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Rays Hire Joe Hudson, Beau Sulser In Player Development Roles

By Mark Polishuk | February 8, 2026 at 9:41pm CDT

The Rays have hired Joe Hudson and Beau Sulser to the team’s player development ranks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The hirings presumably indicate that Hudson and Sulser have ended their playing careers.

Hudson began his pro career as a sixth-round pick for the Reds in the 2012 draft, and his MLB career consisted of 19 games over parts of four seasons. The catcher suited up for the Angels, Cardinals, and Mariners during the 2018-20 seasons, and after three full years in the minors, Hudson returned to the Show for a single appearance with the Mets during the 2024 campaign. Over Hudson’s 33 plate appearances, he hit .167/.219/.200 with one double and one RBI.

Beyond the four teams Hudson played with at the Major League level, he played for several other organizations in the minors, including the 2022 season spent with the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate in Durham. It is fair to assume Hudson made a good impression on Rays officials during that season, resulting in this new role now that Hudson has decided to hang up the cleats at age 34.

Sulser never played for Tampa during his 12 pro seasons, though there is a family connection by way of his older brother Cole, who is in his second stint in a Rays uniform. Beau was a 10th-round pick for the Pirates in the 2017 draft, and the right-hander spent the majority of his career with Pittsburgh over four different stints with the organization.

Sulser’s only taste of the majors came in 2022, when he tossed 22 1/3 innings across 10 appearances with the Pirates and Orioles. Sulser had a 3.63 ERA over that cup of coffee in the Show, as well as a 4.47 ERA across 485 1/3 innings in the affiliated minor leagues. The 31-year-old’s career also includes three stops overseas, as Sulser pitched in the Australian Baseball League (in 2020), the KBO League (in 2023), and the Chinese Professional Baseball League (last season).

Injury Notes: McClanahan, Canning, Kemp

By Charlie Wright | February 8, 2026 at 8:25pm CDT

Rays fans have been waiting two years to see Shane McClanahan on a big-league mound. The electric lefty missed all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, then lost another season to a nerve issue in his triceps. McLanahan is on track to be ready for the 2026 campaign, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, though the southpaw will likely have his workload capped in some fashion.

McClanahan was solid in his 2021 debut, then morphed into an AL Cy Young candidate the following season. He put together 28 starts of a 2.54 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning in 2022. McClanahan capped off the year with a strong start against the Guardians in the Wild Card round. He tossed seven innings of two-run ball, but was outdueled by Shane Bieber.

Even if he faces some sort of innings limit, adding McClanahan back to the rotation will be a welcome sight for a depleted Rays staff. Drew Rasmussen and Ryan Pepiot sit atop the group, but the certainties end there. Shane Baz tied for the team lead with 31 starts last season, but he is now pitching in Baltimore. Veterans Zack Littell and Adrian Houser are no longer in the organization. Taj Bradley was sent to Minnesota at the trade deadline. Joe Boyle, free agent signee Steven Matz, and trade acquisition Yoendrys Gomez are candidates to fill out the rotation, and Littell could also potentially come back in free agency.

Griffin Canning is recovering from his own major injury. The free agent right-hander is working his way back from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered with the Mets last season. Canning threw for interested teams on Friday and hit 93 mph on the radar gun, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The Cardinals, White Sox, and Mets have been mentioned as possible destinations for Canning. The veteran was putting together a strong campaign before going down in June. Canning had a career-best 3.77 ERA through 16 starts after signing a modest one-year, $4.25MM deal with New York. He ramped up his slider usage while tweaking the characteristics of the pitch with his new team, and Canning added more than three inches of vertical drop and 1.5 inches of horizontal movement to his primary breaking ball. He also made adjustments to his changeup. The tweaks helped Canning regain some of the strikeout ability he lost in his final season with the Angels.

On the position player side, utilityman Otto Kemp is expected to be a full go for the upcoming season. Kemp fractured his kneecap less than two weeks after getting called up last year. He played through the injury for the rest of the campaign. Kemp underwent offseason surgery to fix the issue and also had a cleanup procedure done on his shoulder. He told NBC Sports Philadelphia in an interview that he’s bouncing back well from the operations.

“Feeling back to 100%, which is awesome,” Kemp said. “It’s refreshing to feel that way after playing a lot of baseball banged up.”

The now 26-year-old provided some pop in his first taste of the big leagues, hitting eight home runs in 62 games. He finished with a .411 SLG, though it came with a strikeout rate above 30%. Kemp is among the internal options to compete for platoon work alongside Brandon Marsh in the outfield.

T.R. Sullivan: A Retrospective On The Harold Baines-Sammy Sosa Trade

By Darragh McDonald | February 8, 2026 at 7:15pm CDT

T.R. Sullivan was a legend on the Rangers beat. He retired in December 2020 after 32 years writing for the Denison Herald, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and MLB.com. T.R. is also a friend to MLBTR. A couple of months ago, he kindly offered up a retrospective on the Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas trade. “I just felt like writing it,” T.R. explained. More recently, Texas got shut down by a snowstorm, which T.R. took as an opportunity to explore the 1989 trade involving Harold Baines, Sammy Sosa and others. We’re proud to publish it!

Texas Gov. George W. Bush was in the middle of an ultimately successful run for the White House in 2000 when he made a guest appearance on Late Night with David Letterman.

At one point, they started talking about Bush’s biggest mistakes, the ones he really regretted.

“Well,” Bush said with a sly smile. “I once traded away Sammy Sosa.”

The line got big laughs from the audience – coming at the height of Sosa’s career as a power-hitting outfielder – but probably not as much from Rangers fans watching at home in Texas. Bush’s twin daughters Jenna and Barbara probably weren’t amused either considering the same trade also involved Rangers shortstop Scott Fletcher.

The veteran infielder just happened to be their favorite player. They named their dog “Spot” in his honor.

The reality is Bush did not make that trade. True, he was the Rangers co-managing general partner in 1989 when Sosa, Fletcher and pitcher Wilson Álvarez were traded to the White Sox for outfielder Harold Baines and infielder Fred Manrique.

But the guy who made the trade was general manager Tom Grieve, who many years later would confess, “The minute I made that trade I knew it was a mistake. We made the deal for all the wrong reasons.”

The guy on the other end of the deal was White Sox GM Larry Himes, who would later hold the same position with the Cubs. In both jobs, Himes pulled off a trade that involved acquiring Sosa for a veteran All-Star designated hitter.

The first trade was not a popular one with White Sox fans at the time.

“It’s an unpopular decision as far as the fans are concerned…it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good decision,” Himes said in the Chicago Tribune.

The Rangers-White Sox trade came down on July 29, 1989. At the time, the Rangers were trying to stay alive in the A.L West race and the White Sox were in a rebuilding mode. It was a classic mid-season trade, just like hundreds of others that are made or at least talked about at the trade deadline down through the years.

But this trade turned out different. This is the trade that wouldn’t go away. Instead, as the years passed, it really did take on a life of its own with a bewildering number of twists and turns involving implications felt from the White House and halls of Congress to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

In short, the trade involved a future member of the Hall of Fame, but not the one everybody expected, the one who ended up having to testify in front of Congress on national television at the height of baseball’s steroids scandal.

It would be quite a stretch to say Harold Baines was ever considered a superstar at any point of his career. What is true is he was admired and respected, a consistently productive player popular among White Sox fans.

The story goes Baines was originally “discovered” by Bill Veeck while playing Little League baseball in his hometown of St. Michaels on Maryland’s Eastern Shore sometime around 1971. In December of 1975, Veeck led a syndicate that bought the White Sox and the club selected Baines with the first overall pick in 1977.

However it came down, it was an excellent pick. In 1980, Baines, at age 21, became a regular in the White Sox outfield. Three years later, he helped lead the White Sox to their first post-season appearance in 24 years when they won the A.L. West title.

They lost to the Orioles in the ALCS, but Baines had established himself at least as a star. Over a seven-year stretch from 1982-88, Baines hit .290/.343/.467 while averaging 21 home runs and 96 RBI per season.

During the 1988 season, Baines signed a two-year extension that kept him under contract through the 1990 season at a salary of $1.2 million. But the White Sox finished 71-90 in 1988 and went 8-16 in April to start the ’89 season.

Himes, with a deep background in scouting and player development, was eager to rebuild around young players but had little to offer. Baines was the best but had been relegated to designated hitter because of bad knees. In 1987-88, he started a total of 17 games in the outfield.

The Rangers went 70-91 in 1988, their second straight losing season after a surprising 87-75, second-place finish in 1986 under manager Bobby Valentine. The Rangers still had plenty of young talent and Grieve got aggressive at the 1988 Winter Meetings, trading for All-Star second baseman Julio Franco from the Indians and first baseman Rafael Palmeiro from the Cubs. They also signed free agent pitcher Nolan Ryan.

The changes paid off immediately as the Rangers began ’89 by going 17-5 in April, putting them in first place and on the cover of Sports Illustrated. They cooled off after that but were just 5 ½ games out at the All-Star break.

Grieve and Himes started talking early in the season and the discussions lasted for over two months. In June, the Rangers lineup took a hit when Buddy Bell, their best DH candidate, retired because of bad knees. Valentine made it clear he wanted a middle-of-lineup bat and there was no question Baines was the obvious target.

The White Sox wanted young players and the Rangers were loaded. In retrospect, they had one of the most talented farm systems ever assembled in baseball history. When the Rangers went to Spring Training, their system had no less than 10 players who would be selected All-Stars at some point in their careers.

Hall of Famer Iván Rodríguez was at the top of the list, along with pitchers Kevin Brown, Kenny Rogers, Roger Pavlik, Robb Nen and Álvarez, infielders Dean Palmer and José Hernández, and outfielders Juan González and Sosa. Pitcher Darren Oliver was never an All-Star but was on the Hall of Fame ballot for one year.

Himes wanted both González (19) and Sosa (20), who were playing at Double-A Tulsa. González was considered the best prospect with monster power potential. Sosa’s power wasn’t as pronounced yet, but he was 6-foot, 165 pounds and could run. In 1988, playing in the Florida State League, Sosa stole 42 bases and hit 12 triples, with the speed and the arm to be a dynamic defensive player.

Grieve balked at Himes’ price. He even told associates he wouldn’t trade either player for Baines.

Sosa, playing at Double-A Tulsa, got called up on June 16 when outfielder Pete Incaviglia was placed on the disabled list and went immediately into the lineup against the Yankees in New York. Sosa batted leadoff and played center field, going 2-for-4, in his first game.

He stayed up for a month, playing in 25 games and hitting .238/.238/.310, before being sent down on July 20.

While he was in Arlington, I asked Valentine what Sosa’s best season would look like. He said .280 with 20 home runs and 80 RBI.

Himes was more interested in Sosa’s speed. He was on record in the weeks leading up to the trade that the White Sox needed more speed. He professed his love for the 1959 Go-Go White Sox, a team that won the A.L. pennant on an offense built around speed.

“To win in (old Comiskey Park), you need speed on defense, speed on offense,” Himes told the Chicago Tribune. “We definitely need speed.”

Álvarez, at age 19, was called up by the Rangers on Monday July 24 to take a spot start against the Blue Jays. He had made just seven starts at Double-A Tulsa after a promotion from Class-A and went 2-2 with a 2.06 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP.

He was clearly a top pitching prospect, and Himes was hardly deterred when Álvarez got knocked out of the first inning against the Blue Jays without retiring a batter. Valentine said the fastball was outstanding, but Álvarez was tipping his off-speed pitches.

The two sides continued to talk the rest of the week. The White Sox also tried to get speedy Gold Glove outfielder Gary Pettis from the Tigers later that week, but that deal fell though.

The Rangers and the White Sox finally agreed to include Fletcher, which balanced out the financial part of the deal. Fletcher had been the Rangers starting shortstop for the previous three seasons, and had signed a three-year, $3.8 million extension in the winter. But the Rangers were starting to see progress from Jeff Kunkel, their No. 1 pick from 1983 who appeared ready to become their full-time shortstop.

Fletcher replaced Steve Lyons as the White Sox second baseman. Lyons and Manrique had been sharing the position. The White Sox preferred Lyons, and Manrique went to Texas as the typical utility infielder who ached for a full-time role.

Valentine spoke to Jim Fregosi, the White Sox manager in 1986-88, and received a positive report on Manrique’s defensive abilities. But Manrique’s slash of .258/.301/.365 in 320 games with the White Sox with just 11 home runs and 96 RBI hardly suggested the offensive talent to be an everyday player.

Grieve finally blinked and the trade was announced on Saturday morning of July 29: Baines and Manrique to Texas for Fletcher, Sosa and Álvarez. In Texas, the Rangers were lauded for doing what it took to keep their team in contention.

“For the past couple of years, we’ve been trying to fill the DH spot,” Grieve said. “We think we’ve filled in with the best DH in baseball. We just didn’t do this for the last two months of this season. Harold Baines is only 30. There is no reason why he can’t be our DH for the next 4-6 years.”

As for Chicago…

“Sosa has a chance to be a five-tool player,” Himes said. “We added one outstanding athlete to the organization. And when we look at Álvarez, we see a guy who can be a No. 1 or 2 starter.”

Veteran White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk didn’t see it that way, according to Chicago Tribune reporter Alan Solomon.

“Harold and Freddy for one major league player?” Fisk said. “Two major-leaguers for one. And not just a major leaguer. Harold Baines. Harold Baines. You know what I mean? Harold Baines.”

Three weeks later, the Rangers went to Chicago for a four-game weekend series, and, on the fourth day, the White Sox announced they were retiring Baines’ No. 3 jersey in a brief ceremony before Sunday’s game.

It was an impromptu gesture from out of the blue, clearly done to mollify the negative reaction to the trade. Baines was told before the game. His wife Marla wasn’t even there. His brother represented the family.

“As you know, I am a man of few words,” Baines said. “But I am appreciative of all the great times in Chicago. Thank you very much.”

Less than two weeks after the trade, Kunkel suffered a hyper-extended right knee. Manrique was given a chance to play but did not distinguish himself, making 11 errors in 54 games.

When Kunkel started 14 of the last 15 games, Manrique knew where he stood and wasn’t happy about it. Two days after the season was over, Manrique was arrested by Arlington police for driving while intoxicated.

Grieve called Manrique to offer support. He asked the player if there was anything the club could do to help.

“Yeah,” Manrique said. “Get me the hell out of here.”

The Rangers did so next year at the end of Spring Training, trading Manrique to the Twins for a player to be named later.

The Rangers struggled even with Baines being in the lineup and went 28-33 after the trade. Baines hit .285/.333/.390 in 50 games for Texas, missing nine games because of a strained left hamstring. He had two RBI in his last 20 games, and the Rangers finished 16 games behind the world champion Athletics.

The Rangers weren’t dismayed. Grieve kept pointing out the trade was for the long-term and Baines was coming back in 1990. He was also eligible for free agency after the season, but a contract extension was possible.

Baines was better in 1990, but the Rangers were not. They crashed and burned early, going 19-28 through the first two months and were 15 games out of first place at the end of May.

It never got better and the Rangers decided a sore-legged designated hitter really didn’t fit in with their long-term plans. Baines was hitting .290/.377/.449 with 13 home runs and 44 RBI through 103 games, when the Rangers traded him to the first-place Athletics for Minor League pitchers Scott Chiamparino and Joe Bitker.

Grieve, in reviewing the Baines-Sosa deal, ever honest admitted, “The trade was not a success. What the final outcome will be, time will tell. But I’m not suggesting the players we’re getting are the equivalent of what we traded to get Harold.”

Chiamparino at least had a chance to make up for the loss of Álvarez. At the time, he was pitching at Triple-A Tacoma with a record of 13-9 and a 3.28 ERA. He made five starts for the Rangers in September and was 1-2 with a 2.63 ERA. But then he developed chronic elbow problems over the next few years, and his career was pretty much over at the age of 27. He ended up working for agent Scott Boras.

It took time but Álvarez ended up fulfilling expectations. In 1993, he went 15-8 with a 2.95 ERA in helping the White Sox win the A.L. West. The Rangers finished second, eight games back.

Grieve, who was fired after the 1994 season, always insisted losing Álvarez was worse than Sosa. He pointed to the 1993 season.

“You don’t think Alvarez’s 15 wins would have made a difference?” Grieve said.

Neither Himes nor Sosa were with the White Sox in 1993. Himes was fired at the end of the 1990 season even though the White Sox won 94 games that year. Sosa, closely fulfilling Valentine’s assessment, hit .233 with 15 home runs and 70 RBI although he did steal 32 bases.

He was worse in 1992, hitting .203 with 10 home runs and 33 RBI. He also struck out 98 times in 316 at-bats. Sosa had the speed and arm strength to be a plus defender, but his hitting was questionable.

Himes still loved him and traded for him again. Himes was hired as the Cubs GM after the 1991 season and the following Spring Training he acquired Sosa and pitcher Ken Patterson from the White Sox for veteran outfielder-turned-DH George Bell.

One year later, Sosa hit 33 home runs for the Cubs. He was 24 and his strength was no longer speed and defense. It was sheer power. The entire world saw that in 1998 when he hit 66 home runs and was the 1998 N.L. MVP.

That was the year Sosa and Mark McGwire electrified baseball with their pursuit of Roger Maris; single-season home run record. McGwire finished with 70 but Sosa was at the top of his game. In nine-year stretch between 1995-2003, he averaged 49.3 home runs per season.

He retired after the 2007 season – a year spent with the Rangers – with 609 home runs, which should have made him an automatic selection to the Hall of Fame.

Except, Sosa was prominent among players who were allegedly linked to steroid use. Although there was never a “smoking gun,” to prove the allegations, the fact that the kid who Larry Himes loved for his speed and defense ended up looking like an Olympic weightlifter did not help his cause. As the issue of steroids increasingly dominated baseball, there was open speculation about the source of Sosa’s power.

At his 2004 State of the Union address, President Bush said it was time to get steroids out of sports. He didn’t mention Sosa. But Sosa was among those players called upon to testify before a Congressional committee on March 17, 2005. Sosa insisted he was clean but was unconvincing to the committee, the national television audience and ultimately Hall of Fame voters.

Sosa was on the Hall of Fame ballot from 2013 to 2022. In the 10^th and final year of the ballot, he received 18.5 percent of the vote. A player needs 75 percent to be elected. It was the highest percentage he received during his 10 years – one year he received just 7 percent – and his time was up.

Baines stayed in the game until 2001, a hired bat traded from one team to another, including two more stints with the team that retired his uniform in 1989. In 1999, 10 years after the trade, he was selected to the A.L. All-Star Game while serving as the Orioles designated hitter.

Six weeks later, he was traded to the Indians. By the time he retired in 2001, Baines had been traded five times in his 22-year career on July 29 or later during the season.

Baines retired with a .289 career batting average, 2,866 hits and 384 home runs, an admirable career free of any hint or suspicion of performance-enhancing drug taint. But, like Sosa, he received little support from the BBWAA Hall of Fame voters, dropping off after five tries with just 4.8 percent of the vote.

Eight years later, Baines was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans’ Committee. Sosa is still waiting.

Photo courtesy of Jerry Lai, Imagn Images

MLBTR Chat Transcript

By Mark Polishuk | February 8, 2026 at 7:05pm CDT

Mark P

Seems like a normal, quiet Sunday evening with nothing going on. What better time to talk some baseball during the Weekend Chat?!

BPballknower

Sounds like the carousel of trade rumors between Astros and Red Sox are heating up finally. Do they need a 3rd team to finally get it done?

Mark P

I would think the two teams would be able to work some kind of multi-player deal (involving Paredes and one of Abreu/Duran as the primaries) that addresses everyone’s issues. Involving a third team might help, or might just complicate things further.

Brockmire

Who ya got in the Big Pigskin Gamaroonie?

Mark P

Indiana/Miami was a few weeks ago, and the CFL doesn’t start for several months yet. What other football game could you possibly mean?

Jays Fan

Do the jays make a consolidation trade before opening day? Always thought they’d turn their surplus (Schneider, Loperfido) for someone like Jo Jo Romero

Mark P

This seems possible, since I find it hard to believe Romero will still be a Cardinal by Opening Day. But, the Jays might value having all of their depth back, since in my view there’s a lot of uncertainty over how many of their players will be able to replicate their 2025 numbers

Acuña

Will the Braves extend my contract this year?

Mark P

Atlanta holds $17MM club options on Acuna for both 2027 and 2028. There’s probably no rush to work out an extension just yet, plus the Braves would likely want to see Acuna deliver a full and healthy season before discussing a longer agreement.

Giants

Any chances that Posey pulls something else off to complete the offseason? I feel like he fixed some holes in the roster but could still use some help, especially on the pitching side. Maybe trade for a solid reliever (JoJo Romero) or free agent (Danny Coulombe) or hunt down one of the starters remaining on a lesser deal (Gallen, etc). It can’t be enough on the pitching side for them for sure, in my opinion, and do you think Posey has a strategy to wait out the market for some prices to drop?

Mark P

With the lineup more or less set, any remaining Giants moves will surely come on the pitching end. The bullpen adds you suggest make sense, and I’d prefer Gallen over any of the SF starters beyond the big two.

Yordan Alvarez

I break my hand and everyone forgets I am a top 5 hitter in the league

Mark P

I feel like I’ve written this before, but Alvarez in my view is one of the more underrated players in the league. Despite posting borderline-HOF numbers for a perennial contender, Alvarez seems to be frequently overlooked when discussing the game’s best hitters

Matt

Do you think MJ Melendez is the opening day left fielder, or is Benge still the favorite?

Mark P

Feels like Mets will give Benge every opportunity to make the team. If he doesn’t, frankly, I feel like there were better backup OF options out there than Melendez, who has yet to show he is a real Major League player

Brent

Mountcastle and Honeycutt to STL for Romero?

Mark P

The rebuilding Cardinals have no need for Mountcastle.

RocktheRed

Are the Nats going to make a major league signing of note or are we stuck with the waiver wire shuffle?

Mark P

Don’t expect anything too noteworthy from the Nats

Chat #15 same question

Worst contract in baseball history?

Mark P

Anthony Rendon or Kris Bryant come to mind. In terms of dollars against virtually no return, Strasburg’s second contract with Washington should be #1, but Strasburg’s past history with the Nats at least adds a bit of “I get it” logic to that signing

Pirates fan

We end up with Perades or Vientos?

Mark P

Paredes would be a huge coup for the Bucs, but I’m not sure how well they line up with the Astros in terms of Houston wanting a LHH outfielder. The Pirates could dangle another pitcher, potentially, or this might another case of the Pirates and Astros bringing in a third team to work out a trade

BMORE

STL doesn’t have a first baseman after trading Contreras. I could see them taking a flier on Mountcastle or pushing for Mayo for Romero.

Mark P

Firstly, Burleson will be getting most of the Cardinals’ 1B playing time. The Orioles aren’t moving Mayo for one year of a decent reliever.

Juan E

Any guess on options for A’s to improve rotation and bullpen???

Mark P

Scott Barlow’s on board now, but the A’s need more arms in both ends of the pitching staff, in my view.
It could be that Forst and company are working on some kind of creative trade for a starter, and there’s also the x-factor of what’s going on with Severino. By this point it is becoming less likely that Severino will be dealt, since then the Athletics just have another rotation hole to fill. As for the pen, it’ll probably be lower-cost, Barlow-esque additions.

Blood Orange

Who is your dark horse trade candidate before opening day?

Mark P

What the heck, I’ll stick with Severino.

Posey

Who can we get for Casey Schmitt ?

Mark P

If I’m Posey, I keep Schmitt as depth. He’s a decent injury fill-in at any infield position, so he’s a valuable guy to have on the bench.

Guest

Will Donovan play 3rd for the Mariners?

Mark P

Probably mostly plays 2B, but the plus of having Donovan is that the Mariners can now toggle him around the diamond (2B, 3B, or even in corner outfield slots) depending on how everything else plays out

Big game

Seattle or New England?

Mark P

I assume this is a Frasier-related question.
I found Frasier to be a more entertaining character on his original sitcom (set in Seattle) than he was on Cheers or in the spinoff (both set in Boston).

Guest

will the pirates aquire anybody to play third?

Mark P

Triolo is a very good defender, so going glove-only isn’t the worst result in the world at third base. But, Triolo works even better as a utility guy, so I’d prefer to see the Bucs add a bat

Rockford

What about Nick Martinez to the Orioles? That would give them 3 pitchers S

Mark P

Martinez raises Baltimore’s pitching floor, but doesn’t really raise the ceiling, which I think is the Orioles’ larger rotation issue.

Andy Asks About Mariners

I feel like Jerry DiPoto doesn’t get enough credit for what he and his staff have accomplished. No GM or PBO is going to be perfect, but wow, how good a spot are the Mariners in considering their market, payroll limits, etc. Are there more than three clubs better positioned than the Mariners for the next 3-5 years?

Mark P

I can’t blame Seattle fans for being critical, given how Dipoto’s tenure has been short on actual playoff appearances. But, the M’s seem to have turned that corner in a big way, and it wouldn’t at all be surprising if they won the WS this coming year.

Gaurdians

lineup really looks interesting. In a not so good way. Is there any hope to win the central against the royals and tigers who both got slightly better this offseason.

Mark P

I’d never rule out Cleveland, who have found ways to win despite several subpar lineups in recent memory. But, as written before, adding even one more prominent hitter would go such a long way to helping reinforce the Guards’ lineup and giving Ramirez some help

cam

will the astros sign a outfielder

Mark P

A trade is maybe more likely, but someone like Mike Tauchman is right there

Willy

Castellanos for Joc, who says no? (Philly releases Joc and saves a couple of dollars)

Mark P

The Rangers, because what’s in it for Texas?

Michael Kopech

I was a pivotal piece of the 2024 World Series title. Why am I getting no interest this offseason?

Mark P

A couple of teams have been linked to Kopech, but he has a lot of injuries and control problems on his resume. It isn’t that surprising to see him still available as Spring Training nears.

cam

can we get a good catcher to replace caratini for the astros like austin wells

Mark P

The Yankees aren’t moving Wells, and he is overqualified as a backup or part-timer

Astros71

What do you think about a Paredes trade?

Mark P

I think the Astros should just keep him. There is virtually no chance of Houston’s infielders all getting through the season healthy, so the “surplus” might not become much of a problem.

Sleepy

Colt Keith for Cam Smith. Who says no?

Mark P

Houston, since Keith has never played even an inning of outfield as a pro

Reds Fan

Realistic opinion and grade on the Suárez deal?

Mark P

Solid B+, maybe A- give the one-year commitment and salary. The Reds badly needed a big bat and they’ve got one with upside. There are some natural concerns over Suarez’s strikeouts and hot-and-cold nature, but in general, I really like the signing

SanDiegoPadresOfOakland

Hey Mark, with the Padres ownership situation heating up, do you expect a resolution and new owner in place by the completion of the 2026 season?

Mark P

Hard to predict, given all of the legal issues involving the team’s current ownership and the natural complications involved in finalizing a multi-billion dollar deal. The impending lockout after the 2026 season might also give pause to any potential owners. If I had to guess, I’d say a buyer does get found by the second half of 2026

Padres

Padres need Gallen more than any other team??

Mark P

I dunno about “any” other team, but he’d be a great fit for San Diego. Surrendering two draft picks for what might be a short-term (or even a one-year) commitment might be an obstacle for the Padres beyond the cost

Spud

Are the Brewers really going to pocket the 8 million they were going to pay Freddie, particularly when one considers the obvious lack of infield depth?

Mark P

I wonder if the Brewers are one of the teams in on Paredes. This is pure speculation on my part, but adding Paredes would be a very nice add

Lonnie

Winner of NL Central this year ?

Mark P

Who wins the NL Central?

Brewers (25.7% | 200 votes)

Cubs (46.7% | 363 votes)

Pirates (12.7% | 99 votes)

Reds (14.8% | 115 votes)

Total Votes: 777
(Sorry to Cardinals fans, but I’m realistically leaving them out of the mix.)

Michael

Why won’t Mark P answer me. Are the yankees going to make another move this off-season? Are they going to trade either dominguez or jones at some point?

Mark P

A big trade involving one of those two prospects is becoming less likely by the day. NY will make some lower-level moves still, but the heavy lifting is probably done.

Thomas

Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan. Will the be on the twins at the end of the year? I feel like we are going to trade everyone.

Mark P

Lopez is the likelier trade candidate due to his salary, but Ryan could very well also be moved if another team meets what is sure to be a huge asking price.
The Twins are an odd team to consider, as they still seemingly view themselves as possible contenders despite, you know (/gestures at everything over the last couple of years). If they struggle again in the first half, they might decide to go into a full-on fire sale.

Phanatic

What are the Phillies doing with Castellanos? Spring training is closing in… Has the game passed Dave Dombrowski or is he waiting to sail into retirement soon and left the team for his replacement?

Mark P

The lack of a Castellanos trade is no indictment on DD, though the decision to sign him was certainly a miss. Castellanos has as little trade value as any player in baseball — the likelier outcome was always Philly just releasing Casty, rather than another team (somewhat inexplicably) stepping up as a trade partner
If there’s a team out there that does have interest in Castellanos, why not just wait for the Phillies to release him, then sign him for a pittance?

CJ Abrams

Where am I playing this year?

Mark P

Still leaning towards the Nationals, but then again, I’m the same guy who thought Gore was also staying put.
The Giants and Mariners both finding second basemen removes two suitors from the list of potential Abrams trade candidates, so that doesn’t help Washington’s chances
I say second base even though Abrams is a shortstop, since I’m kind of assuming another team would explore a position change

Trout

Where do I play this season?

Mark P

Mostly DH, with some time in left field depending on how his health is holding up
If you’re asking that question in the sense of “will Trout be traded?”, the answer is no

criper

Is there a market for Patrick Sandoval with all the FA pitching still available?

Mark P

Sure, because there’s always a market for starting pitchers. Sandoval hasn’t pitched in well over a year now, however, so his value is limited

Bucco Basement

Why isn’t Lenyn Sosa more highly regarded by teams looking for a power hitting infielder (Red Sox and Pirates)?

Mark P

Because he doesn’t bring much to the table beyond power. Sosa never walks, and his contact numbers are only so-so.

Dodgers

Zhyir Hope, Jackson Ferris, and Alex Call for Yordan Alvarez. Who says no?

Mark P

Despite Alvarez’s big bat, his only role in LA is to play every day in left field, since Ohtani’s got the DH spot locked up. So this just isn’t a fit for the Dodgers.

Tiger Fan

Why didn’t Casey Mize push the arbitration envelope like Skubal. For his final year of arbitration $6.1 million seems pretty cheap.

Mark P

Beyond the obvious fact that Skubal’s track record is far better, Mize’s early-career injuries really dragged down his arb numbers

Guest

Its getting to be extension part of the offseason, lockout looming and relative weak FA class next offseason. Any noise of the Yanks trying to lockup Jazz, Bednar, or Grisham long term? What would Jazz get as F/A?

Mark P

The Yankees, as an organizational rule, don’t do contract extensions.
I don’t expect that trend to change this spring

Grayson

Wouldn’t playing Rafaela at 2B solve Boston’s outfield surplus and fix the hole in the infield?

Mark P

Rafaela’s best asset is his outstanding CF glove. Moving him to second base negates that.

Jays fan

i think the jays are done on upgrades till the tradeline. If the blue jays have a good record after two month how much more can they spend?

Mark P

Jays are all-in on spending and trying to win a championship with this core. I don’t think money will be much of an issue (at least in 2026) in terms of adding salary and talent at the deadline.

goat

Does Houston look at Bello as a return for Parades having a young controllable pitcher with Framber leaving

Mark P

Bello may be too pricey for an Astros team that would prefer to stay under the tax line, if possible

Say Hey

How much of a factor will moving in the fences affect the Royals?

Mark P

We’ll need to see the season play out before we can make that call. Ballpark renos are hard to predict, as any Orioles fan can tell you.
In theory, it should help KC (and also opposing hitters) leave the yard a little more often, but that might well impact the rotation just as much

Kyle

Any chance the Brewers extend Turang or Frekick?

Mark P

Frelick has four years of control remaining, and he doesn’t reach arbitration eligibility until next winter. Turang is making $4.15MM this season, and he has three arb years left as a Super Two player.
Turang is repped by Excel, who usually take their clients to free agency rather than sign extensions. So between that and the money Turang is already slated to earn through his arb years, Frelick is the likelier extension candidate of the two, since Turang’s window for inking a long-term deal may have already passed.

Mike

Why haven’t the Rangers extended Langford? He will only get more expensive

Mark P

Takes two to tango. I have no doubt the Rangers have at least floated an extension with Langford, but with $8MM already in his bank account via his signing bonus, he might have more comfort in betting on himself via arbitration raises and eventually free agency.
Langford will hit arbitration next winter, and is controlled through 2029. So there’s no real rush on Texas’ part to lock Langford up, but as I noted, their window to extend him on what might be a truly “team-friendly” type of contract might’ve already passed

Angels

Should halos have a complete rebuild? Trading Neto, Adell, Detmers, Soriano and any other pieces?

Mark P

A proper rebuild should’ve happened after Ohtani left, yet the Angels have remained sorta (very sorta) trying to win.

Chaim Bloomin’ Onion

I’m a little shocked Romero hasn’t been moved yet, you’d think he would of been the easiest

Mark P

That’s actually more of a reason why Romero is still on the team, probably. Because he’s a fit on so many rosters, the Cards are likely getting a lot of offers, and are comfortable waiting things out until teams start getting a little more desperate

Carrie Halas

Do you see the Phillies getting another starter before camp breaks

Mark P

I could see the Phils may making a late play for Gallen if he remains available. Walker is pushed to a pure relief role, and (if everyone is healthy) the Phils could adopt a six-man rotation once Wheeler is back.
This might be another decent landing spot for Nick Martinez, who could be toggled between the rotation or pen as situations warrant

Sleepy

I’m thrilled the Tigers came alive with the signing of Framber. It feels to me like they’re still a right handed bat with some boom away from World Series contention. We saw how impactful a single run can be in the playoffs, and how crushing it can be if you don’t get it.

Mark P

I haven’t been posting them, but there have been several “great job by the Tigers” comments in the queue, which is a marked change from….basically the whole offseason. Goes to show how just one big move can change the narrative of a winter.
Agree on Detroit still needing more hitting help. I think the Tigers have the pieces to have a better (or more consistent) offense, but bringing in one more proven bat would solidify things.

Bears

Bees?

Mark P

Beads?!

Hits Like Rays

Is this an “evaluation year” for the Rays? It looks like their 2026 strategy is to cycle through cast-offs, hope some of them hit enough to compete, and if not then clear the decks and bring up their own AAA players for 2027.

Mark P

I will never write off Tampa’s chances, and saying they won’t be in contention all but guarantees they’ll beat the Blue Jays like 10 times this season.
But on paper, the Rays have turned over a big chunk of their roster but still have as many question marks as they did back in October.

ClarkeinCuenca

Bryce Harper..,rebound year or bigger decline?

Mark P

I’m predicting a very good Harper season, maybe a borderline MVP year if he stays healthy. Maybe Dombrowski was being crazy like a fox with the “not elite” comment, knowing it’d light a fire under Harper

Walleye Wade

Danny Coloumbe ever go back to MN?

Mark P

All things being equal, you’d think Couloumbe would prefer to pitch for a contender, if he’s getting offers from those types of teams.

MoonBeamMcSwine

Breakout pitcher you’d want more… Andrew Painter or Nolan McLean?

Mark P

McLean, just because we’ve seen a bit of what he can do at the MLB level and because Painter is still an unknown quantity.

Jimmy Krak Korn

Can you put into words the loss of Buck Martinez?

Mark P

Buck has been involved with the team for basically the entirety of my Blue Jays fandom, and it’s been my pleasure to meet him on a few occasions. His retirement is well deserved, but Jays broadcasts just won’t be the same without him.

Mariners fan

Chances colt emerson breaks camp on mlb roster?( with a really good spring training)

Mark P

The Donovan trade lowered Emerson’s chances. He has only played six Triple-A games, so I think it’d take a truly special camp for him to win an Opening Day job. The likelier scenario is that he starts the year at Triple-A to get some more seasoning, and the M’s roll with Young/Bliss/Mastrobuoni until Emerson is ready
We’re over the two-hour mark now, so it’s time to wrap the chat up. Thanks for much for sending in your questions and participating, even though there’s not much to do toni…..wait, it’s Super Bowl Sunday?! Huh, who knew?
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Pirates, Red Sox Among Teams Interested In Isaac Paredes

By Mark Polishuk | February 8, 2026 at 4:37pm CDT

The Pirates and Red Sox are two of “at least five teams” discussing Isaac Paredes in trade talks with the Astros, according to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal. This is the first time Pittsburgh has been linked to Paredes, though the two-time All-Star has been known to be a Red Sox target for much of the winter.

Boston’s quest for infield help has been one of their primary offseason storylines, with such names as Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Ketel Marte, Eugenio Suarez, Nico Hoerner, Brendan Donovan and many others reportedly considered as free agent or trade targets. In Donovan’s case, Rome and Rosenthal report that the Sox had some negotiations with the Astros and Cardinals about a three-team trade that would’ve sent Paredes to Boston, Donovan to Houston, and presumably a multi-player prospect package to the rebuilding Cardinals.

Instead, St. Louis opted for another three-team trade with the Mariners and Rays, with Donovan landing in Seattle after months of speculation about the super-utilityman’s future. The specific breakdown of what the Cardinals might’ve gotten from the Astros or Red Sox isn’t known, but the Donovan deal netted St. Louis a recent first-round pitching prospect (Jurrangelo Cijntje), two other prospects (Tai Peete, Colton Ledbetter) and two 2026 draft picks in Competitive Balance Round B. The CBR picks are the only types of draft picks that can be traded, so the fact that the Rays and Mariners had such available selections and the Sox and Astros didn’t could have quite possibly been a factor in the Cards’ decision to accept that deal over the other three-team proposal.

Had the Cardinals been amenable to what the Red Sox and Astros offered, the deal would’ve checked off a couple of major boxes for the two AL teams. Paredes would’ve stepped right in as Boston’s everyday third baseman, adding right-handed balance to the Sox lineup and moving Marcelo Mayer over into the unsettled second base mix. Donovan is known for his multi-positional versatility, but he would’ve likely been Houston’s everyday left fielder, with the Astros starting infield then settling as Carlos Correa at third base, Jeremy Pena at shortstop, Jose Altuve at second base, and Christian Walker at first base. Yordan Alvarez is set for regular DH at-bats and neither Alvarez or Altuve are well-suited to left field work, so having Paredes in the fold creates something of a logjam for playing time if everyone is healthy.

Houston GM Dana Brown has repeatedly said that the Astros are fine with their infield situation, though this could be some gamesmanship at play, as recent reports suggested that the Astros may indeed still be looking to deal from their infield surplus. Rome and Rosenthal write that Paredes and Walker are both being floated in trade discussions, and “Paredes is more likely to be dealt than Walker, whose cumbersome contract and limited no-trade clause make it more difficult to move him.”

The three-year, $60MM free agent deal Walker signed last winter contains a six-team no-trade clause. Beyond the money and the no-trade protection, Walker is also entering his age-35 season, and he hit only .238/.297/.421 over 640 plate appearances (translating to a 99 wRC+) in his first season in Houston. Paredes missed almost two months of the 2025 season due to a hamstring injury but was terrific when he did play, batting .254/.352/.458 across 438 PA.

It isn’t an ideal situation for the Astros that one of their better and less-expensive players might be their most logical trade candidate. However, because Houston’s other infielders seem less likely to be moved for a variety of reasons, dealing Paredes might be the best way for Houston to both alleviate the infield surplus, and add a much-needed left-handed bat to the outfield.

As Rome and Rosenthal note, the most obvious way for the Astros and Red Sox to address their twin needs would simply be to make a deal with each other, since Boston has a plethora of left-handed hitting outfielders. Jarren Duran has been viewed as the outfielder the Sox may be most willing to move, though Rome/Rosenthal write that the Astros prefer Wilyer Abreu over Duran, in part because of price. Abreu doesn’t reach arbitration eligibility under next winter, while Duran is making $7.7MM in 2026 and his salaries will continue to rise over his remaining two arb years.

It remains to be seen if the Astros and Red Sox could finally line up on a deal themselves, or if perhaps another third party could get involved to help facilitate a trade. There’s also the possibility that Houston could move Paredes elsewhere entirely, given the widespread interest in his services.

The Pirates and Astros already joined forces on a prominent trade back in December, when the two clubs and the Rays engaged in a three-team swap. The Buccos traded from their rotation depth in moving Mike Burrows to Houston in that deal, while Pittsburgh bolstered its lineup by acquiring Brandon Lowe and Jake Mangum. Between that trade, the Ryan O’Hearn signing, and the deal with the Red Sox that brought Jhostynxon Garcia into the outfield picture, the Pirates have made a priority of adding some much-needed hitting help to the roster.

Landing Paredes would arguably be the biggest move of all for the Pirates’ offense, and it would fill a hole at third base. Jared Triolo is Pittsburgh’s projected starter at the hot corner, and while Triolo is a plus defender, he has hit only .221/.303/.334 over his last 822 PA in 2024-25. In terms of how the Bucs could meet Houston’s needs, the Pirates have multiple outfielders who are either lefty swingers or switch-hitters, yet none seem like exactly a fit. Oneil Cruz likely isn’t going anywhere, Bryan Reynolds is probably too pricey for the Astros, and neither Mangum or Jack Suwinski would provide clear offensive help.

What other teams could speculatively be in on Paredes? Many contenders are already set at the corner infield slots, though if Paredes is viewed as an upgrade over an incumbent, a deal could be swung with a third team involved. On paper, the Brewers, Tigers, Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Athletics stand out as contenders or would-be contenders who could stand to improve at at least one of the first or third base positions.

Mets To Sign MJ Melendez

By Charlie Wright | February 8, 2026 at 4:25pm CDT

4:25PM: The deal is a split contract that will pay Melendez a lesser salary for time spent in the minors, as per Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic. The Mets view Melendez as primarily an outfielder, but with the potential to chip in at first base, and act as an emergency catcher.

2:47PM: The Mets have agreed to a one-year deal with MJ Melendez, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. It’s a $1.5MM pact that includes $500K in incentives. Melendez is a Boras Corporation client.

Melendez broke camp with the Royals last season, but was sent to Triple-A midway through April. He spent another week with the big-league club in July, and finished his 2025 season with just five hits in 65 MLB plate appearances. Kansas City non-tendered Melendez after the season rather than pay him a projected $2.65MM in arbitration, and he wraps up his time in the organization with an 88 wRC+ over 1652 PA across parts of four seasons — a disappointment for a player once considered one of the Royals’ top prospects.

The 27-year-old Melendez did well to garner a guaranteed deal after the rough showing in not just 2025, but for the bulk of his big league career. The Mets are likely intrigued by his numbers at Omaha last season (.261/.323/.490 with 20 homers and 20 steals over 480 plate appearances) and his past top-100 prospect pedigree. Melendez is also arbitration-controlled through the 2029 season, due to Super Two status.

While the Royals were ready to part ways with Melendez, there is some change-of-scenery potential as he heads to Queens. For a relatively inexpensive one-year deal, it’s a risk the Mets are willing to take, though it should be noted that Melendez’s overall price tag is boosted by New York’s luxury tax overages. Because the Mets have exceeded the top tax threshold in each of the last four seasons, Melendez will really cost the team $3.15MM, between Melendez’s salary and then the 110% tax bill.

On paper, Melendez provides some outfield depth for a team planning to give star prospect Carson Benge a full shot at the everyday left field job. Benge has yet to make his Major League debut, so having another experienced outfielder like Melendez on hand gives the Mets some coverage if Benge isn’t yet ready for the Show. That said, Melendez (a converted catcher) has been a subpar defender as a left fielder, so he remains a question mark with both his glove and his bat.

Examining Jordan Hicks’ Future With The White Sox

By Charlie Wright | February 8, 2026 at 12:56pm CDT

The White Sox acquired right-hander Jordan Hicks as little more than a financial chip, allowing the Red Sox to trim payroll for the price of an intriguing prospect. Boston escaped from $16MM of the $24MM they owed the veteran through 2027. To facilitate the maneuver, the Red Sox sent over right-hander David Sandlin, who immediately slotted in as a top 10 prospect in Chicago’s system, per FanGraphs.

It’s a solid piece of business for an organization with ample payroll flexibility. Even after adding Hicks, Austin Hays, and Seranthony Dominguez, the White Sox project to have the fourth-lowest payroll in the league. FanGraphs’ RosterResource tool has the club at $86MM, right in line with the $85MM it spent last season.

So where does that leave Hicks? He struggled with the Giants last season and was even worse when he came to the Red Sox as part of the Rafael Devers trade. The starter experience went well with San Francisco early in 2024, but has since looked like an ill-advised path. Hicks is now two years and three franchises removed from being a dominant reliever. He joins a Chicago roster with little in the way of talent and experience in the bullpen.

Hicks debuted with the Cardinals in 2018. He quickly gained notoriety for a 100-mph sinker that generated just as many cool GIFs as it did broken bats. Harnessing the pitch was an issue, as Hicks recorded a bloated 13.3% walk rate in his first MLB stint. He opened the 2019 campaign as the primary closer, but a UCL tear ended his season in June. The injury would kick off a lengthy stretch marred by health concerns. Hicks missed time over the next four years with elbow, forearm, neck, and arm fatigue issues.

St. Louis got a healthy first half out of Hicks in 2023 and used the opportunity to deal him to Toronto. He was solid with the Blue Jays, mostly setting up for incumbent closer Jordan Romano. Hicks landed a decent four-year, $44MM commitment from the Giants that offseason. He earned a spot in the rotation, and the transition initially went swimmingly. Hicks allowed two earned runs or fewer in his first seven starts with San Francisco. He expanded the usage of his secondaries while trimming his velocity to a more sustainable level.

Hicks trended down after the solid first month as a starter. His fastball steadily lost ticks as the innings piled up. After allowing 12 runs across 13 innings to open July, Hicks was booted from the rotation. He was given another shot as a starter this past season, but it went even worse. Hicks was strictly a reliever once he joined the Red Sox.

It seems pretty clear from the past two years of results that Hicks’ lone path to big-league viability is as a reliever. That’s where the Chicago front office landed after bringing him in.

“At its floor, we have a guy who can really help us in the bullpen, get him back on track, being that he’s been kind of back and forth on different roles, a couple of different stops along the way,” general manager Chris Getz told reporters, including Scott Merkin of MLB.com. “I think the White Sox are at [their] best if he’s at his best in the bullpen.”

The run prevention results were bad (8.20 ERA), but Hicks posted a strong 111 Stuff+ in 18 2/3 innings out of the Boston bullpen. His sinker and slider were at 115 and 117, respectively. Hicks’ four-seamer and splitter graded out poorly, though he used them infrequently.

“Our stuff grades, both metrically and our scouting evaluations, are still really strong,” Getz said. “There’s likely some tweaking that can go with his arsenal … It sounds like it’s in a really good spot … We think he’s a guy that is not too far off from being the guy he once was.”

Chicago has gone three straight seasons without a reliever securing double-digit saves. Liam Hendriks was the last to do it, with 37 in 2022. Jordan Leasure paced the team with seven saves in 2025. Grant Taylor and Mike Vasil combined to close out 10 games. Leasure, Taylor, and Vasil should remain in the late-inning mix. Dominguez will likely be the closer to start the year, but he’s a candidate to get moved at the trade deadline if he performs well.

Hicks should get the chance to work his way into high-leverage spots. A Dominguez trade would open the door for a two-month trial as the closer. Hicks will be under contract for $12MM in 2027. He could serve as an affordable stopper next season. There are several “ifs” and “coulds” in that scenario, but for his part, Hicks sounds ready to return to a prominent role. He told reporters that he hit 99.5 mph in a recent bullpen session. The reliever added that he wasn’t sore the next day after sitting in the upper 90s during the outing.

“That’s telling me that my body’s in a good place,” Hicks said.

Poll: How Will The Yankees’ Rotation Fare In 2026?

By AJ Eustace | February 8, 2026 at 11:27am CDT

Much has been made of the Yankees’ apparent offseason strategy of “running it back.” While retaining Trent Grisham and especially Cody Bellinger surely count as successes, some fans were hoping for more tangible improvements. Aaron Judge will be 34 in April, and there are only so many years left in his prime (at least as a perennial MVP candidate). The Blue Jays, Orioles, and Red Sox have all upgraded their rosters, meaning the Yankees will have their work cut out for them in 2026.

One area with a range of potential outcomes is the rotation. The group performed quite well in 2025, placing eighth in the league with a combined 13.5 fWAR. Max Fried and Carlos Rodón were the biggest reasons for that success. Fried excelled in a career-high 195 1/3 innings, showcasing his signature control and groundball tendencies en route to a fourth-place finish in AL Cy Young voting. Rodón matched Fried’s innings total in his best season as a Yankee, posting a 3.09 ERA with an above-average 25.7% strikeout rate and cutting down on home runs. Rookie Will Warren made 33 starts and showed promise, as did Cam Schlittler in a second-half callup.

The ceiling is clearly high, especially if Warren and Schlittler do well in their sophomore campaigns. Still, there are downside risks related to injuries, underperformance, and depth. Starting with injuries, Gerrit Cole will be back at some point after missing last year due to Tommy John surgery. Prior to that, he only pitched half a season in 2024 due to elbow inflammation. He is now 35 years old with his last full-season workload coming in 2023, when he won the AL Cy Young award.

Manager Aaron Boone said last week that Cole has “had a good rehab” with “no hiccups” (link via Manny Randhawa of MLB.com). It’s not a matter of whether he will perform well when he returns. The question is whether he will sustain his ace-level, pre-injury performance now that he is in his mid-30s and coming off of injury. There is also the matter of volume, as even a June return from Cole would leave several months’ worth of innings for other starters to cover.

Rodón is in a similar spot after undergoing surgery in October to remove loose bodies in his elbow. He is more likely to avoid starting 2026 on the 60-day injured list than Cole, with Rodón aiming to return in late April or early May. He is two years younger than Cole, so he’s less of a risk to suddenly decline. The question with Rodón is whether he can repeat his 2025 performance. A look at his Statcast page offers reason for optimism, with his fastball, breaking, and offspeed run values all grading in the 91st percentile or better. That said, he was more of a mid-rotation starter in 2024, when he posted a 3.95 ERA and allowed 1.59 home runs per nine innings. Both he and Cole are under contract through 2028.

As for the younger arms, a lot of the rotation’s success depends on improvement from Warren and Schlittler maintaining his performance over a larger sample. For Warren, that comes down to improving his secondary offerings. While his fastball graded out in the 95th percentile by run value, his breaking and offspeed pitches were points of struggle. His slider was his main breaking pitch, but Statcast considered it 10.6 runs below average. His curveball and changeup were both at least 4.6 runs below average. His 24.1% strikeout rate was impressive, but he’ll need to sharpen his secondary offerings and cut back on hard contact if he wants to become a true mid-rotation starter.

Schlittler was a revelation in 14 starts last year. He had a 2.96 ERA and a 27.3% strikeout rate in 73 innings during the regular season and turned in an all-time rookie performance in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Red Sox. His ceiling is arguably higher than Warren’s, although there are similar questions regarding his secondary offerings and control. Statcast took a negative view of his curveball and slider, which he only used a combined 17.3% of the time. Meanwhile, his 10.2% walk rate could use some improvement. None of that diminishes the value of his plus fastball, of course. Still, he’ll need to make adjustments in order to sustain last year’s performance.

Outside of those arms, the club has Luis Gil and newly-acquired Ryan Weathers on hand. Gil won the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2024 but only threw 57 innings over 11 starts last year due to a right lat strain. His 3.32 ERA was good on the surface, but his peripheral numbers – 4.94 xERA and 4.63 FIP – painted him about a run and a half higher. His struggles with control are well-known at this point, and he also suffered a 10.0% drop in strikeout rate in 2025.

Weathers has 86th-percentile fastball velocity, but he has only thrown 281 big-league innings since debuting in 2021. Last year, he was limited to eight starts and 38 1/3 innings due to left flexor and lat strains. The Yankees shelled out four prospects to acquire him, so they’ll give him a chance to harness his fastball while betting on better health. Otherwise, the team has Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn as depth options. Yarbrough did well enough last year, but neither option inspires much confidence if they need to cover significant innings. Meanwhile, Clarke Schmidt underwent UCL surgery in July, so he won’t be an option until the second half, if at all.

How do you think the Yankees’ rotation will fare in 2026? Be sure to let us know in the poll.

Photo courtesy of Rafael Suanes, Imagn Images

Looking At The Angels’ Internal Infield Options

By AJ Eustace | February 8, 2026 at 9:44am CDT

The Angels have had a quiet offseason. It can be argued their biggest move was restructuring Anthony Rendon’s final year under contract, with the two parties deferring his $38MM salary over five years. In terms of adding to the roster, the club signed Jordan Romano, Drew Pomeranz, Kirby Yates, and recently Brent Suter for the bullpen. They’ve also bought low on Alek Manoah, Grayson Rodriguez, and Josh Lowe (the latter two by trade) and re-signed Yoan Moncada to play third base.

With Moncada being a returning player, the Angels’ infield hasn’t seen much of an upgrade. Perhaps that’s due to financial uncertainty. The club recently terminated its contract with Main Street Sports and may consider turning over their broadcasts to MLB – generally a less-lucrative arrangement. Whatever the reason, the team’s infield still has some question marks, especially at second base. What options do the Angels have at present? Let’s take a look at the possibilities:

Christian Moore

Moore is the incumbent at the keystone after Luis Rengifo, who led Angels second basemen with 260 plate appearances last year, became a free agent. He was the club’s first-round draft pick in 2024 and will get plenty of opportunities on that basis alone. That said, Moore struggled mightily at the plate in his debut season in 2025. In 184 PA across 53 games, he batted .198/.284/.370 and graded out 18% below average by wRC+. His 10.3% walk rate was a positive, but that was outweighed by a 33.7% strikeout rate. Moore also has room for improvement on defense, with Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average both taking a negative view of his work at the keystone. The key for him in 2026 will be making more consistent contact and getting on base so he can take advantage of his 78th-percentile speed.

Vaughn Grissom

Grissom was acquired from the Red Sox two months ago. He owns a career line of .255/.309/.346 with an 82 wRC+ in 350 PA for the Braves and Red Sox from 2022-24. Unfortunately, he didn’t play at all in the majors in 2025, instead spending the year at Triple-A. While he was above-average there and posted good strikeout and walk numbers, time is running out for him to prove himself at the big-league level. Grissom’s defense at second base is on par with Moore’s (-3 DRS and -8 OAA in 613 innings), so he’ll need to outhit Moore to compete with the recent draftee for playing time. Grissom is out of options and comes with five additional years of team control.

Oswald Peraza

Peraza is a former Yankees prospect who has yet to make an impression in the majors outside of a late-season callup in 2022. In 524 PA from 2022-25, Peraza has batted just .189/.260/.282 with a 54 wRC+. He has also struck out at a 27.1% clip in his career, including 34.7% of the time in 95 PA with the Angels in 2025. He has only played 205 career innings at second base, although DRS and OAA both see him as slightly above average. Apart from his range, Peraza also has 81st-percentile arm strength, so the Angels might take advantage by playing him across the infield. Of course, he’ll need to cut back on the strikeouts and get on base more frequently to justify a bigger role than “defensive replacement.”

Denzer Guzman / Kyren Paris

Guzman was an international signing in 2021 and made his big-league debut at the end of last year, albeit for just 43 PA. He batted .247/.343/.426 with a 119 wRC+ across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, showing decent power with 17 home runs. Paris was the Angels’ second-round draft pick in 2019 and has made 245 PA in the majors from 2023-25. He is a steady defender but hasn’t shown anything with the bat, with a career wRC+ of 50 and an extremely high 42.1% strikeout rate in 140 PA last year. Even as depth pieces, Guzman and Paris are lower on the pecking order than Grissom and Peraza. Both have at least one option remaining, so they’re likely ticketed for Triple-A.

Minor-League Signings

Trey Mancini and Jeimer Candelario are in the organization on minor-league deals and will likely attend big-league Spring Training. Both are veterans with minimal track records in recent years. Mancini was out of baseball entirely in 2024 and spent 2025 with the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate, hitting 10% better than average by wRC+ in 335 PA. His last productive big-league season was in 2022 (105 wRC+). Candelario was released by the Reds mid-way through last year after seeing his offense crater compared to the heights of his 2023 campaign. In 554 PA since the start of 2024, he owns a wRC+ of just 76 and has struggled badly to get on base. Candelario is limited to the infield corners and Mancini to just first base, so their ceilings are essentially as backups if Moncada or Nolan Schanuel get injured.

Photo courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images

Keegan Akin Loses Arbitration Hearing

By AJ Eustace and Charlie Wright | February 7, 2026 at 10:59pm CDT

Left-hander Keegan Akin lost his arbitration hearing against the Orioles, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. He will earn $2.975MM in 2026. Akin filed at $3.375MM but will earn $400K less than that figure in his final trip through arbitration. Akin is a client of All Bases Covered Sports Management.

The 30-year-old (31 in April) has thrown 368 innings for the Orioles since debuting in 2020. He spent his first two seasons in 2020-21 as a swingman before converting to a full-time reliever in 2022. He had a 3.20 ERA in 81 2/3 innings that year and stood out with a 49.3% groundball rate and just a 6.1% walk rate. He struggled mightily in 2023, posting a 6.85 ERA in 23 1/3 innings and missing most of the season with a lower back injury. He had his best season in 2024. Akin had a 3.32 ERA in 78 2/3 innings that year while posting career-best strikeout and walk numbers (24.9% K-BB rate).

This is the first instance of a team winning an arbitration hearing this offseason. Players had been 5-for-5 before Akin’s defeat. The left-hander is in his final year of arbitration. He made $825K in his first trip through the process, then $1.475MM last season. Akin and the Orioles were able to come to an agreement before heading to an arbitration hearing the first two times.

Akin stepped into the closer’s role over the final two months of the 2025 campaign after Felix Bautista went down with a shoulder injury and Seranthony Dominguez was shipped to Toronto at the trade deadline. The lefty picked up eight saves across August and September, though he also blew three opportunities. Akin’s handedness and middling velocity don’t make him an obvious closer candidate, but he entered the offseason as the potential favorite for the role. Baltimore then added a pair of backend arms in Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge, all but guaranteeing Akin will slide back into a role geared toward the 7th and 8th innings.

Last season saw Akin make a pair of pitch arsenal adjustments. He bumped his changeup usage to a career-high 19.9%. The pitch held opponents to a measly .103 batting average. It was his most effective offering in terms of Run Value (+6). Akin also tweaked the movement of his fastball, adding two inches of horizontal break and more than an inch of vertical drop. That tweak did not go so well, as hitters slugged .566 against Akin’s heater. It generated a negative Run Value for the first time in his career.

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