Mining the News (11/25/25)

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• Ryan Helsley would like to add a two-seamer or a changeup to his arsenal so he can be a starter.

Helsley is contemplating adding another pitch to his arsenal, possibly a two-seamer or a changeup, to help prevent that predictability next year. He currently has four pitches, though he rarely uses his curveball and cutter. In 2025, Helsley essentially utilized a two-pitch mix. He threw his slider 47 percent of the time, with his four-seamer next at 45 percent. He turned to his curveball just 6 percent of the time and threw his cutter only 13 times (1.3 percent).

Expanding his arsenal is something Helsley will need to do if he signs with a team that views him as a starter. Though other teams have inquired about the transition, the Tigers are the most serious suitors at this time. Helsley came up through the Cardinals’ system as a starting pitching prospect, and he did not throw in relief until debuting in the majors. However, Helsley has been a reliever for his entire MLB career. He is not opposed to starting but is more comfortable in a closer’s role.

American League

Athletics

• Junior Perez is now the team’s backup centerfielder.

Part of why Bleday became expendable was the emergence of Perez, whom the A’s added to their 40-man roster on Tuesday to protect him from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

Perez dramatically raised his prospect stock with an impressive second half at Triple-A and flashed the skills of a five-tool player. There’s no guarantee that he will see the big leagues next season, but Perez will get a long look in Spring Training as a center fielder.

Denzel Clarke will really need to struggle for Perez to get an opportunity.

Orioles

• Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias stated that Enrique Bradfield Jr. will get a chance to make the major league team.

On whether Enrique Bradfield Jr. can play for the Orioles in 2026:

“That would be terrific to see. We’re going to bring him to camp and we’ll kind of take it from there. He’s certainly, just looking at his Baseball-Reference page, so to speak, he hasn’t exhausted the minor leagues. So, we’ll see where it goes but he’s going to be in camp. It’s going to be a real important camp for him and look forward to seeing him there.”

• Elias also stated that the team will add a closer from outside the organization.

On whether the Orioles are looking for a closer:

“We’re trying to make an external addition there, so working on that right now. I can’t say things with 100% certainty, but we’re making every effort to make external additions to the bullpen and in particular an experienced ninth-inning guy if we can.”

Red Sox

• Prospect David Sandlin will be one of the next guys pitching in the majors.

David Sandlin, RHP (No. 10): He might be the closest to the big leagues, having touched Triple-A, and he did earn a 40-man roster spot last week. He topped 100 IP for the first time in his career in 2025 and has three effective pitches. If he stays healthy, he could be deployed in Boston in a number of ways.

Twins

• Ryan Jeffers will catch the majority of the team’s games, according to the team’s president.

During the recent general managers’ meetings, Twins president Derek Falvey made it clear Jeffers would handle the bulk of the catching duties: “We’ll intend for him to take down a lot of the games,” a message the veteran said is music to his ears.

• Kody Clemens might start the season as the first baseman, also according to the team’s president.

My assumption coming into the offseason was that adding a good veteran bat at first base would be a priority, but instead, Falvey has indicated the job might be Clemens’ to lose. He has some power, and he’s minimum-salaried, but it’s not a great sign that a 30-year-old journeyman with a career 81 OPS+ is the default choice to start at an offense-driven position for a team desperate for lineup help.

White Sox

• Everson Pereira will get a chance to play center field.

[Everson Pereira’s] path could follow that of Miguel Vargas from the Dodgers to Chicago, as well as what the South Siders hope for Curtis Mead from the Rays regarding very talented, highly ranked prospects who had their on-field opportunity blocked until being traded to the White Sox.

“Yeah, very similar to the pathways for those players,” Getz said. “At his floor, we have a strong defender who can play center field and the wings and has power potential just like the two named. He has a big engine, he has potential. He’s got a chance to really bloom into a solid everyday player.

“When it comes to outfield and outfield depth, Pereira I think is going to be bringing some to the table. Certainly at the very least, you are looking at someone who can hammer lefties and play a solid defense. We look forward to seeing him in Spring Training.”

That description could make Pereira a platoon partner for the left-handed-hitting Mike Tauchman, who was valuable on the field and in the clubhouse for the 2025 White Sox, assuming Tauchman returns. Pereira could play left field with Andrew Benintendi in more of a designated hitter-based role, or could spell Luis Robert Jr. in center field.

• Tanner McDougal will get an opportunity to play in the majors next season.

Right-handers Tanner McDougal, the No. 7 White Sox prospect per MLB Pipeline, and Duncan Davitt had their contracts selected and added to the 40-man, which sits at 37. Getz raved about McDougal “as a top arm in the industry on the Minor League side” from ’25, and he’ll get big league opportunities in ’26.

National League

Braves

• Joe Jiménez had another surgery on his knee.

#Braves reliever Joe Jiménez, who missed all of 2025 after knee surgery, had a recent "cleanup" procedure on the same knee. Alex Anthopoulos said they won't know more about his timetable until late December/January. (No, that's not ideal.)

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) November 20, 2025

Mets

• Top prospect, Carson Benge, is already in the conversation for one of the team’s best outfielders.

“Beyond the immediate player return part of this deal, we think this opens up possibilities and flexibility for us going forward, both from a near-term perspective and also allowing space for a number of very young outfielders who are coming, who are talented and will deserve spots at the Major League level and to play at the Major League level,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns told reporters in a press conference Monday. “This transaction also provides room for that to happen as we move forward.”

Stearns made the Benge connection more explicit later in the presser when he mentioned him by name when going through New York’s current outfield options, listing Benge behind only superstar Juan Soto and the returning Tyrone Taylor, interestingly ahead of veteran Jeff McNeil (who the Semien acquisition might bump to the outfield) and fellow prospect Jett Williams.

Phillies

• The president/GM guy stated that Zack Wheeler will return in late May.

As for the timeline, there have been no updates since mid-October. Per Dombrowski, “The timeline remains six to eight months to be back pitching in a major-league game — so that takes you to end of May. I don’t think it’ll affect us a great deal because we’re looking for him to come back on that timeline.”

That makes an Opening Day return unlikely. But Wheeler will be deep into his throwing progression throughout Spring Training.

Reds

• Mark Sheldon of MLB.com wrote about some of the team’s closer options.

Tony Santillan: Santillan finished second in the Major Leagues with 80 appearances while posting 2.44 ERA, proving he could be a workhorse – especially in the eighth inning. He was third in MLB with 33 holds. The right-hander also had seven saves, mostly when Pagán was unavailable. Santillan is certainly not afraid of pressure.

Zach Maxwell or Luis Mey: Both have closing experience and throw 100 mph, but both also made their big league debut in 2025 and still have development to do. Maxwell allowed three homers in eight appearances, while Mey was prone to walks, with 17 in 21 innings over 23 games.