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Today is the deadline for option decisions, as well as for reinstating players off the 60-day injured list. The Tigers just released their flurry of moves, most notably exercising their $10 million club option for 2027 on RHP Drew Anderson, and declining their 2027 option on RHP Kenley Jansen. They’ll pay the veteran closer, just two saves shy of becoming the third closer in MLB history to reach 500 for his career, two million to buy out the $12 million club option. In addition, they made a surprise move, signing RHP Jacob Waguespack to a one-year, $1.3 million guaranteed deal for 2027. Waguespack’s contract comes with an extra $200K in potential bonuses he can earn next season.

Probably the most surprising part of the Tigers decisions today was the fact that they reinstated seven of eight players from the 60-day injured list. The only player they didn’t reinstate was left-hander Bailey Horn, who had Tommy John surgery during the season and is expected to miss all of the 2027 season. He was placed on unconditional release waivers along with RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long.

The Tigers did reinstate OF Kerry Carpenter, OF Parker Meadows, OF Wenceel Perez, OF Matt Vierling, RHP Reese Olson, RHP Will Vest, and INF Trey Sweeney. OF Corey Julks was outrighted and is now a free agent, while RHP Yilber Diaz was designated for assignment.

Some of the players they kept still aren’t going to make it through the offseason, as the Tigers 40-man roster now stands full at 40 players. Keeping Carpenter, Meadows, Vest, and Olson were obvious moves, but hanging onto Matt Vierling yet again doesn’t appeal to me at all. Sweeney and Perez don’t really have much path to a future role either. And of course we have no real updates on any of their medical conditions.

The Tigers still have to add prospects Josue Briceño and Max Anderson to the 40-man soon, and so two more players will have to come off the 40-man to make that happen. And of course any free agent signings or claims of players who have to go on the 40-man will require a corresponding move to open a spot.

One real surprise here to me is Waguespack. He was certainly effective for the Tigers, putting up a 2.49 ERA, but the 32-year-old just doesn’t get many whiffs and isn’t notably good at limiting hard contact either. Yilber Diaz is still wild but has a lot hotter stuff and is six years younger.

Still, this is only temporary housekeeping, and further moves will alter the 40-man roster anyway. Waguespack is a little cheap insurance for now, until we see if there are major moves in free agency or whether everyone is largely waiting for the lockout. It still seems fairly likely that the Tigers will try to pursue a one-year deal with another starting pitcher for depth before the December 1 lockout. They’ve gone after a cheap depth starter early in the offseason with some regularity in the Scott Harris years.

The Astros finally have their new general manager, but the circumstances surrounding his hiring and the search for their next manager raise some familiar questions about who’s really calling the shots in Houston.

Astros fans, you finally have your new general manager in Randy Flores, but the entire process surrounding his hiring seems to reek of exactly what I warned you about before the offseason even began.

Jim Crane is still running the show, and I’m not convinced that’s about to change anytime soon.

Don’t get me wrong. Flores has an impressive background in scouting, player development and talent evaluation after spending more than a decade in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He deserves an opportunity to prove himself, and I certainly hope he’s successful. But the way the Astros arrived at this decision raises some legitimate questions about how much authority their new general manager will actually have.

Let’s start with the hiring process itself.

Flores was reportedly among the early candidates interviewed for the position, but the search continued, creating the impression that Houston was looking elsewhere. Then came Milwaukee Brewers assistant general manager Matt Kleine, who certainly appeared to be Crane’s preferred choice.

After all, Crane practically paraded Kleine around like a brand-new toy at the Houston Sports Hall of Fame ceremony a few weeks ago. When an owner brings a potential general manager candidate to a high-profile public event like that, it’s hard not to believe he’s sending a message about the direction he wants to go.

Then, suddenly, things changed.

Kleine didn’t get the job, and the Astros pivoted back to Flores.

Why?

That’s the million-dollar question, and it’s one I believe deserves considerably more attention.

Was it because Kleine reportedly wanted the title of president of baseball operations rather than general manager? Was Crane unwilling to create that position or give someone that level of responsibility?

Or was it something I’ve been concerned about all along: that an established or highly regarded executive considering this opportunity would want the autonomy to run baseball operations without constantly looking over his shoulder at the owner?

We may never know exactly what happened behind closed doors, and I’m not suggesting Flores was an unqualified or undesirable choice. But the circumstances certainly make you wonder.

Because the biggest question surrounding the Astros hasn’t changed. It’s not who Jim Crane hires. It’s how much freedom he’s willing to give that person to do the job.

During Monday’s introductory press conference, Crane indicated that Flores would have full authority over baseball operations decisions.

That’s certainly what Astros fans want to hear.

The problem is that I find it extremely difficult to believe.

Crane has developed a reputation for being heavily involved in baseball operations, and his hands-on approach has become an increasingly significant part of the conversation surrounding this franchise. Whether it’s personnel decisions, roster construction or the influence of trusted advisors like Jeff Bagwell, the perception is that very little happens without Crane’s involvement.

And let’s be clear: Crane owns the team, spends the money and has every right to be involved. Nobody is questioning that.

But there’s a significant difference between an owner who provides financial resources and organizational direction and one who wants to have a substantial say in every major baseball decision.

If you’re going to hire someone to run your baseball operations department, you have to trust that person’s judgment and allow him to build the team according to his vision.

Otherwise, what’s the point?

Another interesting part of the press conference was Crane’s apparent belief that the Astros aren’t far away from being one of baseball’s better teams again.

Rather than suggesting a significant reset or organizational overhaul, Crane seems convinced that a few calculated moves can keep Houston competitive and potentially put the team back among the American League’s legitimate contenders.

That’s certainly an optimistic way of looking at a team that finished 81-81, has obvious deficiencies in the outfield, questions surrounding its starting rotation and a farm system that needs considerable improvement.

I’m not saying this team needs to be completely torn apart and rebuilt from the ground up. There is still plenty of talent on this roster, and with the right moves, the Astros can absolutely remain competitive.

But there’s also a difference between being competitive and being a legitimate World Series contender.

And that’s where the pressure on Flores begins immediately.

He’s essentially being handed a roster with significant holes while being told that the expectation is to get this team back among baseball’s best without taking a step backward.

That’s a difficult assignment for any general manager, particularly one taking over an organization with a strong-willed owner who has made it clear that winning now remains the priority.

Then there’s the other major piece of this offseason puzzle.

Who gets to pick the Astros’ next manager?

This might ultimately tell us more about the power structure of the organization than anything Crane said during Flores’ introductory press conference.

I find it particularly interesting that the Astros were already exploring managerial candidates before Flores was officially hired.

One of those names is former Astros catcher Brad Ausmus, who has longstanding ties to the organization and a close relationship with Jeff Bagwell, one of Crane’s most trusted baseball advisors.

Ausmus was reportedly at Daikin Park for discussions before the Flores hiring was announced.

Now, I’m not saying Ausmus wouldn’t be a qualified candidate. He’s managed at the major league level, understands the organization and has spent recent seasons working with the New York Yankees.

But if the Astros ultimately hire someone who has strong personal relationships with Crane and Bagwell, it’s fair to wonder whether that decision came from the new general manager or the people who were already running the organization before he arrived.

On the other hand, Flores has connections of his own that could make this search extremely interesting.

Take Albert Pujols, for example.

The former Cardinals superstar has expressed interest in becoming a major league manager and has already established himself as a successful manager in winter baseball. His previous discussions with the San Diego Padres reportedly involved demands that complicated the possibility of him landing that position.

Given Flores’ lengthy tenure with the Cardinals, it’s not difficult to imagine Pujols receiving consideration if he’s interested in the Astros job.

And then there’s a name I believe deserves serious attention.

Former Astros third baseman Morgan Ensberg.

Ensberg has spent years developing his managerial résumé in the minor leagues, including successful stops throughout the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He’s also someone who understands Houston, the expectations that come with playing here and what it takes to succeed in this market.

Perhaps most interestingly, Ensberg and Flores were teammates at USC, giving them a personal connection that could make him an especially intriguing candidate.

I wouldn’t overlook Ensberg as a legitimate sleeper in this process.

But regardless of whether the next manager is Ausmus, Pujols, Ensberg or someone else entirely, the hiring will provide an important early indication of just how much influence Flores actually has.

If Flores is truly empowered to run baseball operations, shouldn’t he have the final say in selecting the person who will be responsible for managing the roster he constructs?

Shouldn’t the general manager and manager share a philosophy about player development, roster usage, analytics and the overall direction of the team?

And shouldn’t that relationship be established without the owner or his closest advisors determining the outcome before the general manager even gets comfortable in his new office?

Those are reasonable questions, and they’re questions that aren’t going away simply because Crane stood behind a microphone and said the right things.

Look, I want Flores to succeed. Astros fans should want him to succeed. This organization has enjoyed an incredible run of success under Crane’s ownership, and nobody wants to see that championship window close permanently.

But this franchise is also at a crossroads.

The Astros have watched important pieces of their championship teams leave, their organizational depth diminish and their margin for error become increasingly smaller. They need strong leadership, smart personnel decisions and a clear plan for both the present and the future.

What they don’t need is another general manager who is held responsible for every failure while lacking the authority to make the decisions necessary to prevent those failures.

That’s ultimately my biggest concern.

The Astros didn’t just need to hire a new general manager. They needed to establish a clear direction and a structure that gives that general manager the best possible chance to succeed.

Maybe Flores is the right man for the job. Maybe he and Crane will develop a tremendous working relationship and prove all the doubters wrong.

I certainly hope that’s the case.

But after watching how this entire process unfolded, I’m not ready to simply take Crane at his word that things are going to be different.

The next managerial hire will be our first real indication of whether Randy Flores is running the Houston Astros’ baseball operations department or simply occupying the office while Jim Crane continues making the important decisions.

And believe me, that distinction matters.

Astros fans, stay tuned.

Because this offseason has only just begun, and something tells me the most interesting developments are still to come.

The BBWAA Awards Finalists have been announced which includes Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and MVP. The St. Louis Cardinals JJ Wetherholt has been chosen as a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award according to MLB Network. JJ’s 2026 stat line is impressive, but likely would have been greater if not for a wrist injury which plagued him during the second half of the season:

• Games Played: 139 (135 starts)
• Plate Appearances: 619
• At Bats: 537
• Hits: 130
• Runs Scored: 89
• Doubles: 15
• Triples: 0
• Home Runs: 17
• Runs Batted In (RBI): 51
• Walks: 64
• Strikeouts: 104
• Stolen Bases: 14 (1 caught stealing)
• Batting Average (AVG): .242
• On-Base Percentage (OBP): .339
• Slugging Percentage (SLG): .365
• On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS): .704
• WAR (Baseball-Reference): 4.5

Other finalists for the NL Rookie of the Year include the Cincinnati Reds Sal Stewart and Carson Benge of the Mets. The winner will be announced the week of November 9, 2026.

NL MVP Finalists include the Cubs Pete Crow-Armstrong, Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers and the Brewer’s Brice Turang. NL Cy Young finalists include Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers, Chris Sale from the Braves and Cristopher Sánchez of the Phillies. NL Reliever of the Year finalists are Jhoan Duran of the Phillies, Trevor Megill from the Brewers and Mason Miller of the Padres. NL Manager of the Year finalists include Don Mattingly from the Phillies, Pat Murphy of the world champion Brewers and Walt Weiss from the Braves.

According to every national baseball writer on the planet, the Twins have officially sent a qualifying offer to catcher Ryan Jeffers. Jeffers has until November 17th to decide whether or not to accept the one year, $23.15M contract.

The qualifying offer is a one year deal based on the average of the top 125 MLB salaries. If players decline the QO, they will remain free agents eligible to negotiate with anyone in the league. However, the team that signs a QO player will forfeit a draft pick, while the team losing the QO player will gain one. The specifics of the picks lost or gained depend on whether teams pay the CBT or are revenue sharing recipients and the size of the contract the player receives. Players are only eligible to receive the qualifying offer if they have never received it in the past and spent the entire of the previous season on that organization’s roster (e.g. Tarik Skubal is not eligible since he was traded midseason).

In the Twins’ case, they would receive a pick immediately following the first round if Jeffers signed with another team for $50M or more. If he signed for $50M or less, the pick would fall after the second round and Competitive Balance Round B. However, Jeffers would be much better off taking the big, single season payday and re-entering the market next season rather than taking a multi-year contract for less than $50M, so you can bet on the Twins receiving an extra first round pick should Jeffers sign elsewhere.

If the Twins signed anyone else on that list, say Brandon Lowe to fill the hole at second base, they would forfeit their third-highest selection in the upcoming round, which would be their Competitive Balance Round A selection if Jeffers went elsewhere or their second round pick if he stayed. If they signed two players off that list (now we’re dreaming), both their third and fourth highest selections would be lost.

Jeffers is in an interesting position with the qualifying offer. By AAV, the highest paid catcher in the league is the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh at $17.5M. After him, Philly’s JT Realmuto checks in at $15M and the Dodgers’ Will Smith is third at $14M. So on the one hand, Jeffers would, at least briefly, be the highest paid catcher in baseball by nearly $6M. On the other, it’s a one year deal and a poorly placed foul tip could place any future earnings in jeopardy.

Looking at the usual mix of contenders, there also aren’t many that need a starting catcher. The Yankees absolutely would want Jeffers, and pursued him at last year’s trade deadline, but there have been questions in recent years about how willing the Steinbrenners are to run up their payroll beyond the current levels. The Blue Jays are set with Alejandro Kirk. The Red Sox and Rays picked up their long-term catchers at the 2026 trade deadline in Adley Rutschman and Liam Hicks, respectively. The Tigers have last year’s All-Star starter in Dillon Dingler, while the Rangers are reportedly looking to shed payroll this offseason. And on the NL side, really only the Cubs have a hole at catcher and money to spend, but they also have to rebuild their starting rotation on the fly after losing all five of their starting pitchers to free agency.

In reality, the best option for everyone involved might be a return to the Twins. Minnesota needs a bridge to Vahn Lackey and the pending lockout has some usual big market players behaving oddly. It’s why the Twins were able to sign Carlos Correa to a one year deal after the last lockout. Scott Boras is great at maximizing player earnings, and he’s smart enough to know that no one is touching a $20M+ AAV for a free agent catcher. Taking the QO and re-entering the market next year without the risk of losing draft picks is the best path to Jeffers getting the most money anyway.

Seems like a win/win to me.

Today was the deadline for teams to extend a Qualifying Offer (QO) to players set to become a free agent ahead of free agency opening and as expected, the Mariners have extended a QO to Randy Arozarena.

The QO is a one-year deal that allows teams to bid for a year of a player’s services should they not sign a longer-term deal, but the real benefit of it for teams is it entitles them to a draft pick if and when the player signs somewhere else. Only players who haven’t received a QO before are eligible, and players have to have been with the offering teams for a full season – so players who got traded midseason aren’t eligible. The draft pick position varies based on a team’s financials (revenue-sharing, luxury tax, etc.) and how much the player signs for, but is either after Competitive Balance Round A or B, or after the fourth round for luxury tax payors. The team that signs the free agent forfeits a draft pick, the position of which is again based on a team’s financials.

This year the QO was $23.5M, which is based off the mean salary of the 125 highest-paid players in MLB. Eight players received the QO today: Arozarena, postseason hero Jake Bauers (Brewers), David Bednar (Yankees), Ryan Jeffers (Twins), Brandon Lowe (Pirates), Adrián Morejón (Padres), Trevor Rogers (Orioles) and Seiya Suzuki (Cubs). It’s rare for a player to accept the QO, although the upcoming uncertainty with the looming lockout might impact players’ decision-making. This is a small group of QOs, relative to other years; 13 players received a QO last year.

That uncertainty likely won’t affect Arozarena, who should have plenty of suitors for the 31-year-old’s services after coming off a career-best season. Arozarena brought a power-speed combo this year, thumping 26 homers and stealing as many bases, but he also cut his strikeouts to a career-low (while still walking an above-average amount) with a balanced offensive approach that saw him use the whole field. Arozarena talked several times this year about adjusting his approach to focus more on hitting the ball all over and less on trying to pull everything for a home run; the result was his best offensive season in a full season as a pro. Arozarena also benefits from being arguably the best bat on the market in a class that’s heavier on pitching.

This is the first year the Mariners have extended a QO to a player in over a decade; the last time was Hisashi Iwakuma in 2015, when the QO was valued at $15.8M. Iwakuma initially rejected the QO and was reportedly going to sign with the Dodgers, but the deal fell through and Iwakuma returned to the Mariners on a one-year deal with two option years. If/when Arozarena signs elsewhere, that will be the first time the Mariners receive draft pick compensation for losing a free agent. The Mariners do not pay the luxury tax and are a revenue-sharing recipient, so the pick would be either in Competitive Balance Round A (after the first round) or B (after the second round).

Players have until 1 PM PT on November 17 to accept or decline the QO, during which time they’re free to negotiate with other teams to get a sense of their market value.