GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 24: Isaiah Drake #4 of the Glendale Desert Dogs bats during the game between the Scorpions and the Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch on Saturday, October 24, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Steve Chadwick/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Saturday was a memorable Halloween for one Atlanta Braves prospect, as Isaiah Drake had a monster game at the plate. In addition to hitting his first AFL home run, Drake went a perfect three for three and drew a walk as he continues to have a good week. Drake was one of five Braves prospects to contribute to Glendales 9-8 victory.
Glendale Desert Dogs 9, Peoria Javelinas 8
Tate Southisene, DH: 1-4, BB, 2 R, .851 OPS
Owen Carey, RF: 0-4, .853 OPS
Isaiah Drake, LF: 3-3, HR, BB, R, 2 RBI, .815 OPS
Tyler LaPorte, RP: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1.13 ERA
Logan Samuels, RP: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2.70 ERA
Isaiah Drake reached base in all four of his plate appearances, collecting three hits including his first Arizona Fall League home run, and a walk as he batted in two runs. Drake’s home run went 403 feet with a 102.4 MPH exit velocity.
Tate Southisene came to the plate five times as the DH, and his results were also strong. Southisene was credited as going one for four with a walk and scored twice, but he had three of his four at bats result in exit velocities of 93+ MPH along with one soft ground out.
Owen Carey got the start in right field and was hitless in four at bats, with just one of his at bats producing an exit velocity above 90 MPH.
Tyler LaPorte and Logan Samuels also appeared in the game. LaPorte went an inning and two thirds of scoreless ball, allowing no base runners and striking out one. Samuels pitched an inning, allowing a hit and recording one strikeout as he picked up the win for the second time in AFL play.
Jarold Rosado’s second run at mastering Double-A ended the same as his first, with a demotion back to High-A. | (Photo by Emma Bair/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Welcome to another year of our prospect profiles!
We have been publishing a Top 100 for EIGHT years now, and you may ask yourself: Why 100? Seems excessive.
Sure, it is. Only a portion of the players we’ve profiled over the years have made it to The Show, much less made a major impact there. But a much bigger number have seen Triple-A, the doorstep of the majors. And still more have contributed at Double-A. And given that we’ve seen the White Sox promote players directly from Double-A, once a player makes it to the high minors with the Barons, they are a player to watch, and 100 profiles starts to look more like a minimum than a luxury.
This is another way South Side Sox tries to provide you the most comprehensive reports on the White Sox minor league system. And if these turn about to be some of the only shine a player ever gets as a professional, so be it. It’s well deserved.
The White Sox currently roster (per each team’s web roster, not always accurate to be sure!) 25 players in Triple-A, 28 in Double-A, 39 in High-A, 32 in Low-A, 44 in the ACL and 33 in the DSL, for a total of 201 — including all 20 signed draft picks and UDFAs from this past summer. That means we are diving pretty deep into half of the White Sox system.
Our Top 100 will time itself to wrap up just as the White Sox report to Camelback Ranch in February, so feel free to take the full ride through the White Sox system with us!
Jarold Rosado Right-Handed Relief Pitcher 6´4´´ 215 pounds Age: 24 2025 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking45 2026 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking80 2026 High Level Birmingham (AA) Age relative to high level -1.4 years SSS rank among all right-handed relievers in the system 19 Overall 2026 stats (High-A/AA) 4-4 ⚾️ 39 games (6 finishes) ⚾️ 43 1⁄3 IP ⚾️ 6.85 ERA ⚾️ 1.962 WHIP ⚾️ 48 K ⚾️ 36 BB ⚾️ -0.4 WAR
Jarold Rosado was acquired by the White Sox in July 2024 as the return from Kansas City for shortstop Paul DeJong. After signing with the Royals in February 2020 and pitching in the DSL in 2021, Rosado missed the entire 2022 season due to injury. Upon his return in 2023, the righty really struggled, walking 23 batters in 26 innings and pitching to a 10.38 ERA (5.73 FIP).
However, things really clicked for Rosado in 2024. Before the trade, Rosado was with Low-A Columbia, where he pitched to a 1.85 ERA (2.53 FIP) with four saves. He struck out 45 in 39 innings while dropping his walk rate from 16.7% in 2023 to 7.2% in 2024.
This night-and-day difference piqued the interest of the Sox, looking for lottery tickets. After he was acquired, Rosado was assigned to High-A Winston-Salem, picking up where he left off through the first half of the season; he even increased his strikeout rate to 35.4% with the promotion.
Rosado finished his 2024 season as a whole with a 2.11 ERA (2.51 FIP) with 68 K and 15 BB over 55 1⁄3 innings, and he was looking like an absolute steal.
The White Sox used Rosado’s success in High-A at a young age as an excuse to be aggressive with his assignment out of camp in 2025, promoting him to Double-A Birmingham. That turned out to be a promotion too far, as the righty was walloped over 14 games (a 6.61 ERA and 1.898 WHIP, with more walks than Ks) and demoted back to the Dash in July.
Rosado recovered back in Winston-Salem (2.25 ERA and a weak but reasonable K/BB) but then spit the bit to finish his season, with 13 BBs to seven Ks in the Arizona Fall League.
The righthander basically followed his 2025 footprints in 2026, starting in Birmingham and getting mauled (8.49 ERA, 2.229 WHIP, failing to either miss bats or hit the plate), then being demoted back to High-A in August to finish out the season. Rosado’s consolation prize with the Dash was another strong finish to the season, this time including a contribution of a scoreless inning in postseason opener of Winston-Salem’s title run. In fact, over 8 ⅓ innings including the postseason, Rosado didn’t allow a run and gave up just two hits and seven walks against 11 Ks.
While his 2024 dominance is getting more distance in the rear-view mirror, Rosado was still even (fractionally) young for High-A, much less Double-A. His persistent control issues are a grave concern, however, and he has now hit a high-minors “ceiling” in two straight seasons.
There’s a slight chance that rather than just dumping Rosado in Double-A to begin 2027, they work a little psychology and give him some runway in April at High-A, then move him up. But there’s no doubt that the righty will be getting his third and likely final shot to master Double-A this coming summer.
Full 2027 South Side Sox Top 100 White Sox ProspectsStorystream
The victory celebration for the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers lasted yet another day as the Commissioner's Trophy made its way onto the stage at NBC's "Saturday Night Live."
Still basking in their five-game victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on the field and their raucous parade on Friday, Oct. 30, through the streets of Milwaukee, Brewers manager Pat Murphy, along with second baseman Brice Turang and designated hitter Christian Yelich, made a cameo appearance with "Weekend Update" host Colin Jost and Bobby Moynihan's "drunk uncle" character.
"Hey, we have something in common, Drunk Uncle," Turang told Mounihan. "We've also been drinking since Wednesday."
Murphy chimed in, "I'm the manager. And that's kinda like being the drunk uncle of the team."
As the segment closed, Moynihan, who spent nine seasons on SNL from 2009 to 2017, made a passing reference to Yelich somewhat resembling another former SNL cast member, Pete Davidson. Which ... OK, perhaps.
The Brewers set a franchise record with 103 wins during the regular season, then went 11-2 during the playoffs to secure the first World Series title in franchise history.
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DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 30: Daniel Gafford #21 and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates during the game against the Houston Rockets during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (4-2) picked up a huge 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets (5-1) on Friday night in their first NBA Cup game of the season. The road to victory was paved with a slew of clutch plays, with Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving and Daniel Gafford leading the way when it mattered most. The NBA defines the “clutch” as the final five minutes of a game when the score is within five or fewer points. Here we break down that exact scenario from the huge win Friday.
4:21: Tie score, 96-96
The Mavericks entered the clutch with a three-point lead. They forced two stops around a Rockets’ offensive rebound but could not convert on the other end. Again they forced a stop, but yielded another offensive rebound to the Rockets, setting up Fred Van Vleet for a game tying three-point shot.
3:28: Mavs up four, 100-96
Flagg began asserting his clutch-time dominance with an immediate answer to Van Vleet’s three-pointer. At the 4:07 mark, Flagg hit a floater for his 25th point of the night. After a stop and a rebound, Flagg was at it again with a finger roll that was counted as a score after being goaltended.
2:26 Tie score, 100-100
Zaccharie Risacher committed a shooting foul on the following possessing, giving Kevin Durant a chance to drain two free throws. After an Irving missed three-pointer, Van Vleet connected on a bucket to once again tie the score.
1:40 Mavs up 105-100
With the score tied, it was Irving’s turn to respond. Off a Flagg assist, Irving broke the 30-point threshold with a nice 16-foot shot to put the Mavericks up by two points. Caleb Martin committed a shooting foul on Durant, but the 82.7% free throw shooter missed both attempts. Then it was Flagg’s turn to join Irving as a 30-point scorer as he hit a floater, was fouled and connected on the free throw to extend the lead to five points.
Durant hit a shot to quiet the excitement for a moment, but Irving was not deterred. Dribbling up the court, Irving surprising launched a three-point attempt only seven seconds later. The shot was errant, setting up Gafford for an offensive rebound and put-back. Above the rim, his mini hook shot was on a downward trajectory as soon as it left his hand, warranting a goal tending call on Clint Capela to sustain the five-point lead.
1:00 Mavs up two, 107-105
The next sequence of events may find you shining up your tinfoil hat. On a Rockets’ inbounds pass, Durant cut to the rim, then thrust himself backwards onto Caleb Martin who grabbed a handful of Durant’s jersey. The play was reviewed by officials to determine if it was an away-from-the-play foul (a foul committed on court prior to the ball being inbounded, which gives the offended team a free throw and the ball). Replay seemed to clearly show the contact was initiated and followed-through on by Durant, with Martin grabbing him to brace his fall after absorbing contact, but somehow this was not a factor in the review. Instead, Durant hit the free throw and then immediately connected on a jump shot after the inbound. This turn of events could have been foreboding; just a season ago it may have been. The Mavericks were flying high with a five-point lead, but a questionable call made it a one-possession game in a matter of seconds.
0:24 Mavs up four, 109-105
Following the strange away-from-the-ball foul, things got more tenuous. P.J. Washington got sped up, prompting him to pass the ball toward Irving at half court. The pass was off the mark and Amen Thompson collected in stride heading for what would have been a game-tying layup. Irving stepped in for a charge! What again seemed an obvious call, especially due to Thompson’s unquestionable arm extension push-off, was challenged by the Rockets who had nothing to lose in doing so. Improbably, the charge was overturned on the basis Irving did not have legal guarding position prior to Thompson’s slightly lowered shoulder and arm extension. If karma is your thing, the Mavs were beneficiaries of a “ball don’t lie” moment, as Thompson missed both free throws he received by way of the overturned charge. Flagg had enough at this point, extending the game to a two-possession affair with a slick turnaround jumper for a four-point lead.
Following Flagg’s heroics, the Mavs were a stop away from all but ending the game, but Jabari Smith nailed a three from the top of the arc to bring the Rockets within one point. With an obvious free throw shooting contest ready to ensue, the Mavericks got the ball to Gafford who was fouled by Durant for a trip to the foul line. Surely, the Mavs did not want to put Gafford in this position, but the Rockets’ on-ball defense after the Mavs inbounded left them no choice. Gafford was unfazed. He calmly stroked both free throws to give Dallas a three-point lead.
0:06 Mavs up three, 113-110
We learned that Dusty May is inclined to foul the opponent when the Mavs are up by three points with mere second remaining, rather than give the opposition a chance to attempt a three-point shot for the tie. Flagg fouled Durant who hit both free throws to cut the Mavericks’ lead to one point. The Rockets had to return the favor, fouling Irving on the other end. Irving hit both of his free throws to maintain the three-point advantage after the exchange.
0:04 Mavs up three, 114-111
With the three-point advantage, Dallas once again fouled to prevent a Rockets’ three-point attempt. This time, Thompson split his pair, hitting the first and intentionally missing the second. Thompson got the rebound off his own miss, but it was because he entered the lane well before the ball hit the rim, resulting in a lane violation and turnover. On the next possession, the Mavs got a measure of away-from-the-ball revenge. Marcus Smart mauled Flagg before the ball was inbounded, giving Flagg the chance to increase the lead to three points, which he calmly did by hitting his free throw.
0:00 Mavs win 116-111
Irving was fouled once again, giving him a trip to the line. The veteran leader put the game out of reach and ended the free throw shooting train by once again hitting both of his attempts to extend the lead to five, leaving the Rockets with no further options. As he iced the game, Irving was serenaded with chants of “MVP” from the home crowd.
In the clutch, Flagg scored 10 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting and 2-of-2 from the line. Irving had six points despite missing two three-point attempts. He hit one shot from inside the arc and drained all four of his free throws. This was a dynamic performance by the pair, showing just how poised beyond his years Flagg is and how important Irving is to the success of the team. Flagg was perfect, answering the bell every time with big plays. Irving, while slightly less than perfect, had it where it counted. Giving himself up for what likely should have been a charge and hitting free throws that effectively ended the game demonstrated how lethal the duo can be. Not to be forgotten, Gafford got in on the fun with an offensive rebound off one of Irving’s missed three-pointers and a putback for two points. He then hit two free throws that were absolutely critical in the win.
Kyrie: 35 PTS (26 in 2H) 9 AST Coop: 33 PTS (18 in 2H) 6 AST
The fourth week of the Arizona Fall League resulted in the Peoria Javelinas winning four out of their five games and taking over first place in the league. The games on Friday were rained out in Arizona and not rescheduled.
The Javelinas sit with a 13-8 record overall and are a half game ahead of the Surprise Saguaros. The offense has racked up a +41 run differential so far.
The Padres playing for the Javelinas:
Alex McCoy
The 6-6 outfielder leads the league with five home runs and has 16 RBI in 14 games. His batting line is .275/.377/.647 and gives him a 1.024 OPS. His power has never been a question, while his ability to make good contact has been the reason he has not moved up the prospect ranks. His power ranks out as a 70, but his hit tool sits at 30 (Fangraphs).
In 57 plate appearances with the Javelinas, McCoy has 20 strikeouts. He carried a 26.2% K rate for the 2026 season between Single-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio.
After having missed much of the 2025 season with injury, it isn’t surprising McCoy is getting extra work in the AFL but improving his contact ability while decreasing his swing and miss could significantly elevate him as a prospect.
Justin DeCriscio
The 23-year-old infielder has played all over the dirt with the Javelinas as a Padres prospect. A talented shortstop, DeCriscio is being groomed as a utility player with good defense, especially on the left side.
The season began for DeCriscio with Lake Elsinore and he was promoted to Fort Wayne and then San Antonio as the season progressed.
Drafted in the 10th round of the 2025 draft, he played in 13 games for Lake Elsinore before the end of the season.
Starting with 28 games at Low-A in 2026, DeCriscio then played 73 games for Fort Wayne and finished the season with 20 games in Double-A.
Over the three levels, he totaled a .270/.358/.425 line, with 29 doubles, two triples, three home runs and finished with 59 RBI.
Ty Harvey
The catcher suffered multiple injuries in the 2026 season and missed significant time. At 20, Harvey should benefit from development in the AFL. When not catching, Harvey also serves as a DH. The Padres’ No. 4 prospect, Harvey should develop more power but has lacked extra-base hits with the Javelinas. He has two doubles and eight RBI in 10 games with a .229 average and a .622 OPS.
The Padres pitchers on the Javelinas:
RHP Kannon Kemp
The 22-year-old has started five games with a 6.23 ERA for Peoria. In 13 innings, he has eight walks and 14 strikeouts. He also missed time during the season and needed some makeup development work. He is the Padres No. 13 prospect.
RHP Winyer Chourio
Chourio, 22, has started four games for the Javelinas with a 3.86 ERA in 11.2 innings with nine walks and nine strikeouts. Chourio struggled with command at times during the regular season but had 122 strikeouts in 92.2 innings pitched. The Padres No. 15 prospect had a tick up on his velocity over this past season and is Rule 5 eligible after the 2027 season.
LHP Igor Gil
Gil, 25, finished the regular season with San Antonio but was limited to 52 innings over two levels due to injury. He has made six appearances for Peoria and 6.1 innings pitched. He has a 5.68 ERA with eight walks and eight strikeouts.
RHP Jordan Valenzuela
Valenzuela, 21, pitched in 35 games during the regular season with a 4.63 ERA. He totaled 44 walks and 70 strikeouts in 46.2 innings. With the Javelinas, Valenzuela has appeared in five games and 4.1 innings but things have not gone well. He has a 14.54 ERA with five walks and three strikeouts so far.
RHP Francis Peña
Peña, 25, had a disastrous 2025 season after excelling in 2024. In a bounce-back year, Peña is trying to re-establish himself as a dominant reliever in the Padres system. He finished the regular season with a 3.05 ERA in 59 innings with 36 walks and 71 strikeouts.
For Peoria, he has pitched in seven games and 8.1 innings with a 0.00 ERA. He has a save in one game and has eight strikeouts with two walks for his appearances.
Peña features an upper-90s fastball with a plus cutter and should be added to the major league roster if he can maintain good control.
Padres News:
Pitcher Garrett Hawkins did not pitch in the big leagues for the Padres in 2026 but he still received a grade from Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball because he is a part of the 40-man roster.
The team’s management needs to offer decisions that make sense, rather than spurious justifications for ones that don’t
No homecoming for the Australian Test team will ever be as hostile as the aftermath of the sandpaper debacle in 2018, but the team making the equivalent trip from South Africa in 2026 will still find that some knives are out. Having led 1-0 after Durban, reversing a trend of poor starts, the side managed to surrender the series across the next two contests, bowled out for 99 in Gqeberha and 111 in Cape Town. As Charlton Heston may have observed: you maniacs, you blew it up.
Pat Cummins as captain strives for equanimity, fond of saying that good performances don’t make his team great and bad ones don’t make them terrible. He concluded his post-match interview in Cape Town by saying that he was “overall relatively happy with how we’re going”. Perhaps, having twice had a team 4 for 40, then gone on to lose both matches by a mile, he should be willing to signal more concern. This team has long had batting problems and made decisions that entrenched them, while a habit of playing down evident concerns has become entrenched across its leadership, from Cummins to coach Andrew McDonald to selection chair George Bailey.
The Atlanta Hawks were unable to follow their impressive victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, falling to a one-sided defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night at Smoothie King Center; 121-99. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 14 points as seven Hawks scored in double-digits but could not crack 100 points for the first time this season. For the Pelicans, Saddiq Bey scored 25 points while Jeremiah Fears added 20 points.
The Hawks were dealt a bonus (on paper, at least) as Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole were ruled out prior to the game, while the Hawks were riding high after a narrow victory against the Cavaliers. Naturally, the Pelicans ran out to a double-digit lead and then threatened to run away the latter stages of the first quarter to extend their lead to 15 points by the end of the opening frame.
From there, the Hawks would never get the lead below 10 points, while the Pelicans lead stretched as high as 19 points in the second quarter, 20 points in the third quarter, and a game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter. That’s it, that is essentially this game in passing. The Hawks never made a run to get this game into single digits, never cracked the code offensively, and no Hawk scored more than 15 points as they shot 38.5% from the field as a team.
To put a finer lens on this game, the first quarter was definitive not just for the Pelicans to create their separation, but the themes that would carry on for the entire game. The Pelicans played with physicality last night, displacing the Hawks often, led initially by Zion Williamson (guarded by Dyson Daniels to begin this game before Lu Dort took this assignment) and then Bey, who was able to carve space for himself and hit his runners inside. This physical edge carried the Pelicans, who shot 7-of-17 from three, and had no need to rely on the three when they excelled as they did inside the paint:
The Pelicans scored 66 points in the paint, and the Hawks were unable to slow the Pelicans down inside the arc as the game continued.
The Hawks shot 2-of-11 from three in the first quarter, and this lack of shooting touch would stay with the Hawks for the remainder of the game, shooting 8-of-46 from three for 17%. The Hawks got some good looks from three but failed to convert with consistency.
A couple of examples, as Onyeka Okongwu misses an above the break three, a shot that is more than in Okongwu’s wheelhouse:
The Pelicans didn’t make life easy for Johnson, and threw bodies when he got the ball on the block, such as this possession where three Pelicans are in place to converge on Johnson, whose pass is intercepted for a turnover:
Johnson was able to get down the lane and finish at the rim a couple of times but was unable to make a big impact scoring, finishing with 13 points. This is possibly more disappointing in context as the Pelicans committed 23 turnovers on the game, with Johnson scoring just two points off of those turnovers — an area of the game Johnson can have a commanding presence.
While the Hawks scored 32 points off of those New Orleans turnovers, the Hawks committed 19 turnovers leading to 34 Pelicans points. To credit New Orleans, their hands were active all game long and they did really well to disrupt drives and send bodies in the right directions to come up with steals:
The Pelicans were just better in almost every way last night: they found a successful avenue inside the paint and kept going to it, they were active defensively, they were moving the ball and making the extra pass, they shot efficiently from the field on the 15 fewer shots they attempted than the Hawks, they attempted 35 free throws (making 28), four Pelicans outscored the highest scoring Hawk (McCollum), and despite committing more turnovers than Atlanta, New Orleans scored more points off of turnovers. They were just the significantly sharper team last night and the winning margin was most definitely a fair reflection of how the two sides respectively played.
Postgame, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder acknowledged the Hawks did not execute to begin the game, citing Atlanta turnovers which made life difficult defensively and communication issues which led to breakdowns.
“We haven’t started the game well from an execution standpoint,” said Snyder postgame. “I think we’re putting ourselves in tough positions offensively, and tonight that resulted in turnovers which were really tough to defend against. I thought we picked it up on the defensive end and were able to generate some things, but I think our collective focus on the ball changing sides of the floor, making better decisions offensively, and then defensively our communication when we were coming back, we had some breakdowns that I think we can clean up if we’re more connected and talk.”
In addition to getting hammered, the Hawks were dealt injury blows to Jock Landale (who played one minute before being ruled out with a left hip injury) and Jalen Johnson (left ankle) which impacted the rotation. Snyder’s focus was less so on who was on the floor and how the Hawks were connecting on it.
“Hopefully both those guys are going to be okay and not be out for too long, we’ll know more about that tomorrow and beyond,” said Snyder of Landale and Johnson. “No matter who’s on the floor, us being more connected as a group, that’s been something we’ve talked about as a strength. Tonight, it was not only not a strength, it was something that we didn’t do well. Again, this team, as I’ve said, I think we want to be the best version of ourselves. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes games like this for you to really focus on the things you need to do to be successful.”
In Landale’s place, Asa Newell finally got to see some rotation minutes. Newell’s stint in the first half was a disaster; his first three shots were bricks, and that’s not an exaggeration — they were bad misses. The second half stint was considerably better, and Newell finished with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 1-of-6 from three in 18 minutes. Depending on Landale’s injury and if he’s to miss time, Newell seems set to see some more minutes coming up, important minutes to try break into the rotation.
All in all, a poor game all around not just from a team perspective but from a player perspective too. You won’t win many NBA games shooting 8-of-46 from three while also committing 19 turnovers.
“I’d like to get in the gym and practice, our schedule hasn’t really allowed for that,” said Snyder postgame. “But we’ve got to just keep working. The good thing about the NBA is you get a chance to play again pretty quickly, so we’ve got a good night for the end of the day.”
The Hawks (3-4) are back in action on Monday night as their three-game road trip continues in Indiana (2-4).
AMARILLO, TX - APRIL 05: Mason Molina #18 of the Springfield Cardinals pitches during the game between the Springfield Cardinals and the Amarillo Sod Poodles at Hodgetown on Sunday, April 5, 2026 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by Elisa Chavez/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Happy November! I am writing this after overtaxing my daughter in the dad tax for Halloween so my fingers may be working faster than my brain. Before getting into baseball, it was such a cool experience to see my daughter teach her sister and friends how to Trick-or-Treat. To baseball!
Even when using the Dealin’ the Cards GM tool, I could not get myself to go all in on the upcoming offseason just because I do not like to predict unrealistic scenarios: See Tarik Skubal to STL. I believe the St. Louis winter activity will be slow, and would have been slow regardless of the impending lockout. The current lineup 7/9 complete and the rotation has plenty of options for innings. The most intrigue for me is how the starting pitching frames will be divvied up and for that reason, I want to use this Sunday spot to ask what the VEB community would do.
In most of my writing, I try to stay realistic to what the team would actually do in their offseason and current state, not what I would do in MLB The Show. This weekend, we talked to Bernie Miklasz (coming at your podcast feed tomorrow) and Jake asked me about my rotation preference for 2027. I am on the record for using the fifth spot as a revolving door for prospects last season, a year that was used to get answers on the future. This upcoming season, there are guys ready to prove themselves for sure, but the Cardinals set a 77-win baseline for me, so they could also invest in a veteran to anchor their rotation for a competitive stretch.
As you will hear me say on the VEB podcast, I do not have a preference in either direction for next year so I figured you could take the time to sound off in the comments instead of just a black and white poll. I will do my best to cover the basics of both options so those who feel strongly one way or another, share your case!
Option 1: Higher floor Dustin May with more team control
The Dustin May signing worked out exactly as both sides planned all along. May shows his health and value, a contender pays St. Louis, May wins a title. Bada bing bada boom. That strategy allowed the Cardinals to use the first few months of the minor league season to see if there was a rotation arm ready to take over and Hunter Dobbins pitched his way into that role. Now that May and Dobbins are both gone for now, there is a spot available for an established veteran to again slot in.
I am pretty out on bringing back May, not because he is not a good starter, but because I want the Cardinals to shoot higher if they go the free agent route. The likelihood of standing pat means we should expect another battle with .500 instead of the postseason, so going into the top tier for arms is an unlikely option. Again, trying to speak to what the Cardinals could actually do.
With Skubal out, I have thought of someone like Kris Bubic mostly because he is one of the few free agent arms under the age of 30. Patrick Sandoval has also been of interest, but I would also be a fan of the Cardinals again aiming higher. The free agent starter class has a pretty wide talent gap this offseason, so the mid-tier arms may end up going for more money than usual anyway, depending on CBA negotiations.
Since spending should increase, the Cardinals can afford to go to a two or three-year deal for a higher upside arm than May. Someone with more potential of sticking around if the timeline is accelerated, but will also maintain trade value if the team goes the wrong direction. In this option, a deadline trade would again open up a rotation spot for a second half tryout that could allow someone like Richard Fitts to get an extended look after returning to full health to start the year.
Option 2: Cycle through MLB-ready (or close to) arms and preserve innings
The other choice that I would have been up for last year is if they used either a six-man rotation or maneuvered the option timeline to get a few extended looks at MLB capable arms. In a six-man rotation, younger arms would still be on a regular starting schedule but have their innings limited organically as opposed to pitch counts placed onto starts. For my option idea, the Cardinals could keep the same prospect up for a 3-5 start span before sending them down to preserve innings and work on what they learned at the major league level. Since an optioned player needs to spend minimum time after the demotion, there is no rush for them to have to prove themselves again.
Looking at 2026, I thought that could have been the strategy for guys like Dobbins and Quinn Mathews, pitchers bouncing back after injury or down seasons but would serve the team better being in the majors than in Memphis. In certain circumstances, I would like to see teams “rush” pitchers who are considered close to MLB ready and at least get a look of what they can do at the major league level, hopefully before injury or a severe downturn (Tink) occurs.
For 2027, this could easily point to Fitts, health willing, and extend to AAA arms like Mason Molina, Cooper Hjerpe, Jurrangelo Cinjtje, and Tekoah Roby. Those five guys could form some type of rotation of their own, spending a few weeks at a time learning the major league game before heading back to Memphis to fine tune things without the bright lights.
Those guys all have some things to work on but also have the stuff to compete on a major league mound at some level. I think each of them would benefit from getting their feet wet in St. Louis and give the organization an opportunity to see what they can do.
As you can see, I can see arguments for both sides. This also assumes that Matthew Liberatore and/or possibly one other arm are moved out of the rotation in some way. These options exist only if there is a clear vacancy in the rotation where the Cardinals could intrigue a free agent with a starting role or provide more than spot starts to their upper level prospects.
Let me know which option you would prefer or predict your 2027 rotation, assuming a normal offseason.
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 05: Atlanta Braves radio announcers Joe Simpson (left) and Ben Ingram (right) during the championship parade for the 2021 World Champion Atlanta Braves on November 05, 2021, on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I’m not an old guy. Well, old enough to like radio. Always have. I love the convenience and choice that comes with the internet. But radio is accessible, free, and fine when you can’t or won’t devote your eyes to a screen. And then you see this from a former Marlins executive during most of their worst seasons.
@DavidPSamson says MLB no longer needs radio: "We don't need baseball on radio anymore." The former Marlins president predicts on Nothing Personal that "radio will go the way of Kodak and Blockbuster." @JohnMamola has more. #MLBhttps://t.co/QoDpYa5mEo
I’ll save you two clicks and show you a pulled quote:
The difference between TV and radio is disappearing before our very eyes. We don’t need baseball on radio anymore. The only reason we have baseball on radio is so people can feel better about what baseball means to them.
Baseball and radio goes together like peanut butter and jelly. It goes together like cookies and cream. You require to have baseball and radio because everybody hasn’t died yet who grew up listening to baseball on the radio. But guess what? That generation is going to die at some point. Then you will have people who are older, who they grew up on their device, listening through the internet, listening to the audio of the video.
First of all, take the name of Blockbuster out of your mouth. We need physical media right now more than ever. I’d give up 99% of what’s left of the mall and chain stores to have it back and some decent bookstores. Secondly, I’m not ancient and I still listen to the Braves on radio all the time. I probably do it at least once a week. I almost always listen to Braves games if they’re on if I’m in the car. Having the 680 The Fan app during this postseason was a lifesaver. Imagine having John Smoltz as your favorite player for 15 years and feeling that you would rather listen to a radio broadcast than him. But that’s where I am. If you were around when baseball was America’s favorite sport, John Smoltz on the TV call is who you want to hear. Third, it’s also very weird to ignore how baseball clearly covets the older generation’s attention and money. And lastly, if baseball can do without something, the Marlins are at the top of my list.
So you’re still listening to the Braves on the radio, right? Or at least the stream? I mean, this is clearly trolling or trying to traffic to something and I would typically ignore it for that reason. But with everything available on the internet now, you can’t be falling all over yourself to listening to his podcast.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 1975: Third-baseman Mike Schmidt #20 of the Philadelphia Phillies swings at a pitch during a game against the San Diego Padres in August of 1975 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by James Drake/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You’re waking up more refreshed today since the clocks have been turned back one hour.
Quick, go change your stove and microwave.
In that same vein, let’s think about some of the top eras of the team’s history. We’ve all pretty much lived through the (arguably) second best era in the team’s history, most of us vividly remember the 2008 World Series run and subsequent glory days while still others fondly think of the Mike Schmidt years that included their initial championship.
If you had to go back to certain era in the team’s history and re-live that era, which would it be?
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 28, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs had their first encounter with last year’s second-round opponent and were able to take control in large part by running the simple play: giving it to Victor Wembanyama. He had a dazzling 43 points and six blocks, helping elevate the defense in the second half.
De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper were big-time as well, helping takedown the short-staffed Minnesota Timberwolves and they made three baskets apiece in the fourth quarter. If anyone missed the game because they went out for Halloween and has access to a replay, do not deprive yourself of the surplus of highlights.
Screen-roll defense is one of the most important areas a team must thrive in to win since most teams run them so much or variations of it . Check out how Victor Wembanyama stays in between two offensive players, guarding them together and taking away the angle for the inside pass.
The acceleration is not the same, but this move reminds me of vintage Kevin Durant. Notice how Jonathan Kuminga is in the best position to help out, but quickly decides he wants no part of this. I get it. Imagine being on a poster and it ends up making the top 10 dunks of the season.
This was like watching a kid unsuccessfully try to score on their older sibling on a six-foot practice hoop, and Wemby’s grab makes it hilarious, while moving him up to fourth all-time in team blocks. He only needs 49 more to pass Artis Gilmore for the next spot .
It almost seems like Wemby improvised this in a half-second and it could’ve been a foul since Trey Lyles is in the restricted area, and he moved slightly to the side instead of vertically. This move was worth the price of admission by itself and it wouldn’t be a surprise if many of the children who saw this up close remember it forever.
I’ve seen enough and fully endorse Wembanyama isolating opposing big men on the perimeter when the team is in need of a bucket. There is not a big man with the size and foot speed to deal with this, so most of these misses would be on Wemby, similarly to how tons of hook shots Kareem Abdul-Jabbar missed had nothing to do with the defender.
The Spurs have not been a fast team through six games, but they are effective when they get in transition. A good example is Devin Vassell hitting Dylan Harper in stride, yet the best part is watching Joan Beringer try to speed up as the ball zips up the court.
Exhibit 647 of “there’s nothing to do about this.” Both Minnesota’s defenders covering this screen roll are in good position yet helpless against the vertical spacing. The most underrated part of this play is how Kuminga is locking-and-trailing Julian Champagnie, which is what one must do when the opponent is shooting 47.6 percent from 3-point range for the season.
Harper’s game has a lot of sauce, and he is a cultured young man, bringing out the Michael Jordan shrug. Notably, Fox comes to set the screen on Kuminga, but then he realized that Harper doesn’t need the help and bails at the last moment.
That’s a sweet left-handed finish for Vassell, who shoots out of the orthodox stance. Vassell mostly stayed out of the way as his teammates were balling, logging two baskets and two assists, yet one of each were on Saturday’s highlights.
The game was up for the taking, then Kuminga wasted time with his behind-the-back dribble, letting Wemby catch up to him and keep in mind that most blocks happen at close range. The coolest part about the play is how the break was executed without a dribble, which was common when NBA players wore shorter shorts and converse dominated league footwear.
PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 29: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 29, 2026 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Over at CBS’s Eye on College Basketball podcast, Gary Parrish, who lives in Memphis, has really taken to Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer. On the most recent episode, he raved about Boozer being the second-youngest NBA player to record a triple-double, and in just his fifth game, which is remarkable.
Using his typical hyperbole, he said that Boozer could come back to college basketball in his spare time and help his team to win there, too.
While that’s a bit silly, his sentiment is not far off. In fact, we could start to call it the Boozer Effect. What’s the Boozer Effect?
That’s simple: his teams usually win.
Memphis, projected to be in a rebuilding year, is instead off to a 6-0 start, and is the only NBA team still undefeated after knocking off Sacramento Saturday night, 136-105. Boozer finished with 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists (on the downside, he had 7 turnovers).
Memphis’s primary rotation players, aside from Boozer, are journeyman Ty Jerome, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, Jerami Grant, Zach Edey, Cam Spencer, Isaiah Stewart, Scotty Pippen, Jr., GG Jackson, and Quinten Post.
Coward is a promising young player, and Edey is massive, but the other guys are basically role players. And now, Jerome and Pippen are both having back issues, while Edey is on a minutes restriction as he continues to work his way back from last season’s injury.
Look at it this way: if you took Boozer out of this group, where would they be?
It’s impossible to answer, but this seems obvious: they sure as hell wouldn’t be 6-0.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 18: Luis Robert Jr. #88 of the New York Mets celebrates a solo home run during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field on August 18, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Danny Abriano evaluated the pros and cons of the Mets signing Tarik Skubal this offseason.
Around the National League East
Former Astros general manager Dana Brown is joining the Atlanta Braves front office as a senior advisor to the amateur scouting department. Brown previously served as the Braves’ vice president of scouting from 2019 -2022.
The Good Phight continued their series on how to improve the Phillies by turning their attention to the outfield.
Federal Baseball previewed the 2027 season of Connelly Early, who the Nationals acquired from the Red Sox for Curtis Mead at the trade deadline.
Around Major League Baseball
Will Leitch of MLB.com took a look at the 13 teams (including the Mets) who have not won a World Series since MLB expanded to 30 teams in 1998 and ranked them by how likely it is that they will follow the Brewers by ending their drought. The Mets were ranked fifth.
The Orioles declined Luis Robert’s $20 million team option, making him a free agent.
Meanwhile, not surprisingly, the Rays picked up their $20 million club option on Drew Rasmussen, which makes him the highest-paid player in a single season in franchise history.
Speaking of the Rays, the Astros acquired 27-year-old Evan Reifert from Tampa Bay. Reifert put up a 2.48 ERA in 46 Triple-A appearances in the Rays organization in 2026.
Emilio Pagán declined his $10 million player option with the Cincinnati Reds and will become a free agent with a decent chance of earning a multiyear deal.
The Padres declined their $14 million club option on Nick Pivetta’s contract.
On this day 15 years ago, Mark Buerhle won his third consecutive Gold Glove. | (Photo by Chuck Rydlewski/Getty Images)
1946 Future White Sox owner (and current Cleveland owner) Bill Veeck has his right foot amputated. Veeck had suffered a grievous injury to his leg while serving in the South Pacific in World War II, and complications from that injury resulted in this dramatic development. True to his nature, however, Veeck eventually made his loss of leg (soon enough, he would lose his entire right leg, up to his knee) its own celebration of sorts, as he chose a pirate’s peg-leg rather than a more proper prosthetic — including a slot for an ashtray in the artificial leg itself!
Veeck had just completed his first partial season as a major-league owner, and he was already innovating; in Cleveland, he bucked tradition by adding National League scores to the list of “other games” on the Municipal Stadium scoreboard.
1950 After 20 years with the franchise, all-time great and career White Sox standout Luke Appling announced his retirement. He was undoubtedly the greatest player in franchise history at the time, and 72 years later comfortably remains the all-time team leader in WAR, with 77.6. He had a career average of .310, with 2,749 hits, won two batting titles, and in 1936 drove in 128 runs.
Upon retirement, Appling took a job managing the Memphis Chickasaws, Chicago’s Double-A affiliate. Over three years there, Appling was 247-216, pushing the 87-67 Chicks to a pennant in 1952 and earning minor league manager of the year honors. Appling would later manage in Triple-A and coach at the major-league level for several teams, including the White Sox (1970-71). In his only MLB managing gig, he went 10-30 managing the hapless Kansas City A’s in 1967.
1982 The White Sox named Dave Duncan their new pitching coach. The former catcher made a fast name for himself under manager Tony La Russa, but ultimately La Russa’s allegiance to Duncan cost both men their jobs, as in 1986 GM Ken Harrelson wanted Duncan dismissed, La Russa refusing.
Together the pair went on to great success in Oakland and St. Louis, and Duncan followed La Russa back to the White Sox in 2021, albeit as a front office pitching consultant, not a coach.
The White Sox traded for Duncan at the end of his career, but when the club cut him in Spring Training 1977 he opted to retire and begin a coaching career.
2011 Mark Buehrle was awarded his third straight Gold Glove — the only player in the American League to repeat the honor from 2010. Sadly, this would be Buerhle’s final Gold Glove with the White Sox, as Chicago would let him depart to the Miami Marlins as a free agent five weeks later. Buerhle won a fourth straight Gold Glove in 2012 — the final major award of his career.
2016 A name change went into effect at the ballpark formerly known as U.S. Cellular Field. The Guaranteed Rate mortgage company, based in Chicago, signed a 13-year agreement with the team for naming rights. The ballpark would be called Guaranteed Rate Field.
The announcement was met with a storm of ridicule by many — including the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs, who tweeted out negative comments. The company’s downward-arrow logo was met with criticism by many White Sox fans, who felt that was not an appropriate connection with a baseball team, particularly one that had been struggling for several seasons.
According to reports, the White Sox asked the company to change the logo on the ballpark sign, but were refused. Rumors also circulated that at least one other company offered more money for naming rights, but insisted on the name changing back to Comiskey Park — which owner Jerry Reinsdorf refused to do.
2018 The White Sox swapped minor league first baseman Justin Yurchak to Los Angeles for Manny Bañuelos. Signed 10 years earlier, at 17, by the Yankees, Bañuelos had spent all but six games of the previous decade working his way though the minors, save for seven games in Atlanta in 2015.
The southpaw pitched poorly in a swingman role after breaking camp with the White Sox in 2019, and then suffered shoulder inflammation in June that effectively sidelined him for the year. Overall, Bañuelos went 3-4 with a 6.93 ERA and -0,4 WAR for the year.
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 31: The Houston Rockets huddle up during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 31, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets rebounded from their first loss of the season Saturday night, crushing the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-98 at the Toyota Center. Jabari Smith Jr. had 30 points and 9 rebounds; Marcus Smart added 24 points. Houston took advantage of one of the Western Conference’s top teams with a strong start, balanced scoring, and great defense for a 21-point victory.
Smith shot 10-of-18 from the field, including 6-of-12 on 3-pointers. Smart was 7-of-10 on 3-pointers as the Rockets shot 46% as a team and were 18-of-41 from behind the arc.
Jabari Smith Jr. was in his bag tonight in Houston's victory:
Alperen Sengun, who returned to the lineup after missing the last two games with lower back soreness, finished with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists, and Kevin Durant scored 14 points.
The victory was a strong comeback for Houston after it lost 116-111 to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. The Rockets didn’t let the setback linger as they came out with vigor and took an early lead against Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City couldn’t slow the onslaught since the club was able to share out the scoring burden. Houston also got a boost from its effort on defense, making the Thunder struggle for good shots.
The Rockets’ opening quarter set the tone for the rest of the night. Houston led Oklahoma City 35-26 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the defense really tightened up, holding the defense to just 10 points and carrying a 55-36 lead into the half.
Oklahoma City couldn’t find its offensive rhythm in the first half. The Thunder were also without many key players in Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Alex Caruso, resulting in a less experienced lineup against Houston.
The Thunder tried to adjust, but Houston held on and avoided a late-game meltdown like the one it had in the previous night’s game against Dallas. The Rockets played good offense and did a good job of not letting Oklahoma City get anything going to threaten the advantage.
The victory was an especially encouraging one, since Houston made progress in a needed area. The Rockets gave up 40 points in the fourth quarter, squandered an 11-point lead, and struggled on defense against Dallas. Saturday’s performance was a lot better defensive effort and greater control of the game.
The win lifts Houston to 6-1 on the season and continues an amazing start that has the team looking like an early contender in the Western Conference. The Rockets hope to carry that energy into their next game against the Boston Celtics on Monday, November 2, in Houston. As always, be sure to check back at The Dream Shake for post- and pre-game coverage.
