The Kansas City Royals appoint 42‑year‑old Hunter Mense as assistant hitting coach, marking his return to the franchise after a stint with the San Francisco Giants. Mense, a Liberty, Mo. native and former Marlins draftee, began his coaching career in the Blue Jays’ minor system and became Toronto’s big‑league assistant hitting coach in 2022. The Giants posted a .245/.306/.400 line (97 wRC+) in his lone season, while the 2026 Royals slumped to .248/.316/.402 (98 wRC+). Royals fans hope Mense’s Missouri roots and recent experience will spark a needed offensive upgrade.
The Kansas City Royals announce former Giants hitting coach Hunter Mense as their new assistant hitting coach. Mense, a Liberty, Mo., and Mizzou alum, spent a year with San Francisco after stints in the Marlins, Padres and Blue Jays systems, helping the Jays clinch a 2025 pennant. Under his guidance, the Giants posted a 4.13 runs‑per‑game average, the fifth‑lowest in MLB. The Royals reassigned Alec Zumwalt to minor‑league duties, keeping him as Director of Hitting Performance, and will pair Mense with assistants Connor Dawson and Marcus Thames. Kansas City aims to build on its 4.26 runs‑per‑game last season after a sluggish road offense.
ClutchPoints breaks down the top 20 MLB trade candidates for the 2026‑27 offseason, highlighting players who could flip the balance for teams after a surprising Dodgers loss. The list starts with Colorado outfielder Jake McCarthy’s explosive season, Cincinnati’s ace‑in‑waiting Hunter Greene (despite a second Tommy John), and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who may become a trade chip amid a deep roster. Other notable names include Boston’s speed‑power combo Jarren Duran, Houston’s versatile third‑baseman Isaac Paredes, and Miami’s breakout shortstop Otto López. The article offers salaries, injury risks, and team needs to help clubs assess who’s worth a buy‑low move.
MLB Trade Rumors outlines three off‑season focuses. First, the Houston Astros’ GM Randy Flores expands his manager search beyond Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus, adding Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta, Albert Pujols and former Astro Morgan Ensberg as interview candidates. Second, the NL East’s upcoming free‑agent shopping lists are highlighted: the Marlins aim to bolster both pitching and hitting, the Mets seek a platoon partner for Jared Young, and the Phillies target left‑handed relievers after a turbulent season. Third, the outlet reveals the ten free agents who just missed the Top‑50 list, featuring a former Cy Young winner and a World Series MVP. Photo credit: Sam Navarro, Imagn Images.
The Miami Marlins are exploring multiple off‑season upgrades, eyeing at least one external arm for both the rotation and bullpen and a corner‑infielder or outfielder who can boost a middling offense. While the defense is solid—Joe Mack behind the plate, Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards up the middle, and Jakob Marsee recovering from surgery—the team ranked 23rd in home runs and 18th in scoring in 2026. Potential targets include first‑basemen like Ty France or Alec Bohm, outfield options such as Taylor Ward, Trent Grisham or Michael Conforto, and third‑base depth from Isaac Paredes. With only a $21 M guaranteed salary (Sandy Alcántara) and a projected $79.25 M payroll, Miami has short‑term cap space for one‑year deals or trades to address offensive gaps.
The New York Mets are adding former catcher A.J. Ellis to their staff as a major‑league strategy coordinator, according to sources cited by The Athletic. Ellis joins from the San Diego Padres, where he served as a special assistant since 2019 after an 11‑year MLB career that included stints with the Dodgers, Phillies, Marlins and Padres. Known for mentoring younger players, Ellis replaces a vacant coaching slot alongside the promotion of Mariano Duncan, while the Mets still seek a new hitting director.
On November 4, 2026 the Pinstripe Alley celebrates former Yankee outfielder Ryan Thompson’s birthday. Born in 1967 in Chestertown, MD, Thompson was a 13th‑round pick by Toronto in 1987 and debuted with the Mets in 1992. After stints with Cleveland, Japan’s Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, and the Astros, he joined the Yankees for the 2000 season, posting a .260/.339/.500 line in 33 games and hitting a three‑run homer on July 14 against the Marlins. Though he didn’t play in the postseason, he earned a World Series ring as New York beat the Mets. Thompson’s nine‑year MLB career also included time with the Marlins and Brewers before retiring after the 2004 minor‑league season.
The Seattle Mariners name 36‑year‑old Jason Kanzler as their manager for the 2027 season. Meanwhile, Rays reliever Edwin Uceta faces shoulder surgery that will sideline him into 2027, and 16‑year‑old Robinson Canó Jr. signs a $1 million international deal with the Miami Marlins for 2028. Across MLB, the league proposes delaying a salary‑cap start to 2028, the Red Sox trade left‑hander Eduardo Rivera to St. Louis, and the Astros interview Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta for their vacant managerial post. Additional notes include the Rangers’ $20 million payroll ceiling for 2027 and former Ranger Mark Teixeira winning a Texas congressional seat.
The Miami Marlins have cut right‑hander Bradley Blalock, according to MLB.com’s transaction tracker. The 25‑year‑old, who joined Miami from the Rockies in January, made four MLB mop‑up appearances this season, surrendering seven runs in 11.1 innings, and spent most of the year starting for Triple‑A Jacksonville, posting a 5.56 ERA over 110 innings. Blalock’s career MLB ERA sits near 8.00 across 100.2 innings, and his Triple‑A numbers are similarly rough, highlighted by a 6.53 ERA in Albuquerque’s hitter‑friendly park. Sources suggest he may chase an overseas contract, and his release trims Miami’s 40‑man roster to 35.
On November 3, 2026 Pinstripe Alley honors former Yankee reliever Paul Quantrill, born Nov. 3, 1968 in Ontario. After debuting with Boston in 1992, Quantrill forged a 14‑year MLB career, most notably as a workhorse out of the Toronto bullpen (league‑leading appearances in 2001) and later with the Yankees, where he logged 86 games in 2004 and posted a 3.26 ERA before fatigue surged, culminating in a costly walk‑off home run to David Ortiz in the ALCS. He finished his stint with brief stops in San Diego and Miami, and also represented Canada internationally. The piece traces his journey from college standout to the “appearance king” and reflects on the toll of heavy usage on relievers.
Rolddy Munoz’s 2026 Braves stint reads like a literal “cup of coffee.” Signed as a $30,000 international free agent in 2019, he finally reached Triple‑A in 2025 and earned a September call‑up that year, posting a modest 4.00 FIP. On April 13, 2026, Munoz was promoted for a single game against the Miami Marlins. He surrendered a leadoff homer to Connor Norby, endured a chaotic first inning, but rebounded with two strikeouts in the second before the Braves fell 10‑4. The outing left him with an 8.00+ FIP and –0.1 fWAR, and he was optioned back to the minors. While his minor‑league line stays in the mid‑3.00s over 55⅓ innings, his slider shows promise yet lacks command. The 2027 outlook hints he may be a trade piece or a 40‑man roster casualty unless he breaks through.
The latest New York Yankees news, including a Robinson Canó-related update that might make you feel old.
Despite a chaotic career path, right‑hander Xzavion Curry surprised the New York Mets in 2026. Signed to a minor‑league deal in May after flailing with the Marlins, Rockies and a Mexican League team, Curry posted a 4.74 ERA in 49.1 Triple‑A innings before his July call‑up. In the majors he logged nine appearances (one start) with a 5.48 ERA over 21.1 innings, but excluding a disastrous three‑inning, six‑run outing against Baltimore, his MLB ERA drops to 3.44. He led Syracuse’s rotation with a 3.36 ERA in 72.1 innings and struck out 41. At 28, Curry’s odd‑ball season may earn him another year in affiliated baseball.
Baseball America reveals the Miami Marlins’ top 10 prospects for 2027, led by left‑hander Thomas White, whose overpowering arsenal earns him a No. 1 starter projection despite a limited 2026 season due to injury. Jacob Rudner will discuss White and the farm system live at 2 p.m. ET. The list includes new scouting reports and a projected 2030 Marlins lineup featuring players like Joe Mack, Brandon Compton and Jacob Lombard. The article also highlights the organization’s best tools, from White’s slider to Cam Cannarella’s hitting and speed.
Baseball America unveils its 2027 Miami Marlins Top‑10 prospects and invites fans to a live chat at 2 p.m. ET with analyst Jacob Rudner to discuss the state of the club’s farm system. Readers can submit questions in advance and also explore the Marlins’ projected 2030 lineup and standout tools. The session offers a deep dive into upcoming talent and future roster outlooks.
The Miami Marlins have reached a $1 million agreement with 16‑year‑old Robinson Cano Jr., son of eight‑time All‑Star and World Series champion Robinson Cano. The youngster hit .291 with 15 homers and 72 RBIs for the Mexican League’s Diablos Rojos last season and now joins a growing list of second‑generation players like Bobby Witt Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. The deal, reported by Jon Heyman, sparks nostalgia as fans recall the senior Cano’s career with the Yankees, Mariners, Mets, Padres and Braves.
The Chicago White Sox claim former Miami Marlins infielder Graham Pauley off waivers, sending left‑hander Ky Bush and outfielder Junior Perez to Triple‑A. The 21‑year‑old, who posted career‑highs of four homers and 25 RBIs in 62 games for Miami in 2026, is praised for his defensive versatility—having played every infield spot except shortstop. While his .218 career average isn’t eye‑catching, the Sox view him as a valuable utility backup as they reshape the infield around Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, Chase Meidroth and Munetaka Murakami ahead of Opening Day.
The Marlins announced that left-hander Patrick Monteverde has been sent outright to Triple-A Jacksonville. More to come.
The Mets officially open free agency by adding infielder Christian Cairo (one‑year split deal) and claiming right‑handers Jack Anderson and Pierson Ohl off waivers, then quickly DFAing Cairo and new signee Kyren Paris. Cairo, a 25‑year‑old former Phillies Triple‑A player, posts a .233/.361/.314 line in Triple‑A. Anderson, 27, logged 12.1 MLB innings in 2026, while Ohl, also 27, missed 2026 after Tommy John surgery. Outgoing pieces include RHP Philip Abner and LHP Cameron Weston (claimed by Orioles and Marlins), first‑baseman Eric Wagaman (free agency) and Cristian Pache (sent to Triple‑A). Reinstated from the 60‑day IL are Tylor Megill, Reed Garrett and Jorge Polanco.
The Orioles overhaul their 40-man roster as free agency opens, clearing five fringe players—including former #2 overall pick Heston Kjerstad and 2021 slugger Ryan Mountcastle—from the roster and adding four claimants: RHP Josh White (Marlins), LHP Philip Abner (Mets), C Zach Morgan (Giants) and RHP Chase Hampton (Cardinals). All four injured-list pitchers—Kyle Bradish, Ryan Helsley, Tyler O’Neill and Jordan Westburg—return to the roster. Baltimore also extends a qualifying offer to free-agent right-hander Trevor Rogers, one of eight that will likely be declined, positioning the team for a possible compensation pick. These moves have minimal impact on the projected Opening Day 2027 lineup but signal continued roster churn.
The Chicago White Sox make their first offseason move, claiming infielder Graham Pauley off waivers from the Miami Marlins. The pickup, which no one predicted in the Sox Machine’s 67‑person Offseason Plan Project, marks the team's initial roster tweak as they begin rebuilding after the 2026 season.
The White Sox claim infielder Graham Pauley off waivers from the Marlins, while outrighting left‑hander Ky Bush and outfielder Junior Pérez to Triple‑A Charlotte. Pauley, 26, offers strong defensive versatility at third base and a solid Triple‑A offensive line (.248/.336/.470, 114 wRC+), though he struggled at the big‑league level with a .209/.272/.364 slash in 370 plate appearances. The move coincides with the post‑season roster crunch as clubs prepare for the Rule 5 deadline on November 17. Bush, recovering from Tommy‑John surgery, and Pérez, a power‑speed prospect battling high strikeout rates, both face uphill battles to return to the majors.
The Miami Marlins claim right‑hander Cameron Weston off waivers from division rival New York Mets, according to The Athletic. Weston, drafted by the Orioles in 2022, was a top prospect (BA #13, FanGraphs #14) but saw his performance slip, posting a 7.89 ERA in Triple‑A Norfolk last season and making only one MLB appearance—a scoreless inning on May 28 versus Toronto. After a brief, strong stint with the Mets' Triple‑A Syracuse squad (1 run in 6⅓ innings, 10 K, 1 BB), the Marlins add him to the 40‑man roster, retaining two minor‑league options for flexibility.
Victor Vodnik’s three‑year stint with the Colorado Rockies was marked by a blazing fastball but glaring inconsistency. Acquired in a 2023 deadline trade for Pierce Johnston, the former Braves #10 prospect posted a career‑low 0.1 rWAR in 2026, tallying a 5.25 ERA over 36 innings at Coors Field despite striking out 6.5 batters per nine and walking 4.75. His slider gained whiff but his control faltered, leading to a mid‑season trade to the Miami Marlins, where he posted a modest 4.37 ERA in 22.2 innings. The article reviews his stats, pitch mix, and why Colorado moved on.
According to multiple reports, the Miami Marlins signed Robinson Canó Jr. on Monday to a deal worth $1 million.