LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 10: President of Baseball Operantions and General Manager A.J. Preller of the San Diego Padres speaks with the media during the 2026 MLB Gerneral Managers Meetings at Aria Resort & Casino on November 10, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres have been in the headlines during the GM Meetings in Las Vegas. There have been reports about how aggressive general manager A.J. Preller has been in the free agent market, especially considering the enormous need for pitching in San Diego. There have been reports about how much interest Preller has in adding players from Japan who are either making the move from overseas or who have already spent some time in MLB. And of course, there is the biggest rumor that the Padres are a player for top free agent pitcher Tarik Skubal.
The Friar Faithful have come to know and in many cases expect these storylines to permeate through GM Meetings and Winter Meetings year after year. That is one of the things that come with having Preller, the Rockstar GM, as the architect of your baseball team.
In recent years, Preller has operated on a minimal or seemingly no-existent budget — he has even cut payroll and still been able to put together a competitive team. San Diego has made the playoffs each of the past three seasons, but has not had enough to reach the pinnacle of the sport. This season, if there is a season, should be no different especially with financial backing from new ownership. It is unknown what kind of financial commitment Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones will make in terms of payroll spending, but when you purchase a team for billions of dollars there is no reason to expect they will go cheap.
With that said, San Diego did make an addition to the roster with the signing of Ryan Weiss who is a right-handed pitcher who most recently was with the Houston Astros. It is unclear whether Weiss will be used as a reliever or a depth possibility in the rotation, but with pitching coach Ruben Niebla and his track record with pitchers surely all options are on the table. It was not the signing many fans hoped for, but it should be the first of many as the GM Meetings and offseason continues leading up to the expected lockout on Dec. 1.
Adrian Morejon has been with the Padres his entire career and that may come to an end as he enters free agency, but he was dominant in 2026 for San Diego. See what grade he received from Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball.
Reports from the GM Meetings regarding Morejon and his free agency have stated the pitcher wants to remain a reliever despite some teams wanting to convert him to a starter.
Baseball News:
Will Venable of the Chicago White Sox and Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers win Manager of the Year in their respective leagues.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the weeks leading up to the first Celtics-Sixers matchup of the season, Jaylen Brown had been hyping up the reunion. But just six minutes into Tuesday night’s game, his long-awaited rivalry debut began to unravel.
Brown admitted it himself after Philadelphia’s 123-101 loss to Boston, acknowledging he and his Sixers teammates didn’t do enough to match up to the Celtics during the marquee matchup.
“I’m a bit frustrated, honestly,” Brown told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I wanted to perform better for my team. Foul trouble kind of derailed me a little bit, but it happens. It’s unfortunate. But now we gotta just move on to the next.”
Brown established himself as the aggressor from the jump. He nailed Jordan Walsh’s throat before flushing a two-handed dunk, bulldozed Derrick White and was called for an offensive foul, then intercepted a pass intended for Jayson Tatum. He also missed his first two shot attempts and picked up two fouls before checking out with 5:33 remaining in the first quarter.
In his first attempt to attack Tatum, Brown pump-faked a three, dribbled into a spin move and lost control of the ball, sending it out of bounds. Paul George and Neemias Queta followed Tatum’s lead, pointing toward the other end of the floor in reaction to Brown’s turnover.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game on November 10, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Brown was forced to Philadelphia’s bench, where he watched the Sixers struggle to keep pace.
Boston’s bread-and-butter — 3-point shooting — came in handy throughout the night, and it began early. In the first quarter, the Celtics nailed four of their first 11 threes while the Sixers only converted one of their first seven attempts. The disparity carried over into the ensuing quarters, as both teams continued firing.
Brown, usually an above-average, reliable 3-point shooter, went just 1-for-4 himself. He played just over 25 minutes, well below his 35:48 average and his lowest total of the season so far. Brown’s four personal fouls, three of which were accumulated by halftime, forced Sixers head coach Nick Nurse to play him less than four minutes in the third quarter.
Crucial minutes in which Brown could’ve used to turn the tide were wasted as he battled foul trouble.
He turned in an underwhelming performance by his standards, as Brown finished with a season-low 13 points along with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. On Sunday, he told reporters in Philadelphia he had nothing else to tell Tatum or the Celtics except “check the ball up.” And on Tuesday, Brown was overshadowed by Tatum’s second-career poster dunk over LeBron James and George’s 36-point outburst.
Needless to say, things didn’t go as planned, which left Brown with no choice but to tip his cap to his adversaries.
“Credit to Jayson. He played well tonight,” Brown said. “Credit to the Celtics. They executed. They shot the hell out of the ball, and they were the better team tonight.”
Brown helped stir the pot moments before tipoff. As both teams greeted each other at center court, Tatum approached Brown and gave him a friendly, one-handed pat on the chest. Brown, meanwhile, spun the game ball on his finger without even acknowledging Tatum’s presence — a moment reminiscent of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen’s icy exchange in 2012.
It seemed clear Brown had no interest in dapping up Tatum.
His explanation?
“To be honest, I wasn’t paying attention,” Brown responded.
Once the game ended, Brown continued to keep his distance from Tatum. He shook hands with nearly every Celtics player before heading back to Philadelphia’s locker room, once again leaving his former co-star out of the postgame exchanges.
For those keeping track at home, that’s twice Brown ghosted Tatum on the court (three times if you include their preseason warm-up session at TD Garden on Oct. 10).
And for the Celtics, their trip to the City of Brotherly Love was a success.
They checked all the boxes needed. All the boxes they could’ve hoped to check.
Tatum and George combined for 57 points. Boston responded to Philadelphia’s game-tying 20-7 run with a 12-2 spurt that carried into the fourth quarter. And Payton Pritchard also caught fire, giving the Celtics 18 points off the bench, while knocking down four consecutive 3-pointers in the second half to fuel the team’s runaway victory.
For Brown, even 10 seasons spent with the Celtics, including years alongside many of the team’s current players, couldn’t provide much of an advantage.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 10, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Brown dismissed the idea that familiarity with Boston’s personnel made any difference.
“Does it make it easier? No. It’s basketball at the end of the day,” Brown said. “It’s five-on-five. You gotta come out and execute, and they were better than us tonight. They executed better than us tonight, and they outplayed us. So that’s on us. We gotta improve. They’re one of the top teams in the league, and they’ve been together for a while, so we got a lot to work on over here. So we gotta get to work.”
The Celtics leaped over the Sixers as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night.
The high-intensity, playoff-like duel between Brown and Tatum never materialized. Instead, Brown and the Sixers were forced to settle for a classic Boston beatdown, similar to the many Brown experienced plenty of times throughout his decade spent with Tatum by his side.
Philadelphia got outclassed. They allowed George to score more points than any opposing player has scored against them, dropped to 21st in the league in 3-point percentage by shooting 29.7 percent against Boston, and gave Sixers legend Allen Iverson, who sat in attendance, little to celebrate.
When George drained his game-leading sixth 3-pointer of the night to put the Celtics ahead 111-87 and force a Sixers timeout, Joel Embiid hung his head and grabbed his hair in disbelief.
At that moment, everyone in the building knew that was all she wrote.
Brown only needed three words for his blunt, honest assessment.
“Tonight was humbling,” Brown said. “We got outplayed, outexecuted. So we go back to the drawing board and get ready for the next one.”
For the Celtics, Sixers, Brown and Tatum, the next one won’t be until their Jan. 21 rematch at TD Garden.
Milwaukee Bucks' Kyle Kuzma C breaks through against Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic R and Deandre Ayton during the 2025-2026 NBA regular season game between Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks in Los Angeles, the United States, Jan. 9, 2026. (Photo by Ringo Chiu/Xinhua via Getty Images)
After a brutal thrashing by the New York Knicks, the Milwaukee Bucks are back at home tonight to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the second game of a back-to-back. For the Bucks, there is little to build on from last night in New York beyond the games of Nate Ament and Kasparas Jakucionis, who should both see more of the floor after strong performances. The Lakers, meanwhile, are 10-2 and first overall in the Western Conference. This will be the toughest test of the year, and it couldn’t come at a worse time for the Bucks, who are still looking for their second win of the season.
The Task Ahead
There is no gentle way to say this: the Bucks will be outmatched at home unless someone can make a stand in the frontcourt. The Lakers’ offense is relentless and currently the best in the NBA, scoring 122.4 points per 100 possessions. Much of that comes from their two-headed monster in the backcourt: Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Reaves, who inked a big extension this off-season, is averaging 25.3/3.4/4.6, and with those numbers, could only be second fiddle to Doncic, who is off to an absolutely torrid pace of 39.3/7.8/7.9 on nearly 68% true shooting. For years, this is what it felt like to run into Giannis, and now the Bucks find themselves on the other end, hoping to make it a game—a task that proved too big in New York.
As if the dynamic duo in the backcourt wasn’t enough, the Bucks will have their hands full in the paint with Walker Kessler. Kessler is making an early-season push for an All-Defense team as opponents are currently shooting just 47.1% against him at the rim and 41.1% overall. Couple that with 2.5 blocks per game and a double-double average, and you have an elite starting centre (something that feels so distant for Milwaukee). Given how bad the night was in New York, it feels like the only way the Bucks will stand a chance in the frontcourt is with an injection of youth and energy. Kel’el Ware looked more competent on defense and had a couple of close shots roll out, while Nate Ament looks more comfortable by the minute. Despite all this, the Lakers are not exactly running away with games, with five of their wins by single digits. This can be blamed in large part on the defensively challenged Doncic and Reaves; if the Bucks want a chance, they will need to attack that duo early and often.
Injury Report
Bucks:
Milwaukee’s injury report hasn’t been submitted yet because the team is on a back-to-back, but Tyler Herro will be the one to watch.
Lakers:
Quentin Grimes: Questionable (finger)
Player to Watch
Matisse Thybulle has been asked to guard many players on the perimeter all season long, and so far has been incredibly effective. The Bucks will need to be firing on all cylinders if they want a chance to beat the Lakers, but if Thybulle can be a disruptor, the Bucks could be in for another long night.
Projected Starters
Bucks
Position
Lakers
Brayden Burries
PG
Luka Doncic
Ryan Rollins
SG
Austin Reaves
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
SF
Ziaire Williams
Kyle Kuzma
PF
Matisse Thybulle
Myles Turner
C
Walker Kessler
Game Details
Who: Milwaukee Bucks (1-10) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (10-2).
Milwaukee needs a shot in the arm, so let’s look to Big Nate Ament to deliver against the Lakers and bring some life to the team. Ament will get his first double-double of the season and reinvigorate the Bucks as they go for the upset win at home!
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 21, 2025: Jurickson Profar #7 of the Atlanta Braves bats during the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on September 21, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Okay, it’s totally bad form to add more Big Board-esque questions when I’ve done eff-all to score any of the existing ones, but here we go. When I first thought about the Big Board, this was the sort of one-off debate I thought it would be useful for, and while I’m not sure why this of all things is one of the more-organic opportunities for weighing in that we’ve had over the last season or two, it is, and here we are.
We’ve even got dueling reporter narratives: one reporter says the clubhouse would be happy to welcome him back, another says he’s basically persona non grata. And, the Braves really do care about the clubhouse, so that presumably matters. But, the sum total of considerations could be expansive.
Yes, Profar has been gone for a full year, and it’s not like he was all that impressive in the second half of 2025 (barely above 2 fWAR/600 while massively outhitting your xwOBA is not a great way to go through life, son). But, cutting him or sending him away in a bad contract swap is also getting nothing for your money, and the Braves may be loath to do that. If there are clubhouse effects, those probably swing the decision one way or another, but hard to know which way they may go. Combine all that with the fact that Mike Yastrzemski kinda sucked in 2026, and that Ronald Acuña Jr.‘s central estimate of playing time is probably going to be somewhere in the three- or four-month range rather than a full season, and that makes removing even an unexciting bench-quality option with a low floor and a lot of skew towards that floor harder to part with. But, the Braves could also part ways with Profar and use their limited resources on whatever Profar was theoretically supposed to provide back when he was signed (an actual starter-quality guy in a corner outfield spot).
Anyway, the question is simple: will Jurickson Profar record an appearance for the Braves in 2027? Please add a confidence integer to your answer: 1 for “I have no idea and am just participating for the fun of it,” 5 for “I am dead certain this will happen,” or the other three digits on the gradient in between those two.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 19: J.C. Escarra #25 of the New York Yankees smiles before the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium on June 19, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the 2026 MLB season started, J.C. Escarra was entrusted with the inglorious position of backup catcher. Backup catchers occupy a unique role, as they are expected to shoulder a relatively steady workload while facing fairly low offensive expectations. Even with those low expectations, Escarra left fans and the front office wanting more in 2026.
Nothing personal, but many were surprised when the front office opted to pair Austin Wells with Escarra’s left-handed bat instead of going with a right-handed-hitting backstop out of spring training. The former delivery driver filled the role through the first few months of the season before finding himself shuttled between the majors and Scranton. After a series of moves, he spent most of the summer with the RailRiders before returning to the big-league club in late September.
In 2025, defense was Escarra’s calling card. He displayed strong framing and receiving skills, but unfortunately, he could not replicate those results in 2026. According to Baseball Savant, Escarra’s Catcher Framing Runs went from five to zero. The rest of his defensive metrics were still solid, with his blocking and throwing rankings placing him above average. However, losing that strike-stealing advantage is tough to overcome when you are a bit of a one-trick pony.
Offensively, Escarra struggled, even by backup catcher standards. His final slash line was .188/.239/.271, as he managed just 16 hits in 32 games, with no homers. In his defense, he did at least hold his own against lefties. In an extremely small sample of 21 plate appearances, Escarra hit .316 and slugged .421 while striking out just twice. This split of course was the other side of the coin to Escarra struggling mightily against right-handed pitching.
The underlying metrics don’t paint a much prettier picture. Escarra posted a .206 expected batting average and a .308 expected slugging percentage. His barrel rate dropped from 5.6 percent in 2025 to 4.5 percent in 2026, while his hard-hit rate fell from 43.1 percent to 33.8 percent. Simply put, Escarra struggled to make consistent quality contact against major league pitching.
At the end of June, the Yankees optioned the slumping catcher to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Back in the minors, Escarra’s bat woke up, as he crushed International League pitching to the tune of a .301 average and 11 home runs in 256 at-bats. Trying to find his way back to the big club, Escarra started to dabble with switch-hitting. However, even after the press had some fun with the storyline, Escarra did not take a single official major or minor league plate appearance from the right side during the 2026 season.
Heading into 2027, Escarra is still under team control. With the Yankees expected to be in the market for a catcher, it is possible Escarra will once again factor into the Triple-A catching mix for the newly-minted Highlanders. However, at 31 years old, he is not exactly a prospect who needs everyday at-bats to develop. His minor league production shows that he can still hit lower-level pitching, but the challenge is translating that success against major league arms. If he cannot provide consistent offense, he needs to be elite defensively to justify a spot on the roster. Teams are always looking for catchers in the spring, so Escarra should continue to have some value moving forward.
One last note: the impact of Tanner Swanson taking a job in Seattle may be worth tracking this offseason. With the longtime catching coordinator now in the Mariners’ dugout, it is at least possible that a catcher like Escarra could be part of a trade between the two clubs this offseason if they are able to link up for a deal.
See more of the Yankees Roster Report Card series here.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 25: Trevor Rogers #28 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the New York Yankees during their game at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Orioles traded for Trevor Rogers at the trade deadline in 2024, I wasn’t especially impressed. He had a high ERA and an injury history. When he pitched to a 7.11 ERA in his first four starts, then made his final five starts down in Triple-A, I was less impressed. 2024 Stacey would not believe that 2026 Stacey is advocating for the Orioles to sign Trevor Rogers to a hefty free agent contract, and yet here we are.
Starting in 2025, Rogers turned things around in a big way. He missed the start of the season with a knee injury, then underwent a lengthy minor-league rehab. During that rehab, his numbers were terrible. But he was obviously working on things because after making his season debut with the Orioles on May 24th, he was incredible and never looked back.
You know the rest of that season. A 1.81 ERA in 18 starts. Awarded Most Valuable Oriole despite missing the first two months. People were calling to extend him then, but for me, at least, it felt early. I remembered 2024. I knew his shaky numbers with the Marlins before he arrived. I guess I was wrong.
He was the 2026 Opening Day pitcher and while that game was good, he got off to a rocky start. No one expected him to repeat his 1.81 ERA, but we sure didn’t expect that number to be 6.84 at the end of May. It was disappointing, but in retrospect, it seemed that his late April IL stint related to the flu really took him out.
It seemed to take him quite a while to fully recover. But once he did, he was back to the guy we wanted to see at the top of the Orioles’ rotation.
From June 4th through the end of the season, Rogers posted a 2.90 ERA over 20 starts. He struck out 119 in 121 innings. He walked 21. His fastball velocity had dipped earlier in the year and was back up to about 93 mph. He looked a lot like the pitcher the Orioles saw in 2025. The fans had quieted down about extending him when his ERA was over six, but they were back at it over the final two-thirds of the season. And rightly so.
When asked about his future at various times by the press, Rogers expressed his fondness for Baltimore but also stated that he doesn’t negotiate during the season. And why would he? He is a 28-year-old left-handed starting pitcher coming off two impressive seasons. He is arguably the second-best starting pitcher on the FA market this year (there is no arguing the first: Tarik Skubal).
This is Rogers’s time to lock down his big contract. First, he has to turn down the $23.15 million qualifying offer from the Orioles. He will do that. Then it’s on for him.
I don’t begrudge Rogers going after that big contract. But I think the Orioles are in a place to be the ones who re-sign him. We know that Mike Elias has not yet signed a free-agent pitcher to a big contract. There was a time when I believed he wouldn’t do that. But I don’t believe it now. He signed Kyle Bradish and Shane Baz to contract extensions. And he, of course, made the incredible signing of Pete Alonso last year. Alonso isn’t a pitcher, but it proves that Elias is willing to go big.
The Orioles need to sign or trade for a top pitcher for 2027. Between Bradish, Baz, and Brandon Young they have a solid mid-to-back of the rotation, at worst. Bradish has number one potential but struggled, and he will be coming off an injury after having a hernia repair in October. Baz was unreliable in 2026. And Young, who went beyond expectations last year, has to prove he can repeat his success.
If the Orioles don’t sign Rogers or similar, those three will be the top of the rotation. That leaves Cade Povich and Trey Gibson to round things out. And that can’t be the way that it goes for the Orioles. Not if they want any hope of competing.
Trevor Rogers is a known quantity. He is one of the top starting pitchers on the FA market. He is going to get his payday. MLB Trade Rumors predicts Rogers will get a five-year contract worth $115 million. Five years would take Rogers through his 33rd birthday. So you’re not looking at giving a guy a contract that will take him through until he’s old. I know it’s not my money, but I’d take that deal on Rogers without hesitation.
The Orioles have a lot of work to do if they want to contend in 2027. Upgrading the rotation is a requirement, and they can do by reuniting with the pitcher who has been so good for them the last two seasons.
Aug 5, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (3) walks to the batter's box during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Trades and free agency acquisitions are often an emotional thing. Teams sometimes want a shot of enthusiasm and getting that star player feels like it will galvanize the fan base. However, most general managers don’t think that way anymore. There is a science to this thing and when a player like Jeremy Pena becomes available in trade talks, there will be a limited number of teams where it makes sense for a trade to happen. Obviously, we can look at what is coming back later, but we are going to list five teams that might think it is a good idea to make a deal for Pena.
The obvious first question is what this analysis is based on. There are three factors that impact whether a team should consider a Jeremy Pena. First, they would need to have a need a shortstop. So, we will look at the gap between what Pena did according to FWAR (3.4 wins) and what that team’s shortstop did. The bigger the gap the more it makes sense for a team to consider a move. Secondly, the team needs to be a contender for the playoffs next year. He has only one more year of club control, so it makes no sense for a non-contending team to bring him in. Lastly, it needs to be a richer team that could potentially afford an extension. It makes no sense for a Tampa Bay or Milwaukee to decide they could use him because he likely won’t stay there long term.
Boston Red Sox
Won-loss record: 87-75 2026 Payroll: 207.99 million 2026 Shortstop: Trevor Story 0.2 FWAR
Vince Gennaro used to be the executive director of SABR. He published a landmark book titled “Diamond Dollars: The economics of winning baseball.” The book contained two relevant points here. First, the notion that players are worth ten of 15 wins is patently ridiculous. Sure, Pete Crow-Alexander had a brilliant season, but most superstar players finish between five and six wins. Then, you would have to subtract what the current player at that position does to get a net gain. As we can see from Pena’s 3.4 above, the Red Sox would have a net gain of three wins according to Fangraphs.
That spills us into the second point. According to Gennaro, there is a sweet spot where it makes sense to spend. A 70 win team should not sell out to add three wins. It makes no sense. However, a team in that 85 to 90 win range would see their playoff odds increase a ton with just three additional victories. Going from 87 wins to 90 wins virtually guarantees a spot in the new format. So, it would seem like they would motivated to do that.
Obviously, Story is still under contract and no one is taking that contract off their hands. So, they would either need to release him or relegate him to the bench. Obviously, the question of a trade fit is whole different question. The Astros should be in the business of taking the best package regardless of who offers it. However, given the three parameters above, it would appear that the Red Sox would be the most motivated buyer.
New York Yankees
Won-Loss Record:93-68 2026 Payroll: 308.34 million 2026 Shortstop: Jose Caballero 1.3 FWAR
The Yankees are not in the top spot because they are not quite as desperate. Caballero is not an exciting player, but he is useful. Of course, they could let Jazz Chilsohm walk in free agency and move Caballero to second. That would give them some payroll flexibility assuming there is no hard cap. They are not in that sweet spot zone that Gennaro described, but they could be motivated to make a run at the Rays for the division. In that case, a net gain of two wins could come in handy.
There are two things complicating this one. First, the collective bargaining agreement could seriously hamstring the Yankees and prevent them from adding any payroll. Secondly, Pena seems to have gravitated towards Boston and that matters when looking at long-term possibilities. I would not offer a king’s ransom for a guy I know will be one and done.
The fact that both Mauricio Dubon and Ha Seong Kim might not be back in Atlanta complicates this situation greatly. Maybe the Braves does bite the bullet and sign Dubon to a more reasonable number. Like the Yankees, they will be looking at the CBA negotiations with an eye for how to pivot if things break a certain way. Obviously if the Astros trade Pena then Dubon becomes an immediate FA option in Houston, but that is a different topic for a different day.
Like the Yankees, they are also outside of that magic zone where motivated moves make sense. A Pena move could be seen as a shot across the bough for the Dodgers and Brewers since the Braves are likely to win the NL East again. Obviously, what each of these teams can offer is a whole separate conversation we can get into later.
Turner is entrenched on the roster and signed through the apocalypse. However, he was -17 DRS last year at short and -8 and -9 respectively in OAA and FRV. There is talk of moving Turner to second base and bringing in a more capable shortstop. Obviously, that involves some mental gymnastics that the above teams really don’t have to deal with.
However, they exist in that Gennaro zone at 88 wins. Their payroll is such that they will have to pivot if the sport goes to a hard cap. Such a move would depend on the mood of ownership. If they want to make one last run with this nucleus then getting a Pena and move Turner could do the trick. If Turner could be a neutral second baseman then he probably elevates himself to a two win player. That would effectively give them three additional victories over what they had last year. I hate trying to read the mind of an owner, so this goes under the less realistic options.
There is a old adage that you don’t get in the way of your opponent when they are making a mistake. I put the Giants in the less likely category because frankly it doesn’t make sense from a competitive or financial standpoint. Plus, moving Adames means you might have to move a young second baseman that looks like a good young player. However, Buster Posey is not the smartest of executives, so I could see him thinking this move vaults him back into contention in the NL West.
Unlike the other teams, the Giants can afford to add payroll no matter where the new rules come down. They could be in an enviable position if the Dodgers have to suddenly shed salary. What’s troubling is that they would likely have to overpay Pena to get him to stay there because that’s not a good home ballpark for him. At that point, you would have several players with long-term deals that could become negative assets if they aren’t negative already. Of course, there I go again bringing logic and reason to a situation where an executive could make an emotional move. If he offers the right package I’m not getting in his way.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 18: Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic #33 of the San Jose Sharks blocks the shot of Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period at SAP Center on October 18, 2025 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (6-10-2, 14 points, 8th place Metropolitan Division) @ San Jose Sharks (8-11-1, 17 points, 6th place Pacific Division)
When: 10:00 p.m. eastern
How to Watch: Locally televised game on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and NBCSCA, streaming for out of market at ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: Monday kicked off a slack part of the schedule for the Pens, who only have three games from Nov 9 – 20. They’ll go back home and see Ottawa on Saturday night then get quite a few days off before the following game next Thursday 11/19 against St. Louis.
Opponent Track: It’s been a long November for the Sharks, who at least were able to break a five-game losing streak with a win on Monday at home against the Islanders, though it required a shootout to get there. To amend the Counting Crows line from the first sentence, there’s not much reason to believe the rest will be better than the last with games this month still to go against Utah, Minnesota, Anaheim, Vegas and Colorado.
Season Series: It won’t be too much longer before the Sharks make their trip for the year to Pittsburgh, playing the Pens again on December 6th.
Hidden Stat: The Penguins are 4-1-0 in their last five visits to the SAP Center, per Penguins PR.
Getting to know the Sharks
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Michael Misa – Macklin Celebrini – Will Smith
Mason Marchment – Alex Wennberg – Kiefer Sherwood
Ivar Stenberg – Ty Dellandrea – Tyler Toffoli
Barclay Goodrow – Zach Ostapchuk – Colin Graf
DEFENSEMEN
Darnell Nurse /Michael Kesselring
Sam Dickinson / Jacob Trouba
Dmitry Orlov / Eric Pohlkamp
Goalies: Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic
Potential scratches: Adam Gaudette, Nolan Allen
Injured Reserve: Igor Chernyshov and Logan Couture
Bringing on both Nurse and Trouba (for a combined $17.5 million cap hit this season and next) was a curious move when taken together. Grabbing one veteran in that mold was seen in many places as enough (or even one too many) getting them both in an effort to level up and
Wennberg recently returned to the lineup, he’s quietly a big piece of the team (55 points last season) and has missed half the games this season so far, which doesn’t help matters.
The second line has some tough customers, Sherwood leads the NHL in his this season with 106. Marchment just picked up a $5,000 fine for sticking up for an Islander who boarded Sherwood last game.
Lots of youth for the Sharks, which has led to some uneven offensive development. Giving up chances and more goals than they’ve been able to score has been a big issue. Some have risen, like Misa in his second year, some have faded away at the moment – like Graf who scored 21 goals and 46 points riding shotgun with Celebrini last year and has barely been on the scoresheet this season.
Taking the step from tearing down and acquiring assets has gone well, now getting up the next hurdle to become a competitive team is something SJ is trying to figure out on the fly. Toffoli has been great in support, others like Sherwood and Marchment will need to step up as the veteran help the young core needs.
Key to the game: Start fast and don’t get burned by the young talent
After taking a step forward in 2025-26, San Jose is down across the board on stats so far in 2026-27. Their offense is way down and the defensive process looks as broken as ever.
Shayna Goldman at The Athletic wrote an interesting bit about the Sharks yesterday:
High-flying rebuilding teams that play a run-and-gun style (think the 2022-23 Sabres and 2021-22 Ducks) often start stressing defensive structure above all else. But sometimes that shift can suppress what makes a team so special offensively, and doesn’t actually move the needle defensively.
That has been the case so far in San Jose, where the hockey and overall team progress have been uninspiring. Now, despite an attempted shift to play more defensive hockey, the Sharks are still bleeding chances against. The team is allowing a higher rate of chances off the rush compared to last season, as well as more passes to the slot, and is failing to limit their opponents’ offensive-zone time. And unlike last year, there isn’t that same offensive punch to make up for it. The Sharks’ young guns aren’t creating nearly as many rush chances or moving the puck as well, and are overall looking disjointed after last season’s progress.
And yet, with Celebrini and Smith and Stenberg, there’s still plenty of dynamic high-end talent that can burn an opponent at any given moment, which will have to be a priority to be mindful of for the Penguins. The Sharks season, and maybe rebuild as whole, seems like it’s in a precarious and unsteady spot at the moment. That could be good timing to meet a team now in disarray, it could also make them dangerous as they look to get on track.
The start of any game is crucial – and that will hold in this. The Sharks have only scored the first goal in 5 of their 20 games this season. They have only been leading after 20 minutes on three occasions, compared to being behind at the first intermission ten times.
For the Pens, don’t give them a reason to believe and that will trap SJ in the familiar position of chasing the game from behind and likely not being able to get a result. To avoid that, shut down the first line and the Stenberg+Toffoli combo and the Sharks don’t have a lot of other pieces that have been stepping up. (All of this is easier thought out than done, especially with a defense like Pittsburgh employs..)
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Evgeni Malkin – Sidney Crosby – Rickard Rakell
Egor Chinakhov – Ben Kindel – Nick Robertson
Ville Koivunen – Tommy Novak – Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Rutger McGroarty
DEFENSEMEN
Spencer Stastney / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard* / Kaeden Korczak
Declan Carlile / Kris Letang
Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov
Potential Scratches: Hendrix Lapierre, Andrei Kuzmenko, Ilya Solovyov
IR: Ryan Graves, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Elmer Soderblom, Bryan Rust
Could be three new forward lines, based on practice yesterday. The first line remained the same as it has been these last few games, and then FINALLY Nick Robertson gets elevated into a bigger role after scoring as many goals as anyone for the team this year in mostly a limited and defensive line. Tommy Novak, one of the team’s best players in the last handful of games, gets a new challenge and moves back to center.
Sam Girard missed practice yesterday with what was termed a ‘maintenance day’ and usually indicative that the team is thinking the player will still play the next game.
Trevor van Riemsdyk, who said said to have a day-to-day injury on October 10th and hasn’t been around much ever since, has been cleared for contact and was a full participant in practice. van Riemsdyk has been limited to playing in only five games.
Rising Robertson
Muse, on potentially elevating Robertson: "He's scored a chunk of goals there for us. He's shown the ability to create offense. He drives a lot of things just with his work and tenacity. He can put that line, whoever he's playing with, in good offensive situations. So, something…
There is something positive to be said about being used in the key defensive role with Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte, as Robertson has for much of the season. That is an important line for the Penguins and one the coaches and team counts on in plenty of big situations, and not the completely typical or standard “fourth line afterthought” type of usage. The Pens have given Robertson a look on the PK and a real chance to pitch in there and grow his game and reputation as more of a two-way contributor.
That said, Robertson can score goals but has lacked the opportunity to get a lot of ice time and play with talented offensive players for much of his career, so it’s been frustrating to see him not get much of a chance to make a bigger impact so far this season. That makes it heartening to see him used with Chinakhov and Kindel today, two young and offensive-minded forwards. Robertson’s sure earned it through his play and production (tied for team-high seven goals).
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 11: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning in game one of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Mark Feinsand listed five teams to watch at the GM meetings, and the first on the list was the New York Mets.
The stove is already heating up this offseason, and there’s plenty of rumors flying around, including that the Mets will be meeting with Skubal next week.
Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis picked one Rookie of the Year candidate from each team for next season, with the Mets selection being a lefty pitcher near the top of their farm system.
Hall of Famer and former Met Willie Mays will be honored by the USPS next year with a commemorative stamp.
The Mets will be holding their annual food drive at Citi Field on Thursday, November 12th.
Kodai Senga, who is already garnering some trade interest, will be building up as a starter heading into spring training.
Matthew Roberson at Fangraphs wrote about some of 2026’s most underappreciated players, with Christian Scott getting the first nod.
David Stearns made it clear that the Mets will be looking to upgrade offensively at first base, though jared Young looks like he may be part of that solution.
Around the National League East
Bob Boone, 1980 World Series champion with the Phillies (and father of Aaron and Bret Boone), died at the age of 78.
Around Major League Baseball
Writers for MLB.com made cases for each Manager of the Year finalist this season.
Yankees pitcher Max Fried had a bone spur removed from his elbow, but he’ll begin throwing again in December.
Cubs starter Ben Brown underwent successful spine surgery Monday and should be game ready at some point in the first half of next season.
It would be difficult, but the Rangers could try to move Corey Seager this offseason, according to Ken Rosenthal.
Pat Murphy won his third straight Manager of the Year Award, the first manager to ever win three consecutively.
Will Venable won the American League Manager of the Year Award after leading the White Sox from the basement to the playoffs.
Adrian Morejon may be an intriguing starter conversion candidate for some teams in free agency, but he would rather remain in the bullpen.
Pitcher Ryan Weiss, who has started in both the KBO and CPBL, has signed with the Padres on a one year deal with a club option.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Steve Sypa continued his series of profiles of international free agents with Japanese pitcher Hiromi Itoh.
Micah Noe began a series on the history of MLB labor, with the first part focusing on baseball’s first century, give or take a few years.
Lukas Vlahos examined various reliever-to-starter conversion candidates in free agency this offseason.
This Date in Mets History
Bobby Bonilla returned to the Mets 28 years ago today—a transaction the Mets are quite literally still paying for.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 06: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves is introduced before Game Three of the Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on October 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the hot stove begins to warm up, Alex Anthopoulos quickly shut down Ronald Acuña Jr. trade rumors. He said the star outfielder will not be traded and there have been no calls involving an Acuña Jr. trade.
#Braves Alex Anthopoulos: "We are not trading Ronald Acuña Jr. Put it in bold."
Anthopoulos said there have been zero calls outgoing or incoming on trading Acuña. Any rumors are completely unfounded.
Anthopoulos added: "We need him. We need to add to him."
2027 is the final guaranteed year of Acuña’s contract with the Atlanta Braves. His deal includes a club option for 2028.
More Braves News:
Walt Weiss finished runner-up in the NL Manager of the Year race. Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers won his third consecutive Manager of the Year award.
Our 2026 player review series continues with Anthony Molina.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 27: Manager Chad Tracy #17 of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Is Manager of the Year the dumbest award in baseball?
I think it is.
For starters, no one cares about it. I mean no one. Can you name a single winner of the Manager of the Year Award of the past 10 years? Don’t even think about lying to me, you obviously cannot. And that’s a good thing. Baseball is a player’s game. This isn’t college hoops, where the ego-puffing men performatively screaming on the sideline are bigger stars than the players themselves. Baseball managers aren’t stars at all. They’re just kind of there. To belabor the sky metaphor, baseball managers are clouds, at best.
And because baseball is a player’s game — one that’s decided on the field instead of in the pages of a playbook — almost no one on the outside is even capable of evaluating the job a manager does. Managers don’t have elaborate styles of play they bring from one team to another. They don’t spend days designing defensive schemes that befuddle more talented teams. Their job is mostly to keep the clubhouse happy and pull a pitcher at the right moment. That’s just about it.
And because the job is so hard to evaluate from the outside, voting usually follows a predictable pattern: voters just give it to the manager of the team that had a better season than anyone expected. They do this despite the fact that we all know that, every single season, there will be flukey teams who get a little magic fairy dust sprinkled on them and make a surprising playoff run. That’s just how baseball works and, more often than not, those teams go right on back to being mediocre-to-bad the next season. So, e.g., we give the 2023 NL Manager of the Year to Skip Schumaker. After all, the 2022 Marlins only won 69 games, so Schumaker guiding the same team to 84 wins the next season obviously means he did an amazing job, right? Of course — just please try to ignore the fact that he must have forgotten how to manage the next year, because the same team with the same manager subsequently went 62-100 the very next season.
All of this is to say: I don’t really care that Chad Tracy didn’t win the American League Manager of the Year last night. He finished third, behind winner Will Venable of the White Sox and runner-up Kevin Cash of the Rays. Did either Venable or Cash truly do a better job than Tracy? No one knows. What they do know is that the Red Sox were predicted to make the playoffs before the season started, while the White Sox and Rays were not. Ergo, those managers must have done a great job.
But does anyone actually think that either Veneble or Cash had a harder job than Tracy had on the day he reported to Fenway Camden Yards for the first time? Would literally any manager in baseball have traded places with Tracy that day, as he took over a team that appeared dead in the water and replaced a popular World Series-winning manager, knowing he was likely to be fired himself at the end of the season? And, as for Venable, would anyone be surprised if his White Sox finish under .500 again in 2027? And, if they do, will any of the voters who deemed him the best manager in the American League in 2026 perhaps wonder if they made the wrong call?
No, they will not. You know why? Because they won’t ever think about the 2026 Manager of the Year Award ever again, because, as we established up top, literally no one cares about this award. At all.
So, congrats to Will Venable. My condolences to Chad Tracy. Now please, for the love of god, can Craig Breslow do something interesting so we have something real to talk about?
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 11: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the second inning in game one of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The race for the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes has begun, and the Dodgers are once again in the mix for the best free agent talent on the market.
While the left-hander will be stripped of his title as the reigning two-time American League Cy Young winner over the coming days, he is the ultimate envy of any team that can afford his services. In their pursuit of re-signing the team’s Game 1 starter of the postseason, the Dodgers will be meeting with Skubal, yet the details surrounding when and where the meeting will take place have yet to be disclosed, notes Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“We’ve been in touch with his camp, and our expectation is we’ll meet at some point,” [Brandon] Gomes told reporters, including MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince, at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas.
The Dodgers are competing with teams such as the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres in the hunt for Skubal, and the Mets have already scheduled a meeting with Skubal for next week, per Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Castillo notes that Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns declined to comment on their pursuit of Skubal.
LAS VEGAS — The New York Mets are scheduled to meet with left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal, the prize of this offseason’s free agent class, next week in California, a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.
No player in the history of Major League Baseball has been handed a nine-figure salary for one year of service, but Dylan Hernandez of the California Post makes an outlandish proposal for the Dodgers to offer Skubal a one-year deal for $100 million.
They will have to offer Skubal enough money to forfeit the security of a longer deal. What about $100 million to pitch for them next year? Perhaps a player option or two after that? If nine figures for one season of baseball sounds expensive, consider the cost of not retaining Skubal.
Former Dodgers shortstop and 2020 World Series MVP Corey Seager could be finding greener pastures for 2027 and beyond, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Texas Rangers intend on trading Seager this offseason.
The Rangers, though, intend to explore moving Seager at the general managers’ meetings, according to people briefed on their intentions who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
I have written a couple of articles regarding the bad bullpen of 2026, one focused on how good bullpens really do have a lot of correlation to winning teams, and the other about how the 2026 bullpen was one of the worst 21st century Cardinals bullpens. Now I would like to look at some options in free agency that St Louis could possibly go after in order to bolster the bad bullpen.
Aware that it is quite possible that the Cardinals will do absolutely nothing this offseason when it comes to free agency, I still think they should spend a little bit to stabilize the bullpen issue. The Cardinals rarely let their bullpen stink for long, so maybe they’ll actually sign a guy or two. There are many options on the market this offseason when it comes to relievers! If a reliever seems just really bad and not an option, I won’t mention them. I will however mention good options we probably won’t afford.
Jason Adam: part of the amazing Padres bullpen, he is now available via free agency. He is a right handed FIP beater that had a 2.26 ERA and 3.77 xERA last season. The ugly FIPs make him look like replacement level fodder, but maybe there’s something there for the Cardinals. He might not be too expensive. While he’s always been an overperformer on FIP, there may be some concern about his 2026 season, as his FIP rates went even higher than usual. Still, his ERA works for me, and the xERA isn’t alarming. He is pretty old, however! Might be a risky signing. probably about $10 mil
Tyler Alexander: the 32 year old lefty free agent from the Texas Rangers had a 3.33 xERA and 3.10 FIP in 2026. Seems like a good pickup to me! I’m unfamiliar with the player, but he seems like an option for the Cardinals. probably a $2 to $3 million one year deal
David Bednar: 32 year old right handed pitcher will probably not be available to us, but it sure would be nice to have him with his career 3.03 ERA and 2.96 FIP. he probably gonna get paid
Brock Burke: a 30 year old left handed pither from the Angels excellent bullpen posted a 2.30 ERA, 3.65 xERA, and 3.76 FIP. His career stats aren’t bad either. I definitely would not be opposed to this signing, except he walked too many batters in 2026. A career 3.14 BB/9 is good enough for me though.probably will get a multi year deal averaging around $4 million a year
Andrew Chafin: the 36 year old lefty looks even more like Kenny Powers than Ryne Stanek did, and Chafin had much better run rates of 2.41 ERA and 3.46 FIP. However, he did walk more batters than Stanek did in 2026, and the past few years he’s been ballooning his career walk rate. I think I’d pass on Chafin.
Taylor Clarke: the 33 year old righty seems like he wouldn’t be too expensive, but his rate stats are kind of all over the place in 2026 with a 2.96 ERA, 4.41 xERA, 3.85 FIP, and 4.28 xFIP. His career stats are not very good, so I think I’d pass, but maybe there’s something there, too. Hard to say. $3 to $4 millionone year
Dietrich Enns: the 35 year old lefty has pitched in Korea for a significant part of his career, and was signed by Baltimore in 2026 where he had a major walk issue. He might be worth a look at though, with career rate stats of 3.86 ERA, 3.37 xERA, 3.57 FIP, and 4.14 xFIP. probably dirt cheap
Kevin Ginkel: 32-year-old righty with a 4.12 ERA in 2026 might be available for a good deal, which I would accept given his career 3.59 xERA and 3.47 FIP. multi-year averaging $6 million, pass if not a good deal
Brusdar Graterol: did a double take at that name! Sign this man just for that name, what what. That’s peculiar even for a baseball name! He’s only 28, throws right handed, and possesses a career 2.78 ERA, 3.06 xERA, 3.20 FIP, a 3.58 xFIP, and a 1.98 BB/9! Sign him, Bloom. probably dirt cheap
Raisel Iglesias: 32 year old right handed reliever with a career 2.87 ERA, 3.12 xERA, 3.20 FIP, and 3.34 xFIP. Do it, Chaim! Too costly, however. Just kidding, Bloom!
Pierce Johnson: a 35 year old righty coming from Atlanta with a declined mutual option is coming off a down season, but his career stats are 3.90 ERA, 3.85 xERA, 3.85 FIP, and 3.93 xFIP. Not bad. But maybe nothing to mess with unless he’s dirt cheap. Pass. could be gotten for a one year deal for $4 million or less, but probably a little overpriced
Jakob Junis: another mid 30s pitcher with a declined option, Junis is a good example of a bullpen guy you probably can’t guess about how good they’ll be next season. Jakob may have figured something out though, his rate stats have been good over the last few years, ignoring his xERA. RHP probably 1 year around $3.5million
Tyler Kinley: 35 year old righty with rate stats all over the place in his career, the definition of bullpen volatility. Not sure if they’ll see something with him, but I think I’d pass because the walk rate is definitely a concern. probably too costly
Andrew Kittredge: Kitt is still a good reliever at age 36. The righty now is at 3.44 ERA, 3.66 xERA, 3.74 FIP, and 3.52 xFIP over the course of his career, and he was still good last year. He will probably get paid more than he’s actually worth, but if the price is right he would be a lot of fun to bring back. probably affordablebut tough to say
Jonathan Loáisiga: a 32 year old right handed reliever with a career 3.30 ERA, 3.31 xERA, 3.65 FIP, and 3.71 xFIP. Seems like a no-brainer if the price is right! most likely way too expensive
A.J. Minter: another lefty! Minter will surely be seeking a few years, but he’d probably be worth it with a career 3.15 ERA, 3.22 xERA, 3.04 FIP, and 3.55 xFIP! Somehow he keeps those babips against low. too expensive in all likelihood
Adrian Morejon: the 27 year old left handed pitcher will be a tough sign for any team with a 2.33 xERA and 2.37 FIP in 2026, and a career 3.26 ERA. absolutely no way
Steven Okert: 35 year old LHP who is coming off a career should confuse teams somewhat, but his career 3.41 ERA is no joke, and a career 3.83 FIP ain’t bad. Wouldn’t be bad pickup if he’s not too pricey. more than likely will be a multi year deal out of the Dewitt’s price point
Emilio Pagan: the 35 year old RHP is a pretty damn good pitcher with a career 3.38 xERA! wants multiple years around $10 million a year, hard pass
Evan Phillips: a 32 year old RHP with a career 3.37 ERA and 3.40 FIP will not be an easy sign. $9 million
A.J. Puk: a 31 year old LHP with a 3.38 ERA and 4.51 FIP in 2026, and a career 3.15 xERA would be nice! probably dirt cheap
JoJo Romero: still just 30 years old, the lefty might just come back to the birds and possesses a career 3.51 ERA and 3.86 FIP. JoJo has always been a FIP beater but he also outperforms his xERA consistently. Escape artist. Last season, he left over 80% of runners on base. mlbtraderumors projects a 2 year $13 million contractbut maybe he will be a little less pricey
Joe Ross: the 32 year old righty has a career 3.58 ERA and 3.75 FIP. probably anaffordablemillion-dollar contract
Ryan Thompson: the 34 year old righty has an incredibly consistent set of career stats: 3.67 ERA, 3.61 xERA, 3.64 FIP, and 3.76 xFIP. His year to year stats fluctuate quite a lot though! Not sure. His peak seasons are really good though. not cheap, not expensive, reliable
Alex Vesia: a 30 year old lefty with excellent stats: 2.87 ERA, 3 xERA, 3.5 FIP, and 3.95 xFIP. He would be fine at Busch III! He will probably get a pretty damn good contract, though. way too expensive
Ryan Yarbrough: the 34 year old lefty had a really good 2026 with a 3.69 ERA and 3.45 FIP. His career rate stats are all over 4.0 however. Seems too risky, unless he ends up signing for a good deal to try and duplicate his 2026. LHP probably could be had for around $3 million
There it is, an extensive or is that exhaustive rundown of possible bullpen options for the Cardinals. I would hope they could afford at least one! That bullpen could use some help, even if it’s just a little. The market has a ton of good lefties and a variety of good right handed pitchers.
While I understand the Cardinals are “hurting” financially and times is dangerous, I believe the 26 pitchers listed above could and would help the team at least somewhat. Cardinals fans at least deserve a decent bullpen if they are expected to tune in to every game and/or show up to buy tickets, merch, and overpriced food and drink. If they have a bad bullpen again, people will be headed for the exits early, and viewership will be down.
Considering the tight bank of the current incarnation of the Dewitts, and the happy farm developer Chaim Bloom, I would suggest they sign one off this shortlist just to keep the fans happy (ish):
Tyler Alexander (LHP)
Taylor Clarke (RHP)
Jakob Junis (RHP)
Andrew Kittredge (RHP)
JoJo Romero (LHP)
Joe Ross (RHP)
Ryan Yarbrough (LHP)
Which one of those 7 would you sign?
I would also suggest the Cardinals sign a bargain-bin gamble relief pitcher from the following:
Dietrich Enns (LHP)
Brusdar Graterol (RHP)
A.J. Puk (LHP)
I think if they unexpectedly wanted to sign a long-term reliever contract, Ryan Thompson wouldn’t totally baffle me on a three-year deal. But you wouldn’t really know what to expect year to year. Would only do it if they think they know why he’s been consistently inconsistent (*or is that the other way around?).
As you can see, if you wanted to bring back an old but really good bullpen arm, Kittredge is not a bad plan. Nor is Romero. But you probably can’t have both. The benefit of going back to Kitt is that there are a lot of left-handed options this offseason. Romero is younger and a more worthy investment, though, and there are plenty of righties to choose from. Romero + Graterol could be a heck of a deal!
2000 Music
In the year, 2000, in the year, TWO THOUSANDDDD
If you are looking to revisit Y2K, you’re in the right place! I have a lot of really cool albums for you to listen to. I will be sharing them over the coming weeks. To start out, here are some of my top rated bigger name picks:
Queens of the Stone Age – ‘Rated R’ top-notch soundtrack to your favorite bender weekend! #rocknroll
Ween – ‘White Pepper’ Dean and Gene Ween at the top of their game! #altrock #psychedelicpunk
The year 2000 has so many really really good albums that I’m going to review Y2K in many installments! I see no other way! And maybe less albums will be easier to digest if you want to keep up. Check ‘em out, and thanks for reading! Let me know if my bullpen suggestions make sense.
It has been three weeks since the 2026-27 NBA regular season opened and there have already been three different teams to top this list.
That has been the state of play thus far, as no team has begun to separate itself as a dominant force – at least not yet.
But if there is one theme that has emerged, it’s that potent offenses are ruling the day, and no player has been leading his team’s scoring more than Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić, who is putting up Wilt Chamberlain-like numbers.
Here are the Week 3 USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings:
As they have most of the season, the Bulls remain dead last in net rating and it’s not even close, with an abysmally poor mark of -16.2. In fact, they’re ranked dead last in several major metrics.
Practically all of their impact veterans are injured, and coach Will Hardy even appeared to mouth to himself on the sidelines during a recent game about how bad Utah has been.
Losers of seven consecutive, the Bucks have faced tough competition recently. Either way, the offense, which ranks 29th in points per game with 106.3, isn’t capable enough to compete with below-average teams, either.
It looks like that four-game win streak in the middle of the second week of the season was a mirage; the Pels have now lost three consecutive and allowed 138.5 points per game over their last two.
No team has a worse shooting percentage in the NBA than Charlotte, which is converting baskets at just 40%, a full 10 points lower than the Lakers (50.7%), the squad leading the category.
There had been some promise – AJ Dybantsa has flashed some nifty moves at times – but a four-game losing skid has zapped any juice from these new-look Wizards.
It has been a wildly inconsistent start of the season for the Suns, who are suffering from the dip in scoring by Dillon Brooks. He’s averaging 14.9 points per game, down from 20.2 last season.
In a recent game, the Hornets were missing three starters, two of whom are their best scorers: Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller and Moussa Diabate. The full-strength Cavs lost by 12.
Things have certainly been better since that horrid start, and they have had some tough defensive luck, but defensive rebounding, consistency with their 3-point shooting and finding a secondary scorer to complement Giannis Antetokounmpo are still issues.
After essentially alternating wins and losses, it appears the Raptors may be getting some good news, as Kawhi Leonard (knee swelling) is due to be reevaluated soon.
They’re continuing to share the ball, leading the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.10) and assists per game (31.7), and they’ve won four of their last five.
After topping this list last week, Houston went just 1-2 and the common thread was a starting five that lacked the scoring pop it had in the first two weeks of the season.
After dropping their first three games of the season, the Warriors have ripped off eight consecutive and Stephen Curry, at 38 years old, has played his way into the (very, very early) MVP conversation.
They had a brutal stretch of games against the Lakers, Spurs and Thunder. They went 1-2 and now have Oklahoma City, the team Portland toppled Tuesday, in a two-day back-to-back.
With all their injuries, there are just going to be nights like Tuesday, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander simply didn’t have enough to outgun the shot-happy Trail Blazers.
Even with Anthony Edwards (knee) out for an extended period, the Timberwolves have remained competitive and Ayo Dosunmu, who’s averaging 23.8 points per game over his last five, has stepped up nicely.
Perhaps Jaylen Brown allowed emotion to dictate his approach Tuesday against the Celtics. One other key issue in that loss: the Sixers uncharacteristically allowed turnovers to snowball into 21 points off of those giveaways.
They may not be generating a ton of assists relative to their made field goals, but Luka Dončić (39.3 points per game) is on a historic start and overseeing the NBA’s best offense, which is averaging 121.5 points per 100 possessions.
There's no other way to describe the Toronto Maple Leafs right now other than to say that they are struggling this season. Losing their fourth straight home game in regulation, a 6-3 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, the Maple Leafs have an 8-10-2 record in the first 20 games of this season.
They sit seventh in the Atlantic Division and have a .450 win percentage. In this unforgiving division, the Maple Leafs are losing opportunities to climb the standings. And the chances of making the Stanley Cup playoffs are slowly dying, despite being just 20 games into the year.
Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller was blunt about the team's performance, and it was arguably the most critical he's been of his team since being hired.
"We make multiple poor decisions, multiple," he said after the game on Tuesday. And that's usually how hockey works. Sometimes you make a bad decision, and hopefully somebody cleans it up. You can make one, two, three poor decisions in a row. And veteran players, can't have it. You just can't have it."
Hiller was referencing Colorado's fourth goal of the game, which came just under a minute after Jack Roslovic's 3-3 equalizer early in the third period. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog tapped in his second of the game off a pass from former Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri. Landeskog was all alone in front of the net when he received the pass.
"That's how you lose," Hiller added. "It's just plain and simple. That's how hockey is. You have to be on it."
In general, this is not where the Maple Leafs envisioned being at this point in the year. With an abundance of changes to the roster and a fresh slate going into 2026-27, the team isn't far off, record-wise, from 2025-26.
In the first 20 games last year, Toronto was 9-9-2, which is better than what they are currently at, and that team went on to win the draft lottery, finishing 28th in the NHL.
"I don't want to make excuses, so our record is what it is. It's deserved," Hiller said. "I think we could have a better record, but we don't. We are what we are. And it's a lot of different things. The goal against, let's start there."
The Leafs have the fourth-worst defense in the NHL, allowing 69 goals in 20 games, averaging 3.45 goals against per game. Only the San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks have been worse in that category.
Another aspect contributing to Toronto's downfall is the penalty kill. To start the year, the Leafs' penalty kill was among the best in NHL history, executing at 97.4 percent as of Oct. 20. In fact, on several occasions, the unbeatable penalty kill was the reason for many of the Leafs' points in the standings.
But the penalty kill hasn't been nearly as good lately, allowing power-play goals in seven straight games before this Avalanche outing. They've also taken the third-most minor penalties in the NHL, and a penalty kill as good as the Maple Leafs' was at the beginning of this season can only be so sustainable with that many opportunities.
"We've had penalties at inopportune times," Toronto's coach said. "There's been a lot of things. But I like the guys. I like the team. We're going to come out of it. It just really, really sucks. And the only way I told you is stay together and work."
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