Worldwide Sports News

Anne Rogers writes about position players that could get invited to spring training.

We’ll see Collins in left field the majority of the time, while Thomas will move among all three spots. The Royals touted Collins’ ability to play second base when they acquired him, giving them flexibility, so it’ll be interesting to see whether he gets reps there this spring.

How the Royals split time in center field between Isbel and Thomas remains to be seen, but Isbel is the best defender to have out there. The Royals have given Caglianone a path to earn the everyday spot in right field with his performance. Although he’s also committed to playing for Team Italy this spring, he should get plenty of reps to show off his offseason work and improvement.

Blanco, Misner, Rave and Waters are competing for an Opening Day roster spot. They’ve all played center field, but the Royals acquired Misner from the Rays back in November as center field depth.

Pete Grathoff writes about the reactions of Royals hitters to the fences at Kauffman Stadium being moved in.

Witt said the Royals hitters welcomed the change. And catcher Salvador Perez had a question. “Yeah, a lot of the hitters are very happy, and the team’s pitchers aren’t,” Witt said. “But they’re gonna do well, no matter what. But yeah, the hitters are great.

Salvy was just like, ‘What took it so long?’ But yeah, everyone is fired up. And so it’s gonna be fun.”

Carlos Beltrán would seem to prefer a Mets logo on his Hall of Fame plaque.

“There is no doubt my best years in baseball are with two teams — the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets,” Beltrán said this week, per CBS Sports. “That’s a decision that I would love to sit down with my family, with (my wife) Jessica, with my kids and make a decision on that. I did really enjoy my time in New York. Now I work as an advisor for the Mets, so there’s a lot of weight in the New York cap.”

MLB Pipeline released their top 100 prospect list with Carter Jensen at #18 and Blake Mitchell at #75.

USA Today ranks farm systems, and puts the Royals #26.

The White Sox sign reliever Seranthony Dominguez to a two-year, $20 million deal.

The Twins sign reliever Taylor Rogers to a one-year, $2 million deal.

ESPN writers predict where the remaining top free agents will sign.

The Giants’ trade proposal for Nationals infielder CJ Abrams was rejected.

The Tigers are interested in free agent pitchers Nick Martinez and Jose Quintana.

Free agent Max Scherzer may sign with a team after Opening Day.

What’s next for the Yankees?

Why the Mackenzie Gore trade may be the biggest of the offseason.

Are the 2026 Mets better than last year’s disappointment?

DAZN is reportedly weighing a purchase of the FanDuel Sports Networks.

Bob Costas will host the Sunday Night Baseball pregame show on NBC.

Could high school players be ineligible for the MLB draft soon?

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney slams Ole Miss for player tampering.

Philip Rivers will interview for the Buffalo Bills head coaching position.

Snow isn’t actually white.

A brief history of Star Trek sports.

A full list of Oscar nominations.

Your song of the day is The Smithereens with A Girl Like You.

After the departures of Edwin Díaz, Ryne Stanek, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto and injuries to Reed Garrett and Dedniel Núñez, the Mets needed to do some work to rebuild their bullpen this offseason.

And work has been done. The Mets have added four pieces from outside the organization who will likely fill important roles in the bullpen, as well as signed many arms to minor league deals, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle or help someone find their spark again.

The definite locks for the bullpen start with Devin Williams (1.5 fWAR in 2025, career 8.9 fWAR) and Luke Weaver (0.5 fWAR in 2025, career 8.2 fWAR), both of whom most recently pitched across town for the Yankees, and both of whom will likely get a large chunk of the Mets’ high-leverage innings. It seems presumed that Williams will be the traditional closer, despite losing that job for the Yankees at one point last season when, coincidentally, Weaver took over for him.

The Mets retained a pair of southpaws over the offseason, with A.J. Minter not exercising his opt-out after an injury ravaged 2025 and the Mets executing Brooks Raley’s $4.75 million club option. Raley (0.8 fWAR in 2025, career 3.1 fWAR) was healthy for the second half of last season after recovering from Tommy John Surgery, but Minter 0.3 fWAR in 2025, career 7.4 fWAR) missed all but 13 games for the Mets in 2025.

On Wednesday night, the Mets brought in Tobias Myers (0.4 fWAR in 2025, career 2.5 fWAR) from the Brewers, and Myers slots in to be a guy who can give you multiple innings out of the bullpen, a role the Mets haven’t really seen success in since José Buttó‘s 2024 campaign. As a long man who has success as a starter as well, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Myers as a swing man at some point as well, taking some starts down the stretch.

Huascar Brazobán (0.4 fWAR in 2025, career 1.5 fWAR) is likely the closest thing to a lock after those five. Brazobán is entering his fifth big league season at the age of 36, and has been a perfectly cromulent middle reliever for those years. He got off to a great start in 2015 before having a bit of a rocky month that jumped his ERA two full runs.

If the season started today, the two players most likely to take a role in the bullpen would be recently-signed veteran Luis García (0.7 fWAR in 2025, career 4.5 fWAR) and Joey Gerber (0.0 fWAR in 2025, career 0,0 fWAR), who the Mets got in a trade from the Rays earlier this offseason. However, if either of those folks were traded, cut, or designated for assignment during spring training, it would not be shocking.

From there, there are still more options. Last year’s mid-season signing Richard Lovelady (-0.3 fWAR in 2025, career 0.0 fWAR), who the Mets signed to a major league deal in October, was DFA’d on Thursday to make room for Vidal Bruján. He’s been DFA’d more than a few times in his Mets’ tenure, and so it seems possible that he’ll clear waivers. Joe Jacques (-0.1 fWAR in 2025, career 0.0 fWAR), Carl Edwards Jr (0.0 fWAR in 2025, career 3.1 fWAR), Brandon Waddell (-0.1 fWAR in 2025, career -0.3 fWAR), Nick Burdi (0.1 fWAR in 2025, career 0.3 fWAR), and Robert Stock (-0.1 fWAR in 2025, career 0.3 fWAR) are all players the Mets acquired since the end of the season, and there are a number of players in the upper minors who may slot into a relief role.

You can never really have enough relief pitching, but the Mets are already at a roster crunch, and so it looks like any other players that may be brought in would either be on minor league deals or would have to bump players from the 40-Man Roster.

Hello friends! Happy Saturday to you all. While I understand the weather is calm in Seattle this weekend, I hope my fellow east coasters (and those in the south and midwest) stay safe from the storm.

Here’s what’s going on in baseball as we get the weekend underway.

In Mariners news…

• Jordan Shusterman at Yahoo! Sports tackled the five biggest questions facing the Mariners with less than a month remaining in the offseason.
• For the first time in Mariners history, FanFest is completely sold out.

Around the league…

• The White Sox signed righty reliever Seranthony Domínguez to a two-year, $20M deal.
• The Nationals may not be done tearing it down, as they’ve reportedly been shopping shortstop CJ Abrams and outfielder Jacob Young. The Giants supposedly made a big push to get Abrams with a deal centered around top prospect Josuar González, but they were ultimately unsuccessful.
• Max Scherzer is still hoping to land with a team for 2026, but he is willing to sign after Opening Day if that’s what it takes to get into a situation he likes.

This round was so close, we had to conduct an internal staff poll to break the tie so we could proceed in hopes of getting a few more Votes in. It came down to two players taking big leaps on the ballot, Gage Ziehl and Alexander Albertus. It was Ziehl who prevailed, with 11 of 58 (19%) votes:

The fight for the top meant that Landon Hodge’s win just last round was displaced as the smallest share yet, as Ziehl’s 18.97% outdid Hodge’s 19.35%.

Ziehl was acquired for Austin Slater last July, thus this is the first Prospect Vote for the Yankees product.

Past No. 31s in the SSS Top Prospect Vote
2025 Eric Adler (21%)
2024 Calvin Harris (20%)
2023 Voting lasted only 24 rounds
2022 Voting lasted only 17 rounds
2021 Bennett Sousa (30%)
2020 Bennett Sousa (27%)
2019 Amado Nuñez (31%)
2018 Tyler Johnson (34%)

Newcomer Ryan Galanie had a nice run on his first ballot, earning seven votes and tying for third place. This time around, reliever Zach Franklin joins the mix.

South Side Sox Top-Voted White Sox Prospects for 2026

1. Braden Mongomery — 59% (Smith 17%, Bonemer 9%, Schultz 7%, Antonacci 3%, Adams/Carlson/McDougal 2%, Fauske/Oppor 0%)
2. Hagen Smith — 40% (Bonemer 28%, Schultz 18%, McDougal 5%, Antonacci 4%, Carlson 3%, Bergolla/Oppor 1%, Adams/Fauske 0%)
3. Caleb Bonemer — 47% (Schultz 34%, Antonacci 10%, Carlson/McDougal 4%, Bergolla 2%, Adams/Fauske/Oppor/Perez 0%)
4. Noah Schultz — 49% (Antonacci 25%, Carlson 11%, McDougal 7%, Adams/Bergolla/Oppor 2%, Perez 1%, Fauske/Lodise 0%)
5. Sam Antonacci — 41% (Carlson 25%, McDougal 20%, Bergolla/Perez 4%, Oppor 3%, Adams 2%, Fauske 1%, Diaz/Lodise 0%)
6. Tanner McDougal — 39% (Carlson 36%, Bergolla 7%, Adams 6%, Pallette 5%, Fauske 3%, Oppor 2%, Lodise 1%, Diaz/Perez 0%)
7. Billy Carlson — 52% (Adams 18%, Oppor 12%, Bergolla 9%, Fauske 5%, Lodise/Pallette/Wolkow 2%, Diaz/Perez 0%)
8. Christian Oppor — 24% (Murphy 20%, Adams/Fauske 16%, Wolkow 10%, Bergolla 9%, Lodise/Pallette/Perez 1%, Diaz 0%)
9. Shane Murphy — 34% (Adams 20%, Wolkow 13%, Fauske 16%, Bergolla 9%, Palisch 4%, Lodise/Pallette/Perez 1%, Diaz 0%)
10. Mason Adams — 43% (Wolkow 22%, Bergolla 11%, Fauske/Pallette 10%, Lodise/Palisch/Perez 2%, Diaz/Hodge 0%)
11. Jaden Fauske — 24.0% (Perez 23.5%, Hodge 13.4%, Bergolla 12.9%, Wolkow 8%, Pallette 5%, Diaz/Gonzalez/Lodise/Palisch 3%)
12. Jeral Perez — 20% (Umberger 15%, Wolkow 13%, Hodge 12.3%, Palisch 11.9%, Bergolla 11.4%, Lodise 7.3%, Pallette 6.9%, Diaz 2%, Gonzalez 1%)
13. Grant Umberger — 28% (Palisch 19%, Wolkow 13%, Bergolla 12%, Hodge 11%, Lodise 10%, Pallette 4%, Diaz 3%, Gonzalez/Larson 1%)
14. Mathias LaCombe — 41% (Bergolla 19%, Wolkow 17%, Pallette 7%, Palisch 6%, Gonzalez 4%, Hodge/Lodise 2%, Diaz/Larson 1%)
15. William Bergolla — 35% (Wolkow 20%, Pallette/Palisch 13%, Larson 6%, Diaz/Gordon/Lodise 4%, Hodge 2%, Gonzalez 0%)
16. George Wolkow — 38% (Pallette 22%, Palisch 12%, Gordon 8%, Lodise 6%, Gonzalez 5%, Batista/Diaz/Larson 3%, Hodge 0%)
17. Peyton Pallette — 38% (Palisch 13%, Lodise 11%, Gordon/Larson 10%, Gonzalez 8%, Batista 5%, Diaz 3%, Hodge/Mogollón 2%)
18. Blake Larson — 21% (Lodise 18%, J. Gonzalez/Palisch 15%, C. Gonzalez 11%, Gordon 10%, Batista 5%, Mogollón 3%, Hodge 2%, Diaz 0%)
19. Ky Bush — 24% (Palisch 19%, C. Gonzalez/Lodise 16%, J. Gonzalez 8%, Gordon/Batista 6%, Mogollón 3%, Diaz 2%, Hodge 0%)
20. Jake Palisch — 26% (Paez 21%, Lodise 19%, J. Gonzalez 13%, C. Gonzalez/Gordon 8%, Batista/Hodge/Mogollón 2%, Diaz 0%)
21. Jedixson Paez — 45% (Nishida 20%, Gordon 14%, C. Gonzalez/Lodise 8%, J. Gonzalez 4%, Mogollón 2%, Batista/Diaz/Hodge 0%)
22. Christian Gonzalez — 22% (Nishida 18%, Gordon 17%, J. Gonzalez 15%, Lodise 10%, Hodge 8%, Batista 5%, Mogollón 3%, Diaz 2%, Ziehl 0%)
23. Rikuu Nishida — 30% (Gordon 18%, J. Gonzalez 15%, Gowens 10%, Lodise 8%, Batista 7%, Hodge/Mogollón/Ziehl 3%, Diaz 2%)
24. Kyle Lodise — 23% (J. Gonzalez/Gowens 18%, Gordon 14%, Batista/Carela 7%, Diaz/Hodge/Mogollón/Ziehl 4%)
25. Jacob Gonzalez— 26% (Gowens 21%, Gordon 20%, Schweitzer 11%, Batista 6%, Mogollón/Ziehl 5%, Hodge 3%, Carela/Diaz 2%)
26. Riley Gowens — 29% (Zavala 21%, Carela 13%, Gordon 11%, Batista 7%, 11%, Ziehl 5%, Diaz/Hodge/Mogollón/Schweitzer 4%)
27. Samuel Zavala — 33% (Carela/Gordon 15%, Alcala 10%, Ziehl 8%, Batista/Schweitzer 5%, Diaz/Hodge/Mogollón 3%)
28. Lucas Gordon — 36% (Carela 19%, Alcala/Batista/Schweitzer 9%, Mogollón/Ziehl 5%, Diaz/Hodge 3%, Albertus 2%)
29. Juan Carela — 28% (Diaz/Hodge 13%, Batista 11%, Alcala 9%, Iriarte/Schweitzer 7%, Albertus/Mogollón/Ziehl 4%)
30. Landon Hodge — 19% (Batista 15%, Iriarte 13%, Alcala/Diaz/Ziehl 10%, Albertus/Schweitzer 8%, Mogollón 6%, Rodriguez 2%)
31. Gage Ziehl — 19% (Albertus 17%, Alcala/Galanie 12%, Iriarte 9%, Batista/Diaz/Rodriguez/Schweitzer 7%, Mogollón 3%)

Alexander Albertus
Third Baseman
Age 21
2025 high level Arizona Complex League (Rookie)
Age relative to high level +0.4 years
Overall 2025 stats 8 games ▪️ 0 HR ▪️ 2 RBI ▪️ .333/.520/.444 ▪️ 3-of-3 (100.0%) SB ▪️ 6 BB ▪️ 3 K ▪️ 1.000 FLD%▪️ 0.3 WAR

What can you say further about Albertus? He seems to have great tools but an uncanny ability to stay off of the field (just eight games in a season-plus in the White Sox system). In 2025, he was assigned to Kannapolis but was … wait for it … injured. He lasted just eight games of ACL rehab before hitting the IL-60 again.

Marcelo Alcala
Center Fielder
Age 20
2025 high level ACL (Rookie)
Age relative to high level -0.6 years
Overall 2025 stats 42 games ▪️ 7 HR ▪️ 19 RBI ▪️ .233/.325/.479 ▪️ 14-of-15 (93.3%) SB ▪️ 14 BB ▪️ 63 K ▪️ .935 FLD%▪️ 1.2 WAR

Alcala is a talent to dream on. Though still raw, he flashed power that we simply do not see in the White Sox system, especially when combined with the raw speed that can swipe bases at a 90%+ rate. Defense and bat discipline are issues to be sure, but imagine what additional outfield reps, AZ batting cage time, and even some training on the bases could do.

Aldrin Batista
Right-Handed Starting Pitcher
Age 22
2025 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 6
2025 high level Winston-Salem (High-A)
Age relative to high level -1.2 years
Overall 2025 stats 2-0 ▪️ 7 games (2 starts) ▪️ 14 IP ▪️ 5.79 ERA ▪️ 17 K ▪️ 7 BB ▪️ 1.429 WHIP ▪️-1.2 WAR

Batista was our No. 6-voted player in last year’s poll and top righthander — and then disaster struck, as he started the third Dash game of the season on April 6 and then was out more than four months with a stress fracture in his right (pitching) elbow. His return in late August was iffy, with three poor relief appearances of five. But he ended the season with a scoreless (two-inning) “opener” start, which hopefully reverses the curse for 2026.

Reudis Diaz
Right-handed relief pitcher
Age 20
2025 high level ACL (Rookie)
Age relative to high level -2.1 years
Overall 2025 stats 1-1 ▪️ 1 SV▪️ 21 games (4 finishes) ▪️ 27 2/3 IP ▪️ 2.28.ERA ▪️ 18 K ▪️ 8 BB ▪️ 1.084 WHIP ▪️1.2 WAR

Who? You’re forgiven for being unfamiliar with an extremely young arm who hasn’t yet gotten out of rookie ball, but our No. 77 prospect a year ago (then a starter, repeating the DSL and killing it) made a successful adjustment Stateside. He’ll return to starting in 2026, likely getting his feet wet in Arizona and getting a promotion to Low-A in the second half of the season.

Zach Franklin
Right-Handed Relief Pitcher
Age 27
2025 high level Charlotte (AAA)
Age relative to high level -1.3 years
Overall 2025 stats (AA/AAA) 4-1▪️ 11 SV ▪️ 48 games (31 finishes) ▪️ 56 1/3 IP ▪️ 2.40 ERA ▪️ 79 K ▪️ 25 BB ▪️ 1.065 WHIP ▪️ 2.0 WAR

The clear closer of the future in the system, Franklin put up a pretty extraordinary 2.0 WAR in just 56 innings in 2025. He labored mostly in Birmingham, but is a cinch to start in Charlotte in 2026 — if not impressing enough in Cactus League play to break north with the White Sox outright.

Ryan Galanie
First Baseman
Age 25
2025 high level Birmingham (AA)
Age relative to high level +1.3 years
Overall 2025 stats (High-A/AA) 119 games ▪️ 11 HR ▪️ 94 RBI ▪️ .276/.327/.422 ▪️ 14-of-17 (82.4%) SB ▪️ 35 BB ▪️ 79 K ▪️ .995 FLD%▪️ 1.1 WAR

It’s been a slow but steady climb for this 13th-rounder in 2023. The good news here is, with the caveat that Galanie has always competed older than his level, Galanie has found some footing. While his power/slugging numbers are merely OK, he drove in 94 runs in 2025. He disappeared a bit in the playoffs for Birmingham (just four hits in six games, with five walks as well) but started every game in the march to a second consecutive Southern League title for the Barons.

Jairo Iriarte
Right-Handed Relief Pitcher
Age 24
2025 SSS Top Prospect Vote Ranking 19
2025 high level Charlotte (AAA)
Age relative to high level -4.3 years
Overall 2025 stats (Rookie/AAA) 3-3▪️ 1 SV ▪️ 37 games (5 starts, 9 finishes) ▪️ 48 IP ▪️ 7.13 ERA ▪️ 50 K ▪️ 37 BB ▪️ 1.917 WHIP ▪️ -0.8 WAR

The 2025 season was an utter disaster for Iriarte, who went from prospective South Side rotation member to lost in space. The righty, who made his brief debut in the majors in 2024, both lost the plate and misplaced his strikeout power. The Brian Bannister Pitching Lab has its work cut out here, for sure.

Javier Mogollón
Shortstop
Age 20
2025 high level Kannapolis (Low-A)
Age relative to high level -1.4 years
Overall 2025 stats 51 games ▪️ 5 HR ▪️ 19 RBI ▪️ .220/.347/.387 ▪️ 15-of-21 (71.4%) SB ▪️ 30 BB ▪️ 56 K ▪️ .971 FLD%▪️ 1.0 WAR

An ascending star just one year ago, we have to tap the breaks a bit on Mogollón after a lackluster first full season of minors ball. While still young for his level and managing to keep his head above water in a new league every season of his career, Mogollón’s undeniable hitting in Rookie ball fell off significantly with the Cannon Ballers. However, how much of that was due to battling injury is undetermined, as Mogollón was shelved for what turned out to be the season on July 2.

Yobal Rodriguez
Right-Handed Starting Pitcher
Age18
2025 high levelDSL White Sox (Rookie)
Age relative to high level -1.5 years
Overall 2025 stats0-3 ▪️ 13 games (10 starts) ▪️ 30 1/3 IP ▪️2.97 ERA ▪️ 33 K ▪️ 13 BB ▪️ 1.022 WHIP ▪️ 1.2 WAR

Rodriguez is a rare DSL pitcher, not for his relatively light innings load, but as a primary starter — and at just 17 years old (Yobal turns 18 on February 9). Inasmuch as it’s tough to project anyone out of the DSL, especially pitchers, you could hardly have hoped for more from him in his pro debut.

Tyler Schweitzer
Left-Handed Starting Pitcher
Age25
2025 high levelCharlotte (AAA)
Age relative to high level -3.3 years
Overall 2025 stats (AA/AAA) 8-2 ▪️ 27 games (10 starts) ▪️ 99 2/3 IP ▪️4.61 ERA ▪️ 81 K ▪️ 41 BB ▪️ 1.344 WHIP ▪️ 0.8 WAR

Schweitzer relieved in most of his games in 2025, but he remains a starter in our eyes given he was consistently paired with Tanner McDougal in Birmingham Barons starts. And in Birmingham, Schweitzer was divine: 1.27 ERA that included a long scoreless streak leading to a Charlotte promotion, 0.946 WHIP. However, everything the southpaw did as a Baron, he undid as a Knight (7.92 ERA, 1.740 ERA). While other gilded arms (Drew Thorpe, Grant Taylor) get to skip Charlotte entirely, Schweitzer was not so lucky. And that luck could prevent him from ever seeing the majors.

Past South Side Sox Prospect votes

• Here is how 2018 wrangled out — all 42 picks. Also, here is an archive of every article in the 2018 series.
• Here is how 2019 came together, all 50 picks, and the archive as well.
• Now 2020, with the archive.
• Here is the 2021 wrap-up of just 35 picks due to flagging participation, along with the full archive.
• Here is the 2022 link to the 27-pick wrap, along with the full archive.
• Round 24 of voting was the last of 2023 (we did not do an actual wrap for the voting, but Jordan Sprinkle ended up being our final pick), and the full archive.
• In 2024 Abraham Núñez was our 34th pick to end the series, and here is the wrap-up post and full archive of each profile.
• And last year, we did 31 picks, ending with Eric Adler. Here is the wrap and full stream, of every article.

Sportswriter Joon Lee recently posted a video to YouTube where he tries to shed light on why the Los Angeles Dodgers seem to have an endless stream of money with which to pay the top players in the game. The back-to-back World Series Champions made waves in MLB with the signing of free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract. Chari Bell of Gaslamp Ball documents what Lee says is a major disparity in favor of the Dodgers that is not available to the 29 other MLB teams.

Padres News:

• Randy Jones was a legendary pitcher for the Padres, but he may be most remembered for being an ambassador for San Diego. He could often be found around Petco Park meeting fans and promoting the Padres and the game of baseball. Jones died this offseason and the Padres will hold a celebration of life for him at Petco Park today for fans to pay their respects.
• Padres fans watched the season come to an end for one of the dominant relievers in the San Diego bullpen when Jason Adam ruptured his quadriceps and feel on the front of the mound. Adam’s recovery and rehabilitation by all accounts have been going well and his return in 2026 will be much anticipated.
• AJ Cassavell of Padres.com looks at the Padres’ history of having dominant closers, adding three are Hall of Famers, one won a Cy Young Award, and many were All-Stars.
• Dennis Lin of The Athletic breaks down the numbers and makes a case for Manny Machado becoming a Hall of Famer by the time his career comes to an end. Lin notes Machado is owed $301 million over the next eight seasons, so the end is not near, which means Machado has plenty of time to continue to add to his resume.

Baseball News:

• Free agent pitcher Max Scherzer says he is not going to rush his decision on where he will sign. It was also noted that Scherzer may wait until after Opening Day to choose his team.
• The top two remaining free agent hitters according to MLB.com are Eugenio Suarez and Luis Arraez and they have completely different approaches at the plate.
• The New York Yankees finally agreed to a new contract with Cody Bellinger, but that may not be the last free agent deal they make this offseason. The also Yankees claimed outfielder Michael Siani off waivers from the Dodgers.
• Seranthony Dominguez and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal.
• The Seattle Mariners acquired right-handed pitcher Cooper Criswell from the New York Mets for cash considerations.
• The San Francisco Giants made a push to land C.J. Abrams from the Washington Nationals, but the teams were unable to reach an agreement for the talented shortstop.

Well… Jose Ramirez MAY have just guaranteed he will be a Guardian through the end of his major league career.

As you may remember, we have had our issues with Hector Gomez, baseball insider, who claimed the Guardians had multiple pitchers being investigated for gambling aside from Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. Well… Gomez is reporting on Twitter that Jose has signed a 7/$175M deal with the Guardians taking him through 2032, his age 40 season, and making sure he will retire as a Guardian and likely holding almost every franchise record.

I don’t think Gomez would report this if he didn’t know it to be true as it would completely destroy his reputation. I also know Jose’s agent posted a photo earlier this week of him and Jose in Cleveland together. And now Zack Meisel of the Athletic is reporting the team and Ramirez are nearing a $106M extension through 2032, with $70M deferred.

I will bury the hatchet with Gomez if this is true, as it appears it is. Stinks what he did, but I will forgive him and let it go.

Also, I am done complaining about this offseason if this means I get to watch my favorite baseball player of all time play his entire career in Cleveland in front of me and my children.

Let it be true.

Unless you missed the news on The Weather Channel, local news channels, national news channels, from Facebook, Twitter, your co-workers, your mama and your grandma; there’s a storm brewing. Anywhere from four to eighteen inches of snow is headed. The grocery stores in my part of Braves Country were at DEFCON 2 on Thursday and it’s supposed to be completely to the north of us. I can’t imagine what it’s like where it is actually going to snow.

Makes me wonder if we’ll get a snow out this year. The Braves will be either at home or in warm weather spots to start the year. So no Ozzie Albies in a balaclava this year. So will there be a MLB snow out this season? Baseball really ought to play exclusively in warm weather sites the first week anyway.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to be a better ballclub in 2026 after finishing last place in the NL Central standings in 2025.

The Pirates made moves to boost their offense, which should help aid a pitching staff led by Cy Young award winner Paul Skenes. Bleacher Report writer Joel Reuter conducted power rankings and placed the Pirates at No. 23.

“The Pirates have made a legitimate effort to bolster their lackluster offense this winter, adding 2025 All-Stars Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn, signing the latter to the largest free agency deal (two years, $29 million) in club history. They might still be a year or two away from legitimate contention, but a lineup that averaged a MLB-worst 3.6 runs per game in 2025 has undoubtedly improved,“ Reuter wrote.

The teams that ranked below the Pirates and the Power Rankings are the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals and Colorado Rockies.

The Pirates are viewed as a team that is on the rise, but that’s because they didn’t have a high bar to begin with. They made some improvements this off-season, but that won’t be enough to gain them much more respect around the league. The Pirates will have to prove themselves on the field this season and outperform the expectations that have been placed upon them.

BD community, what do you think of the placement of the Pirates in the power rankings? Let us know your thoughts by chiming off in the comment section below.

A lot of people around the team’s fanbase are expecting the Phillies to have a worse season in 2026 than they had in 2025. Whether that be though lack of moves on the free agent/trade market or a natural regression to their true talent, there seems to be a bunch of things people see going wrong when peering into their own crystal ball.

However, if we had to look at the positive side of things, what is something that is most likely to bounce back from being a disappointment in 2025 this upcoming season? There are quite a few options:

• Aaron Nola coming back to being a good major league starter, a league average one at worst
• Bryce Harper being angry at everyone and regaining MVP status
• Alec Bohm enjoying a platform season before he enters free agency after the season

These are just a few options as there could be many more, so let’s dwell on the positive today.