Browsing: candidates

Last year, only three MLB teams made managerial changes: the Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox.

This offseason, there has been a flurry of movement at the skipper position. Just a few teams are still searching for their next manager, with the Rangers, Angels, Giants, Orioles, Nationals, Twins and Braves having already filled roles this offseason.

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Yahoo Sports is keeping tabs on who will be turning in lineup cards next season. We’re tracking the latest news about managerial openings and candidates below:

Philadelphia Phillies

There will be no opening in Philadelphia, as Rob Thomson will reportedly return next season, according to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman.

Thomson has been in charge since 2022 and led the Phillies to the playoffs in each of his four seasons. After reaching the World Series in 2022, Philadelphia lost in the NLCS the following season. The past two years, they’ve not advanced out of the NLDS, losing to the New York Mets and Dodgers, both times in four games.

Colorado Rockies (still have to decide on interim manager)

The Colorado Rockies started the season 7-33 and fired Bud Black in May. After that, Warren Schaeffer got the bump from third-base coach to interim manager. With Schaeffer leading the way, the Rockies went 36-86.

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Of Colorado’s seven pitchers with at least 10 starts this season, only one had an ERA below 6.33. But perhaps even more alarming were the 3.69 runs per game the team scored, the second-fewest of any major-league team despite their famously hitter-friendly ballpark.

The latest:

First things first: The Rockies need a new executive. General manager Bill Schmidt stepped down after Colorado’s worst season in franchise history. The Rockies occupied the cellar of the NL West in each of the four seasons since Schmidt took over as GM. Colorado is searching for its next head of baseball operations. Then it will have to decide if it wants to keep Schaeffer or pick someone else to be the full-time manager.

Will interim manager Warren Schaeffer earn the full-time gig for the Colorado Rockies? (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

(Orlando Ramirez via Getty Images)

Filled: San Diego Padres hire Craig Stammen

Latest news:

On Oct. 20, former MLB star Albert Pujols was reported as a possible candidate to take over for Mike Shildt, who retired a couple of weeks after San Diego was eliminated from the postseason. Despite the interview reportedly lasting nine and a half hours, the organization went in another direction, reportedly signing former relief pitcher Craig Stammen to a three-year deal to become the Padres’ next manager.

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Stammen was hired by San Diego as a special assistant in player development in January of 2024 following his retirement the previous year, and he continued to serve in that role through the 2025 season. Stammen spent the final six years of his career with the Padres as a reliever after seven years with the Washington Nationals.

Shildt was out as manager on Oct. 13. He informed the team that he would be retiring in an effort to “take care of myself and exit on my terms,” he shared in a letter to the Union-Tribune.

The news followed a 90-72 season in which the Padres finished second in the NL West and lost to the Chicago Cubs in the NL wild-card round. Shildt spent two years with the team, reaching the playoffs both seasons and accumulating a 183-141 record.

The Atlanta Braves’ seven-year playoff streak ended this year, and after 10 seasons in charge, Brian Snitker told the organization that he won’t return as manager in 2026. Snitker, who is staying on with the club as a senior advisor, led the Braves to a World Series title in 2021 and 100-plus-win seasons in 2022 and 2023.

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Now, Atlanta is hiring Walt Weiss as the team’s new manager. Weiss had been the Braves’ bench coach since 2018.

Weiss, a former shortstop, also spent three seasons with Atlanta as a player, finishing his career there.

He managed the Colorado Rockies from 2013 to 2016 before joining the Braves’ organization.

Filled: Washington Nationals hire Blake Butera

The Washington Nationals won the World Series in 2019. They’ve had six consecutive losing seasons since. They’ve won 66 or fewer games in three of the past five years. Washington split with manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo in early July. Bench coach Miguel Cairo was promoted to interim manager, and he led the team to a 29-43 record.

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Latest news:

Blake Butera, a 33-year-old who has worked in the Rays’ organization for the past decade, is the choice. Butera served in numerous roles with the Rays, from player to coach to manager to minor-league field coordinator, before becoming senior director of player development in October 2023.

As far as managing experience goes, Butera led the New York-Penn League’s Hudson Valley Renegades for two seasons before guiding Low-A Charleston to a league title in two seasons with the Riverdogs. He compiled a 258-144 record, and his teams finished in first place four times.

Filled: Minnesota Twins hire Derek Shelton

Rocco Baldelli’s seven-season stretch with the Minnesota Twins ended with a 70-win campaign, which featured a sell-off at the trade deadline. Minnesota won three AL Central titles under Baldelli, who was a first-time manager when he got the job in 2019. But back-to-back seasons without a playoff appearance did him in as the organization searches for new leadership while its ownership group, led by brothers Jim, Bill and Bob Pohlad, retains controlling ownership of the franchise.

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Latest news:

Before Derek Shelton spent five-plus seasons as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ manager, he was the Twins’ bench coach in 2018 and 2019. Now Shelton’s managerial career will continue in the Twin Cities, where he’s being hired as Minnesota’s next skipper, the team announced. Shelton went 306-440 with the Pirates. He was fired after Pittsburgh slipped into a seven-game skid and a 12-26 start early this season. That said, Shelton’s first few seasons at the helm were part of a franchise-wide reset that included swapping known big-league talent for new prospects. Shelton will get another shot at managing a rebuild with the Twins, who traded away one-third of their active roster at the deadline.

Filled: Baltimore Orioles hire Craig Albernaz

Following a 15-28 start to the season, the Orioles let go of Brandon Hyde, who was in his seventh season as manager after piloting the club to back-to-back postseason appearances in 2023 and ’24. Third-base coach Tony Mansolino took over as interim manager and posted a winning record in that role, going 60-59 as the Orioles finished 75-87 and last in an AL East that sent three teams to the playoffs.

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Latest news:

The Orioles opted to hire Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz to replace Brandon Hyde. Albernaz has spent the past two seasons on staff in Cleveland, and he also spent time with the San Francisco Giants. While this will be his first head manager job in baseball, Albernaz was undoubtedly one of the top names available this cycle.

Filled: San Francisco Giants hire Tony Vitello

Although the Giants picked up Bob Melvin’s option for the 2026 season in July, they ended up firing him anyway. The Giants went a combined 161-163 in Melvin’s two seasons at the helm. Team president of baseball operations Buster Posey said the Giants didn’t perform up to their standard while finishing third in the NL West this year.

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Latest news:

The Giants reportedly hired Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello to become the club’s new manager on Oct. 22. Vitello, a 47-year-old coach who led the Volunteers to the 2024 College World Series, has no major-league coaching experience, but he is a splashy signing for an exceedingly average team. He will be the first college coach to make the jump to MLB manager without any professional coaching experience.

Filled: Los Angeles Angels hire Kurt Suzuki

The Los Angeles Angels parted ways with not only manager Ron Washington but also interim manager Ray Montgomery. On June 27, the 73-year-old Washington went on medical leave. He later explained that he had undergone quadruple bypass surgery on his heart. The Angels haven’t made the playoffs since 2014 and have finished fourth or fifth in the AL West in eight of the past 10 seasons.

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Latest news:

After flirting with Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter, the Angels tabbed another former player. Former catcher Kurt Suzuki will replace Washington as the team’s manager next season.

Suzuki was a bit of a dark-horse candidate for the role, with Pujols receiving the most publicity of anyone who interviewed for the job. While early reports suggested Pujols was Angels owner Arte Moreno’s top choice, talks with the slugger fell through, and Pujols was reportedly out of the running by late October. A day later, Hunter was no longer a candidate. Hours after that report, Suzuki was reported as the team’s next skipper.

Suzuki joins the Angels after a 16-year MLB career. He spent time with five teams during his MLB tenure, playing his final two seasons with the Angels. Suzuki was a member of the 2019 Washington Nationals, who defeated the Houston Astros to win the World Series. He’s also a one-time All-Star.

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Filled: Texas Rangers hire Skip Schumaker

The Texas Rangers moved on from Bruce Bochy, who led the organization to its first World Series title in 2023 after earning three rings with the San Francisco Giants earlier in his career. In the two seasons since its championship run, however, Texas missed the playoffs. Bochy and the Rangers mutually parted ways, according to the team’s statement.

Latest news:

Texas focused its search on former Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker from the start, and that became official Oct. 3. Schumaker earned NL Manager of the Year honors in 2023 when the Marlins returned to the postseason for just the fourth time in franchise history. Schumaker’s two-season stint with the Marlins came to an end when he resigned after an injury-riddled 2024 campaign. He spent the 2025 season with the Rangers as a special advisor.

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This is a one-stop shop for the latest news and rumors surrounding potential manager/GM changes and candidates around MLB.

TEAMS WITH MANAGERIAL VACANCIES

Teams listed in order of their most recent update.

Previous manager: Rocco Baldelli

What happened: A season that began with playoff hopes gave way to a 70-win campaign — the franchise’s fewest in a non-shortened season since 2016 — and a Deadline sell-off. That led to the club dismissing Baldelli after seven seasons in charge.

Latest: According to Dan Hayes and Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic (subscription required), the Twins have narrowed their managerial search to four candidates: Yankees hitting coach James Rowson, former Pirates manager Derek Shelton, former Mariners manager Scott Servais and Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty.

The Twins began holding interviews for the job last week, and sources told MLB.com that Rowson — as well as Red Sox bench coach Ramón Vázquez — was granted permission to interview. Rowson served as Minnesota’s hitting coach from 2017-19. Royals third-base coach Vance Wilson, a former MLB catcher, is also a candidate for the job, a source told MLB.com’s Anne Rogers.

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman had previously noted the Twins’ interest in Servais, who had a 680-642 (.514) record in nine seasons with the Mariners before being dismissed during the 2024 season. Shelton, the bench coach on Minnesota’s 2018 and 2019 teams, took over as Pittsburgh’s skipper in 2020 before being dismissed in May. He owns a 306-440 (.410) record as a manager.

Other reported candidates are Torii Hunter, who currently works in the Angels front office, and Padres coach Nick Punto. Both have connections to the Twins: Hunter was a fan favorite in Minnesota who played 12 seasons and won seven Gold Gloves with the franchise, while Punto was a Twins infielder from 2004-10. (Oct. 24)

Previous manager: Mike Shildt

What happened: The Padres announced on Oct. 13 that Shildt was retiring from his position as the teamâ€s manager. The Padres went 183-141 in his two years at the helm in San Diego, making the postseason in both seasons, but they lost to the Dodgers in the 2024 NLDS and the Cubs in the â€25 NL Wild Card Series. He still had two years left on the contract extension he signed in November 2024.

Latest: Albert Pujols has drawn interest from the team to be the next skipper, according to multiple reports, including from MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post (subscription required). Heyman previously reported that bench coach Ryan Flaherty “is a favorite” for the job. Flaherty was in consideration for the role before the club hired Shildt two years ago. Per Heyman, Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley is another external candidate. Internal possibilities include A.J. Ellis, a former catcher and current special assistant to general manager A.J. Preller, bench coach Brian Esposito, pitching coach Ruben Niebla, and Mark Loretta, a former Padres infielder who is a special assistant to team CEO Erik Greupner. (Oct. 22).

Previous manager: Brandon Hyde (Tony Mansolino interim)

What happened: Amid a 15-28 start to the ’25 season, the Orioles relieved Hyde of his duties after he managed the team for parts of seven seasons, overseeing a drastic rebuild. Mansolino — the team’s third-base coach since 2021 — guided Baltimore to a 60-59 record the rest of the season as the interim skipper.

Latest: Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty is believed to be “among the favorites” for the job, reports MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post (subscription required), but Baltimore has not ruled out a return for Mansolino. The Orioles have also expressed interest in likely future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols to become their next manager, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. They are also interested in former Mariners manager Scott Servais, per Heyman. (Oct. 20)

Previous manager: Brian Snitker

What happened: Snitker informed the Braves that he was not pursuing a new contract to extend his managerial career into the 2026 season. He will step into an advisory role with the team. Next year will mark his 50th straight season with the organization. During Snitkerâ€s managerial tenure, the club made seven straight playoff appearances from 2018-24 — including six consecutive division titles — and won a World Series championship in â€21. The Braves have had only three managers since 1991: Hall of Famer Bobby Cox, Fredi Gonzalez and Snitker.

Latest: David Ross, Mark DeRosa, Walt Weiss and Eddie Perez are among the former Braves players who have interest in the vacancy, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. But thereâ€s a chance Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos will choose a manager without any previous ties to the organization. (Oct. 8)

Previous manager: Bud Black (Warren Schaeffer interim)

What happened: After starting the year 7-33 — one of the worst 40-game starts in Major League history — the Rockies opted to move on from Black, a veteran skipper in his ninth season as the team’s manager. With third base coach Warren Schaeffer serving as the interim manager, Colorado went 36-86 across their final 122 games.

Previous manager: Dave Martinez (Miguel Cairo interim)

What happened: With the Nationals in the midst of their sixth straight losing season following their World Series title in 2019, the club parted ways with Martinez, as well as former general manager and president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo, on July 6. Cairo led the Nats to a 29-43 record as the interim skipper.

Latest: The Nationals have hired Paul Toboni, who most recently had served as the Red Sox senior vice president and assistant general manager, to run their baseball operations. Among Toboniâ€s first orders of business with the Nationals? Deciding on the club’s next manager. Toboni described previous Major League managerial experience as “one variable to consider, but it’s definitely not everything.†(Oct. 1)

TEAMS WITH LEAD BASEBALL OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE VACANCIES

Previous GM: Bill Schmidt

What happened: Schmidt stepped down from his role as Rockies general manager on Oct. 1, following a season in which the Rockies lost 119 games — tied for the third most in the Modern Era (since 1900). Previously the teamâ€s vice president of scouting, Schmidt took over as Coloradoâ€s GM on an interim basis after Jeff Bridich resigned during the 2021 campaign. He was officially named GM on Oct. 2 of that year. The Rockies lost at least 94 games in each of Schmidtâ€s four full seasons at the helm, including the first three 100-loss seasons in franchise history from 2023-25. Executive Vice President Walker Monfort said in a statement that the Rockies are “setting our sights on finding the right leader from outside our organization who can bring a fresh perspective to the Rockies and enhance our baseball operations with a new vision, innovation and a focus on both short- and long-term success.”

Whomever gets this job will be tasked with steering the club through a rebuild that has no end in sight. Building a sustainable winner in Colorado has proven to be a difficult endeavor — the Rockies have made just five postseason appearances in 33 seasons, all as a Wild Card team, and own the third-worst winning percentage (.456) in baseball since their inaugural campaign in 1993. Coloradoâ€s thin air has made it especially challenging to find reliable pitching — the franchise has an MLB-worst 5.05 ERA in that same timeframe. The team has endured seven straight losing seasons since its last playoff berth in 2018.

Latest: The Rockies are narrowing their list for who will be their next head of baseball operations. D-backs assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye and Guardians assistant general manager Matt Forman are two of the finalists for the job, according to a report from The Athletic (subscription required). It’s unknown if other finalists exist. The Athletic previously reported that the club held interviews with Forman as well as Royals assistant general manager Scott Sharp and Blue Jays vice president of baseball strategy (and former Astros GM) James Click. But Sharp and Click are no longer being considered, per this latest report. (Oct. 22)

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With the offseason rapidly approaching, Baseball America is busy diving deep into National League organizations to build out team-by-team prospect lists for the 2026 Prospect Handbook (preorder yours here) and beyond.

As part of the prospect ranking and report process, a number of up-and-coming players have stuck out as potential breakout candidates heading into next season. Each has showcased skills that could land them in the major leagues or send them climbing further up prospect lists.

Below, you’ll find one breakout candidate for each NL team to keep an eye on in 2026.

Arizona Diamondbacks

David Hagaman, RHP

The Diamondbacks acquired Hagaman from the Rangers at the deadline in the Merrill Kelly trade. The 22-year-old had internal brace surgery prior to the 2024 draft and didnâ€t return to the mound until June.

After a trio of starts with the Rangers’ complex league affiliate, Hagaman made the jump to Low-A Hickory. There, he made five starts, striking out 16 over 15.1 innings and posting a 2.66 FIP. Post trade, the D-backs assigned Hagaman directly to High-A Hillsboro, where he took a big step forward after the team had him increase his curveball usage. Over 20 innings with Hillsboro, he struck out 27 batters to four walks while posting a 3.15 ERA.

Hagaman features just average fastball velocity—sitting 93-95 mph and touching 98 at peak—but the pitch features above-average ride and armside run. It misses an average amount of bats, but is commanded well and sets up a trio of good secondaries in mid-80s gyro slider, mid-80s changeup and a low-to-mid-80s curveball with a serious two-plane break. All of Hagaman’s secondaries boast plus whiff and chase rates with high zone rates.

Hagaman shows a good balance of stuff, arsenal depth and command, and it gives him a midrotation starter projection.

Atlanta Braves

Diego Tornes, OF

The Braves signed the switch-hitting Tornes for a $2.5 million bonus in January 2025, and the top Cuban player on the market looks to be a sound investment so far.

Tornes made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2025, hitting .279/.395/.402 over 32 games. While he didnâ€t hit any home runs, he has plus bat speed, and his underlying data suggests there’s more power coming. With a 90th percentile exit velocity of 105.4 mph and a 88.1 mph average EV at just 17 years old, Tornes is showing plus raw power in games already. Thereâ€s some swing-and-miss with a 21.2% in-zone whiff rate, but he shows at least average swing decisions at present with fairly good launch angles.

Tornes currently is manning center field, but opinions are split on whether heâ€ll stick there long term. He boasts a plus—possibly plus-plus—arm that will fit well in a corner outfield spot should he move.

Overall, Tornes is an exciting talent likely to make his stateside debut in 2026.

Chicago Cubs

Ethan Conrad, OF

The Cubs’ 2025 first-round pick may prove to be a steal at pick No. 17.

Conrad was one of the top names in the 2024 college transfer portal, and he transferred to Wake Forest after two seasons at mid-major Marist. A shoulder injury requiring season-ending surgery limited him to just 21 games with the Demon Deacons last year, however. Over those 21 games, Conrad was explosive, showing his stints in the Cape Cod League and at Marist were no mirage.

Conrad has strong bat-to-ball skills with potential for above-average power. He played center field at Wake Forest but could move to the corner outfield long term. Conrad is an above-average runner and a good athlete with a strong 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame.

If Conrad can return to full health, thereâ€s potential for a big 2026 season. The 21-year-old combines an above-average hit tool with above-average power, making for talented all-around player who could play his way into the Top 100 Prospects list conversation early next year.

Cincinnati Reds

Jose Franco, RHP

Signed out of the Dominican Republic in October 2018, Franco has had a long road to this point, as heâ€s spent seven seasons in the Reds organization. It took some time for Franco to gel, but in 2025, he received his first taste of the upper minors and enjoyed the best results of his career. Over a career-high 110 innings split evenly between Double-A and Triple-A, he pitched to a 3.11 ERA with a 25.2% strikeout rate and 11.5% walk rate.

While Franco doesnâ€t have outstanding stuff, he features a sneaky above-average arsenal. His fastball sits 94-96 mph with good plane and a solid combination of total movement. It grades out as a plus pitch on Stuff+ models, and he showed strong command of the pitch over the course of the season. Francoâ€s primary secondary is a mid-80s gyro slider that generates a high rate of whiffs and chase swings. His changeup is used almost exclusively against lefties, and itâ€s a below-average pitch.

Franco will likely fit into a swingman role for the Reds as soon as next season, offering value in a variety of roles.

Colorado Rockies

Roldy Brito, 2B/OF

Brito signed with the Rockies in January 2024 out of the Dominican Republic, and after a pedestrian professional debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2024, he came stateside in 2025 and hit .368/.445/.555 over 51 games with three home runs and 22 stolen bases. He then made the jump to Low-A, hitting .375/.442/.463 over 33 games and finishing the season on a high note. Brito will likely return to Fresno to begin 2026, but he could be a quick study and up in High-A Spokane within the first few months.

Brito shows above-average bat-to-ball skills and power with the ability to consistently find the barrel. There are some red flags in Britoâ€s profile, however, including subpar angles and a swing-happy approach prone to expanding the zone. Despite this, Brito had very good expected outcomes this season due to his combination of contact and power.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Charles Davalan, OF

A standout in his lone season at Arkansas, Davalan hit .346/.433/.561 with 14 home runs last year before being selected in the supplemental first round by the Dodgers. He got a quick taste of professional ball over eight games with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga and performed extremely well, going a jaw-dropping 17-for-34 with three doubles, a triple and a home run. While it was a small sample, Davalan will likely make the jump to High-A to begin 2026 and could move to Double-A Tulsa quickly.

Davalan blends plus bat-to-ball skills, average power and a knack for finding the barrel. It culminates in good in-game results and power numbers better than his raw exit velocities would otherwise suggest.

Davalan is a likely candidate to be the next breakout Dodgers hitting prospect.

Miami Marlins

Karson Milbrandt, RHP

Itâ€s taken a few seasons for Milbrandt to turn a corner, but heâ€s now showing all the ingredients of a potential breakout in 2026 as he mows down hitters in the Arizona Fall League.

Milbrandt enjoyed a career-best season in 2025 with High-A Beloit, as he struck out 101 batters and pitched to a 3.26 ERA over 19 starts spanning 77.1 innings. He then made the jump to Double-A Pensacola, making two starts for the Blue Wahoos.

Milbrandt brings good stuff to the table with an above-average fastball that sits 94-96 mph and features above-average ride and run. He mixes three different breaking ball shapes in an upper-80s cut-slider, mid-80s sweeper and low-80s curveball.

Milbrandt has all the necessary pieces to establish himself as a top pitching prospect, Now, it’s simply a matter of throwing enough strikes.

Milwaukee Brewers

Marco Dinges, C

Drafted out of Florida State in the fourth round in 2024, Dinges is talented hitting catcher with an outside shot to stick behind the plate long term.

Dinges put himself on the prospect radar this season with a strong performance across Low-A and High-A, hitting a combined .300/.416/.514 with 13 home runs over 77 games. There is some swing-and-miss in his game, as he ran a 21% in-zone whiff rate this season and could see that number climb when he reaches the upper minors.

Despite the hit tools concerns, Dinges shows plus game power with an encouraging blend of plus exit velocity data and good launch angles. His 107.2 mph 90th percentile EV places him among the top 95% of hitters in the minor leagues.

As an above-average hitting catcher, if Dinges can replicate his 2025 production next season at Double-A or higher, he could jump into Top 100 conversations.

New York Mets

Jacob Reimer, 3B

It took a few years for Reimer to find his sea legs as a professional after being a fourth-round pick back in 2022 out of Yucaipa (Calif.) High School. The good news for Reimer is he took a massive step forward in 2025, hitting .282/.379/.491 with 17 home runs between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton.

While there are some questions about whether he sticks at third base long term, if Reimer has to move off the position, his bat is enough to carry him at first base, as he combines one of the better blends of bat-to-ball ability and power. In 2025, he ran a 15.3% in-zone whiff rate with strong swing decision metrics and a 105.3 mph 90th percentile exit velocity. He doesn’t just show power and plate skills, either, as he has the optimized angles to allow him to put his best-struck drives in the air and shows the ability to hit for pullside power with regularity.

From a data-based perspective, Reimer is one of the best emerging power hitters in the minor leagues. Still not Rule 5-eligible for another season, Reimer could hit his way onto the Mets’ active roster by the end of 2026.

Philadelphia Phillies

Gage Wood, RHP

The Phillies’ 2025 first-round pick, Wood enjoyed an outstanding junior season at Arkansas in which he made 10 starts after coming back from shoulder injury early and dominating down the stretch. Over 37.2 innings with the Razorbacks last year, he struck out 46% of opposing batters against a 4.7% walk rate. Wood then tossed a complete game no-hitter in the College World Series, striking out 19 Murray State batters in an all-time performance.

Wood mixes a four-seam fastball, curveball, cutter and splitter, with his fastball and curveball seeing the majority of usage in 2025. His fastball sits 95-97 mph and touches 98 at peak with above-average ride from a lower release height to create an outlier plane of approach to the plate. His curveball plays off his fastball at the top of the zone, changing eye levels at 83-85 mph and showing dynamic two-plane movement. The cutter and changeup see very little usage presently, but with slight improvement, they could deepen Woodâ€s plan of attack against opposing hitters.

Wood has the stuff to make a big jump as a professional in 2026 and could even potentially see some innings with the Phillies by the end of next year.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Esmerlyn Valdez, OF

The 2025 season has been a good one for Valdez.

During the regular season, the 21-year-old outfielder slugged 26 home runs between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona, slashing .286/.376/.520 over 123 games. The Pirates then sent Valdez to the Arizona Fall League, where his easy plus power has been on full display. Over 11 games with Salt River, Valdez leads the AFL by a wide margin with eight home runs in 29 at-bats.

Valdez combines plus raw power with excellent launch angles. Despite below-average bat-to-ball skills, he’s able to consistently tap into his power, as evidenced by a 107.8 mph 90th percentile exit velocity and 14.8 degree hard-hit launch angle. While thereâ€s some red flags in Valdezâ€s contact data, his plus power hitting ability could be enough to overcome that, as he runs high barrel rates with the ability to consistently hit the ball in the air to his pull side.

Likely a slam dunk addition to the Pirates’ 40-man roster this offseason, Valdez could debut in Pittsburgh at some point in 2026.

San Diego Padres

Jorge Quintana, SS

An under-the-radar trade acquisition by the Padres, it looks like Quintana could end up a steal.

The Brewers signed the switch-hitting Quintana in 2024 for $1.7 million out of Venezuela. He put up solid but unspectacular numbers this season, slashing .264/.349/.403 over 50 complex league games, before struggling post-trade over 25 games with Low-A Lake Elsinore.

Under the hood, Quintana shows a collection of good traits, including above-average bat-to-ball skills and strong swing decision data. He posted a 17.8% in-zone whiff rate this year and also showed above-average raw power for his age and level with a 104.1 mph 90th percentile exit velocity.

Quintanaâ€s biggest red flags are his flatter angles on contact, which sap some of his in-game raw power. However, this is an area the Padres can help Quintana improve, and additional positive launch angles could lead to a true breakout down the line.

San Francisco Giants

Trevor Cohen, OF

After three seasons with Rutgers, Cohen went to the Giants in the third round of the 2025 draft for $847,500. He debuted following the draft and registers one of the most impressive post-draft performances of any player in the 2025 class. Over 28 games with Low-A San Jose, Cohen hit .327/.438/.402 with more walks than strikeouts as he overwhelmed opposing pitchers.

Metrics-wise, Cohen exemplified strong plate skills with a 9.2% in-zone whiff rate in his debut to go along with a 23.8% chase rate and .373 xwOBA. His power is just fringy with a 102.7 mph 90th percentile exit velocity and a solid barrel rate. More of a line drive-hitter, Cohen doesn’t put many hard-hit balls in the air, and his best contact comes in the form of well-placed ground balls. Improving his game power and angles will be a point of emphasis for Cohen going forward.

St. Louis Cardinals

Tanner Franklin, RHP

In addition to drafting one of the best 2025 college talents in Liam Doyle, the Cardinals also boast a great deal of excitement Franklin, who was Doyleâ€s college teammate at Tennessee before going to St. Louis as a supplemental second-round pick.

After he worked primarily as a reliever with Kennesaw State and the Volunteers the past three seasons, the Cardinals plan to develop Franklin as a starter, as he boasts a high-octane pitch mix featuring a four-seam fastball, cutter, changeup and slider. His four-seam fastball sat 95-97 mph this season, touching 101 at peak with good ride from a lower release height. His primary secondary is a hard, low-90s cutter with high spin rates and true cut-fastball shape. He tosses a changeup on a rare occasions, as well as a baby sweeper in the mid 80s, which some designate as a curveball.

With such an electric mix, it seems to be simply a matter of whether Franklin can stick as a starter as a professional. If he does, he could be one of the breakout names of 2026.

Washington Nationals

Jake Bennett, LHP

Presently, Nationals’ farm system is fairly barren when it comes to viable breakout candidates—something that shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who have followed the organization in the minor leagues in recent years. Fortunately, with a front office overhaul currently underway in Washington, many of the Nationals’ players should see improved player development and streamlined organizational processes coming soon.

Bennett, a 6-foot-6 lefthander is the player who may benefit the most from the new changes. The 24-year-old missed all of 2024 after having Tommy John surgery and returned to action in 2025. He made 19 appearances across three levels, finishing the season in Double-A and pitching to a 2.27 ERA. He also showed off his strengths—generating weak contact and throwing consistent strikes—by posting a 47.3% groundball rate and 6.4% walk rate.

Eligible to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason, Bennett is likely in line for some starts with the Nationals in 2026. While he has enjoyed a fair amount of success as a professional, improvements to his pitch mix could pay dividends.

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Few programs in college baseball have changed more in the past decade than Tennessee under Tony Vitello.

When he took over in 2017, the Volunteers were fighting for relevance in the SEC. Today, they are one of the sportâ€s true powerhouses, fueled by elite talent, modern facilities and one of the most passionate fan bases in the country.

Vitello built it all. He led Tennessee to three trips to Omaha, delivered the programâ€s first national championship in 2024 and helped rally enough booster support to turn it into one of the nationâ€s most well-funded and ambitious programs. The Volunteers became a destination for top recruits and a model for how energy and vision can reshape a brand.

Now, with Vitello set to take over as manager of the San Francisco Giants, Tennessee faces a defining moment. Pitching coach Frank Anderson has been named interim head coach, though athletic director Danny White left it unclear whether Anderson will remain in that role through the 2026 season. The ambiguity casts a seemingly unnecessary cloud of uncertainty over a juggernaut program that had an internal assistant structure, which includes associate head coach Josh Elander, ready to take over and thrive after years under Vitello.

The Tennessee job now sits among the sportâ€s elite, offering SEC resources, top-of-market pay, national recruiting reach and the expectation of championships. The following list reflects names that sources believe Tennessee could be interested in pursuing, not an indication of any coachâ€s current level of interest or engagement.

Below is a look at potential candidates to replace Vitello, based on conversations with coaches, agents and industry sources since news broke that he was the leading candidate for the Giants job.

Candidates are listed alphabetically.

Frank Anderson, Interim Head Coach, Tennessee

Anderson served as Oklahoma Stateâ€s head coach from 2004-12 and has held various assistant roles dating back to 1984. Heâ€s widely regarded as one of the best pitching coaches in college baseball, known for his ability to develop fastballs and refine command. Over his career, Anderson has coached 103 pitchers who have been selected in the MLB Draft, including 10 first-round picks, four of them at Tennessee. The Volunteers have had at least three pitchers drafted in each of the past four years, including five in 2025.

Anderson was named interim head coach following Vitelloâ€s departure. While sources indicated itâ€s unlikely he will take over the role full time, they did not completely rule out the possibility, thus justifying his inclusion. At minimum, his experience, institutional knowledge and respect within the program make him a stabilizing presence during the transition.

Erik Bakich, Head Coach, Clemson

Bakich has won 133 games in three seasons at Clemson and was a game away from Omaha in 2024, continuing the steady rise that earned him a contract extension through 2030. The deal boosted his salary to $1.4 million annually, placing him among the nationâ€s top 10 highest-paid coaches at the time. Widely regarded as an advanced player developer, Bakich has the Tigers positioned for sustained success. He is firmly rooted at Clemson, but Tennesseeâ€s resources and national profile make this the kind of job that could change things quickly if serious interest ever emerged.

Josh Elander, Assistant Coach, Tennessee

Vitelloâ€s relationship with Elander dates back to their time at TCU, where Elander played from 2010-12 and Vitello coached from 2011-13. After a brief pro career, Elander reunited with Vitello at Arkansas in 2017 and followed him to Knoxville that offseason. Since then, he has become one of college baseballâ€s premier hitting coaches and recruiters. Seventeen of his Tennessee hitters have been drafted within the first five rounds, including six first-rounders: Drew Gilbert, Jordan Beck, Christian Moore, Blake Burke, Gavin Kilen and Andrew Fischer.

Elanderâ€s knack for identifying talent and developing hitters has been central to Tennesseeâ€s rise into a national power. Promoted to associate head coach in 2022, heâ€s viewed internally as a steady hand who could sustain the programâ€s identity while adding his own touch. He has strong backing from fans, players and alums to earn a full-time promotion—a move that would make plenty of sense given his role in shaping Tennesseeâ€s success.

White said Wednesday that he wants Elander to “be a candidate†for the full-time role. Plainly, this move makes the most sense for the stability of the program.

Dan Fitzgerald, Head Coach, Kansas

Fitzgerald, 48, has quickly become one of college baseballâ€s most respected figures, earning national attention for the speed and sustainability of Kansas†rebuild. He took over ahead of the 2023 season and has since turned one of the Big 12â€s least-resourced programs into a consistent postseason contender. In 2025, Kansas set a program record with 20 conference wins and tied its second-highest overall total at 43, marking its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014.

Fitzgeraldâ€s success stems from an aggressive, adaptive approach to roster building, centered on identifying talent in the junior college market and developing players in unconventional ways. That strategy has helped Kansas compete against programs with deeper NIL pockets and greater scholarship flexibility. His player-development background and forward-thinking methods have also drawn interest from professional circles, where his balance of evaluation and culture-building would translate well to any level.

Sources have indicated to Baseball America that Fitzgerald is a candidate to watch closely.

Link Jarrett, Head Coach, Florida State

A rocky start in Tallahassee has given way to two outstanding seasons for Jarrett, a Florida State alum and torchbearer for legendary coach Mike Martin, for whom he played in the early 1990s. Jarrett guided the Seminoles to the College World Series semifinals in 2024, winning 49 games, then reached a super regional in 2025 with 42 victories. Heâ€s a proven winner in an era when sustained success is increasingly difficult to achieve.

Jarrettâ€s deep ties to Florida State make him a difficult pull, but Tennessee is in search of a home run hire to follow Vitello, and Jarrett would certainly fit that bill. His track record of excellence dates back to his time at Notre Dame, where he led the Irish to the 2022 College World Series one year after a super regional appearance.

Skip Johnson, Head Coach, Oklahoma

Between a hefty buyout tied to his contract extension through 2029 and the established foundation heâ€s built at Oklahoma, Johnson would be difficult to lure away. But that hasnâ€t stopped teams from calling before, and a program with Tennesseeâ€s ambition and resources is unlikely to overlook him.

Long regarded as one of the sportâ€s premier pitching minds, Johnson has developed a reputation built on both results and relationships, shaped by years of success with players such as future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. Heâ€s been a candidate for several marquee jobs in recent years, and his name always surfaces when major openings arise. Landing him would require a significant financial commitment, but Tennessee is one of the few programs capable of making it happen.

Wes Johnson, Head Coach, Georgia

In just two seasons, Johnson has turned Georgia into one of the SECâ€s most dangerous and efficient teams. He led the Bulldogs to a Super Regional in his first year and had them back above the host line in his second, compiling an 86-34 record—the most wins ever by a Georgia coach through two seasons.

Known for his pitching expertise, aggressive transfer portal recruiting and advanced use of analytics, Johnson has quickly modernized and energized the program. He signed an extension in May that runs through 2031, though his buyout remains manageable. Tennessee could easily afford it, making him a legitimate target if it wants to poach from within the SEC.

Skylar Meade, Head Coach, Troy

Meade has quickly elevated Troy into one of the Sun Beltâ€s most competitive programs, transforming the Trojans from a .500-level team into a consistent NCAA Tournament contender. Over his first four seasons, he compiled a 148-89 record, the best start for any head coach in program history, and led Troy to its first regional appearance since 2018 in 2023. His 2025 team spent much of the spring on the NCAA bubble, further proof of the programâ€s steady rise.

Troy has invested heavily in baseball under Meadeâ€s leadership, but the 41-year-oldâ€s track record and reputation for player development make him a compelling candidate should a major program like Tennessee come calling.

Dan Skirka, Head Coach, Murray State

Murray State rewarded Skirka with a new four-year deal after he delivered the most remarkable season in program history, leading the Racers to their first-ever College World Series appearance. His team engineered a true Cinderella run, knocking out Ole Miss and Duke along the way and capturing national attention in the process.

Skirka built that roster from a mix of overlooked transfers and junior college standouts, creating a group defined by belief and cohesion. His ability to maximize talent and foster buy-in helped Murray State become one of the sportâ€s best stories in 2025.

Pulling Skirka from a mid-major would be a bold move, but not an unreasonable one. Heâ€s proven he can galvanize a program, recruit creatively and extract value from underappreciated players. With Tennesseeâ€s resources behind him, heâ€d have the tools to turn that underdog magic into sustained success.

Rob Vaughn, Head Coach, Alabama

Vaughn stabilized Alabama overnight following the abrupt departure of Brad Bohannon, guiding the Crimson Tide to a 74-42 record in two seasons. At 38, heâ€s one of the fastest-rising young coaches in college baseball, earning widespread respect for his player development acumen and composed leadership style.

His ability to win quickly in the SEC, combined with his youth and upward trajectory, makes him an intriguing candidate for one of the sportâ€s top jobs. Vaughnâ€s profile fits the mold of a modern program builder: analytical, player-focused and proven under pressure.

Mark Wasikowski, Head Coach, Oregon

Wasikowski has quietly built one of the steadiest programs on the West Coast and now in the Big Ten. In their first season in a new conference, the Ducks won a share of the regular-season title, reached 40 wins for the third straight year and extended their postseason streak to four, matching the longest run in school history. The 2025 Big Ten coach of the year has a track record as a proven builder, having engineered turnarounds at both Purdue and Oregon while compiling five regional appearances and two super regional trips.

According to multiple sources, Wasikowski is a name to watch closely.

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Teams can extend a qualifying offer to select free agents each offseason. Players who accept are signed to a one-year deal for the next season at the designated value ($22.025 million for 2026). Those who don’t accept remain free agents, and if a new team signs them, their old team receives Draft pick compensation.

Hereâ€s a breakdown of the pending free agents who could receive qualifying offers this offseason, along with a list of notable players who arenâ€t eligible for a QO and information on the Draft compensation and penalties tied to the QO.

Players listed in order of 2025 WAR (per FanGraphs)

Schwarberâ€s walk year couldnâ€t have gone much better, as he led the NL in homers (56) and the Majors in RBIs (132) with a career-high 150 OPS+ over 162 games, wrapping up his four-year, $79 million contract with the Phillies in grand fashion. During the course of that deal, only Aaron Judge had more home runs than Schwarberâ€s 187. He’s also been an impactful postseason performer, hitting 23 playoff dingers.

The top player in the 2025-26 free-agent class, Tucker will enter his age-29 season having recorded 23.4 WAR (per FanGraphs) and a 145 OPS+ since the beginning of 2021. Despite dealing with a hairline fracture in his right hand and a left calf strain in 2025, he still posted his third career 20-20 season (22 HR, 25 SB) with a 143 OPS+ over 136 games for the Cubs, who acquired him from the Astros in December.

Suárez has posted a 3.39 ERA over 116 starts since joining the Phillies†rotation in 2021, the 13th-best mark among MLB starters during that span (min. 100 starts). He also has an impressive track record of playoff success, with a lifetime 1.48 ERA over 42 2/3 innings in the postseason.

Perhaps the best starter in a market lacking a true ace, Valdez has found a formula for consistent success with the Astros. The lefty owns a 3.23 ERA over 973 innings since the beginning of 2020, combining solid strikeout numbers with a heavy dose of ground balls.

After recording a .598 OPS over 81 games in an injury-plagued 2024 season, Bichette entered â€25 needing a strong year to recuperate his stock ahead of free agency. He delivered in a big way, looking like his old self while hitting .311 with 18 homers, 94 RBIs and an .840 OPS.

The results have been inconsistent, but Cease has excellent stuff and has proven to be quite durable. The right-hander led all starters (minimum 1,000 swings) with a 33.8% whiff rate in 2025, which marked his fifth straight season with at least 214 Kâ€s and 32 games started.

One of the biggest surprises of 2025, Grisham set career highs in a number of categories this past season, including homers (34), RBIs (74), walks (82) and OPS (.811). That was a big step up from 2022-24, when he slashed .191/.298/.353 with 39 home runs in 381 games.

The Yankees didnâ€t extend a qualifying offer to Torres when he was a free agent last offseason, so heâ€s still eligible to receive one from the Tigers, who signed the second baseman to a one-year, $15 million deal in December. Torres made the All-Star team for Detroit but regressed in the second half (.659) and finished with 16 homers, 74 RBIs and a .745 OPS (108 OPS+), numbers in line with his 2024 production.

Flahertyâ€s 2025 performance (4.64 ERA) added to his inconsistent track record and gave him a tough decision to make: accept his $20 million salary for 2026 or opt out and try his luck at free agency again. Itâ€s not a given that heâ€ll take the opt-out route after his protracted experience in free agency last offseason, when he was coming off a much better year and didnâ€t have a QO attached to him.

Díaz didnâ€t receive a qualifying offer the last time he was a free agent at the end of the 2022 campaign, as the Mets re-signed him to a five-year, $102 million deal (a record for a reliever) before the QO deadline. Díaz, who finished 2025 with a 1.63 ERA and a 13.3 K/9, is expected to opt out of his contract this offseason.

Although he didnâ€t regain the strikeout stuff of his heyday, the 2025 campaign was still a solid comeback year for Giolito after he pitched to a 4.89 ERA across â€22-23 and then missed all of â€24 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander made 26 starts for Boston with a 3.41 ERA.

Josh Haderâ€s departure as a free agent after the 2023 season opened the door for Suarez to assume the closer job for the Padres, and the latter responded by converting more saves (76) than anyone else over the past two years to go with his 2.87 ERA. Heâ€s expected to opt out of his contract this offseason to test his value on the open market.

Woodruff has missed substantial time due to injuries in his career — including all of 2024 following right shoulder surgery — but few starters have been better on a per-inning basis since â€19. Before a right lat strain put him back on the shelf in September, Woodruff had a 3.20 ERA and a 5.93 K/BB over 12 starts for the Brewers.

One of the best relievers in baseball during his time with the Brewers, Williams had a rocky debut season with the Yankees after being traded from Milwaukee to New York in the offseason. However, Williams finished the year strong and still had some elite peripherals under the hood, so itâ€s possible heâ€ll receive a qualifying offer.

The D-backs shipped off a number of pending free agents at the Trade Deadline but ended up holding onto Gallen, who recorded a career-worst 4.83 ERA over 33 starts in 2025 — a far cry from his 3.29 ERA across â€19-24.

Arraez isnâ€t without his faults, but nobody is better at putting their bat on the ball. The three-time batting champion owns a lifetime .317 average and just recorded the lowest strikeout rate (3.1%) by a qualified hitter since the days of Tony Gwynn.

After two seasons with the Cubs, during which he had a 3.28 ERA and a 5.39 K/BB over 54 starts, Imanaga could reach free agency this offseason if multiple levers are pulled. First, the Cubs would need to decline their three-year, $57 million club option on Imanaga, which would in turn give the lefty a $15 million player option for 2026. Declining that would make Imanaga a free agent, at which point Chicago would have the option of extending him a qualifying offer.

King made a successful transition to a full-time starting job in 2024, finishing seventh in the NL Cy Young Award voting. He was on his way to another outstanding year in â€25 before injuries intervened, costing him roughly half the season.

Not every free agent can receive a QO. Players who have previously received a QO are ineligible, which means these pending free agents are not eligible to receive one:

Pete Alonso (Mets), Tyler Anderson (Angels), Chris Bassitt (Blue Jays), Cody Bellinger (Yankees), Alex Bregman (Red Sox), Alex Cobb (Tigers), Michael Conforto (Dodgers), Patrick Corbin (Rangers), Jason Heyward (Padres), Raisel Iglesias (Braves), Kenley Jansen (Angels), Nick Martinez (Reds), Martín Pérez (White Sox), Marcell Ozuna (Braves), J.T. Realmuto (Phillies), David Robertson (Phillies), Carlos Santana (Cubs), Max Scherzer (Blue Jays), Chris Taylor (Angels), Justin Turner (Cubs), Justin Verlander (Giants)

Players who weren’t continuously with an organization, either in the Minors or Majors, from Opening Day until the end of the regular season are also ineligible. Notable pending free agents in this category who werenâ€t mentioned above include:

COMPENSATION AND PENALTIES

If a team gives a qualifying offer to a player who then signs elsewhere, the club that lost the player is eligible for Draft pick compensation the following year.

Meanwhile, any team that signs a player who has rejected a qualifying offer is subject to the loss of one or more Draft picks, though a team’s highest first-round pick is exempt from forfeiture. (Players who are unsigned after the start of the MLB Draft in the year that follows the rejection of their qualifying offer are no longer tied to Draft pick compensation and can be signed without their new club needing to forfeit a Draft pick.)

For details on how compensation and penalties are determined for qualified free agents, click here.

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With a few players on injured reserve and some young prospects making some pretty solid cases to stick around for good, the Pittsburgh Penguins will have some tough roster decisions to make in the coming days and weeks.

GM and POHO Kyle Dubas made it clear before the start of training camp that the team would deal with the “ripple effects” with veterans if youth made a true push for the NHL roster. Now that it’s happening in real time, what can the organization do about it?

Of course, waivers are an option, and the Penguins were already unafraid to explore that option when they waived veteran defenseman Ryan Graves. But another viable option could be an early-season trade market for some of their role players.

It’s unlikely that one of their “big three” trade candidates – Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson – will be shipped out early one in hopes of better return packages at the trade deadline for their best assets. But that doesn’t mean a smaller trade cannot occur early, as it did last season when Lars Eller was traded to the Washington Capitals in November.

With that in mind, here are some players folks can, maybe, keep an eye on.

Lizotte, 27, has proven to be a perfectly serviceable – and effective – fourth-line center for the Penguins since the beginning of the 2024-25 season. He signed a two-year deal last summer, and he registered 11 goals and 20 points in 59 games last season, which was a career-best pace.

The 5-foot-9, 176-pound forward may be a bit undersized, but he hardly plays like it. He is relentless on the forecheck, uses his speed, drives the net, and doesn’t shy away from contact. Lizotte would be a perfectly solid addition to any contending team’s bottom-six, even just to shore up some depth.

And – in case anyone forgot – there was a brief period last season when he saw a stint as the team’s third-line center, and he registered five goals and nine points in nine games. Lizotte is capable of elevating the offensive side of his game in the right environment, which is a valuable trait when considering his defensive contributions.

Lizotte is – likely – one of the easiest players for the Penguins to trade, and it might just make some sense for them to both get a passable return and make way for a younger prospect.

‘The Young Guys Are Coming’: 3 Observations From Dubas’s Pre-Season Press Conference
On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their 2025 training camp with a few words from general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas.

To some degree, an argument could be made here for Connor Clifton or Caleb Jones, too. However, Jones’s two-year contract may make it a bit more difficult to deal him, and Clifton’s $3.3 million contract may hinder any trade without retention.

On the surface, dealing Shea may not make too much sense. If he is dealt, the Penguins would only have two actual left-side defensemen on their roster in Parker Wotherspoon and Jones. Although it’s not an ideal situation, both Clifton and Matt Dumba have experience playing the off-side, and they could also recall prospect Owen Pickering.

Even if Shea, 28, may only be a seventh defenseman on other NHL teams, he is still a solid depth piece at a low cap hit of $900,000 for just this season. He should be able to be part of a player-for-player swap relatively easily, should the Penguins entertain it.

WBS Penguins Start Strong, Take Both Games Of Weekend Swing
The Pittsburgh Penguins are off to a 2-1 start this season, and they have played a bit better than most had expected up to this point.

Dewar was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs – along with blueliner Conor Timmins, who was dealt to the Buffalo Sabres this summer – just prior to the 2025 trade deadline. And, since his acquisition, he has been a really solid fourth-line player for the Penguins.

He had four goals and seven points in just 17 games with the Penguins last season after putting up just three points in 31 games with the Leafs prior to the deadline. He had a great pre-season and has already registered a point in the first three games, and his defensive conscience as well as the energy he brings could probably help fill out another roster’s depth.

Dewar – like Lizotte – is a perfectly fine player to keep around, should the Penguins choose. He has been a good player for the Penguins in his tenure. But he’s also the exact kind of player who is blocking a younger, higher-upside prospect from the roster.

Two Injured Penguins Players Going On California Trip
The Pittsburgh Penguins will have a couple of their injured players with them this week in California.

Up to this point, Novak has only played in five games for the Penguins, as he was injured after playing just two games for Pittsburgh following his acquisition from the Nashville Predators at the deadline.

As is the case with the other players on this list, Novak has been serviceable in those five games. Sure, he plays a bit on the perimeter, and yes, he could be less shy about taking contact. But the 6-foot-1 center has barely had any runway to develop chemistry with any of his new teammates, and he has a track record of being a solid bottom-six player in Nashville with 49 goals and 117 points in 201 games there. He has also displayed some chemistry with youngster Ben Kindel.

But, again, should his roster spot be filled by someone like Tristan Broz or Avery Hayes, who are six years younger and may be part of the Penguins’ future plans? The argument can be made that the Penguins should hold off a bit on Novak to see if he can build some trade value.

But, once again, if the Penguins are serious about a youth movement, they need to consider all options for helping that come to fruition for deserving players, even if that means shipping off someone like Novak a tad bit prematurely.

It’s Only Been Three Games. But Kindel And Brunicke Should Be In Pittsburgh To Stay.
Going into Pittsburgh Penguins’ training camp this season, it’s safe to say that most folks did not have 2025 11th overall pick Ben Kindel making the NHL roster out of the gate.

Bookmark THN – Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

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ATLANTA — Though there was a year-long expectation this would be Brian Snitkerâ€s final season as the Braves’ manager, there is still some uncertainty about who will be his successor.

Bobby Cox (1990-2010) and two of his disciples, Fredi Gonzalez (2011-16) and Snitker (2016-2025) account for the only three managers the Braves have had since midway through the 1990 season. Atlanta won 21 division titles, captured six National League pennants and won two World Series trophies during this 35-year span.

Will the Cox lineage continue with this next managerial hire?

David Ross, Mark DeRosa, Walt Weiss and Eddie Perez are among Coxâ€s former Braves players who have interest in the vacancy. But thereâ€s a chance Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos will choose a manager without any previous ties to the organization.

“You just canâ€t rush it or force it,†Anthopoulos said. “Itâ€s a big decision. Itâ€s a big hire. Youâ€d love to do it sooner rather than later. But every team going through this would tell you the same thing.â€

Though many fans have been devising their own wish lists over the past few months, Anthopoulos said as of Saturday morning, he hadnâ€t created his own list of candidates. He also said if the process works as he hopes, the candidates†names wonâ€t leak before a hire is made.

Anthopoulos has started to do his due process with background checks. Here are the names of some guys who could end up interviewing for the Braves job.

Ross: Before he became a clubhouse favorite at Fenway and Wrigley, the former catcher was a beloved Brave from 2009-12. He didnâ€t have any managerial experience before leading the Cubs to a winning record in two of his four seasons as the skipper on the North Side.

If the Braves are keeping hitting coach Tim Hyers, Ross and Hyers developed a good friendship when the former was a catcher and the latter was a Minor League coach in Bostonâ€s organization more than a decade ago.

DeRosa: This MLB Network star has come a long way since being the quiet young guy who drew the favor of Chipper Jones, B.J. Surhoff and many other veteran Braves around the start of this century. His lone managerial experience came as Team USA’s skipper in the World Baseball Classic, but heâ€s a great communicator who could benefit from an experienced bench coach like…

John Gibbons: Before serving as the Mets bench coach the past two seasons, Gibbons was Anthopoulos†manager in Toronto from 2013-15. The bond led to Gibbons being hired as a special assignment scout for the Braves in 2020.

The 63-year-old Gibbons†familiarity with Anthopoulos makes him an iteresting candidate to be the Braves†next manager or bench coach, especially if Anthopoulos tabs a skipper with limited managerial experience.

Walt Weiss: Speaking of bench coaches, Weiss was considered by some to be the manager-in-waiting as he spent the past eight seasons as Snitkerâ€s bench coach. Weiss previously served as the Rockies†manager from 2013-16.

Given there was never any attempt by the Braves to push Snitker toward managing another season, thereâ€s reason to question if Anthopoulos will choose to go in a new direction with his managerial hire and most coaching staff positions.

Perez: The 1999 NLCS MVP was a hot managerial candidate a little more than a decade ago. Even if the Braves go a different direction with the manager and staff, there should seemingly be a coaching spot for Perez. The Braves dismissed catching coach Sal Fasano after last season. That opened the door for Perez to have a significant impact on the defensive strides top NL Rookie of the Year candidate Drake Baldwin made this year.

Ryan Flaherty: Flahertyâ€s star has risen since he spent much of the 2018 season serving as Nick Markakis†carpool partner in Atlanta. The Cubs†bench coach seems to be on the path toward a successful career as a big league manager.

George Lombard: Itâ€s been a long time since John Schuerholz took pride in luring Lombard away from his commitment to play running back at the University of Georgia. Lombard currently serves as the Tigers†bench coach. Like Flaherty, the Atlanta native is a highly-respected communicator who seems to have what it takes to be a successful big league skipper.

Danny Lehmann: Anthopoulos was in the Dodgers’ front office when he crossed paths with LAâ€s current bench coach. Lehmann was serving as the teamâ€s advanced video scout at the time. His significant rise led him to his current role in 2023.

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ATLANTA — Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Saturday that he hopes to move quickly as he begins his search for a successor to Brian Snitker as manager but that he has not conducted any interviews.

Snitker, 69, announced Wednesday that he won’t return after 10 seasons as the Braves’ manager.

Even though Snitker’s decision wasn’t a surprise, Anthopoulos insisted he wasn’t going to begin compiling a list of candidates before giving the manager time to finalize his plans.

Asked what the Braves would have done if Snitker wanted to return for the 2026 season, Anthopoulos said: “He would have been back. That’s why we were going to wait and give him the time he needed.”

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Former Braves catcher and Chicago Cubs skipper David Ross told The Associated Press on Thursday that he wants to manage again. Ross said an opportunity to manage the Braves “would be amazing.”

Anthopoulos insisted “we do not currently have a list” and said “I wanted to get some things done internally” before beginning his search.

“I will now turn my attention to the manager,” Anthopoulos said. “… We have not spoken with anybody.”

Snitker led the Braves to the 2021 World Series championship as the highlight of almost a half-century with the organization. He will remain in an advisory role and will be inducted into the team’s hall of fame next season.

Anthopoulos said he and Snitker have an agreement on a five-year term as senior adviser but added that could change.

Two coaches on Snitker’s staff have experience as a manager. Bench coach Walt Weiss is the Colorado Rockies’ former manager. Third base coach Fredi González is a former manager with the Braves and Miami Marlins.

There has been speculation that other possible candidates are former Braves infielder Mark DeRosa and Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty. Former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker was named the Texas Rangers’ skipper Friday night.

“Before Skip Schumaker was named, there were eight openings,” Anthopoulos said. “That’s a lot of openings. … That makes it incredibly challenging.”

Anthopoulos said his timeline to make a hire could be impacted if he focuses on a candidate who is also of interest to another team.

“Of course as soon as possible with so many openings,” Anthopoulos said when asked how soon he hopes to make a hire. “You can’t just rush it or force it. … You’d love to be able to do it sooner than later.”

Snitker posted a record of 811-688 as manager. He ranks third in franchise history in wins, trailing Bobby Cox (2,149) and Frank Selee (1,004). He led the Braves to seven postseasons, including six National League East titles.

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ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Saturday he hopes to move quickly as he begins his search for a successor to Brian Snitker as manager but that he has not conducted any interviews.

Snitker, 69, announced Wednesday he wonâ€t return after 10 seasons as the Braves†manager.

Even though Snitkerâ€s decision wasnâ€t a surprise, Anthopoulos insisted he wasnâ€t going to begin compiling a list of candidates before giving the manager time to finalize his plans.

When asked what the Braves would have done if Snitker wanted to return for the 2026 season, Anthopoulos said: “He would have been back. Thatâ€s why we were going to wait and give him the time he needed.â€

Former Braves catcher and Chicago Cubs skipper David Ross told The Associated Press on Thursday he wants to manage again. Ross said an opportunity to manage the Braves “would be amazing.â€

Anthopoulos insisted “we do not currently have a list†and said “I wanted to get some things done internally†before beginning his search.

“I will now turn my attention to the manager,†Anthopoulos said. “… We have not spoken with anybody.â€

Snitker led the Braves to the 2021 World Series championship as the highlight of almost a half-century with the organization. He will remain in an advisory role and will be inducted into the teamâ€s hall of fame next season.

Anthopoulos said he and Snitker have an agreement on a five-year term as senior adviser but added that could change.

Two coaches on Snitkerâ€s staff have experience as a manager. Bench coach Walt Weiss is Coloradoâ€s former manager. Third base coach Fredi González is a former manager with Atlanta and the Marlins.

There has been speculation that other possible candidates are former Braves infielder Mark DeRosa and Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty. Former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker was named the Texas Rangers†skipper on Friday night.

“Before Skip Schumaker was named, there were eight openings,†Anthopoulos said. “Thatâ€s a lot of openings. … That makes it incredibly challenging.â€

Anthopoulos said his timeline to make a hire could be impacted if he focuses on a candidate who is also of interest to another team.

“Of course as soon as possible with so many openings,†Anthopoulos said when asked how soon he hopes to make a hire. “You canâ€t just rush it or force it. … Youâ€d love to be able to do it sooner than later.â€

Snitker posted a record of 811-688 as manager. He ranks third in franchise history in wins, trailing Bobby Cox (2,149) and Frank Selee (1,004). He led the Braves to seven postseasons, including six NL East titles.

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  Rachel KryshakOct 2, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

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  Rachel Kryshak is a professional data consultant specializing in data communication and modelling. She’s worked in the NHL and consulted for professional teams across North American and Europe. She hosts the Staff & Graph Podcast and discusses sports from a data-driven perspective.

The NHL preseason is close to finished, and the regular season is approaching on Oct. 7.

Last season, there were plenty of opportunities for regression, given what occurred during the 2023-24 season. Almost every player in last year’s article regressed in a meaningful way. Auston Matthews, Sam Reinhart, Jonathan Marchessault, Zach Hyman and the Vancouver Canucks regressed in their own significant ways from the previous season. That’s not to say they won’t bounce back this season.

Candidates for regression this season include those most likely to see a 10+% drop in production, be it goals or points, based on their situations. The biggest regression factor is shooting percentage; many players featured on this list shot well over their expected paces. Other factors include players projected to be in different situations, team environment and elevated matchups.

LW, Boston Bruins

Prior to last season, Morgan Geekie’s career high in shooting percentage was 13%. His shooting percentage in 2024-2025? 22%!

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Playing on Boston’s top line, that led to a goal total of 33, nearly doubling his previous career high of 17. Suffice to say, that is highly unlikely to occur in back-to-back seasons.

Geekie’s goal production exploded, his role increased with the Bruins and he saw his offensive zone starts increase from 12.1% to 19.1%. According to MoneyPuck, his 5-on-5 on-ice goals percentage was 58% against an expected percentage of 52.7%. Given the state of the Bruins, it is reasonable to expect those numbers to regress as well.

If Geekie continues to play on the top line, it is reasonable to expect his goal total to be in line with a complementary player on a top line, skating with an elite goal scorer (David Pastrnak). That is to say, Geekie is more likely to total between 22 and 26 goals, than he is to hit 30 again.

He will continue to be a key piece for the Bruins, getting those top-line minutes, but with that comes more difficult matchups. There is nowhere to “hide” when you play on the top line, he will have less time and space to maneuver, and it is fair to expect a drop in goal production.

C, Winnipeg Jets

Scheifele’s 2024-2025 season was incredible, notching 39 goals and 87 points. During the campaigns in which he tallied 38, 39 and 42 goals, his shooting percentage was around 20%, which is three percentage points higher than his career shooting percentage. He also scored more than 10 power-play goals in each of those seasons, which is likely where the regression is going to come from.

Last season, Scheifele had a career-high in power-play points, with 25, and while he should score around 20 again, the loss of Nikolaj Ehlers on the top power-play will impact a power play that ranked as the best in the NHL. It is unlikely the Jets would repeat a 29% success rate on the power play if the playmaking Ehlers was retained; it becomes less likely without him.

A regression in power-play success, combined with some expected shooting percentage regression should see Scheifele score around 30 goals and 77 points. While that is still top-line center production, a regression of more than 10% and nearly 25% in goal scoring would be a step back after a tremendous 2024-2025.

LW, Washington Capitals

Many Capitals players had eye-popping statistical seasons in 2024-2025, perhaps none more so than Protas.

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The 6-6, 247-pound forward broke out in a major way last season, more than doubling his point total from the season prior, and notching 30 goals, following a previous career high of six! Protas’ career-high shooting percentage was 8.8% … until last season, when it jumped to 21.1%. According to MoneyPuck, he scored 8.3 goals above expected in all situations.

There is no question his shot improved dramatically, but shooting 21% is not sustainable. The greatest shooter in the history of the sport, his teammate Alex Ovechkin, shot 18.6% last season. On that stat alone, you can expect significant regression. If Protas is a true 11-12% shooter, a more plausible goal output for him would be around 20 goals, 33% less than last season’s mark.

Adding to this, Protas scored zero power-play goals, and as long as Ovechkin is playing, the 24-year-old is unlikely to get many shooting opportunities on the power play. In fairness, no one on the Caps is.

Protas is tremendously talented and caught many teams by surprise last season. That will not be the case this season, and he will face tougher matchups as teams will be more aware of him as a scoring threat. He’s more likely to be a 55- to 60-point power winger than a 65-plus-point player.

LW, Tampa Bay Lightning

Hagel’s profile was raised an order of magnitude higher after his performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off, despite have three consecutive seasons of quality offensive production in Tampa Bay.

He’s a menace for the Lightning, and a shorthanded threat, notching seven points on the penalty kill last season, accounting for nearly half of his career output while a man down (16). While Hagel is one of the league’s most dangerous penalty killers, he is unlikely to have a repeat performance of shorthanded offensive production.

A 90-point season raised a lot of eyebrows around the NHL, but Hagel’s shooting percentage was a relatively sustainable 15.4%. Hagel is slated to play on the second line with Anthony Cirelli, another excellent two-way player. While he is still likely to be near a point-per-game pace, Hagel is unlikely to notch 90 points playing in that role, without meaningful time skating on a line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. His true talent is more indicative of a 75-80 point player, which is elite for a second-liner, but almost a 15% drop in production should be expected.

RW, Vegas Golden Knights

One of the best two-way wingers in the NHL has a few things working against him this season.

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First and foremost, he’s played more than 60 games just three times in the last 10 seasons. Yes, there was COVID, but no one following the NHL is going to make the argument that Mark Stone’s health is something to be relied upon. He was uncharacteristically healthy last season, and yet managed to play in only 66 of the 82 games, tallying 67 points. Stone is 33, and has dealt with more than his fair share of back injuries; those do not go away with age.

Adding to that, Stone has rightfully lost his spot next to Jack Eichel because, in case you haven’t heard, Mitch Marner is now with the Golden Knights. That will dimmish Stone’s opportunity alongside one of the past centers in the NHL, though Stone should still get opportunities on the top power-play unit.

The regression boils down to Stone’s injury history, a decreased role on the second line, and that the drop from Eichel to William Karlsson is significant enough to warrant a 10% drop in offensive production at even strength. When all of those factors are considered, it is difficult to see Stone having a second consecutive season of 65-plus points. However, if he stays healthy and plays 82 games for the first time in his career, he is projected for 68 points.

C, Dallas Stars

Duchene is expected to be the third-line center for the Stars this season, and I cannot think of a single third-line center who notched 82 points.

He should continue to get power-play time, but a third-line role behind Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston will limit his ice-time and opportunities to create offense. Further to that, Duchene shot 19.7% last season, the second highest mark of his career, which carries an average shooting percentage of 13.6%. With decreasing opportunity, it is not a guarantee that Duchene tallies 150 shots this season. Combined with expected regression on his shooting percentage, his projection of 21 goals and 40 assists is excellent for a third-line player, but a drop from the point-per-game season he authored in 2024-2025.

Age is not in Duchene’s favor, either. Given age curves, it wouldn’t be surprising to see his production fall by more than 20% regardless of ice time or offensive opportunity afforded to him. The 34-year-old is highly talented; however, Father Time catches everyone not named Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, it seems.

He’ll be one of the best bottom-six players in the NHL, but it is difficult to envision how he matches last season’s production.

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