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Tatsuya Imai To Be Posted For MLB Teams This Offseason

By Mark Polishuk | November 9, 2025 at 10:02pm CDT

The Saitama Seibu Lions announced (Japanese language link) on their official team website that they have accepted Tatsuya Imai’s request to be posted to Major League teams. Once Imai is officially posted, he’ll have 45 days to work out a contract with a big league team, or else he’ll return to the Lions for the 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball season.

It has been over two months since reports first surfaced about the likelihood of Imai’s availability this winter, and today’s news officially confirms the three-time NPB All-Star as one of the most intriguing arms of the 2025-26 free agent class. Imai has a 3.15 ERA over 963 2/3 career innings with the Lions, with a 22.31% strikeout rate and a 11.52% walk rate. While that career walk rate is on the high side, Imai has reduced that number in each of his last four seasons, and he had a very solid 7.02% walk rate over 163 2/3 innings in 2025.

Imai is only 27, and doesn’t turn 28 until May. Between his age and an intriguing four-pitch arsenal (headlined by a fastball in the 95-99mph range and a plus slider), there’s a lot to like in terms of how Imai’s success in NPB might translate against Major League hitters. This upside led MLBTR to place Imai seventh on our list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, and we’re predicting a six-year, $150MM deal even though some evaluators feel Imai projects as a back-end starter or even as a reliever in the majors.

Imai qualifies for full free agency next offseason, so the Lions may feel that they can at least earn some money back via a posting free by letting Imai go now rather than 12 months from now. As per the terms of the MLB-NPB posting system, any Major League team that reaches an agreement with Imai will owe the Lions a staggered fee depending on the size of the deal, and on any future earnings (i.e. options, bonuses, etc.) attached to that initial contract.

The Lions will get 20% of the contract’s first $25MM, 17.5% of the contract’s next $25MM, and 15% of any money above the $50MM mark. So if Imai were to sign a deal matching MLBTR’s $150MM projection, his new team would owe the Lions a $24.375MM posting fee on top of Imai’s $150MM salary.

Lucas Giolito Wants To Return To Red Sox, Says He’s “Fully Healthy” After Late-Season “Freak Injury”

By Mark Polishuk | November 9, 2025 at 9:30pm CDT

After UCL surgery cost him the entire 2024 season, Lucas Giolito returned in 2025 to post solid results (3.41 ERA in 145 innings) in the Red Sox rotation before the injury bug arose just prior to the start of Boston’s Wild Card Series with the Yankees. Right flexor irritation and a bone issue kept Giolito off the playoff roster and unable to do anything besides watch as the Sox were eliminated in three games.

Adding to Giolito’s frustration was the fact that after getting the diagnosis and beginning some rehab work, “within three days, my elbow felt 100 percent fine again,” the right-hander told WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford on the latest edition of the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast (partial transcript here). With no UCL damage discovered and the inflammation subsided, Giolito planned to quickly start a throwing program with the intention of returning later in the playoffs, except Boston’s run was cut short early.

As the offseason and Giolito’s free agency now begins, he said that is now “fully healthy,” even though he understands the complications that bought on by his late flexor issue. He said he is “happy to prove that I’m fully healthy in any way possible” to any skeptical front offices, and that the injury is completely behind him.

“There’s no injury, or whatever injury there was is gone. It was a weird, freak thing that popped up at the worst possible time, not only for the Red Sox but for myself and in general,” Giolito said. “Just the worst possible time. It makes my free agency harder. It prevented me from pitching in the playoffs where I had been a part of the rotation pretty much the entire year. It was just a very, very tough one to swallow. I still don’t like thinking about it.”

Giolito signed a two-year, $38.5MM deal with the Red Sox during the 2023-24 offseason that broke down as an $18MM salary for 2024 and then a player option for a $19MM salary in 2025. Giolito’s internal brace procedure made it an easy call for him to exercise that $19MM option and remain in his Sox contract, and remaining in the deal also added a club option for 2026 worth at least $14MM. Since Giolito then tossed at least 140 innings in 2025, the club option was converted to a $19MM mutual option with a $1.5MM buyout, giving Giolito the right to test free agency again if he declined his end of the mutual option.

That is exactly what happened earlier this week, and Giolito finds himself on the open market again. He doesn’t have the qualifying offer attached to his services since the Sox didn’t issue him the one-year, $22.025MM offer. Giolito told Bradford that he didn’t expect the QO due to his injury: “You end of the year hurt, it puts a bad taste in the team’s mouth. It is what it is. Now, the fortunate side is that it was like the most benign, weird, freak injury that went away after a few days. So, now I’m like, great. I’m having a fully healthy, amazing offseason.”

Sour ending notwithstanding, Giolito still viewed his 2025 campaign as “really, really positive” given his own success and Boston’s success in returning to the playoffs. He is also hoping for an encore performance at Fenway Park in 2026 and beyond.

“I made it clear to everybody. I would love to come back here and continue to play for the Red Sox. It’s the most fun I have ever had having a season with a team in the big leagues,” Giolito said. “I felt like the way it ended left such a bad taste in my mouth, and the rest of the team, particularly me not being able to pitch in that playoff series. It really sucked. I was like I really hope I can come back, and it goes better for us next time.”

MLBTR ranked Giolito 27th on our list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, and projected the right-hander to land a two-year, $32MM contract. There was a bit of flexibility within that projection since some teams may feel comfortable enough in Giolito’s health to add a club/vesting option for a third year, or perhaps even just a fully guaranteed third year.

This mid-range price tag should put Giolito on the radar for a lot of clubs, and a return to Boston certainly seems plausible since the Sox are still in need of pitching. The expectation is that the Red Sox will pursue a frontline arm to team with Garrett Crochet atop the rotation, but adding this hypothetical ace and Giolito would only deepen the rotation and make the Sox better equipped for a longer postseason run.

MLBTR Chat Transcript

By Mark Polishuk | November 9, 2025 at 8:08pm CDT

Mark P

It’s the first official Weekend Chat of the 2025-26 offseason! Let’s take a minute for some questions to roll in, and then get….uh, rolling

John

Has the window to trade Coby Mayo closed?

Mark P

It’ll take a lot more than 340 plate appearances before the Orioles (or other teams) decide that the Mayo has gone bad. Mayo started to hit a lot better in September, indicating perhaps that he was starting to figure it out against MLB pitching.
If the O’s did want to move Mayo for a more proven talent, there would be plenty of takers

Guest

Do the Jays sign any of their FAs?

Mark P

They already kinda have, if you count Bieber as a free agent. And I think we all did, since nobody had Bieber passing on the opt-out on our bingo cards.
Bringing back one of Scherzer or Bassitt is a possibility. IKF/France/Dominguez are all likely gone, with Dominguez maybe the only one who’d draw some interest for a reunion since the Jays still need relief help. Of course Bichette is the big question, and his choice will determine the rest of Toronto’s offseason

Armand

what happens first a big free agent signing or a big trade?

Mark P

Trade. I guess it’s a matter of what you’d consider a “big” signing or trade, but most of the top free agents will wait a while to gauge their offers. A larger trade could technically happen at any time.

What is your opinion of the Braves decision to not pick up the options on Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley?

Mark P

Pretty surprised, since when I wrote the Atlanta offseason outlook, I saw it as basically a foregone conclusion that both would be retained.
The Braves could pursue a reunion at a lower price tag with either pitcher, but seemingly just in the name of saving some money, declining both options left the Braves with even more to address in their pen

Guest

Chris Sale extension for ATL?

Mark P

Possible, but the Braves might’ve already been learned their lesson about committing extra money to a pitcher with Sale’s injury history.

Bart G.

You said “Mayo has gone bad” on purpose! I saw you!

Mark P

I swear I’m not trying to steal Jacob Wysocki’s thunder as Mr. Mayo

HARRIS

Without a doubt my staff is thin. how much grace and goodwill would I recover after last summers debacle would I achieve if I sign J.V. for the back end of the rotation. we can certainly afford the 10-11 mill I believe. I mean I gave Cobb 15 and got nothing. Smart move for the club and the fan base?

Mark P

(The name refers to Tigers PBO Scott Harris, btw)
A Verlander reunion would make a lot of sense for both the Tigers and presumably JV himself if he wants to pitch for a clear-cut contender. It’d be such a fun storyline to see Verlander try and complete some unfinished business in winning Detroit a ring

Sox Fan

Follow up to my original question: With the Sox finally having a shot at the #1 pick this draft, can they trade it?

Mark P

The only draft picks that can be traded are the Competitive Balance Round selections.

Dub

Mark: Good evening. Are you bullish on the Marlins being a tad proactive on free agent spending?

Mark P

They’ll spend a bit more than usual, but “a tad” is about the right description

Danny boy

Would Tucker or bellinger be a bigger priority for the Yankees?

Mark P

I actually think Bellinger’s a better fit for the Yankees’ particular needs since he can play 1B and CF. Plus, he’s less expensive than Tucker will be, and the Yankees already know Bellinger can handle playing in the Bronx

Dr. Mustard

What noise do you see the A’s making this offseason? Not a total game changer but a bold move they could make.

Justin credible

if your the GM of the A’s how do you address the pitching staff?

Mark P

Pitching is definitely the top need, and it’ll more than likely have to come through the trade market. After the Severino fiasco, there will be several pitchers that simply won’t even consider the A’s as a free destination.
btw, Severino being traded is another way for the A’s to fill another need, maybe to get a 2B/3B

Cubbies

Any chance the Cubs go after Murakami to play 3rd?

Mark P

Sure, I think there’s a possible fit there.

Smokin Joe

Will the cards trade Donavan?

Wtf mate?

Could Brendan Donovan bring back a mid-rotation pre-arb starter or MLB-ready mid rotation

Mark P

Donovan appeals to so many teams that I think his price tag will be a bit higher than some expect. He’s under team control for two years, so the Cardinals can hold out to see if they can land a more controllable type of pitcher.
They could wait until the deadline if the right offers aren’t there this winter, but there’s no reason for a rebuilding team to hang onto Donovan too much longer

Guest

How about the Giants trading for Brendon Donovan and Sonny Gray? They could take on all of the Gray’s contract and give up less prospects for Donovan. They need pitching and second base!

Mark P

Gray’s tax number is so outsized that the Cardinals probably can’t close the door on a scenario like this. But, moving one of their better trade chips just to save money isn’t a great look for a team that surely wants to bring in all the young talent they can

Guards4Life

After today’s news, on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being worst, how screwed is the guardians offseason now?

Mark P

1 or a 2 at most? I don’t think the Guardians were counting on Clase or Ortiz playing any role in their 2026 plans (or beyond)

Dodger Dave

Mark, can you explain how Tony Gonsolim was DFA’d as opposed to non-tendered by LA? He would’ve been under team control through 2026. Why wouldn’t they have just non-tendered him?

Mark P

You can’t non-tender a player until the actual non-tender deadline on November 21. Before then, if you want to get rid of the player, you have to release him entirely or DFA him first. I suspect the Dodgers went the DFA route to give them a little more time to find any potential trade partners.

Guest

A serious question. Why do managers wear watches in the dugout?

Mark P

So they can theatrically toss the watch on the ground, then yell “hey ump, even a broken clock is right twice a day, and that’s still better than you!”
Real answer: I dunno, they just like wearing watches?

68 Tigers

Are the Tigers even in the Bichette, Bregman or Suarez sweepstakes? They need to sign one of the top free agents to show the fan base a continued commitment to winning. What are your thoughts??

Mark P

They made a real push for Bregman last winter, so it’s not like the Tigers have shied away entirely from bigger contracts. Any of that trio would fit very nicely on a Tigers team that badly needs right-handed hitting, and hitting in general

Thompson

Do you see any teams interested in trading for Jonah Heim and/or Adolis Garcia before the tender deadline? If so, who are the fits for each?

Mark P

Plenty of teams need catching, so Heim should have a market despite his struggles of the last couple of years. Garcia might be the same but just because outfielders are more readily available, rival clubs might wait for Texas to non-tender him and take their chances on the free agent bidding

Guest

Who says no Kurtz for burns

Mark P

Athletics

Willy

Are you ready for another year of speaking about the Angels trading Adell?

Mark P

The tradition continues!

Bailey

What does it mean that it was mentioned that I was mentioned to be talked about at the deadline last season? Clearly posey was looking at all options, but do they have bigger plans at the catching position?

Mark P

Shayna Rubin used the words “briefly considered,” rather than even just “considered” or “discussed” or whatever team you want to use for a team thinking about a potential trade.
In general, front offices are constantly thinking about probably 90 percent of the players on their roster as some degree of available in trade talks. Bailey isn’t so untouchable that the Giants wouldn’t have had some internal talks about what a catching upgrade might require

Mr KLC

Is there a chance Jeremy Pena could be on the trading block while his value is high, similar to what the Astros did with Kyle Tucker?

Mark P

Pena is arb-controlled through 2027. So if the Astros do eventually consider trading him, it wouldn’t be until next winter at the earliest. (Assuming that the team is in contention at the deadline.)

Goodman | Tovar

If DePodesta makes them available in trade discussions at the meetings… Who calls? What type of returns could they fetch?

Mark P

Goodman is controlled for four years, and is coming off an All-Star season at the thin catching position. He’d get a ton in return, and for a Rockies team that needs all the help it can get, a Goodman trade can’t be entirely ruled out. Very unlikely, it “can’t be ruled out.”
Tovar is owed $56.5MM, hasn’t shown that he can hit at the big league level, and his excellent glovework took a step backwards in 2025. He’s another player Colorado isn’t going to trade, in part because if they did, they’d be selling low

Big Red Machine

The Reds, a budding young team with a ton of potential in a very winnable division, are, again, playing it conservative on payroll (flat to last year). How much do you think the potential lock out in 2027 is going to play into contract signings this offseason?

Mark P

It’ll be a big factor, no doubt. Not that the Reds were too likely to break the bank on a big signing anyway, but some teams will surely be holding back on the spending in the hope that the next CBA will change the rules to some extent

Dugout Yoda

Anyone getting in the Hall out of this group of eight?

Mark P

It’ll ultimately depend on who is on the committee, since if it happens to be a lot of players/writers/execs sympathetic to a particular player, their chances will be greatly boosted. For instance, if there’s an Atlanta-centric focus to the panel, Dale Murphy’s chances look a lot better.
I find it hard to believe that Bonds and Clemens will draw enough support for induction since their last appearance on the ballot fell so flat. Maybe I’m a little biased as a Blue Jays fan, but perhaps Delgado’s candidacy will be helped by how his stats measure so favorably against most of the other candidates.

Yankees

They had the best offense in baseball despite a poor year from Volpe. I know Grisham is probably gone , but if they resign Bellinger and McMahon can be a 100 wRC+ hitter, aren’t they still projected to be a Top 5 offense?

Mark P

That’s a big if on McMahon, who has never hit the 100 wRC+ mark in his entire career. The Yankees’ offense hinges heavily on Rice continuing to hit, Stanton staying healthy and productive, Jazz being Jazz, Dominguez and Wells improving, and (most important of all) Judge continuing to be a generational hitter. If Judge takes a step back to being just “very good,” that alone is a big hit to New York’s lineup.

Richard

Bees??

Mark P

Beads?!

Rob

could you explain the bees beads thing please

Mark P

It’s an old joke from the Arrested Development TV show. I forget how it even got started a joke in these chats, and it has been a running bit for years now.

Ang T

Rumors has it that the Mets don’t want to resign Pete unless he takes a hometown discount. Any truth to this?

Mark P

I can see this, especially since it’s basically their same stance as last winter.

Richard

do you really see the Ms making a run at Skubal? What would it take for the Ms to get him?

Mark P

Seattle has enough pitching that Skubal wouldn’t seem to be a big priority.
Also, if Detroit trades Skubal at all (which I kinda doubt), they’re probably not moving him to another top AL contender.

Skip

Semien was not his best and still had a 3.3 WAR I could see a team wanting him from Texas.

Mark P

He’s owed $72MM over the next three seasons, his bat has badly tailed off over the last two years to the point of being a below-average hitter in 2025, and he’s entering his age-35 season.
Semien isn’t getting dealt unless Texas eats a major chunk of that contract, or takes on another big contract in return to balance out the money.

Billy Beane

So 10 years from now will be watching “Moneyball 2: Peter Brand Returns” after his tenure in Colorado?

Mark P

Jonah Hill still wants that Oscar, baby!

Adam

Which teams should I be checking prospects for crazy trade ideas for Pablo and Joe? Twins fan

Mark P

It’ll take a lot to get Ryan, so look for teams like particularly loaded farm systems. Mets, Rays, Red Sox, and yes, the Dodgers could all be fits. A team like Milwaukee could try something creative like trading for Ryan and then moving Peralta elsewhere.
Lopez’s salary makes him a slightly tougher fit, but the Twins may have more urgency to move him in order to cut payroll.

Dodgerfan

Will the dodgers bring back Miggy Ro, one of our postseason heroes?

Mark P

Don’t see why the Dodgers wouldn’t be open to bringing back Rojas and Enrique Hernandez as reliable bench/clubhouse leaders.

Tyler

Could the Pirates make trade like last year Ortiz/horwitz to acquire a hitter

Mark P

They should make at least two trades like this to give their offense a proper shot in the arm

Guardians Fan

They haven’t historically been connected with international free agents (or free agents other than Austin Hedges), but any chance the Guardians might be a fit for Okamoto with some payroll space this offseason?

Mark P

He’s probably outside Cleveland’s price range. Okamoto also isn’t a great positional fit — Ramirez is obviously locked at 3B, and the Guardians probably want to see what they have in Manzardo/Kayfus

Ace of Braves

What does a Corey Seager to the Braves trade look like?

Mark P

Seager is owed $186MM through the 2031 season. If he was a free agent this winter, I don’t see the Braves spending at that level to obtain him, in addition to what the Rangers would want in terms of prospects.
Seager also has a partial no-trade clause, though it isn’t known what teams are on his no-go list (or how many teams are included)

Frog

What could KC get in a trade for Mitchell?. He’s their number 2 prospect and a MLB top 100 at a premium position

Mark P

These are excellent reasons why Mitchell won’t be traded, and why KC likely sees him as Salvy Perez’s successor

Chris Young

Any idea to when I should announce my team’s full coaching staff?

Mark P

Most teams don’t officially announce their coaching staffs until well into December, or even into January. There was so much managerial tumult this offseason (including in Texas) that it might take even longer than usual for a lot of staffs to get finalized. The Rockies don’t even have a manager yet.

Cards Fan

Is KC making the same mistake the Cards did with Yadi giving Salvy legacy contracts in his declining years!

Mark P

“Mistake” is a bit of a stretch. Perez is still hitting lots of homers and is a major clubhouse voice, even if his overall offense is inconsistent and his defensive metrics have plummeted. If they let Perez go, the Royals would then be putting more pressure on Mitchell and Jensen to step into a regular catching role right now.
I don’t think it hurts KC to retain a guy who’s still a useful player and a franchise icon. The two-year length of the contract probably acts as the unofficial end date of Perez’s career, too.

Sad Reds Fan

If they actually trade Hunter Greene I rage quit forever

Mark P

I kinda doubt they’ll move him, of all pitchers, since Greene has shown he can be a frontline guy.

Motor City Beach Bum

If the Mets mak a crazy offer for Skubal, like MacLean, Tong, Jett and Baty should the Tigers do it?

Mark P

Sure, that’s the kind of Godfather offer the Tigers would require to actually move Skubal. But that’s also not something New York would offer for one year of a pitcher who seems very likely to test free agency next winter.

Kyle

Could you see the Royals moving either Bubic or Ragans to address their offensive needs?

Mark P

Yeah, Bubic in particular seems like a strong trade candidate

Nationals Fan

To be honest, these rumors of the Nats possibly trading Gore or even Abrams is making me sick. How likely do you think this is?

Mark P

Gore is arb-controlled through 2027, and Abrams through 2028. The question Toboni has to be asking is “do I think Washington can be a contender within the next 2-3 years?” Since I think the answer to that is probably a no, that makes both players into trade candidates.

Sell Arte Sell

What was the thinking behind the 1 year contract that the Angels gave Kurt Suzuki to manage the team? I’ve never seen that for any new manager before.

Mark P

The thinking is that Moreno doesn’t want to be paying a manager through a 2027 season that may be reduced (or canceled??) by a lockout. Not only is this very pessimistic, it’s incredibly short-sighted and a little insulting to Suzuki. It’s quite possible there’s a handshake deal in place to extend Suzuki after the year or after the lockout, yet what if the Angels actually have a good season? If you’re Suzuki, maybe you then take your chances with another team in need of a skipper, that’s in a better position to truly contend in 2027?

Guest

Wonder where rob Brantly will end up. Alwys finds a team

Mark P

Pretty sure this is the first Rob Brantly question I’ve gotten in all the years I’ve been running these chats.
Brantly has been in six of the last seven MLB seasons, yet with 15 games total in that span.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brantro01.shtml

Woody

Should I take the QO from the Brewers?

Mark P

If I’m Woodruff’s agent, I advise him to reject, since he can comfortably top one year/$22.025MM on the open market.
But that ignores the possible emotional attachment between Woodruff and the Brewers. Not to mention that there’s enough injury uncertainty around Woodruff that while he’d top the QO price, it might not be that all that much. Chances are he rejects it, but I wouldn’t be totally shocked to see Woodruff accept

Dodgers fan

Sorry about Game 7. How are you holding up?

Mark P

I wrote in last week’s chat (prior to Game 7) that it was going to be either the best night or worst night of my baseball fandom. And unfortunately….
I’m probably going to think about Game 7 for a few minutes of every day until the Blue Jays win their next championship. It absolutely stinks to lose when a title is just two outs away, but that’s baseball. Life goes on. Pitchers and catchers report in just a few months!

Tiger Town

Is there a market for Riley Greene or Spencer Torkleson that could entice the Tigers to move one of them? Their hitting was so terrible during the last half of the season and postseason it seems like a shakeup is in order.

Mark P

Since Tork is limited to 1B, he’s the player I think Detroit is more willing to trade if the opposing offer is right.
Greene has a higher ceiling

Preller Jr

With the many holes on padres roster will AJ finally use Campusano as a backup C/DH or trade him and get something finally? I’ll never understand their reluctance to use him or trade him by now.

Mark P

Feels like he should’ve been dealt months ago, since the Padres clearly don’t have him in their plans.

Kelly Leak

Does Jose Ramirez or Acuna get traded this winter?

Mark P

Nope and nope

Mr KLC

If I’m the Astros looking for starting pitching in free agency shouldn’t great injury history be near the top of the list?

Mark P

That’s at the top of every team’s list, really. But sure, for Houston in particular you want durability

Anthony

I might be just dreaming, but do you see any potential interest/package the RedSox can offer for Nick Kurtz?

Mark P

The A’s would want Roman Anthony straight up.

Astros fan

Isaac Parades would bring back a better return than Christian Walker but is younger and cheaper. If you are the Astros, who do you tab at first and who do you trade?

Mark P

If the Astros can find someone to take Walker at like 80 cents on the dollar, they should do it. It might be a case of moving Walker just before a real decline starts.

Franklin

Do you see Toronto as a potential landing spot for Tucker, especially if Bichette departs, or do you think they focus their resources on other areas?

Mark P

If Tucker is signed and Bichette leaves, that makes the OF Tucker/Varsho/Santander or Springer on an everyday basis (with Straw occasionally spelling Varsho against some lefties). That also makes Gimenez/Barger/Clement/Schneider toggling between the three non-1B infield spots, and Lukes becomes a full-time backup.
So it kinda still works, but if Bichette did leave, Toronto might prefer to bring in another starting infielder to leave themselves more outfield flexibility
We’re two hours in, so I think we can wrap things up for the evening. Thanks for all the questions, and hopefully we’re all ramped up for what should be a wild offseason!

Giants “Briefly Considered” Patrick Bailey Trade At Deadline

By Mark Polishuk | November 9, 2025 at 5:16pm CDT

The Giants were 2-12 in the 14 games leading up to the trade deadline, a cold stretch that convinced the team to deal away some impending free agents (i.e. Tyler Rogers, Mike Yastrzemski) and a controllable asset in Camilo Doval. According to Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants also “briefly considered” the possibility of trading another notable player under longer-term control — catcher Patrick Bailey.

The way Rubin phrases the club’s thought process could mean that the Giants front office was simply doing due diligence in assessing its trade chips heading into the deadline, or perhaps another team made an interesting enough offer to at least get Buster Posey and company mulling the idea. “There isn’t a strong motivation to trade” Bailey, Rubin writes, which makes sense given Bailey’s defensive excellence and pre-arbitration status.

Bailey was the 13th overall pick of the 2020, and his emergence and Joey Bart’s struggles led the Giants to opt for Bailey as the team’s proverbial “catcher of the future.” Through three Major League seasons, Bailey has hit only .230/.287/.340 over 1253 plate appearances, but he has won the last two Gold Gloves and Fielding Bible Awards for his superb glovework. In addition to his latest Fielding Bible Award, Sports Info Solutions also named Bailey the defensive player of the year in all of baseball for the 2025 season.

Bailey fell just a couple of days short of Super Two status and an extra year of arbitration eligibility. As a result, his first trip through the arb process won’t come until next winter, and he isn’t eligible for free agency until the 2029-30 offseason. There’s no rush for San Francisco to move the 26-year-old, and trading Bailey would then leave the Giants trying to find a new backstop within a thin catching market.

Creating a new roster need probably doesn’t appeal too much to the Giants, whose offseason to-do lists includes a focus on both starting and relief pitching, plus right field or second base as areas of concern around the diamond. That said, Rubin suggests the incoming Automated Ball-Strike challenge system might give the team some reason to move Bailey before the ABS system is implemented next season. While Bailey is a strong all-around defensive catcher, his elite framing skills are his bread-and-butter, and Bailey’s ability to frame pitches (and steal strikes) could be hampered now that opponents are allowed to challenge umpire calls.

It remains to be seen exactly how the ABS system will impact day-to-day play in the majors, though we’ve already seen the system in use at the Triple-A level over the last four seasons, and big leaguers got a taste at last year’s Spring Training and in the All-Star Game. It may be that the effect on Bailey or other excellent framers will be relatively minimal, though it could be argued that anything that diminishes his glovework has an outsized impact on his overall value, since Bailey isn’t providing anything at the plate.

San Francisco’s catching position should get some attention anyway this winter since the team might non-tender Andrew Knizner, creating the need for a new backup. The Giants are likely to bring in a veteran or two to compete for the job in Spring Training, plus Jesus Rodriguez is an internal candidate for the role. Rodriguez was one of the four prospects acquired from the Yankees for Doval, and Rubin notes that Rodriguez would’ve made his MLB debut with the Giants last year if Rodriguez hasn’t been set back by a shoulder injury.

Steve Hargan Passes Away

By Mark Polishuk | November 9, 2025 at 3:57pm CDT

Former big league right-hander and All-Star Steve Hargan passed away last week at age 83. Hargan pitched with the Indians, Rangers, Blue Jays, and Braves from 1965-77, posting a 3.92 ERA over 1632 innings and 354 career games (215 of them starts).

The first eight of Hargan’s 12 MLB seasons were spent in Cleveland, where he worked as both a starter and a reliever in his first two years before gaining a firm rotation foothold in 1967. That breakout campaign saw Hargan post a 2.62 ERA and a league-leading six shutouts over 223 innings, and Hargan was named to the AL All-Star team for the first and only time in his career. Hargan also hit his only career home run on June 19, 1967, in a rare instance of a pitcher hitting a walkoff homer — the righty capped off a complete-game victory over the Kansas City Athletics with a two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth to give the Indians a 4-2 win.

Unfortunately, Hargan developed bone chips in his throwing elbow and underwent an ulnar nerve surgery in 1968. As Hargan told SABR’s Gregory H. Wolf, “I was able to continue on with my career, but I wasn’t the same after that,” and Hargan felt he returned too quickly from his surgery. Apart from some success in the second half of the 1970 season, Hargan’s numbers dropped off during the remainder of his time in Cleveland, resulting in both the loss of his rotation job and a 1973 season spent entirely in the minor leagues.

A trade to Texas helped Hargan gain a fresh start in his career, and he had a 3.81 ERA over 500 1/3 innings (starting 61 of 105 games) with the Rangers from 1974-76. Taken by the Blue Jays in the expansion draft, Hargan pitched for Toronto during the team’s inaugural season but also bounced back to Texas and then to Atlanta in 1977, which ended up being Hargan’s last year of Major League action. Carpal tunnel syndrome bothered Hargan late in his career, and after spending 1978 in the minors, he decided to retire.

We at MLB Trade Rumors send our condolences to Hargan’s family, friends, and loved ones.

White Sox Notes: Free Agency, Hitting Coaches, Young Bats

By Charlie Wright | November 9, 2025 at 3:00pm CDT

The White Sox lost 100+ games for the third straight season in 2025. Their 60 wins were the fewest in the American League. The club has multiple areas for improvement, but is unlikely to address those needs via lengthy free agent deals, general manager Chris Getz told reporters this week, including Scott Merkin of MLB.com. “Free agency is an avenue to bring in players to help in the win total,” Getz said. “But to go beyond this upcoming season I think would be a little premature considering the state of our club right now and the development of these young players.”

Chicago wasn’t expected to be a major player in free agency, and Getz’s comments confirm the club will continue to get by with veterans on short deals around their young players. In two offseasons at the helm, Getz has only handed out one multi-year deal, inking Erick Fedde to a two-year, $15MM pact in 2024. Getz’s largest investment this past offseason was a one-year, $5M deal to Martin Perez. The contract included a $10MM mutual option for 2026, which Perez declined. Getz will need to replace Perez and fellow journeymen Adrian Houser and Aaron Civale, who all made double-digit starts with Chicago this past year. If Chicago goes the free agent route, reinforcements will likely be of the one-year variety.

“More than anything we want to strengthen our coaching staff, improve our processes within the front office and go out there and try to win as many games as we can next year,” Getz said. “That’s something we can control, and then in the future years, when we are approaching that ’27 season, we’ll adjust and put together the best club for the future that we can after the ’26 season.”

Getz has already made headway regarding the coaching staff. The White Sox announced this week that Derek Shomon will take over as hitting coach, and Sherman Johnson Jr. will join the organization as minor league hitting coordinator.

Chicago had the third-lowest OPS and the fourth-lowest wRC+ as a team last season, but did get promising contributions from some young hitters. Top prospect Colson Montgomery debuted in July and delivered strong power numbers, belting 21 home runs in just 71 games. The Garrett Crochet trade paid immediate dividends, as Kyle Teel posted a 125 wRC+ and Chase Meidroth offered decent production at the top of the order with a .329 OBP. The White Sox were even able to get a league-average season from Miguel Vargas. The former top prospect came over in 2024 as part of the Michael Kopech trade. He struggled to close that season, but bounced back with a respectable .234/.316/.401 in his first full year with the team.

Photo courtesy of Kamil Krzaczynski, Imagn Images

Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz Indicted On Gambling Charges

By Charlie Wright | November 9, 2025 at 12:43pm CDT

Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted by prosecutors in Brooklyn on charges involving sports betting, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN, among others. Ortiz was arrested earlier today. Clase is not currently in custody.

Clase and Ortiz are charged with “wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy, for their alleged roles in a scheme to rig bets on pitches thrown” according to the Department of Justice, relayed by Zack Meisel of The Athletic. The indictment details an alleged scheme that involves the pitchers purposely throwing balls so gamblers could bet on pitches being balls or strikes.

The allegations from prosecutors in the indictment include a specific incident on June 15, when Ortiz was paid $5K for throwing an intentional ball, and Clase received $5K for facilitating it. Co-conspirators won at least $400K on fraudulent wagers relating to Clase and at least $60K on fraudulent wagers relating to Ortiz, prosecutors allege in the indictment. (Meisel explored some of the incidents detailed in the indictment in a longer piece for The Athletic.) Clase and Ortiz face up to 65 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

“MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” the league said in a statement to ESPN.

Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave in early July, and Clase followed later in the month. The pitchers had their absences extended “until further notice” at the end of August as the league continued its gambling investigation.

Photo courtesy of David Richard, Imagn Images

Minasian: Giants Will Prioritize Adding Pitching Depth

By AJ Eustace and Charlie Wright | November 9, 2025 at 11:57am CDT

The Giants finished 2025 at an even 81-81, their fourth consecutive season without posting a winning record. The club, which recently hired Tony Vitello as its new manager, is clearly hoping to improve that performance in 2026. General manager Zack Minasian said as much in speaking to John Shea of the San Francisco Standard, noting that the Giants will be active in acquiring pitching depth during the offseason.

“Right now there are holes,” Minasian said. “It’s not to say that some of those holes can’t be filled from within… But obviously, if we can bring some pitching in from the outside to continue to build up depth and try and find quality, we’re going to look at that as much as possible.” Minasian later added that the club will be cautious of adding pitchers on long-term deals due to the risk of injury.

San Francisco pitchers had a 3.84 combined ERA in 2025, ranking 10th-best in the majors. The team’s 45.3% ground ball rate was the third-highest in the league, and they also did well at limiting hard contact, with a 39.6% hard hit rate that was sixth-best. In the rotation, much of that success came from ace Logan Webb, who posted a 3.22 ERA in 207 innings and got grounders at a well-above-average 53.2% clip. He was worth a career-high 5.5 fWAR.

Robbie Ray, Justin Verlander, and Landen Roupp gave solid performances behind Webb, each having an ERA under 4.00. However, the club’s depth was sorely tested throughout the season. Hayden Birdsong had a 4.80 ERA in 11 starts before he was optioned in July. Jordan Hicks made nine starts before being sent to the Red Sox as part of the Rafael Devers trade. Beyond Webb, Ray, Verlander, and Roupp, no other Giant reached 100 innings. Roupp went on the injured list twice with right elbow and left knee inflammation, and 10 pitchers (including Hicks) made between one and nine starts.

The Giants could also use a few more arms in the bullpen. That unit was a strength for the team until it was gutted by trades and injuries. San Francisco shipped Camilo Doval to the Yankees and Tyler Rogers to the Mets at the trade deadline. Standout setup man Randy Rodriguez stepped into the closer role, only to suffer an elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery. The Giants ranked second in bullpen ERA through July. They sank to 13th over the final two months of the season. As Shea pointed out, Ryan Walker and Spencer Bivens were the only relievers on the Opening Day roster to make it through to the end of the season.

Minasian and company have plenty of names to choose from on the free agent market, though any long-term commitments seem unlikely. Team chairman Greg Johnson recently mentioned trepidation about signing a pitcher to a nine-figure deal, and Minasian echoed those sentiments. “I would just say it’s important for us to make good decisions no matter what players are making,” Minasian said, “but also understanding when you’re getting into very lengthy deals, I think you do approach it with some caution because if there is a major injury, it becomes a very difficult hurdle.”

San Francisco hasn’t handed out more than $100MM to a free agent pitcher since handing Johnny Cueto a six-year, $130MM deal back in 2015. The approach could rule out the Giants from shopping in the Dylan Cease/Framber Valdez tier, making them more likely to dabble in the Zack Littell range. A reunion with Verlander would fit the short-term strategy, and president of baseball operations Buster Posey has said he’d be open to bringing the veteran back.

Johnson didn’t give a firm answer regarding spending, though the club’s financial situation is in a decent spot. FanGraphs’ RosterResource tool has them at around $170MM for next year’s payroll. The recent signings of Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, and Jung Hoo Lee, along with the midseason addition of Devers’ massive contract, will eat up a significant portion of the payroll for the next several seasons, but Webb is the only pricey commitment on the pitching side. Ray’s deal is expiring at the end of 2026. There should be room for additions in the rotation and in the bullpen.

Photo courtesy of D. Ross Cameron, Imagn Images.

Christian Roa Elects Free Agency

By AJ Eustace | November 9, 2025 at 9:59am CDT

Right-hander Christian Roa has elected free agency, according to the transaction log at MLB.com. The Marlins recently outrighted Roa to Triple-A Jacksonville. As a player who has been outrighted before, he had the right to elect free agency rather than accept the assignment.

Roa, 26, was a second-round draft pick by the Reds in 2020 and remained in their system through the 2024 season. The Marlins claimed him off waivers in November of that year, though he spent most of 2025 in the minors before eventually having his contract selected in September. He made his big-league debut on September 6 and made two appearances for the Marlins, logging three innings and three strikeouts without allowing an earned run, although he did issue three walks. Roa was optioned back to Triple-A on September 15 and eventually outrighted on November 6 before electing free agency.

During his time at Triple-A, Roa relied on a sinker-slider combination, with the former accounting for 39.7% of his pitches and averaging 95.6 mph. He used the slider 31.2% of the time, while his 96.0 mph four-seamer was his third-most used pitch at 21.1%. Across 60 1/3 innings over 50 appearances, Roa posted a 2.83 ERA with a solid 26.1% strikeout rate. However, that output came in the International League, which is considered the more pitcher-friendly of the two Triple-A leagues. He also walked 11.4% of hitters, and his .225 BABIP allowed suggests that Roa benefitted from good luck.

Still, the solid ERA and high-velocity pitch mix might be intriguing for teams in need of bullpen depth. Roa has less than a year of big-league service time, so he would come with several years of team control. He also still has two minor-league options remaining and could be shuffled between the majors and Triple-A if needed.

Photo courtesy of Jim Rassol, Imagn Images

Rockies Name Paul DePodesta President Of Baseball Operations

By Anthony Franco | November 9, 2025 at 8:32am CDT

Nov. 9: DePodesta is aiming to hire a general manager and other front office personnel by the time of the winter meetings, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Nov. 7: The Rockies formally announced DePodesta as their new president of baseball operations today.

“Paul’s previous work in MLB set the foundation for many aspects of the way the game is analyzed today and we are thrilled for him to be a key figure in our future,” executive vice president Walker Monfort said within today’s press release. “Under his leadership, we will evolve the Colorado Rockies into what we know will be an exciting new era. Hiring Paul is an essential first step to the evolution of our baseball department and we’re confident that he will not only maximize our current personnel but will also bring in additional leaders from outside the organization to help lead us forward.”

Nov. 6: The Rockies are reportedly in agreement with Paul DePodesta to run baseball operations. The team has yet to announce the hire, nor whether he’ll be the general manager or president of baseball operations. In any case, it’s a stunning move that brings DePodesta back to baseball after a decade.

DePodesta has worked with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns since January 2016. He has not been the general manager. His relatively vague title has been chief strategy officer. DePodesta has worked under a few GMs in Cleveland — the past five of which have come under executive vice president and GM Andrew Berry. He has seemingly held a high-ranking scouting/player acquisition position without ever having the top spot in football operations.

The Browns have made the playoffs twice in the past eight years and are coming off a 3-14 season that had them in last place in the AFC North. They’re currently 2-6 and at the bottom of the division as they’re amidst another rebuild.

Before his move to the NFL, DePodesta was a high-ranking baseball operations executive. He’s probably most famous for his time as the assistant general manager with the A’s under Billy Beane. That’s due largely to the success of Moneyball, the Michael Lewis book chronicling the A’s being at the forefront of using more advanced player metrics to succeed despite significant budgetary constraints. That was adapted into an acclaimed 2011 film in which Jonah Hill played a composite character that was largely based on DePodesta.

While Moneyball’s popularity makes DePodesta most associated with the A’s, his highest-ranking MLB position came when he accepted the general manager job with the Dodgers in 2004. DePodesta was just 31 years old at the time. He held the role for two seasons, winning 93 games and the NL West title in 2004. The team stumbled to a 71-91 showing the following year, and the Dodgers fired him at the end of the ’05 campaign. DePodesta worked as a high-ranking assistant with the Padres and Mets for the next decade before making the jump to the NFL.

Now 52, DePodesta returns to baseball almost 20 years since his last GM job. He’s facing a monumental challenge. The Rox are coming off a 43-119 season that is tied for the third worst of the modern era. Their -424 run differential was somehow even worse. They were the first team since 1899 to be outscored by more than 400 runs. They scored the second-fewest runs in MLB despite playing half their games at Coors Field. They allowed 122 more runs than the next-closest team.

Despite the abysmal state of the major league roster, the Rockies don’t have the kind of high-end farm system that one would expect from a club that has finished fourth or fifth in the division in seven straight years. Baseball America credited them with two Top 100 prospects on their latest update in August: recent top five picks Ethan Holliday and Charlie Condon. As a result of those consecutive lottery picks, the Rockies are prohibited by the CBA from picking any higher than 10th in the 2026 draft.

There aren’t many buildings blocks on the MLB roster. Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, center fielder Brenton Doyle, and starting pitcher Chase Dollander have the best chance to be key pieces of a long-term contender. They’re all coming off underwhelming seasons. Hunter Goodman was the team’s best player in 2025. He was one of only four primary catchers to hit 30-plus homers, but he’s a 26-year-old coming off a breakout season in which his strikeout and walk profile was poor. He’s probably more of a good complementary player than someone who’d be one of the three to five best position players on a contender.

On top of all that, the front office faces the unique challenge of building a pitching staff that can succeed at altitude. They’re always likely to face heavier pitch counts and workloads over the course of a 162-game season at MLB’s most hitter-friendly park. Colorado hitters need to adjust to different pitch movements at home and on the road. They’re in a division with the two-time defending World Series winners. The Padres have won 90-plus games in two straight seasons. The Diamondbacks and Giants have been around average of late, but both teams have the kind of impact position player talent that the Rockies have not developed since the Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon heyday.

DePodesta will be the surprise choice to turn things around. The Rockies had seemingly settled on Diamondbacks assistant GM Amiel Sawdaye and Guardians AGM Matt Forman as the finalists last week. Bob Nightengale of USA Today writes that Sawdaye rejected Colorado’s offer, while Forman took himself out of consideration. That led them to go well outside the box for DePodesta.

It’s Colorado’s first external GM hiring in more than a decade. They’d stayed internal with the promotions of Jeff Bridich and Bill Schmidt. DePodesta’s first task will be the final managerial decision of the offseason. Interim skipper Warren Schaeffer has been in limbo since the team moved on from Schmidt at the end of the regular season.

Thomas Harding of MLB.com first mentioned that DePodesta was a strong candidate for the position. ESPN’s Jeff Passan mentioned that they were nearing a deal, while The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Brittany Ghiroli and Zac Jackson first reported the agreement was in place.

Image courtesy of Ken Blaze, USA Today Sports.

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