FEED Validator

for Atom and RSS and KML

Sorry

This feed does not validate.

line 43, column 21: wfw:commentRss must be a full and valid URL: (15 occurrences) [help]

					<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
                     ^

In addition, interoperability with the widest range of feed readers could be improved by implementing the following recommendations.

line 260, column 9: content:encoded should not contain relative URL references: /membership?ref=868341 (3 occurrences) [help]
```
</div>]]></content:encoded>
         ^
```
line 286, column 0: content:encoded should not contain data-testid attribute [help]
```
<div id="id__q05mgc542z" class="css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-37 ...
```
line 341, column 0: content:encoded should not contain data-time attribute (7 occurrences) [help]
```
<li data-time="12:53">Good afternoon! And happy World Series. We'll get goin ...
```
line 516, column 0: content:encoded should not contain fetchpriority attribute [help]
```
<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-871521 size-me ...
```

line 516, column 0: content:encoded should not contain decoding attribute [help]

<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-871521 size-me ...

line 516, column 0: content:encoded should not contain sizes attribute [help]

<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-871521 size-me ...

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/feed

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
>
<channel>
<title>MLB Trade Rumors</title>
<atom:link href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com</link>
<description></description>
<lastBuildDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:31:44 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<language>en-US</language>
<sy:updatePeriod>
hourly </sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>
1 </sy:updateFrequency>
<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.4</generator>
<item>
<title>The Opener: World Series, Springer, Coaching Staffs</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/the-opener-world-series-springer-coaching-staffs.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/the-opener-world-series-springer-coaching-staffs.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nick Deeds]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:30:28 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[The Opener]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871673</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As the Fall Classic continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today: 1. World Series goes long in Game 3: The Blue Jays fell to the Dodgers in heartbreaking fashion last night as Freddie Freeman hit a walk off homer in the 18th inning…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[As the Fall Classic continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. World Series goes long in Game 3:
The Blue Jays fell to the Dodgers in heartbreaking fashion last night as <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/freemfr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Freddie Freeman</a> hit a walk off homer in the 18th inning to end the game in a 6-5 with for Los Angeles. The game is now tied for the longest game in World Series history with the 18-inning affair between the Red Sox and Dodgers, which also ended on a walk-off homer at Dodger Stadium. As the teams get ready for a pivotal Game 4 at 5pm local time this evening, the starting pitchers will be more important than ever after a game where both bullpens emptied the tank.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ohtansh01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Shohei Ohtani</a> (2.87 ERA) is set to take the mound for L.A. tonight for his first start since the ten-strikeout, three-homer game to clinch against the Brewers that has widely been called the greatest individual performance during a postseason game in MLB history. His opponent will be right-hander <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/biebesh01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Shane Bieber</a> (3.57 ERA), who surrendered four runs in 9 2/3 innings of work across two starts during the ALCS.
2. Jays, Springer await MRI results:
A shadow looming over last night’s game from Toronto’s perspective, even prior to the devastating loss, was the status of veteran slugger <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/springe01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">George Springer</a>. One of the most impactful hitters in postseason history, Springer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/george-springer-undergoes-mri-for-right-side-discomfort.html">exited last night’s game</a> due to what the team is currently describing as “right side discomfort.” The diagnosis immediately brings to mind concerns over an oblique injury, which would surely bring Springer’s season to an abrupt end if confirmed by an MRI. Springer had already gone for testing before the end of last night’s game, and we should know more about his status ahead of Game 4 later today. If Springer were to be sidelined, one silver lining would be that putting <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bichebo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bo Bichette</a> at DH could allow the Jays to use him a bit more aggressively than they have so far by avoiding the toll taken by fielding.
3. Coaching staff changes around the game:
While the Dodgers and Blue Jays continue their fight for the commissioner’s trophy, other teams around the league are already in offseason mode. While much of the focus to this point has been on managerial searches and subsequent hirings, there have been a number of coaching moves made around the league as well. Just yesterday, the Mets <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/mets-hire-troy-snitker-as-hitting-coach.html">brought in a new hitting coach</a> while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/mets-rumors-antoan-richardson-first-base-coach-leaving.html">parting ways with their first base coach</a>, and the Pirates <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/pirates-to-hire-bill-murphy-as-pitching-coach.html">hired their next pitching coach</a>. There’s a number of other coaching vacancies around the league, but one team in particular to keep an eye on would be the Guardians after they lost associate manager Craig Albernaz to the Orioles when he took over their managerial gig and major league field coordinator Kai Correa when he departed to become the Mets’ next bench coach.
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>30</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>George Springer Undergoes MRI For Right Side Discomfort</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/george-springer-undergoes-mri-for-right-side-discomfort.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/george-springer-undergoes-mri-for-right-side-discomfort.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anthony Franco]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 12:10:51 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Toronto Blue Jays]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[George Springer]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871661</guid>
<description><![CDATA[George Springer left the Blue Jays’ crushing Game 3 loss with what appeared to be a right side injury. Toronto’s leadoff man was leading off the seventh inning and fouled off the first pitch from Justin Wrobleski, then winced and grabbed for his lower right side. After unsuccessfully trying to walk it off, he called…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/springe01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">George Springer</a> left the Blue Jays’ crushing Game 3 loss with what appeared to be a right side injury. Toronto’s leadoff man was leading off the seventh inning and fouled off the first pitch from <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wroblju01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Justin Wrobleski</a>, then winced and grabbed for his lower right side. After unsuccessfully trying to walk it off, he called for the trainer and was immediately lifted from the game. Manager John Schneider provided details to reporters (including <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/ShiDavidi/status/1983068076795936985">Shi Davidi of Sportsnet</a>) following the 18-inning epic about Springer’s status, revealing he was suffering from “right side discomfort” and had already been sent for an MRI, which the club was awaiting results on.
The possibility of a side injury raises fears about an oblique strain that would certainly put an end to Springer’s series. Even minor oblique strains are an almost automatic injured list stint — usually requiring upwards of a month on the shelf. Springer was able to play through knee discomfort after being hit with a pitch in Game 5 of the ALCS. An oblique injury would be essentially impossible to overcome, as they inhibit a hitter’s ability to rotate through their swing.
Losing Springer would be a massive blow to Toronto’s chances of coming back to pull off an upset in the series. He has four homers and six doubles across 14 postseason contests. None was bigger than the go-ahead, three-run shot off <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bazared01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Eduard Bazardo</a> to knock off the Mariners in Game 7 of the Championship Series. Springer is hitting .246/.323/.561 in October. That follows up a resurgent regular season in which he hit .309/.399/.560 with 32 home runs, his best year since 2019.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/francty01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ty France</a> came off the bench to work as the designated hitter for last night’s game. It’s unlikely that’d be the plan for the remainder of the Series if Springer is sidelined. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bichebo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bo Bichette</a> would presumably move to the DH spot for the final few games, which would draw <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kineris01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Isiah Kiner-Falefa</a> back in at second base for defensive purposes. Bichette has been limited in his first game action since spraining his knee in early September. He did not start Game 2 and was lifted for Kiner-Falefa as a pinch-runner/defensive substitute in the seventh inning. Bichette has picked up where he’d left off at the plate, though, going 3-7 with a walk and a strikeout in the series.
If Springer cannot return, the Jays would petition MLB to replace him on the roster. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/loperjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Joey Loperfido</a>, who replaced the injured <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santaan02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-28_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Anthony Santander</a> on the ALCS roster, was dropped from the World Series roster with Bichette and France activated from injury. He’d be the obvious choice to return to the roster in Springer’s place.
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>12</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Previewing The 2025-26 Free Agent Class: Left-Handed Relief</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/previewing-the-2025-26-free-agent-class-left-handed-relief.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/previewing-the-2025-26-free-agent-class-left-handed-relief.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Adams]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 02:58:28 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[2025-26 MLB Free Agents]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[MLBTR Originals]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871182</guid>
<description><![CDATA[All but two teams have already turned their attention toward the offseason. Identifying free agent targets is a big part of that prep work, so it’s worth taking a look at the players who’ll be available at each position. The 2025-26 class of left-handed relievers is thin on high-leverage arms but has plenty of solid,…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[All but two teams have already turned their attention toward the offseason. Identifying free agent targets is a big part of that prep work, so it’s worth taking a look at the players who’ll be available at each position.
The 2025-26 class of left-handed relievers is thin on high-leverage arms but has plenty of solid, serviceable veterans — plus a few wild cards who could pursue a big league return after pitching overseas. Ages listed are for the 2026 season.
Previous entries in this series: <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/previewing-the-2025-26-free-agent-class-catcher.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">catcher</a>, <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/previewing-the-2025-26-free-agent-class-first-base.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first base</a>, <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/previewing-the-2025-26-free-agent-class-second-base.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second base</a>, <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/previewing-the-2025-26-free-agent-class-third-base.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">third base</a>, <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/previewing-the-2025-26-free-agent-class-shortstop.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shortstop</a>, <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/previewing-the-2025-26-free-agent-class-center-field.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">center field</a>, <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/previewing-the-2025-26-free-agent-class-corner-outfield.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">corner outfield</a>, <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/previewing-the-2025-26-free-agent-class-designated-hitter.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">designated hitter</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/previewing-the-2025-26-free-agent-class-starting-pitcher.html">starting pitching</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/previewing-the-2025-26-free-agent-class-right-handed-relief.html">right-handed relief</a>
Veteran Setup Arms
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beeksja02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jalen Beeks</a> (32)
Beeks took a minor league deal with the Astros last offseason but opted out late in spring and signed a major league contract with the D-backs. It panned out well. He pitched 57 1/3 innings, logged 14 holds and a save, and fanned 20.3% of his opponents against an 8.7% walk rate — all en route to a 3.77 ERA. Beeks sits 94.4 mph with his four-seamer, posted an above-average swinging-strike rate in 2025, and has pitched primarily in medium to high-leverage spots over the past four years. He won’t break the bank but should get a modest one-year deal.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/couloda01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Danny Coulombe</a> (36)
Coulombe, who just turned 36 yesterday, was terrific in 31 innings with the Twins (1.16 ERA, 25.4 K%, 7.4 BB%) but struggled in 12 innings after being traded to the Rangers (5.25 ERA, 22.2 K%, 16.7 BB%). An IL trip due to shoulder fatigue didn’t help his time with the Rangers, and Coulombe also had a three-week IL stint due to a forearm strain with Minnesota in May. Coulombe’s average four-seamer and sinker barely crack 90 mph, but he has a 2.60 ERA with strong strikeout and walk rates in 173 1/3 innings dating back to 2020. He made $3MM this year, and another affordable one-year deal seems likely.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/ferguca01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Caleb Ferguson</a> (29)
Ferguson’s one-year, $3MM deal proved to be a sound investment for the frugal Pirates, who flipped him to the Mariners at the deadline after a solid four-month run. Ferguson was effective with both clubs, pitching to a combined 3.58 ERA. His 18.9% strikeout rate was below average, but Ferguson’s 8.1% walk rate was solid and no reliever in baseball limits hard contact as well as he does. His 27.7% opponents’ hard-hit rate was the best in baseball, and he sat in the 99th percentile in average exit velocity and barrel rate. Ferguson doesn’t have plus command or generate whiffs at a plus rate, but he’s young, durable and relatively consistent. He could be a candidate for a multi-year deal with a low average annual value.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/milneho01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Hoby Milner</a> (35)
Milner topped 64 innings for a fourth straight season, tossing 70 1/3 innings with a 3.84 ERA for the Rangers. He’s a soft-tossing lefty with a below-average strikeout rate, good command and a plus ground-ball rate. He’s worked a lot of middle relief in the past, but the Rangers used him as one of their go-to setup options for much of the ’25 season and he logged a career-high 18 holds (topping his previous best of 17 with the ’23 Brewers). Milner signed a one-year, $2.5MM deal with Texas last winter and should land in that general vicinity again.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pomerdr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Drew Pomeranz</a> (37)
Welcome back, Drew Pomeranz. The 36-year-old lefty signed a minor league deal with the Mariners and was flipped to the Cubs for cash in April. With Chicago, he made his first big league appearance since 2021 — but it was far more than a quick cameo. The former No. 5 overall draft pick dominated with a 2.17 ERA, 28.1% strikeout rate and 7.4% walk rate in 49 2/3 frames. Pomeranz was one of <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/counscr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Craig Counsell</a>’s most trusted relief arms in the playoffs. He’ll be 37 in November, so he’s not likely to snag a multi-year deal, but a big league contract should be waiting for Pomeranz this winter.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rogerta01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Taylor Rogers</a> (35)
Though his All-Star days are behind him, Rogers has been a solid middle reliever for three years running. His teams haven’t used him regularly in high-leverage spots, but he has a 3.16 ERA, 26.4% strikeout rate and 10.2% walk rate since 2023. Rogers’ 92.7 mph average sinker is down a full three miles from its 2021 peak, but his results and track record should get him a big league contract.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sotogr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Gregory Soto</a> (31)
Soto might have the most earning power among this winter’s crop of lefties due to both his age and his power repertoire. He’s one of the game’s hardest-throwing lefties but doesn’t generate the whiffs one would expect despite that fact. Soto is serviceable every year but has never broken through despite plus velo and a plus swinging-strike rate. Soto has had command troubles in the past but has posted nice walk rates in two of the past three seasons. A two-year deal at market value setup money seems possible.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thielca01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Caleb Thielbar</a> (39)
Thielbar’s first season with any team other than his hometown Twins was a success. He pitched 58 innings of 2.64 ERA ball for the Cubs and tied <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kellebr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Brad Keller</a> for the team lead with 25 holds. Thielbar’s 2024 season was ugly, but he’s posted an ERA of 3.49 or better every other year since 2020. He has average velocity, good command and an above-average strikeout rate, but he’ll be 39 in January, so a one-year deal is the strong likelihood.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsoju10.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Justin Wilson</a> (38)
Wilson missed nearly all of 2022-23 due to Tommy John surgery, struggled with the Reds in 2024, and bounced all the way back in Boston this year. The Red Sox got him on a one-year, $2.25MM deal last winter, and Wilson responded with 48 1/3 innings, a 3.35 earned run average, a 27.5% strikeout rate, a 9.7% walk rate and 18 holds. He should get another one-year deal this winter, probably with nice little bump in salary.
Swingmen/Multi-Inning Arms
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/newcose01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Sean Newcomb</a> (33)
“Sean Newcomb, multi-year deal candidate” probably wasn’t on too many bingo cards back in March, but the 2025 season was excellent for the former top prospect and starter-turned-reliever. Newcomb tossed 92 1/3 innings with a 2.73 ERA for the Red Sox and A’s. He started five games and frequently worked multiple innings — sometimes as a bulk reliever after an opener. The 2014 first-rounder punched out 23.3% of his opponents versus a 7.9% walk rate — both slightly better than average. Newcomb has easily earned himself a major league deal, and a modest two-year deal seems plausible.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/yarbrry01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ryan Yarbrough</a> (34)
Yarbrough’s 2025 season was par for the course by his standards: eight starts, 11 relief outings, a mid-4.00s ERA, below-average strikeout rate and solid command. That’s what Yarbrough brings to the table most years, and while it’s not a skill set that’s going to get him paid all that highly, it keeps him on big league rosters as a sixth starter/long man in the bullpen on a yearly basis. Yarbrough averages 87-88 mph but induces heaps of weak contact.
Possible NPB Returnees
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grifffo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Foster Griffin</a> (30)
Griffin is a former first-round pick of the Royals who made seven MLB appearances between 2020-22. He has spent the past three seasons in Japan, combining for a 2.57 ERA across 315 2/3 innings. Griffin missed time this past season with what MLBTR has learned was a bone bruise in his lower half. He’s expected to have a normal offseason and <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/foster-griffin-looking-to-return-to-mlb-in-free-agency.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">intends to pursue</a> an MLB return. Griffin didn’t have overpowering stuff during his initial run in affiliated ball, but he’s coming off a 1.62 ERA while striking out a quarter of opponents. He could command a big league deal to compete for a back-of-the-rotation spot.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kayan01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Anthony Kay</a> (31)
A former first-round pick, Kay has spent the past two seasons with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. He’s worked out of their rotation, logging a 3.42 ERA in ’24 and a 1.74 mark in ’25. Kay isn’t missing bats at a particularly high level (20.8 K%), but he had good command and a nice ground-ball rate overseas. Big league scouts have been watching him, and while he might get the chance to start somewhere, other clubs will probably be interested in bringing him aboard in a swingman capacity. Either way, he’s at least a candidate for a major league deal.
Options/Opt-Outs
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alvarjo03.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jose Alvarado</a> (31) – $9MM club option with a $500K buyout</li>
</ul>
An 80-game PED suspension cast a cloud over Alvarado’s 2025 season, but the hard-throwing southpaw has been one of the Phillies’ best relievers for several years. Dating back to 2022, Alvarado touts a 3.25 ERA and has fanned 31.7% of his opponents while averaging 98.7 mph on his sinker and 93.1 mph on his cutter. He’d easily top that net $8.5MM in free agency, so the Phils should pick this up.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hillti01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Tim Hill</a> (36) – $3MM club option with a $350K buyout</li>
</ul>
Hill, 36 in February, is a ground-ball specialist who misses almost no bats but rarely walks opponents. He’s logged a 2.68 ERA and kept about two-thirds of the batted balls against him on the ground in 111 innings since joining the Yankees in 2024. This feels like a nice value for the Yankees, even with their luxury tax status.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/minteaj01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">A.J. Minter</a> (32) – $11MM player option</li>
</ul>
Minter underwent lat surgery back in May after pitching only 11 innings. The recovery timetable for him is still a bit murky, but he seems likely to pick up that $11MM option, return to the Mets and aim for better health next year.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/peralwa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Wandy Peralta</a> (34) – $4.45MM player option (contract also contains $4.45MM player option for 2027)</li>
</ul>
Peralta posted a 3.14 ERA in a career-high 71 2/3 innings with a career-best 59.7% ground-ball rate in 2025. His 20.1% strikeout rate and 9.6% walk rate were worse than average. Peralta still averages better than 95 mph on his sinker, but he’ll be 35 in July and was used largely in low-leverage spots. It’s likelier than not that he picks up his player option.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/raleybr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Brooks Raley</a> (38) – $4.75MM club option with a $750K buyout</li>
</ul>
Raley returned from Tommy John surgery to toss 25 2/3 innings with a 2.45 ERA, a 25.3% strikeout rate and a 6.1% walk rate. His sinker’s average velocity had dipped to 88-89 mph in 2023-24, but he was back up to 90.7 mph this year, right in line with his 2021-22 levels in Houston and Tampa Bay. This option is likely to be picked up.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suterbr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Brent Suter</a> (36) – $3MM club option with a $250K buyout</li>
</ul>
Suter posted a career-high 4.52 ERA in 67 2/3 innings this season, snapping a streak of six straight years with a sub-4.00 earned run average. He’s a soft tosser who specializes in weak contact over missing bats. This will probably get bought out, but Suter is a Cincinnati native who’s clearly enjoyed pitching for his hometown club, so perhaps he’d be amenable to returning on a smaller pact.
Depth Arms
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alexasc02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Scott Alexander</a> (36)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=alexaty01,alexan001tyl,alexan003tyl&search=Tyler+Alexander&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Tyler Alexander</a> (31)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/borucry01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ryan Borucki</a> (32)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cabrege01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Genesis Cabrera</a> (29)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chafian01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Andrew Chafin</a> (36)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mayzati01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Tim Mayza</a> (34)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcfartj01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">T.J. McFarland</a> (37)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/perezci01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Cionel Perez</a> (30)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pocheco01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Colin Poche</a> (32)</li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>13</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Pirates To Hire Bill Murphy As Pitching Coach</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/pirates-to-hire-bill-murphy-as-pitching-coach.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/pirates-to-hire-bill-murphy-as-pitching-coach.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anthony Franco]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 02:10:53 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Houston Astros]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Pittsburgh Pirates]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bill Murphy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871646</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Pirates are expected to hire Astros pitching coach Bill Murphy for the same position, reports Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Pittsburgh had a vacancy after former pitching coach Oscar Marin did not have his contract renewed. Assistant pitching coach Brent Strom is also not returning to the team. Murphy has been a coach in…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Pirates are expected to hire Astros pitching coach Bill Murphy for the same position, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/Chandler_Rome/status/1982964853636772219">reports Chandler Rome of The Athletic</a>. Pittsburgh had a vacancy after former pitching coach Oscar Marin <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/09/pirates-make-changes-to-coaching-staff-2.html">did not</a> have his contract renewed. Assistant pitching coach Brent Strom is also not returning to the team.
Murphy has been a coach in Houston’s organization since 2016. He was first hired as a pitching coach for Rookie-level Greeneville. Murphy moved up to Single-A Tri-City in 2017, then to Double-A Corpus Christi the following season. He became an assistant pitching coach with the big league club in 2021, coincidentally working underneath Strom (then Houston’s pitching coach) in his first season. Strom stepped down at the end of that year, so Houston elevated Murphy and Josh Miller to co-pitching coach positions.
Houston’s pitching staff hadn’t missed a beat after Strom’s departure. They lead MLB with a 3.61 earned run average over the past four seasons. Only the Braves have a higher strikeout rate over that stretch. They dropped to 11th in ERA this year but led MLB with a 24.9% strikeout percentage. No team got more swinging strikes.
The Astros already had an excellent pitching staff by the time that Murphy and Miller took the lead positions. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=brownhu01,brown-008hun,brown-009hun,brown-006hun,brown-010hun&search=Hunter+Brown&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Hunter Brown’s</a> emergence as an ace has come under their tutelage, however. The Astros navigated various injuries on the pitching staff over the past few years, with the likes of <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/francjp01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">J.P. France</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blancro01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ronel Blanco</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alexaja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jason Alexander</a> each turning in a solid or better season in that time.
Murphy gets to work with an arguably even more talented group of arms in Pittsburgh. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/skenepa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Paul Skenes</a> is one of the few pitchers in baseball who is better than Brown. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chandbu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bubba Chandler</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/ashcrbr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Braxton Ashcraft</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burromi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mike Burrows</a> might all be in the Opening Day rotation, while <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=jonesja09,jones-013jar&search=Jared+Jones&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jared Jones</a> could be back from elbow surgery in the second half. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kellemi03.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mitch Keller</a> has tailed off late after stellar first halves in three straight years. He’s unlikely to turn into an ace at age 30, but it’d be a boon for the Bucs if they can get him to sustain his #2/3 caliber production for an entire season.
The Astros will now need to decide whether to turn the full-time job to Miller or hire a new co-pitching coach. They’re already revamping their offensive instruction after moving on from co-hitting coaches Alex Cintrón and Troy Snitker.
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>14</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Offseason Outlook: Atlanta Braves</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/offseason-outlook-atlanta-braves-14.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/offseason-outlook-atlanta-braves-14.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mark Polishuk]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:32:23 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[2025-26 Offseason Outlook]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Atlanta Braves]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Front Office Originals]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=868341</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A barrage of pitching injuries and some underwhelming offensive performances resulted in Atlanta's first losing record and non-playoff season since 2017. The Braves can't rely just on better health to improve next year, as the club will at least explore upgrades at multiple roster spots. Guaranteed Contracts Austin Riley, 3B: $155MM through 2029 ($20MM club…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[A barrage of pitching injuries and some underwhelming offensive performances resulted in Atlanta's first losing record and non-playoff season since 2017. The Braves can't rely just on better health to improve next year, as the club will at least explore upgrades at multiple roster spots.
Guaranteed Contracts
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rileyau01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Austin Riley</a>, 3B: $155MM through 2029 ($20MM club option for 2030)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=olsonma02,olson-006mat&search=Matt+Olson&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Matt Olson</a>, 1B: $88MM through 2029 ($20MM club option for 2030)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stridsp01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Spencer Strider</a>, SP: $69MM through 2028 (includes $5MM buyout of $22MM club option for 2029)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harrimi04.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Michael Harris II</a>, OF: $54MM through 2030 (includes $5MM buyout of $15MM club option for 2031; Braves also have $20MM club option for 2032 with $5MM buyout)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=murphse01,murphy010sea,murphy011sea,murphy013sea&search=Sean+Murphy&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Sean Murphy</a>, C: $45MM through 2028 ($15MM club option for 2029)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/profaju01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jurickson Profar</a>, OF: $30MM through 2027</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/acunaro01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ronald Acuna Jr.</a>, OF: $27MM through 2026 (includes $10MM buyout of $17MM club option for 2027; Braves hold $17MM club option for 2028)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lopezre01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Reynaldo Lopez</a>, SP: $22MM through 2027</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bummeaa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Aaron Bummer</a>, RP: $9.5MM through 2026</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jimenjo02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Joe Jimenez</a>, RP: $9MM through 2026</li>
</ul>
Option Decisions
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/salech01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Chris Sale</a>, SP: $18MM club option for 2026</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kimha01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ha-Seong Kim</a>, SS: $16MM player option for 2026</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/albieoz01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ozzie Albies</a>, 2B: $7MM club option for 2026 ($4MM buyout); Braves also hold $7MM club option for 2027</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnspi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Pierce Johnson</a>, RP: $7MM club option for 2026 ($250K buyout)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kinlety01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Tyler Kinley</a>, RP: $5MM club option for 2026 ($750K buyout)</li>
</ul>
2026 financial commitments (if all options are exercised): $204.5MM 
Total long-term financial commitments (if all options are exercised) = $561.5MM
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2026.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">projected salaries</a> courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fraleja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jake Fraley</a> (5.097): $3.6MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/payamjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Joel Payamps</a> (4.117): $3.4MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suarejo01.shtml" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jose Suarez</a> (4.064): $1.5MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/manoaal01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Alek Manoah</a> (4.063): $2.2MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=leedy01,lee---003dyl&search=Dylan+Lee&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Dylan Lee</a> (3.150): $1.9MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whiteel04.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Eli White</a> (3.140): $1.2MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brujavi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Vidal Brujan</a> (3.014): $800K</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wentzjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Joey Wentz</a> (2.166): $1.1MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=allenni02,allen-006nic&search=Nick+Allen&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nick Allen</a> (2.164): $1.5MM</li>
<li>Non-tender candidates: Suarez, Fraley, Payamps, Manoah, Brujan, Wentz</li>
</ul>
Free Agents
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ozunama01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Marcell Ozuna</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/iglesra01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Raisel Iglesias</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carraca01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Carlos Carrasco</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mortoch02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Charlie Morton</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leonsa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Sandy Leon</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kelenja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jarred Kelenic</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/diazal03.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Alexis Diaz</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dunnida01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Dane Dunning</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/willilu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Luke Williams</a></li>
</ul>
At the time of this post's publication, the Braves still haven't settled on a new manager. The team's hope was that Brian Snitker would return for an 11th season as manager, but Snitker will instead move into an advisory role for his 50th season in the organization. Snitker's decade in the manager's chair included six NL East titles and the 2021 World Series championship, but this outstanding run ended on the down note of a 76-86 record in 2025.
It is hard to imagine any manager could've shepherded this year's Braves team to glory given how nearly the entire rotation was lost to the injured list. Even with their season slipping away due to an 8-17 record in July, the Braves were one of the more active buyers (to some extent) leading up to the trade deadline just because the team was in such need of short-term rotation help.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=elderbr01,elder-002bry&search=Bryce+Elder&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bryce Elder</a> (and his 5.30 ERA) led all Atlanta pitchers with 156 1/3 innings, with Chris Sale finishing in second with only 125 2/3 frames. Sale missed over two months due to a ribcage fracture, but naturally his club option is still a lock to be exercised. Spencer Strider's recovery from internal brace surgery and a hamstring strain limited him to 125 1/3 innings, and he understandably didn't look nearly as dominant as he did in his All-Star 2023 season. Reynaldo Lopez made just one start before arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder ended up sidelining him for the rest of the season. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/schwesp01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Spencer Schwellenbach</a> (fractured elbow) and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithaj01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">AJ Smith-Shawver</a> (Tommy John surgery) were each pitching well before their seasons were ended in June. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/holmegr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Grant Holmes</a>' season was ended by a partially torn UCL in late July, and his status remains a question mark since Holmes is trying to rehab the injury without surgery.
Assuming no more offseason health woes, Sale, Strider, and Schwellenbach have places assured in Atlanta's rotation. Former top prospect <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/waldrhu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Hurston Waldrep</a> pitched well in his first extended taste of MLB action and put himself in line for a starting job in 2026. Holmes and Lopez are both tentatively penciled into the rotation for now, with the caveats of Holmes' health and the possibility that Lopez could be transitioned back into a bullpen role. <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/09/anthopoulos-rotation-to-be-offseason-point-of-emphasis-for-braves.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Back in September</a>, Anthopoulos stressed that the club still views Lopez as a starter, "but what if we have a bunch of starter trades that present themselves and so on? It would be a great problem to have."
Needless to say, the Braves are planning to bring at least one new addition into the starting mix. The fact that Anthopoulos mentioned trading for a starter first and foremost might at his preferred plan, which makes sense given how Anthopoulos has traditionally shied away from big-ticket free agent signings during his front office career. Anthopoulos has swung several creative trades over the years, and as we'll explore later, some players on the current big league roster could be trade chips just as easily as members of the Atlanta farm system.
<div class="front-office-originals">
<img class="landing-logo" src="https://cdn.mlbtraderumors.com/wp-content/plugins/fv-traderumors-membership-landing/images/mlb/landing-logo.png" />
<h4>Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription</h4>
<div class="benefit-badge">
<div class="landing-divider"></div>
<div class="the-badge">BENEFITS</div>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco.</li>
<li>Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony.</li>
<li>Remove ads and support our writers.</li>
<li>Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker</li>
</ul>
<a href="/membership?ref=868341"></a>
</div>]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>37</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Blue Jays Notes: Bichette, Scherzer, Defense</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/blue-jays-notes-bichette-scherzer-defense.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/blue-jays-notes-bichette-scherzer-defense.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Charlie Wright]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:36:35 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Toronto Blue Jays]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Bo Bichette]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Isiah Kiner-Falefa]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Max Scherzer]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871576</guid>
<description><![CDATA[After getting shut down offensively in Game 2 of the World Series, Toronto will get an important bat back in the lineup tonight. Bo Bichette will draw the start at second base for Game 3, batting fourth. “[He] felt good coming out of yesterday,” manager John Schneider told reporters on Sunday, including David Singh of…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[After getting shut down offensively in Game 2 of the World Series, Toronto will get an important bat back in the lineup tonight. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bichebo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bo Bichette</a> will draw the start at second base for Game 3, batting fourth. “[He] felt good coming out of yesterday,” manager John Schneider told reporters on Sunday, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/schneider-talks-blue-jays-strategy-ahead-of-world-series-game-3/">David Singh of Sportsnet</a>. “I think with each day that goes on, he’ll probably get as close to normal as he can at this stage of the year.”
Bichette made his long-awaited return in Game 1 after missing close to two months with a knee injury. He singled on a 3-0 pitch in his first at-bat. Bichette began Toronto’s game-breaking sixth inning, drawing a walk against <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/snellbl01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Blake Snell</a> to lead off the inning. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kineris01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Isiah Kiner-Falefa</a> replaced him on the bases and came around to score the go-ahead run. Toronto would go on to tag Snell and two relievers with nine runs in the frame.
It was Kiner-Falefa, not Bichette, who drew the start at second base in Game 2. Bichette grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. He played a couple of innings in the field in relief of Kiner-Falefa. “Seven weeks is a long layoff, so you don’t want to just go back to 100 percent,” Schneider told reporters, including <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/ShiDavidi/status/1982923109704577060">Shi Davidi of Sportsnet</a>, regarding Bichette’s usage.
<div class="css-175oi2r">
<div class="css-175oi2r r-a1ub67">
<div id="id__q05mgc542z" class="css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-37j5jr r-a023e6 r-16dba41 r-bnwqim r-hbpseb" dir="auto" lang="en" data-testid="tweetText">
Bichette is playing second base for the first time at the professional level since 2019 at Triple-A. The early returns have been acceptable, as Bichette has handled the few chances he’s had so far. Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports that Toronto is adjusting their infield strategy to support him. The team is having shortstop Andres Gimenez and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shade closer to Bichette to provide extra coverage. “I think the positioning part of it plays a big component,” Schneider told Bannon.
Toronto hasn’t had an error in either game of the World Series. They were a middling defense during the regular season, ranking 18th in fielding percentage. The Blue Jays had the 12th-most errors. Kiner-Falefa is known for his defensive ability and is capable of handling multiple infield positions. While he did go 5-for-15 in the ALCS, the utilityman is hitless so far against the Dodgers. Getting Bichette’s bat in the mix will be a boost, especially after Yoshinobu Yamamoto silenced the lineup on Saturday. Kiner-Falefa is a candidate to replace Bichette on the bases or in the field in a late-game situation.
The Blue Jays will send Max Scherzer to the bump on Monday. Schneider is expecting the same intensity he showed in Game 4 of the ALCS. “Wonder how many coaches he’ll knock over tonight,” Schneider told reporters, including Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. The fiery right-hander had a handful of animated moments during his last outing, a near-quality start against Seattle. Scherzer allowed two earned runs over 5 2/3 innings to earn the win and knot the series at 2-2.
Scherzer’s appearance for Toronto tonight will make him the first player to pitch for four different teams in the World Series, per MLB. The 40-year-old also made Fall Classic starts for Detroit, Washington, and Texas, winning the title with the latter two teams.
Scherzer came into the postseason in a rut, giving up 17 earned runs over 15 innings to close the regular season. He did not make the ALDS roster, with Schneider citing the matchup against the Yankees as the reason for the veteran’s omission. Scherzer tossed a quality start in his lone appearance against the Dodgers this season, holding them to two earned runs over six innings in early September.
</div>
</div>
</div>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>43</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Antoan Richardson Won’t Return To Mets’ Coaching Staff</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/mets-rumors-antoan-richardson-first-base-coach-leaving.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/mets-rumors-antoan-richardson-first-base-coach-leaving.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Adams]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 21:20:23 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[New York Mets]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Antoan Richardson]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871566</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson will not return to the team in 2026, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN. His contract is set to expire at the end of the month, and the two parties haven’t been able to come to terms on a new deal. SNY’s Andy Martino adds that the Mets very much wanted…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson will not return to the team in 2026, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1982879745961590918">reports Jeff Passan of ESPN</a>. His contract is set to expire at the end of the month, and the two parties haven’t been able to come to terms on a new deal.<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/martinonyc/status/1982906763725947180"> SNY’s Andy Martino adds</a> that the Mets very much wanted Richardson back on staff and made a strong effort to keep him. Martino further speculates that Richardson could well be eyeing another opportunity or two elsewhere in the league.
Richardson, who turned 42 last month, has been the Mets’ first base coach since 2024. He held the same role with the Giants from 2020-23 and was previously San Francisco’s minor league field coordinator and minor league outfield coordinator. Richardson, a former pro outfielder who appeared in a handful of major league games between the 2011 Braves and 2014 Yankees, also worked as an outfield and baserunning instructor while serving as the first base coach with both the Giants and Mets.
With one-third of the league set to head into 2026 with a new manager than the one they had in place on Opening Day 2025, Richardson ought to have plenty of opportunities to latch on with a new club. The Pirates (Don Kelly), Orioles (Craig Albernaz), Angels (Kurt Suzuki), Giants (Tony Vitello) and Rangers (Skip Schumaker) all have new full-time skippers in place. The Twins, Padres, Braves, Rockies and Nationals are still on the hunt for new managers. All of those newly installed managers will subsequently interview candidates to fill out their respective staffs.
The Mets aren’t making a change at manager, but there’s plenty of turnover on the coaching staff. Hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes have already been replaced by former Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker (son of longtime Braves manager Brian Snitker, who retired at season’s end) and Jeff Albert, who’d previously been the Mets’ in-house director of hitting development. Bench coach John Gibbons has been swapped out for former Guardians field coordinator Kai Correa. Assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel left after one season to go back to the Yankees, where he’d previously coached. Catching coach Glenn Sherlock retired.
Richardson’s departure is the latest in a broad-reaching slate of changes and creates yet another vacancy to be filled by manager Carlos Mendoza and president of baseball operations David Stearns.
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>28</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Trade Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/trade-rumors-front-office-subscriber-chat-today-3pm-ct-6.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/trade-rumors-front-office-subscriber-chat-today-3pm-ct-6.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Adams]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:00:36 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Front Office Originals]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[MLBTR Chats]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871558</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Steve Adams Good afternoon! And happy World Series. We'll get going at 3pm CT, but as always, feel free to submit questions ahead of time if you prefer. Greetings! Let's begin Eeyore Lifelong Mariners fan here… also a big fan of Eugenio Suarez, especially what he brings to the clubhouse.. Wondering what it might take for…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="live-chat-archive">
Steve Adams
<ul class="moderator">
<li data-time="12:53">Good afternoon! And happy World Series. We'll get going at 3pm CT, but as always, feel free to submit questions ahead of time if you prefer.</li>
<li data-time="3:02">Greetings! Let's begin</li>
</ul>
Eeyore
<ul>
<li data-time="3:02">Lifelong Mariners fan here… also a big fan of Eugenio Suarez, especially what he brings to the clubhouse.. Wondering what it might take for the M’s to retain him and maybe use him at DH and 3rd. Dreaming of an offseason where Naylor gets signed, a trade lands Brendan Donovan and Suarez is still in the fold… all with Colt Emerson getting called up at so e point.</li>
</ul>
Steve Adams
<ul class="moderator">
<li data-time="3:05">I don't think there's any chance they keep both Suarez and Naylor and then add someone like Donovan. Individually they're all fine fits, but Suarez is probably going to command $20MM+ annually over 2-3 years, and the Mariners aren't going to spend for a player in his mid-30s when they have Emerson waiting in the wings.Naylor reunion seems possible, particularly if they move some other pieces to make the financial aspect work (assuming ownership isn't going to green-light a major spending hike).
Donovan fits the Mariners well, but he's versatile, cheap and good at just about everything on the diamond. He fits every contending club well. Mariners do have a better farm than a lot of (most of) the other teams who'll be looking into him, though.</li>
</ul>
walterj23
<ul>
<li data-time="3:05">If Hoyer of the Cubs declined to bring Imanaga back could the Cubs have enough money to sign Cease and Woodruff ?</li>
</ul>
Steve Adams
<ul class="moderator">
<li data-time="3:08">The Cubs have enough money regardless of Imanaga. They have about $162.5MM in luxury obligations next year, per RosterResource. They could pick up their option on Imanaga, their option on Kittredge and their option on Rea and still be under $200MM in tax considerations. That's enough room to sign Cease and Woodruff and keep under the line in all likelihood -- and that doesn't even consider possible non-tenders (Reese McGuire, Eli Morgan) or trades of any veterans on the roster.</li>
</ul>
Rangers13
<ul>
<li data-time="3:08">What teams with a need for defensive help would be possible trade partners for AGarcia or Semien if the acquiring team thinks they might be able to return them to close to previous offensive form and who might be options back to the Rangers from those teams?</li>
</ul>
<div class="front-office-originals">
<img class="landing-logo" src="https://cdn.mlbtraderumors.com/wp-content/plugins/fv-traderumors-membership-landing/images/mlb/landing-logo.png" />
<h4>Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription</h4>
<div class="benefit-badge">
<div class="landing-divider"></div>
<div class="the-badge">BENEFITS</div>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco.</li>
<li>Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony.</li>
<li>Remove ads and support our writers.</li>
<li>Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker</li>
</ul>
<a href="/membership?ref=871558"></a>
</div>]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Offseason Outlook: Detroit Tigers</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/offseason-outlook-detroit-tigers-15.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/offseason-outlook-detroit-tigers-15.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anthony Franco]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 19:18:58 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[2025-26 Offseason Outlook]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Detroit Tigers]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Front Office Originals]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871306</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Tigers were the best team in the American League for a few months. They had a quiet deadline and narrowly avoided what would've been a historic collapse. While winning the Wild Card series and pushing the Mariners to the brink in the Division Series kept this from being a complete disaster, they unquestionably lost…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Tigers were the best team in the American League for a few months. They had a quiet deadline and narrowly avoided what would've been a historic collapse. While winning the Wild Card series and pushing the Mariners to the brink in the Division Series kept this from being a complete disaster, they unquestionably lost momentum in the second half. They're now facing a couple free agent departures and questions about the future for the sport's best pitcher.
Guaranteed Contracts
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/baezja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Javier Báez</a>, SS: $48MM through 2027</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/flaheja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jack Flaherty</a>, RHP: $20MM player option for 2026</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/keithco01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Colt Keith</a>, 3B: $20.642MM through 2029 (including buyout of '30 club option; deal also includes club options for 2031-32)</li>
</ul>
Option Decisions
<ul>
<li>RHP <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/flaheja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jack Flaherty</a> holds $20MM player option</li>
<li>Team, RHP <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sewalpa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Paul Sewald</a> hold $10MM mutual option ($1MM buyout)</li>
<li>Team holds $4MM option on RHP <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/urquijo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">José Urquidy</a></li>
</ul>
Additional Financial Commitments
<ul>
<li>Owe $1MM buyout to outrighted RHP <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dobnara01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Randy Dobnak</a></li>
<li>Owe $500K buyout to released RHP <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brebbjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">John Brebbia</a></li>
</ul>
2026 guaranteed contracts: $30.5MM or $50.5MM depending on Flaherty's option decision 
Total future commitments: $71.142MM or $91.142MM through 2029 depending on Flaherty
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2026.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">projected salaries courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz</a>)
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/raineta01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Tanner Rainey</a> (5.167): $1.6MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/skubata01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Tarik Skubal</a> (5.114): $17.8MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mizeca01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Casey Mize</a> (5.111): $5.4MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rogerja03.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jake Rogers</a> (5.040): $2.9MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vestwi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Will Vest</a> (4.100): $3.3MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mckinza01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Zach McKinstry</a> (4.099): $3.5MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vierlma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Matt Vierling</a> (4.026): $3.1MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/foleyja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jason Foley</a> (3.150): $3.15MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/langeal01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Alex Lange</a> (3.145): $900K</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/ibanean01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Andy Ibañez</a> (3.133): $1.8MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/greenri03.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Riley Greene</a> (3.110): $6.6MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/torkesp01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Spencer Torkelson</a> (3.076): $5.1MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carpeke01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kerry Carpenter</a> (3.057): $3.5MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/briesbe01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Beau Brieske</a> (3.056): $1.3MM</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=holtoty01,holton001tyl&search=Tyler+Holton&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-06_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Tyler Holton</a> (3.047): $1.7MM</li>
</ul>
Non-tender candidates: Rainey, Vierling, Foley, Lange, Ibañez, Brieske
Free Agents
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/flaheja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jack Flaherty</a> (if he opts out), <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/torregl01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Gleyber Torres</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/finneky01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kyle Finnegan</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kahnlto01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Tommy Kahnle</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/montera01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Rafael Montero</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/paddach01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Chris Paddack</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sewalpa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Paul Sewald</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cobbal01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-24_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Alex Cobb</a></li>
</ul>
It took just a few days after the Tigers were eliminated for speculation to begin about <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/skubata01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Tarik Skubal</a>. He's a few weeks from his second Cy Young award and now a year away from free agency. <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/10/16/sports/tigers-staring-down-250-million-gap-in-tarik-skubal-contract-talks/">Jon Heyman of The New York Post</a> has already suggested Skubal could seek a $400MM contract. Heyman reported that was at least $250MM above what the Tigers were willing to offer during extension talks last winter. <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2025/10/17/detroit-tigers-tarik-skubal-2024-contract-extension-offer/86736451007/">Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free-Press</a> subsequently reported that Detroit had offered a four-year deal between $80MM and $100MM.
That was a noncompetitive proposal when Skubal was two years from the open market. His asking price has only climbed after another dominant season that moved him a year closer to free agency. It's not accurate to say that they're facing a $300MM gap -- the Tigers would obviously be willing to offer more than that now -- but it doesn't exactly point to them being likely to hammer out a long-term deal. That naturally leads to wishcasting from other teams (and their fanbases) about the possibility of pulling off a blockbuster trade.
There hasn't been any reporting that the Tigers intend to seriously hear teams out on Skubal, much less actively shop him. The rumors to date have been driven by a few recent instances of contending clubs trading a superstar before his final season of arbitration. The <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bettsmo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mookie Betts</a> trade was a disaster for the Red Sox. The Padres did quite well when they traded <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=sotoju01,soto--004jua&search=Juan+Soto&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Juan Soto</a> to the Yankees, winning 90+ games in each of the following two seasons. The Brewers got a solid but not overwhelming return for <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burneco01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Corbin Burnes</a> and have remained one of the NL's best teams over the past couple years. The Astros landed a strong three-player package for <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tuckeky01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kyle Tucker</a> but narrowly missed the playoffs in year one.
The Tigers have made consecutive playoff appearances after a nine-year drought. The front office has already come under fire for a deadline where they deepened the pitching staff in bulk without parting with any significant prospects for an impact acquisition (aside from arguably <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/finneky01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kyle Finnegan</a>). They already have a top-tier farm system and could enter the offseason with as little as $30.5MM in guaranteed contracts. They can easily accommodate a projected $17.8MM arbitration salary for Skubal.
<div class="front-office-originals">
<img class="landing-logo" src="https://cdn.mlbtraderumors.com/wp-content/plugins/fv-traderumors-membership-landing/images/mlb/landing-logo.png" />
<h4>Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription</h4>
<div class="benefit-badge">
<div class="landing-divider"></div>
<div class="the-badge">BENEFITS</div>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco.</li>
<li>Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony.</li>
<li>Remove ads and support our writers.</li>
<li>Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker</li>
</ul>
<a href="/membership?ref=871306"></a>
</div>]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>28</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Mariners Notes: Naylor, Polanco, Suarez</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/mariners-notes-naylor-polanco-suarez.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/mariners-notes-naylor-polanco-suarez.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nick Deeds]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:59:15 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Notes]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Seattle Mariners]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Eugenio Suarez]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jorge Polanco]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Josh Naylor]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871544</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Mariners have not exactly been shy about their desire to re-sign first baseman Josh Naylor as he heads into free agency this winter. For a club that seemingly does not have much financial flexibility this offseason, that could take up the majority of Seattle’s budget space, and would seemingly make reunions with second baseman…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Mariners have not exactly been shy about their desire to re-sign first baseman <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/naylojo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Josh Naylor</a> as he heads into free agency this winter. For a club that seemingly does not have much <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/mariners-aiming-for-roughly-166mm-in-starting-point-payroll-in-2026.html">financial flexibility</a> this offseason, that could take up the majority of Seattle’s budget space, and would seemingly make reunions with second baseman <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/polanjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jorge Polanco</a> and third baseman <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suareeu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Eugenio Suarez</a> unlikely. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/why-mariners-believe-this-is-just-the-beginning-not-the-end-of-their-success/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=owned_echobox_tw_m&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1761501584">Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times</a> offered some additional perspective on the club’s trio of pending free agent infielders yesterday that suggests things may not be that simple, however.
While Naylor has been emphasized as the club’s priority, Divish suggests that it’s possible Polanco actually winds up being the one most likely to sign. That’s in part due to Naylor’s age, with Divish noting that he’s likely to seek a deal longer than three years in free agency. That’s the sort of contract that has typically fallen outside of Seattle’s comfort zone under Dipoto in free agency, although it’s not hard to imagine that the Mariners might view Naylor as an exception to that. After all, the club has been willing to go far beyond the two years and $24MM <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garvemi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mitch Garver</a> deal that remains Dipoto’s largest expenditure in free agency when it comes to extensions. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=castilu02,castilu01,castilu03,castil026lui,castil025lui,castil018lui,castil027lui&search=Luis+Castillo&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Luis Castillo</a> extended on a five-year deal in his age-29 season, while <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/raleica01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Cal Raleigh</a>’s six-year extension came in his age-28 campaign.
Naylor won’t turn 29 until next June, so committing to a player who has already spent time in the organization on a deal that takes him to his age-32 or -33 season is hardly unthinkable in a vacuum. Even so, it’s undeniable that Polanco’s contract is far more likely to fall into the Mariners’ typical comfort zone when it comes to free agents. Divish writes that Polanco is likely to command a contract “similar” to the aforementioned Garver deal and that he’s unlikely to receive a third guaranteed year on his next contract. There’s some logic to that assumption given the tough market Polanco found in free agency last winter, although he’s coming off a much stronger season in 2025 even has he heads into his age-32 campaign.
With that said, if the Mariners will attempt to wait out the market on their three infielders in order to try and bring one back at a relative bargain, Polanco standing as the most likely one to fall through the cracks due to his age, injury history, and previous struggles on the open market would make some sense. At the very least, that sort of scenario seems to be the kind of situation where Divish sees a reunion between the Mariners and Suarez as a possibility. Divish writes that, as Suarez heads into his age-34 season with his 35th birthday coming next July, a contract that keeps him in Seattle beyond one additional year seems “unlikely.” Coming off a season where he clubbed 49 home runs and made his second career All-Star appearance, it’s hard to imagine that Suarez won’t be able to get at least a two-year deal in free agency this winter barring a surprisingly cold market.
Given Seattle’s apparent financial limitations, it’s hard to imagine more than one of their trio of free agent infielders returning in 2026 unless a trade opens up additional payroll space this winter. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/payroll/mariners?season=2026">RosterResource</a> projects them for a $132MM payroll in 2025 as things stand, roughly $31MM below their stated target. While it’s at least theoretically possible that two of the three could fit within that budget without shedding salary, it would leave them with virtually no room to maneuver beyond that.
That would be a problem when other areas of the roster could use attention besides the infield, as Divish floats the possibility of bringing in relief help to fortify a bullpen that will lose <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/ferguca01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Caleb Ferguson</a> this winter or perhaps making an addition in the outfield, where <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/roblevi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Victor Robles</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/canzodo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Dominic Canzone</a> currently appear poised to platoon in right, as other possible avenues for the Mariners to upgrade this winter. Even if Robles and Canzone remain in place as the likely duo in right field, finding a platoon partner for <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/raleylu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Luke Raley</a> at DH or upgrading the bench could be worthwhile pursuits to explore as well.
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>96</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Orioles Hire Craig Albernaz As Manager</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/orioles-close-to-hiring-craig-albernaz-as-manager.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/orioles-close-to-hiring-craig-albernaz-as-manager.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mark Polishuk]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:07:07 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Baltimore Orioles]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Cleveland Guardians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Newsstand]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Craig Albernaz]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871517</guid>
<description><![CDATA[October 27: The Orioles officially announced Albernaz as the club’s new manager this morning. He will be introduced at a press conference on November 4. Both Elias and Albernaz offered statements in the aftermath of the hiring: “We are elated to welcome Craig Albernaz as the next manager of the Orioles and our leader on the…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[October 27: The Orioles officially announced Albernaz as the club’s new manager this morning. He will be introduced at a press conference on November 4. Both Elias and Albernaz offered statements in the aftermath of the hiring:
“We are elated to welcome Craig Albernaz as the next manager of the Orioles and our leader on the field,” Elias’s statement reads. “Craig has built an exemplary career across multiple successful organizations and brings a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge, and talent to our organization and to this new challenge. We believe he is the right person at the right time to elevate our baseball operations and guide our team back to the playoffs and a World Series Championship.”
“I am deeply honored and humbled to join the storied Baltimore Orioles organization,” Albernaz’s statement reads. “This is a tremendous honor, and I’m grateful to Mike Elias and the entire Orioles team for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading this talented club.”
October 26: The Orioles are in the final stages of negotiations with Craig Albernaz about a deal to become the team’s next manager, according to <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1982625102002004217" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN’s Jeff Passan</a>. Moments before Passan’s report, <a href="https://x.com/JonHeyman/status/1982625022763241772" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jon Heyman of the New York Post</a> wrote that Albernaz was the “frontrunner” in the Orioles’ search.
It’s quite an early birthday present for Albernaz, who turns 43 later this week. Albernaz worked as the Guardians’ associate manager this year after acting as the team’s bench coach in 2024, and four seasons on the Giants’ coaching staff as a bullpen and catching coach. Prior to his work on big league staffs, Albernaz spent four years in the Rays’ farm system, including managerial stints at the high-A and low-A levels. Albernaz is a former player, suiting up primarily as a catcher in the Rays’ and Tigers’ farm systems from 2006-14.
<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-871521 size-medium alignleft" style="border: 2px solid black; padding: 3px; margin-left: 10px;" src="https://cdn.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2025/10/CraigAlbernaz-vertical-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cdn.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2025/10/CraigAlbernaz-vertical-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cdn.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2025/10/CraigAlbernaz-vertical-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cdn.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2025/10/CraigAlbernaz-vertical-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2025/10/CraigAlbernaz-vertical-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2025/10/CraigAlbernaz-vertical-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cdn.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2025/10/CraigAlbernaz-vertical-900x1350.jpg 900w, https://cdn.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2025/10/CraigAlbernaz-vertical-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />
Albernaz’s job with the Guardians developed after Cleveland interviewed him about their last managerial vacancy, and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vogtst01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-26_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Stephen Vogt</a> then hired Albernaz to his own coaching staff. Albernaz was a finalist for both the White Sox and Marlins in their managerial searches last offseason, and he was linked to the Giants’ vacancy this year and also interviewed with the Nationals. There hadn’t been any public indication that Albernaz was in the running for Baltimore’s job, but it isn’t surprising that the O’s were eyeing someone who has been such a popular candidate in recent years.
Like previous Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, Albernaz is becoming a full-time MLB manager for the first time, and is coming to the job at a relatively young age (Hyde was 45 when hired in December 2018.) The circumstances of this hiring for O’s president of baseball operations Mike Elias are much different this time around — Hyde was hired to oversee an Orioles team embarking on a rebuild, while Albernaz will be tasked with getting a contender back on track.
It seemed like Baltimore’s rebuild had paid off when the team had a winning season in 2022, and when the O’s then reached the playoffs in both 2023 and 2024. However, a bunch of pitching injuries and a near team-wide set of offensive struggles essentially sunk this year’s Orioles right out of the gate, as Hyde was fired in May when the team had a 15-28 record.
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mansoto99.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-26_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Tony Mansolino</a> posted a winning 60-59 record after being promoted from third base coach to interim manager, which made Mansolino a candidate for the full-time position this offseason. The Orioles were also linked to former Mariners manager Scott Servais, former Mets manager <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=rojas-010lui,rojaslu99&search=Luis+Rojas&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-26_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Luis Rojas</a>, and superstar <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-26_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Albert Pujols</a> in their managerial search, plus Cubs bench coach and ex-O’s player <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=flahery01,flaher003rya&search=Ryan+Flaherty&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-26_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ryan Flaherty</a> was reportedly under consideration.
Albernaz doesn’t have the experience or the name value as the other candidates, yet he’ll become the latest in a long line of skippers with past ties to the Guardians and/or Rays organizations. Those two teams have made a habit of staying in contention while focusing on player development, which is key for an O’s team that will need several of its young building blocks to rebound from underwhelming 2025 seasons. How the Orioles will augment their young core with offseason additions is now the next goal for Elias with the managerial search concluded.
This has been a busy offseason for managerial hirings and firings, and we’re still not even halfway through the list of teams looking for new skippers in 2026. The Orioles join the Angels (<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suzukku01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-26_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kurt Suzuki</a>), Giants (Tony Vitello), and Rangers (<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/schumsk01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-26_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Skip Schumaker</a>) as teams who have hired new managers, while the Nationals, Padres, Twins, Braves, and Rockies remain searching.
Inset photo courtesy of Joe Camporeale — Imagn Images
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>120</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>AL Central Notes: Hunter, Willis, Melton</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/al-central-notes-hunter-willis-melton.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/al-central-notes-hunter-willis-melton.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mark Polishuk]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:34:17 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Cleveland Guardians]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Detroit Tigers]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Minnesota Twins]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Notes]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Carl Willis]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Torii Hunter]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Troy Melton]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871514</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Torii Hunter spoke with Twins president Derek Falvey last week, but the longtime Minnesota outfielder specified to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that it was just an informal chat, and not an interview in regards to the team’s open managerial position. However, Hunter said he already has a coaching staff mostly lined…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hunteto01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-26_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Torii Hunter</a> spoke with Twins president Derek Falvey last week, but the longtime Minnesota outfielder specified to <a href="https://www.twincities.com/2025/10/25/charley-walters-torii-hunter-talked-to-twins-about-managerial-job-but-wasnt-interviewed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press</a> that it was just an informal chat, and not an interview in regards to the team’s open managerial position. However, Hunter said he already has a coaching staff mostly lined up if he ever gets a chance to become a manager, and he seems open to the possibility of a return to Minnesota.
“I guess they’re slow-rolling the process right now; I’m just sitting waiting. If the opportunity presents itself, then it would be something I would look into, think long and hard about…..Now it’s about a conversation to see where they’re headed, what their thoughts are, and then I’m pretty sure they’re going to see what I want to do with the team, who I’m going to bring aboard, my staff,” Hunter said.
Hunter already surfaced <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/angels-remove-torii-hunter-from-managerial-consideration.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as a candidate</a> in the Angels’ managerial search before the team hired <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suzukku01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-26_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kurt Suzuki</a> — like Hunter, a veteran ex-player with no formal managerial/coaching experience who had been working as a special assistant in the Halos’ front office. Despite Hunter’s interest, it isn’t clear if the Twins are still considering him or any other candidates, as the team has reportedly settled on <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/twins-narrow-managerial-search-to-top-four-candidates.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at least four finalists</a> (<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=flahery01,flaher003rya&search=Ryan+Flaherty&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-26_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ryan Flaherty</a>, James Rowson, Scott Servais, and Derek Shelton) in their search.
More from around the AL Central….
<ul>
<li>Carl Willis will be back as the Guardians’ pitching coach next season, <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2025/10/carl-willis-will-return-as-guardians-pitching-coach-the-week-in-baseball.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer</a> reports. It will be Willis’ 16th overall season in the job, over two separate stints (2003-09, and 2018-present) in Cleveland. The widely-respected Willis is viewed as one of the key reasons the Guards have been so good at developing their pitchers into successful or even elite starters at the MLB level. There had been some speculation that Willis could be considering retirement as he approaches his 65th birthday in December, but he’ll instead continue a baseball career that has lasted for over four decades as a player and coach.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/meltotr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-26_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Troy Melton</a> was “a popular name in trade talks” for rival teams calling the Tigers prior to his big league debut in July, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/troy-melton-expected-to-be-big-part-of-tigers-rotation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MLB.com’s Jason Beck</a> writes. Rather than deal Melton for a more proven pitcher at the deadline, Detroit instead relied on Melton himself to deliver, and the rookie posted a 2.76 ERA over 45 2/3 innings in the regular season and then a 5.40 ERA in 8 1/3 playoff frames. Typical of Detroit’s “pitching chaos” strategy, Melton (a starter in the minors) worked out of the bullpen in 15 of his 20 overall games in the Show. Now lined up for a full-time starting role in 2026, Melton would seem to have a good shot at winning a spot in the Tigers’ rotation.</li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>23</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Mets Hire Troy Snitker As Hitting Coach</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/mets-hire-troy-snitker-as-hitting-coach.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/mets-hire-troy-snitker-as-hitting-coach.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nick Deeds]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:52:43 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[New York Mets]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Troy Snitker]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871541</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Mets are hiring Troy Snitker to serve as their next hitting coach, according to a report from Andy Martino of SNY. Snitker, 36, is the son of former Braves manager Brian Snitker. Drafted in the 19th round of the 2011 draft by Atlanta, he spent three seasons catching in the minors for the organization.…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Mets are hiring Troy Snitker to serve as their next hitting coach, according to a report from <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/martinonyc/status/1982790829002441098">Andy Martino of SNY</a>.
Snitker, 36, is the son of former Braves manager Brian Snitker. Drafted in the 19th round of the 2011 draft by Atlanta, he spent three seasons catching in the minors for the organization. After retiring as a player, he joined the Astros organization as a hitting coach for the club’s Double-A affiliate in Corpus Christi before being promoted to the big league staff prior to the 2019 season.
Snitker spent seven seasons as a hitting coach for the Astros and won a World Series with the club in 2022. He was among a number of coaches and front office staff the team <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/astros-make-several-changes-to-coaching-staff-front-office.html">parted ways with</a> following a disappointing 2025 season where Houston missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Even with last year’s playoff loss, it’s hard not to be impressed by the Astros’ offense during Snitker’s tenure with the club. The team hit .259/.329/.435 during his tenure, with the second-highest wRC+ (111) behind the Dodgers and the lowest strikeout rate in the majors.
He didn’t wait long to find his next position, as he’s now joining the Mets following their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/mets-make-major-coaching-changes.html">own overhaul</a> of their coaching staff following a frustrating 2025 campaign where they narrowly missed the playoffs themselves. New York already <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/mets-to-add-jeff-albert-to-coaching-staff.html">brought in</a> Jeff Albert to run the team’s hitting program in 2026, and Snitker will work under Albert in that regard. Together, Albert and Snitker will be tasked with reworking a hitting program that performed well overall, with a 112 wRC+ that ranked fifth in baseball in 2025.
Much of that production was thanks to stars <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=sotoju01,soto--004jua&search=Juan+Soto&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Juan Soto</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alonspe01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Pete Alonso</a>, and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lindofr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Francisco Lindor</a>, however, and disappointing seasons from young members of the team’s supporting cast like <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vientma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mark Vientos</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/acunajo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Luisangel Acuna</a> suggest there could be some room for improvement when it comes to the development side of things. That’s something Snitker could help with, seeing as his time in the organization coincided with the development of Astros stars like <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alvaryo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Yordan Alvarez</a>, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tuckeky01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kyle Tucker</a>, and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pena--006jer&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-10-27_br" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jeremy Pena</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>33</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>Submit Your Questions For This Week’s Episode Of The MLBTR Podcast</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/submit-your-questions-for-this-weeks-episode-of-the-mlbtr-podcast-35.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/submit-your-questions-for-this-weeks-episode-of-the-mlbtr-podcast-35.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Darragh McDonald]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:01:58 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871537</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On the MLB Trade Rumors podcast, we regularly answer questions from our readers and listeners. With the next episode set for Wednesday, we’re looking for MLBTR’s audience to submit their questions and we’ll pick a few to answer. The 2025 regular season is now over and the World Series will be done soon as well.…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[On the MLB Trade Rumors podcast, we regularly answer questions from our readers and listeners. With the next episode set for Wednesday, we’re looking for MLBTR’s audience to submit their questions and we’ll pick a few to answer.
The 2025 regular season is now over and the World Series will be done soon as well. Do you have a question about the season which just ended? The postseason? The upcoming offseason? If you have a question on those topics or anything else baseball-related, we’d love to hear from you! You can email your questions to <a href="mailto:mlbtrpod@gmail.com">mlbtrpod@gmail.com</a>.
Also, if you want to hear your voice on the podcast, send us your question in audio form and we might play it. iPhone users can find instructions on how to do so <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/09/send-in-a-voice-memo-for-the-mlb-trade-rumors-podcast.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
In the meantime, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4ArrDyU8Ebq6cEi2k5GKu1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mlb-trade-rumors-podcast/id1679170946" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple Podcasts</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Opener: World Series, Orioles, Manager/GM Searches</title>
<link>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/the-opener-world-series-orioles-manager-gm-searches.html</link>
<comments>https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/the-opener-world-series-orioles-manager-gm-searches.html#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nick Deeds]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 13:31:51 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[The Opener]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=871536</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today: 1. World Series heads to Los Angeles: The World Series departed Toronto yesterday all tied up after a dominant complete game from right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and now both teams have arrived in L.A. for Game 3. On…]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. World Series heads to Los Angeles:
The World Series departed Toronto yesterday all tied up after a dominant complete game from right-hander <a target="_blank" href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/yamamyo01.shtml">Yoshinobu Yamamoto</a>, and now both teams have arrived in L.A. for Game 3. On the mound for the Dodgers is right-hander <a target="_blank" href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=glasnty01&t=p&year=0&post=1">Tyler Glasnow</a> (3.19), while the Blue Jays will counter with veteran righty <a target="_blank" href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/scherma01.shtml">Max Scherzer</a> (5.19 ERA). The future Hall of Famer had an uneven year, but he did manage to strike out five in 5 2/3 innings while surrendering two runs in a start against Seattle in Game 4 of the ALCS. Glasnow, meanwhile, pitched 1 2/3 scoreless frames in Game 1 of the NLDS before firing off six scoreless in Game 4 of that series. He went on to allow one run in 5 2/3 innings of work against the Brewers. Tonight’s game is scheduled for 5pm local time in Los Angeles.
2. Orioles have their manager:
Per reporting last night, it was reported that the Orioles are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/orioles-close-to-hiring-craig-albernaz-as-manager.html">finalizing a deal</a> to make Guardians associate manager the new manager in Baltimore. Albernaz, who celebrates his 43rd birthday later this week, was promoted to associate manager under Stephen Vogt this year after spending his first season in Cleveland as his bench coach. He previously worked on the Giants’ big league coaching staff and worked in the minor leagues as a manager for the Rays.
Now that he’s poised to get his first big league opportunity, the news takes a highly coveted candidate off the board for other organizations. It also creates a vacancy on the Guardians’ coaching staff that will need to be filled, and comes with some level of intrigue regarding whether or not the Orioles will retain Tony Mansolino as a part of their coaching staff under Albernaz. Mansolino served as the club’s third base coach for years before being promoted to interim manager for the majority of the 2025 season.
3. Managerial, GM vacancies still to be filled:
While the hiring of Albernaz takes another managerial gig off the board, there’s still plenty of hirings left to happen this winter. The Twins are known to have a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/twins-narrow-managerial-search-to-top-four-candidates.html">group of four finalists</a> for their manager job, while the Rockies are known to have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/rockies-narrow-front-office-search-to-at-least-two-finalists.html">at least two finalists</a> in their search for the team’s next head of baseball operations. The Padres are known to have conducted some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/padres-interview-brian-esposito-for-managerial-job.html">interviews</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/padres-to-interview-albert-pujols-in-managerial-search.html">including</a> one of future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. The Nationals have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/nationals-interview-brandon-hyde.html">interviewed</a> former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, and there are managerial vacancies in Atlanta and perhaps Colorado as well. Which franchise will next set course for their future with a major hire?
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>45</slash:comments>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>

Home · About · News · Docs · Terms