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Take one walk around Camden Yards and you will see plenty of Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso jerseys. Fans love superstars and for good reason. There’s been plenty of talk about how the Orioles cannot get where they want to go unless Henderson returns to form. Alonso arrived in Baltimore and immediately delivered in the first year of his big contract, and the O’s will need that type of production if they hope to compete moving forward

At the same type, everyone knows that good teams require production from role players. Albert Suárez has been an unsung hero for the Orioles over the last few seasons. Aside from the stars, fans often gravitate toward players that were born around their hometown, attended the same college, or made an impact at their local minor-league affiliate. But every once in a while, supporters develop an irrational appreciation for a guy that doesn’t really move the needle for anyone else. That’s me with Cam Sanders.

The Orioles purchased Sanders from the Pirates on July 13 after Pittsburgh designated the righty for assignment. Shortly after the move, I reached out to a friend of mine that follows the Pirates closely. He was not exactly sad to see Sanders go. “If he can’t make it in this bullpen, he’s not going to make it anywhere.”

Baltimore optioned Sanders to Triple-A but recalled him less than a week later. The 29-year-old proceeded to earn his first career win and first career save in his first two appearances. Sanders recorded a pair of outs in a 3-2 victory over the Astros and closed out a dramatic 4-2 win in extra innings the following night. I became president of the Cam Sanders fan club overnight.

Baltimore optioned Sanders after his pair of decisions but brought him back on August 10. He went on to post a 2.40 ERA over 19 appearances in an Orioles uniform. Sanders struck out 27 and walked 10.

Sanders arrived in Baltimore with only 17 major league innings under his belt. He had signed with Pittsburgh as a minor-league free agent before making six appearances in 2025. It’s easy to see what the Pirates liked. Sanders averages 96 MPH with his fastball, and his strong slider leads to plenty of swing and miss. He pitched to a sub-3 ERA over 22 appearances at Pittsburgh’s Triple-A affiliate but failed to deliver at the big league level.

Sanders arrived in Baltimore with a golden opportunity to establish a role. The team entered the season with few established relievers, and both Keegan Akin and Ryan Helsley missed significant time with injury. Baltimore shipped Tyler Wells to the future American League champs, and Félix Bautista did not return until the end of the season.

Yennier Cano earned an extension, and Rico Garcia turned some heads, but there were plenty of innings to go around. Sanders, like teammates Grant Wolfram, Anthony Nunez and Josh Walker, set out to prove that he belonged in the big leagues.

The Orioles gave Alex Hoppe the same opportunity after acquiring the reliever and a pair of pitching prospects for outfielder Taylor Ward. Hoppe held a 5.79 ERA over 24 games with Seattle at the time of the deal.

Hoppe arrived with a triple-digit fastball, a slider, and a sinker. Baseball Savant also credited him with eight changeups in 2026, but the heater was the headliner. He demonstrated high-leverage potential with a 1.84 over 18 appearances with the Orioles. He recorded four holds, one save, and one win in Baltimore.

The Orioles will likely enter 2027 with at least some level of uncertainty in the bullpen. It’s unclear what Garcia will have for a sequel or if guys like Sanders and Wolfram can take another step forward. Hoppe and Nunez probably fit into a category of their own though. Both boast the type of high-leverage ceiling that could make an impact for years to come.

Hoppe will enter next season with two minor league options. He’ll head to Sarasota with an inside track on a bullpen spot but nothing guaranteed. The 27-year-old could grab the job and never let go. At a minimum, he’ll be an optionable reliever with high upside. Sanders also holds one minor league option.

Relievers are volatile from year to year. Baltimore’s front office liked both of these guys enough to add them to the mix. The front office has earned plenty of criticism over the years, but they’ve also identified several diamonds in the rough. Will either of these relievers qualify as another success story?

Before we begin looking ahead to 2027, OTM is looking back at 2026, highlighting some of the biggest, strangest, and most memorable moments of a memorable season. Today, we look at one of the most deflating trade deadline acquisitions of all-time.

The July version of the Red Sox were magic. Even in a harsh media city like Boston (I’ll admit it!), the “vibe” around the team was a stark departure from even a few weeks earlier. You’d have been hard pressed in the beginning of June to find anyone who’d justify trading future roster pieces for anyone who’d help the team compete, because it was clear the team could not compete.

That obviously all changed with the historic 15-game win streak. By the middle of the month, the team was squarely in “buy” mode, as a deep October run was, with the right pieces, very conceivable.

But we’ve seen this song and dance before. Just 12 calendar months earlier, Craig Breslow had “gotten uncomfortably aggressive” with his fellow front offices. The cynic in me would have loved to be a fly on the wall to see what Craig Breslow would classify as “uncomfortably aggressive,” but alas, the fruits of the deadline ended at Steven Matz and Dustin May. The Red Sox’s season would end at Yankee Stadium, and neither acquisition would be back to begin 2026.

The previous time the Sox had made the playoffs, the team acquired Kyle Schwarber, a deal that looked vastly less impressive after the team failed to acquire his services long-term in the offseason. The other acquisitions in 2021 were Austin Davis and Hansel Robles, which dims the shine of the Schwarber deal even further. The following year, with a playoff spot within reach, the team did a weird half-buy, half-sell stance, dealing longtime catcher Christian Vazquez and Jake Diekman and bringing in Reese McGuire (a notable downgrade behind the dish), Eric Hosmer and Tommy Pham. The team finished accordingly, in the cellar of the division. Point being, calls to win were met hollowly.

Then, at almost midnight three days prior to the 2026 trade deadline, that notion was turned on its ear. Connelly Early, a guy the team had in its rotation prior to some elbow inflammation, a guy on many top 100 prospect lists before the season started, a guy who very much fit the organization’s archetype of big lefty with velocity and bite on his fastball, and, truth be told, a guy who wasn’t pitching too badly (3.44 ERA, 93 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings) was heading to Washington, a team who played two hour drive north of his Virginia hometown and a team fighting for a playoff spot in their (much more competitive) league. The return for this guy? Australian infielder Curtis Mead.

It seemed absurd at first glance. Until, that is, one remembered that Curtis Mead, after some early struggles (putting this lightly) in his career, had been hitting out of his mind with the Nationals to start 2026. He had 17 home runs and a .852 OPS. He had struggled with being patient at the plate but was getting better, and already didn’t strike out much. His arm strength is lower than average, but he had experience playing second base, which was a position of need for this team. If that didn’t pan out, there were a few different permutations the team could try out, which isn’t ideal for a team also in the middle of a playoff chase, but having everyday players to field who are plus bats is a good problem to have. Simply put, at the time, Early was 1) injured and 2) at a surplus, and Mead was 1) performing at a level where the team could be as “aggressive” as they’ve prided themselves on being to win baseball games and 2) played a position, maybe even two, of need.

Fast forward two nights. Sacramento against the Athletics, 9:40 first pitch for us over on the east coast. Curtis Mead is in the lineup. He’s batting second. He’s playing second. The team looked to have an everyday player. Enter the fourth inning. Mead against Jack Perkins. Perkins, a player who has a noted lack of command in his short career, lost control of his fastball, and Mead took it just shy of 95 miles per hour to the wrist. His bat flew away in reaction and Mead took his base. It was a scary moment, but it was also assuring to see Mead not exit immediately. The lurking cynic, though, wondered if this could be the start of a recurring issue. An inning later, Mead clearly looked uncomfortable in the field, and he exited the game. Initial imaging showed no fracture, but an MRI showed that Mead’s wrist, was, in fact broken. Mead went on the 10-day IL, but it was a foregone fact that he’d be gone for most of the rest of the season.

Make no mistake: this injury put the Red Sox at a new crossroads of the season and gave a Craig Breslow an even bolder challenge to put his money where his mouth was than the one he had accepted just three days earlier. He couldn’t throw his hands on and say “aw, shucks, we tried!” as the team was still in contention, and now, he didn’t have the luxury of using a surplus chip of an extra young rotation piece. He would have to get creative, and fast. It was, to be fair to Breslow, absolutely a raw deal. But how he reacted, and how the team gelled from that moment, could likely define the future of the season.

The Red Sox would upgrade their catcher position by trading for Adley Rutschman (and Jake Rogers) in exchange for Carlos Narvaez and a plethora of budding prospects. They’d also grab Erik Miller by dealing another injured everyday player in Marcelo Mayer, and would bring Eli White into the fold, a move I was convinced at the time would spell the end of Jarren Duran’s time with the organization, but Duran punched at his class to finish 2026. Breslow, though some debate on the effectiveness of deals lingered after a second consecutive postseason run would end at the hands of the Yankees, put a clear “bought” symbol next to his organization for the first time in almost a decade.

And it’s easy to imagine that at least some of this influence between throwing caution to the wind on the Rutschman deal especially was because of this perceived – and very tangible – urgency.

As with most moves the Red Sox have made in the last year or so, this move will effect them not just for this year, but for some time after. The myriad ways that sentence can be construed is intentional. It will, in Boston fashion, be evaluated with every gem Early pitches (and there will be plenty) and it will be maligned with every errant throw Mead makes over the course of the next five years. Because, yes, Mead is under team control until 2031. These transactions also don’t exist in a vacuum, and so it’s entirely possible that this deal will benefit both teams in the long run, just as the teams simply not ever picking their phones up might have, as well. It’s natural to think of what would have been, and just as natural to say that this trade was of little consequence in 2026, and that goes for either team, as Early made exactly one appearance with his new team following coming off of that injury. But the move, at the time, was absolutely of high consequence for Craig Breslow and his future with the Boston Red Sox.

Good morning.

Evan Grant writes that the Texas Rangers are on the other side of their big spender era and are now back on that player development grind.

MLB Trade Rumors’ AJ Eustace writes about how an improved changeup helped Jacob Latz ascend to become an unexpected All-Star closer in 2026.

And, if you happen to know players who played with Mike Minor or who finished top 5 in saves during the 2000s, you might do well at today’s Rangers Daily Walkoff!

Have a nice day!

A five-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glover, four-time Silver Slugger winner and a runner-up in both Rookie of the Year and MVP voting, Francisco Lindor is familiar with the spectrum of awards that are handed out late in the year.

For several reasons, the hardware he received in 2026 means a bit more.

“To me this honor, this award, it’s probably one of the most important awards in MLB,” said Lindor, the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award. “Just because it’s not about myself. It’s about my family, my parents, how much they have instilled in me to give and share the blessings that I have had.”

The Roberto Clemente Award is bestowed upon the player “who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field,” MLB says. The Mets’ star shortstop had been nominated for the humanitarian award in every year since 2023, and his fourth nod brought recognition that is particularly resonant for a Puerto Rico native.

The accolade is earned, with Lindor pouring time and money into endeavors from education to leadership in communities in Queens, his high school alma mater in Florida and his home island.

Through a partnership with New Balance, he annually provides hundreds of students with backpacks and school supplies. He has donated more than $1 million to Montverde Academy in Florida. New this season was “Lindor’s Leaders,” a leadership initiative for Bayside High School’s Sports Medicine Program.

“I didn’t go to college,” Lindor said over Zoom late last week. “My education comes through the lower school, middle school, high school, and through the people I’ve met in my life that have put me in conversations, that have put me in rooms to gain knowledge. And that’s kind of the thing I do with the high school and the Lindor Leaders.

“I have conversations with young people that are growing and going to be the next fathers, the next mothers of the world and the next engineers, doctors, and just having conversations with them.”

Among his other charitable efforts: financial support for Puerto Rico following hurricanes; a partnership with Dairy Queen and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in support of Miracle Treat Day, helping raise money for local children’s hospitals; “Lindor Smile Tuesdays,” which educates local kids about dental hygiene; a collaboration with Seen, a nonprofit that aims to help families affected by disability and medical hardship and is especially personal for Lindor, who has a disabled stepsister.

With the award, Lindor follows in the footsteps of Clemente, a Puerto Rican star who died in a plane crash while trying to deliver aid to Nicaragua.

“I remember going to history classes in Puerto Rico for second, third, fourth grade,” Lindor said. “And you learn about the Indios, the Taínos, which are natives. You learn about Roberto Clemente, and you learn about Spaniards and Christopher Columbus. It’s so cool to sit here and to be recognized for going out there to the communities.”

Lindor is the first Met to win the award since Curtis Granderson in 2016 and fifth ever (also joining Carlos Delgado, Al Leiter and Gary Carter).

“To be part of a fraternity, a community that of all the recipients that have won this award, guys like Delgado, [Carlos] Beltrán, Edgar Martínez, guys that I grew up idolizing — the Molinas,” said Lindor, who was set to receive the award before Monday’s Game 3 of the World Series. “There’s so many big names that represented the game the right way on the field, but off the field they were even greater. And to be part of this community, it means the world.

“I’m super excited. I’m blessed. I’m honored. I’m humbled by it.”

With the World Series headed into its final week, the look ahead at the postseason is starting to clear up. Teams have probably about wrapped up most of their offseason meetings in preparation for this offseason where they decide which route they plan on taking for the season to come. That means decisions on tendering contracts and making qualifying offers.

For the Phillies, the biggest decision they have is whether or not they should be offer Alec Bohm a qualifying offer. If you aren’t sure, a team can offer a qualifying offer to a player that, should he accept it rather than go into free agency, entitles him to a large one-year deal before going back into free agency the following season. This year, that number has crested $23 million, which is insane to think about. Should the player not take the deal, he heads into free agency with something of an anchor on his back. Any team that signs that player will be forced to take on some penalties, those penalties varying depending on who signs him. The Phillies then would be compensated with some extra draft picks, presumably to spend them on low cost college relievers that don’t have great strikeout rates.

Seems like an easy decision until one thinks about the amount of money it would cost. While it’s mostly true there is no such thing as a bad one-year deal, there is a bad way to spend that money included in a one-year deal. Handing over $23 million to Bohm is probably one of those bad ways, but that’s where the question comes into play today: should the Phillies offer Bohm a qualifying offer this offseason? It would be nice to have that draft pick compensation once July rolls around, but the idea of tying up that much money on a player with a limited skillset seems not the best way to spend that much money.

This morning, Major League Baseball named Francisco Lindor the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award recipient. The Clemente Award, per the press release provided by MLB, is “the annual recognition of a Major League player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.” The press release also refers to the award as ‘Major League Baseball’s most prestigious individual player honor.“

This is Lindor’s fourth nomination as a Met for the Clemente Award.

Mets fans need no primer on the work Lindor does for the community, and as part of this award, presenting sponsor Capital One is donating $100,000 to SEEN Foundation. From SEEN’s website, the organization “advance[s] disability advocacy and self-advocacy by promoting access to text based Assistive Technology Communication supports.” Lindor and his wife, Katia, do work with SEEN, as well as many other charities in the New York area.

Lindor is now the fifth Met to receive the Clemente Award since its 1971 inception, following in the footsteps of Gary Carter (1989), Al Leiter (2000), Carlos Delgado (2006), and Curtis Granderson (2016).

Congratulations to Lindor, and read the full press release below.

FRANCISCO LINDOR NAMED RECIPIENT OF THE2026 ROBERTO CLEMENTE AWARD PRESENTED BY CAPITAL ONE

Mets Star Recognized for Extraordinary Contributions to Education, Youth Leadership, Disaster Relief in Puerto Rico and Support for Queens Youth

Presenting Sponsor Capital One Donates $100,000 to SEEN Foundation

Tampa, Florida – Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets has been named the 2026 recipient of Major League Baseball’s most prestigious individual player honor, the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One. Deepening its commitment to the award’s impact, Capital One is donating $100,000 to SEEN Foundation in honor of Lindor’s achievement. Lindor was nominated by the Mets for his unwavering dedication to service, education, youth development and community leadership. Lindor will be formally presented with the Roberto Clemente Award at Tropicana Field before tonight’s Game Three of the World Series presented by Capital One. 

A devoted husband and father of three, Francisco’s greatest source of pride is his family. Whether on the field at Citi Field or in the community, he leads with humility, compassion and purpose alongside his wife, Katia. Katia serves as an active co-leader across the family’s philanthropic initiatives, working together with Francisco to design and execute outreach efforts, mentor young people and engage directly with local community organizations. As a proud Puerto Rican native, Francisco shares a connection to Roberto Clemente through their Puerto Rican roots and a commitment to making a difference beyond the game. With his selection, Francisco becomes the fifth recipient of Puerto Rican descent to receive the Roberto Clemente Award since its inception in 1971, joining a distinguished group of past honorees that includes Edgar Martinez (2004), Carlos Delgado (2006), Carlos Beltrán (2013) and Yadier Molina (2018). 

While recognized as one of baseball’s top players and a five-time All-Star; four-time Silver Slugger; two-time Rawlings Gold Glover and Heart and Hustle Award recipient, Francisco’s legacy, like Clemente’s, is defined by the lives they impact through service, generosity and leadership:

• Capital One’s $100,000 donation, presented in honor of Francisco Lindor, will directly support the SEEN Foundation, an organization with which Francisco and his wife, Katia, are working to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people. The contribution will help advance SEEN Foundation’s mission and expand its efforts to empower youth, create opportunities and foster positive community impact. Through this donation, Lindor and Katia’s commitment to giving back will continue to support the organization’s work and help further its long-term impact in the communities it serves.
• Lindor’s Leaders Program (est. 2026) — Launched in partnership with New Balance, this year-long leadership development initiative for students in Bayside High School’s Sports Medicine Program focuses on mental health, communication, teamwork, and leadership. Lindor personally mentors participating students, equipping them with the confidence to lead in their schools and communities.
• Support for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals — In 2026, Francisco partnered with Dairy Queen and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for Miracle Treat Day, raising critical funds for local children’s hospitals by donating directly to families in need $1 or more from every Blizzard Treat sold.
• Transformative Commitment to Education — A proud graduate of Montverde Academy, Lindor has donated more than $1 million since 2020 to build Lindor Hall, a two-story middle school building featuring state-of-the-art science and technology labs. He also established the Francisco Lindor Scholarship Fund to provide financial aid for students, remaining personally involved through mentorship, career guidance, annual PLAY BALL youth events, and equipment donations for the school’s baseball team.
• Disaster Relief and Advocacy for Puerto Rico — Deeply committed to his native Puerto Rico, Francisco provided essential financial support following Hurricanes Maria and Fiona, restored athletic facilities in his hometown of Caguas, and hosted youth clinics. He continues to partner with organizations including Team Rubicon, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, Players for the Planet, and Rescate Playas Borinquen for ongoing recovery and environmental conservation.
• Serving the Queens Community — Through an annual back-to-school initiative with New Balance, Lindor provides hundreds of students each year with backpacks and essential school supplies. Now in its third season, Lindor Smile Tuesdays welcomes youth organizations to Citi Field for educational experiences promoting dental health, wellness, self-confidence, and mentorship.
• Growing the Game — Passionate about making baseball accessible and inclusive, Francisco regularly participates in the Mets’ Clinic for Champions with Special Olympics Florida and hosts the Lindor Clinic for Kids for local youth leagues and Boys & Girls Clubs.

The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One is the annual recognition of a Major League player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. The concept of honoring Major League players for their philanthropic work was created in 1971 as the “Commissioner’s Award.” It was renamed to the “Roberto Clemente Award” in 1973 to honor the Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. 

Lindor was selected from a list of 30 Club nominees by a distinguished panel that included Commissioner Manfred, Roberto Clemente’s children, Enrique, Luis, and Roberto Jr., former players (including former Roberto Clemente Award winners), journalists from MLB-affiliated network & media partners, MLB Network, FOX Sports, NBC, ESPN, TBS, Netflix and MLB.com, and a representative from Capital One. Additionally, each year, fans are given the chance to vote via MLBTogether.com/clementeaward. Lindor was recognized as a nominee on Roberto Clemente Day presented by Capital One, which was held on September 15^th throughout Major League Baseball. Each September since 2002, Major League Baseball has commemorated Roberto Clemente Day to recognize Clemente Award nominees and celebrate the Hall of Famer’s unforgettable legacy. 

Meet the Mets

An off-day in the World Series was the perfect time for Micah Noe to look back at the Gold Glove-nominated season of Luis Torrens.

A true reversal, the everyone’s favorite hot dogging sideline man Steve Gelbs took some questions of his own on the Mets’ YouTube channel.

Around the National League East

Equal parts remembering a Met and remembering a Guy, Danny Young was a member of the 2026 Atlanta Braves for a time.

Moving towards 2027, the Washington Nationals have up to five viable catchers and, of course, they gotta figure out what exactly to do with all of them.

Around Major League Baseball

You may have noticed the Tampa Bay Rays turning to dust before your eyes. The team is just as unhappy about it as you presumably are.

Naturally, the Rays and their players feel a comeback in their bones and, frankly, it wouldn’t shock me if it did happen.

Tonight in Game 3, Tropicana Field will host its first World Series game since Shea Stadium was technically an active ballpark.

Old Friend Freddy Peralta will take the mound for the Rays, taking on his…old friends.

On the other end, the Brewers always end up falling behind in the postseason and almost always end up making a comeback just as easily.

If you believe the Brewers, Brice Turang proclaimed himself a future Hall of Famer during initial contract negotiations. If you believe Turang, it never happened.

For Milwaukee fans, thinking of Bob Uecker during this series is ultimately more sweet than bitter.

Not even one of the longest shutout streaks in postseason history can keep Aaron Ashby from wanting to be a starting pitcher at one point or another in the future.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 1998, the Mets signed Mike Piazza to the largest contract in Major League Baseball history.

Game 3 of the 2026 World Series is later today, and the scene shifts to Tampa Bay. The Rays hope some home cooking will turn the tide of the series, as the Brewers look very hard to beat as they have all season. It will be interesting to see what adjustments are made on both sides. No matter what, it should certainly be an interesting game to enjoy.

Braves News

Danny Young is the latest player review to enjoy for the 2026 season. There was a time this year that Young was given an opportunity to stick with the pen, but the performance was not up to par.

MLB News

Rocco Baldelli informed the Mariners that he no longer wanted to be in consideration for their managerial opening.

MLB.com looks at the specific questions that the Rays must answer in order find success against the Brewers.

Brewers Pitcher Quinn Priester continues to recover well from surgery.

The Dodgers could have used a player like Miguel Vargas this year.

Their lineup was starved for power at times and Vargas homered 31 times. Their team was old and Vargas was a 26-year-old All-Star.

Here’s the irony: Just two years ago, the Dodgers had Vargas on their roster.

But the Dodgers didn’t have an open corner-infield position for him. When they failed to turn him into an outfielder, they traded him.

Dealing Vargas wasn’t a mistake.

In the three-team trade that sent him to the Chicago White Sox, the Dodgers received Tommy Edman, who helped them win two World Series. And it’s not as if a position for Vargas would have opened up. Max Muncy remains at third base, Vargas’ primary position. Freddie Freeman is at first.

Talent is only one factor in replacing one generation of players with the next. Timing is equally important.

This will be particularly relevant for the Dodgers as they attempt to turn over their roster in the coming years.

They had the oldest team in the major leagues this year. And while their farm system is considered to be one of the best in baseball, they have a disproportionate number of outfielders among their top prospects, further complicating an already-difficult process.

“A lot of the major-league onboarding is hard,” general manager Brandon Gomes said. “You can only get guys in Double A or Triple A up to the five- or 10-yard line. It’s hard to get them into the end zone to fully understand how to hit the ground running in the big leagues.”

A number of the Dodgers’ minor leaguers are already at the metaphorical red zone.

No. 1 prospect Josue De Paula was called up to the major leagues directly from Double A in September. In 11 regular-season games, he displayed an advanced knowledge of the strike zone for a 21-year-old, which led to him being included in the Dodgers’ postseason roster.

De Paula is an outfielder, as are the organization’s No. 2 and 3 prospects in the MLB Pipeline rankings, 21-year-old Eduardo Quintero and 23-year-old Mike Sirota.

Quintero spent most of this year at High A. Sirota started the season there, too, but finished in Triple A.

The Dodgers’ No. 6 and 7 prospects are also outfielders. Charles Davalan, 22, had a 24-homer season at High A. James Tibbs III, 24, homered 30 times at Triple A.

The major league team currently doesn’t have a vacancy in their starting outfield. Left fielder Teoscar Hernández and right fielder Kyle Tucker are under contract for next season. Center fielder Andy Pages remains under team control.

Tucker has three years and $175 million remaining on his contract, which makes him unmovable. Pages could be rewarded a $5 million salary next season in the arbitration process but would still be a major bargain at that price.

That makes Hernández as the likeliest player to be traded, as he will be entering the final season of his three-year contract. Shipping out Hernández would clear a spot for De Paula, but what about the team’s other outfield prospects?

Gomes pointed to how Davalan has been playing second base in the Arizona Fall League, which is basically a finishing school for top prospects. Increased versatility can better prepare players to take advantage of unexpected opportunities.

“A lot of it is there tends to be injuries or other things that happen where you look up and, ‘Oh, now we’re calling guys up from Double-A to Triple-A to fill time,’” Gomes said. “I think it’s going into a season having a plan and being able to adjust off of that.”

With experience at first base, Tibbs could be an insurance policy of sorts for 37-year-old Freeman.

De Paula, who is a notoriously weak defender, projects more as a designated hitter at this point and could be a backup for Shohei Ohtani.

“Things work themselves out,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “We’ve talked about this a lot. There are times where you wake up one day and you’re too left-handed. You start to address it. Wake up another day and say, ‘Wow, we’re too right-handed now.’ Things happen. Like right now, we have a really talented group of outfielders coming through our minor league system. There have been times where we haven’t. We also have a lot of really talented infielders coming as well, but for us it’s just about having as many many talented players as we can, and things tend to sort themselves out.”

Sometimes they work themselves out with a future All-Star being traded for a player who could be a solid contributor on a championship team.

That happens, Vargas’ case a prime example.