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Pierson Ohl To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

By Steve Adams | February 23, 2026 at 11:15am CDT

Rockies right-hander Pierson Ohl, just acquired in a trade with the Twins last month, has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will undergo Tommy John surgery, reports Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Obviously, Ohl will miss the entire 2026 season. He can be transferred to the 60-day IL the next time Colorado needs a roster spot.

The 26-year-old Ohl made his big league debut with Minnesota in 2025, pitching 30 innings with a 5.10 earned run average — mostly out of the bullpen. He was outstanding in the minors, totaling 71 1/3 frames with a 2.40 ERA, a 30.3% strikeout rate and just a 3.9% walk rate. Ohl doesn’t throw hard, averaging only 91.9 mph on his four-seamer, but FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen credited him with a plus changeup (60 on the 20-80 scale) and potential plus-plus (70) command this past summer.

Though he’s not yet firmly established in the majors, Ohl had a clear opportunity to win a spot in Colorado’s bullpen. Victor Vodnik, Seth Halvorsen, Juan Mejia, Jimmy Herget, Brennan Bernardino and starter-turned-swingman Antonio Senzatela are highly likely to have spots, but Rule 5 pick RJ Petit is no lock to make the club and several of the other relievers still have minor league options remaining.

Those hopes are now dashed for the upcoming season. If there’s a silver lining for Ohl, it’s that moving to the 60-day IL will keep him in the majors all season, netting him a year of big league service and big league pay. The $780K major league minimum is nearly eight times the $100K bonus that Ohl received when signing as a 14th-round pick out of Grand Canyon University back in 2021.

Even if Ohl spends the entire 2026 season on the 60-day injured list and accrues a full year of service, he’ll still be a potential long-term option for Colorado. He came to the Rockies with just 62 days of MLB service, so he’d finish the season at 1.062 years and remain under club control — with a full slate of three minor league option years — for at least another five seasons. Ohl and former top infield prospect Edouard Julien (who’s out of minor league options) were traded from Minnesota to Colorado in exchange for pitching prospect Jace Kaminska late last month when the Twins needed some 40-man space.

Marlins’ Graham Pauley Shut Down Due To Forearm Issue

By Steve Adams | February 23, 2026 at 10:39am CDT

Marlins infielder Graham Pauley has been shut down from all baseball activity due to ongoing tightness in his forearm, manager Clayton McCullough told the team’s beat this morning (via Kevin Barral of Fish On First). Pauley has been sent for imaging to get a better idea of what’s causing the discomfort, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com adds. The team should have an update within the next couple days.

The 25-year-old Pauley has a chance to break camp as Miami’s everyday third baseman, so any injury requiring him to miss time would be particularly noteworthy. The former Padres farmhand came to Miami in the Tanner Scott swap two years ago. He didn’t hit much in the 184 plate appearances he logged in the majors this past season (.224/.311/.366) but showed quality defensive skills and the same keen eye at the plate (11.4%) for which he’s gotten praise throughout his minor league tenure. Pauley hit well in 37 Triple-A games last year, slashing .263/.342/.511 with eight homers and five steals.

Pauley’s primary competition at the hot corner is fellow 25-year-old Connor Norby — another trade acquisition (Trevor Rogers) who’s hoping to solidify himself in the majors. Norby, a former top prospect with the Orioles, has hit .245/.298/.407 in 531 MLB plate appearances so far. He has more power than Pauley but with a more concerning strikeout/walk profile and lesser defense. He hasn’t put it all together in the majors yet, but Norby has torched minor league pitching, including a .296/.371/.502 line in 1155 plate appearances at the Triple-A level between the Baltimore and Miami organizations.

Additional options for the Marlins at third base are few and far between. Both Christopher Morel and Deyvison De Los Santos have considerable experience at the position, but neither is a good defender. Morel will move to first base after signing as a free agent; De Los Santos (acquired from the D-backs a couple years ago in the A.J. Puk trade) played 556 innings at first base last year and only 229 at third base. He was exclusively a first baseman in winter ball this offseason. Utilityman Javier Sanoja looked solid with the glove in 41 games at third last year but hit just .243/.287/.396 in 342 plate appearances.

If Pauley winds up having to miss time and the Marlins feel their third base depth is insufficient, there are still a handful of options on the market. Jon Berti, Emmanuel Rivera, Luis Urías and Jose Iglesias are among the still-unsigned infielders capable of handling the hot corner. Other options will surely present themselves in the weeks ahead, either as veterans opt out of minor league deals or as players are designated for assignment to make room for non-roster veterans, thus leading them to waivers or the trade market.

Pirates Sign Carson Fulmer To Minor League Deal

By Steve Adams | February 23, 2026 at 9:13am CDT

The Pirates have signed right-hander Carson Fulmer to a minor league contract, reports Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Fulmer, a client of Icon Sports Management, receives an invite to big league spring training and has already arrived at Pirates camp.

Fulmer, 32, was the No. 8 overall pick back in 2015. He hasn’t matched that draft status or the considerable fanfare he generated during his Vanderbilt days, but he’s pitched decently in a multi-inning role for the Angels across the past three seasons, logging a combined 4.43 ERA, 20.9% strikeout rate, 10.2% walk rate and 42.3% ground-ball rate in 126 innings (44 relief appearances, nine starts).

As Alex Stumpf points out, this is somewhat incredibly the fourth stint for Fulmer in the Pirates organization — despite never actually appearing in a major league game with them. Pittsburgh claimed Fulmer off waivers from the Tigers back in August of 2020 and immediately optioned him. He was designated him for assignment a couple weeks later and lost to the Orioles via waivers. The Bucs claimed him back from the Orioles three weeks later and even recalled him to the big league roster for the final couple days of the season, but he didn’t pitch in a game. Fulmer was designated for assignment the following spring and claimed by the Reds.

The Pirates also signed Fulmer to a minor league contract and brought him to camp last spring. He didn’t make the club but did spend the first two months of the season pitching for Triple-A Indianapolis, where he logged a 4.64 ERA in 42 2/3 innings (seven relief appearances, six starts). Those numbers generally align with Fulmer’s performance in parts of what is now nine seasons at the Triple-A level.

Pittsburgh’s bullpen is largely set, but there are at least a couple spots up for grabs this spring. Dennis Santana, Gregory Soto, Isaac Mattson, Justin Lawrence and Carmen Mlodzinski all figure to be on the Opening Day roster, health permitting. Left-hander Mason Montgomery, acquired alongside Brandon Lowe in the three-team deal sending righty Mike Burrows to Houston, should have a strong chance to make the club, too. The final two spots will be a contest including Evan Sisk, Kyle Nicolas, Cam Sanders and Yohan Ramirez. Since he’s out of minor league options, Ramirez might have an advantage. Non-roster invitees joining Fulmer in big league camp include Chris Devenski, Joe La Sorsa and Beau Burrows.

The Opener: Kelly, Pitching Market, Camp Battles

By Nick Deeds | February 23, 2026 at 8:59am CDT

On the heels of a pair of signings, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Kelly, D-backs await MRI results:

Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly was scratched from a scheduled live batting practice over the weekend due to mid-back tightness, according to a report from Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Kelly and manager Torey Lovullo indicated at the time that the decision was mostly precautionary, but Kelly was still sent for an MRI in order to determine the severity of the issue. Those results are expected back today, writes Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. The veteran Kelly has already been named as the team’s Opening Day starter for 2026, but an injury could end up scuttling those plans. If a trip to the injured list is needed, that could settle the question of who will join Kelly, Zac Gallen, and Ryne Nelson in the rotation; Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Michael Soroka are vying for the final two spots.

2. When will the pitching market heat up?

Both Michael Conforto and Thairo Estrada found new homes on minor league deals this morning, and first baseman Rhys Hoskins did so yesterday. A number of the top remaining positional free agents have begun coming off the board, but we haven’t seen as much action with the final few names on the pitching market. Starters like Lucas Giolito, Zack Littell and Tyler Anderson remain available, while the relief market still includes names like Michael Kopech, Danny Coulombe and Tommy Kahnle. Whether these pitchers are willing to sit out a significant portion of Spring Training in order to get the best deal possible remains to be seen, but most clubs are just one or two injuries away from feeling pressure to add depth. When will the dam break?

3. Camp battles beginning around the league:

With Spring Training games now underway, players around the league with uncertain roles are set to battle for various jobs. In many cases, that’s due to a surplus of viable options with minimal established talent. The Astros’ outfield, for example, has a number of intriguing players like Cam Smith, Joey Loperfido, and Zach Cole, but only Jake Meyers figures to be handed an everyday job coming into camp. Over in Milwaukee, manager Pat Murphy indicated the Brewers have not yet settled on roles for their high leverage relievers. That leaves 2025 closer Trevor Megill to try and fend off Abner Uribe, Jared Koenig, and any other challengers if he wants to keep his ninth-inning job for 2026. Similar situations will play out around the league, creating plenty of intrigue as fans and teams get back into the swing of another baseball season.

Cubs To Sign Michael Conforto

By Nick Deeds | February 23, 2026 at 8:30am CDT

8:30am: Conforto is signing a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp, per ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.

6:55am: The Cubs are signing outfielder Michael Conforto, according to a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The terms of the deal are not yet known. The Cubs have a full 40-man roster and will need to make a corresponding 40-man move if Conforto is being added on a major league deal, but that can be easily accomplished by transferring right-hander Shelby Miller to the 60-day injured list. Conforto is represented by the Boras Corporation.

Conforto, 33 next month, is a veteran of ten MLB seasons at this point. A former top ten pick in the draft and top 100 prospect, Conforto was an All-Star in 2017 and hit .259/.358/.484 (128 wRC+) through his first six seasons in the majors. Things took a turn for the veteran from there, however. His 2021 season was only pedestrian (104 wRC+), and his 2022 campaign was lost to shoulder surgery. Since returning, he’s stayed at that roughly league average level overall. He’s hit .225/.316/.390 with a 98 wRC+ across three seasons with the Giants and Dodgers, but last year in L.A. was the worst season of his career to this point.

In 138 games for the Dodgers, Conforto hit just .199/.3o5/.333 with a wRC+ of 83. He was well below replacement level according to both Fangraphs and Baseball Reference in terms of WAR, he posted the weakest power production (.138 ISO) of his career, and his strikeout rate jumped to 24.9% for the first time since 2018. It was a brutal season overall, and things got bad enough that Conforto wound up being left off L.A.’s playoff rosters entirely during the World Series run. After returning to free agency this offseason, Conforto found minimal interest across the league until the calendar had already flipped to 2026. As Spring Training drew near, teams like the White Sox and Astros expressed interest in Conforto’s services, but the Cubs had not been connected to him before today’s news.

On the Cubs, Conforto seems more or less blocked without an injury. Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki are sure to be tapped to handle the outfield corners, and even if Conforto is still capable of handling center field (a position he hasn’t played since 2019) superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong is sure to get regular reps at the position. Conforto’s best hope of making the roster would be as the team’s primary DH who could rotate through the outfield corners to get Happ and Suzuki off their feet. He’ll face stiff competition from top prospect Moises Ballesteros for that top DH job, however. Ballesteros hit an excellent .298/.394/.474 in his first taste of big league action last year, and while that came in just 57 trips to the plate it was still a strong enough showing to warrant a larger look this year.

It’s certainly not impossible that Conforto could rediscover the combination of power and discipline that made him an effective big league hitter, and if he does so he could challenge Ballesteros for the DH job. That could be particularly appealing for the Cubs if they want to continue developing Ballesteros as a catcher, given that the team’s starting tandem of Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya leaves little room for Ballesteros to get a look behind the plate in the majors at this point. Failing that, he’ll compete this spring for a bench job against the likes of Dylan Carlson and Chas McCormick. Conforto has the most success at the big league level of that trio, but also would likely be the most stretched defensively as a center fielder.

Orioles Sign Thairo Estrada To Minor League Deal

By Steve Adams and Nick Deeds | February 23, 2026 at 7:53am CDT

The Orioles are signing infielder Thairo Estrada to a minor league deal, per a team announcement. The deal includes an invite to big league Spring Training.

The deal is something of a belated birthday gift for Estrada, who turned 30 just yesterday. The infielder was signed out of Venezuela as an amateur by the Yankees and made his big league debut with them back in 2019, but he’s best known for his work with the Giants. From 2021 to 2023, Estrada slashed .266/.320/.416 (105 wRC+) and eventually found himself upgraded from a utility role to the team’s starting second baseman. He combined that slightly above average bat with a strong glove to become a very valuable player for San Francisco for a few years.

Things began to turn the wrong direction in 2024 — a season in which a left wrist sprain limited Estrada to just 96 games. He hit a paltry .217/.247/.343 (68 wRC+) even when he was healthy enough to take the field. The Giants cut him loose, and a one-year deal with the Rockies didn’t help him right the ship. Estrada suffered an injury in his other wrist, this time suffering a fracture when he was hit by a pitch during Cactus League play. He missed about two months with that injury before additional IL stints due to a thumb sprain and hamstring strain. Overall, he hit .253/.285/.370 in just 165 plate appearances.

With the Orioles, Estrada will vie for a spot in an infield that looks quite a bit less crowded than it did just a few weeks ago. Second baseman Jackson Holliday and third baseman Jordan Westburg will both open the season on the injured list — the former due to a hamate fracture that required surgery and the latter due to a partial tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, which he’ll first try to rehab without surgery.

The injuries to Holliday and Westburg have likely thrust former top prospect Coby Mayo (third base) and trade acquisition Blaze Alexander (second base) into starting roles. Utilityman Jeremiah Jackson could also see an increased role, and the O’s picked up out of options third baseman Bryan Ramos off waivers following the Westburg injury, giving them another option around the infield.

Estrada immediately becomes the most experienced member of the competition for a backup infield role on Baltimore’s bench. In 508 big league games, he’s tallied 1870 plate appearances with a .251/.299/.392 batting line (91 wRC+). He’s primarily been a middle infielder but has experience at third base and in all three outfield spots (primarily left field). Second base is his best position, but if he makes the club he can back up at a variety of positions while the rest of the Oriole infield is on the mend.

Guardians To Sign Rhys Hoskins To Minor League Deal

By Nick Deeds | February 22, 2026 at 11:02pm CDT

First baseman Rhys Hoskins and the Guardians are finalizing a minor league deal, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. Hoskins, a Boras Corporation client, will receive a $1.5MM salary if he makes Cleveland’s MLB roster. The news of Hoskins’ deal with the Guardians comes after reports (including one from Meisel) earlier in the day indicated the veteran’s presence in the team’s Arizona clubhouse.

Hoskins, 33 next month, spent six seasons in Philadelphia as one of the more reliably above-average corner bats in the game. He managed to make up for low batting averages by consistently flashing 30-homer pop and keeping his walk rate above 10%. After a 2022 campaign where he slashed .246/.332/.462 with 30 homers in 156 games, Hoskins figured to be a key figure in the Phillies’ lineup headed into 2023 when those plans were abruptly scuttled by an ACL tear that wiped out his entire season.

That lost season led Hoskins to reach free agency as something of an unknown quantity, but he ultimately found a two-year deal with the Brewers that afforded him the opportunity to opt out after the 2024 season. The veteran appeared in 131 games for Milwaukee during that first season but didn’t hit at his typical levels, with a slash line of just .214/.303/.419 and a wRC+ of 101. While he was still good for 26 home runs, a career-high 28.8% strikeout rate sapped much of the value Hoskins had offered during his days in Philadelphia.

That down season was enough to convince Hoskins to remain in Milwaukee for 2025, but he was limited to just 90 games this past season due to a sprained thumb. The good news is that when he was on the field, his production ticked back up to be more substantially above league average. In 328 trips to the plate last year, Hoskins slashed .237/.332/.416 with a wRC+ of 109. While Hoskins’s power numbers were the weakest of his career, his strikeout rate ticked down to 27.7% while his walk rate crept up to 11.6%, his highest level since 2020.

A second injury-plagued season in the past three years was bad news for Hoskins’s market value, however, and he’s scarcely been discussed in the rumor mill since returning to free agency back in November. With Spring Training now underway, Hoskins opted to catch on with the Guardians on a minor league pact. The veteran is a strong fit for Cleveland’s needs, and signing with them should give him every opportunity to crack the club’s Opening Day roster.

Both first baseman Kyle Manzardo and expected designated hitter C.J. Kayfus are left-handed hitters, so a right-handed first base/DH option like Hoskins is a strong on-paper fit. While Hoskins actually had reverse splits last year, he’s a career 137 wRC+ hitter against southpaws, and even last year’s 102 wRC+ would be a substantial improvement over the numbers Mazardo (83) and Kayfus (67) posted against lefties last year.

While Hoskins currently looks likely to be ticketed for a platoon role on paper, it’s not at all difficult to imagine him working his way into earning everyday reps. Kayfus is a rookie who posted a wRC+ of just 96 in 44 games last year, after all, and Hoskins is a capable hitter against righties looking at both last season (111 wRC+) and his career (115). With Cleveland, the veteran should have a strong opportunity to put together a rebound season after his struggles to stay on the field and produce consistently over a full season that have cropped up over the past few years. If he can rediscover some of the form that made him a middle-of-the-order bat for the Phillies a few years ago, it’s not too difficult to imagine Hoskins becoming an instrumental part of the Guardians’ lineup alongside stars Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan.

KBO’s Si Hwan Roh Could Explore MLB Posting In 2026-27 Offseason

By Mark Polishuk | February 22, 2026 at 10:28pm CDT

The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization announced an 11-year extension with third baseman Si Hwan Roh that covers the 2027-37 seasons. The contract is the longest deal in KBO history and the most expensive, as Roh is set to earn up to $30.7 billion won (a little over $21.3MM in USD). Some options are included in the deal, including the intriguing possibility that the extension might not take place at all — following the 2026 KBO season, Roh is allowed to explore a move to Major League Baseball via the posting system.

If Roh is posted next winter and he doesn’t agree to a deal with a big league team within the 30-day posting window, he’ll return to the Eagles and enter into his 11-year commitment. If Roh does sign with a MLB club, the Eagles would be in line for a posting fee. The fee would be worth 20% of the first $25MM of Roh’s contract, 17.5% of the next $25MM, and $15% for anything beyond $50MM.

With $21.3MM already waiting for Roh, any interested Major League teams would likely have to significantly top that figure to lure Roh away from the Eagles. The likelihood that MLB locks out the players next winter is another chief factor for Roh and other international talents, as they may prefer to remain in their own leagues rather than come to the big leagues at a time of labor turmoil.

There’s also the fact that Roh may not trigger his posting clause out of sheer loyalty to the Eagles. “I want to share the beginning and the end with Hanwha. I have never once thought about leaving the team, so I don’t even want to imagine it,” Roh told ChosunBiz and other outlets. The length of the extension held particular appeal for Roh, as “the number 11 resonates with me more than the figure of 30.7 billion won. It motivates me and makes me proud. Joining the Hanwha Eagles and being able to play for a single team for a long time as a baseball player is an enormous source of pride and was my dream.”

With all this in mind, Roh’s contract might be nothing more than transactional footnote as it relates to fans of Major League Baseball, if he indeed remains with the Eagles for the remainder of his career. The nature of the contract perhaps could be a precedent for international teams (from the KBO or Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball) to entice some top talents into staying put, rather than seeking out a contract in North America. Should a team put a concrete contract and figure on the table, the player now has a clear price point to take across the pond when negotiating with MLB teams.

Fans will get a chance to see Roh in action for South Korea’s team during the World Baseball Classic, and he has an impressive resume over his seven seasons with the Eagles. Roh has hit .264/.352/.449 with 124 home runs over 3347 career plate appearances, and he hit a career-best 32 homers in 2025 while helping the Eagles reach the Korean Series for the first time since 2006. Roh has played exclusively at third base for the last two seasons, and he saw some action at shortstop and first base earlier in his career.

Roh is entering his age-25 season, so he’d be 26 if and when he is posted for big league teams in the offseason. This young age surely informed the Eagles’ decision to make such a lengthy commitment to Roh, and his youth may hold particular appeal (though obviously not in the form of 11 years) to any interested MLB teams.

Padres Outright Tirso Ornelas

By Darragh McDonald | February 22, 2026 at 9:30pm CDT

TODAY: Ornelas cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A after being outrighted off San Diego’s 40-man roster, according to the Padres’ official transaction page.

FEBRUARY 17: The Padres announced that outfield Tirso Ornelas has been designated for assignment. That’s the corresponding 40-man roster move for right-hander Griffin Canning, whose signing is now official.

Ornelas, 26 next month, has been on San Diego’s roster since July of 2024. He got to make a brief major league debut in 2025, putting up a .071/.188/.071 batting line in 16 plate appearances over seven games.

He has generally been a pretty good hitter in his minor league career. Over the past three years, he has stepped to the plate 1,471 times on the farm, mostly at the Triple-A level. His 11.3% walk rate and 17% strikeout rate in that span are both good numbers, with 48 home runs to boot. However, since that production came in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, his .285/.371/.452 line isn’t as impressive as it initially appears. That translates to a 108 wRC+, indicating he was 8% better than average for that league.

That’s still solid hitting but Ornelas really needs to crush to provide value. He has some center field experience but is mostly a corner guy who isn’t considered a strong defender, nor is he a burner on the basepaths. The Friars have Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ramón Laureano in their outfield corners with Jackson Merrill up the middle. The roster also features other guys who could factor into the outfield mix, such as Gavin Sheets, Nick Castellanos, Miguel Andujar, Sung Mun Song and Bryce Johnson.

The overall picture has pushed Ornelas off the roster and into DFA limbo, which can last as long as a week. The waiver process takes 48 hours, so the Friars could take five days to field trade interest. He still has one minor league option remaining, so he could appeal to a club looking for some extra outfield depth, especially one that needs another lefty bat. Despite his flaws, Baseball America recently ranked him the #28 prospect in the system.

If he were to pass through waivers unclaimed, he would not have the right to elect free agency since he has less than three years of big league service time and does not have a previous career outright.

Photo courtesy of Chadd Cady, Imagn Images

MLBTR Chat Transcript

By Mark Polishuk | February 22, 2026 at 9:23pm CDT

Mark P

Welcome to the Weekend Chat! We’ll start up once a few questions start piling into the queue…

Pirates 2026 World Series Champions

Pirates are 3-0 in spring training. Are they the greatest team of all time??

Mark P

Yes. The next CBA will be built around how to level competitive balance so powerhouse teams like Pittsburgh can be held in check.

Jason

What do you see with #4 and #5 starter for Braves.

Mark P

It’ll be Holmes and I guess Elder as the fifth for now? Holmes I think can deliver a decent season but there’s a lot less confidence in Elder. Martin Perez isn’t a bad placeholder for the fifth spot, or maybe the Braves can use multiple pitchers to patch things up until (or if?) the injured guys are back.
Or, maybe the easiest solution is that Atlanta just signs a starter

Royals Fan

Local sports radio saying anything short of the playoffs for the Royals would be a disappointment. I am not seeing it based on the lack of offseason movement. Thoughts?

Mark P

The Tigers are the favorites in the ALC but I wouldn’t be shocked if the Royals won the division. That might be an easier path to the playoffs than a wild card, since there are lots of good teams battling for those extra AL slots.
The Royals have a good roster on paper, but I wish they’d gone bigger with their outfield upgrades.

Guards Fan

How much does Rhys Hoskins move the needle for the Guardians offense?

Mark P

Speaking of teams that should’ve done more to help their lineup…..
Hoskins has been decent over the last two years, with the caveats of injury rust and his thumb sprain perhaps preventing him from achieving greater heights. Cleveland’s not really asking him to be anything more than a platoon bat provided that Manzardo and Kayfus hit as expected, though even as a platoon specialist, Hoskins isn’t exactly a lefty-masher.

In short, don’t expect the Phillies version of Hoskins to suddenly re-emerge in 2026. He’s a logical signing for the Guardians but probably not a difference-maker for a lineup that really needs it

Is a 102 ops+

Really that much better than a 98 ops +

Mark P

/Nigel Tufnel voice
Yeah, it’s four better.

Lloyd Dobbins

Suppose the Braves flop and miss the playoffs again in 2026. Does Alex Anthopoulus’s seat start to get warm?

Mark P

Not likely. AA is under contract through 2031, and his track record with the team is strong enough to withstand even two rough seasons.

Campbell Soup

Do you think teams around the league have asked the Sox about Kristian Campbell? Or is the long-term agreement something that would turn teams off / be unwilling to send something of value?

Mark P

The Sox surely haven’t given up on Campbell less than a year after making such a big financial commitment. I’m sure some teams have made some creative offers, though you’re right in that Campbell’s extension kind of blocks out any “buy low” offers.

Marky Mark

Hey Mark, why not continue the trafition…what’s on the Playlist tonight??

Mark P

“Victim of Luck” by Metric

nick krall

i usually talk about the reds but what do you think about danny coulombe to the red sox? perfect fit in that bullpen and they are in need of LH relievers.

Mark P

It’d be a good fit, sure. Frankly, I’m not sure why Coulombe hasn’t been signed yet, unless teams were scared off his age and his poor numbers after the deadline.

Jesus made debut this year?

Mark P

He doesn’t turn 19 until May, though he has already gotten a handful of Double-A games under his belt. If he just crushes it in Double-A and Triple-A, I could see Milwaukee maybe giving him a cup of coffee in September, but a 2027 debut is probably likelier. The PPI will factor into the Brewers’ decision, assuming that the PPI will continue to exist in some form in the next CBA

Joe

Surprised that the best that Hoskins could get was a minor league deal from Cleveland, why the lack of interest from teams that still need help at first base?

Mark P

Teams like the Nationals, Rockies, etc. aren’t trying to win in 2026. Could be that Hoskins preferred a minors deal with a contender rather than a guaranteed deal with a worse team, plus there’s a strong chance Hoskins makes the Guardians’ opening roster

Astros71

Christian Walker bounce-back!!!

Mark P

That would be a huge help to Houston’s chances. I love that signing for the Astros last winter, so I was as surprised as anyone that Walker struggled so mightily. It’s possible he needed a year to adjust, but it would be rough for the team if Walker suddenly hit a wall in his mid-30’s

Slick Ric

Top to bottom, can you think of a pitching staff that is worse than Washington’s?

Mark P

The 2025 Rockies had the worst rotation ERA in baseball history, so there’s that. But Washington’s current rotation is indeed looking rough

Guest

Will the dodgers hold up health wise? Where do u see a potential problem area

Mark P

If they lost one of their real tentpole players (Ohtani, Betts, Smith, Freeman, Tucker), that’s a big problem. I’d say that a bunch of pitching injuries would also be a problem, but the Dodgers have such absurd pitching depth that they’ve been crushed by injuries to their arms in the last two years and still have two rings to show for it

What is your take on what the Astros do with Paredes? 2B? Trade? They cant possibly bench him right?

Mark P

The situation will resolve itself as soon as one of the Astros’ infielders gets hurt, which will inevitably happen. I can also see Houston using Altuve in LF a little more than they’re letting on.

NL East

Mets or Phils. Which is the better team?

Mark P

Who has the better record in 2026?

Mets (40.2% | 378 votes)

Phillies (59.7% | 560 votes)

Total Votes: 938

Brewers

good job on the brewers write up. you mention saves increase arbitration costs, does the fireman role make Megill more, less, or no difference in how likely they trade him in 26?

Mark P

Having saves on his resume means that Megill will still get a decent raise next winter if he’s this year’s closer or not. The Brewers might also be playing the long game in trying to limit Uribe’s save totals, in order to prevent him from having too large a first-time price tag once he becomes arb-eligible.
All of this is next to the more obvious point that the Brewers are trying to win ballgames. However Megill or Uribe are utilized this season, Megill probably isn’t being dealt until next winter, since the Crew usually move guys when they’re a year away from free agency (not two, as Megill is now)

Mike Elias

Do I trade Colby Mayo or keep him, since the Orioles have injuries?

Mark P

The Westburg/Holliday injuries probably close the door on a Mayo trade for now, given how Baltimore is suddenly short-handed in the infield

Baseball Savant

Jeff Passan thinks the history of the last time baseball was locked out will convince owners and players to compromise so that next season won’t be lost. Do you think a salary minimum is a legitimate bargaining point from the MLBPA perspective when combined with a mild version of a salary cap? The teams that spend the least make quite a bit of money because they get the taxpayers’ money. I don’t like the idea of a salary cap because it will limit teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, etc. from making the game exciting by creating great teams on paper. There is enough history to know that WS aren’t won on paper.

Mark P

The MLBPA will resist a salary cap in any form.  What’s interesting about a cap is that it has to have a salary floor as well, which (if I recall the NFL/NBA/NHL versions) is something like 90% of the cap high.
If you’re referring to the same Passan column I’m thinking of, Jeff made the point that a salary floor will lead to a lot of consternation amongst owners.  Hypothetically, if a cap is something like $200MM, then an $180MM minimum spend isn’t something the Pirates, Guardians, A’s, Marlins, etc. are going to want to do.

So it creates a bit of a catch-22 situation for all parties.  Plus there’s also the fact that teams would have to give the MLBPA full access to their books in order to accurately gauge a cap or floor based on league revenues, and teams don’t want to do that

Guest

Baseball is still the greatest game!

Mark P

Agreed!

Bay Area fan

Don’t know too much about it, but I heard rumblings of the A’s having trademark troubles going to Vegas. Should they just abandon their name and start fresh going into their new city like the Expos did?

Mark P

I admittedly haven’t been paying much attention to this story about the name trademark. But for tradition’s sake, I’d like to see the A’s keep the name. The “Athletics” brand is the only thing linking the franchise’s long history from Philly to KC to Oakland to Sacramento to Vegas.

J2A

Out of Pages, Hererra, Crooks, and pozo who is the primary catcher and who DH’s?

Mark P

Herrera will catch as much as he can based on health and defensive capability, since he has a lot more value behind the plate than as a pure DH (even if he swings the bat well in any role).
Pages will probably be the primary backstop until the Cardinals have a better gauge on Herrera’s situation, and the team will go from there. For some of the talk about the Cardinals trading from this on-paper surplus, that depth suddenly dries up quickly if Herrera can’t really catch

Loveable losers

How worrisome is it that the Cubs need to re-up with at Nico, Seiya, Happ, Steele, Boyd, and Taillon

Mark P

This is by design, since it feels like the Cubs are preparing for some changes to baseball’s business structure in a new CBA. How widespread these changes are remains to be seen, and of course there’s still a still a month of the 2026-27 offseason that will happen before the current CBA actually expires.
Steele, btw, is a free agent after 2027. The rest of the group are free agents after 2026.

Lou Whitaker’s HOF resume

What, exactly, is missing?

Mark P

Your guess is as good as mine, since if I had my way, Whitaker would’ve been in Cooperstown years ago.

Jake Jortles

Assuming their average seasons (and that a QO is still a thing), does Toronto QO Bieber and Varsho?

Mark P

Yeah. Maybe some slight hesitation over Varsho since his “average season” is below average in terms of wRC+. But overall, it’s a pretty safe call to think the Jays give a QO to a power-hitting center fielder with a superb glove

Zach

Where do you think Skubal will sign if not extended and is a free agent?

Mark P

The Dodgers are the obvious answer. Having a rotation of Skubal/Yamamoto/Ohtani/Glasnow/Snell with Sasaki and all of the many younger guys as depth options sounds absurd, but this is the Dodgers we’re talking about.
Beyond LA, it’ll be the usual suspects of the Mets, Blue Jays, Phillies, and other big spenders who can afford the gigantic number Boras and Skubal will be asking for

Jill

Will Cleveland make any more moves?

Mark P

MORE moves? Hey come on now, you want more than Hoskins AND Austin Hedges?!

Jack Lazorko

Do you think the loss of their local TV contract has caused the Angels to cut payroll? I’m not optimistic about this season at all. The roster looks thin and poorly constructed.

Mark P

It’s a factor, but it feels like Moreno in his own way is trying to have a quiet rebuild without really calling it as much. Or, you know, going about a rebuild in the normal way of tearing down a roster and focusing solely on young talent.

Brewerfan

Did I miss it or did you guys not report Pat Murphy’s extension?

Mark P

You missed it
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/02/brewers-pat-murphy-agree-to-ext…

Chris M

Why do you suppose it was so hard for the Royals to find a trade partner for their pitching depth? Like selling high on Noah Cameran

Mark P

KC might’ve been asking for too much in return, or other teams were offering too little. Even for teams with an apparent pitching surplus like the Royals, it’s tricky to line up on trades since teams are so loath to give up pitching

Brian

Do you think any of the Mets’ moves were rage spending after missing out on other players?

Mark P

Stearns is a measured guy. He isn’t operating out of spite.

Guest

After considering the injury history, does Luis Robert have anything to offer the Mets?

Mark P

Assuming he stays healthy, Robert is (at minimum) a good defensive center fielder who hits left-handed pitching well. That’s a useful player to have on the roster, even if it remains to be seen if he can recapture any of his past stardom

MoonBeamMcSwine

Can you provide a comment regarding “the Big Rig”, Gavin Williams.. could he challenge for league ace status & Cy votes during the 2026 season?

Mark P

Some back-end Cy votes certainly seem possible. Williams had a nice breakout last year and might be the latest frontline arm from the Cleveland pitching factory.

Shouldn’t I have sold them off instead adding Gore to the aging and injury prone DeGrom and Eovaldi?

Mark P

DeGrom and Eovaldi both have no-trade clauses, so they’d have to approve any deal anyway. And, their ages and salaries and injuries are also obstacles to finding an acceptable return in a trade, though either would’ve certainly drawn interest if the Rangers had really shopped them
The bottom line here is that the Rangers are still trying to compete in 2026, albeit within payroll restrictions. Trying to thread the needle by moving DeGrom or Eovaldi for salary relief and some win-now return and then still (either in the same transaction or in others) filling those new holes at the top of the rotation is mighty difficult.

Kurtz on 1st

Who’s closing games for my A’s?

Mark P

It’ll apparently be a committee, though plans can change if one guy really stands out in a closing role. Hogan Harris is probably (big if) the top closer choice at the moment, if the A’s do give one member of the committee a larger share of the save chances.

Pablo Lopez

Now that my season is over, what do the Twins do about the rotation? I’m not sure that Giolito or Littell move the needle much…

Mark P

Littell is probably the better fit since he’ll be less expensive. Since I was pessimistic about Minnesota’s chances even with Lopez healthy, losing him for the season seems like it should already get the front office thinking about another deadline selloff

AJ Preller

Are the Padres done dealing ?

Mark P

Based purely on vibes, I feel like Prelller has one more notable addition still to come before Opening Day.

Dark 🐎

Which team has been the most surprising to go on a run that wasn’t on anyone’s radar throughout the season? Maybe 2006 Cards?

Mark P

Exactly nobody thought the 2023 World Series was going to wind up as Rangers vs. Diamondbacks, and yet…

Dark 🐎

Best under the radar off-season signing?

Mark P

Since I hyped him for months as a great darkhorse signing, Luis Rengifo going to the Brewers gives me a lot of hope that he’s in for a very good year. Milwaukee excels are under-the-radar adds, so the fact that they’re in on Rengifo says something.

Ian

Who wins the AL West this year?

Mark P

Seattle is the clear favorite. Astros/Rangers/A’s should all be competitive, with the A’s a tier below the Texas clubs since I don’t trust the Athletics’ rotation.
As for the Angels, well….uh, it’s an affordable experience at your ballpark?
Anecdote about the Anaheim ballpark experience!
My parents were vacationing in California years ago (maybe around 2011?), and on a night when their tour group was doing something they weren’t interested in, my folks decided to randomly just take in an Angels game. They remembered nothing about the game itself, but said the ballpark was nice, and there was a pregame promotion where two Angels players squared off in a cow-milking contest.

Rick Rude

Was the Twins FO delusional to think they could be competitive this season (at least before Lopez injury)? Do you think Buxton may eventually agree to a trade?

Mark P

Buxton’s irritated comments the other day were perhaps some indication that he is rethinking his decision to stick it out in Minnesota. That said, I’d still put a Buxton trade at at least 95% unlikely.

Ebenezer_Batflip

2013 red sox had no business being that good

Surprise

The 2019 World Champion Washington Nationals.

Mark P

If we’re looking even more recently, the Blue Jays were terrible in 2024 before winning the pennant last year.

Don Zimmer

Have the Cubs done enough? Asking for a friend.

Mark P

Chicago should reach the postseason at the very least. Given how the Brewers took a step back on paper, winning the NL Central is certainly within the Cubs’ reach.

Tom

I thought JoJo Romero would have been traded by now?

Mark P

Same here. Could easily still happen before Spring Training is over.

Is there any chance Murakami traded this year or next year?

Mark P

Unlikely. It probably wouldn’t be great for the White Sox reputation-wise if they branched out for this notable international signing, Murakami plays well, and the Sox immediately dealt him as part of the rebuild.

Brian

Will the Phillies decline this year after losing Ranger and the star players getting another year older?

Mark P

As per that survey from earlier, roughly 60% of Weekend Chat participants feel Philadelphia will still be better than the Mets, fwiw
What’s interesting about Philly is that technically, they keep getting better. They’ve increased their win total in each of the last full (not counting 2020) MLB seasons. The success just hasn’t paid off with a championship yet, and the playoff results have stalled out since their pennant in 2022.

Phils fans could care less about regular-season wins, of course, since it’s title or bust. There is some fear of the Phillies regressing due to the roster’s overall age, but the idea is that Crawford can give the lineup a jolt in the arm. It also seems like not having Castellanos will help the team both on and off the field, so Adolis’ contributions will be welcomed.

Dan

Brewers didnt take a step back. This is right where all the beat writers had them last year toom.

Mark P

Ah, that’s why I said “on paper”
Milwaukee just keeps figuring out ways to win, no matter how many stars they trade

Nick2112

What do you think of the job bloom is doing in the Lou ?

Mark P

Too early to tell, naturally. Felt like Bloom has been going for quantity of prospects over quality, with the Cards also eating a good deal of money to ensure that they have gotten some quality in return.
It’ll be years before we can gauge Bloom’s work properly, since so much of it depends on how the team drafts and develops, as well as future bigger-ticket moves like trades or signings.

Zakis

You spoke of Buxton having irritated comments earlier. What exactly are you talking about?

Mark P

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-twins-byron-buxton-spring-traini…

ROYALS

If think people are really underestimating just how much of an upgrade the Royals OF will be this year. They were SOOOOOOOOOO bad last year. You could put a swarm of bees out there and it’d be an upgrade.

Mark P

This a fair point. Collins/Thomas don’t need to be world-beaters to top the dismal numbers posted by the 2025 Royals outfield (apart from Yaz).
The issue is that Thomas is also coming off a dreadful 2025, and Collins had a promising rookie season but is far from a sure thing. My preferred Royals offseason would’ve been Collins, and then a proven OF bat rather than Thomas.
There’s also the Jac factor (or the Jac-tor, if you will), of hoping Caglianone will be markedly better. It would be hard for him to be worse than his rookie year, yet counting on him to improve is a risk for a Royals team trying to win

Basket ball GEEK

Marlins may surprise people if the kids hit and pitching staff stays reasonably healthy…may give the Braves a run at least…also, Phillies pitching is suspect until Wheeler returns and pitches…. What do you think?

Mark P

The Marlins are one of the more interesting teams to watch in 2026. Trading two starters doesn’t seem like the usual tactic for a team that truly plans on making a playoff push, but it’s still ultimately a building year. Getting to a .500 record doesn’t seem out of the question for Miami, though I think it’ll take (another) perfect storm of struggling rival teams for the Marlins to get close to the playoffs.
The Phillies are a team I’d consider as contenders for Giolito or Littell. This moves Walker to the pen and adds some depth until Wheeler is ready, or if Painter isn’t ready for the Show

German Marquez

Am I a dark horse candidate for Improved Player of the Year in San Diego?

Mark P

Stranger things have happened. Ruben Niebla has worked some wonders in the past, but this would be his masterpiece.

Wally

Red sox #5 starter is?

Mark P

Likely Oviedo
I’m not entirely ruling out a Bello trade, which opens the door for one of Early/Tolle

Blake

Does Paredes to the Orioles make sense?

Mark P

For the moment, but Paredes would be going from one crowded infield to another once Westburg and Holliday returned.
We’ve passed the two-hour mark, so it’s time to call it a night. Thanks for all your questions, and more chatting will commence next weekend!
If you’re interested in more baseball Q&A, one of the many benefits of our Trade Rumors Front Office subscription is the exclusive weekly live chats. The more limited field means you’re about 10 times more likely to get a question answered, as opposed to battling for space with hundreds of other questions in today’s chat. For more on our memberships, check out this link:
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