The Royals have made the playoffs once in the last decade, and their disappointing seasons in 2025 and 2026 have raised questions about whether the front office can build a contender. One way to get a better sense of how the Royals are doing is to compare their decisions with those of another franchise. In my recent evaluation of Royals president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo, I tried to assess how well he had done at acquiring talent. This piece takes the same approach with Milwaukee Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold, giving us a point of comparison with a franchise that has been more successful over the past four seasons.

The goal of my exercise was to attempt to determine which of resources or talent evaluation were the primary culprit behind the Royals’ back-to-back disappointing seasons after the surprise playoff run in 2024. I cannot realistically evaluate how big the hits or misses are without knowing what the alternatives might have been. I can’t know what the alternatives were without knowing intimate details about the Royals’ free-agent and trade negotiations to which I am not privy. It’s obvious on its face that Picollo has not done a good enough job at building a contending roster, so I am merely attempting to determine the primary limiting factor as best I can with publicly available knowledge. To that end, wins represent appropriate or surplus value for the acquisition cost, not necessarily a good add to the roster.

When we compare Picollo and Arnold, I think we need to acknowledge the reality that the Brewers have been more successful over the past four seasons than the Royals. So the expectation should likely be that Arnold is going to have a higher “win percentage” than Picollo. If that’s the case, it doesn’t mean Picollo should automatically be fired. We want to see the degree to which Picollo is being beaten to get an idea of whether this is something he is at least close on. Arnold has won Executive of the Year two years in a row, so he is considered one of the best in baseball. If Picollo is even close to the best, he’s worth keeping around for a bit. If he’s wildly worse, then I might be forced to run this exercise again with a different franchise to see how he compares to someone who is not the best because we’d have to allow for the possibility that Matt Arnold leads the best front office in baseball and it isn’t close.*

Anyway, with that all out of the way, let’s get into the scoring. In an attempt to preserve my sanity and time, I’m going to try to do less writing about individual transactions since most of you probably don’t care about these players anyway. In fact, feel free to skip to the end to read my conclusions; I won’t be offended. The only reason I’m even writing them down is as a sort of bibliography for that conclusion.

2023

Signed Blake Perkins

They paid him the minimum to be a replacement-level player.

0-0-1

Signed Wade Miley

$4.5 million for 1.0 fWAR.

1-0-1

Signed Brian Anderson

$3.5 million for 0.4 fWAR.

2-0-1

Signed Justin Wilson

Never pitched for the Brewers.

2-1-1

Signed Darin Ruf

Below replacement level.

2-1-2

Signed Julio Teheran

$1.5 million for 0.3 fWAR.

3-1-2

Signed Raimel Tapia

Below replacement level.

3-2-2

Signed Jahmai Jones

They paid him the minimum to be a replacement-level player.

3-2-3

Traded Reminton Batista for Payton Henry

Neither has appeared in the big leagues again.

3-2-4

Traded Hunter Renfroe for Elvis Peguero, Janson Junk, and Adam Seminaris

Renfroe was still useful in 2023, but Peguero was a useful piece, too.

4-2-4

Traded Kolten Wong for Abraham Toro and Jesse Winker

Wong and Winker were both awful.

4-2-5

Traded Esteury Ruiz for William Contreras, Joel Payamps, and Justin Yeager (three-team trade)

William Contreras is a perennial All-Star; Payamps was good for a bit.

5-2-5

Traded Justin Topa for Joseph Hernandez

Topa was good; Hernandez never made it.

5-3-5

Traded Taylor Floyd and cash for Trevor Megill

Megill has been a terrific closer for a couple of years, though he wasn’t this good straight out of the gate.

6-3-5

Traded Jhonny Severino for Carlos Santana

Santana was helpful

7-3-5

Traded Justin Jarvis for Mark Canha and cash

Canha was great; Jarvis never made it.

8-3-5

Traded Luis Urias for Bradley Blalock

Nothingburger.

8-3-6

Traded Alex Jackson for Evan McKendry

Ditto.

8-3-7

Traded Peter Strzeleckifor Andrew Chafin

One more time.

2023 Total: 8-3-8

2024

Signed Joe Ross

$1.75 million for 0.9 fWAR.

1-0-0

Signed Wade Miley

Turns out J.J. isn’t the only one who hangs on to guys too long, sometimes. Only threw seven innings this year.

1-1-0

Signed Eric Haase

$1 million for 0.2 fWAR/

2-1-0

Signed Rhys Hoskins

$34 million for two years totaling 1.1 fWAR.

2-2-0

Signed Jakob Junis

$7 million for replacement-level play.

2-3-0

Signed Gary Sánchez

$3 million for 0.4 fWAR/

3-3-0

Signed Brandon Woodruff

$17.5 million for 1.7 fWAR.

3-4-0

Signed Elieser Hernández

League minimum for replacement level.

3-4-1

Extended Jackson Chourio

Already paying dividends.

4-4-1

Traded Mark Canha for Blake Holub

Canha wasn’t bad in 2024. Holub has yet to make his big-league debut. He showed off some nice strikeout numbers in AAA, but he’s 27. So we’ll call it a draw for now.

4-4-2

Traded Hendry Mendez and Robert Moore for Oliver Dunn

Both the prospects traded look like they could be something, Mendez in particular looks like a potential stud (now with the Twins). Dunn was basically replacement level.

4-5-2

Traded Abraham Toro for Chad Patrick

Vice versa from above.

5-5-2

Traded Brian Sanchez and Jace Avina for Jake Bauers

Jake Bauers has become a mainstay in the Brewers lineup

6-5-2

Traded Cam Devanney and Ryan Brady for Taylor Clarke

We covered this one on the Royals’ side.

6-5-3

Traded Tyrone Taylor and Adrian Houser for Coleman Crow

Crow has been disappointing while Taylor and Houser have each had their moments.

6-6-3

Traded Justin Chambers for Bryan Hudson

Nothing for nothing.

6-6-4

Traded Corbin Burnes for DL Hall and Joey Ortiz

Joey saves this one for the Brewers because Hall has not been helpful.

7-6-4

Traded Clayton Andrews for Joshua Quezada

Quezada is speedrunning the Brewers’ system; he pitched at every level of full-season minor leagues this year at 22. I’m not sure I see it, but they sure do. Still, to stick with the conservative approach of Picollo’s review, it’s a draw.

7-6-5

Traded Thyago Vieira and Aneuris Rodriguez for Garret Stallings

Stalling debuted this year and looked pretty good.

8-6-5

Traded Gregory Barrios for Aaron Civale

Civale was good, not great; Barrios is well-regarded as a prospect but isn’t putting up numbers. No winners here.

8-6-6

Traded TJ Shook for Tyler Jay

Nothing for nothing.

8-6-7

Traded Yujanyer Herreraand Bradley Blalock for Nick Mears

Ditto

8-6-8

Traded Jakob Junis and Joey Wiemer for Frankie Montas

Wiemer has been mostly worthless as an MLB player, but Junis was fire for the Reds after the trade, and Montas wasn’t great. Without knowing more about the Brewers, it’s hard to call this a loss – maybe the mediocre starter’s innings were more valuable to them than the relief innings they gave up. So I’ll call it nothing.

2024 total: 8-6-9

Two-year total: 16-9-16

2025

Signed Grant Wolfram

Never pitched in the big leagues for the Brewers.

0-1-0

Signed Elvin Rodríguez

Below replacement level.

0-2-0

Signed Tyler Alexander

$1 million for 0.4 fWAR but DFA’d in early June because he had a 6.19 ERA.

0-2-1

Signed Jose Quintana

$4 million for 0.8 fWAR in 24 starts.

1-2-1

Signed Erik Fedde

Below replacement level.

1-3-1

Traded Devin Williams for Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin

Caleb Durbin saves this trade.

2-3-1

Traded Mason Molina for Grant Anderson

I want to call this a loss because Molina looks far more interesting as a prospect than Anderson has been as a reliever, but Molina hasn’t been quite good enough for me to pull the trigger.

2-3-2

Traded Mark Canha for Cesar Espinal

Canha was bad; Espinal is not good.

2-3-3

Traded Grant Wolfram for Daz Cameronand cash

Bad for bad.

2-3-4

Traded Yophery Rodríguez, Competitive Balance pick A, and John Holobetz for Quinn Priester

Priester was good, but not great, and underwent thoracic outlet surgery this year. Holobetz and the CB-A Pick (Marcus Phillips) look pretty good in the minors.

2-3-5

Traded Aaron Civale for Andrew Vaughn

This was when I was convinced that the White Sox were actively making everyone on their team worse and wanted the Royals to go after Luis Robert Jr.

3-3-5

Traded Jorge Quintana and Nestor Cortes for Brandon Lockridge

Nothing for nothing.

3-3-6

Traded PTBNL for Jordan Montgomery and Shelby Miller

Nothing for nothing, but an interesting example of the Brewers being willing to take on money to pay less in prospect capital. They actually wanted Miller, but took Montgomery’s salary so they didn’t have to give up much. It’s hard to tell if they ever did this again in the four-year stretch we’re evaluating, but even doing it once is more than the Royals have been willing to try.

2025 total: 3-3-7

Three-year total: 19-12-23

2026

Signed Brandon Woodruff

$22.5 million for 1.2 fWAR, a second whiff on the same player.

0-1-0

Signed Akil Baddoo

Never even appeared for the big league team.

0-2-0

Signed Gary Sánchez

$1.75 million for 0.9 fWAR; Gary is another win.

1-2-0

Signed Luis Rengifo

He was so very bad.

1-3-0

Signed Bryse Wilson

It worked again.

2-3-0

Extended Cooper Pratt

Fantastic in limited playing time so far.

3-3-0

Extended Luis Lara

Lara has not been good yet, but the extension can’t be a loss this early.

3-3-1

Traded Isaac Collins and Nick Mears for Angel Zerpa

We covered this from the Royals’ side.

3-3-2

Traded Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers for Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams

You’d rather have Peralta than Sproat, and while Myers wasn’t much, Williams has regressed a bit in AAA this season.

3-3-3

Traded Caleb Durbin, Competitive Balance Pick B, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Siegler for Kyle Harrison and David Hamilton

This looked like a hilarious win to start the season, but Durbin actually had a really good year by the end and Harrison fell off. Owen Hull, the CB-B pick, tore up High-A, too. I think we have to consider this a loss.

3-4-3

Traded K.C. Hunt for Jake Woodford

Nothing for nothing

3-4-4

Traded Jadyn Fielder for Lance McCullers Jr., Colton Gordon, and cash

Fielder’s got a little juice, but still very low. This is a tie leaning toward a loss. This would probably be at least a second example of taking on money to give up less; they cut McCullers less than two weeks after they acquired him. We don’t know how much cash they got in the deal to offset his salary, though.

3-4-5

Traded Craig Yoho and Blake Perkins for Codi Heuer and Bo Naylor

Nothing for nothing.

3-4-6

Traded Josiah Ragsdale and Alexander Frias for JoJo Romero and Dustin May

Frias is a 50 FV, and Ragsdale is tearing up the minors. Romero is a competent lefty reliever, and May has been a disappointment.

3-5-6

Traded Juan Martinez and Mark Manfredi for Antonio Senzatela

Manfredi has looked good in relief; Senzatela has not. Martinez showed a little juice in the minors, not enough to sway this, but it was already a loss.

2026 total: 3-6-6

Four-year total: 22-18-29

Conclusion

The most obvious thing is that the Brewers make more transactions than the Royals. And that’s before I realized, as I was going through this, that I had disregarded cash trades, viewing them the same as minor league free agent signings. Let’s at least summarize the cash trades here.

The Royals made 12 trades that included only cash from one side or another in the past four years. The Royals had two trades of that nature that worked out well (Yuli Gurriel and Randy Dobnak) and one that went poorly (Ryan O’Hearn, though the rumor is that there were extenuating circumstances to that one).

The Brewers made 19. They had a pair of small hits (Owen Miller, Bryse Wilson) and traded away no one they’ve ended up missing. You could argue the Royals could make more of these kinds of trades, but they’ve also got as many hits as the Brewers in fewer attempts, so maybe they’re just not wasting as much time on them.

The next most obvious conclusion is that, while the Brewers made significantly more transactions, they’ve “won” on the exact same number as the Royals, lost a handful more, and mostly ended up with extra nothing for nothings.

I went into this assuming that Arnold was going to have significantly more wins on his record over the past four years than Picollo. That fear escalated as I saw them acquire players like Durbin, Contreras, Megill, and Bauers in trades. That said, Picollo had the higher success rate. I suppose it’s possible that Arnold’s team is hitting home runs while the Royals are settling for singles from the front office, but again, some of that goes back to the resources available to them. The Brewers may not have had more money, but they had a lot more talent in their organization after the 2022 season than the Royals. That’s something that could start changing as early as this offseason, as guys like Blake Mitchell fall down the org prospect rankings despite not performing poorly.

And it’s not like the Royals don’t have big wins in the trade department, either. Aroldis Chapman for Cole Ragans was massive, even more so if Ragans can have additional healthy seasons. Freddy Fermin for Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek was even better. If Steven Cruz can take one more step forward, his trade will look as good as the Megill deal – it even took Megill time to reach this level of success. The Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha signings are better than any free agent deal the Brewers have done.

I also found it interesting that while Picollo often held on to guys too long, Arnold often brings guys back to see them underperform in a second tour. Woodruff stands out as a guy who was bad the first time and came back to be worse for more money the second time. Wade Miley was bad in his second tour. Sometimes it’s worked out for them, as with Bryse Wilson and Gary Sánchez. Still, the Royals and Brewers don’t appear to be as different in this regard as you might have imagined. I’m inferring from anecdotes and small samples here, but it seems like all front offices have guys they like and will keep or bring back even if their play hasn’t necessarily justified it. Austin Hedges in Cleveland stands out in this regard, as well.

The Royals’ assertion that they want major-league-ready guys in trades actually fits in with the Brewers’ behavior. Of the four stars the Brewers acquired via trade, three of them had already played in the big leagues before the Brewers got them; Durbin was the lone exception, and he came with Nestor Cortes Jr., who was supposed to improve the Brewers’ rotation. In fact, Durbin and Jett Williams are the only prospects acquired by the Brewers in large-ish trades, and both came with established starting pitchers even if those pitchers didn’t work out. Prospects will break your heart, but they’re worth grabbing if they can give you a second shot on a risky starting pitcher trade, I guess.

That said, one big change the Royals should consider adapting from the Brewers is a willingness to sign the young prospects who look like stars early on. Chourio and Pratt look to be huge wins for the Brewers. Even if Lara ends up being a miss, the value gained from Chourio and Pratt will outweigh what is lost with him. The Royals should absolutely be locking Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone in ASAP if they want to keep their payroll down and keep options open for filling holes later.

*I wrote that entire paragraph before beginning the evaluation. I was convinced that Arnold and the Brewers were going to do better than the Royals; I just wanted to see how much better. Imagine my shock and delight when I had finished and reached the conclusions above.

It’s no secret that left field has been a black hole for the San Diego Padres. In the last three seasons, 12 players have manned the left side of the outfield. That includes two starters in Jurickson Profar (2024) and Ramón Laureano (2025-26). Behind them are depth pieces like Nick Castellanos, Gavin Sheets and Samad Taylor alongside names you’d be hard-pressed to remember like Oscar Gonzales or Tirso Ornelas.

At the end of the day, San Diego has an abundance of pressing needs in order to balance out their roster. If the Padres’ new ownership is serious about bringing this city a World Series, they need to put their money where their mouth is. That would include signing a legitimate left fielder. Who are the best options?

The Power/Speed Threat

Randy Arozarena is, without a doubt, the top left fielder free agent on the market in this upcoming 2026-27 class. It’s easy to tell why. For six consecutive seasons, Arozarena has hit 20 home runs and stolen 20 bases. He’s the first player since Barry Bonds to display that level of elite power and speed. That might sound crazy, but it’s not. Bonds tops the list of consecutive 20/20 seasons with nine. Behind him are Bobby Abreu and Bobby Bonds with seven. Arozarena is tied for fourth with Willie Mays with six.

He certainly would come with an expensive price tag, though the impending lockout and CBA negotiations could muddy that up a little bit. The bigger question is if San Diego is comfortable taking a hit on batting average and defense. From 2023-25, Arozarena never batted higher than .254. He batted .219 in ‘24. But the left fielder turned that around this past season, batting .281 and bringing his strikeouts down from 191 (’25) to 145.

Defense is the biggest issue. Arozarena has a passable glove in left field. Especially with the elite defensive duo of Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. already present, it wouldn’t be the biggest problem. However, Arozarena is tied for 101st out of 102 left fielders in Fielding Run Value with -7 FRV. Out of 35 qualified fielders, Arozarena ranks 28th in Outs Above Average (-5 OAA).

Consistency is Key

This one might cost even more than Arozarena, but it would be incredible to see. Seiya Suzuki is fresh off a 7.2 WAR season in his walk year with the Chicago Cubs. His home run total (26) went down from 2025 (32), but his OPS increased by 37 points due to increased plate discipline and bat-to-ball ability. He’d slot incredibly well into San Diego’s lineup, and be an incredible presence in left field.

It’s true, Suzuki is mostly a right fielder. But his glove should still translate well. He revamped his defense in 2026, posting +5 OAA and +8 FRV. If that trend continues, Suzuki could round out one of the most elite defensive outfields in baseball alongside Merrill and Tatis. However, the 32-year old is expected to command a long-term deal that could prove too much for San Diego.

A Surprising Trade Possibility

Ronald Acuña Jr. has been one of MLB’s brightest stars over the better part of the last decade. Unfortunate injuries have derailed an otherwise immaculate career. The superstar outfielder for the Atlanta Braves has a club option for 2027 that Atlanta seemed all but certain to exercise. However, the 29-year old went 2-for-15 in the playoffs and was a big factor in the Braves’ elimination in the NLDS.

It’s been speculated that Atlanta could make Acuña available via trade after picking up his club option. That being said, it seems unlikely that the Padres have the prospect capital to get the deal done. San Diego’s farm system is heavily depleted and the club would be much better off seeking a new outfielder via free agency.

Other Options

The Friars will have contributors Dustin Harris and Samad Taylor likely returning to the club. The two formed an incredible contact/speed platoon down the stretch for San Diego. There’s certainly questions persisting of whether that success can continue. The two seem best fit to come off of the bench for the Padres, with both being incredible pinch-hitting or pinch-running opportunities.

However, with San Diego prioritizing signing reliable starting pitching this offseason, it’s possible that they’re willing to continue with their duo of Harris and Taylor in order to invest more into the pitching staff. Hopefully, the Padres will spend on a solid starter to supplant the duo in left. Otherwise, it’s hard to imagine where else a big bat might fit in the lineup math.

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Padres News:

• The San Diego Union-Tribune took a look at what Padres players are arbitration eligible and what their salaries might be.

Baseball News:

• The Milwaukee Brewers topped the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the National League Championship Series thanks to help from Brice Turang.

• The Dodgers believe they have a chance to even the NLCS with Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the mound.

• Jose Ramirez is looking forward to another opportunity to help the Cleveland Guardians get to the World Series.

• Here are the game times for the NLCS and ALCS with all four teams in action tonight.

The Mets are, how should I put this, not historically known for their winning ways. The most commonly noted exception to that trend is their success on Opening Day (42-23). But perhaps it’s time we give that same recognition to their performance in the National League Division Series. The Mets have played in five Division Series — 1999, 2000, 2006, 2015, and 2024 — and they have gone a perfect 5-0, advancing to the National League Championship Series each time. Only one other franchise, the Toronto Blue Jays, has an undefeated record in the Division Series round. So with MLB’s 2026 DS having recently wrapped up, let’s count down the best moments from the Mets’ dominant Division Series history.

10. Franco freezes Bonds(2000 NLDS, Game 2)

In the 10th inning of a back-and-forth Game 2 at San Francisco, John Franco entered to put out Armando Benítez’s fire. The Mets had led 4-1 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, but Benítez surrendered a three-run, game-tying homer to J.T. Snow with two outs to go. Jay Payton put the Mets back ahead with an RBI single in the top of the 10th, but Benítez then allowed Armando Ríos to reach on a single to begin the bottom of the frame. Franco arrived and got a pair of outs on the ground — one of which erased Ríos via a bad baserunning blunder — to bring Bonds to bat with two outs as the potential tying run or final out. With a full count to the already three-time MVP Award winner, Franco threw a pitch that was beautifully painted on the inside corner (or perhaps just beautifully framed by Mike Piazza behind the plate). Either way, the umpire rung up a disgruntled Bonds, evening the series as it went back to Shea.

9. deGrom’s bakers dozen(2015 NLDS, Game 1)

Jacob deGrom’s first postseason start, much like his first All-Star appearance three months earlier, was an electrifying statement to the rest of the league (and a foreshadowing of the two Cy Young Awards to come). His 13 strikeouts tied a Mets postseason record set by Tom Seaver in Game 1 of the 1973 NLCS against the Reds at Riverfront Stadium. He also became at that point just the ninth pitcher to strike out 13 while allowing no runs in a postseason game (two players, Gerrit Cole and Clayton Kershaw, have joined that list over the past 11 years). While deGrom’s Game 5 start to clinch a series victory was arguably the more impressive display, as he bounced back from a two-run first inning and battled without his “A stuff” to still put up a quality start, his Game 1 performance was a thing of pure majesty.

8. Alfonzo’s grand slam in Arizona(1999 NLDS, Game 1)

The first grand slam in Mets playoff history couldn’t have come at a better moment. Edgardo Alfonzo had already hit a homer in Game 1 of the 1999 NLDS, putting the Mets on the board with a solo shot off Randy Johnson (in the first of the southpaw’s four consecutive Cy Young Award-winning seasons) in the first inning. When Alfonzo came to bat in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and the score tied at 4-4, he went deep again, crushing a ball down the left-field line and into the second deck to give the Mets an 8-4 lead and all but seal their series-opening victory.

7. Jones’ shutout(2000 NLDS, Game 4)

In his first postseason start after eight big league seasons with the Mets, Bobby Jones completely baffled a Giants lineup that finished the regular season with the third-best team OPS (.834) in the Majors. The 30-year-old right-hander allowed just one hit (to future Hall of Famer and former Met Jeff Kent) and two walks, completing the second shutout in Mets playoff history after Jon Matlack twirled one in Game 2 of the 1973 NLCS against the Reds. Jones also notched one of just 34 series-clinching shutouts in playoff history to date. Mike Hampton would join that list eight days later in the NLCS, making the 2000 Mets the only team to have multiple pitchers throw shutouts in series-clinchers.

6. Murphy’s takeover(2015 NLDS, Game 5)

Everyone remembers that Daniel Murphy homered in six straight playoff games, setting an MLB postseason record (while remarkably hitting four of those six against that season’s NL Cy Young Award finalists Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Jake Arrieta). But Murphy’s other heroics in the winner-take-all Game 5 of the NLDS might be more easily overlooked. The Mets eked out a win over the Dodgers by a final of 3-2, and the second baseman was directly responsible for all three runs the Amazins’ scored. In the top of the first, he sent a triple to the warning track in left-center field, scoring Curtis Granderson and putting the Mets up 1-0. In the top of the fourth, with the Mets trailing 2-1, Murphy mustered a leadoff single. When Lucas Duda walked two batters later, Murphy caught the Dodgers’ defense sleeping and advanced to third base, allowing him to score when Travis d’Arnaud hit a sac fly which would have otherwise been a harmless flyout. Then, in the sixth, Murphy took matters into his own hands, tattooing a Greinke fastball down the right-field line for a go-ahead homer. Murphy would go on to win the NLCS MVP Award — but if there was an NLDS MVP Award, he would have won that, too.

5. Lo Duca goes 2-for-1(2006 NLDS, Game 1)

The most memorable — and most bizarre — defensive play in Mets Division Series history set the tone for a three-game sweep against the Dodgers. In the top of the second inning of Game 1 at Shea Stadium, L.A. had runners at first and second with nobody out facing rookie John Maine. The Dodgers’ Russell Martin banked a ball off the right-field fence, setting the runners in motion. Shawn Green and José Valentín combined for a clean relay to get the ball to catcher Paul Lo Duca, who tagged the lead runner (shoutout to Jeff Kent once again) sliding head-first into home plate. Lo Duca looked up to see the verdict from the home-plate umpire John Hirschbeck, who ruled Kent out. But when Lo Duca turned back around toward the diamond, he was suddenly met with the other runner, J.D. Drew, who was attempting to take the Mets by surprise. Instead, Lo Duca managed to get the tag down before Drew’s fingers touched the plate, turning a potential bases-loaded, nobody-out jam — or a potential go-ahead hit — into a double play.

4. Céspedes flips his bat to the heavens(2015 NLDS, Game 3)

Mets fans didn’t really need any extra motivation to go all-out in the first-ever playoff game at Citi Field, but after Chase Utley’s hard slide into Rubén Tejada during Game 2 of the 2015 NLDS…well, they got that extra motivation and then some. The Citi crowd was waiting for a moment to explode from the first pitch, and it got several fantastic opportunities. Curtis Granderson hit a bases-clearing, go-ahead double in the second. Matt Harvey got out of a big jam in the third by striking out Carl Crawford. Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-run homer to make it a 6-3 Mets lead in the third. But none of those moments could match the sheer euphoria caused by the sight of Yoenis Céspedes’ mammoth three-run shot rocketing into the second-deck in left field. Suddenly, the Mets were winning 10-3, the Dodgers’ formidable pitching staff was scrambling, and Cespedes’ bat was flying over home plate like an outbound red-eye from LaGuardia. Playoff baseball had officially arrived at Citi Field.

3. Benny and the Mets and the walk-off HR(2000 NLDS, Game 3)

The fan-favorite Benny Agbayani delivered his signature moment in Game 3 of the 2000 NLDS to put the Mets ahead in both a gridlocked game and a hotly-contested series against the Giants. After Edgardo Alfonzo evened the score at 2-2 with an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning, neither side was able to break through until the bottom of the 13th, when Agabyani got hold of a fastball from southpaw Aaron Fultz and sent it into the left-field stands at Shea Stadium. It is one of just eight walk-off homers in playoff history to be hit in the 13th inning or later.

2. Pratt’s all (1999 NLDS, Game 4)

Todd Pratt had hit just three home runs in 71 games during the 1999 regular season, making him one of the more unlikely power threats in a stacked Mets lineup. But he proved the hero during Game 4 of the NLDS on a Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium, with the Mets and second-year D-backs tied at 3-3 with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning. After Arizona right-hander Matt Mantei bounced a first-pitch breaking ball, the Mets’ backup catcher got a fastball over the plate and elevated it to center field. Five-time Gold Glove Award winner Steve Finely gave the ball a chase and leapt at the wall, but he couldn’t stop it from soaring over the fence and sending the Mets to the NLCS. It was the first series-clinching homer by a National League player since Bill Mazeroski’s in the 1960 World Series. There have only been three series-clinching homers in DS history, and Pratt’s was the first (before David Ortiz for the Red Sox in 2004 and Chris Burke for the Astros in 2005). Plus, the 1999 Mets would have gone on to become the only NL team in history to record multiple walk-off homers in the same postseason if Robin Ventura’s “grand-slam single” in the NLCS went down as a home run in the record books.

1. Lindor gives Citi its moment(2024 NLDS, Game 4)

The end of the Mets’ 2024 season featured one Hollywood moment after another, but Lindor’s go-ahead grand slam stands apart because it was in front of a Citi Field crowd that had waited through…a lot. They had waited 18 years (since September of 2006) to celebrate a clinch in Queens, whether for a postseason berth or series. They had waited through a four-city road hoping for the chance to experience postseason baseball in-person, watching as the Mets somehow clinched a playoff spot in Atlanta thanks to Lindor’s ninth-inning homer and even more miraculously advanced past Milwaukee thanks to Pete Alonso’s ninth-inning homer. They had also waited all night for the Mets to get on the board. When Lindor came to bat to the sound of The Temptations’ “My Girl” with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the sixth, New York was 2-for-11 (2 singles) with RISP, still trailing 1-0. Even with a bad back, Lindor had carried the 2024 Mets to the precipice of this magical moment. It was only right that he then be the one to deliver it. As Lindor crushed a middle-middle fastball from the Phillies’ Carlos Estévez over the right-center-field wall, that Citi crowd got to erupt after five innings, four series, and 18 years of waiting.

A Tampa Bay Rays Hall of Famer will be one hand throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the first game of the 2026 American League Championship Series.

Carl Crawford, a 4-time All-Star and winner of a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award, will throw out the first pitch as the Rays play their first ALCS game at Tropicana Field since 2008. Carl Crawford was actually on the field the last time the Rays played in the ALCS at the Trop, playing in left field when Akinori Iwamura stepped on second base and the late great fellow Rays Hall of Famer Dave Wills declared that “this improbable season has another chapter to it. The Rays are going to the World Series!”

Tampa Bay originally selected Crawford in the 2nd round of the 1999 draft and he quickly became one of the team’s top prospects. In the early years of the Rays franchise, they were extremely aggressive with minor league advancement so despite being selected out of high school, the Rays pushed Crawford to the Majors by the 2002 season and he was their Opening Day left fielder in 2003. On Opening Day that season, Crawford launched a walk-off homerun against the Boston Red Sox kickstarting a new era in Tampa Bay.

Over the next several years, Crawford would infuriate opposing pitchers due to his blazing speed. From 2004 to 2006, Crawford led the league in triples. During a five year stretch from 2003 to 2007, Crawford led the American League in stolen bases. During a game in 2009, Crawford tied a Major League record when he collected six stolen bases in a single game, a feat that has not been accomplished since.

Crawford currently ranks 2nd on the Rays all-time fWAR leaderboard while also having set the franchise record for hits, singles, triples, and stolen bases.

Following his foray into free agency after the 2010 season, Crawford would play with the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers before being released in 2016 and effectively retiring following the season.

Overall, Crawford hit .290/.330/.435 with 136 HR, registering a 104 wRC+ and stealing 480 bases over 1,716 games played for his career.

In 2023, Crawford became the third person inducted into the Rays Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class

The talent. The work ethic. They just don’t make them like CC.

Our final Rays Hall of Fame class of ’23 inductee couldn’t be anyone but this absolute legend. pic.twitter.com/TtUqJn7laC

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 26, 2023

The Dodgers came up just short in Game 1 of the NLCS, falling 2-1 to the Brewers on Sunday night, leaving the tying run on base to end the game.

Kyle Tucker was that runner in scoring position after a two-out walk off Milwaukee closer Trevor Megill. Josue De Paula followed with a walk off his own, doing so in five pitches. It was the second game in a row with a pinch-hit walk for the 21-year-old De Paula, who kept alive the winning rally in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Braves on Wednesday.

The Dodgers as a franchise have 55 total walks as a pinch-hitter in the postseason, and De Paula is just the fourth Dodger with two pinch walks in the same postseason.

Dodgers with two pinch walks in one postseason

• Pete Reiser, 1947 (both in World Series)
• Mike Davis, 1988 (NLCS, World Series)
• Max Muncy, 2018 (NLDS, NLCS)
• Josue De Paula, 2026 (NLDS, NLCS)

De Paula batted for Kiké Hernández against a right-handed pitcher in each of his last two pinch-hit appearances.

“He’s got a good heartbeat, looks over the ball really well. I’ve got no hesitation running him out there. I just felt with Megill he’s just a really good pitcher, especially tough on right-handers,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “What way gave us the best chance to get Mookie up to bat, and that’s the decision I made, and I felt good about it.”

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Tarik Skubal needed 26 pitches to get through the fifth inning, in which the Brewers scored the go-ahead and ultimately winning run. Garrett Mitchell walked to open the frame, was bunted to second base, and scored on a single by Luis Lara.

“The leadoff walk just can’t happen,” Skubal said. “It gives them the opportunity to create something, and ultimately that’s all they needed today.”

Tarik Skubal breaks down his Game 1 outing and the challenge of facing Milwaukee’s patient lineup. #Dodgerspic.twitter.com/fa6ASEdJMo

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) October 12, 2026

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Ahead of the NLCS, Owen Riley and Maxfield Lane at their Down on the Farm newsletter projected the Dodgers as favorites in the series, based largely on expected performance by the Los Angeles offense against left-handed pitching:

The result: the teams remain evenly matched according to wRC-based comparisons vs. RHP when they are able to allocate more plate appearances to starters. However, the gulf between the two lineups vs. LHP grows substantially, leaving the Brewers further behind.

The Dodgers faced two left-handers in Game 1. DL Hall induced an inning-ending double play to his only batter face to escape an inherited jam in the fifth inning. Aaron Ashby allowed one walk in his two scoreless innings.

“I guess the only solace is you got them in the game, you got to take a look. We just know that if there’s any chance for them to win the game, we’re going to see those guys,” Roberts said Sunday night, talking about the Brewers usual high-leverage relievers, left- and right-handed. “Hopefully in a long series it could prove to be beneficial the more times we see them.”

At ESPN, 13 of 15 writers picked the Brewers to win the NLCS.

“This year’s version will go seven games, and it will be a showcase of baseball at its optimal level,” wrote Alden González, “A shining example of the varying ways teams can compete for championships, regardless of payrolls.”

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Dodgers historian Mark Langill at Dodger Insider wrote about Don Drysdale’s longtime friendship with Bob Uecker, who played for the Milwaukee Braves and was a Hall of Fame announcer for the Brewers.

David Stearns and the Mets' front office will have a lot on their plate this offseason as they look to turn the club from a massively disappointing 74-88 team into a playoff contender.

There are plenty examples of quick turnarounds recently, including the 2026 White Sox (60-102 in 2025 to 84-78 and in the playoffs), 2023 Rangers (68-94 in 2022 to 90-72 and World Series champs), and 2013 Red Sox (69-93 in 2012 to 97-65 and World Series champs).

So New York's task, while difficult, is not as daunting as it may seem.

What will help is that the Mets, who went 39-38 from June 30 through the end of the season after a disastrous start derailed their playoff hopes, should have a very strong returning core that includes Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Bo Bichette (who seems likely to opt in to his contract for 2027), and young building blocks Carson Benge, Nolan McLean, A.J. Ewing, and Christian Scott.

As the Mets start moving and shaking, they -- and the other 29 teams -- will likely be facing a truncated calendar due to the expected lockout that is set to begin on Dec. 1.

With the offseason kicking into high gear five days after the World Series ends, things will open up any time between Nov. 1 and Nov. 5.

Here's what the Mets' top priorities should be...

5. Target players who want the New York market

In his end-of-season news conference, Stearns was asked if some players struggle to play in New York.

"I think the answer is yes," he said. "I think this is a unique place to play, and it's different here. I've lived it as a fan and as an executive. When you win here, it is the greatest thing in the world. As a fan and as an executive, there is nothing like coming to this ballpark in a playoff atmosphere and experiencing that. It's equally extreme when things aren't going well, and I do think certain players struggle with that. And I'm cognizant of that."

Following an offseason where the Mets let proven New York performer Pete Alonso walk in free agency, Bichette struggled badly over the first few months of the 2026 season and Freddy Peralta performed well below expectations.

This isn't to say that Bichette failed early and Peralta never found it at all simply because of the pressure of New York. But it was certainly a factor.

Not that it wasn't a consideration before, but targeting players who want to play in (and can handle) the highly pressurized New York market should be even more of a priority now.

4. Explore trade scenarios

Soon after New York's trade deadline sell-off in August, Stearns wasn't shy when suggesting that some of the prospects the team acquired could be flipped in the short-term in order to help fill other holes.

While the Mets' farm system isn't quite as deep as it was a year ago, due in part to Benge, McLean, and Ewing no longer being prospects, they still possess a number of top 100-ish players who could theoretically help headline a deal for an impact player.

There hasn't been much buzz yet regarding which players other teams might make available this offseason, but Tampa Bay Rays ace Drew Rasmussen ($20 million team option for 2027 in his last year before free agency) and some of the Mariners' starting pitchers (given their glut of rotation options) could be available.

As far as who the Mets could deal in a search for impact talent, it's conceivable that they would be open to parting with one of their infield prospects -- given their depth in that area.

New York also has a few trade candidates of its own, potentially including Kodai Senga and Mark Vientos.

3. Add a legitimate first base option

If Bichette opts in as expected, the Mets will be covered on the left side of the infield, all three outfield spots, and catcher. Second base is to-be-determined, but top prospects Jefferson Rojas and Mitch Voit are among the in-house options if things continue to go sideways with Marcus Semien. Brett Baty could also find himself at second.

That would leave first base and/or designated hitter as the main avenue to improve the offense.

Jared Young became New York's primary first baseman in 2026 and did relatively well, posting a .759 OPS. But he does not hit for much power (just nine home runs in 103 games this past season) and struggles against left-handed pitching.

While Young could be part of a platoon at first base with a to-be-determined right-handed hitter, the Mets should be aiming higher. Specifically, they should be seeking a full-time first baseman who can profile in the middle of the lineup.

That player might not exist on the MLB free agent market, but star Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato is expected to be posted. If the Mets aren't sold on Sato as an answer at first base, it might leave the trade market as their best option when it comes to addressing the position.

2. Don't be driven by bounce backs and what-ifs

Heading into 2026, the Mets were banking on too much uncertainty.

They were hoping for bounce backs from Senga, Sean Manaea, David Peterson, and Mark Vientos, as well as relative health from Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. -- two players who had checkered injury pasts.

Nearly all of that blew up in New York's face, helping to create the "uncapped downside scenario" Stearns referenced after the season.

Heading into 2027, there has to be a much smaller reliance on bounce backs and what-ifs. That means jumping in the deeper end of free agency for players who should be more reliable.

It also means Polanco should be viewed as a non-entity until/unless he's healthy and performing, Semien should be replaced at second base if his struggles continue, and Manaea should be looked at as one of many rotation options instead of a key cog.

Stearns already took a step in the above direction when he made it clear that nothing would be guaranteed to Semien entering the season.

1. Properly address the starting rotation

It can be argued that the Mets left their rotation one legitimate starting pitcher short each of the last two seasons.

In 2025, things began to crumble because of a lack of rotation options, resulting in Chris Devenski, Justin Hagenman, Blade Tidwell, and a small village of openers starting games. Beyond that, Jonah Tong was called up before he was ready because the team had basically run out of arms.

In 2026, the rotation was a huge issue again due to the early struggles of Senga and Peterson, Manaea being relegated to the bullpen because of his own difficulties and velocity issues, and a freak injury to Clay Holmes that the team had no answer for.

This time around, the rotation needs to be properly fortified, which should mean adding two new members to the starting five (or starting six).

McLean and Scott are locks, but things are uncertain beyond that. Zac Thornton is an option, Manaea could be an answer at the back end, and Tong has been tasked with pitching so well that he forces himself into the conversation.

As far as who the external targets should be?

Tarik Skubal will be a free agent and won't be attached to a qualifying offer. If there's any time for Stearns to go big for an elite starting pitcher, it's now. If the Mets prefer to go a tier below Skubal, Michael King could be a nice fit. They could also explore a reunion with Holmes. 

Either way, the goal has to be a top end starter and someone who can fit in the middle or back of the rotation.

Good morning.

Remember Austin Wynns? Shawn McFarland didn’t when recapping the season behind the dish for the Texas Rangers in 2026 where mid-year addition Elias Diaz was pretty much the lone bright spot.

Jonathan Mayo writes about right-handed Rangers prospect Jacob Johnson working on his repertoire at the Arizona Fall League.

And, MLB Pipeline’s Jesse Borek places Rangers outfield prospect Paxton Kling on the first week All-AFL team, a team that also includes former Rangers prospect Tekoah Roby.

Have a nice day!

(Of course, pending the existence of a 2027 season, after all…)

Alex Anthopoulos said a whole lotta nothing in his latest presser, though this isn’t really surprising considering A) his approach to press is “how do I divulge as little information as possible in as much time as possible” and B) the Braves haven’t done their post-season debriefs yet, so I’m not sure what there is to say, or why this presser even existed at this time.

Anyway, one of the things that did come out was that Didier Fuentes’ role was probably not going to be locked into “high leverage fireman” the way things played out in 2026. It was basically a season ago, but Fuentes didn’t actually start out being a pure-play reliever in 2026: he made the Opening Day roster, pitched a four-inning mop-up appearance following a Grant Holmes start (in the Braves’ first loss of the year), then went down and made three starts at Triple-A, then came up and had a three-inning start against the Nationals (7/1 K/BB ratio, but a homer allowed), and then settled into a high leverage multi-inning relief role afterwards. Actually, settled into is not great diction: he was pretty much thrown right into it. His first full-time relieving month was May, and by leverage, his 11 outings went:

• almost high
• high
• low
• almost medium
• high
• garbage time
• almost medium
• almost medium
• almost high
• high
• almost medium

He finished that month second to Robert Suarez in average leverage when entering a game, though he took a step back on the totem pole a bit after that, until the post-Trade Deadline stretch run.

He also provided decent length. From May-on, after his dalliance with starting, 19 of his relief appearances were multi-inning — basically a third (37 outings of one inning or less). Add those up, and from May-onward, Fuentes:

• Finished tenth in innings pitched among relievers
• Finished 17th in batters faced among relievers
• Finished tenth in fWAR among relievers (one of only three non-dedicated closers in the top ten)
• Put up a 50/62/70 line, which was good for 22nd/20th/16th respectively among the 160 relievers with the most innings in that May-onward span.

But, just because of that demonstrated success doesn’t mean he’s definitely pigeonholed as a fireman from here on out. Similar production, or slightly worse production, over more innings would be of even bigger benefit to the club. At minimum, the Braves could try it, and move him back into a fireman role if they feel that’s warranted.

That said, I do think the Braves will give him a fair bit of rope as a starter for two dovetailing reasons. First, the Braves are not fans of engaging in the increasingly-bloated starting pitching market. Yes, there’s uncertainty about what the new Collective Bargaining Agreement does to the free agent market, but it’s hard to speculate what that’ll mean for the team’s approach, so I’m setting that aside. If the Braves have a goal of “go into Spring Training 2027 with n starter-ish guys,” then I fully anticipate them penciling Fuentes in as one of the n, reducing the need to go outside the organization by one guy. On the flip side, the Braves have had almost no compunction about spending on relievers, so if moving Fuentes to the “presumptive starter” column means they need to sign another reliever, including one that could be a good fireman (David Bednar, Jonathan Loiasiga, Adrian Morejon immediately come to mind), I can see that.

Anyway, I’ve blathered enough that it’s now 8:55 am and this post goes up at 9am, so have at it.