day injured list that will need to come off in the next several days.
ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 26: St. Louis Cardinals President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom looks on during the pregame ceremony prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals are set to begin one of the more intriguing off-seasons in recent memory now that the World Series is in the rear view mirror. Important internal roster decisions and an almost certain lockout loom on the near horizon.
Here are the important dates on the St. Louis Cardinals front office schedule as we head into the off-season:
November 1: Gold Glove winners announced on ESPN at 7pm central time
November 2: 8-person National Baseball Hall of Fame Contemporary Baseball Era ballot for managers, executives and umpires
November 2: Silver Slugger Award finalists announced at 1pm central time
November 2: BBWAA Awards Finalists announced – 5 – 7 pm central time (MLB Network) including Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and MVP
November 6: Heart & Hustle Award winners announced on MLB Network
November 6: Gold Glove Award winners dinner in NYC and Platinum Award winners announced
November 9 – 12: GM meetings in Las Vegas
November 10: Managers of the Year announced on MLB Network from 6p to 7p central time
November 11: Cy Young Awards and BBWAA relievers of year on MLB Network from 6p to 7p central time
November 11: MLB Awards Show – 8 to 10pm on MLB Network including All-MLB first and second teams , Hank Aaron Award winners , Comeback Players of year, Mariano Rivera & Trevor Hoffman relievers of year and Edgar Martinez DH of year
November 12: MVP Award winners announced on MLB Network from 6p – 7p central time
November 16: Hall of Fame announces its 2027 ballot, 11 am central time – Writer’s ballot
November 17 – 19: Owner meetings in New York
November 17: Silver Slugger Award winners announced, Deadline for players to accept qualifying offers – 3pm central time, Rule 5 protection deadline (Players need to be added to 40-man roster to protect from the Rule 5 draft)
November 20: Non-tender deadline
December 1: CBA Expires 10:59 pm central time – Lockout begins
I would love to continue and say the Winter Meetings December 7-9 and Draft Lottery on December 8 would be happening, but the lockout will almost certainly delay those indefinitely. Let’s hope common sense kicks in sooner rather than later between owners and players so that the most important part of baseball isn’t damaged or lost – the fans.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 20: Starter Corbin Burnes #39 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Chase Field on September 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Yankees 8-4. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Corbin Burnes will not be opting out of his contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, per reports.
This is one of the least surprising bits of news that we will have this offseason. Burnes signed a 6 year, $210 million deal with the D-Backs after the 2024 season, which included an opt-out after 2026.
Burnes suffered a torn UCL that resulted in him undergoing Tommy John surgery in the middle of the 2025 season. That cost him almost all of 2026 — he ended up pitching 10.1 innings over three starts for Arizona this season, allowing 9 runs, including 5 home runs, which is kind of impressive, if you think about it.
Burnes, the National League Cy Young Award winner for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021, was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles prior to the 2024 season in exchange for DL Hall and Joey Ortiz. Both Hall and Ortiz were meaningful contributors to the Brewers’ championship team this season.
Burnes is guaranteed $35 million per year for the 2027-30 seasons, although $11 million per year of that is deferred, which reduces the overall value such that it is valued for luxury tax purposes at $32.911 million per year. Given he’s coming off of an injury and given the uncertain labor market this offseason, his declining the opt-out is a no-brainer.
