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MLBTR Chat Transcript

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Mark P

  • Almost seven and a half months after the Dodgers and Cubs squared off in Tokyo, the 2025 MLB season will officially end today.*  But, almost as importantly as Game 7, it’s also time for the final Weekend Chat of the 2025 season!

    *= I guess it could technically end on November 2 if Game 7 goes past midnight, but what are the chances the Dodgers and Blue Jays play some crazy extra-inn…..oh wait

World Series Prediction

  • Who you got?  Blue Jays win 4-3 or Dodgers steal the show?

Mark P

  • Who wins Game 7?
    Blue Jays (65.3% | 548 votes)
    Dodgers (34.6% | 290 votes)
    Total Votes: 838

AA

  • Do I sign cease or king this offseason?

Mark P

  • Leaning towards no, since the Braves under Anthopoulos haven’t pursued longer-term pitching contracts.  Cease is also a Boras client, and AA generally doesn’t do business with Boras on a free agent level.

    King is an interesting option for a somewhat shorter-term contract with opt-outs involved.  It depends on how his market shapes up since there’s still a very good chance he lands a big multi-year deal anyway, but if he doesn’t want to fully commit himself after a shortened 2025 season, he and his reps might be open to more creative contracts.  This might open the door to a team like Atlanta to get involved.

Hang over

  • So will the first day of free agency be crazy after the World Series is completed?  Which teams do you see making the most waves?

Mark P

  • Free agency doesn’t begin until five days after the final game of the WS.  The offseason in general starts immediately, however, so I’d expect a lot of news on options being exercised/declined, maybe a couple of trades, maybe the Padres/Rockies/Braves announce their new manager or GM, etc.

Dean

  • Who’s the splashiest surprise (ala Eflin, HSK) FA signing you could see the Rays making?  Realmuto?

Mark P

  • It’s hard to see the Rays outbidding Philly for Realmuto.  I can also assume that Realmuto probably feels the Phillies are closer to winning in 2026 than the Rays are, so that’s not likely to be an option for him.

    Projecting free agent moves for Tampa is difficult since when they do strike, it tends to be somewhat out of nowhere.  Nobody saw them as suitors for Kim, for instance.  Bringing in an Eflin type of innings-eater might be a good move this winter due to the injury uncertainties in their rotation.

BrianM

  • Does Pete resign with the Mets?

Mark P

  • Leaning towards no.  I think it took a particular set of circumstances to reunite Alonso and the Mets last winter, and it feels like the Mets only have a certain price point for Alonso in mind.  Coming off a much better platform season, Alonso likely isn’t in the mood to take any kind of shorter-term pact this time around.

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Kris Bryant Still Bothered By Back Pain, Not Considering Retirement

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Kris Bryant has played in only 170 games over his four seasons with the Rockies, and the 2025 campaign saw Bryant appear in just 10 games before his recurring back issues brought his season to an early close.  Lumbar degenerative disc disease has left Bryant feeling pain while performing basically every baseball activity not related to swinging, and the former NL MVP told the Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders, and this discomfort has now extended to his day-to-day life.

“It’s exhausting for me waking up and hoping to feel [better],” Bryant said.  “I can’t tell you the last time I woke up feeling I’m in a good spot….If you asked me two or three months ago, I would say [my back pain] was not affecting my everyday life.  But now it is, which is really annoying to me because usually when you kind of just rest, it’s supposed to get better.  So maybe I’m at a point where I should just do a bunch of stuff to see if that helps me.”

Bryant has already explored multiple avenues to try and fix his back, including an ablation procedure last May.  He isn’t currently doing any baseball activities, as Rockies head trainer Keith Dugger has Bryant on a regular Pilates regiment in order to help reinforce his core.  However, it remains to be seen if this treatment or anything will be able to get Bryant back on a path to regular on-field action, which is still his goal.

“That’s the thing that eats at me the most.  It’s tough to describe,” Bryant said.  “I’ve played this game for 30 years now, not professionally, of course, but it’s all I have ever known….But watching the playoffs and seeing some of my friends still playing, that gives me the motivation to try and play.  So I don’t have those conversations [about retirement], thank goodness, because I don’t want to.  I just want to be a baseball player.”

Three years and $78MM remain on the seven-year, $182MM free agent deal that Bryant signed with Colorado during the 2021-22 offseason.  The signing can unfortunately be considered one of the biggest misfires in free agent history, given how little has Bryant has played, and his lack of production when he has played (.244/.324/.370 and 17 home runs over 712 plate appearances in a Rox uniform).  The Rockies’ horrific 231-417 record over the last four seasons is far from Bryant’s fault alone, yet his contract has become somewhat symbolic of this low point in the franchise’s history.

A pivot point may be coming since the Rockies are searching for a new head of baseball operations, and focusing on external candidates in an attempt to finally bring some fresh ideas and new perspectives into the organization.  Given the lack of progress with Bryant, it is hard to call his situation a top priority for the incoming new executive, as there seemingly isn’t much to do besides hope that Bryant can get healthy enough to play.

Working out a deferred payment plan for the remainder of the contract may be the eventual outcome for Bryant and the Rockies, since he naturally isn’t going to retire outright and walk away from the money still owed.  However, Bryant (who turns 34 in January) isn’t ready to pursue that avenue yet, and only he knows when enough will be enough from a physical and mental standpoint.

Orioles Sign Luis Vazquez To Major League Contract

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The Orioles announced that infielder Luis Vazquez was signed to a Major League contract for the 2026 season.  Vazquez was already controlled for 2026 as a pre-arbitration player, but this transaction gives Vazquez a bit more roster security (for now) and probably gives him a small bump over the minimum salary was slated to earn next year.

The signing bears some similarities to Baltimore’s deal with Rico Garcia, which was also announced on Thursday.  In essence, Vazquez’s big league deal and Garcia’s split contract are meant to deter teams from claiming either player on waivers, should the Orioles designate either for assignment this winter.  The two situations aren’t exactly similar since Vazquez has minor league options remaining while Garcia is out of options, but both players can reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency should they get DFA’ed and then outrighted off the 40-man roster.

Vazquez (who turned 26 last month) came to the Orioles from the Cubs in a cash transaction last January, and then was designated and outrighted off Baltimore’s roster just a week later.  His contract was selected by the O’s in June, and he ended up appearing in 32 MLB games in 2025, with a .160/.208/.240 slash line to show for 53 plate appearances.  Vazquez did hit his first big league home run, which ended up being the game-winning run in the Orioles’ 3-2 win over the Astros on August 24.

Known as an excellent defender, Vazquez might be able to carve out a bench spot in the Show on his glovework alone, and he’ll get some consideration for the Orioles’ utility infield position during Spring Training.  However, he’ll have to deliver something more at the plate than his .404 OPS over 67 career big league plate appearances.  His work at Triple-A has been much more respectable, as Vazquez has hit .252/.340/.408 over 839 career PA with the Cubs’ and Orioles’ top affiliates.

Gleyber Torres Undergoes Sports Hernia Surgery

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October 31: Torres underwent the hernia procedure today, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. He is expected to be cleared for baseball activities in four weeks.

October 11: With the Tigers’ season now over, Gleyber Torres is planning to undergo sports hernia surgery, the second baseman told reporters (including the Detroit News’ Tony Paul) in the aftermath of the club’s loss in Game Five of the ALDS.  Torres revealed that he has been dealing with the injury for several months, and praised the Tigers’ training and medical staff for helping him keep playing.

“It was not good from the [start of the] second half,” Torres said.  “It was a lot of pain.  But we do a really good job keeping me playing….It’s not about the numbers, it’s just about playing every day.”

A look at Torres’ numbers, however, clearly reveals something was amiss.  Torres hit .281/.387/.425 over 359 plate appearances in the first half of the season, and was performing well enough to earn a starting nod as the American League’s second baseman in the All-Star Game.  Once the All-Star break was over, however, Torres hit only .223/.320/.339 over his final 269 PA of the regular season.  He seemed to rediscover his stroke over Detroit’s first seven postseason games, but an 0-for-6 showing in yesterday’s 15-inning marathon with the Mariners dropped Torres’ playoff slash line to .235/.316/.382 over 38 PA.

Torres’ slide mirrored the Tigers’ own fortunes.  One of baseball’s better clubs for much of the season, Detroit went 9-22 over its last 31 games and barely squeaked into the postseason field in the final AL wild card slot.  If the Tigers had retained their healthy AL Central lead, Torres likely would’ve gotten more opportunity to rest down the stretch, and yet the mutual struggles of player and team led to the Tigers led to an unfortunate Catch-22 situation.  The Tigers still needed Torres in the lineup as much as possible as their top-choice second baseman, yet Torres’ struggles kept adding to the team’s woes (though Torres was far from the only Detroit player to under-perform in September).

The injury adds context to Torres’ second-half decline, and adds a wrinkle to his upcoming free agent market.  Firstly, sports hernia surgeries usually take at least two months of recovery time and closer to 12 weeks on the longer end, so the procedure shouldn’t impact his readiness for the start of Spring Training.  Interested suitors might now wait until Torres is fully recovered before diving too deeply into his market, so it is possible he might not sign until late December or early January.

For the season as a whole, Torres hit .256/.358/.387 with 16 homers over 628 PA, with below-average glovework (though better public defensive metrics than his 2024 work as the Yankees’ second baseman).  This works out to 2.6 fWAR, which was still eighth-best among all second baseman in 2025.  Looking at the free agent second base market, Torres is still arguably the best option available, since Jorge Polanco’s time at second base was also impacted by injury.

Torres’ reps at Octagon will clearly make the case that their client’s first-half performance is a better reflection of what a healthy Torres can bring.  Detroit signed Torres to a one-year, $15MM contract last winter that was essentially a pillow deal for the second baseman, as he was looking a shorter-term deal and a better platform year in 2025 that would allow him to re-enter the market with a stronger set of numbers.  Torres hit .257/.330/.378 with 15 homers over 665 PA (with a 105 wRC+ and 1.8 fWAR) for New York in 2024, so while he did improve in Detroit, it wasn’t the leap ahead he was hoping to achieve.

Could a return to Motown be possible?  Torres is open to it, saying “hopefully we get a really good conversation here.  I feel really good with this group….It was really special this year.”  Retaining Torres would be a logical way for the Tigers to keep a right-handed hitting bat within their lefty-tilted lineup.  On the flip side, a longer-term deal with a second baseman might not appeal to a Tigers team that has some notable minor league infielders (Hao-Yu Lee, Max Anderson, and star prospect Kevin McGonigle) nearing MLB readiness.

Albert Pujols, Nick Hundley, Ruben Niebla Among Finalists For Padres’ Managerial Job

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Yesterday, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the Padres were entering the finalist stages of their managerial search.  In a new report today, Acee writes that the Padres are down “to no more than four finalists,” with Albert Pujols, Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla, Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley, and potentially an unspecified fourth name still on the radar.  A hiring is expected to be made by the end of the week.

All three of the known candidates would be first-time MLB managers, though the trio have vastly different resumes.  Niebla has 25 years of experience as a pitching coach and coordinator at the Major League and minor league levels with San Diego and Cleveland, and he has drawn high praise for his work over his four seasons as the Padres’ pitching coach.  Pujols (one of baseball’s all-time greats) and Hundley are longtime former players who have never managed or coached in the majors or minors, though Hundley does have some ties to San Diego in the form of seven seasons as the Padres’ catcher.

Since retiring from playing, Pujols has been a special instructor with the Angels and a manager in the Dominican Winter League, plus he’ll be managing the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic team this coming spring unless he is hired for a big league job.  Pujols was a candidate with the Orioles and Angels for their managerial openings this offseason, and the Halos’ gig was seemingly headed his way before negotiations seemed to fall apart in the fairly late stages.

Hundley’s post-playing endeavors have included two seasons working for the MLB baseball operations department, and he has spent the last four seasons as a special assistant in the Rangers’ front office.  The Giants approached Hundley about managerial openings in both 2023 and this very fall, but Hundley declined both times for family reasons, even though this time in particular Hundley seemed to be Buster Posey’s first choice for the position.  Despite Hundley’s past demurrals, the fact that he lives in San Diego naturally adds appeal to the Padres job, as managing in his hometown would allow him to more easily balance his work life and spend time with his family.

Niebla received some consideration for the Padres’ managerial gig in 2023 before Mike Shildt was hired, but his name hasn’t been publicly linked to any other managerial openings around the sport.  It is relatively rare to see pitching coaches make the jump to the manager’s chair, though John Farrell, Bud Black, Roger Craig, and Bob Lemon are prominent examples of ex-pitching coaches who found success as MLB skippers.  One factor potentially working against Niebla is that he is so well-regarded as a pitching coach that the Padres might just prefer to keep him in that role and look elsewhere for a manager.

Nationals Won’t Hire Miguel Cairo As Manager; Interested In Rocco Baldelli, Danny Lehmann

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The Nationals’ managerial search continues to take shape, and one prominent candidate has already been eliminated from consideration.  The Washington Post’s Andrew Golden reports that interim manager Miguel Cairo has been told that he won’t be the team’s full-time bench boss next season, while former Twins manger Rocco Baldelli and Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann have each drawn interest as possible candidates.  Both Baldelli and Lehmann declined comment when asked if they’d already interviewed with the Nats.

Cairo, Brandon Hyde, and Craig Albernaz are the only three names known to have interviewed for the Washington job, and Albernaz is naturally no longer an option after the Orioles hired him as their manager.  Since the Nats and most teams are pretty guarded when it comes to public information on managerial searches, it is entirely possible that other names are being considered, or have already interviewed.  (As an example, Albernaz wasn’t known to be a candidate for the O’s until reports emerged that the team was on the verge of hiring him.)

Cairo was midway through his second season as Washington’s bench coach when manager Davey Martinez and president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo were fired in July.  Cairo was bumped up to the interim manager role, and he posted a 29-43 record as the Nationals stumbled to a 66-96 overall record this year.  This was Cairo’s second time stepping into a managerial role, as he was as acting manager for 34 games with the 2022 White Sox when Tony La Russa was absent on medical leave.

While Cairo did enough to merit at least an interview about the full-time Nats job, it always seemed more likely that new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni was going to bring in a fresh voice as the team’s next skipper.  That would continue Toboni’s early trend of shaking things up within the organization, as multiple changes have already been made within the front office, scouting and training staffs.

The shake-up will also extend to the Nationals’ coaching staff, as Golden writes that six coaches (pitching coach Jim Hickey, hitting coach Darnell Coles, first base coach Gerardo Parra, third base coach Ricky Gutierrez, bullpen coach Ricky Bones, and catching/strategy coach Henry Blanco) have been told they won’t be retained unless the new manager wants them to stay.  This news doesn’t come as a large surprise, as the Nats had already given their coaches permission to explore jobs with other teams.  While Cairo wasn’t specifically mentioned as also being on the way out, it can be assumed that he won’t be back in his old bench coach role.

Like Hyde, Baldelli would bring some Major League managerial experience to a Nationals team that has hit some snags in its rebuild.  Baldelli posted a 527-505 record over seven seasons with the Twins, winning three AL Central crowns and (in 2023) the club’s first postseason series victory since 2002.  Since that playoff triumph, however, the Twins collapsed down the stretch in 2024 to finish with an 82-80 record, and things continued to spiral this year with a 70-92 record.

Baldelli was fired at season’s end, yet it is hard to entirely fault him for the Twins’ struggles given how ownership responded to the 2023 postseason by immediately cutting the payroll.  At this year’s trade deadline, the club had a fire sale of both impending free agents and some controllable players, further positioning Minnesota toward a rebuild period.  It seems like the league as a whole didn’t assign much blame to Baldelli for the Twins’ situation, as the ex-skipper said that he’d heard from 10 teams about job openings in the wake of his dismissal, though Golden’s report is the first time Baldelli has been linked to one of the many managerial openings around baseball this fall.

Lehmann’s name recently surfaced in connection with the Braves’ managerial vacancy, and he received interest from the White Sox in their managerial search last offseason before Chicago hired Will Venable.  Lehmann spent eight years as a player in the Twins’ farm system and in independent ball from 2007-14, and has since been working with the Dodgers in such roles as an advanced video scout, a special assistant, and a game planning/communications coach.  His four seasons in that coaching role led to his promotion to the bench coach job prior to the 2023 season.

The Dodgers’ ongoing postseason run could be somewhat complicating Lehmann’s candidacy, as he would have only been able to interview in between playoff rounds or on off-days within a series.  It could be that Lehmann is waiting until L.A. has entirely concluded the World Series before turning his attention to managerial possibilities, though this wait may not have hurt his chances, given how the Nats, Braves, and other teams still have openings for the top dugout jobs.

AL East Notes: Story, Flaherty, Lowe, Fairbanks

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MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam touched on an assortment of Red Sox topics in the latest edition of their Fenway Rundown podcast, including a brief mention of Trevor Story’s status as the shortstop considers an opt-out clause in his contract.  Cotillo believes “the Red Sox are pretty cautiously very optimistic that” Story will be staying with the team, and while’s plenty of grey area within that statement, it does offer some indication that Story is leaning towards declining his opt-out.

Story is owed $25MM in each of the next two seasons, plus there’s a $5MM buyout on his $25MM club option for the 2028 campaign.  The Red Sox can override Story’s opt-out by guaranteeing that 2028 club option right now, but that doesn’t appear to be on the team’s radar, so the ball looks to be entirely in Story’s court.  While Story’s .263/.308/.433 slash line and 25 homers over 654 plate appearances only translates to a 101 wRC+, his numbers were weighed down by a cold start to the season, as Story posted an .825 OPS over his final 429 PA.

Between this strong finish and a thin free agent shortstop market, there’s a case for Story to leave his $55MM guaranteed on the table and look for a bigger contract this winter.  On the flip side, Story turns 33 next month, his defensive metrics were subpar, and the injury problems that plagued him in 2022-24 will be on the minds of front offices even though Story stayed pretty healthy in 2025.  If Story wants to avoid the risks of another prolonged stint in free agency, staying in Boston with a contending Red Sox team certainly seems like a viable choice.

More from around the AL East…

  • Earlier this month, Jon Heyman of the New York Post floated Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty as a logical candidate to be part of the Orioles’ managerial search.  MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko reports that Flaherty did indeed interview with the O’s about the position before the club opted to hire Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz.  Any number of other names might’ve been considered by the Orioles, but Flaherty joins Albert Pujols, Luis Rojas, and Scott Servais as the candidates directly linked to Baltimore’s search whether in formal interviews or (in Servais’ case) just some interest on the club’s part.  Flaherty’s six seasons as an Orioles player likely held some extra appeal for Baltimore’s front office, but his well-regarded work as a bench coach in Chicago and San Diego has put him in the running for multiple managerial vacancies.  Flaherty is reportedly one of the finalists for the Twins’ job, and he is a candidate for both the Padres and Braves in their ongoing searches.
  • The Rays hold a pair of club options on Brandon Lowe ($11.5MM) and Pete Fairbanks ($11MM) for the 2026 season, and both players have expressed a desire to remain in Tampa.  Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times explores the option decisions, noting that between the team’s offensive needs and how “the Rays typically view the bullpen as more changeable and volatile on a year-to-year basis,” Lowe seems more likely than Fairbanks to be part of the 2026 roster.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that Fairbanks’ option will be declined, however, as the Rays would then lose the closer for nothing in free agency.  Perhaps the most probable scenario is that Tampa Bay will pick up both options and then explore trade possibilities for either player — in Fairbanks’ case, his $11MM salary might not seem that onerous to some rival clubs in need of high-leverage bullpen help.

Tim Elko Undergoes Surgery To Fix Torn ACL

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The White Sox announced that first baseman Tim Elko underwent surgery Tuesday to address a torn right ACL.  Elko’s projected recovery time is eight months, so he’ll miss at least half of the 2026 season.  (MLB.com’s Scott Merkin was one of the Sox beat writers who passed on the news.)

It’s a rough setback for Elko, who made his Major League debut in the form of 23 games for the White Sox this season.  Elko also spent just under four weeks on Chicago’s 10-day injured list with a right knee sprain, so it seems likely that his ACL tear came in the aftermath of that knee issue, or perhaps Elko was trying to play through a tear.

This is the second right ACL tear for Elko, as he suffered the same injury in 2021 while playing college ball for Ole Miss.  Rather than get immediate surgery, Elko took roughly a month off and then returned to play 21 more games for the team.  Elko had played some third base and outfield as well as first base in college, but in the aftermath of his ACL tear, he has stuck just to first base and DH in pro ball.

Chicago selected Elko in the tenth round of the 2022 draft, and he worked his way up the minor league ladder with increasingly strong numbers (including a .291/.359/.525 slash line and 35 homers over 633 Triple-A plate appearances).  This was enough for the White Sox to select Elko’s contract to the big league roster this year, but he was shuttled back and forth to Triple-A after making little impact in the Show.  Elko hit only .134/.194/.328 with four homers in his first 72 MLB plate appearances.

The door was open for Elko (who turns 27 in December) to put himself in Chicago’s first base picture after Andrew Vaughn was traded to the Brewers in June, but Elko’s lack of production and subsequent knee issues scuttled his chances.  Elko now faces a long road back with the second ACL rehab of his career, and the hope is that he can heal up in time to get another decent-sized look on the White Sox roster before the 2026 season is over.

Looking For A Match In A Brendan Donovan Trade

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With the Cardinals now embarking on a full rebuild period, it might be surprising if Brendan Donovan is still on the St. Louis roster by Opening Day.  With two years of arbitration control remaining over Donovan, the Cards don’t necessarily have to move him this winter, as they could wait until the trade deadline or even next offseason if the offers just aren’t up to par over the next four months.  But, it’s hard to imagine that Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom will be short on intriguing trade offers for Donovan considering how many boxes the former All-Star checks off for potential suitors.

Age?  Donovan turns 29 in January.  Salary?  Donovan is projected to earn $5.4MM in his second trip through the arbitration process, so his total cost over his two remaining arb years should fall within the $14MM-$15MM range at most.  Offense?  Donovan has a career 119 wRC+ from his .282/.361/.411 slash line and 40 home runs, and he has been one of the game’s most difficult players to strike out during his four MLB seasons.  Defense?  He won the NL Gold Glove for utility players in 2022, and Donovan has been at least serviceable at multiple positions (all four infield spots and the two corner outfield spots) while playing primarily at second base and left field.

There are a couple of downsides to acknowledge, such as Donovan’s career splits (.812 OPS against right-handed pitching, .651 OPS against left-handed pitching).  Some teams may view the left-handed hitting Donovan primarily as a strong-side platoon player more than a true everyday player.  Even the Cardinals limited his exposure to southpaws, both as a function of these splits and because the Cards also wanted to get some playing time to their right-handed bats.

Donovan’s injury history includes a UCL brace procedure that cost him the last two months of the 2023 season and a sports hernia surgery just from earlier this month, as Donovan spent some time on the injured list this season with some groin problems.  While sports hernia procedures are usually pretty straight-forward and Donovan is expected to be fine for the start of Spring Training, rival clubs might be more inclined to wait until a bit later into the offseason (or at least past the Winter Meetings) just to ensure that Donovan is fully ready to go.  This means that some teams might acquire other players in the interim that will take them out of the market for Donovan’s services.

Rebuilding teams like the White Sox, Rockies, Nationals, and Twins can be reasonably ruled out, as none have any pressing reason to try and win the bidding war for Donovan’s services.  Beyond this group, just about every other team in baseball is at least a somewhat plausible fit for Donovan, so let’s break this down team by team…

If Only They Were In Another Division…

Since the start of the 2004 season, St. Louis has made six total trades with the Brewers, Reds, Pirates, and Cubs.  Three of those deals were low-level player-for-cash transactions.  None of these trades happened on Bloom’s watch, and he’s not going to hang up the phone if any of these NL Central teams made a very compelling offer.  But, history suggests that Donovan won’t be shipped to one of the Cardinals’ division opponents, even though he’d fit in with any of this quartet.  The Pirates and Reds in particular have big offensive needs and young pitching on offer, Donovan would nicely bolster Milwaukee’s infield picture, and even the Cubs could deploy Donovan at third base or in the outfield.

Less Likely Suitors

Some readers may be surprised to see the Marlins outside of the list of rebuilding teams, but Miami isn’t quite in that category following a 79-win season.  It’s still hard to see the Fish making a bolder move like a Donovan trade even if they are nearing the end of their capital-R Rebuild period, since the Marlins probably still aren’t at the stage where they’d trade away prospects for more experienced talent.

The Red Sox, Orioles, Tigers, and Mets all have some questions to answer with their position-player mix, but these teams are already pretty heavy on left-handed hitters.  Other trades could potentially alter the equation, but chances are these four teams will seek out right-handed bats before looking to add another prominent lefty-swinger.  The Diamondbacks are mostly in the same boat, though there’s a sliver of a chance Donovan could be acquired to play third base, if Arizona wanted to give Jordan Lawlar more seasoning or if Lawlar was perhaps himself dealt to address other needs (i.e. pitching).

The Astros are badly in need of left-handed hitters and had interest in Donovan at this past trade deadline, but that was before Houston further crowded its lineup picture by reuniting with Carlos Correa.  Between Correa, Jeremy Pena, Jose Altuve, Isaac Paredes, Christian Walker, Cam Smith in right field, Yordan Alvarez as the primary DH, there isn’t really anywhere for Donovan to get regular at-bats, unless the Astros perhaps dealt Paredes or Walker to make room.

Maybe, After Another Trade Is Made?

Nick Allen is a superb defender who can’t hit, so the Braves are another team that could give Donovan a longer look at shortstop.  Right field is also a plausible part-time position for Donovan in Atlanta, as he can spell Ronald Acuna Jr. once in a while when Acuna gets a DH day.  The most intriguing position would be second base and Donovan is an upgrade over Ozzie Albies, yet the Braves would first have to trade Albies to clear out the keystone.  Some of the teams interested in Donovan would also probably have interest in Albies, but it would be harder for the Braves to pull off the two-step of first moving Albies and then convincing the Cardinals to send Donovan their way before any other suitors pounced.

The Rays are in a bit of a similar situation with Brandon Lowe, another trade candidate owed $11.5MM in his final year of team control.  Tampa Bay would probably prefer to first deal Lowe to open up second base as Donovan’s primary spot, but the Rays could also use Donovan at shortstop and in the outfield (or even at first base if Yandy Diaz is traded).

The Guardians’ biggest priority this winter should be finding hitting of any kind, and Donovan is also the kind of versatile contact hitter that the Guards love.  The issue is that the Guards already have a lot of left-handed or switch-hitters.  Cleveland could attempt multiple trades by dealing from its left-handed or infield depth for a righty hitter and then shooting for Donovan, but just obtaining a couple of right-handed bats full stop seems like a smoother fit.

Donovan’s Past Trade Suitors

Since we’ve mentioned Houston’s past interest in Donovan, let’s devote this space to five other teams who have been linked to the All-Star over the years.  Obviously many more teams than just this group have checked in with the Cardinals about Donovan, but these are the teams who have been specifically named as interested parties.

The Yankees have been linked to Donovan multiple times, as recently as this past trade deadline and as far back as the 2023-24 offseason.  This track record of interest means that New York can’t be ruled out of Donovan’s market, yet some other moves have left the Yankees pretty heavy on left-handed hitting infielders — Ryan McMahon, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice all swing from the left side.  That said, New York could use Donovan in left field if Jasson Dominguez isn’t viewed as ready for regular time, or Donovan could get some work at shortstop while Anthony Volpe recovers from shoulder surgery.  Of all the positions Donovan has played at the MLB level, he has the least time at shortstop, with just 106 innings logged.

The Phillies and Dodgers were both reportedly interested in Donovan prior to this summer’s trade deadline.  Donovan could slot in for Philadelphia at third base if Alec Bohm is moved or in either corner outfield spot, as some room will become open in the Phils’ outfield once Nick Castellanos is gone.  Left field is the most logical space for Donovan in the Dodgers’ loaded lineup, but L.A. will probably be eager to bounce Donovan around to multiple positions for platoon or timeshare purposes.

The Blue Jays and Athletics each had some talks with the Cardinals about Donovan as far back at the 2022-23 offseason, when Donovan was just coming off his third-place finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting.  Fast forward to this winter and each team still has a need.  Toronto can slot Donovan into its multi-player platoon system at second base, third base, and the corner outfield spots.  If Bo Bichette left in free agency, Donovan would likely become the Jays’ primary second baseman, with Andres Gimenez shifting over to take on the shortstop role.

The A’s have big lineup holes at second and third base, plus Donovan’s salary is a fit within the club’s limited budget.  Perhaps the question here is whether or not the A’s would make this kind of “win-now” trade before the team moves to Las Vegas, and for a player like Donovan whose arbitration control doesn’t extend beyond the Athletics’ time in Sacramento.

The Cleanest Fits

The Angels had the highest team strikeout rate in baseball in 2025, were one of the league’s worst-hitting teams in general, their lineup is overloaded with right-handed hitters, and there are no clear candidates for either second or third base.  All things considered, Donovan might fit better on the Angels than on any other club, though that probably isn’t surprising given how the Halos are struggling in so many departments.  Unfortunately, the farm system is another of those thin departments, so Los Angeles will be hard-pressed to outbid other teams if it comes down to a prospect bidding war.

The Giants could make Donovan their new starting second baseman, while still using Casey Schmitt as a right-handed complement to shield Donovan against some southpaws.  Heliot Ramos is another right-handed bat who is still San Francisco’s top choice in left field, but Donovan could easily get some time in both left and in the Giants’ wide-open right-field vacancy.

Highly-touted prospects Cole Young and Colt Emerson may be the future of the Mariners infield, and both are left-handed hitters like Donovan.  However, a Seattle team in win-now mode might prefer to add Donovan to address its second base and third base needs in the present.  Donovan’s two remaining arb years leaves the door open for Young and Emerson as longer-term options, and Donovan’s ability to play both infield spots would allow the Mariners to also give Young, Emerson (who has yet to make his MLB debut) or Ben Williamson some at-bats at the keystone or the hot corner.

With Luis Arraez entering free agency, the Padres will be looking for a new first baseman, or they could move Jake Cronenworth to from second base to first base.  A Donovan trade would line up with that latter scenario, and while the Padres might not use Donovan’s versatility as much as other teams, he could still be shifted around the diamond when any of Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., or (the likely to be retained) Ramon Laureano gets an off-day or a DH day.

The Rangers could use more lefty balance in the lineup, will be working on more of a limited budget this offseason, and will be focusing on better situational hitting and contact hitting, so Donovan is a strong fit on all counts.  Marcus Semien still has second base spoken for in Arlington, but Donovan can be used at third base (if Josh Jung is traded) or in the outfield (Adolis Garcia is expected to be traded or non-tendered).

Since mentioned the Cardinals’ trade histories with their NL Central rivals earlier, it’s worth noting that the Cards also don’t often swing deals with the Royals, their fellow Missouri team.  If geography isn’t a huge obstacle, Donovan would be a great help to a Royals club in dire need of outfielders, and second base could also be a need if Kansas City decided to move on from Jonathan India and/or Michael Massey.

Offseason Outlook: Atlanta Braves

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A barrage of pitching injuries and some underwhelming offensive performances resulted in Atlanta's first losing record and non-playoff season since 2017.  The Braves can't rely just on better health to improve next year, as the club will at least explore upgrades at multiple roster spots.

Guaranteed Contracts

  • Austin Riley, 3B: $155MM through 2029 ($20MM club option for 2030)
  • Matt Olson, 1B: $88MM through 2029 ($20MM club option for 2030)
  • Spencer Strider, SP: $69MM through 2028 (includes $5MM buyout of $22MM club option for 2029)
  • Michael Harris II, OF: $54MM through 2030 (includes $5MM buyout of $15MM club option for 2031; Braves also have $20MM club option for 2032 with $5MM buyout)
  • Sean Murphy, C: $45MM through 2028 ($15MM club option for 2029)
  • Jurickson Profar, OF: $30MM through 2027
  • Ronald Acuna Jr., OF: $27MM through 2026 (includes $10MM buyout of $17MM club option for 2027; Braves hold $17MM club option for 2028)
  • Reynaldo Lopez, SP: $22MM through 2027
  • Aaron Bummer, RP: $9.5MM through 2026
  • Joe Jimenez, RP: $9MM through 2026

Option Decisions

  • Chris Sale, SP: $18MM club option for 2026
  • Ha-Seong Kim, SS: $16MM player option for 2026
  • Ozzie Albies, 2B: $7MM club option for 2026 ($4MM buyout); Braves also hold $7MM club option for 2027
  • Pierce Johnson, RP: $7MM club option for 2026 ($250K buyout)
  • Tyler Kinley, RP: $5MM club option for 2026 ($750K buyout)

2026 financial commitments (if all options are exercised): $204.5MM
Total long-term financial commitments (if all options are exercised) = $561.5MM

Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projected salaries courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)

Free Agents

At the time of this post's publication, the Braves still haven't settled on a new manager.  The team's hope was that Brian Snitker would return for an 11th season as manager, but Snitker will instead move into an advisory role for his 50th season in the organization.  Snitker's decade in the manager's chair included six NL East titles and the 2021 World Series championship, but this outstanding run ended on the down note of a 76-86 record in 2025.

It is hard to imagine any manager could've shepherded this year's Braves team to glory given how nearly the entire rotation was lost to the injured list.  Even with their season slipping away due to an 8-17 record in July, the Braves were one of the more active buyers (to some extent) leading up to the trade deadline just because the team was in such need of short-term rotation help.

Bryce Elder (and his 5.30 ERA) led all Atlanta pitchers with 156 1/3 innings, with Chris Sale finishing in second with only 125 2/3 frames.  Sale missed over two months due to a ribcage fracture, but naturally his club option is still a lock to be exercised.  Spencer Strider's recovery from internal brace surgery and a hamstring strain limited him to 125 1/3 innings, and he understandably didn't look nearly as dominant as he did in his All-Star 2023 season.  Reynaldo Lopez made just one start before arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder ended up sidelining him for the rest of the season.  Spencer Schwellenbach (fractured elbow) and AJ Smith-Shawver (Tommy John surgery) were each pitching well before their seasons were ended in June.  Grant Holmes' season was ended by a partially torn UCL in late July, and his status remains a question mark since Holmes is trying to rehab the injury without surgery.

Assuming no more offseason health woes, Sale, Strider, and Schwellenbach have places assured in Atlanta's rotation.  Former top prospect Hurston Waldrep pitched well in his first extended taste of MLB action and put himself in line for a starting job in 2026.  Holmes and Lopez are both tentatively penciled into the rotation for now, with the caveats of Holmes' health and the possibility that Lopez could be transitioned back into a bullpen role.  Back in September, Anthopoulos stressed that the club still views Lopez as a starter, "but what if we have a bunch of starter trades that present themselves and so on?  It would be a great problem to have."

Needless to say, the Braves are planning to bring at least one new addition into the starting mix.  The fact that Anthopoulos mentioned trading for a starter first and foremost might hint at his preferred plan, which makes sense given how Anthopoulos has traditionally shied away from big-ticket free agent signings during his front office career.  Anthopoulos has swung several creative trades over the years, and as we'll explore later, some players on the current big league roster could be trade chips just as easily as members of the Atlanta farm system.

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