The Crawfish Boxes’ fourth installment of the Hall of Fame Index deep‑dives into second basemen, focusing on Houston’s Jose Altuve. Using advanced metrics such as OPS+, rOBA, and runs created, Altuve posts a 126 OPS+ and a 1384 RC, beating the Hall of Fame (HOF) average of 118 OPS+ and 1312 RC, though he lags in base‑running runs. Comparable players Marcus Semien (107 OPS+, 969 RC) and Ketel Marte (120 OPS+, 857 RC) fall short of Altuve’s offensive profile. Defensively, Altuve’s fielding runs (‑113) rank him as the weakest second baseman in HOF history, even below Craig Biggio, akin to Derek Jeter’s legacy. The piece argues Altuve’s Hall candidacy hinges on maintaining his offensive edge as his career‑long averages inevitably decline.
The post recaps the Brewers' World Series triumph and the surrounding fallout: Gold Glove winners, ESPN’s All‑October playoff team, top Statcast performers, and a deep dive on rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt. It also highlights analysis of the Brewers’ bullpen, manager Pat Murphy’s rise, and the celebratory parade honoring Bob Uecker. Winter moves are covered—including the Red Sox exercising Garrett Whitlock’s $8.25 million option, the Rays picking up Drew Rasmussen’s $20 million option, and several free‑agent options declined. Notable off‑season news features the Astros hiring Randy Flores, the death of Mets legend Jerry Koosman, and upcoming free‑agent and trade targets. The article adds quirky bits like the Brewers’ SNL appearance and a viral fan celebration.
The Good Phight breaks down the Phillies' upcoming roster moves as arbitration deadlines loom, highlighting left‑fielder Peter Fatse’s urgent need to reclaim his plate approach amid potential trades. The piece also revisits outfield depth options and notes that no Phillies made the Gold Glove list, while the Diamondbacks and Red Sox each snagged three awards. Additionally, former Astros skipper Brad Ausmus is mentioned as a possible Houston manager, and Japanese infielder Teruaki Sato enters the MLB posting system, sparking speculation before the lockout.
The 2026 Major League Baseball offseason kicked into high gear this past week as front offices faced critical
The post MLB Digest: Drew Rasmussen Secured, Randy Flores Takes Helm in Houston, and Bo Bichette Opts In appeared first on We Never Stop .
The Houston Astros name longtime Cardinals assistant Randy Flores as their new general manager, ending a search that featured ten candidates, including a recent interview with Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus. Ausmus, a former Astros teammate and ex‑manager of the Tigers and Angels, remains a possible manager candidate now that Flores must hire a field boss before the December 1 lockout. Earlier reports linked Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine and former Astros assistant Oz Ocampo to the role, but negotiations fell through. Flores’ first priority will be hiring a manager, with names like Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina or former Astro Morgan Ensberg mentioned as possibilities.
The Rawlings Gold Glove Awards crown two Chicago Cubs as defensive standouts: center fielder Pete Crow‑Armstrong wins his second consecutive Gold Glove, beating Andy Pages (Dodgers) and Michael Harris (Braves), while third baseman Alex Bregman secures his second overall (first with the Cubs) after his 2024 Astros win, becoming the first Cubs third baseman honored since Ron Santo in 1968. Top prospect Josiah Hartshorn also grabs a minor‑league Gold Glove at first base. Fellow Cubs Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson fall short, and fans can now vote for the Platinum Glove.
The latest Braves update reveals that outfielder Vidal Bruján returns on a minor‑league contract, while former Astros GM Dana Brown is reported to rejoin Atlanta’s front office. Additionally, BravesVision launches new evening programming. The post also notes the recent daylight‑saving time change and reflects on a recent slump in Atlanta sports, inviting fans to share how they’re kicking off November.
The St. Louis Cardinals could lose Daniel Descalso, Jon Jay, or Ben Johnson to the Houston Astors as their next manager under new general manger Randy Flores. Cardinals legends Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina could be candidates as well.
The St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros could swing some trades this offseason with Randy Flores now being the Astros general manager. Hunter Brown and Jeremy Pena would be big swings, while Jake Meyers could be a buy-low candidate.
The Rays lock up right‑hander Drew Rasmussen with a $20 MM option but plan to trade him, placing him No. 2 on MLBTR’s Top 40 trade list. Meanwhile, the Braves hire former Astros GM Dana Brown as senior scouting adviser to boost affordable talent for a $215.8 MM 2027 payroll. The Giants must clear ten 40‑man roster spots after a wave of IL returns, with key players like Rafael Devers and Matt Chapman likely staying. At the 4 PM CT deadline, teams will issue qualifying offers worth $23.15 MM; likely recipients include Randy Arozarena, Seiya Suzuki and Trevor Rogers, while borderline cases feature Jazz Chisholm Jr. and top relievers Adrian Morejon and David Bednar.
The Mets morning roundup highlights offseason moves and historical notes. Danny Abriano weighs the pros and cons of adding pitcher Tarik Skubal, while MLB.com’s Will Leitch ranks the Mets fifth among clubs seeking their first World Series since 1998. Key free‑agency updates: the Orioles decline Luis Robert’s $20 million option, making him a free agent; the Rays exercise Drew Rasmussen’s $20 million option, a franchise record; and the Padres drop Nick Pivetta’s $14 million clause. The article also notes former Astros GM Dana Brown joining the Braves as a senior scouting advisor and revisits a 1972 trade that sent Gary Gentry to Atlanta. A photo of Luis Robert Jr.’s solo homer on Aug. 18 caps the piece.
The Crawfish Boxes chronicles five pivotal November moments that reshaped the Houston Astros. It opens with the historic Nov. 1, 2017 Game 7 World Series win over the Dodgers, the franchise’s first title in 55 years, and notes a second championship 1,830 days later, highlighted by Yordan Álvarez’s 450‑foot three‑run blast in 2022. The piece revisits the disastrous 1971 trade that sent Hall of Famer Joe Morgan to Cincinnati, the 1997 acquisition of Moisés Alou, the 2019 exposé of the Astros’ sign‑stealing scandal, and the 2011 sale of the team to Jim Crane for $680 million, which ushered in the move to the American League. Each November event is presented as a turning point that defined the club’s legacy.
Dana Brown returns to the Atlanta Braves, rejoining Alex Anthopoulos' front office to lead amateur scouting after his mixed tenure as the Astros' top executive. The Braves also sign former utility prospect Vidal Brujan on a minor‑league deal, while veteran Carlos Carrasco's 2026 season is reviewed as a possible career swan song. MLB headlines include the Rays trading a Triple‑A reliever to Houston, the Padres waiving Nick Pivetta, the Rays exercising Drew Rasmussen's option, and the Orioles declining Luis Robert Jr.'s club option.
The Houston Astros have traded for right‑hander Evan Reifert from the Tampa Bay Rays, with the Rays receiving cash considerations. Reifert, 27, posted a 2.48 ERA over 46 Triple‑A appearances with Durham and boasts strikeout rates near 40% despite a walk rate above 14%. He relies on a low‑80s slider, a sinker, and a 93.5 mph fastball. After stints with the Brewers, Rays, and a brief Rule 5 selection by the Nationals, Reifert heads to Houston for his first major‑league opportunity.
The Orioles are set to decline the $20 million club option on outfielder Luis Robert Jr., letting him hit free agency and collect a $2 million buyout. The 29‑year‑old flashed All‑Star form in 2023 (38 HR, 20 SB, .264/.315/.542 slash line) but injury‑marred 2024‑25 produced a .223/.288/.372 line over 210 games. After a brief, hamstring‑limited stint with Baltimore, the O’s finished 79‑82 and passed on a 2027 extension, likely because no club will meet the $20 million price. Potential suitors include the Astros, Reds, Rays, Royals and Phillies.
The Atlanta Braves have rehired veteran scout Dana Brown as a senior advisor in their amateur scouting department, reuniting him with President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos. Brown, who served as Atlanta’s VP of scouting from 2019‑22 before becoming the Houston Astros’ GM, previously worked with Anthopoulos in Montreal, Washington and Toronto. After the Astros dismissed Brown in August 2026 following a middling 81‑81 season and missed playoffs, he returns to a familiar front office to bring his decades of scouting expertise back to Atlanta.
Dana Brown, who guided the Houston Astros as GM from 2023 until their mutual parting in October 2026, lands a senior adviser role in amateur scouting with the Atlanta Braves. The Astros, who clinched the AL West with 81 wins before exiting the Wild Card round, named Randy Flores as their new GM just one day earlier. Brown returns to Atlanta after previous scouting stints with the Braves, Pirates and Nationals, aiming to bolster the Braves' push for a championship following their 2021 title run.
Bob Nightengale reports that former Astros GM Dana Brown is rejoining the Atlanta Braves as a senior advisor for amateur scouting. Brown, 59, previously served in the Braves front office from 2019 to early 2023 before leading Houston from January 2023 until a mutual departure in August 2026. This will be his third collaboration with Braves president Alex Anthopoulos, following a stint with the Toronto Blue Jays. The move signals a return to familiar territory for the veteran executive.
The Houston Astros have named former Texas Ranger pitcher Randy Flores as their new general manager, replacing Dana Brown who was dismissed in late August. Flores, 51, pitched briefly for the Rangers in 2002 and later spent a decade with the St. Louis Cardinals before the hire. He was not the Astros' first choice; owner Jim Crane initially pursued Brewers' Matt Kleine, but negotiations fell through. Flores steps into the role amid recent front‑office turbulence, including a past hacking scandal involving the Cardinals and former Astros exec Jeff Luhnow.
A rare 1965 photo captures future Hall‑of‑Famers Joe Morgan and Nellie Fox visiting Wrigley Field during the Astros' second series there. By cross‑checking uniforms, game logs and Fox’s July 31 release, the post pinpoints the shot to June 28, 1965, when the Cubs beat Houston 7‑2. Morgan homered (1‑for‑4) off Larry Jackson, while Fox singled for starter Dave Giusti, who later excelled with the Pirates. The article details the significance of the Astros’ first season under that name after the Colt .45s rebrand, and notes Morgan’s 1990 Hall of Fame induction and Fox’s 1997 Veterans Committee election.
The Astros have hired Randy Flores as their new general manager, sparking three competing narratives. Supporters tout Flores’s player‑development pedigree—he helped the St. Louis Cardinals rise to the No. 2 farm system per Baseball America and No. 4 per FanGraphs in 2026—suggesting a fresh, innovative approach akin to Driveline’s influence. Critics view the hire as a PR misstep for owner Jim Crane, especially after the missed pursuit of assistant GM Matt Kleine, who re‑signed with Milwaukee amid talks of higher pay and authority. The article weighs the glass‑half‑full optimism against the glass‑half‑empty concerns, setting the stage for Flores’s introductory press conference on Monday at 10 a.m.
Good morning, LSB. Joc Pederson has said no thanks on his 2027 mutual option and will hit free agency. Ditto Kyle Higashioka and Jakob Junis. And the Astros have found their new GM after a lengthy search. And that appears to be about all there is this morning. Have a good weekend!
The Mariners announce CJ Gillman as their new hitting coach while awaiting a manager, and pitcher Michael Arroyo faces an elbow scope with a slated return in April 2027. Ryan Blake shares 2027 projection insights, and Kate Preusser outlines key offseason dates. Washington State honors John Olerud with a new statue, and Seattle’s pioneering female umpire Christine Wren passes at 78. League-wide moves include the Astros hiring Randy Flores as GM, the Seibu Lions posting right‑hander Kaima Taira to MLB, and the Diamondbacks targeting controllable starters amid talks for Ketel Marte. Over The Monster warns the upcoming lockout could sour offseason optimism.
Long-time Padres bullpen coach Ben Fritz leaves San Diego for the Arizona Diamondbacks' pitching coach slot, deepening the Padres' offseason woes. Fritz, with the club since 2015 and bullpen coach since 2019, departs as ace Michael King also opts out of his contract. The article lists a growing roster of free agents and option players—including Ty France, Luis Rengifo, Casey Mize, Walker Buehler and Robby Ray—highlighting the massive roster turnover ahead of the 2027 season. New owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones face a rebuild with a vacant rotation, while other MLB news notes the Brewers' World Series parade and the Astros' GM hire.
The article opens with a nostalgic look at Game 4 of the 2001 World Series, highlighting Derek Jeter’s walk‑off homer that earned him the “Mr. November” nickname. It then shifts to current MLB news: the Houston Astros have hired longtime Cardinals exec Randy Flores as their new GM, tasked with revitalizing a team that won the AL West on a .500 record. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Angels remain without a GM—still searching amid an ownership transfer and a looming December 1 lockout, while also needing a new manager. Finally, the piece warns that teams will scramble this weekend to finalize 40‑man rosters, file DFAs, claim waivers and issue qualifying offers before the transactions freeze and free agency open on Monday at 4 p.m. CT.