Sportsnaut outlines one likely trade target from each AL West club ahead of the 2027 season. The Astros could move 35‑year‑old first baseman Christian Walker—who’s hit 25+ homers for five straight years—if a team like the Diamondbacks, Guardians or Tigers bites. The Rangers may flip left‑hander MacKenzie Gore, whose 2026 season posted a 4.58 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, to suitors such as the Marlins, Mets or Tigers. Seattle’s durable right‑hander Logan Gilbert, a $15 million man with a 3.60 ERA over 2021‑26, might be dealt if the Mariners choose a rebuild, with the Cubs, Diamondbacks or Padres in the mix. Oakland’s catcher Shea Langeliers is also flagged as a potential mover. Each player’s contract status and recent performance fuel the speculation.
The latest BCB After Dark episode celebrates the Milwaukee Brewers’ surprise World Series win over the Tampa Bay Rays, marking the first time the author will write about the Brewers in 30 years. The show recaps the series, highlights a fan poll on a hypothetical Matt Shaw‑for‑Steven Kwan trade (41% oppose, 35% think Guardians would pass, 24% see it as fair), and invites listeners to discuss baseball, music, and movies before the holiday season. While the episode veers into a film essay on Kubrick’s The Shining, the core sports content centers on the Brewers’ championship and trade speculation.
With the Brewers one win away from their first World Series title, the article argues that the current small‑market showdown – Milwaukee (19th payroll at $146 M) vs. Tampa Bay (28th at $95 M) – underscores the need for a baseball salary cap and floor. It highlights how only three teams since 2000 have won the World Series from outside the top‑15 payrolls, notes the stark contrast between the Dodgers’ $412 M payroll and Cleveland’s $74 M, and points to other sports where caps promote parity. The piece warns that a single small‑market triumph won’t fix systemic inequality without structural change.
In this off‑season recap, South Side Sox writer highlights catcher Chase Meidroth's defensive brilliance across five standout plays from April to August 2026. From a diving stop and throw that turned Nick Kurtz’s grounder into an out on April 17 against the Athletics, to a clutch ninth‑inning catch sealing a 2‑1 win over the Braves on June 10, Meidroth showcases why a Gold Glove is in reach. The piece also notes his hard‑nosed throws against the Angels, Royals and Guardians, proving he never eases up—even with a 22‑1 lead.
Sportsnaut outlines one trade candidate from each AL Central club ahead of the 2027 season. The Guardians may move outfielder Steven Kwan, a .282 hitter with a career‑high 85 walks in 2026, for corner‑outfield help. The White Sox could flip first baseman Munetaka Murakami, who posted a 20‑home‑run half‑season before a post‑injury dip, despite his $17 million 2027 salary. The Twins might part with right‑hander Pablo López, fresh from UCL surgery but fresh off a 2.74 ERA in 2025, to shed his $18.4 million contract. Detroit’s utility man Javier Báez, after a strong 2025 start but inconsistent 2026 production, is also on the chopping block. Potential destinations include the Cubs, Mariners, Padres, Diamondbacks, Mets, Twins, Blue Jays, Giants, and White Sox.
The Cubs face a looming outfield exodus as Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki head toward free agency, prompting a trade hunt. Writer Chris highlights Steven Kwan as a potential target: a contact‑heavy left fielder who posted a .382 OBP and just an 8% strikeout rate last season, despite modest power (3 HR, .349 SLG). With Kwan also set to become a free agent, Cleveland may trade him for value now. The piece weighs swapping Matt Shaw—whose performance has dipped but still offers versatility—against prospects like Josiah Hartshorn or Kane Kepley, questioning whether the Cubs can afford a cheap, controllable outfielder. The article invites fans to weigh the trade’s feasibility and impact on the Cubs’ rebuilding timeline.
Game Four of the 2026 World Series pits the Tampa Bay Rays against the Milwaukee Brewers at Tropicana Field. After sweeping the Yankees and beating the Guardians, the Rays’ stellar regular‑season pitching and defense have struggled against Milwaukee’s dominant hitters, who have limited the Series to just two homers (Frelick, Hicks). Griffin Jax, the probable Rays starter, returns after a rough ALCS loss, posting a 3.53 ERA this year but a 6.00 ERA in the postseason. Milwaukee’s bullpen—Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby—will be fully available, with a starter yet to be named (candidates include Ktlye Harrison, Shane Drohan, Dustin May). The first pitch is set for 8:08 PM on Oct. 27.
The Chicago White Sox fell to the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS. As they made their improbable run to the postseason, play-by-play announcer John Schriffen was there every step of the way. That is until today. On Tuesday, the White Sox decided not to extend Schriffen’s contract, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Meanwhile, Chicago radio host Matt […]
The post White Sox radio host buries fired play-by-play announcer in viral clip – ‘He was terrible’ appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Patrick Bailey’s tumultuous 2026 season turns a saga of failure into a surprising rebound. After slumping with the Giants—.146/.183 slugging, a wRC+ of 15 and -11 batting runs in 30 games—Cleveland traded for him on May 9. In Cleveland, Bailey posted a .228 average, .292 OBP and a .390 slugging line, raising his wRC+ to 90. He even shined in the postseason, going .273/.333/.455 with two homers in 33 at‑bats as the Guardians clinched the division series. The trade, driven by his elite defense and the Giants’ need for depth, proved defensible despite sacrificing a Gold‑Glove catcher.
The Chicago Cubs have emerged as a potential trade destination for Guardians star Steven Kwan as Jed Hoyer faces major outfield decisions this offseason.
Bad news for the Cleveland Guardians. Good news for the Minnesota Twins.
Rocco Baldelli has withdrawn from the Seattle Mariners' managerial search, citing family considerations. The 45‑year‑old former Twins manager, who led Minnesota to three playoff trips before back‑to‑back fourth‑place finishes in 2024‑25, is currently a special assistant with the Dodgers and is a father of three children under five. Baldelli’s exit leaves the Mariners to consider other candidates as they aim to hire a new manager before month‑end, amid interest from the Astros and Angels. The Astros just added Conner Watson as hitting director from the Guardians.
The Houston Astros appoint Conner Watson as director of hitting, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Watson arrives from the Cleveland Guardians, where he spent the past two seasons as assistant director of hitting development, and previously served three years as a lead instructor at Driveline’s Arizona facility. His hiring fills a vacancy left by Dan Hennigan’s August exit and follows the recent addition of Spencer Medick as director of pitching, giving the Astros two key division heads before a new GM and manager are named. Watson is expected to modernize hitting across both major and minor league squads, potentially reshaping the role of current hitting coach Victor Rodriguez.
The Brewers seize a 2-0 lead over the Rays in the World Series, edging Tampa Bay 5-4 thanks to a clutch home run by Sal Frelick and a five‑out save from left‑hander Aaron Ashby, who extends his postseason scoreless streak to 15 2/3 innings – the second‑longest ever. Both teams made history in the first inning, combining for seven hits, the most ever in a World Series opening frame, while the Rays logged their highest‑scoring World Series inning with four runs. The series moves to Game 3 tomorrow at 7:00 pm CT. The article also recalls Kyle Schwarber’s 2016 championship heroics for context.
After a third straight AL Central title and a six‑game ALCS loss to the Rays, the Guardians outline their 2027 plans. Outfielder Steven Kwan, a two‑time All‑Star, avoids free‑agency trade rumors as the club projects an $11.3 million arbitration salary and vows to keep him as a cornerstone. Meanwhile, first‑base options Hoskins, Lowe and prospect Kyle Manzardo underperformed, prompting Cleveland to back power prospect Ralphy Velazquez, who posted a .278/.363/.541 line with 22 homers in Triple‑A. The rotation looks set with Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, Tanner Bibee and Joey Cantillo slated as starters. The piece details Kwan’s rebound surge, defensive value, and the team’s payroll challenges as they aim to return to the World Series.
For a moment, it looked like the Cleveland Guardians were going to do it again. After storming back from an 0-2 deficit against division rival Chicago in the ALDS, Cleveland carried that momentum into Tampa Bay. Home runs from Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey, along with a clutch RBI single from José Ramírez, helped the […]
The post Cleveland Guardians 2026 Post-Mortem: Guard Ball at a Crossroads appeared first on Just Baseball .
St. Louis Cardinals farm director Larry Day compared top prospect Rainiel Rodriguez to future Hall of Famer Jose Ramirez, whom he spent significant time with during his time with the Cleveland Guardians, for his combination of talent and work ethic.
As the World Series unfolds, the Toronto Blue Jays are already eyeing an offseason fix for their outfield. With veteran George Springer entering free agency and injury‑plagued Anthony Santander unlikely to return, Toronto targets Cleveland Guardians left‑fielder Steven Kwan. Kwan, a high‑contact, elite‑defense star projected to earn $11.3 million in 2027 and with one arbitration year left, fits the Jays' payroll‑heavy strategy despite a possible salary‑cap in a new CBA. Analyst Kerry Miller names Kwan the Blue Jays' most probable trade pursuit.
The Brewers have taken a gamble on recovering right‑hander Brandon Woodruff, adding him to the World Series roster in place of unused reliever Chad Patrick. Woodruff, who missed the season after a shoulder setback on July 4, is now cleared to pitch, though a re‑injury could leave Milwaukee short. Milwaukee’s 26‑player roster features catchers William Contreras and Gary Sánchez, a six‑man infield, five outfield/DH options including Christian Yelich, and 13 pitchers led by Trevor Megill, Aaron Ashby and JoJo Romero. The Rays announce a 24‑player squad with left‑handed specialist Garrett Cleavinger joining a stable of 12 pitchers. Both clubs must balance right‑handed power versus left‑handed matchups as the series begins in Milwaukee on Oct. 23, 2026.
With only two starting pitchers, Guardians skipper Stephen Vogt was the most hands-on manager in the Championship Series. How'd he do overall?
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The Cleveland Guardians clinched a third straight AL Central title with a strong September, but their ALCS loss highlighted lingering offensive woes. The club carries $193.5 million in future commitments, including José Ramírez’s $150 million deal through 2032 and Tanner Bibee’s $39 million contract. Arbitration‑eligible hitters like Jo Adell ($9.6 M) and Steven Kwan ($11.3 M) face modest raises, while Adell, David Fry and Blake Perkins are slated for non‑tender. Free‑agent departures include Rhys Hoskins and Nathaniel Lowe. Despite solid pitching and a future Hall‑of‑Famer on a low‑cost contract, the Guardians ranked 24th‑28th in scoring over the past two seasons, leaving questions about their ability to contend for a World Series.
Veteran right-handers Connor Brogdon and Carlos Hernández both elect free agency after short, uneven stints with the Cleveland Guardians. Brogdon, who signed a $900K major‑league deal last winter, posted a 5.06 ERA in 16 MLB appearances and a 6.35 ERA in Triple‑A before being outrighted twice. Hernández, on a minor‑league contract, returned from a serious car‑crash injury to make two September outings, yielding two runs in three innings, then accepted an outright assignment. Both pitchers have struggled in recent years, with career MLB ERAs above 5.00, and are now free to sign elsewhere.
The Cleveland Guardians announced that 23‑year‑old outfielder Kahlil Watson underwent bilateral core muscle surgery on Tuesday. Recovery is expected in eight to 12 weeks, leaving him a depth option for the 2027 season. Watson, a 2021 first‑round pick acquired from the Marlins in the 2023 Jean Segura/Josh Bell trade, posted a modest .239/.264/.341 line in 91 major‑league plate appearances this year with one homer and nine steals, while excelling in Triple‑A with a .247/.361/.455 slash line and 19 homers. He enters 2027 with two minor‑league options left and faces stiff competition from Jo Adell, Steven Kwan, Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez in the outfield.
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt confirmed at his end-of-year press conference on Thursday that he'll return to the team, amid speculation linking him to the open managerial job with the Seattle Mariners.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt confirms he’ll stay in Cleveland for a fourth season, dismissing interest from the Seattle Mariners. Vogt, who earned AL Manager of the Year honors in 2024‑25 and is a finalist again, led Cleveland to the ALCS in 2026 before a six‑game loss to the Rays. He recently signed a multiyear extension, and club president Chris Antonetti expects a long tenure. Despite speculation about a rare manager trade, the Mariners have not approached him. Vogt also noted his family’s commitment to Cleveland, while coach Carl Willis and key pitchers like Gavin Williams and Cade Smith are set to return next year.