Pedro Martínez clinched his first NL Cy Young Award on Nov. 11, 1997, becoming the first Expos player and the first Dominican pitcher to win the honor. He posted a 17-8 record with a league‑best 1.90 ERA, 13 complete games, a 0.932 WHIP and 305 strikeouts—the first Latin American to surpass 300 Ks in a season. Despite the triumph, Montreal traded him to the Red Sox a week later. Martínez would later add two more Cy Youngs (1999, 2000) and enter the Hall of Fame in 2015, cementing his legacy as one of baseball’s all‑time greats.
The post field‑stones potential Orioles rotation upgrades, naming Minnesota’s under‑control Joe Ryan and Angels’ Reid Detmers as trade targets, though Detmers may demand a hefty package. Seattle’s Emerson Hancock is also flagged, but would require a multi‑player deal. Free‑agent options include former Oriole Kevin Gausman, 2026 Tampa Bay standout Nick Martinez, and Yankees reliever Clay Holmes. A separate query discusses signing power hitter Jake Bauers, noting his versatility but high price and the draft pick cost may deter Baltimore. The author invites more fan questions via email.
Boston’s offseason hinges on keeping ace Sonny Gray. The Red Sox, plagued by late‑season hitting woes, leaned on Gray’s 18‑5 record, 2.72 ERA and 169 innings of work after Garrett Crochet’s injury. Insider Rob Bradford says the club wants Gray back but at a price, while Gray’s free‑agent status lets him test the market. If he departs, Boston must replace an old‑school contact pitcher and possibly find a new ace, though Crochet is expected healthy for next year.
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.
The Mets, reeling from a historic 2025 collapse, face a pricey free‑agent market as the lockout looms. While two‑time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal may command $325‑400 million or a 3‑year, $150 million deal, the club could pivot to more affordable arms. Options highlighted include Twins’ two‑time All‑Star Joe Ryan (30, 4.60 ERA), Padres veteran Michael King (34, playoff experience), former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara (22, 13‑4, 3.87 ERA, $21 M contract), and Boston’s 36‑year‑old Sonny Gray (18‑5, 2.72 ERA). The article weighs each pitcher’s recent performance, age, and cost as viable alternatives to Skubal.
The Boston Red Sox announce former MLB player Shelley Duncan, 47, will join their major‑league coaching staff, though his exact title is still undecided. Duncan’s résumé includes managing low‑level Diamondbacks squads, serving as the Blue Jays’ field coordinator, a stint as the White Sox’s analytics coordinator, and most recently winning the 2025 International League Manager of the Year with the Yankees’ Triple‑A club. His hiring follows a sweeping coaching overhaul that saw Alex Cora ousted, interim manager Chad Tracy earn a three‑year deal, and several interim coaches reassigned within the organization.
Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso, who hit a league‑leading 43 homers and drove in 113 runs in his debut season with Baltimore, is a Silver Slugger finalist. He joins Boston’s Willson Contreras in the race and aims to repeat his 2025 win with the Mets, potentially becoming the fifth Oriole ever to claim the award. Alonso’s 43 home runs rank tied‑eighth in franchise history, and his RBI total is the best since Chris Davis’s 117 in 2015. The Silver Slugger winners will be announced on Nov. 17 after votes from MLB managers and coaches.
Since the Red Sox’s World Series win, trade chatter has fixated on shortstop upgrades. Rumors surfaced on Oct. 31 about Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz, followed by MassLive’s Chris Cotillo and Jim Bowden touting CJ Abrams and De La Cruz as early‑November targets. Recent show‑time on the Felger & Mazz show introduced Otto Lopez, with former deadline interest noted by Jeff Passan. The author argues the real answer lies in Red Sox top prospect Franklin Arias, the No. 2 shortstop prospect in baseball, who posted a .952 OPS in Double‑A Portland and .894 OPS in Worcester—well above peers like Marcelo Mayer. The piece questions why the Sox haven’t pursued Arias despite a glaring need at shortstop.
After spending four seasons managing the New York Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, Shelley Duncan is leaving to join the Boston Red Sox.
Johnny Damon, born November 5, 1973, spends his Yankees chapter (2006‑09) under the spotlight in Pinstripe Alley’s “Birthday of the Day.” The article traces his path from a Kansas Army base to a top high‑school prospect, his rise with the Royals (65 HR, 156 SB, 136 runs in 2005), a brief Oakland stint, and Red Sox glory that helped end the Curse of the Bambino in 2004. Damon signs a four‑year, $52 million deal with New York in December 2005, trims his beard, and posts a .285 average with 24 homers in 2006, joining Gehrig and Musial with nine straight 100‑run seasons. While his later Yankees years see fluctuating roles and playoff exits, his durability remains notable, highlighted by his first career DL stint in 2008.
The Red Sox hiring Shelley Duncan brings back plenty of memories about the legacy the Duncan family created with the St. Louis Cardinals. Dave Duncan was the long-time pitching coach of the Cardinals and his brother, Chris, was an outfielder.
He has been in the organization for many years and played for the Yankees as well.
Yankees Triple‑A manager Shelley Duncan quits after four seasons to join the Boston Red Sox’s major‑league staff, likely as a base‑coach. Duncan, the 2025 International League Manager of the Year, helped develop prospects like Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler before his contract expired. The move leaves a key farm‑system figure in New York as the Red Sox look to fill coaching gaps. Meanwhile, the Yankees will have prospects Dax Kilby and Chris Veach in the upcoming Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game.
The Sox Machine outlines Bilpatrick’s two‑part strategy for 2027, aiming to leverage the 2026 season’s surge—nearly 2 million fans and a youthful roster poised to improve—while navigating Jerry’s continued ownership. The plan focuses on capitalizing on fan excitement and strengthening the team’s on‑field performance for the upcoming year.
Red Sox pitching prospect Steven Brooks led the organization in saves this season, converting eight of his 11 opportunities. This article will examine how the 24-year-old right-hander fared across two levels in 2026. Brooks was Boston’s 11th-round pick in the 2024 draft out of Cal Poly. The California native received an above-slot $200,000 signing bonus, … Continue reading "How Red Sox pitching prospect Steven Brooks, organization’s saves leader, fared in 2026"
The New York Yankees lost a key coach in their organization when Triple-A manager Shelley Duncan signed with the Red Sox.
Trade talks around second baseman Ketel Marte heat up as the Arizona Diamondbacks grow eager to move him. MLB insider reports, echoed by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale on the Foul Territory podcast, suggest the Tampa Bay Rays could re‑enter the mix, while Boston also shows interest. Marte, on a $15 million‑a‑year contract with $85 million remaining, posted a .249 line with 22 homers, 76 RBIs and a .748 OPS in 2026, but off‑field issues—including a summer no‑show incident and a recent IL stint—have soured his standing in Phoenix. With a five‑and‑10 no‑trade clause, his destination remains uncertain, though the Rays appear the likeliest suitor.
The Detroit Tigers are set to hire former Red Sox third‑base coach Kyle Hudson as their new first‑base coach, according to WEEI’s Rob Bradford. Hudson, who served Boston as first‑base coach in 2023 before moving to third base and was let go in the April staff purge, replaces Anthony Sanders, who left after just one season. The move comes as Detroit seeks to boost its stagnant base‑running—ranked 24th or lower in stolen bases for five straight years—potentially adding speed from prospects like Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle in the 2027 lineup.
Red Sox infield prospect Antonio Anderson has been named a 2026 Arizona Fall League Fall Star, the league announced Wednesday. Anderson will represent the Mesa Solar Sox as a member of the American League in the 20th annual Fall Stars Game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Sunday night. He was already selected … Continue reading "Red Sox prospect Antonio Anderson named 2026 AFL Fall Star"
The 2026 postseason laid bare the American League’s shortcomings as the Milwaukee Brewers swept the NL and clinched the World Series, while AL clubs faltered. The Astros’ weak rotation was exposed in a 13‑run loss to the White Sox in the Wild Card, and a chaotic AL Central produced only a back‑and‑forth series between Cleveland and Chicago. In the AL East, the Yankees survived Aaron Judge’s absence thanks to Ben Rice and strong pitching, but they were outgunned by Tampa Bay’s steady 3.3 runs per game in the ALDS. Boston’s Red Sox also lacked depth, scoring just two runs in their Wild Card matchup. Overall, the playoffs highlighted the NL’s dominance and the AL’s inferiority in 2026.
The Oakland Athletics have appointed Milwaukee Brewers senior vice president of player development Cam Castro as their new general manager, reporting Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Castro, who joined the Brewers in 2019 and most recently oversaw pitching development, will serve as the No. 2 executive under newly hired president of baseball operations Taylor Smith. His hiring targets the A’s longtime pitching weakness, complementing a strong home‑grown batting core that includes Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom and Zack Gelof. Both Castro and Smith bring experience from development‑focused clubs like the Red Sox and Rays, signaling an overhaul of Oakland’s farm system.
Boston’s offseason gamble of swapping Alex Bregman for utility depth landed them with Gold‑Glove third‑baseman Caleb Durbin. After a rocky start to 2026, Durbin surged in June (.326/.359/.605, 6 HR) before slipping again, leaving his role in doubt. Contracted through 2031 and posting an OPS+ of 101, he offers value versus pricey partners like Trevor Story and Masataka Yoshida, and beats free‑agent options such as Eugenio Suárez. The article weighs his inconsistency against potential overseas adds (Roh, Sato) and outlines best‑ and worst‑case scenarios for the Red Sox’s third‑base future.
A new report suggests the Boston Red Sox could pull off another rare blockbuster trade with rival Baltimore Orioles this winter. After firing Alex Cora in April, Boston rebounded into a Wild Card spot, while the Orioles, despite a big offseason spend, barely avoided the bottom of the AL East thanks to a weak Blue Jays. The two clubs previously swapped All‑Star catcher Adley Rutschman before the August deadline, and now Boston eyes shortstop Gunnar Henderson. Henderson posted 24 homers, 60 RBIs and 88 runs in 2026 at age 25, but the Orioles plan to upgrade their rotation and outfield, potentially demanding pitcher Brayan Bello, outfielder Jarren Duran, and a top prospect like John Holobetz. With a Dec. 1 lockout looming, the window is closing.
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 Detroit Tigers announce former Red Sox third‑base coach Kyle Hudson as their new first‑base coach and reclaim former draft pick RHP RJ Petit from the Rockies after his Tommy John rehab. The club also exercises Drew Anderson’s 2027 option, declines Kenley Jansen’s, and signs Jacob Waguespack to a $1.3 million deal. Meanwhile, MLB proposes a phased‑in salary cap and floor for 2028, sparking criticism from the MLBPA, as free‑agency chatter heats up around pitchers like Tarik Skubal.