The New York Mets are set to add Johnny Washington as a co‑hitting coach, according to sources cited by Joel Sherman. Washington, who most recently served as the Braves’ farm system hitting coordinator, replaces Jeff Albert’s former director‑of‑hitting role and will share duties with Troy Snitker and assistant Rafael Fernandez. Washington’s résumé includes stints as the Padres’ first‑base coach (2017‑18), their hitting coach (2019), a KBO hitting coach for the Hanwha Eagles (2021), the Cubs’ assistant hitting coach (2022), and the Angels’ hitting coach in 2023 before being dismissed earlier this year. The move signals the Mets’ push to revamp their offense for the 2026 season.
The New York Mets appoint Johnny Washington as co‑hitting coach alongside returning Troy Snitker, adding him to Andy Green’s staff. Washington spent 2026 as the Atlanta Braves’ minor‑league hitting coordinator after stints with the Padres, Cubs, Angels and a KBO team. He previously worked with Mets players Jared Young and Luis Torrens. The hire follows the Mets’ search for hitting help, with Kevin Long and John Mallee ruled out, and comes as the club finished near the league bottom in OPS and runs in 2026. Fellow assistants Rafael Fernandez and AJ Ellis also join the revamped coaching roster.
The Mets, fresh off a last‑place finish in the NL East, are targeting dominant free‑agent starter Tarik Skubal. With owner Steve Cohen poised to chase big names, the Dodgers traded Skubal last season and the Brewers swept them in the World Series. On the Mets Podcast, hosts Joe DeMayo and Sal Licata discuss their backup plans if Skubal signs elsewhere: veteran Michael King, who impressed in the Padres’ postseason, and reliable reliever‑turned‑starter Clay Holmes, known for his consistency with the Yankees, Mets and Cubs. The segment weighs each option as free agency heats up.
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.
The New York Mets announce Johnny Washington as their new co‑hitting coach, according to The New York Post. Washington, 42, comes from a diverse background: drafted by the Rangers in 2003, he played in the minors until 2009 before moving into coaching. He’s served as a minor‑league coordinator for Atlanta, first‑base and hitting coach for the Padres, KBO hitting coach for the Hanwha Eagles, assistant hitting coach for the Cubs, and hitting coach for the Angels in 2024‑25. Washington joins interim manager Andy Green, who secured a three‑year extension in September, while the Mets retain hitting coach Troy Snitker but part ways with director of hitting Jeff Albert.
Analyst Jim Duquette reveals the likely suitors for free‑agent right‑hander Tarik Skubal, noting the Dodgers, Padres, Mets and possibly the Giants as frontrunners, while dismissing the Cubs as unlikely spenders on a starter. Skubal, acquired by Los Angeles from Detroit last season, is a top priority for a Dodgers team looking to bounce back after a NLCS loss to Milwaukee. Duquette highlights the Dodgers’ willingness to spend big under owner Mark Walter, but warns that landing Skubal could bolster a NL rival and impact LA’s title hopes.
The San Antonio Missions have a new alter ego. The Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres announced on Thursday that the San Antonio Breakfast Tacos would be the club's new alternate identity.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, fresh off an 82-80 season and eyeing their first postseason since 2015, are targeting San Diego’s first baseman Ty France in free agency. The 32‑year‑old former 2022 All‑Star posted a career‑best .295 average, 21 homers and 72 RBIs in 133 games for the Padres, ranking among the top free‑agent first basemen. With over $20 million shedding from contracts for Brandon Lowe and Marcell Ozuna, the Pirates could reallocate those funds to upgrade from Spencer Horowitz at first base and accelerate their climb toward a winning record. Fans are invited to weigh in on the potential signing.
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 Chicago White Sox are poised to hire Milwaukee Brewers assistant director of domestic scouting Matt Roffe to run their domestic draft operations, filling the vacancy left by Mike Shirley’s September resignation. Roffe, a key figure in the Brewers’ talent‑identification engine that helped the 2023 World Series champions thrive on a modest payroll, brings five years of scouting experience plus stints with the Diamondbacks, Padres and MLB research departments. His blend of analytics, technology and player evaluation is expected to inject fresh ideas into Chicago’s scouting department.
Two-time All-Star left‑hander Tarik Skubal, coming off a turbulent half‑season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is now at the center of a high‑profile free‑agency battle. The New York Mets, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres are all reportedly interested, but the Padres’ payroll constraints make a $35‑$45 million annual contract unlikely. The Yankees have the cash but must navigate luxury‑tax limits, while the Mets—backed by Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend—appear the most likely bidder to land Skubal for the 2027 rotation.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have two Silver Slugger finalists: catcher Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Corbin Carroll. Carroll, the 2025 winner, posted a .239/.328/.467 slash line with 22 homers, 33 doubles and an MLB‑leading 17 triples in 156 games. Moreno, a two‑time Gold Glove winner, captured the NL batting title at .311, added 16 homers, 33 doubles and an .874 OPS. Both face tough competition from players like Jackson Chourio, Pete Crow‑Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jordan Walker, James Wood, and Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman. The winners will be announced on November 17.
The Chicago Cubs face a looming rotation void after the 2026 season and must get creative to acquire win‑now starters. While big‑market teams may outspend them, front office boss Jed Hoyer could use trades, overseas signings, or reclamation projects, and a surprising free‑agent target: former Padres reliever Adrian Morejon. Morejon, a left‑handed power arm who wants a starter role, could be converted for $14‑$18 million and fit Wrigley’s wind‑friendly park. If the transition fails, Chicago can revert him to the bullpen, making the gamble a potentially high‑reward move for the struggling staff.
Joe Musgrove’s comeback after two years of Tommy‑John rehab becomes the season’s highlight for the San Diego Padres. The right‑hander returns in the postseason, pitching two solid outings—striking out two batters in an 8-0 win over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card and delivering two innings against the eventual World Series champ Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Division Series. Though the Padres fall in the division round, Musgrove’s debut energizes Petco Park and reminds fans of his 2021 no‑hitter and 2022 Wild Card heroics. He acknowledges lingering consistency issues but looks ahead to a stronger 2027 campaign.
The MLB announced the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game roster, naming Dodgers third baseman Chase Harlan and pitcher Luke Fox to the National League squad that takes the field Sunday night at Salt River Fields. Harlan is hitting .276 with five homers and 17 RBI in 16 games for the Glendale Desert Dogs, while Fox boasts a 4.09 ERA, 14 strikeouts in 11 innings. Fans can still vote for a final NL spot, choosing between Dodgers prospects Eduardo Quintero (ranked #3), Charles Davalan (#7) and Padres infielder Justin DeCriscio. The game streams on MLB Network at 5 p.m. PT.
The New York Mets have added former San Diego Padres catcher A.J. Ellis to their major‑league staff as a strategy coordinator, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. Ellis joins a roster that may still be shaping its 2027 rotation, with pending decisions on pitchers like Tarik Skubal. The hire arrives amid broader offseason moves across the NL East, including the Braves retaining their coaching staff and the Orioles eyeing trades involving Pete Alonso.
Trevor Rogers tops the Orioles’ free‑agent list, drawing interest as a 29‑year‑old left‑hander ranked #2 by MLBTradeRumors and #3 by FanGraphs. Outfielder Luis Robert Jr., despite a hamstring injury after just three games, appears on several rankings and could fetch a one‑year deal worth $10.5‑$14 million, with the Padres, Reds or Royals as likely suitors. Veteran right‑hander Chris Bassitt (1‑5, 4.59 ERA) is undecided about returning amid a potential lockout starting Dec. 1. Reliever Andrew Kittredge, Zach Eflin, Keegan Akin, Ryan Mountcastle, Heston Kjerstad and others also hit free agency, though many face age or injury hurdles. The article breaks down each player’s recent stats, contract options and market outlook.
The Gaslamp Ball piece grades San Diego Padres reliever Yuki Matsui an A+ after his breakout 2026 season. Signed to a five‑year, $28 million deal in 2024, Matsui posted a 1.83 ERA, .171 opponent batting average and a 1.42 ERA in his final 30 outings, despite a 4.18 FIP suggesting defensive help. He declined his opt‑out and will stay for 2027, poised to anchor a bullpen that may lose Adrian Morejon and Jason Adam. The article also notes his career WHIP of 1.22 and compares his performance to teammates.
The New York Mets announce the hiring of former MLB catcher A.J. Ellis as a major‑league strategy coordinator on Andy Green’s staff. Ellis, an 11‑year veteran who backed up Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw and later served as a special assistant for the Padres, will bring his game‑calling expertise to the Mets. This follows Mariano Duncan’s recent addition and comes as the club seeks fresh offensive input after parting with hitting director Jeff Albert.
With the Milwaukee Brewers clinching the 2026 World Series, MLB teams are racing to shape their rosters before a potential lockout and the early‑December CBA deadline. ClutchPoints ranks the offseason moves: the Brewers should add a veteran starter; the Dodgers need to trade Teoscar Hernández to shore up other spots; the Rays must sign at least one starter as Freddy Peralta and Nick Martinez hit free agency; the Braves should acquire two reliable starters; the Padres ought to re‑sign Michael King; and the Yankees must bolster their lineup with extra bats despite a strong pitching staff. Each team’s top priority is highlighted to guide fans through the upcoming market scramble.
Trevor Rogers, the 29‑year‑old left‑hander who posted a 1.81 ERA in 2025 and logged 169 innings with a 4.01 ERA in 2026, is eyeing a multi‑year deal worth $60‑70 million. MLB Trade Rumors narrows his potential destinations to four clubs: the Chicago White Sox, who need to upgrade a rotation that fell short of a deep postseason run; the San Diego Padres, busy replenishing a rotation losing several starters; the Pittsburgh Pirates, who could afford a $65 M contract to add a solid lefty alongside Paul Skenes and others; and the Baltimore Orioles, who may try to retain him after extending a $23.1 M qualifying offer, though Rogers is likely to test free agency. The piece breaks down each team’s pitching needs and financial fit.
Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly predicts the Braves could land two marquee free agents in the upcoming market. He ranks Adrian Morejón (6) as a potential four‑year, $80 million reliever for Atlanta, though the Padres’ qualifying offer complicates the deal. Kelly also sees veteran left‑hander Sonny Gray (11) signing a two‑year, $50 million contract, mirroring recent Braves deals for aging arms. Meanwhile, closer Raisel Iglesias and starter Tyler Mahle are likely to leave, headed to Detroit and Houston respectively. The predictions highlight Atlanta’s aggressive bullpen spending despite budget and draft‑pick penalties.
Former 703‑home‑run slugger Albert Pujolas is set to interview for the Houston Astros’ vacant manager’s job, which opened after the club dismissed Joe Espada following an 81‑81 season and a Wild Card sweep. Though he has no MLB managing experience, Pujolas led the Dominican Leones del Escogido to a league title and a Caribbean Series win, and took the Dominican Republic to the World Baseball Classic semifinals in 2026. The interview comes under new GM Randy Flores, a former Cardinals teammate of Pujolas, and follows prior talks with the Angels and Padres. The Astros aim to finalize their leadership staff for the 2027 season.
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.
Ian Hamilton’s 2026 stint with the Atlanta Braves fizzles after a brief, turbulent bounce‑back attempt. After the Yankees non‑tendered him in the 2025‑26 offseason, the Braves signed Hamilton on a non‑guaranteed deal, hoping his 2024‑level relief work (95 ERA‑, 72 FIP‑) could fill a low‑leverage role. Instead, he shuffled between Triple‑A and the majors, logging just 4 2/3 innings with a 1.84 ERA‑, 0.80 FIP‑ and 0.0 fWAR. A lone strong frame against the Padres was outweighed by poor command and a disastrous opening outing. After being outrighted twice, Hamilton ends the year in Gwinnett and enters free agency, likely limited to minor‑league contracts for 2027.