Welcome to the Deep Dive. This is where we cut
through all the noise, all the information out
there, and give you the clearest, most compelling
analysis we can. And right now, the baseball
world is just... I mean, it's an absolute whirlwind.
It really is. The World Series just ended and
we're already, what, knee deep in the offseason
build for 2026. The hot stove is, it's blazing.
It's the most high stakes time of the year for
these front offices. The GM meetings are done.
All the major awards have been handed out. Right.
And now the biggest free agents are already kicking
up these huge, potentially league altering rumors.
So our mission today is pretty straightforward.
We're going to unpack the biggest news, celebrate
the award winners from the 2025 season. And more
importantly, I think, dig into the really compelling
free agency and trade rumors that are shaping
the entire competitive landscape. Exactly. We're
giving you a shortcut to being instantly up to
speed on who's spending, who's selling and, you
know, why. Let's start with the hardware then.
Yeah, let's do it. The 2025 season gave us a
ton of drama and the awards are all official
now. It was a year that really showcased, I think,
both generational talent. and the next wave of
superstars. Oh, absolutely. And you have to start
with the MVPs, where we just saw some massive
historical significance play out. In the American
League, you've got Aaron Judge of the Yankees.
He took home his third career AL MVP. Just third.
But what's so fascinating about that one is how
close the vote was, right? Incredibly tight.
He just, I mean, just... Edged out the catcher,
Cal Raleigh. That close margin really speaks
to the quality of the competition. Raleigh had
an unbelievable year behind the plate. But Judge
just feels like this perpetual force. He is.
His presence just elevates that entire lineup.
So what was the defining factor that pushed Judge
over the top for number three, even with Raleigh
bringing that premium defense? I think it really
came down to the sheer offensive volume that
Judge provides. You can't ignore it. And, you
know, that's compounded by his established brand,
his perceived value to the team. Sure. While
Raleigh had a magnificent season, providing that
elite catcher defense and some surprising power,
Judge's overall offensive numbers were just.
They were too immense to ignore. The plate discipline,
the single swing impact. Exactly. And his leadership
in that Yankees lineup, three MVP trophies. I
mean, that solidifies him as one of the defining
figures of this. old generation. And speaking
of defining figures over in the National League,
the outcome was maybe a little less suspenseful,
just significant historically. That's Shohei
Otani of the Dodgers. He took home the NL MVP,
and that is his fourth career MVP. Four. You
just have to pause and let that sink in. You
really do. Four MVPs, and he's still in his late
20s. This achievement puts him in the rarest
of air. We're talking about names like Barry
Bonds, maybe even tying Mike Trout, depending
on how you count them. And the consistency of
that elite production, even though he was mostly
DH in 2025 because of his recovery, it just continues
to redefine what you can expect from a modern
player. Complete. Incredible. Okay, so moving
to pitching excellence. The Cy Young races gave
us a glimpse into the future, I think. Especially
in the National League. Oh, yeah. On the NL side,
the young phenom, Paul Skeens of the Pirates,
was the undisputed winner. And this is a massive
development for Pittsburgh. It gives them an
identity for the next decade with a true elite
arm. He dominated from start to finish, fulfilled
all that massive hype that followed him since
his debut. Meanwhile, in the American League.
The award went to Tarek Skubal of the Tigers.
Both are just foundational pieces that their
franchises are going to try and build their entire
2026 rotations around. Precisely. And those wins,
they're huge, not just for the players, but for
the... organization's ability to recruit talent
and build confidence, it gives a smaller market
team like Pittsburgh a tangible star to point
to. Totally. And let's not forget the new blood
and the managers who drove those successful seasons.
I mean, the Rookie of the Year awards always
have that extra layer of intrigue because of
what it means for service time. So who were the
top rookies? Nick Kurtz took the AL Rookie of
the Year award. And this is so important because
winning guarantees his club a full year of service
time. Right. So he accrues value immediately
and you avoid any of that service time manipulation
talk. Exactly. And over in the NL, Drake Baldwin
of the Braves, one rookie of the year. And this
is where we need to get into the weeds a little
bit. OK. This victory is a major structural win
for Atlanta, not just for Baldwin, but because
it secures them a prospect promotion incentive
pick. A PPI pick. Okay, let's unpack that. For
listeners who might have heard the term but don't
know the specifics, what exactly is the benefit
for the Braves? Why does this rule even exist?
Well, it's an mechanism from the latest collective
bargaining agreement, and it's meant to incentivize
teams to call up their top prospects earlier.
Instead of waiting a few weeks to get that extra
year of team control. Exactly. The rule basically
says, if a player on the MLB Top 100 prospect
list gets promoted early and then goes on to
win Rookie of the Year, or even finishes high
in the MVP voting before arbitration, the team
gets an extra first round draft pick. So it's
a reward, a reward for prioritizing winning now
over, you know, those service time games. 100%.
For the Braves, getting that PPI pick, which
is usually a competitive balance pick right outside
the first round, and it carries huge trade value
and cost control, it's invaluable. It's a bonus
piece of premium young talent, completely free.
Just because they brought Baldwin up and he balled
out. It makes the Rookie of the Year honor so
much sweeter than just the individual recognition.
No doubt. That's a huge strategic win for Atlanta.
And finally, we have to give a nod to the guys
in the dugout who steered these teams. Pat Murphy
and Stephen Vogt earned the Manager of the Year
awards. Both had just... outstanding seasons,
leading their clubs, navigating the complexities
of a 162 -game schedule. And managing those modern
pitching staff workloads, keeping the clubhouse
chemistry positive. It's a tough job. It really
is. And their wins show that both veteran leadership
and new managerial blood can get it done. Okay,
so with the hardware all handed out, let's pivot.
Let's talk about the postseason fallout. The
immediate fallout. Yeah, exactly. I mean, you
have this incredibly... emotional end to the
World Series, right? The Dodgers win it all.
And the Blue Jays are just one hit short. Yeah.
Agonizing. Just agonizing. And you can already
see that driving everything they're doing. Both
clubs are being super aggressive right out of
the gate. That memory of Game 7 is fueling every
decision. The contrast in how they're approaching
it is fascinating. You've got the Dodgers managing
success and some turnover while the Blue Jays
are just spending fueled by that sheer competitive
agony. Let's start with the champs. Let's appreciate
what the Dodgers did and focus on the immediate
roster consequences of their title. Absolutely.
And when you look at that Dodgers roster right
after the championship, there's one guy who stands
out as the ultimate unlikely hero. veteran infielder
Miguel Rojas. His story is one that I think GM
should be studying very closely this offseason.
The story of Rojas is massive, and it's really
relevant to a discussion we'll have later about
the value of utility players versus stars. He's
a free agent, and his contribution to that championship
was just, it was profound. Forget the regular
season stats for a minute. Just focus on the
clutch factor. And the clutch moment being that
game -tying home run in the ninth inning. Of
game seven. I mean, that's a scene that will
live on Dodgers highlight reels forever. Forever.
That moment when the Dodgers were dead in the
water, they were facing defeat. It completely
changed everything. That bomb paved the way for
Will Smith to knock in the winning run in the
11th. And it was Rojas, a veteran utility man,
a guy known for his glove, delivers the biggest
hit of the year for the franchise. That one swing
justifies his entire spot on the roster and totally
shifts the conversation about his value going
forward. You just can't put a price tag on that
kind of reliability under pressure. And the good
news for the fans in L .A. is that Rojas is reportedly
eager to come back for one more season. He's
the definition of a high floor veteran who just
clearly loves the environment. He is. He's been
described as a huge clubhouse presence, a reliable
glove at multiple positions. Given his desire
to return and his October heroics, re -signing
him seems like a logical... low -risk priority
for the club, especially with the turnover they're
facing. Right, because even championship teams
face immediate losses. The churn of free agency
is just constant. That's the cold reality of
the business. The Dodgers have already seen key
playoff contributors leave in free agency. Justin
Dean, a valuable bench piece, he left for the
rival Giants. And Ben Roardvett, their depth
catcher, signed with the Reds. On top of that,
the team announced that veteran utility man Kike
Hernandez had elbow surgery this offseason. So
that surgery for Hernandez plus Dean and Roydvet
leaving, that immediately degrades their utility
depth. It just underscores why they need Rojas
back and why depth is so, so crucial in October.
You can't win a World Series with just nine guys.
It does. And while the Dodgers have a massive
war chest, I mean, $87 million is coming off
their books this offseason. $87 million. Yeah.
So they're ready to pivot to bigger market moves
for a closer or another bat. But retaining that
internal championship depth is vital. If you
can't just go out and buy Rojas Game 7 heroics
on the free agent market, you have to cultivate
it. Now, contrast that with the Blue Jays. Their
agonizing World Series loss being one hit away.
seems to have positioned them as, I don't know,
maybe one of the most active teams in all of
free agency this winter. Oh, for sure. They are
operating with the urgency of a team that knows
their window is wide open and they just need
that final piece. That loss was brutal to watch,
but it shows exactly why they're going to spend
big. They're not rebuilding. They're fine -tuning
a new year champion. And what's really fascinating
about Toronto's season is the mix they had. They
weren't just built on stars like Vladdy Jr. and
George Springer. We have to talk about the remarkable
story of Ernie Clement. Ah, the scrappy player
who became an icon. The definition of a diamond
in the rough. This is the narrative perfected,
and it ties right back to Rojas. Clement was
a versatile defender who was literally picked
up off the scrap heap, released by the Athletics
in 2023. Few people saw him as a difference maker.
And then, fast forward two years, and he's a
World Series hero for Toronto. Hitting an astonishing
.411 in the postseason, he went 12 -for -31 in
the World Series itself. This highlights something
critical. Their front office found championship
-level value in a player that cost them basically
nothing. That's phenomenal. It's hard to imagine
a higher return on investment than a utility
guy batting over .400 in the World Series. It
just proves that depth isn't just about avoiding
injury. It's about reliable, high -pressure performance.
It proves that building a deep roster with these
high -floor, high -versatility guys can compete
with any concentration of high -priced talent.
That successful mix is clearly fueling Toronto's
confidence heading into this offseason. Speaking
of their core, the emergence of their young pitching
is even more exciting because it's cost -controlled.
The future of their rotation got a massive, maybe
even unexpected boost from Treya Savage. The
22 -year -old righty had an incredible year,
dominating in the minors before a huge showing
in the majors and then in October. He set a rookie
pitching record with 12 strikeouts and zero walks
in a World Series game. To have that kind of
command and composure on the biggest stage at
22 is almost unheard of. It provides an immediate
elite presence. And that kind of breakout performance
secures his future, regardless of who they sign
this winter. Absolutely. He's firmly penciled
into the 2026 rotation alongside guys like Gossman
and Bieber. And critically, he'll only earn about
$820 ,000 next season. Wow. That's elite high
-value innings. He's ranked as the sixth best
prospect in MLB for 2026, the second highest
pitcher. He's a phenomenal high -ceiling, cost
-controlled asset for the next six years. That
frees up a lot of money to pursue a position
player like Tucker. Now let's talk about a veteran
presence the Blue Jays had last year, Max Scherzer.
His tenure ended in Game 7, and he's a free agent
now at 41. He pitched well in that final game.
But what does his market look like given his
age and injury history? Given his age, the workload,
and recent injuries, which is always a factor
for a pitcher in his 40s, the consensus prediction
is a short deal, something like a one -year,
$15 million contract. And while the Blue Jays
might still be interested for a year, the strongest
prediction seems to be a return to Detroit. Exactly.
A return to where he made his name. the Detroit
Tigers. It would likely be as a fifth starter
or reliever, helping them fill a need with a
veteran presence and some mentorship. A lower
leverage opportunity, maybe allowing him to finish
his career near home while still contributing.
That's the idea. And $15 million is substantial,
but it's short enough that teams aren't terrified
of a multi -year decline. This is where it gets
really interesting. Speaking of the high cost
of power, that brings us to the most intriguing
opt -out in the NL. I think what's fascinating
here is how the biggest contract questions this
offseason are all about the power hitters. And
the outcome depends less on their production,
which is elite, and more on the years they're
asking for. It's all about risk management versus
guaranteed output, especially past the age of
33. And the most dramatic test case of that tension
is Pete Alonzo with the New York Mets. Alonzo,
the Mets' all -time home run leader, just opted
out of his contract even though the team missed
the playoffs last year. Opting out of guaranteed
money takes immense confidence in your market
value, especially for a first baseman. You're
paying purely for the bat. Well, he had massive
leverage. He's coming off a career -defining
platform year. In 2025, he slashed an outstanding
.272, .347, .524 for a .871 OPS. 38 homers, 41
doubles, 126 RBIs. And this is the critical part.
He played all 162 games for the second straight
season. That durability is like a bulletproof
warranty on his production. It puts his agent,
Scott Boras, in a great position to get that
long -term payday. So the Mets have Juan Soto.
The perfect setup. Alonzo seems like the natural
fit to protect Soto in that lineup. So why the
hesitation? Isn't the risk of a declining final
year worth the guaranteed four years of elite
production? The club absolutely wants him back.
The offense is undeniable. But the key conflict
is that Mets management is prioritizing positional
value and defense under their new directives.
And Alonzo, as a first baseman, is viewed internally
as a negative defender, especially as he ages.
So they're afraid of committing, what, six years
to a declining defensive player who might end
up as just a DH, which limits your roster flexibility.
Precisely. The reporting suggests that if Alonzo
seeks more than four guaranteed years, the Mets
may seriously consider moving on. They just don't
want the risk of an aging first baseman whose
defense and base running will likely decline
over a five or six year deal worth maybe $180
million. So they're asking, how much offensive
certainty is worth that positional inflexibility
and defensive downgrade in the later years? Exactly.
And that opens the door wide open for competitors.
Right. So who's lining up to steal the polar
bear if the Mets hesitate? This is why the Yankees,
the Red Sox, the Phillies, and the Orioles are
all listed as interested. If the Mets draw a
line in the sand at four years, one of those
rivals will happily swoop in and offer the fifth.
The thought of Alonzo moving across town to the
Yankees is just... A terrifying possibility for
Mets fans. It'd be a tectonic shift. A huge shift.
Okay, moving to another highly sought -after
outfielder, Kyle Tucker. Toronto's ambition seems
to be reaching for the stars here. They're heavily
linked to the four -time All -Star. This absolutely
fits their aggressive aim -high strategy after
getting so close. They need another reliable
elite bat to complement their core, and Tucker
is a perfect fit. He won his second Silver Slugger
award last year, posted a really strong 4 .6
war. His stats cooled off a bit in the second
half, but he finished hitting .266 with 22 homers
and 73 RBIs. Great overall value in defense.
If Toronto lands Tucker, that would instantly
make them favorites in the AL East. But why wouldn't
the big New York teams jump in for a player of
this caliber? If they're looking at Alonzo, why
not Tucker too? This is the insider perspective
that makes the most sense. The reporting suggests
the Mets and Yankees are unlikely to bid aggressively
for Tucker. The reasoning is all about roster
fit and financial allocation. Both teams already
have their franchise outfielders locked up long
term. Soto with the Mets, Judge with the Yankees.
Adding Tucker creates a positional logjam and
forces a high value player into a DH role, which
just isn't efficient spending. So because the
Yankees need a first baseman and the Mets want
to protect Soto with Alonzo, the path is clearer
for teams like the Blue Jays. Correct. For the
Yankees, their focus is first base or pitching.
They aren't going to displace Judge. So the primary
bidders beyond Toronto are expected to be the
Dodgers, the Giants and the Phillies teams with
bigger needs in the outfield. The third base
market is also generating headlines, specifically
with Alex Bregman, who just made a huge financial
decision in Boston. Oregman officially opted
out of the final two years and $80 million of
his contract with the Red Sox. And you have to
understand that $80 million included a lot of
deferred money. So what does opting out of deferred
money signal about his confidence? It signals
absolute confidence. Deferred money means a portion
of that salary gets paid out years after the
contract ends. By opting out, Bregman is sacrificing
that guaranteed long -term payout stream right
now. He's betting that the immediate value of
a new massive contract will outweigh the security
of those deferred payments. He's chasing the
total guarantee, and he's projected to get it
around $150 million over six years. But what's
maybe most compelling about his situation is
the very public plea. he got from a Red Sox legend
to return. David Ortiz, big pappy urging Bregman
to stay home. Yes, Ortiz publicly urged him to
return, highlighting his incredible leadership
and team player mentality. Ortiz even mentioned
watching Bregman in spring training, helping
out younger guys like Rafael Devers, saying it
showed tremendous selflessness. For Boston. Bringing
him back would be a massive boost, not just for
his production, but for that intangible value
in the clubhouse as they look to capitalize on
their recent wildcard success. So what does this
all mean for the other side of the ball? We're
seeing a global arms race for pitching. covering
everything from the back end of the bullpen to
elite starters. Pitching is the scarce resource,
and teams like the Blue Jays and Dodgers are
hunting high leverage arms to solidify their
championship hopes. And nowhere is that aggression
clearer than in the closer market. Two big names
opted out of their deals, starting with Edwin
Diaz, and they are looking for historically large
contracts. Diaz opting out of his record deal
instantly made him the biggest prize on the relief
market. What's the contract risk here? Relievers
are notoriously volatile. The risk is immense
because relievers are so volatile, yet Diaz is
rumored to be seeking a massive five -year, $100
million contract. $100 million for a closer.
If he gets that, it would completely reset the
market for all future closers. The risk, though,
is dedicating $20 million a year for half a decade
to a guy who throws 60 innings. It's dangerous,
especially if he has one injury or a drop in
velocity in year four or five. But the demand
is there, especially from Toronto. who desperately
wants to lock down those final three outs. Oh,
absolutely. The Blue Jays, driven by that postseason
failure, are reportedly ready to make a significant
offer to get him. They saw their bullpen falter
at key moments, and they want guaranteed late
inning dominance. And the Dodgers are also interested.
Yep, the newly crowned champs. They're helped
by the fact they have that $87 million coming
off the books, which lets them pursue a top -tier
closer without... Major budget issues. But if
the top guy is too pricey, the Blue Jays and
Dodgers seem to have a fallback plan, which centers
on veteran Razel Iglesias. Iglesias is drawing
interest from both those clubs, making him the
prime consolation prize if Diaz gets his $100
million deal. He's 36, coming off a 3 .21 ERA
season for the Braves. And it's important to
look at the splits in his... performance rate.
Definitely. He was really inconsistent early
in the season, had a near 6 .00 ERA into June
because of some home run issues. But then he
was lights out, posting a stellar 1 .96 ERA over
the final four months. So teams are betting on
that second half form, hoping the early struggles
were an anomaly. Exactly. And for Toronto specifically,
he's a valuable target because it's a strategy
play. Signing Iglesias would let them use their
current closer, Jeff Hoffman, who struggled with
homers last year, in an earlier multi -inning
leverage role. It's a classic move. Add a high
leverage arm and optimize an existing reliever
spot. You solve multiple bullpen problems at
once. Right. And Iglesias is projected to get
a more manageable two -year deal, maybe around
$13 million annually, which is far less restrictive
than the commitment for Diaz. Beyond domestic
free agents, the pitching arms race is stretching
across the globe with the posting of Japanese
star Tatsuya Imai. Imai is the Japanese phenom
right -hander, and he's set to be posted. He's
a coveted asset because he doesn't carry that
qualified free agent draft pick penalty. Most
scouts see him as a high floor, mid -rotation
arm with upside. And his results in 2025 were
certainly impressive. Superb. He posted a 1 .92
ERA over 24 starts with 178 strikeouts in about
164 innings. That level of production guarantees
heavy interest. Who's leading the charge? The
Souter race is hot. The Phillies, Yankees, Blue
Jays, and Mets are all listed as leading candidates.
For the Mets, Imanai is particularly attractive
because, like we said, he's a high -floor signing
without the immediate, costly penalty of losing
draft picks. Speaking of rotation needs, the
Cubs are in the market after some unexpected
turnover. Yeah, the Cubs need pitching after
Shuta Imanaga declined his options, which really
surprised the organization and left a massive
hole. Their aggressive trade target is Dylan
Cease. Which makes sense because of his durability.
Remarkable durability. He's logged 32 starts
and 165 -plus innings over the last five years,
and he led MLB in strikeout percentage over the
last four. That checks two huge boxes. Guaranteed
innings and strikeout prowess. But durability
doesn't erase the performance concerns entirely.
Cease has had some pretty significant consistency
issues. Right. He logged 168 innings for the
Padres last year, but finished with a high 4
.55 ERA. The main concerns are his high walk
rate and just general inconsistency. But analysts
feel his exceptional strikeout rate, the fact
that he can miss bats at an elite level, gives
teams confidence they can fix him. They think
they can turn him into a true frontline guy by
simplifying his mechanics or focusing his pitch
mix. Basically, yeah. He's seen as a reclamation
project with a huge ceiling. Turning back to
the mess, their search for an ace is complicated
by the trade market drying up and the prohibitive
cost of qualified free agents. They're expected
to land at least one high -end starter, but they've
hit a brick wall on the trade front. Top options
that were rumored to be available are now reportedly
off the block for 2026. Likeaboo. Sandy Alcantara,
Paul Skeens, Turk Scouble, and Hunter Green.
The Marlins owner in particular has told staff
he plans to have Alcantara on the roster to start
2026. So that shuts those rumors down immediately.
So if the trade market is a desert, that forces
the Mets to look exclusively at free agency for
top arms. And that means navigating the qualified
free agent system. And this is a major financial
and structural hurdle that dictates their whole
offseason strategy. They have to weigh the cost
of signing qualified free agents like Frambois
Valdez or maybe even cease against the stiff
penalty of losing draft picks. For a team like
the Mets, signing a QFA means losing their second
and fifth highest draft picks, plus a million
dollar reduction from their international signing
bonus pool. Wait, why is losing those picks and
that international pool money so painful for
a big market team like the Mets? They have endless
financial resources. They have money, but they
want young, controllable talent to sustain their
success. That second highest pick is often a
crucial spot for high ceiling college talent
that can move quickly. And that million dollar
reduction in the international pool is critical.
That's where you find the next generation of
stars. Exactly. Losing a chunk of that budget
makes it incredibly hard to compete with other
big market teams who are aggressively scouting
Latin America and Asia. It delays your ability
to replenish the system for years. That cost
makes GMs extremely hesitant, even for an ace.
We've covered the behemoths of the East and West.
Now let's look at the teams in the hunt, starting
with the Mariners, who are prioritizing keeping
their own guys over external spending, which
is a big strategic move after reaching the ALCS.
General Manager Justin Hollander was very clear.
After reaching Game 7 of the ALCS, the Mariners
want to retain as much of their 2025 core as
they can. He explicitly named first baseman Josh
Naylor and infielder Jorge Polanco as priorities.
Naylor in particular seems like a necessary fit
to stabilize that first base position for them
long term. He is. Hollander said they are open
about their desire to keep Naylor, describing
him as one of the smartest players in the league,
bringing power and a low strikeout rate, fitting
a position of need that has been volatile for
Seattle. The common belief is that both Naylor
and Polanco are the most likely internal free
agents to resign. They just provide instant high
floor production that would be incredibly expensive
to replace on the open market. And what's their
biggest focus outside of re -signing those core
players? Bullpen help. Hollander emphasized that
adding a left -handed reliever is a major focus
for them, especially since Gabe Spire is currently
their only lefty projected in the bullpen. After
a deep playoff run, you want to ensure the relief
corps is deeper and longer to account for all
that extra work. Definitely. We have to talk
about the Philadelphia Phillies, who finished
second in the NL Suns young race, but saw their
ace get a massive snub during the all -MLB voting.
This raises serious questions about how we define
best. This is one of the most staggering talking
points from the entire awards season. Phillies
starter Christopher Sanchez was completely disregarded
by the all -MLB first -team voters. Despite the
snub, he finished second in the actual NL San
Yunga voting and registered an incredible 8 .0
B -war. Wait, 8 .0 B -war and he missed the first
team? For listeners who aren't constantly immersed
in advanced metrics, you have to explain what
8 .0 BWAR means for a pitcher and why that number
is truly historic. So BWAR is Baseball Reference
Wins Above Replacement. It quantifies a player's
total value compared to a replacement level player.
For pitcher, an excellent season might be 5 .0
WAR. A Cy Young contending season is usually
6 .5 or higher. And 8 .0 B -War R is. It's an
absolutely historic generational number. It means
Sanchez was eight full wins better than a replacement
pitcher. It was the highest B -War among all
pitchers in baseball and second highest overall
behind only MVP Aaron Judge. That statistic is
staggering. How structurally broken is the voting
system that Max Freed, with demonstrably worse
metrics, could leapfrog him? It suggests some
voters prioritize name recognition or team success
over purely dominant performance metrics. Sanchez
was named only to the All -MLB second team, yet
he beat Freed in nearly every measurable category.
Better ERA, more innings pitched, more strikeouts,
fewer walks. The discrepancy is shocking. Amid
this snub, The Phillies face major free agency
questions with two key veterans, Kyle Schwarber
and JT RealMuto. Schwarber was the MVP runner
-up. He seems like the obvious priority given
his power. This is where the internal debate
gets interesting. Schwarber was, indeed, the
NL MVP runner -up, leading the NL with 56 home
runs. However, an insider argument suggests the
Phillies must prioritize re -signing veteran
catcher JT RealMuto. even over Schwarber's historic
power. But Schwarber delivers historic power.
Can a team really afford to let that kind of
production walk just because they can't find
another catcher? The argument comes down to market
leverage and defensive value. The catching market
this offseason is extremely weak. Real Muto,
despite an offensive decline, remains a two -time...
gold glove winner and expertly guides that talented
pitching staff. The reality is you can probably
find 40 home runs on the free agent market, but
you cannot easily replace an elite defensive
catcher who handles a pitching staff and has
his unique athleticism and experience. They argue
he's far and away the best catcher available,
and they have no replacement ready behind the
plate. Shifting gears to the Pittsburgh Pirates,
the narrative around the organization has long
been, as Pat McAfee recently said, an historical
unwillingness to spend money. which frustrates
fans who see talent wasted. The perception of
the Pirates being one of baseball's most profitable
teams, while historically refusing to invest
in their roster, has been a massive source of
fan frustration. They have star talent like Cy
Young -Win or Paul Skeens, but never build around
it. So is the Cy Young -Win finally forcing a
change in philosophy? Rumor suggests yes. Sources
indicate the organization is expected to add
at least $30 million to their payroll for 2026
to build a competitive team around Paul Skeens.
While $30 million might seem small in the context
of the Dodgers or Yankees for the Pirates, this
marks a significant departure from their typical
spending habits. It indicates a genuine attempt
to contend while Skeens is under team control.
The Twins, meanwhile, are focused on internal
management with a Rule 5 draft deadline on November
18th. They have some tough protection decisions
to make for their 40 -man roster. They cleared
space on their 40 -man roster early, leaving
seven open spots. Teams have to protect any player
eligible for the Rule 5 draft or risk losing
them for a minimal cost. The Twins have four
absolute givens to add before the deadline. Non
-negotiable protections. So who are those four
key prospects they can't risk losing? They include
left -handed pitchers Connor Prelip and Kendri
Rojas, right -hander Andrew Morris, and outfielder
Gabriel Gonzalez. Prelip is especially high -ceiling,
finally staying healthy for over 80 innings between
AA and AAA. Tell me more about Gabriel Gonzalez.
I know he's a key piece from recent trade. He
is the last remaining piece of the Jorge Polanco
trade with Seattle, so losing him would be a
disaster for that trade's return. Gonzalez had
a major rebound year, posting a .909 OPS in 2025
with 15 home runs. He's a high -ceiling prospect
they cannot afford to lose. So protecting these
four means their 40 -man roster will be nearly
full, limiting their free agency flexibility
a bit, but correctly prioritizing their own organizational
talent. Exactly. Finally, we have some structural
news around the league and a few noteworthy personnel
and disciplinary items. On the organizational
side, the Seidler family is exploring a potential
sale of the Padres. This is significant given
the volatile spending and management over the
last few years in San Diego. new ownership could
mean a total philosophy shift. Meanwhile, the
Orioles, after a successful 2025, have made a
key coaching hire, bringing in former Nationals
interim manager Miguel Cairo as their infield
coach. We also have news about a veteran pitcher
who plans to return next season, potentially
offering some depth. Yes, veteran swingman Erasmo
Ramirez, who is 34, plans to pitch in 2026 and
is currently training as a starter. He offers
valuable flexibility. He's likely best suited
for a swingman. role, which could appeal to teams
needing reliable multi -inning depth without
committing major payroll. And lastly, a serious
piece of lead disciplinary news concerning two
prominent relievers. Emmanuel Klus and Luis Ortiz
have both been indicted on gambling charges.
This adds a serious note to the offseason, reminding
everyone of the strict rules surrounding player
involvement with sports betting, regardless of
whether they bet on baseball or other sports.
To synthesize what we've discussed, the baseball
landscape is just incredibly dynamic right now.
You have the Blue Jays and the Dodgers aggressively
addressing their World Series outcomes. And Toronto
in particular is showing massive ambition, targeting
top -tier talents like Kyle Tucker and Edwin
Diaz. And the major market decisions around Pete
Alonso and the top relievers will dictate the
movement of the entire league. The decision on
a four -year versus a five -year deal for Alonso
could send him to a division rival. Which would
create a massive ripple effect in the first base
market. At the same time, the Mets' decision
on whether to incur QFA penalties for a top starter
or go after less costly international talent,
like Tatsuya Imai, will shape their rotation
for years. What stands out most profoundly, though,
is the juxtaposition between the extreme high
-end spending $150 million for Bregman, $100
million rumored for Diaz, and the incredible
value found in unheralded players. That's the
constant tension in baseball that GMs have to
manage. We talk about the massive, decade -long
contracts sought by Alonzo, but then you look
at the success stories of utility players. Miguel
Rojas delivering the game -tying World Series
Game 7 home run at minimal cost. Or Ernie Clements,
who has picked up off the scrap heap and hit
.411 in the postseason. They weren't the stars,
but they were the difference makers in the crucial
moments of the 2025 season. They offered extraordinary
return on investment when the pressure was highest.
Exactly. This highlights baseball's constant
tension between stars and depth. The question
GM's face is, do I buy $100 million closer? Or
do I use that money to sign 10 players like Rojas
and Clement? So here is the final provocative
thought for you to mull over. The success stories
of these utility players, Rojas and Clement,
winning the World Series, it suggests that depth
players and high -quality utility value are being
significantly undervalued by the market compared
to sluggers. So will the league actually learn
from Toronto's and L .A.'s championship paths?
Will they start prioritizing these high floor,
high versatility deep players in the coming years?
Or will the bidding wars for a limited number
of aging, high power stars just intensify, driven
by fan excitement and marketing dollars, leaving
teams vulnerable when those unexpected, cost
-controlled heroes are needed most in October?
A truly fascinating question that we will see
answered over the next few weeks as these big
contracts get signed. We'll be watching to see
if GMs pivot toward that Clement and Rojas model
of value, or if they continue chasing the huge
power bats this offseason. Thank you for joining
us on this deep dive into the 2026 baseball offseason.
Until next time.