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Orioles Claim Dom Hamel

By Mark Polishuk | September 20, 2025 at 1:36pm CDT

The Orioles announced that right-hander Dom Hamel was claimed off waivers from the Mets. Hamel has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Baltimore already had a vacancy on its 40-man roster so no further transaction was required.

New York designated Hamel for assignment earlier this week, and the 26-year-old will change organizations for the first time in his pro career. Hamel was a third-round pick for the Mets in the 2021 draft, and his time with the club culminated in his Major League debut this past Wednesday. Despite three singles and a hit batter over a single inning of work, Hamel escaped from his first MLB game without allowing any runs.

The long ball has been Hamel’s biggest obstacle in his climb up the minor league ladder, as his homer rate spiked considerably once he made his Triple-A debut in 2024. Over 192 1/3 innings at Triple-A Syracuse, Hamel allowed 35 home runs, which contributed heavily to his 6.27 ERA in the last two seasons. On the plus side, he did post a solid strikeout rate at Triple-A, and he cut his walk rate from 13.2% in 2024 to 7.4% this season.

The 2025 campaign has also seen Hamel go from a full-fledged starter role to more usage as a relief pitcher, sometimes in a regular bullpen role and other times as an opener or as a multi-inning reliever. At least the bottom-line numbers were somewhat better for Hamel as a reliever (4.61 ERA) than as a starter (6.18 ERA), though the role change didn’t exactly unlock a new level of success.

Baltimore’s claim gives the Orioles some time to evaluate Hamel both in the remainder of this season and into the winter. While Hamel might well be a DFA candidate again depending on how the Orioles upgrade their 40-man roster during the offseason, he has all three of his minor league options remaining, so that flexibility could give him some extra appeal to Baltimore’s 2026 bullpen plans.

Report: Nationals Ownership Criticized As “Inefficient” And “Directionless”

By Mark Polishuk | September 20, 2025 at 12:30pm CDT

The Nationals are embarking on a transformational offseason, as the interview process is underway to find the team’s next full-time president of baseball operations. The firings of former PBO Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez in July marked a major sea change in how the Nats’ front office, as Rizzo had been running the baseball ops department since 2009. Interim GM Mike DeBartolo is a candidate for the full-time job, and several other prominent executives from other teams have been linked to the Nationals’ search.

Ideally, a new hire would be able to turn things around for a Washington franchise that is staggering to the end of its sixth straight losing season. The bigger-picture question, however, is whether or not any sort of meaningful turn-around is possible without clear commitment from ownership, and there appears to be plenty of uncertainty about how exactly the Lerner family is operating the team.

An eye-opening piece from the Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga, Andrew Golden, and Chelsea Janes sheds some light on the Nats, as the Post trio spoke with “more than a dozen current or former employees of the Nationals and others around MLB familiar with how the Lerners run their team.” The overall opinion isn’t positive, as the story outlines a too-many-cooks situation that has left the Nationals without a singular leadership voice.

“It’s so inefficient. When there’s that many people in the room, it’s hard to come to decisions in an orderly fashion,” said one source. One former employee is still unclear on the decision-making process, wondering “How does [anything] get decided? Who has input into it? Who is influential and who’s not? I couldn’t tell you the first thing because I’m not in those meetings.”

Ted Lerner (who passed away in 2023) initially bought the Nationals in 2006, and his son Mark became the team’s official control person in 2018. Mark Lerner is the name most fans associate with being the Nationals’ “owner” in a broad sense, but Mark has been open about the fact that he is far from the only member of the family with a say in the team’s operations.

This seemingly means that up to 10 different people share input into the Nationals’ decisions, according to Svrluga/Golden/Janes. The list includes Mark Lerner, his sister Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, his brothers-in-law Bob Tanenbaum and Ed Cohen, four of Ted Lerner’s grandchildren (Jonathan and Jacob Lerner, Michael and Jaclyn Cohen), and “to a lesser extent” Mark’s wife Judy and Mark’s sister Debra Lerner Cohen.

The sheer number of people involved in the leadership structure is an obvious immediate issue. A former Nationals executive described this organizational structure as “chaotic,” and two different Post sources referred to the team as “directionless.” Another former employee said that “more than once, I had an owner tell me to do something and then had another say not to spend time on it.”

For some insight into the various personalities involved within the family, Mark is known to have the most overt interest in baseball operations, while the Post story notes that Ed Cohen “is more heavily involved in major business negotiations.” Marla Lerner Tanenbaum “oversees the Nationals’ philanthropic arm” and her husband Bob “is the least involved in day-to-day operations.”

The lack of a team president was noted as a flaw by several sources, as the Nationals haven’t had anyone in the position since Stan Kasten left the organization following the 2010 season. The specific responsibilities of a team president vary from club to club depending on who is in the role, but having someone from either a baseball or business background in the position would seemingly help the Nats, as it would mean fewer day-to-day decisions that have to be filtered through the many members of the Lerner family.

As it relates to the ongoing front office search, Cubs GM Carter Hawkins was a candidate but didn’t meet with any of the Lerners in person, which could explain why Hawkins is no longer under consideration for the job. Svrluga/Golden/Janes report that of the known candidates, former Padres/Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes is the only one who is known to have had an in-person meeting with the Lerners.

Whether or not a new chief baseball executive can help smooth this process remains to be seen, as there isn’t any indication that the Nationals will be looking higher up the ladder to install a president atop the organization. On a more positive note, one source feels the Lerners are cognizant of the leadership vacuum to some extent, as “these last 12 months have really kind of forced them to think more thoroughly about how they want to structure things on a day-to-day basis. I think there’s some soul-searching going on and they’re trying to figure out what’s the best way to move forward.”

Guardians Place Nolan Jones On 10-Day IL, Promote Petey Halpin

By Mark Polishuk | September 20, 2025 at 10:53am CDT

The Guardians announced that outfielder Nolan Jones has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right oblique strain. Outfielder Petey Halpin was called up from Triple-A Columbus in the corresponding move, and no other transaction was required since Halpin was already on the 40-man roster.

Jones came off the bench as a late-game sub in the Guardians’ 6-2 win over the Twins yesterday, but was replaced by a pinch-hitter when it was his turn at bat. The timing of the injury will at least end Jones’ regular season, and will probably sideline him for any October action if Cleveland can make the playoffs.

It already didn’t seem too likely that Jones would make a postseason roster anyway, given how he has struggled in his return to Cleveland. Re-acquired from the Rockies in a trade just prior to Opening Day, Jones has hit just .211/.296/.304 over 403 plate appearances with the Guards this season. Seemingly a breakout rookie with Colorado in 2023, Jones has fallen back to earth since a .218/.307/.311 slash line in an even 700 PA since the start of the 2024 campaign.

Despite these numbers, Jones was still getting semi-regular playing time in the Guardians’ lineup, mostly working in a timeshare capacity in center and right field. Since Steven Kwan is the only cornerstone piece of Cleveland’s ever-shifting outfield, the Guards can juggle any number of players around to pick up at-bats over the season’s final nine games. Losing Jones does remove one less option for what will be a busy day for the roster, as the Guardians play a doubleheader against Minnesota.

As such, the door could be open for Halpin to receive the first Major League playing time of his pro career. A third-round pick for Cleveland in the 2020 draft, Halpin was added to the 40-man roster last November in advance of the Rule 5 Draft. Halpin was promoted to Triple-A for the first time this year, and has hit .249/.321/.414 over 553 PA in Columbus, with 14 homers and 15 steals (in 18 attempts).

Baseball America ranks Halpin 24th on their list of the top 30 Guardians prospects, describing him as at least a “solid fourth outfielder” type due to his speed and excellent defense. It remains to be seen whether he can hit enough to gain any kind of regular playing time in the bigs, as Halpin hasn’t shown much in the power department. Known as a contact hitter, his strikeout rate ballooned to 28.2% in Columbus, so Halpin will need to be much more selective if he is to have any chance against Major League pitchers.

Nick Castellanos Criticizes “Questionable” Communication With Rob Thomson

By Mark Polishuk | September 20, 2025 at 10:24am CDT

Nick Castellanos has gone from being the Phillies’ everyday right fielder into a platoon with Max Kepler, in a reflection of how both players have delivered underwhelming numbers in 2025. The change has been a little more jarring for Castellanos given his longer history with the team and longer track record as a lineup regular, and it is clear that the veteran isn’t pleased with how things have played out.

Speaking with the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber and other media after yesterday’s 8-2 win over the Diamondbacks, Castellanos stressed that he is “here to do whatever I can to make sure that Philadelphia wins a World Series ring,” and that any talk that he is unhappy “would be creating a narrative.” However, he also indicated some hard feelings towards manager Rob Thomson, rhetorically asking “who says that?” when a reporter noted that Thomson has been praised for his directness by several players.

“Communication over the years has been questionable, at least in my experience…. There’s just been times where things have been said, and then, over the course of years, I’ll have expectations because I’ll latch on to what’s being said and then actions would be different,” Castellanos said. “And then I’m kind of left just thinking and whatnot. But again, like it is what it is. Adapt, do what I can. At the end of the day we’re here to win a World Series.”

While Castellanos’ comments indicate a longer-lasting issue, the relationship between player and manager drew public attention on June 17, when Castellanos was benched for the Phillies’ 8-3 loss to the Marlins. The previous night, Thomson said Castellanos made an “inappropriate” comment after being removed from the game for defensive purposes, and the outfielder was sat out a game as punishment. Missing that June 17 contest snapped a personal streak of 236 consecutive games played for Castellanos.

As to how the two are communicating lately, Castellanos (perhaps tellingly) referenced playing time, saying “I don’t really talk to Rob all that often. I play whenever he tells me to play, and then sit whenever he tells me to sit.”

Disputes between players and managers are as old as baseball itself, so while Castellanos’ candor about the situation is newsworthy, it may not create any short-term issues within the Phillies’ clubhouse. Despite Castellanos’ displeasure, the numbers also suggest that the platoon is working — since the start of September, Kepler is hitting .263/.373/.500 over 51 plate appearances, and Castellanos is batting .323/.353/.548 in 34 PA.

Even with this recent hot streak, Castellanos has still managed only a 94 wRC+, and an overall slash line of .255/.299/.411 (with 17 homers) over 566 PA. Between his subpar offense and lackluster defense, Castellanos has been worth -0.4 fWAR this season — the second time in his four years in Philadelphia that the veteran has posted a sub-replacement performance.

All in all, Castellanos has generated 1.0 fWAR and an exactly average 100 wRC+ over his four seasons with the Phillies. It wasn’t what the team expected when signing the slugger to a five-year, $100MM free agent deal, and the final $20MM of that contract is still owed to Castellanos for the 2026 season. While that isn’t an insignificant sum for a team to just eat, it is fair to wonder if the Phillies might consider simply releasing Castellanos this winter, unless a trade can be worked out that would still very likely require the Phils to cover the bulk of the remaining salary.

For now, Castellanos is simply focused on the playoffs, and refused to consider his future with the Phillies. “Why would I do that in front of what we have ahead of us? That would be really selfish and take away from what we’re trying to do as a group….I’m here to win. [Owner] John Middleton is paying me money so that I can help the Philadelphia Phillies win a World Series,” he said.

AL Central Notes: Tigers, Morton, Lugo, Bergert, Wallner

By Mark Polishuk | September 20, 2025 at 8:55am CDT

A year after reaching the playoffs due to a late-season surge, the Tigers are now facing an opposite scenario in 2025. The scorching-hot Guardians are on an eight-game winning streak and have won 13 of their last 14 games, while Detroit has lost seven of its last eight games — including a three-game sweep at home against the Guards. The Tigers’ AL Central lead shrunk to just 2.5 games after a 10-1 loss to the Braves on Friday, as starter Charlie Morton was torched for six runs in just 1 1/3 innings.

Acquired from the Orioles at the trade deadline, Morton has an 11.65 ERA over his last five starts, and a 7.09 overall ERA across his 39 1/3 innings in a Detroit uniform. Speaking with the Detroit Free Press’ Evan Petzold and other reporters yesterday, Morton was at a loss to explain his sudden inability to throw strikes, and said “I’m personally really disappointed in myself.” Given these struggles, Morton is “not expecting anything” in terms of another turn in the rotation, and manager A.J. Hinch was also non-committal on the subject.

The problem with removing Morton from the rotation is that the Tigers don’t have a ready-made replacement. Chris Paddack was already moved to the bullpen due to his own struggles, Jose Uriquidy is pitching in relief after his long injury layoff, Troy Melton or Tyler Holton are more long men than true starters, and Sawyer Gipson-Long is on the 15-day injured list. The Tigers could use some combination of all the healthy pitchers in this season’s version of their “Pitching Chaos” tactic, yet there are no easy answers in what has suddenly become a very tense pennant race.

Blue Jays To Deploy Jose Berrios As Relief Pitcher

By Mark Polishuk | September 20, 2025 at 7:26am CDT

Jose Berrios has started all but one of his 274 career big league games, but the veteran starter now looks to be moving to the bullpen for the remainder of the Blue Jays’ 2025 campaign. Following the Jays’ ugly 20-1 loss to the Royals on Friday, manager John Schneider told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi and other reporters about the somewhat fluid situation today, saying that Berrios “can still start for us,” but “he’s kind of an option if we need him on days like today and will be going forward.”

At the very least, Berrios will likely act as a reliever for the remainder of this weekend’s series in Kansas City. The Blue Jays have an off-day Monday before heading into their final homestand, which consists of three games with the Red Sox and a three-game set with the Rays. Toronto holds a three-game lead on the Yankees and a five-game lead on the Red Sox in the AL East title race, with the Jays holding tiebreakers over both teams.

A playoff berth is a virtual lock and a division title and homefield advantage throughout the AL playoffs are still distinct possibilities, so the Jays are in good shape heading into their last eight games, despite some poor recent results. Toronto has scored only two runs during its ongoing three-game losing streak, and Max Scherzer’s meltdown on Friday (seven earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning) raises concerns about his viability as a potential playoff starter.

Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber look like the only locks for a postseason rotation. Chris Bassitt may be the likeliest candidate for a third starter role, and rookie Trey Yesavage has suddenly inserted himself into the conversation after an impressive debut start in the majors. Scherzer’s vast track record still keeps him in the running, Eric Lauer has already been moved to the bullpen, and it looks like Berrios is now viewed as more of a reliever than a starter.

Berrios has a decent 4.06 ERA over 164 innings this season. However, his production is split between a 3.26 ERA in his first 17 starts (102 innings), and a much less effective 5.37 ERA in his most recent 13 starts (62 innings). Over his last seven outings in particular, Berrios has only once logged at least six innings.

Over the full season, Berrios’ Statcast numbers are average at best, and well below average in such key categories as strikeout rate (19.6%) and hard-hit ball rate (42.5%). The latter statistic ties into Berrios’ inflated 11.2% barrel rate, and his continued problems with keeping the ball in the park. Berrios has allowed 110 home runs since the start of the 2022 season, the most of any pitcher in baseball during that span.

A move to the pen might not necessarily solve this problem, and it could add to the difficulties for a Toronto bullpen that has already struggled to minimize opponents’ homers. But, Berrios’ durability could lend itself to a multi-inning role, or as a piggyback pitcher if the Blue Jays wanted to get a Yesavage or a Scherzer out of a game before opposing batters can see them for a third or even a second time. Berrios was seen loosening up in the bullpen during today’s game, but he wasn’t called upon to eat innings during the 19-run rout.

Dividi noted that last weekend, Berrios said he was feeling both mentally and physically run down as he neared the end of his tenth MLB season. “Maybe because I’m 31 years old now and I’m starting to feel some different things. But thank God I’ve been able to take the ball and go out there and pitch, nothing like, ‘Oh, I can’t pitch today,’ or I have to stay out for two weeks or a month,” Berrios said.

Though both Berrios’ physical state and his so-so results might warrant a bullpen role in October, Schneider didn’t approach the decision lightly, given the right-hander’s long history as a rotation staple. That said, Schneider said Berrios was open to the change.

“I think the position that we’re in now…kind of warrants some tough conversations at times and I feel like we just are trying to do what we can to win as many games as we can,” Schneider said. “He’s a professional. There’s a reason Jose Berrios is Jose Berrios. As uncomfortable as it is, I think he gets it.”

A longer-term role change doesn’t appear to be in the cards, perhaps in part due to Berrios’ contract. The righty is still owed $66MM from 2026-28, which breaks down as a $16MM salary next season and then $24MM in each of the final two years of his initial seven-year, $131MM extension. Berrios can opt out of the deal after the 2026 season, though he’d need to significantly improve his performance next year to make triggering that opt-out a real possibility.

Tylor Megill, Reed Garrett Recommended For Tommy John Surgery

By Mark Polishuk | September 19, 2025 at 11:59pm CDT

Two Mets pitchers are facing significant long-term injuries, as The Athletic’s Tim Britton reports that Tommy John surgery has been recommended for both Tylor Megill and Reed Garrett. Both right-handers are considering their options before committing to the TJ procedure, plus Garrett already has another surgery awaiting in the form of a planned procedure to move a nerve in his right arm.

The 30-year-old Megill last pitched on June 14, as he was sidelined by an elbow sprain that (according to the pitcher) didn’t come with any structural damage at the time. However, Megill’s rehab assignment was shut down due to some renewed elbow discomfort during a Triple-A start on September 7, and the latest set of tests has apparently delivered the unwelcome news of UCL damage.

Garrett has been battling elbow issues for over a month, as he missed two weeks (spanning the end of August and start of September) due to elbow inflammation. That minimal IL stint didn’t seem like cause for concern until yesterday, when Garrett was returned to the 15-day IL with a sprain in his throwing elbow.

Britton writes that Garrett could opt for a PRP injection and then see if that is enough to heal his elbow, yet the nerve surgery and the attached four-month recovery period are additional obstacles. If Garrett got a Tommy John surgery relatively soon, he would very likely be ready to go by Opening Day 2027. If he goes the PRP route, he wouldn’t be able to get the shot until after he is fully recovered from the nerve procedure, so there’s a risk that Garrett would end up wasting a lot of recovery time if he ended up needing a TJ surgery anyway. Garrett turns 33 in January, adding to the ticking-clock nature of what an extended absence means for his career as a whole.

At the very least, the 2025 season at a minimum is over for both pitchers. That already somewhat seemed like the case anyway given Megill’s setback after a lengthy absence and Garrett’s late-season elbow sprain, yet now even the faint hope of a return in the event of a deep Mets playoff run has been squashed. It leaves the pitching-needy Mets with even more questions to address about their arms depth if New York even makes it into the postseason, but the bigger-picture issue is clearly the unfortunate possibility that Megill and Garrett will both miss the entire 2026 campaign.

Megill has primarily pitched as a starter over his five MLB seasons (all with the Mets), but he has been deployed more as a back-end rotation arm or even a fill-in rather than a truly stable member of the rotation. Megill has generally done well when given the opportunity, and he took a step forward in 2025 by posting a 3.95 ERA over 14 starts and 68 1/3 innings. His 10.8% walk rate is on the high side, but Megill’s 29.2% strikeout rate was a career best, and he also had very strong whiff and barrel rates.

2025 is also Garrett’s fifth Major League season, though he also spent the 2020-21 seasons pitching in Japan. Garrett joined the Mets on a waiver claim from the Orioles in 2023, and then finally carved out a foothold for himself in the majors as a workhorse member of New York’s bullpen. Since Opening Day 2024, Garrett has a 3.83 ERA in 111 appearances and 112 2/3 innings for the Amazins, with a 30.3% strikeout rate and 11.5% walk rate. Apart from the control issues, Garrett has been a pretty stable member of a Mets bullpen that has seemed to be in constant flux.

Megill is in his first year of arbitration eligibility, and is playing on a $1.975MM salary in 2025. Garrett is only arb-eligible for the first time this coming offseason, and as a non-closing relief pitcher, would have been in line for a pretty modest guaranteed salary in 2026. Between these low salaries and the good numbers the duo have posted in their time in Queens, the Mets will probably still tender both pitchers contracts even in the event that they undergo TJ surgeries, since the team will still have control when both are (presumably) healthy in 2027.

Dodgers Place Michael Kopech On 15-Day Injured List

By Mark Polishuk | September 19, 2025 at 8:26pm CDT

The Dodgers announced that right-hander Michael Kopech has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his right knee. Righty Will Klein was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding move.

Klein’s locker in the clubhouse was noted by several L.A. beat writers earlier today, leading to speculation that Kopech was going to be sidelined since manager Dave Roberts said yesterday that Kopech was playing at less than 100 percent. Kopech addressed his situation with MLB.com’s Sonja Chen and other reporters, noting that his command was being impacted by “a couple different things right now” and not just his knee soreness.

The reliever also noted that he has had difficulty performing given the stop-and-start nature of his injury-plagued season. Kopech has tossed only 11 innings in 2025 due to a pair of stints on the 60-day injured list — one due to a shoulder impingement, and another due to a prior bout of knee inflammation. While the righty has a 2.45 ERA over his 11 frames, Kopech is clearly not himself, issuing 13 walks against 12 strikeouts.

Given the timing of the IL placement, Kopech’s regular season is now officially over, and his availability for both a first-round playoff series (and the playoffs in general) now seems in question. Roberts hopes that resting Kopech now will get him healthy for the postseason, and described Kopech as “pitchable” right now, but the Dodgers felt it was wiser to give the right-hander some time off now with a playoff berth already clinched.

Even if Kopech is fully healthy, it is anyone’s guess as to how he might pitch in October. As much as the Dodgers might be tempted to go with another arm for their playoff roster, it was just a year ago that Kopech was one of the key figures in the team’s World Series run. After Kopech was acquired from the White Sox at the trade deadline, he posted a 1.13 ERA over 24 regular-season innings for Los Angeles, and then posted a 3.00 across 10 playoff innings.

Phillies Activate Alec Bohm, Outright Brewer Hicklen

By Mark Polishuk | September 19, 2025 at 8:10pm CDT

The Phillies activated third baseman Alec Bohm off the 10-day injured list, and optioned infielder Rafael Lantigua to Triple-A in the corresponding move. In another transaction, the club also outrighted outfielder Brewer Hicklen to Triple-A after Hicklen (who was designated for assignment earlier this week) cleared waivers.

Bohm returns after a minimal stint, as his retroactive IL placement date was September 8. A left shoulder cyst was the cause of Bohm’s absence, as he had to have the cyst drained and treated in order to correct the discomfort in his non-throwing arm. The issue wasn’t seen as serious, so taking 10 days to fix the problem now gives Bohm some time to get back to action and get ramped up in advance of the playoffs.

Over 464 plate appearances this season, Bohm has hit .272/.319/.384 with nine home runs, translating to a subpar 94 wRC+. It has been a up-and-down season for the third baseman, with injuries have been the story of his second half. Between a fractured rib and his shoulder cyst, Bohm has been limited to just 20 games since the All-Star break, and he has hit only .231/.282/.333 over 85 PA during those 20 games.

The Phillies have clinched the NL East and are likely going to receive a first-round bye, giving the club some extra time to get healthy. Bohm is now back, though the Phils are still short-handed in the infield with Trea Turner and Edmundo Sosa on the IL. These absences opened the door for Lantigua to receive his first call to the majors on Tuesday, but he’ll return to Lehigh Valley without an official MLB debut, as Lantigua didn’t receive any playing time during his cup of coffee in the Show.

Lantigua’s selection to the 40-man roster came at Hicklen’s absence, as Hicklen found himself DFA’ed for the third time this season. All three of those designations came with different teams. The Brewers DFA’ed Hicklen on Opening Day and then traded him to the Tigers a day later, and Philadelphia then swung a trade in late July after Detroit designated Hicklen again.

Though all of these travels, Hicklen has appeared in exactly one big league game in 2025 — he had two hits as the Tigers’ starting center fielder in an 11-1 win over the Rockies on May 8, as Detroit swept a double-header against Colorado. These were the first two hits of Hicklen’s brief Major League career, which consists of 10 games with the Royals, Brewers, and Tigers from 2022-25.

Most of Hicklen’s playing time has come in Triple-A ball over these last four seasons, with a solid .240/.346/.464 career slash line in 1731 PA at the top minor league level. His numbers have taken a dip this year, however, as Hicklen has topped out at a .730 OPS while playing with the Phillies’ and Tigers’ top affiliates. Unless a late injury changes Philadelphia’s plans, Hicklen will likely finish 2025 in Lehigh Valley. He hasn’t been previously outrighted in his career and he has much less than three years of MLB service time, so Hicklen wasn’t able to reject the outright assignment in favor of free agency.

Matt Silverman, Brian Auld To Step Down As Rays’ Team Presidents

By Mark Polishuk | September 19, 2025 at 7:09pm CDT

The incoming group led by real estate developer Patrick Zalupski is expected to officially purchase the Rays from Stuart Sternberg’s ownership group within the next few weeks, and some big organizational changes are on the horizon. Longtime team presidents Matt Silverman and Brian Auld will be leaving their current roles, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Auld is staying on in an advisory capacity throughout the ownership transition period, while Silverman’s only remaining involvement will be as part of an advisory board representing Sternberg’s group in team business, as Sternberg’s group will still own 10 percent of the Rays.

Though the two executives shared the “president” title without any modifiers, Auld’s focus was more on the business side of the operations, while Silverman was more focused on baseball operations side. Silverman has been the team’s president since 2005 (when he was just 29 years old), except for a three-year hiatus that saw him act as the president of baseball operations following Andrew Friedman’s departure to the Dodgers. Once Erik Neander was promoted to the head of the baseball ops department following the 2016 season, Silverman moved back upstairs to the president’s role.

Silverman first started working with the Rays in 2004, coming aboard just slightly before Sternberg (his former Goldman Sachs colleague) bought the team. Auld joined the organization in 2005 as the director of planning and development, and worked in a variety of roles before being promoted to president 11 years ago. The ties between Silverman and Auld also existed before their time in Tampa Bay, as the duo first met while in high school.

It seems that Silverman’s departure is somewhat of his own volition, as Topkin writes that Silverman “had extended conversations with the incoming owners about a likely significant role, but chose instead to leave the team.” Silverman said he wasn’t departing due to another job opportunity, but rather it was “just a simple personal decision that for me it’s a good time to put down the pencil, take a breath and figure out what might be next….Before conversations about a future role really developed, I expressed my preference to serve on this ownership board and they welcomed that participation.”

For his part, Auld is looking forward to getting some more time with his family and away from the day-to-day grind, while still helping the Rays in this next chapter in team history.

“My hope is that we have a long partnership together where I can be a counselor to [likely incoming CEO] Ken Babby and whoever else needs it along the way,” Auld said. “Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay is not a simple enterprise, and to the extent that I can be helpful, I’m really looking forward to doing so….I’m looking forward to some different styles, and to learning from a new group. And I think that’s one of the reasons that a significant change was needed. I wasn’t sure this was going to be what I wanted to do, and getting to know this ownership group, and Ken specifically, it’s felt really good. It felt like it could be a nice, positive thing for a good amount of time.”

Past reports had indicated that Zalupski wasn’t planning to make any significant changes to the team’s structure, so the loss of over 40 years of organizational experience is certainly a departure from that initial thought. Given the longstanding connections between Sternberg and the Silverman/Auld combination, it might not be a surprise that Zalupski is looking to fill the president’s role with his own hire, or hires if he continues the trend of having separate presidents for the baseball and business ends.

As such, the change in the presidents’ office shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as a hint that Zalupski might be looking at a larger scale shake-up. Neander and manager Kevin Cash each signed contract extensions prior to the 2024 season that run through at least 2028 in Neander’s case, and through 2030 in Cash’s case. Eating the significant amount of remaining money on those contracts may be a factor for Zalupski, yet the larger issue is that Neander and Cash are both highly regarded around baseball, and both are widely viewed as two of the chief reasons why Tampa Bay has remained competitive despite perpetually modest payrolls.

That tradition of competitive baseball really began under Silverman, whose hirings of Friedman, Neander, and multiple other executives have helped establish the Rays as something of a talent factory on and off the field. Multiple teams have hired ex-Rays executives, coaches, and advisors over the years in an attempt to try and capture a bit of Tampa’s low-budget magic for themselves, with somewhat mixed results overall. Perhaps Silverman’s most obvious legacy is the “Rays” name itself, as he was behind the team’s move away from the “Devil Rays” name and well as the new uniforms and colors associated with the rebrand.

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