SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 26: Kade Anderson #13 of the Seattle Mariners looks on against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on September 26, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Travs were consistently considered the cream of the crop in the Texas League for much of the first half of the season, but a late collapse and eventual promotions up the minor league chain ended their season as a “just okay” third place team. The Travs, despite their relative mediocrity in the final standings, had some generational performances on the year, and a reliable (if shallow) staff led the way for a steady, if unspectacular offense. There were a ton of super fun players to don the Travelers’ uniform this 2026 season, and five of the six players to debut as a Mariner this year were featured on this roster at some point this past season. Still featuring a ton of major prospects, this roster remains loaded heading into the 2027 season and is slated to be one of the better rosters in all of minor league baseball.
Team Performance
First Half Record: 41-28 (+88 Run Differential)
Second Half Record: 30-39 (-23 Run Differential)
Final Record: 71-67
Team ERA: 4.77 (second in Texas League)
Team OPS: .767 (fifth in Texas League)
Stat to Know: The gap in walks allowed between the second best team in the Texas League and the worst team in the Texas League (106) is smaller than the gap between the second place team and the first place Traveler team (141). On the season, the team averaged just 3.15 BB/9.
Season Stars
Kade Anderson
Posting one of the most historic pitching seasons in the history of minor league baseball, Kade Anderson’s remarkable debut as a professional saw him dominate the Texas League like few have ever been able to. A 1.06 ERA across 93.1 innings speaks for itself, but his 135 K’s and laughable 13 BB’s are perhaps even more indicative of the level of dominance Anderson held over his opponents. He essentially had one poor inning all year, surrendering 5 of the 11 runs he allowed at the level in the fourth inning of May 15th’s contest against Northwest Arkansas. Now already in the big leagues at 22 years of age, Anderson figures to be a mainstay in the Seattle rotation for the foreseeable future and has the elite command of a pitcher 15 years his senior. He largely defined the first half success of this ballclub, and his 2026 will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the best debut pitching seasons in minor league history.
Yet another impressive arm that headlined the Arkansas rotation, Sloan himself is one of, if not the most highly regarded pitching prospect in all of minor league baseball and blends high-octane stuff with impeccable command. His numbers don’t match Anderson’s level of dominance, but some evaluators see Sloan’s punchier repertoire, higher velocity, larger frame, and youth and give Sloan a slight edge despite inferior run prevention. He’s got some things he has to clean up before making a move up to the big leagues and can be prone to the “blowup” inning from time to time, but on the whole, it was a fantastic second year for the 20 year old, and he figures to be a part of the major league rotation at some point next season.
The power source pushing the Arkansas lineup forward for the first half of the season, Lazaro Montes displayed his unbelievable slugging abilities at the dish on a nightly basis, routinely launching balls deep into the night sky like few others can. Despite his well documented issues with contact, Montes continues to produce amongst the highest levels of all minor league hitters, and at some point, that has to matter. Yes, the whiff is concerning. Are there players that have tremendously successful careers with a lot of whiff? Absolutely. His massive throwing arm and excellent hustle helps him manage in right field where he’s still below average, but if you’re betting on Montes, you’re betting on an outstanding human that clearly cares about improving every single day, and his clear abilities at the plate give enough reason to warrant time to develop in a (theoretically) competitive window.
Perhaps the straw that stirred the drink of the first half lineup, Arroyo is one of the most impressive pure hitters the Seattle minor league system has seen in a long time. With innate bat-to-ball skills, a discerning eye, and surprising pop, there’s really not a whole lot he can’t do offensively and is mature beyond his years at the plate. Finding the long-term home defensively has been a bit of a challenge up to this point, but given his abundance of skills elsewhere, it may not ultimately matter if he winds up as a below-average fielder at a non-premium position. The bat is that good.
Easily the two most unheralded performers of the Mariner system this season, the tandem of Fitz-Gerald and Pagliarini were nails for the Travs all season and turned themselves from fringy “org players” that were on the outside looking in of most top thirty lists to legitimate performers that have played themselves into the call up conversation with sustained performance. They remain a bit old for most traditional “prospects”, but the infielders have legitimate pop and combined to slug 56 homers on the year. There’s considerable swing-and-miss present in both of their games and they’ll have to prove they can perform at the Triple-A level, but there’s no reason these guys couldn’t carve out a role in the big leagues if they can manage to continue to perform at a high level.
Here's the latest buzz on free agent slugger Teruaki Sato...
Nov. 3, 11:50 a.m.
As free agency begins, the Mets may not be all-in on Sato this offseason.
The Athletic's Tim Britton and Will Sammon report that with Bo Bichette returning, the Mets are "less inclined" to aggressively pursue the Japanese slugger.
Although the report also states it's "unwise" to rule out anything with the Mets under Steve Cohen, the $42 million going to Bichette in 2027, plus infield prospects on the verge of the big leagues, may make it difficult for the Mets to invest in Sato, despite the need for a first base bat.
Sato, a third baseman by trade, won the league's equivalent of a Gold Glove at the position in 2025, but there are those in the industry that believe a transition to first base could be in Sato's future.
Nov. 1, 5:41 p.m.
Teruaki Sato was officially posted Sunday, making the NPG slugger one of the most prized free agent hitters this offseason.
All 30 MLB teams will have a 45-day window to negotiate with Sato, which could be affected by the incoming Dec. 1 lockout. The Mets could use a new first baseman while the Yankees are in need of a right-handed hitting third baseman, a position Sato played in Japan.
Sato won the NPB's MVP this past season, recording a .306 average, 39 homers and 106 RBI, en route to the triple crown.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 13: Parker Messick #77 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates a double play against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning in game two of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on October 13, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday, it was announced that Guardians’ rookie, Parker Messick, will finish in the top three vote-getters for both AL Cy Young and Rookie of the Year.
Cade Smith was also a top-three finisher for the inaugural AL Reliever of the Year award. Stephen Vogt isn’t a top three finisher for manager of the year (I’ll bet he was #4).
Because of Messick’s accomplishment, the Guardians will earn an extra compensation pick in the 2026 draft. This now has the Guardians set to pick five times in the top 70-75 picks, which will dramatically increase their bonus pool as well as offer them multiple chances at selecting among the top talent in the draft. They’ll have their normal first round pick, a compensation pick connected to Messick following the first round, a replacement pick in the second round for Logan Schmidt not signing, their secound-round pick and a comp-B pick after the second round. So, if there’s no major league baseball season, we will all need to become MLB draft prospect-geeks – If you’re not already one!
No updates from the Emmanuel Clase-Luis Ortiz trial yet, except that various Guardians’ players, execs and coaches may be called upon to testify, and the jury selection process is continuing into today.
MLB Trade Rumors released their free agent projections list here. For whatever it’s worth, the Guardians were predicted by one writer to sign free-agent reliever Paul Blackburn, mentioned as a decent fit for Ty France, and that’s it. Sounds about right, actually, only they won’t pay for Blackburn, I am sure.
The 33-year-old signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the Mets after the 2024 season and made a successful pivot from reliever to starter after serving as a late-inning stalwart for the Yankees over parts of four seasons.
In 2025, Holmes had a 3.53 ERA with 129 strikeouts in 165 ⅔ innings. In nine starts for the Mets this year, Holmes had a 2.39 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 52 ⅔ innings before he was dealt to Chicago.
Holmes’ performance dipped with the Cubs, as Holmes recorded a 4.25 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 48 ⅔ innings in nine starts. His last Mets start came against the Yankees on May 15, when he suffered a fractured fibula on a comebacker. He debuted with the Cubs on Aug. 8.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Clay Holmes throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In return for Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor, the Mets received 21-year-old infielder Jefferson Rojas, who quickly became the organization’s top prospect, per MLB.com.
Rojas hit .280 with a .929 OPS, nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 29 games for Double-A Binghamton. In six games for Triple-A Syracuse, Rojas was 8-for-26 with three homers and seven RBIs.
Now the Mets have a chance to have both Rojas and Holmes, as the club will be in the market for starting pitching this winter.
New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes pitches in the first inning against the Athletics at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y., Friday, April 10, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
They figure to be among the teams in pursuit of Tarik Skubal, the top free agent who could be in line for a $300 million-plus contract. Michael King is another potential target for the Mets.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 27: A general view of an empty T-Mobile Park prior to the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels on September 27, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we do each year, here is our attempt to wrangle all of the Mariners’ off-season moves in one place for your ease, with links to further coverage if applicable.
November 2nd:Mariners extend OF Randy Arozarena a Qualifying Offer; Mariners claim RHP Isaac Mattson from the Pirates; Mariners reinstate seven players from IL (RHP Matt Brash, RHP Nick Davila, OF Brennen Davis, SS Colt Emerson, RHP Logan Evans, INF/OF Luke Raley, INF/OF Michael Toglia); outright five players to Triple-A Tacoma (LHP Josh Simpson, RHP Troy Watson, INF Weston Wilson, INF Will Wilson, INF Patrick Wisdom)
In normal years, the Cubs would put single-game Spring Training tickets on sale in early January.
This, clearly, is not a normal year, not with the MLB owners’ lockout looming on Dec. 1.
The Cubs have announced that Spring Training tickets will go on sale Friday, Nov. 13, with a presale for spring season ticket holders the previous day.
This appears to be an attempt to try to get some spring ticket money in hand before the lockout. I can’t imagine many people wanting to buy spring tickets in January if the lockout is still ongoing — which is likely — not knowing whether games will be rescheduled or even cancelled.
The Cubs aren’t the only team doing this, either.
The Phillies are putting their spring tickets on sale Thursday, Nov. 19.
In addition, the Cubs are putting weekend passes for the annual Cubs Convention on sale at 12 noon today, with a presale for season ticket holders at 10 a.m. CT. In the press release announcing this sale, the Cubs said that fans “can attend panels, autograph sessions and meet and greets featuring current and former Cubs players.”
Obviously, if the lockout is ongoing at CubsCon time (Jan. 15-17), no current Cubs players will be able to attend. At this time it appears the Cubs are going ahead with plans to hold CubsCon even if that’s the case. Will fans still overcrowd the Sheraton Grand if it’s only broadcasters, former Cubs and minor leaguers not on the 40-man roster in attendance? (And a reminder to anyone planning on going — read that linked article to remind yourselves of some of the issues regarding overcrowding last year.)
Anyway, all of this has to be considered up in the air because of the upcoming lockout. As always, we await developments.
Shelton continues to bring the thunder in Arizona | Arizona Fall League/Instagram
The Arizona Fall League is underway, and Chicago has seven prospects in the Grand Canyon State. The crew includes Mathias LaCombe, RHP (No. 17); Colby Shelton, INF (No. 23); Nick Altermatt, RHP; Jonathan Clark, RHP; Grant Magill, C; Tommy Vail, LHP and Garrett Wright, RHP.
The team added Vail after Pierce George, RHP (No. 18), suffered an olecranon fracture in his pitching elbow. While it sounds like an awful injury, he is expected to participate in 2027 Spring Training. Anthony DePino, INF (No. 21), was also originally on the Dogs roster, but instead underwent shoulder surgery. He should also be ready for spring.
Caleb Bonemer, 3B/SS/OF (No. 2/MLB No. 27), concluded his fall stint on Oct. 24 after slashing .286/.364/.633 with a .996 OPS in 13 games. Over his 49 at-bats, he hit four doubles, two triples and three homers, with six walks, 12 RBIs and an equal number of Ks.
The White Sox prospects are suiting up for the Glendale Desert Dogs (7-15), sharing the dugout with hopefuls from the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Chicago ties Los Angeles for sending the most Top 30 prospects (five) to the AFL.
Peoria Javelinas 11, Glendale Desert Dogs 9 (10/28/26) Shelton kept his hot fall rolling, going 2-for-5 with two doubles, four RBIs and a walk. The 23-year-old’s biggest swing came with two outs in the seventh and the Dogs trailing 10-6, when he crushed a bases-clearing two-bagger off the right-field wall to bring Glendale within one. Unfortunately, they couldn’t complete the comeback.
Magill handled backstop duties, going 0-for-4 with a walk, two strikeouts and two runs scored. The pitching side didn’t quite help the effort either, with LaCombe, Clark, and Vail combining to surrender five earned runs over just four frames.
Peoria Javelinas 13, Glendale Desert Dogs 10 (10/29/26) Scoring runs hasn’t been a problem for the Dogs lately, and Shelton has been a big reason why. Glendale headed into the bottom of the sixth trailing 6-3, but a seven-run rally, highlighted by Shelton’s one-out grand salami, put the Dogs on top 10-6. Sadly, the lead didn’t last long, as the pitching served up six runs in the seventh.
This time around, Chicago’s prospects weren’t responsible for the biggest meltdown. Altermatt did allow one run on two hits in the ninth, striking out one.
Glendale Desert Dogs 9, Peoria Javelinas 8 (10/31/26) Staring down their 16th loss, the Dogs rallied from behind, scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the Javelinas. Shelton got the day off, while Magill went 0-for-3 with a walk and a K.
Wright’s perfect 0.00 AFL ERA didn’t survive a rough fourth inning, and the defense didn’t do him any favors. A leadoff walk and an error by the shortstop put runners on second and third before a sacrifice fly brought home a run. Two singles and a stolen base later, Wright’s afternoon was over, with the error contributing to three unearned runs. Thankfully, the Dogs saved their best for last.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 07: José Caballero #72 of the New York Yankees throws to first base to complete the double play against Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning in game three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 07, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pretty much anyone who talks about José Caballero will at some point say the phrase “You love him when he’s on your team, hate him when he’s on the other team.” He’s probably never going to be an All-Star, but he’s a guy who can play a bunch of positions on defense, can use his speed when he’s on base, and will generally just be a pest to the other team.
This year, with Anthony Volpe missing the start of the season after undergoing surgery, Caballero got some extended run as a starter. As we continue our look back through the see, let’s look back at how he did.
2027 Contract Status: First year arbitration eligible
With Volpe on the shelf to start 2026, Caballero was the Yankees’ Opening Day starter at shortstop and appeared in all but one of the team’s first 42 games, also starting at short in most of them. He made a little bit of history by becoming the first player to use the Automated Ball-Strike System to challenge a pitch. He was unsuccessful on one in the fourth inning of Opening Day.
Following a slow start, Caballero hit a hot stretch around the beginning of May. Through May 11th, he had a .720 OPS, which is perfectly good for a glove first utility man. The argument was out there that he should retain the shortstop position once Volpe came back, and the team did send their former top prospect to the minors once his rehab assignment ended. However on May 10th, Caballero suffered a finger injury while diving back into first base on a pickoff attempt, leading to Volpe’s recall. The injury only kept him out close to the minimum amount of time, as he returned on May 22nd.
Upon his return back to the majors, Caballero did mostly return to his previous role as a utility-ish guy. He still ended up appearing in 136 games in the majors, so he wasn’t fully benched, but he never locked back up that full-time shortstop position. That wasn’t because Volpe returned with a vengeance, it’s just that Caballero never quite took the ball and ran with it. Upon his return on May 22nd on, Caballero put up just a .623 OPS.
Caballero did finish his 2026 with career highs in home runs and RBI, but nothing about his offensive year was that notable otherwise. While it would’ve been extremely unrealistic to expect him to match the 133 wRC+ he put up upon getting traded to the Yankees in 2025, the team would’ve been hoping for better than 83. In the end, he and Volpe both got overtaken by George Lombard Jr., the new top prospect who got a late season call-up and got the majority of shortstop reps down the stretch.
One weird thing about Caballero’s 2026 was his battles with umpires through the medium of the pitch clock. In his role as a pest, Caballero had been deliberately waiting until the last possible second to acknowledge the pitcher, which had been at the eight-second mark on the pitch clock. After some kerfuffles with opposing pitchers, MLB came down on Caballero, giving him a pitch clock violation for waiting to look up. It still seems dumb to me to essentially change a rule mid-season like that, considering that Caballero did seem to be following how the rule was written, but hey, I don’t get paid the big bucks to make decisions like that.
As for next season, I would expect Caballero to still be around in a utility role. He’s set to be arbitration eligible this season, but it’s hard to imagine he would get remotely enough for the Yankees to want to get rid of him. He’s still versatile enough and fast enough on the basepaths to be useful to have around.
See more of the Yankees Roster Report Card series here.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 11: Relief pitcher Brooks Raley (30) of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the 11th inning of the Friday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies on September 11, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Phillies desperately needed bullpen help as the trade deadline approached. Their big move in that regard was to trade for Mets’ lefthanded setup man Brooks Raley. It seemed like a sensible move since Raley had been largely excellent over the past few seasons.
Brooks Raley recorded five outs in relief tonight. He'll be down tomorrow, meaning these very well might have been the final pitches of a four-season Mets career.
But given the Phillies’ questionable history of deadline reliever trades, I wasn’t completely convinced it was a good move. And the thought of trading for any player from the 2026 Mets seemed like an invitation for disaster. (Somewhere, Turk Wendell nods in approval.)
Sadly, I was correct. He blew a save in his first appearance with the Phillies, and although he settled down a bit after that, it was a precursor of what was to come.
The stats (with the Phillies): 16 games, 11.1 IP, 0-2 W-L, 7.94 ERA, 11 K, 5 BB, -0.3 WAR
What went right?
It’s hard to remember this now, but after a poor first appearance, Raley was decent in August with a 3.12 ERA in eleven games.
What went wrong?
Raley was a disaster in September. He appeared in six games, and the Phillies lost all six, which is not good for a guy who is supposed to be one of your main setup men. For the month, in 3.2 innings, he gave up ten hits – including two home runs – walked four batters and struck out just three.
The Phillies stopped using him in leverage situations and even left him off the roster for the playoffs.
Brooks Raley with the Mets: 1.96 ERA, 0.8 fWAR Brooks Raley with the Phillies: 7.94 ERA, -0.3 fWAR
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 11: Evan Phillips #59 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the eighth inning in game one of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Obviously, the Nationals will be on the prowl for outside relief help this offseason. We have discussed the idea of signing a big name reliever such as Adrian Morejon. However, I am not convinced that the Nats will be able to outbid teams for Morejon. With that in mind, I think Evan Phillips is a more realistic target.
Despite being on the Dodgers for many years, and even being their closer at points, Phillips has never gotten much recognition. He has posted a 2.36 ERA in 232 appearances for the best team in baseball, yet has remained anonymous. At 32 years old, Phillips is hitting free agency after showing his stuff was better than ever coming off Tommy John Surgery.
Between 2022 and 2024, Phillips made at least 60 appearances each season. However, he went down after just 7 outings in 2025. He did not come back until July, but when he returned, he was a big part of the Dodgers bullpen. Phillips posted a 3.46 ERA while striking out 31.1% of hitters and only walking 5.7%. He was also throwing harder than he was before surgery, and even threw the fastest pitch of his career.
Now that I'm not as checked out as I was during the game, here's Evan Phillips porn, including the fastest pitch he's ever thrown in his career. pic.twitter.com/hc8gEIuWH4
In 2024, Phillips averaged 96.2 MPH on his 4-seamer and 85 MPH on his sweeper. This season, he averaged 96.9 on the heater and 86.2 on the sweeper. His stuff and location metrics were both absolutely elite. Phillips did have some home run problems, but that was not an issue in the past, so I am not that worried.
I think the Dodgers will have some interest in bringing him back, but they already have a strong bullpen. In my opinion, the Dodgers will bring back one of Phillips or Alex Vesia. With the Dodgers, they could always just flex their muscles and get both, but the Nats should try and go after Phillips.
Spencer Nusbaum wrote a piece yesterday about relievers the Nats should consider. Phillips was at the top of the list, and after reading his breakdown, he is my favorite name as well. He has the best combination of stuff, track record, relative youth and closing experience. If the Nats went into 2027 with Phillips as the closer, I would be comfortable.
It’s the Day 1 of free agency, which means it’s time to talk bullpen construction …
And it’s time to look at 10 arms who the Nats should target to close games in 2027:https://t.co/gmwtmW4jCJ
In his career, Phillips has 47 career saves, most of which came in 2023 and 2024. If Phillips wants to be a closer moving forward, getting out of LA would be the best path to do so. I can’t see him getting save chances over the likes of Edwin Diaz and Tanner Scott. However, in DC, the role would be all his.
The price would not be cheap, but he would not cost as much as Morejon or David Bednar. I think a deal in the 3-year $40 million range would get it done. That sounds like a lot, but would you rather spend that money on a high end reliever or a number 4 starter? Most Nats fans would probably go with the closer after last season.
With his elite fastball/sweeper duo, Phillips is elite against right handed hitters. The stuff is also good enough to play against lefties too. Phillips will also feature his cutter more against left handed hitters.
As a cherry on top, Phillips has an elite playoff pedigree. In 17 career postseason outings, Phillips has not allowed a run in 18.1 innings. This October, Phillips was a big part of the Dodgers bullpen, and did not allow a run in 5 outings. He has proven that he is built for the big moments.
Evan Phillips gets a bit lost in the shuffle when discussing free agent relievers, but the more I dive into his profile, the more I like him. Paul Toboni should be on the phone with his representation, trying to get something done. He is not the biggest name, but don’t get it twisted, this would be a statement signing.
Outside of the Tommy John, there is not much to dislike about his resume. Even that injury is not a huge worry for me, given the fact his stuff looked better than ever when he came back.
If the Nats do end up making a bullpen splash, Phillips checks a ton of boxes. He has closing experience, the stuff models love him, he gets a lot of strikeouts while not walking people and he knows what it is like to win. The more I dive into this story, the more I want Evan Phillips to be the Nats closer in 2027.
The impending lockout will shutter the sport a little more than a month from now. The industry and its fans, players and staff can survive a repeat of 2022, when almost the entirety of spring training was knocked out but 162 games were salvaged, thanks to creative scheduling.
The looming storm clouds this time around make it much harder to conceive what a 2027 season will look like – let alone who might unseat the Milwaukee Brewers as World Series champions.
Like the message on manager Pat Murphy’s forearm, however, we are undaunted. Here’s a way-too-early look at the top World Series contenders for 2027 – or perhaps 2028:
The elite
Los Angeles Dodgers
Now that they’ve un-ruined baseball, perhaps they can get back to playing a game and not making a political statement. Before then, though, some significant off-the-field uncertainty awaits.
What will the game’s economic parameters look like when the industry fires back up? Will owner Mark Walter remain under scrutiny from federal investigators, and when might MLB see fit to intervene?
Yet a four-and-out in the NLCS should do this club a lot of good, relative to the extra 10 or so days they played the past two seasons in winning World Series. If 2026 taught them anything, it’s how important a healthy Shohei Ohtani is to the whole operation. Develop a plan to keep him sound and Ohtani, who turns 33 in July, should pay them back with another MVP season.
Milwaukee Brewers
They are slated to lose just first baseman Jake Bauers and veteran Brandon Woodruff, and the deep connections with both players to the franchise certainly opens the door for a return. Beyond that, seven of their regulars will be 28 or younger next season.
And a pitching staff that won 114 games this season, including playoffs, will come out of this postseason having absorbed fewer body blows than so many recent champions who heavily used starting pitchers in relief. Jacob Misiorowski proved he could exceed 190 innings pitched, getting more efficient later in October.
The club may experience some brain drain as copycat clubs try to poach and promote their executive talent, most notably assistant GM Matt Kleine, a candidate for the Astros’ top baseball ops job. But the infrastructure remains rock solid.
The pitching has to be healthier next season. Right? This club won 94 games even with Spencers Strider and Schwellenbach among the many sidelined arms. Chris Sale turns 38 in March and will likely need a similar or even more aggressive innings management. And veteran stalwarts Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. performed far below their standards and will be 30 and 29 next year, respectively.
Yet this is a team now driven by Michael Harris II, Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin. We trust GM Alex Anthopoulos will shore up the pitching a little more aggressively than he did last winter and at the deadline. The standard is the standard. If you will.
The pretty good
New York Yankees
Yankees fans don’t want to hear such praise, but posting 94- and 93-win campaigns in consecutive seasons, the latter essentially without Aaron Judge, puts you on the doorstep of elite these days. The New York fan-media industrial complex still clings to the notion that Big Expectations mean Failure without a championship, but let’s face it: This is the era where almost every franchise needs about 10 playoff cracks to stumble into one title.
Sure, it’s been 17 years, but hey, it happens. Bottom line is, the club is still flush with elite pitching that will always give it a chance. The continued development of shortstop George Lombard Jr. remains paramount. How aggressive will owner Hal Steinbrenner be in free agency when his side hustle will be serving on the owners’ labor relations committee, having to play-act that a salary cap is a good thing?
Tampa Bay Rays
They got schooled by the Brewers but also swept the Yankees in the ALDS, doubling down on a season in which they won the AL East by 4 ½ games. This is Tampa Bay, where nothing is permanent, but the core can return if the Rays want it: The offensive big three of Yandy Díaz (club option), Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda remain cost-effective. All-Star starter Nick Martinez will likely decline his mutual option and rental Freddy Peralta figures to move on, but Drew Rasmussen, Griffin Jax and Shane McClanahan are all under contract.
And there’s always new blood. Pitching prospect Brody Hopkins was on the fringes of the playoff roster but should have a solid shot to win a rotation spot whenever the game gets going. New ownership’s had a year to assess the club, a year that saw a billion-dollar boon in public money for a new stadium and then a World Series run. It will be interesting to see how they assess this current “window.”
Should have a shot
San Diego Padres
They’ve paddled very hard underwater to stay up with the Dodgers and while that’s proven futile, they look up at the end of the year and are still one of the best teams in baseball. Trouble is, the offensive core is a year older and most of the pitching staff isn’t bolted down.
Michael King is likely to opt out of his deal. The club figures to exercise its club option on Nick Pivetta. Joe Musgrove should be full go, but how long can he stay healthy? It figures to be another season leaning heavily on their peerless bullpen. But that’s a tough way to do business.
Chicago Cubs
Reality was a little harsh this year: The Cubs finished 14 whole games behind the Brewers, a “rivalry” that turned very one-sided. In signing Nico Hoerner to a six-year extension, the club has firmly decided that this is the core they’re rolling with, led by another long-term investment - pending NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong.
That core will lose a key piece in Ian Happ, and like so many of these contenders, starting pitching remains the bugaboo. Heck, the loss of Cade Horton might sting more in 2027 than it did last season; he figures to return in some capacity, at least. Can lefty Justin Steele regain All-Star form after running out of comeback time in 2026?
Toronto Blue Jays
Like the Dodgers, they’ll be sans hangover from a gutting World Series next season. Heck, they got the whole month of October off. Despite Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s disappearing act, this club still had playoff life into the final week of the season. The odds suggest a big bounceback for Vladdy next season.
Jose Soriano can ride shotgun with Dylan Cease as aces all next season. Cody Ponce’s ACL has mended. Spencer Miles has a year under his belt and Louis Varland’s still manning the back end. Could be dangerous.
A puncher’s chance
The Cleveland Guardians gotta lead the list of longshots, simply because they’ve won three division titles in a row while hardly anyone’s watching. And made two ALCS runs in three years. They just might kick that door down with all that power pitching. … That’s come at the expense of the Detroit Tigers, who now have a winter to construct a post-Skubal ballclub. Easy to forget they have a budding MVP in Kevin McGonigle. … Speaking of Tarik, might he end up a New York Met? Even if that comes to pass, there’s got to be several about-faces on a club that at least finished the year on an upswing and with contributions from young players. … Whither the Philadelphia Phillies? We were tempted to bump them up a tier or two, but it’s a little unsettling how the club lurched through most of 2026 while getting 28 to 33 starts from Zack Wheeler, Jesús Luzardo, Cristopher Sánchez and Aaron Nola. Imagine if such good health doesn’t find them next year. … A surprise? Why not the St. Louis Cardinals, young, athletic, efficient and convicted from day one next year.
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29: Luis Severino #40 of the Athletics pitches against the New York Yankees at Sutter Health Park on May 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Tuesday A’s fans.
It’s been five days since the end of the World Series. You know what that means. Free agency is officially open!
Things are different in baseball this year. We’re all still waiting on the first signings around the league, which usually takes a couple weeks to really kick off. With the possibility of an impending lockout however there may be some free agents that elect to move on their next home faster than normal. That could be a benefit for our A’s.
The team has struggled to attract free agents over the past few years, first because of the Coliseum and now because the Athletics are literally playing in a minor league ballpark. Not to mention this is a young team that hasn’t had any on-field success in years. The team had to massively overpay starter Luis Severino, who just recently exercised his $22 million option for next season. Smart move on his part, since he’s unlikely to beat that annual average on the open market. That’s been the long big signing since the A’s began this move to Las Vegas, with a smattering of smaller moves. Interestingly, while the team now plays in a hitter’s ballpark, the team has only inked two position players (Gio Urshela & Luis Urias).
With the lockout however, there may be more opportunities to ink early contracts. While there’s lot of players who can afford to wait out contract negotiations with the owners, there are also plenty of other players that may be lower-tier options that want to lock in their money now. While the A’s are in the middle of the rebuild and certainly won’t halt the youth movement, we saw last year how quickly injuries can pile up, and it’d be smart for the A’s to get a low ceiling, high floor infielder to bolster that young group.
Or maybe new President Taylor Smith prioritizes improving the bullpen before doing anything else. There’s always lots of relievers on the market every offseason and identifying the right bullpen arms is why he was brought in to the organization. We only have 27 days before the lockout on December 1st and there’s been no word of breakthroughs in negotiations. It could be a long, long time between then and the reopening of free agency next year, so get in your shopping now.
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - AUGUST 21: Jason Schiavone #44 of the Corpus Christi Hooks rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the second inning during the game between the Midland RockHounds and the Corpus Christi Hooks at Whataburger Field on Friday, August 21, 2026 in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Photo by Vanessa Buentello/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The Corpus Christi Hooks had an up and down 2026 season, but still had some strong performers. Let’s take a look.
Corpus Christi Hooks 2026 Record: 62-76
The Hooks opened the season going 11-13 in 24 games in April. In May, they had another month just below .500 going 13-14 over 27 games. In June the sub .500 play continued as they went 11-14. In July, the Hooks went 12-12 over 24 games. They played 26 games in August going 11-15. They finished the season in September going 4-8. It was a rough season for the Hooks.
IP – James Hicks (119.0) W – Amilcar Chirinos (6) SV – Amilcar Chirinos (8) SO – James Hicks (104) ERA – Bryce Mayer (2.61)
NOTABLES
Trevor Austin, INF Austin was signed as an undrafted free agent and has made his way to Double-A in 2026, and has really performed well. The 24-year-old finished the season with a .803 OPS while also leading the team in doubles, (22), home runs (21), runs batted in (54) and hits (96). He played four different positions with the majority of his time coming at third base. It was a big time season for the undrafted free agent.
Bryce Mayer, RHP Mayer, the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year in both 2025 and 2026, put together an even better season in 2026. The right-hander started a bit slow but quickly turned things around, posting a 2.61 ERA with 100 strikeouts over 69 innings in Double-A. Mayer earned a promotion to Triple-A, where he posted a 5.45 ERA but still showed his ability to miss bats, striking out 40 over 33 innings.
Jason Schiavone, C Schiavone put together a monster breakout season. The 23-year-old catcher got off to a hot start in Asheville hitting .289 with 17 home runs in 35 games. He earned a promotion to Double-A where he hit 14 more home runs to go along with 20 stolen bases. He finished the 2026 season in Triple-A and had 32 home runs and 32 stolen bases, the first 30 HR/30 SB for a catcher in 45 years putting himself in a strong spot for Spring Training in 2027.
Alex Santos II, RHP Santos was drafted by the Astros in the second round of the 2020 draft and has taken a long road through the system, spending multiple seasons in rookie ball before eventually reaching Double-A. After moving to the bullpen this season, Santos has posted a 2.91 ERA with 100 strikeouts over 65.0 innings. He finished the season on a tear posting a 1.09 ERA with 65 strikeouts over 41.1 innings including a 0.77 ERA over 11.2 innings in Triple-A.
Yamal Encarnacion, INF Encarnacion put together a very intriguing 2026 season. While the wRC+ was a little below average, the switch hitting infielder led all of the Astros system (full-season) in stolen bases with 48 while also connecting on 18 doubles, 4 triples and 5 home runs. He is a spark plug type of player and was awarded the Standard Award by the Astros, highlighting his positive impact on and off the field.
Jackson Nezuh, RHP After a breakout 2024 season, Nezuh struggled some in 2025 but he re found his form in 2026. The rtight-hander started the season in Double-A and had a 3.97 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 65.2 innings. He was promoted to Triple-A where he was even better posting. 3.58 ERA with 44 K over 37.2 innings. He totaled 124 strikeouts over 103.1 innings and put himself in contention for a big league spot next season.
Will Bush, C Bush, the Astros 16th round pick in the 2023 draft, had a solid. season in 2026. The catcher played in 99 games for the Hooks and posted a .757 OPS with 13 home runs and 17 stolen bases. Behind the plated, the 22-year-old threw out 17% of base runners. Bush drew a lot of walks too, collecting 73 of them in those 99 games.
This tagline harkens back to 1989 and a Michael Jordan-Spike Lee advertisement for Nike footwear. That’s when athletic footwear was in the early stages of what would become a revolution that remains ongoing.
While that advertising campaign was very much about who wore the shoes and what they might be able to do for the wearer, the quest to improve athletic performance continues. Sure, everyone wants good shoes, but today, the more interesting question is what those shoes — with a little technological boost — can tell players and coaches about performance.
Back in September, I wrote about the Catapult vests players were using to measure their throws and manage workloads. When I was working on that story, I stumbled onto another wearable that Colorado Rockies players and coaching staff are using to gather data to measure and improve player performance: Plantiga force plates.
The technology requires the use of an insole that fits into a player’s shoe. A “pod” is inserted into the insole that does the actual measuring.
According to Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer, Plantiga “is measuring how your body moves, how much force you’re putting into the ground, the workload, all that.”
It’s technology that Brandon Stone, Rockies manager of performance science, explained like this: “Similar to Catapult, Plantiga helps us understand player movement by measuring acceleration and rotation through inertial measurement unit (IMU) technology. We use these technologies as complementary tools within our broader toolbox to better understand player movement and how it may affect on-field performance.”
That’s a lot to take in, but Stone as well as some Rockies coaches and players further explained the technology, which underscores another way in which the organization is using data to support player development.
As Stone put it in a phone interview, “We’re trying to build an ecosystem of tools that help us understand how our players move so that we can help guide or prescribe or change things if we need to. I think ultimately it’s like what dials can we turn a little bit in order to help optimize performance and health.”
What are Plantiga force plates?
According to their website, Plantiga features “[l]ab-grade sensor technology embedded in comfortable insoles. Captures gait patterns, asymmetries, and loads at 416Hz with clinical precision.” (To visit Plantiga’s baseball page, click here.)
“What we’re trying to detect is the smoke before the fire,” Matthew Jordan, the vice president of performance science at Plantiga, told Fast Company. “Imagine you’re at the point where your knee is just at the cusp of the next day it’s going to be like, ‘My knee’s killing me. I can hardly walk.’ We can see in the data before you reach that tipping point.” (Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is a poster child for Plantiga.)
Take a look at Jake McCarthy’s Plantiga insole and pod:
“You don’t feel them or anything,” said relief pitcher Zach Agnos, who was an early Plantiga adopter.
After a player finishes doing his daily work, he pops out the pod and places it in the Plantiga charging dock located in the Rockies clubhouse. Then, the data is uploaded to the cloud and analyzed. That information is converted into a report that goes to a number of Rockies training staff, including Stone and bullpen coach Matt Buschmann.
Buschmann and Stone worked together when they were with the Toronto Blue Jays, so their collaboration on wearable technology is a logical evolution of their relationship.
“It was a really easy partnership to kind of get off the ground,” Stone said. “I try to be as available as possible during the day in season with the guys, too, so that we’re working hand in hand, and obviously (Buschmann’s) helping guide that from from the bullpen standpoint.”
Here’s how Buschamann explains the relationship between Catapult and Plantiga: “Catapult tells me (a player’s) volume and intensity. That tells you similar things, but it’s going to give us the strategy. So Catapult tells me how hard you’re throwing it. (Plantinga) tells me how you’re doing it that hard, whether you’re doing it differently from in the past, whether you’re doing more off your right leg compared to your left leg.”
And those changes have the potential to be significant.
“So a lot of times,” Buschmann said, “what that can do is tell you if you’re trying to attain something in a different way. That’s not a bad flag. It’s just like, ‘Well why?’ And if that why is because maybe you’re fatigued or maybe you’re dealing with some kind of stiffness or soreness, hopefully, that allows us to see that and kind of stop that before it becomes a larger problem down the road because (in) baseball, a lot of times, injuries are just small things become big things over time.
In other words, Plantiga allows the Rockies to establish a baseline for a player’s movements. Then, the coaching staff can look for changes in a player’s typical movement patterns and make adjustments.
“I would say we build a report off of the data,” Stone said, “and then, it’s just checking in and saying, ‘Is this within the player’s norm?’ And if it’s not, I think what we first do is just ask questions. So we try to aggregate information across the spectrum — and that’s all departments, not just performance science and pitching, but obviously, physical performance, medical and athletic training, mental skills, nutrition. All of those pieces are just as involved. We’re just trying to help say, ‘Okay, if a player’s movement patterns or their ability to be strong and fast and powerful, if those are changing, what’s changing? Why is it changing? And how can we positively impact that?’”
Those differences may be significant in terms of player performance.
“Fatigue is inevitable,” Stone said. “How you fatigue is going to be individual based on you.“
Plantiga gives the Rockies a way to measure that fatigue and then create an adjustment plan.
“Every player has a different amount of strength, power, speed, stuff that we all see,” Stone said, using McCarthy as an example.
“Jake McCarthy is super fast,” Stone said. “We obviously want to preserve that as much as possible. We also know that, based on science and research, he’s going to probably fatigue a certain way, and that way is going to be very individualized to him. So part of it is, as those things happen, are we managing it well? And then, really, all you’re trying to do is, if and when those things ebb and flow, you’re trying to adjust their routines.”
That’s where clear collaboration and communication between Rockies staff and players come into play.
“I think that’s the key relationship between the other performance departments. (The player might need) a recovery routine, a weight room routine, a mental skills routine. It might simply be adjusting nutrition, especially with the way that our travel goes in and out of altitude.”
Rather than seeing Plantiga as a tool for injury prevention, Stone views it a bit differently.
“If we can if we can maintain as robust of a mover and an athlete as he is throughout the year, then by proxy we’re hoping that we’re mitigating compensations or deviations in how they’re accomplishing running, jumping, throwing, swinging, fielding.”
It’s a balance.
“I’d say that Plantiga is, again, a little bit more like, how are they responding to the day-in, day-out work? And how are their general movements locomotively changing? And if those two things are lining up, then we’re working with all the other departments to help potentially adjust a player’s routine so that, again, they can maximize their performance during the game.
What do the players say?
Outfielder Jake McCarthy, who logs a lot of miles between getting on base and running to the outfield throughout the game, is a fan. In the same way that Catapult can help pitchers manager their workloads, Plantiga can assist McCarthy in tracking his work.
“Running is a big part of my game,” McCarthy said, “so I’m like, ‘Hey, man, if you see anything that maybe is a red flag, please let me know.’ So I’m pretty interested.”
He added, “You know how much output force, how much you ran during the day, the speeds you’re running at.”
And he likes knowing the numbers, too.
“I think it’s cool to see the top speeds and stuff like that,” McCarthy said.
Plus, it provides an objective measure of what he’s done.
“If we play a four-hour game where I’m running around in the outfield a ton, they’ll kind of be like, ‘Hey, your workload was way higher than it’s been all year, so maybe make sure you’re drinking enough water, doing some recovery.’ So again, just a ton of stuff to learn from.”
That’s how a position player uses Plantiga. But what about a pitcher?
Zach Agnos provided some insight.
“You wear them when you throw before the game, so it can measure how much you throw in your workload and how much force you’re using, so it basically gets you a gauge on what intensity you’re at that day,” Agnos said.
“A day after you pitch,” he added, “you want to be lower intensity, so you can kind of match up the the workload, and then on the mound, you can pair it up with the biomechanics stuff around the stadium.”
That’s where Stone and his staff come in.
“Our guy Brandon Stone will look at it and let you know what you’re doing well, if something was off a little bit from that night compared to the baseline average for you. So it’s a really good way to not only measure workload but just to kind of get a basis of where you’re at and production of force and all that stuff and transfer.”
Stone commented on an interesting example that included Agnos, who, during the course of the season, moved to the third-base-side of the rubber.
“I would say in-game biomechanics is going to be the first thing that we look at to see if and when we make changes with pitchers,” Stone said. “Ultimately, performance is going to dictate that. But I would say from my role specifically, how are they moving to create that output? And if they’re moving well, then you feel more comfortable about that change.”
Then he added, “And again, I think that’s where generally you can say Plantiga would come in: Does he have the movement capacity to make the move on the rubber? Plantiga would be one of four to five tools that we use within that movement assessment paradigm to say, ‘Hey, we think he’s got the capacity. Okay, we’re going to make the move.’ And then we’re using the in-game data to really help drive if that move has been helpful from a performance standpoint. And then closing the loop is that periodically through the movements assessments with Plantiga is saying, ‘Okay, he’s not compensating based on the move on the rubber.’”
Like McCarthy, Agnos is a fan.
“I think it’s a really good tool for us to have.”
Why does it matter?
Joelle Milholm spent time last month examining how the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers are finding advantages that help them win, including through their use technology.
Like Catapult, the Rockies use of Plantiga shows a team catching up and using technology to improve player performance.
Although the odds are unlikely that Plantiga inserts will transform the Rockies into a Michael-Jordanesque team in 2027, like Mike’s shoes, they’re another implement in the Rockies growing data toolbox.
Los Angeles, - October 15: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on after the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 to win Game 4 of a NLCS playoff baseball game and advance to the World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 15, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Free agency officially began last night, as the five-day “quiet period” ended and players became free to negotiate with any team. There could be a mad dash to sign players ahead of the potential transaction freeze once the labor deal expires in December, although uncertainty over what the new rules of the game will be could inhibit teams from making moves.
Here’s a look at the top 30 free agents available this winter, and my predictions for who will sign them and for how much, plus a list of who else is out there. The predictions are difficult to make, since we don’t know exactly what baseball’s economic structure will look like next year. My predictions assume that whatever changes are implemented will be phased in slowly over time.
He is the unquestioned top player available, by a good margin. Skubal won back-to-back Cy Young Awards, but was limited to 158.2 innings last year due to minor elbow surgery this summer. He returned as good as ever, with a 2.73 ERA in 19 starts after his injury, so there shouldn’t be much injury concern. But with pitchers, injuries are always a concern.
Potential suitors: Blue Jays, Cubs, Dodgers, Mets, Yankees Contract prediction: Dodgers, 9 years, $365 million
2. Freddy Peralta, starting pitcher
10-11, 4.42 ERA, 169.0 IP, 8.3 K/9, 0.7 rWAR
Peralta earned Cy Young votes last year, but was a disappointment with the Mets. He turned his season around after being traded to the Rays, allowing just three runs in 34 innings over his last six starts. He posted the highest ERA of his career since becoming a starter, but he still has “ace” potential and should command a top salary.
Potential suitors: Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, White Sox, Yankees Contract prediction: Cubs, 5 years, $115 million
3. Randy Arozarena, outfielder
.281/.381/.484, 670 PA, 26 HR, 5.7 rWAR
Arozarena is the top bat available, coming off a career-high in OPS+ with 148 and a 20/20 season. He led the league in runs scored this year, and finished eighth among all AL players in rWAR. He will turn 32 in February and he was -5 in Outs Above Average in left field this year, so there may be some pause for teams thinking about giving him a long-term deal. Arozarena was tendered a Qualifying Offer, so any team that signs him will have to forfeit draft compensation.
Potential suitors: Blue Jays, Cubs, Mariners, Phillies, Red Sox Contract prediction: Phillies, 4 years, $108 million
4. Seiya Suzuki, outfielder
.270/.368/.473, 634 PA, 26 HR, 5.1 rWAR
Suzuki is also coming off a strong season, with a career-high 81 walks. He has hit 20+ home runs and posted an OPS+ of 125 or better in each of the last four seasons. The 32-year old was a Gold Glove finalist for the first time after having a reputation as a poor defender. He was also given a Qualifying Offer, although the Cubs didn’t sound interested in getting into a bidding war to keep him.
Potential suitors: Blue Jays, Cubs, Mariners, Phillies, Red Sox Contract prediction: Mariners, 4 years, $104 million
5. Trevor Rogers, starting pitcher
10-11, 4.03 ERA, 169.2 IP, 8.3 K/9, 2.2 rWAR
Rogers dominated in 18 starts in 2025 with a 1.81 ERA, but was underwhelming this year. But analytics types love his underlying metrics and stuff after some adjustments made at Driveline bumped his velocity up. He is a health risk, but most of his injuries have been muscle or leg injuries, not in the arm. He was given a Qualifying Offer and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he accepted or took a short-term deal to hit the market after a better season.
Potential suitors: Blue Jays, Braves, Cubs, Orioles, Tigers, White Sox Contract prediction: Orioles, 4 years, $100 million
6. Michael King, starting pitcher
12-10, 3.21 ERA, 185.0 IP, 7.7 K/9, 4.3 rWAR
King declined a $28 million player option in the hopes of landing a long-term deal. He has a 3.15 ERA over the last three seasons since becoming a full-time starter, but he saw a significant decline in his strikeout rate. King has expressed a desire to stay in San Diego, and my guess is the new ownership group keeps him in the fold.
Potential suitors: Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mets, Orioles, Padres, Yankees Contract prediction: Padres, 4 years, $96 million
7. Teruaki Sato, third baseman/outfielder
.306/.383/.609, 614 PA, 39 HR
Teruaki Sato is a left-handed power hitter who smashed 79 homers over the last two seasons for the Hanshin Tigers. The 27-year-old does have some swing and miss tendencies, although many of the same doubts plagued Munetaka Murakami, who hit 35 home runs for the White Sox. He plays third base but could ultimately move to first base or a corner outfield spot. He would need to be posted and signed by December 1.
Potential suitors: Angels, Phillies, Red Sox, Yankees Contract prediction: Yankees, 5 years, $90 million
8. Jazz Chisholm Jr., second baseman
.231/.312/.399, 532 PA, 19 HR, 1.7 rWAR
Chisholm hit a career-high 31 home runs in 2025, winning a Silver Slugger Award. But he regressed badly in his contract year, and could look for a short-term deal to re-establish his value. He is capable of playing second or third base, and although he can have defensive lapses, he fared very well in Outs Above Average.
Potential suitors: Angels, Blue Jays, Braves, Padres, Pirates, Tigers, Rays, Reds Contract prediction: Tigers, 4 years, $88 million, with an opt-out after the first season
9. Adrián Morejón, relief pitcher
9-3, 2.83 ERA, 86.0 IP, 11.2 K/9, 1.9 rWAR
Morejón was an All-Star in 2025, and followed that up with a whopping 107 strikeouts as a lefty reliever. Because he has a deep arsenal, some teams may be interested in seeing if he can start. If he’s a reliever, he’s easily the best one on the market, although he doesn’t have experience as a traditional closer. He is still rather young – he turns 28 in February.t
Potential suitors: Cubs, Dodgers, Mets, Padres, Yankees Contract prediction: Yankees, 4 years, $64 million
10. Brandon Lowe, second baseman
.260/.331/.493, 656 PA, 35 HR, 5.4 rWAR
Lowe signed a long-term deal early in his career, so he’s hitting free agency at age 32. But he timed it right, coming off a career-best 5.4 rWAR season with 35 home runs. His defense was fantastic at second base at +15 Outs Above Average, although some are skeptical that is sustainable. He strikes out a ton, and isn’t very good against lefties, but that kind of pop from a middle infielder is hard to find.
Potential suitors: Angels, Blue Jays, Braves, Padres, Pirates, Reds, Tigers, Yankees Contract prediction: Padres, 3 years, $60 million
11. David Bednar, relief pitcher
7-3, 2.47 ERA, 69.1 IP, 9.9 K/9, 1.9 rWAR
Bednar was optioned to the minors in early 2025, but he tweaked his repertoire with the Yankees, and he will likely cash in on a lucrative deal. He is the top “proven closer” available, leading the league in saves in 2023, and converting 35 last year. He’s already 32, but without a lot of big name relievers available, teams could overpay. The Yankees made him a Qualifying Offer, and they are interested in retaining him.
Potential suitors: Blue Jays, Cubs, Mets, Phillies, White Sox, Yankees Contract prediction: Cubs, 3 years, $54 million.
12. Clay Holmes, starting pitcher
6-8, 3.29 ERA, 101.1 IP, 6.9 K/9, 2.0 rWAR
Holmes became a starting pitcher in 2025, and has been solid in that role for two years, posting a 3.44 ERA over that time. He missed some time this year with a broken leg, and he didn’t finish strong with the Cubs. He’ll turn 34 in February, but he’s a decent mid-rotation pitcher who can induce groundballs.
Potential suitors: Braves, Cubs, Giants, Mariners, Mets, Padres, Reds, Royals Contract prediction: Mets, 3 years, $52 million
13. Kaima Taira, starting pitcher
12-5, 1.36 ERA, 146 IP, 8.7 K/9
Taira is a stocky, 5’8” right-hander nicknamed “Fire Hydrant”, who has spent time as a starter and reliever for the Seibu Lions. As a reliever, he throws in the high-90s with a fastball that can occasionally hit 100, with a mix of splitters and change ups. He will be 27 next season, so he is one of the youngest free agents available.
Potential suitors: Braves, Cubs, Giants, Mariners, Mets, White Sox, Yankees Contract prediction: White Sox, 3 years, $50 million
14. Sonny Gray, starting pitcher
18-5, 2.72 ERA, 169.0 IP, 7.9 K/9, 4.3 rWAR
Gray is coming off a strong season where he led the league in wins, but his declining strikeout numbers at age 36 will give teams pause. He said he wants to win a title next year, but has also cited a desire to stay close to his family in Tennessee.
Potential suitors: Braves, Cubs, Rangers, Rays, Reds, Red Sox Contract prediction: Braves, 2 years, $48 million
15. Jake Bauers, first baseman
.266/.389/.484, 578 PA, 26 HR, 3.3 rWAR
You likely heard multiple times during the postseason that Bauers was prepared to retire two years ago, only his wife got pregnant and needed health insurance, so he gave it one more shot. Good thing he did! Bauers finished with career highs in home runs (26), walks (94), on-base percentage (.389), slugging percentage (.484), and rWAR (3.3). He was a highly-touted prospect, so the talent was always there, the Brewers just unlocked it. He could accept the Qualifying Offer the Brewers made him, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him get a three-year offer.
Potential suitors: Brewers, Diamondbacks, Guardians, Mets, Twins Contract prediction: Mets, 3 years, $48 million
16. Foster Griffin, starting pitcher
15-6, 3.60 ERA, 172.2 IP, 8.2 K/9, 3.3 rWAR
The former Royals first-round pick went to Japan, and returned this year to win 15 games. He’s a “crafty lefty” with a fastball in the low-90s, but very good control and a deep arsenal. He doesn’t have a long track record of success as a big leaguer, but he showed enough that he should get a decent contract at age 31.
Potential suitors: Athletics, Cubs, Nationals, Padres, Rangers, Royals Contract prediction: Royals, 3 years, $48 million
17. Luis Arraez, second baseman
.310/.345/.419, 655 PA, 6 HR, 2.9 rWAR
People pegged Arraez as a butcher at second base and he got just a one-year deal last offseason. He showed them with a remarkable turnaround defensively this year. Teams may be skeptical of his +12 Outs Above Average, but he does not appear to be the liability he once was, and his bat can play at second base more than it could at first. He doesn’t have much power, but he’s perhaps the best contact hitter in the game, and someone will pay for that. It seems like he’s been around forever, but he hasn’t turned 30 yet.
Potential suitors: Giants, Padres, Phillies, Pirates, Rangers, Tigers, Yankees Contract prediction: Phillies, 3 years, $46 million
18. Ian Happ, outfielder
.218/.326/.412, 636 PA, 24 HR, 2.9 rWAR
Happ is a four-time Gold Glove winner in left who has hit 20+ home runs in each of the last four seasons. He strikes out a ton, but has drawn 80+ walks in each of the last four years. He’s a switch-hitter who struggles against lefties, but in a fairly thin outfielder market, he could make out well.
Potential suitors: Cubs, Mariners, Orioles, Phillies, Pirates, Reds, Royals Contract prediction: Orioles, 3 years, $45 million
19. Nick Martinez, starting pitcher
15-6, 3.10 ERA, 180.0 IP, 5.5 K/9, 3.9 rWAR
Like Griffin, Martinez went to Japan for a few years, and returned to become an effective MLB starting pitcher. He had a career-best season this year with Tampa Bay, but he has a solid 3.56 ERA over the last three years pitching both as a starter and reliever. He had both the lowest strikeout rate and the lowest walk rate among all starters, so he’s a pitch-to-contact guy. The right-hander is already 36, so he’s probably looking at a two-year deal.
Potential suitors: Astros, Mets, Nationals, Orioles, Rays, Royals, White Sox Contract prediction: Tigers, 2 years, $34 million
20. Gleyber Torres, second baseman
.260/.364/.363, 420 PA, 8 HR, 2.0 rWAR
Torres has had a rough time in the free agent market, despite being a pretty solid top-of-the-order hitter. He was one of the youngest free agents available after the 2024 season, but signed a one-year deal with the Tigers, then accepted their Qualifying Offer the next year. He has been a solid 2-3 WAR player the last two seasons with an on-base percentage over .350, although he doesn’t provide much power.
Potential suitors: Angels, Padres, Pirates, Royals, Tigers Contract prediction: Pirates, 2 years, $32 million
21. Casey Mize, starting pitcher
6-10, 4.32 ERA, 131.1 IP, 7.5 K/9, 1.3 rWAR
Mize was having a great contract year until he was traded to the Padres and was awful down the stretch with a 7.46 ERA in ten starts. He would be looking at a “make-good” one-year deal or an opt out, but he has a good pedigree and is only 29 years old.
Potential suitors: Athletics, Braves, Diamondbacks, Mets, Nationals, Reds, Royals, Tigers Contract prediction: Red Sox, 2 years, $30 million
22. Mike Soroka, starting pitcher
9-5, 3.41 ERA, 116.0 IP, 8.8 K/9, 2.2 rWAR
Soroka is under 30 and can definitely miss bats. The question is whether he can stay healthy. It’s possible a team moves him to the pen to get more out of him, but he showed enough in 21 starts for the Diamondbacks last year that a team will take a chance on him in their rotation.
Potential suitors: Astros, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Rays, Royals, White Sox Contract prediction: Rays, 2 years, $30 million
23. Kris Bubic, starting pitcher
Bubic is the left-handed version of Soroka – under 30, can miss bats, start or relieve, but could be in the pen to protect him from injury.
Potential suitors: Astros, Giants, Diamondbacks, Mets, Royals, White Sox Contract prediction: Giants, 2 years, $30 million
24. Hiromi Itoh, starting pitcher
10-10, 3.18 ERA, 172.2 IP, 8.3 K/9
Itoh is a durable right-hander who doesn’t wow with velocity, but throws strikes and eats innings. He is a high-floor, low-ceiling pitcher who will likely be a back-end rotation option.
Potential suitors: Athletics, Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, Nationals, Padres, White Sox Contract prediction: White Sox, 3 years, $30 million
25. Shota Imanaga, starting pitcher
11-10, 3.77 ERA, 174.1 IP, 9.0 K/9, 2.0 rWAR
Imanaga has settled in as a solid, mid-rotation starter with excellent control. The 33-year-old lefty is a big-time flyball pitcher that may benefit from getting away from Wrigley Field.
Potential suitors: Angels, Giants, Mets, Padres, Rays, White Sox Contract prediction: Padres, 2 years, $28 million.
26. Dustin May, starting pitcher
7-9, 4.70 ERA, 145.2 IP, 8.9 K/9, 0.3 rWAR
May doesn’t wow anyone with his ERA, but his peripherals looked much better and he’s an analytics darling that many expect will improve in the right situation. He is a big injury risk as a two-time Tommy John surgery survivor. He could be a back-end starter, or maybe he has a second life as a reliever.
Potential suitors: Angels, Brewers, Mets, Padres, Rays, Royals, White Sox Contract prediction: Brewers, 2 years, $24 million
27. Kevin Gausman, starting pitcher
9-12, 4.51 ERA, 177.2 IP, 9.3 K/9, 2.2 rWAR
Gausman had a disappointing season by his standards, posting his highest ERA since 2019. However, he still struck out 184 batters and logged 177.2 innings, demonstrating the durability that has made him one of baseball’s more dependable starters. He’ll turn 36 next season, so he probably won’t get a long-term commitment, but he should be an attractive option for teams looking for a veteran rotation anchor.
Potential suitors: Blue Jays, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Mets, Orioles, Royals Contract prediction: Blue Jays, 2 years, $24 million
28. Ty France, first baseman
.295/.363/.502, 500 PA, 21 HR, 4.5 rWAR
The Royals-killer had a tremendous bounce-back season with the Padres, posting career-best power numbers and a 139 OPS+. He was one of the better contact hitters in baseball, and at 32, he should have several productive seasons left. He doesn’t offer much defensive versatility, but a first baseman who can hit for average and power will have a market.
Potential suitors: Guardians, Mariners, Padres, Pirates, Twins Contract prediction: Guardians, 2 years, $24 million
29. Ryan Jeffers, catcher
.256/.353/.461, 369 PA, 14 HR, 2.8 rWAR
Jeffers is the best of a thin free agent catcher crop that includes Carson Kelly and Tyler Stephenson. The Twins surprisingly made Jeffers a Qualifying Offer, and he’d be wise to accept it.
Potential suitors: Mets, Orioles, Phillies, Twins Contract prediction: Twins, accepts 1 year, $23.15 million Qualifying Offer
30. Raisel Iglesias, relief pitcher
1-2, 2.55 ERA, 60.0 IP, 9.6 K/9, 34 SV, 1.4 rWAR
Iglesias remains one of the most dependable closers in baseball, recording at least 29 saves in each of the last four seasons with a career 2.87 ERA. He’ll turn 37 in January, so he probably won’t get a long-term deal, but he should be able to command a lucrative one-year contract.
Potential suitors: Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, Red Sox, Yankees Contract prediction: Braves, 1 year, $18 million
Other notable free agents: Jason Adam, José Alvarado, Miguel Andujar, Josh Bell, Chris Bassitt, Shane Bieber, Alec Bohm, Matthew Boyd, J.P. Crawford, Mauricio Dubón, Zach Eflin, Zac Gallen, Adolis Garcia, Lucas Giolito, Jonathan India, Kenley Jansen, Carson Kelly, Ha-Seong Kim, Ramón Laureano, Nathaniel Lowe, Tyler Mahle, Jeff McNeill, Cedric Mullins, Emilio Pagán, Joc Pederson, David Peterson, Nick Pivetta, Robbie Ray, Luis Robert Jr., Brady Singer, Edmundo Sosa, George Springer, Eugenio Suárez, Tyrone Taylor, Lane Thomas, Daulton Varsho, Alex Vesia, Taylor Ward, Garrett Whitlock, Brandon Woodruff
