Mining the News (11/12/26)

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Free Agents

• Here is a solid article on the players possibly signing from Japan, including a thin crop of ex-major leaguers.

It’s a “really light” group, one major-league official said, outside of left-handed relievers Taylor Hearn and Darwinzon Hernández. Hearn, 32, accumulated most of his major-league service time as a swingman with the Rangers, posting a 5.11 ERA over parts of five seasons between 2019 and 2023. Hernández, who will turn 30 next month, was once trusted enough to make a 2021 American League Championship Series roster for the Boston Red Sox. These types of pitchers don’t really move the needle, but they could find new opportunities out of the bullpen.

American League

Athletics

• The team still sees Gage Jump and Jack Perkins as rotation pieces, despite their 2026 struggles.

There were also some “bad luck” numbers that led Smith to believe that the A’s rotation — which, as of now, is projected to include Luis Severino, J.T. Ginn, Jacob Lopez, Gage Jump and Jack Perkins — is in line for a much better 2027.

“I think some of the narratives on the pitching side get slightly blown out of proportion,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of opportunity for guys to take a step forward. Some of it was that some guys were just a little unlucky on batted-ball luck and things like that last year. That was something that really stood out to me as I was going through the process. It was like, ‘Man, everyone talks about the position players. But some of these young arms like Perkins and Jump are really exciting.’”

Blue Jays

• Management sees Brett Bateman, Nathan Lukes, and Addison Barger as center field options next year.

Landing him would force the Blue Jays to reset some of their puzzle and is perhaps why, when asked about how the team’s centre-field depth chart after Myles Straw’s 2027 option was declined, Atkins mentioned rookie Brett Bateman, Nathan Lukes and, surprisingly, Addison Barger.

Bateman impressed during a limited sample after being acquired from the Cubs at the trade deadline and will need to be protected. Lukes has played some centre while primarily working in the corners — he was a Gold-Glove finalist in right field in 2026 — while Barger was slated to cover right with some third base, spelling Okamoto against tougher right-handed pitching, and hasn’t played a single pro game in centre.

Barger? Maybe he misspoke.

• Spencer Miles‘ workload will “grow”.

While Spencer Miles’ exact role next year remains unstated, the Jays hope to “continue to grow” his workload in 2027, Atkins said. After years of injury, Miles reached 95 2/3 innings in 2026, meaning his ’27 role will be a bulk pitcher of some sort, whether that be in the rotation or bullpen.

If Miles plans to get into the 120 IP range, he’ll need to be a starter at some point during the season.

Mariners

• Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Emerson Hancock, Bryce Miller, Kade Anderson, Ryan Sloan and Logan Evans are all rotation options next season.

Dipoto went on to say that he considered the Mariners to be “eight-deep” in the rotation, referring to Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Emerson Hancock, Bryce Miller, Kade Anderson, Ryan Sloan and Logan Evans. Those pitchers come with varying degrees of salary, club control, track record and/or prospect pedigree, creating almost infinite trade possibilities for the M’s to explore this winter.

Logan Gilbert is the only one without any minor league options remaining.

Orioles

• Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday should be heathy by Spring Training.

Infielder Jordan Westburg, who had Tommy John surgery in May, continues to make progress, and Elias thinks he’ll be ready for the start of spring training.

“He’s on track, knock on wood,” Elias said. “Everything’s moving along as expected, and he should be a totally normal citizen, for lack of a better word come the first day of spring training.”

Second baseman Jackson Holliday, who had left wrist surgery in late September, also will be ready to start spring training, Elias said.

Tigers

• Framber Valdez, Troy Melton, Jackson Jobe, River Ryan, Keider Montero, and Drew Anderson are rotation options next season …

The Tigers project to begin 2027 with a rotation featuring Framber Valdez, Troy Melton and Jackson Jobe. River Ryan, whom Harris praised for his “six-plus pitches,” is likely to be in the rotation so long as he is healthy. The Tigers also expect Keider Montero and Drew Anderson to come to camp as starters, and they remain optimistic about the return of Reese Olson after a season lost to shoulder surgery. That alone gives the Tigers seven potential starters, but last season showed the way injuries can ravage a team.

… with some additional comments on Anderson.

Anderson is expected to compete for a rotation spot next season, Harris said.

“He’s much more comfortable preparing as a starter,” Harris said. “It doesn’t mean he can’t also perform in the ‘pen. I thought he got better in the ‘pen over the course of the season as he got more comfortable, but we liked what we saw out of him in the rotation.”

• Colt Keith will play either first or third base next year.

Harris went on to point out the team’s growing crowd of young talent. Players such as Hao-Yu Lee are likely to get more opportunities, but the Tigers still have some question marks, especially in the infield. The team has asked Colt Keith to focus on first and third base this offseason.

It seems his time at second base is over.

Twins

• Walker Jenkins should be healthy by Spring Training.

Center fielder Walker Jenkins is “doing well” six weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow. The procedure was always hoped to be relatively minor, with the idea to knock out some recurring discomfort that had bothered him for quite a while.

Jenkins should be a “full go” when Spring Training starts, per Zoll.

National League

Dodgers

• It sounds like Shohei Ohtani’s playing time will be limited in some way next season.

Gomes did not flat-out say Ohtani would be delayed on the mound in 2027. But they have options.

“It’s like a chicken-or-the-egg type thing, and I think because of just the overall volume that Shohei takes down, it’s making sure that we are continuing to be mindful of that,” Gomes said. “There are different avenues to make sure we’re navigating it. … Is it, like, how do we come out the gate with him pitching? Do we work in more days off as a position player?

“Whatever it is, there’s just a lot of different avenues, and I think for us to unilaterally decide that doesn’t make sense. So it’s really bringing him into the conversation and figuring out how to navigate a full season.”

• Because of the pending lockout, the team may not trade Teoscar Hernández.

But because a pending lockout will prohibit clubs from contacting players on their 40-man roster, there will be no way for the organization to assess De Paula’s development throughout the offseason. Per a team source, that has given the Dodgers pause about whether they should trade Hernández.

Hernández has a year remaining on his contract. He’s owed $17 million in 2027 and has a club option for 2028. Trading Hernández is much more plausible this winter than it was last year, given the lack of right-handed bats.

Giants

• Randy Rodríguez was shut down with elbow discomfort during the Arizona Fall League. He’ll have a big role when he is back, but will not start the season as the closer.

The Giants already know that 2025 All-Star right-hander Randy Rodriguez will be a part of next year’s bullpen mix after completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery, but there’s only so much the club can expect from a reliever whose workload will be carefully monitored. Posey said his personal preference is for Rodriguez to begin the season in a non-closing capacity.

Rodriguez returned to the mound last month and his fastball touched 98 mph in three appearances in the Arizona Fall League; he was supposed to throw in three or four more games but the Giants shut him down as a precaution because of elbow discomfort.

• Harrison Bader will remain on the team during the lockout for financial reasons.

Posey said there will be a joint statement from MLB and the Giants in the near future regarding Bader, which could signal that the parties have settled a potential grievance on the withheld payments.

As for next year, when Bader is owed $10 million, Posey said the outfielder “will be in the organization” but “he’s going to have to go out and play and play well to get playing time.”

Translation: Cutting Bader now would be pretty dumb because it’d mean paying out his full $10 million salary even if labor talks significantly shorten or cancel next season. Keeping him on the roster would mean Bader would go unpaid, just like everyone else, for missed games.

I expect he’ll get traded or cut, but it won’t happen until the there is a new labor agreement.

Phillies

• Reading between the lines, it seems like Aiden Miller will start in the majors next season.

With that, Aidan Miller will be given the chance to win a spot in the team’s 2027 infield, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said at the general managers’ meetings Tuesday.

“He’s not being anointed a position, but I think he has a heck of a chance to make our club in the spring,” Dombrowski said. “I think he has the capabilities. And it’s not just me. Anybody that’s seen him, including people from other organizations, agree. You still have to earn the spot, and I’m hoping – I’m not giving it to him – but I’m hoping he does.”

Miller, 22, will finish up a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League this week. Through 16 games, he was hitting .327 (17 for 52) with four doubles and two triples. His on-base percentage was .557. He was 7 for 8 in stolen base attempts and he’d walked 25 times while striking out 16.

A shortstop by trade, Miller has been playing third base in Arizona. The Phillies have an opening there as Alec Bohm has moved on to free agency.

Pirates

• Mitch Keller should be healthy by Spring Training.

Keller’s visit revealed the right-hander to be “basically recovered” after more than three months of downtime, per Cherington. He’s resumed throwing from flat ground and is looking at a mostly normal offseason.

Keller said last month that there wasn’t one specific point where he felt the injury take place. He was likely pitching through the injury for some time before it became fully untenable. Keller started the season well, with a 3.64 ERA through his first 11 trips to the mound. Over his next 11 starts, Keller was decimated for a 7.36 ERA. He showed diminished bat-missing ability, worse command, a greater susceptibility to home runs and, eventually, reduced velocity. Keller sat 93.5 mph on his heater for much of the season but dipped to 92.8 mph over his final five starts — including a season-worst 91.9 mph average in his final trip to the mound.