Category: Sports News

One more time. With feeling.

If you follow our blog, you know that I have written probably a dozen articles this offseason outlining small upgrades the Guardians could make to their roster. From being told by Cardinals fans that St. Louis wouldn’t trade Willson Contreras to pointing out that Harrison Bader would fill a clear need on the roster and had to be affordable given that it was January, I have been foiled every time. Contreras went to Boston because they were willing to cover most of his contract and give decent prospects for the part they weren’t covering and Bader went to the Giants because God forbid Cleveland commit ANY money for 2027 because revenues won’t be a sure thing given the lockout so if a shortened season starts the Dolans/Blitzer want to have as little money committed as possible. I even wrote an article last week accepting the fact that there really isn’t a clear fit who would upgrade what they have now who is definitely available in trade or free agency.

However, I think there are two clear exceptions that I would like the Guardians to pursue fervently until the season opens: Ketel Marte of the Diamondbacks and Nico Hoerner of the Cubs.

As you may have heard, the Diamondbacks pulled Marte off of the trade market after not getting any offers they liked enough to move their best player before his 10/5 rights vest. It is very possible they do not intend to revisit talks. However, I also think it’s possible they will listen before the season opens. This would be the opportunity for Cleveland to unload their prospect arsenal for a player who instantly transforms their lineup with consistent production. And, there is a very simple way to do it – offer the Diamondbacks Travis Bazzana and their choice of any pitcher not named Gavin Williams or Cade Smith.

I guarantee that deal would be done today if that offer was made. For his career, Marte is a good second baseman defensively with a 112 wRC+ against RHP and a 140 wRC+ against LHP as a switch-hitter. He is under team control through 2030 with a player option for 2031, his age 38 season. His average annual value for the deal is only $14.64M, so he would not be paid more than Jose Ramirez during that time period. He would give the Guardians two legitimate superstars finishing their respective careers in Cleveland. Additionally, Marte has been rumored to be amenable to come to Cleveland in a trade. That’s why you give up your top prospect and a good pitcher to get him if you can. (I love Bazzana and will not be disappointed to see him stay; Marte is one of like three players I would trade Bazzana for).

For folks concerned about Marte’s clubhouse presence, the entire kerfuffle about his taking more time off than some of his teammates liked said more about his teammates than it did about Marte. He has been a star in Arizona for his entire career and a leader on a World Series team in 2023.

In Hoerner’s case, he has a 120 wRC+ against LHP and a 98 wRC+ against RHP for his career. He is an excellent defender at second and at shortstop. The Cubs have his replacement in Matt Shaw. I would offer the Cubs their choice of reliever not named Cade Smith and negotiate from there, not going beyond a return of C.J. Kayfus. Hoerner is only under control through 2026, so, if you’re trading Kayfus, you need to pursue an extension with Hoerner (a good idea!). Landing Hoerner enables the Guardians to move Rocchio to second base and see how he performs there until Bazzana is hopefully ready to supplant him there in June, allowing Rocchio to become the utility infielder, hopefully upgrading that spot from whatever Daniel Schneemann and Gabriel Arias offer in that spot.

As a note, from everything the Athletic’s Guardians reporter, Zack Meisel, has said on his podcast, the Guardians are simply not interested in adding another left-handed hitters, so I am not examining the possibility of adding Boston’s Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu or Philadelphia’s Brandon Marsh.

Either a Marte or Hoerner move would be a clear upgrade for a team serious about making a World Series run. However, I don’t expect the Guardians to do anything until June-July, and, when they do so, I expect it to be acquiring a player on an expiring contract so, again, they have as little money committed in 2027 as possible.

As we enter the spring, just about everyone on the Washington Nationals roster has a lot to prove. This team is very short on proven commodities. However, there are three players fans should be paying close attention to. Cade Cavalli, Dylan Crews and Luis Perales have a ton to prove in 2025, and I will be watching them closely this spring.

Can Cavalli Put it Together:

Cade Cavalli is the player I am most fascinated by. After the MacKenzie Gore trade, he seems like the de facto ace. He had a bumpy road back from Tommy John Surgery, but showed flashes of elite potential last season. In his 10 MLB starts, Cavalli posted a respectable 4.25 ERA. 

I think he can get much better. His stuff is front of the rotation caliber and he throws plenty of strikes. However, his execution and command are not great. With the new pitching development team and a fully healthy offseason, Cavalli could improve that though. As the season progressed in 2025, he made some adjustments that helped him become an effective MLB pitcher.

There is room for a lot more though. His fastball averages 97 MPH and he pairs it with an awesome power curveball. The curve averaged 86 MPH and generated whiffs at a 40% clip. He used the curve over 30% of the time, which makes the high whiff number even more impressive.

Despite being in the 72nd percentile for whiffs, Cavalli only struck out 18.3% of hitters. That ranked in the 18th percentile. There is no way a pitcher with Cavalli’s stuff should be striking out under 20% of hitters. This spring, fans should be watching Cavalli’s execution with two strikes. If new pitching coach Simon Mathews can improve Cavalli’s ability to put hitters away, he will have a big season.

If I had to guess, Cade Cavalli will be the Nats Opening Day starter. The fact a pitcher with 11 MLB outings is the Nats Opening Day starter says a lot about the state of the rotation. However, Cavalli has a chance to be great, he is just unproven.

Can Dylan Crews Live Up to the Hype:

Coming out of LSU, Dylan Crews was one of the most hyped up college baseball players in the last decade. Along with his teammate Paul Skenes, Crews helped the LSU Tigers win the National Championship. Since leaving LSU, Skenes and Crews have been on very different paths.

While Skenes was winning his first Cy Young award in 2025, Crews was struggling to find his footing. Crews hit just .208 with a .632 OPS last year. There were long stretches where the former Golden Spikes winner looked lost at the plate. 

Coming out of college, Crews was supposed to be a can’t miss prospect. Skenes and Wyatt Langford may have had more upside, but Crews was the one that had no chance of being a bust. So far, that has not been the case. Crews, who is one of the most decorated college baseball players ever, has not been the same player in the MLB.

Even in the minors, Crews did not dominate the way he was expected to. He was good, but never elite. Crews did not torch the minor leagues the way Wyatt Langford did. In the MLB, he got exposed even more. His suboptimal angles have been a problem. Crews is hitting the ball on the ground too much and is not tapping into his power.

In 2025, Crews was also whiffing way too much. His issues against spin have been present for a while, but he was even whiffing against fastballs. Crews was an elite fastball hitter, even in his up and down MLB stint in 2024. That was not the case last year.

While Crews’ season was interrupted by injury, his performance was still concerning. He needs to get back to crushing fastballs. Hopefully the new coaching staff can help Crews rebuild his confidence. This is the first time Crews has ever failed, so I am curious to see how he bounces back. Spring Training will be our first chance to see what kind of adjustments Crews has made.

Can Luis Perales Throw Enough Strikes:

The prospect I am most curious about this spring is Luis Perales, who the Nats acquired from the Red Sox this offseason. Paul Toboni swung a rare prospect for prospect trade with his old club back in December. He sent the high floor Jake Bennett to the Red Sox for Perales, who is riskier but comes with a much higher ceiling.

Perales blew out his elbow in the middle of his breakout 2024 season. He had to undergo Tommy John Surgery, missing the rest of 2024 and most of 2025. Perales came back at the end of 2025, where he made a few appearances in the minors.

However, most of his action came in the Arizona Fall League. The results were interesting. His velocity was actually better than ever, sitting at nearly 99 MPH. Perales had a hard time finding the strike zone though. In 11.1 innings, he struck out 19 batters but walked 11.

It is not uncommon for pitchers coming back from TJ to struggle with command at first. They have not pitched in competitive games for over a year, so there is some rust. These pitchers are also adjusting to their new elbow as well. As pitchers get further removed from surgery, the command usually improves.

Perales showed much improved command in his breakout 2024 season, but had some control questions before then. Command will always be a question mark for the flamethrower, but as long as he is around the strike zone, the stuff will play.

I will be watching Perales very closely to see what that control looks like. If it is back to those 2024 levels, he can be a front of the rotation starter. However, he has the chance to be a nasty reliever. His injury history, smaller build and control point to a bullpen role, but he also has a chance to start.

It will be interesting to see what the Nats do with him. If they move him to the bullpen, he could be in the big leagues very soon. However, if they want to continue developing him as a starter, things will take longer. Either way, Perales should start next season at Triple-A. If Toboni wants to let him rip in the bullpen, Luis Perales could be the Nats closer by the end of the season.

There are more players we could highlight, but these are the three that stand out to me. All three have so much to prove this year, but also have great upside. 2026 will be a year where these young players will have to prove themselves. With Paul Toboni improving the farm system, these guys could be replaced if they do not perform.

Meet the Mets

Despite being previously named the captain of Team Puerto Rico, Francisco Lindor will not be playing in the World Baseball Classic this year due to the elbow procedure he underwent at the beginning of the offseason.

With Freddy Peralta now in the fold, what is the state of the Mets’ rotation heading into 2026?

The Mets’ surplus of talent in the upper levels of the minor leagues gives the major league team plenty of depth this year.

Around the National League East

The Phillies have added some positional depth by inking Dylan Moore to a minor league deal.

Philadelphia’s rotation has some question marks heading into 2026.

The Braves have signed veteran left-hander Martin Pérez to a minor league deal.

Federal Baseball examined what the state of the Nationals’ farm system could be after another season of development.

Around Major League Baseball

After a strong rookie campaign, shortstop Jacob Wilson has agreed to a long-term extension with the Athletics.

After nine seasons with the Twins, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey is departing the club in what is being presented as a mutual decision.

Veteran reliever and former Met David Robertston has announced his retirement from baseball.

After making his major league debut in 2025, Mariners right-hander Logan Evans will now miss the entire 2026 season due to Tommy John surgery.

Another free agent outfielder is off the board, as the White Sox have inked Austin Hays to a one-year deal.

While Driveline is often viewed as an apparatus for improving pitching performance, many hitters are now taking advantage of its offerings as well.

Royals first baseman and noted New York Jets fan Vinnie Pasquantino has agreed to a two-year contract to avoid arbitration.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Allison McCague was worried that we had forgotten just how abysmal Cedric Mullins was as a Met, so she offered us a reminder.

Prior to being traded to the Brewers, the Amazin’ Avenue minor league crew had ranked Jett Williams as the team’s fourth best prospect entering 2026.

While many of us have been focused on Freddy Peralta, Grace Carbone provided us with an introduction to Tobias Myers, the other player acquired from Milwaukee in the trade.

This Date in Mets History

Ralph Kiner signed on to join the Mets’ broadcast booth for their inaugural season on this date in 1962.

Giants star Willy Adames eager to bounce back after ‘challenging' 2025 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Willy Adames made his mark in his first season with the Giants, but he knows there’s always room for improvement.

Adames was a key offensive contributor for San Francisco, becoming the first Giants player with 30 home runs in a single season since Barry Bonds. He also hit .225 with 87 RBI.

When he caught fire, he couldn’t cool down. When he was slumping, it was bad. But Adames is finding the silver linings in the up-and-down season.

“It was a challenging year,” Adames told reporters Saturday at Giants FanFest in Sacramento. “Adapting to everything, the fans, the organization, the city, new stadium. But it was great. Obviously at the end of the year, we didn’t achieve what we wanted to, but I think we learned a lot from last year. And now we know we need to get better in some areas, and I think we’re doing a really good job to start creating a different culture and to be better on the field.

“For me, personally, I’ll just try to be more consistent and be better every day.”

Off the field, it was no secret that Adames quickly became the team’s energizer.

His infectious spirit and good vibes were contagious around the Giants’ clubhouse, despite how San Francisco was performing on the field.

But the Giants need more than just good vibes to compete in the NL West and get back to winning baseball.

Adames is up for the challenge.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

MLB Rumors: Austin Hays and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a one year, $6 million deal, per reports.

The Rangers were among a number of teams that were in on Hays, per Jon Heyman, and we talked about him earlier in the week in our write-up on available righthanded platoon DH/bench bat options. The 30 year old Hays is going to a team that is not expected to be a contender in 2026, but which gives him an opportunity to play every day. If he performs well, he most likely will get traded to a contender at the deadline anyway.

So the Rangers’ hunt for a platoon DH and righty bench bat continues. While Hays was a popular choice among folks here — and was apparently pursued by a number of teams — there are still players out there who could fit the bill, and with camps opening soon, guys who have been waiting to see if a full-time opportunity comes available will have to make some decisions.

Good morning, LSB.

The Rangers added another bat yesterday in the form of former first round pick Nick Pratto.

Former Rangers reliever David Robertson has decided to hang em up.

MLB dot com has a list of 13 “eye-popping” predictions for 2026 which includes one for Jacob deGrom.

And The Athletic has a Q&A with Team USA manager and former Ranger Mark DeRosa on how the roster is shaping up before the World Baseball Classic.

That’s all for this morning. Have a good weekend!

Austin Hays is reportedly signing a one-year deal with the White Sox, according to numerous report. 

The Mets showed interest in Hays to help fill their outfield need before landing Luis Robert Jr. in a trade with Chicago.

New York could potentially still use another outfielder as currently constructed, but it’s unknown if they remained in on Hays after the Robert Jr. acquisition.  

Instead, the veteran goes to the White Sox to likely be his replacement.

Hays is coming off a strong year in which he hit .266 with 15 homers and 64 RBI over 103 games with the Reds. 

Starling Marte is available, but Mike Tauchman, Randal Grichuk, and Kiké Hernandez could also be potential fits for the Mets.