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Multiple top stars from “WWE NXT” are backstage at “WWE SmackDown” on Friday night as the show is set to go live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. According to PWInsider Elite, those stars include Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Sol Ruca.

The outlet didn’t confirm just why the former NXT Champions and the former Women’s North American Champion are at the show ahead of “NXT’s” Deadline premium live event on Saturday, which will emanate from the Boeing Center in San Antonio, Texas. However, John Cena announced that Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, which will feature his final match, will also be a showcase of “NXT” talent against main roster stars. There was no initial report that Femi, Williams, and Ruca were brought in to set up angles or matches for the show in Washington, DC, however.

Cena previously announced the competitors for both the men’s and women’s Iron Survivor matches at Deadline, which include Ruca on the women’s side. Williams was defeated by Myles Borne and lost the opportunity to enter the match. Femi will compete against NXT Champion Ricky Saints for the chance to become a two-time holder of the developmental brand’s gold.Â

“The Never Seen 17” has been adamant that “NXT” talent should be featured along the way to his final match. “NXT” star Je’Von Evans also had the opportunity to compete to become Cena’s final opponent, but lost in the “Last Time is Now” tournament in the first round to GUNTHER.

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As Friday Night SmackDown goes live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, a surprising development is unfolding behind the scenes—multiple top NXT stars are backstage.

According to PWInsider Elite, NXT stars Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Sol Ruca have all been spotted backstage ahead of the December 5 show. While their exact role tonight hasnâ€t been confirmed, the timing is hard to ignore.

Cena recently announced that Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event on December 13—his retirement match—would also feature NXT talent vs. main roster stars, hinting that his final chapter might double as a platform for the next generation. Tonightâ€s SmackDown may lay the groundwork for that.

Lineup for WWE SmackDown on December 5, 2025:

• Last Time Is Now Tournament Final: GUNTHER vs. LA Knight
• United States Title Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. ???
• Non-Title Match: Jade Cargill vs. Alba Fyre
• Alexa Bliss vs. Kairi Sane
• Cody Rhodes appears
• Solo Sikoa addresses the Wyatt Sicks attack

Are you hoping to see NXT stars face off against Cena and other main roster legends on December 13? Drop your dream match ideas or predictions in the comments below—weâ€d love to hear who you think should step up next.

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After getting back from a seven-game road trip, Thursday nightâ€s game against the New York Rangers wasnâ€t exactly the homecoming the Ottawa Senators had in mind. J.T. Miller had three assists as the Rangers defeated the Senators 4–2 at Canadian Tire Centre.

But the bigger loss for Ottawa might be centre Shane Pinto, who suffered a lower-body injury, joining the clubâ€s expanding list of walking wounded. Pinto, Ottawa’s top goal scorer (12), was injured in the first period on what appeared to be an innocuous body check from former Senator Mika Zibanejad.

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Down near the end boards in Ottawa’s end, Pinto tried to jump on a loose puck, but as he looked up ice, he took his eye off the puck and missed it, and it slipped off his stick blade. As he opened up to regroup and try to get his stick back on the puck, thatâ€s when Zibanejad made contact. That left Pinto briefly off balance, and his skate appeared to get jammed into the base of the boards.

Before leaving, Pinto went for a brief skate, trying to test out his lower body injury during a stoppage before deciding he couldn’t continue.

Senators head coach Travis Green, as is customary, said he hoped to know more about Pinto’s prognosis on Friday. When Friday came, all Green would say was that Pinto wouldn’t be available for the next game, scheduled for Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues.

“Heâ€s a big loss,†Green told TSN during their Thursday broadcast.

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After getting Brady Tkachuk back in the lineup last week, after he had missed 20 games with a thumb injury, the Senators were hoping for a run of good luck in the injury department. Instead, Thomas Chabot was re-injured, and Artem Zub and Lars Eller also missed Thursdayâ€s game. All are now listed as day-to-day, though Zub is expected back on Saturday night.

And now Pinto is banged up as well.

As for Thursday’s game, the 4-2 loss to the Blueshirts, Artemi Panarin hit the 900-point mark for his career with a goal and an assist. Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens had the Senators†goals, and Leevi Meriläinen stopped 23 of 27 shots. Igor Shesterkin was excellent and always seems to have the Senators’ number.

Brady Tkachuk had an assist in the game and moved past Wade Redden on the Senators†all-time scoring list. He is now in fifth place with 411 points.

The Senators are back at it on Saturday at home against the St. Louis Blues at 7:00 p.m.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News – Ottawa

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WHEN CADE CUNNINGHAM scanned the locker room following a November win during a franchise-record 13-game winning streak, he spotted big man Isaiah Stewart, the longest-tenured member of the Detroit Pistons.

“That guy,” Cunningham said quietly, “Is a winner.”

One year before Cunningham joined Detroit as the No. 1 pick in 2021, Stewart was one of the very first draft picks made by former general manager Troy Weaver, the well-regarded executive hired away from the Oklahoma City Thunder and tasked with restoring the Pistons franchise. Stewart fit the blueprint of what they were attempting to build: an undersized, tough center and a throwback to the “Bad Boys” title teams of 1989 and 1990.

But in Stewart’s first four seasons, the Pistons went 74-244. He showed promise as a rugged defender in those years, enough so that teams would inquire about a trade. The Pistons never budged. And Stewart, despite the mounting losses, was flattered by the interest but kept his focus on helping lead the next phase of Detroit’s rebuild.

“I know I can’t be replaced,” Stewart told ESPN recently. “I don’t say that to be arrogant, but I know I resonate with the city. I was here in the trenches, setting the culture when nobody didn’t give a f— about Detroit.”

That franchise’s loyalty to Stewart and its roster has paid off. And two seasons after amassing the most consecutive losses in NBA history, the Pistons (17-5) are atop the Eastern Conference at the quarter mark of the 2025-26 season.

Led by the league’s best young core outside of Oklahoma City — Cunningham, Stewart, Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson are all under 25 — and guided by early Coach of the Year contender J.B. Bickerstaff, the Pistons claimed their conference-leading 17th win on Dec. 1. They didn’t accomplish that until Jan. 1 last season, and not at all during their woeful 14-68 campaign in 2023-24.

The same team that once couldn’t finish games now finds comfort in clutch time. The same players who once found creative ways to lose are now spearheading impressive wins. And even when they’ve been stretched by stressful situations, the Pistons have yet to do more than bend.

Yes, Detroit Basketball is absolutely back.

FRUSTRATION VIRTUALLY DRIPPED off Cunningham as he walked down the long and lonely hallway to address the postgame media. He looked like a man who had aged years during the eight weeks the Pistons went winless during the first half of 2023-24, not the precocious guard tabbed to resurrect the proud franchise.

“We’re not 2-26 bad,” he said following the team’s loss to the Utah Jazz on Dec. 21, 2023, Detroit’s 25th of a league-record 28 straight defeats.

“No way.”

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The Pistons seemed rudderless. First-year coach Monty Williams had received a record contract after his impressive run with the Phoenix Suns, but it quickly became apparent that he wasn’t the right fit to guide a team reliant on so much youth.

Cunningham was routinely asked in quiet moments, “Why you?” a question with the underlying implication that he was shouldering all the responsibility when the blame had so many authors.

He would often shrug, or stare into space, and reply: It has to be me.

“Maybe we assessed some things wrong,” Pistons owner Tom Gores told reporters the following day. “I’m apologizing to the fans. … we have to right the ship.”

It’s almost impossible to juxtapose that saga’s imagery against the joy that has been permeating lately throughout Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, where late-game woes have been replaced by clutch performances.

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Atlanta Hawks vs. Detroit Pistons: Game Highlights

Atlanta Hawks vs. Detroit Pistons: Game Highlights

The Pistons are 12-4 in clutch time this season, holding their opponents to a league-best 33.7% shooting when games are within five points in the final five minutes or in overtime.

And only Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo scores more points in the fourth quarter than Cunningham’s 9.5 per game.

“Time and time again, he does the job when we need him to do it most,” Bickerstaff said Monday after Cunningham buried back-to-back buckets in the final minute to drop the Atlanta Hawks.

“He embraces that role.”

UNDER A SIGN that reads “The Dawg Pound” sit Stewart and Duren’s adjacent lockers. And depending on the night, one of the two big men will control the auxiliary cord.

If it’s Stewart, you’ll hear reggae rap or Afro beats, a nod to his Jamaican roots. If it’s Duren, anything from mid-’90s R&B to ’90s rap — from Maxwell to Gang Starr — will fill the room. (Keep in mind Duren wasn’t born until 2003.)

That old-soul connection to Bickerstaff has been key to Duren’s breakout season, with the 46-year-old coach challenging the fourth-year center over the summer to improve his on-ball skills and get in optimal shape. Duren has always drawn comparisons to Chris Webber, a player Bickerstaff’s dad, Bernie, coached in Washington. Now, Duren is evolving into a modern version.

“When I first came in, people had me pegged as a pick-and-roll, dunker’s spot, lob threat, which is understandable,” Duren told ESPN. “But I got a lot more to my game, I’m excited to show it. I can do it consistently, be comfortable with it and not think about it. That’s what has helped me take this next step.”

Jalen Duran leads the team with 11.5 rebounds per game this season and Isaiah Stewart is third on the team with 6.4. (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)

Bickerstaff took a serious approach to Duren’s development over the summer, working him out for two weeks and building a rare level of closeness that wasn’t lost on the big man who just turned 22 last month.

“That was the first time since I’ve been in the NBA where that happened,” Duren said. “I don’t know if he knows how much that meant to me, [but] that showed me how much he cared about me.”

Stewart, once one of five centers on the roster, was an early believer in his pairing with Duren, whom the Pistons drafted two years later with the belief that he was their center of the future.

“Me and him on the court together, we cause havoc,” Stewart said in mid-November. “I know a lot of guys in the league don’t want to face that.”

The numbers didn’t always bear that out. Two seasons ago, neither were floor-spreaders — Duren was a vertical spacer with ballhandling potential, while Stewart was a more old-school bruiser. Lineups featuring the duo were minus-3.5 points per 100 possessions. (Add in Cunningham, and the trio was minus-2.1 — not a level that spelled promise for the future.)

But not only did Weaver relent, resisting offers from top contending teams, so did new GM Trajan Langdon when he took over in 2024. Now, Duren and Stewart help anchor the NBA’s third-ranked defense, along with Thompson, who profiles as one of the league’s top perimeter defenders.

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Duren averages 11.5 rebounds in just 29 minutes, trailing only New York Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns among East leaders. Stewart, who comes off the bench, has held opponents to just 44% shooting at the rim on five attempts a night — tied for stingiest in the league with San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet. The Duren-Stewart duo is now plus-11.5 points per 100 possessions. With Cunningham that drops slightly but to a formidable plus-10.1.

Stewart, who is expected to be in Defensive Player of the Year conversations, goes after everything and is fifth in blocked shots at 1.9 per game (2.9 per 36 minutes). He has also developed into a confident 3-point shooter (40.9%), as keeping him on the court with Cunningham and Duren no longer kills the Pistons’ spacing.

But Stewart, for his part, knows where his impact is felt the most. Consider last week, when the Pistons dropped back-to-back games against the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic, after which Stewart stood at his locker to address the media.

“I have to get us back on track,” he said. “I have to set the tone defensively. We’ve had some slippage.”

Three days later against the Hawks, he sent away five shots in a 99-98 old-school win.

A MEASURED APPROACH has defined Langdon’s tenure since he took over the Pistons’ front office. After all, it would have been easy to trade off the young players given all the losses they had compiled.

But early on, Langdon established that the thought never truly crossed his mind. Perhaps the biggest endorsement came from Williams, who was bought out of his then-record contract before Langdon came aboard.

“Getting background on the players from Monty, it all aligned with what I thought was important,” Langdon told ESPN. “I think letting it breathe a little bit and seeing what we had from myself and my group’s assessment, I didn’t want to rush to judgment. Because what we were going to build was going to be different from the predecessor.”

“I think the fear is, if I trade something away that I don’t know what it is, I’m going to regret it.”

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They’re well-positioned for the future, even though they weren’t able to come to terms with Duren and Ivey before the October deadline on rookie deal extensions. Duren is lining himself up for a huge payday in the summer, with league executives telling ESPN it could be in the range of Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun’s five-year, $185 million contract signed in October 2024.

The temptation for the Pistons is to get greedy and truly cement themselves among the elite in the East with a significant personnel move.

The last time the Pistons had a franchise-record winning streak was 2003-04, when they won a title that June. The Indiana Pacers, a rival with the league’s best record, broke their 13-game winning streak that season. The loss was so drastic, it was the catalyst for the Pistons to acquire star forward Rasheed Wallace weeks later, highlighting a need the winning streak couldn’t mask.

Today, things are more ambiguous in the East, with no team being far and away superior. Ranking near the bottom in 3-point volume and middle of the pack in accuracy, those needs would certainly be a reasonable target should the Pistons look for help before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. (The Pistons have a $14.1 million trade exception they can use.)

But Langdon doesn’t believe there’s enough evidence to support such aggression roughly a quarter through the season. There’s “not enough information,” he said.

“I’m always pushing my group, whether it’s from an analytics or personnel standpoint, on how can we get better? Can that happen internally? Or do we need to do something, add something, to get better?

“There’s obviously [the risk of] what those things cost and how they can hamper your future.”

A nine-day Western swing that runs through Christmas is ahead, immediately followed by a home-laden January schedule where they’ll leave Detroit once over a 20-day span. Those two stretches could give answers to Langdon’s yet-to-be-revealed information.

“I wouldn’t [say] that I’m aggressive right now,” he said.

But if a deal comes along that solidifies the Pistons’ elite standing in the East — and moves the franchise even further from the dregs of its grueling years-long rebuild — would Langdon jump at the opportunity?

“Opportunistic, sure. Always opportunistic. “If there’s something out there that we feel can make us better, we’ll take a strong look.”

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Today, we’re unveiling the 10 best prospects in the Twins system entering 2026.

The top of the Twins system is headlined by Walker Jenkins, a potential five-tool player in the outfield who should advance to the big leagues early on in 2026.

Baseball America’s Ian Cundall is hosting a chat at 2 p.m. ET to discuss Jenkins and the overall state of Minnesota’s farm system.

See the 10 best prospects in the Twins system, including brand new scouting reports for every player.

More Prospect Coverage

Below, you can find our projected Twins lineup for 2029, as well as a rundown of prospects with the best scouting tools in the system.

Projected 2029 Twins Lineup

Catcher: Eduardo Tait (22)
First Base: Royce Lewis (30)
Second Base: Luke Keaschall (26)
Third Base: Kaelen Culpepper (26)
Shortstop: Marek Houston (24)
Left Field: Gabriel Gonzalez (24)
Center Field: Walker Jenkins (23)
Right Field: Emmanuel Rodriguez (25)
Designated Hitter: Byron Buxton (35)

No. 1 Starter: Zebby Matthews (28)
No. 2 Starter: Connor Prielipp (27)
No. 3 Starter: Mick Abel (27)
No. 4 Starter: Dasan Hill (23)
No. 5 Starter: Simeon Woods-Richardson (28)
Closer: Charlee Soto (23)

Listed below are the prospects with the best tools within the organization. To go directly to Minnesota’s Top 10, click here.

Twins Best Tools

Best Hitter: Walker Jenkins
Best Power Hitter: Emmanuel Rodriguez
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Emmanuel Rodriguez
Fastest Baserunner: Kyle DeBarge
Best Athlete: Walker Jenkins
Best Fastball: Charlee Soto
Best Curveball: Marco Raya
Best Slider: Connor Prielipp
Best Changeup: Connor Prielipp
Best Control: Andrew Morris
Best Defensive Catcher: Noah Cardenas
Best Defensive Infielder: Marek Houston
Best Infield Arm: Quentin Young
Best Defensive Outfielder: Maddux Houghton
Best Outfield Arm: Brandon Winokur

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The Winter Meetings are already buzzing, and Wednesdayâ€s Rule 5 draft will only add to the excitement.

As one of the signature moments of the hot stove season—and a favorite here at Baseball America—weâ€ve assembled a complete breakdown of what to expect.

When Is The Rule 5 Draft?

This year’s Rule 5 draft is set to take place during the Winter Meetings in Orlando on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. ET.

How To Stream The Rule 5 Draft

While the Rule 5 draft won’t be broadcast on television, it will be streamed live for fans on MLB.com.

How Does The Rule 5 Draft Work?

An annual December tradition that actually predates the World Series, Rule 5 draft allows for teams to add to their rosters from other organizations.

For this year’s draft, those eligible to be selected include any player not on a 40-man roster who turned professional at age 18 or younger in 2021 or at age 19 or older in 2022.

The draft itself consists of a two-round major league phase and five rounds of a minor league phase. Only teams with room on their 40-man roster are eligible to participate.

Drafted players must be carried on the selecting teamâ€s active MLB roster without being optioned to the minors for the entire following season. Teams pay $100,000 to select a major league Rule 5 pick. If they offer the player back to his original team, that team has the option of accepting the playerâ€s return and giving back $50,000 of the Rule 5 fee.

You can read a more in-depth primer on how the Rule 5 draft works here.

What Is The Rule 5 Draft Order?

Teams draft in reverse order of the final regular season standings. This year’s order is as follows:

1. Rockies
2. White Sox
3. Nationals
4. Twins
5. Pirates
6. Angels
7. Orioles
8. Athletics
9. Braves
10. Rays
11. Cardinals
12. Marlins
13. Diamondbacks
14. Rangers
15. Giants
16. Royals
17. Reds
18. Mets
19. Tigers
20. Astros
21. Guardians
22. Red Sox
23. Mariners
24. Padres
25. Cubs
26. Dodgers
27. Blue Jays
28. Yankees
29. Phillies
30. Brewers

Do Future Star Players Ever Get Drafted?

While many Rule 5 players are role players or bit characters in the scheme of baseball history, there have been big names selected, too.

Historical standouts include Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Christy Mathewson and Hack Wilson, Cy Young winners Johan Santana and R.A. Dickey, MVP Josh Hamilton and all-stars like Jose Bautista, Shane Victorino, Anthony Santander and more.

You can read more about the best recent players taken in the Rule 5 draft here.

Who Are The Top Players Available For This Year’s Rule 5 Draft?

Will there be future stars in this year’s draft? Baseball America has been hard at work prepping our annual Rule 5 draft preview featuring top names to know and key positional categories. Check back regularly in the lead-up to the draft, as we’ll continue to add more names that might get picked.

You can find additional Rule 5 draft coverage here:

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The 2-pitch combo that makes Edwin Díaz the top free agent reliever

\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:” a lot of those closers, one of their two pitches does the heavy listing. Take Devin Williams, for example, who just signed with the Mets. Essentially every pitch Williams throws is a fastball or changeup. But his \”airbender\” changeup has been by far his most dominant pitch over the course of his career.\n\nThat was Díaz for a while, too.\n\nWhen he turned things around with the Mets after his rocky first season in New York, it was because of his slider. Díaz has a 100 mph fastball, but his slider was by far his best pitch by the numbers. From 2020-22, when Díaz had a 2.27 ERA and 15.4 strikeouts per nine innings for the Mets, his slider was generating way, way more value than his four-seamer.\n\nBut over the last two seasons, since Díaz returned from the torn patellar tendon that cost him all of 2023, the scales have shifted.\n\nHe is still an elite closer — Díaz has a 2.48 ERA and 13.7 K/9 since 2024. His slider is still a devastating wipeout pitch. But his fastball has stepped up to meet the slider.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2025-05-17T20:08:17.652Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\”preferredPlaybacks\”:\”mp4AvcPlayback\”})”:” Díaz rings up Aaron Judge on a fastball for the final out of the game as the Mets defeat the Yankees, 3-2″,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:00:27″,”slug”:”aaron-judge-strikes-out-swinging-bgaysg”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”season-2025″,”title”:”Season 2025″,”type”:”season”},{“__typename”:”GameTag”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-621242″,”title”:”Edwin Diaz”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:621242″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-121″,”title”:”New York Mets”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:121″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”pitching”,”title”:”pitching”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight”,”title”:”highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”in-game-highlight”,”title”:”in-game highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-action-tracking”,”title”:”game action tracking”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”vod”,”title”:”vod”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-story-highlight”,”title”:”Game story highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”wow”,”title”:”wow”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”eclat-feed”,”title”:”Eclat feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”international-feed”,”title”:”International Partner feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”fan-duel”,”title”:”Fan Duel”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”star-of-the-game”,”title”:”Player of the Game”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:” Díaz earns the save”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/aaron-judge-strikes-out-swinging-bgaysg”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Statcast has a \”run value\” stat for pitchers, which looks at the result of every pitch thrown — ball, strike, single, home run, strikeout, walk, and so on and so on — and measures its impact on run prevention. A positive run value means more runs prevented for the pitcher; a negative run value means runs cost to his team.\n\nDíaz’s pitching value used to come overwhelmingly from his slider. But now? Díaz’s heater and his slider are now *equally* valuable.\n\n**Díaz from 2020-22**\n\n* **Slider:** +36 run value\n* **Fastball:** 0 run value\n\n**Díaz from 2024-25**\n\n* **Slider:** +12 run value\n* **Fastball:** +12 run value\n\nThat’s a big swing. And it’s not just that both pitches are equals now — both are also still top-tier pitches. Díaz ranks right around the top 10 among MLB relievers in both the run value generated by his fastball and by his slider since 2024.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2024-10-19T00:47:17.539Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\”preferredPlaybacks\”:\”mp4AvcPlayback\”})”:” measures the pitch velocity and horizontal break of the pitches from Edwin Díaz’s strikeout of Shohei Ohtani in Game 5 of the NLCS”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:00:40″,”slug”:”diaz-strikes-out-ohtani-on-99-2-mph-fastball”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”GameTag”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-121″,”title”:”New York Mets”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:121″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-621242″,”title”:”Edwin Diaz”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:621242″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”vod”,”title”:”vod”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”player-tracking”,”title”:”Statcast”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-action-tracking”,”title”:”game action tracking”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”alexa”,”title”:”alexa”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”postseason”,”title”:”postseason”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:” strikes out Ohtani on 99.2 mph fastball”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/diaz-strikes-out-ohtani-on-99-2-mph-fastball”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”Two powerful pitches are better than one. Díaz’s fastball and slider were both always elite from a \”stuff\” standpoint — his upper-90s heater has always been explosive, and his upper-90s slider has always been a wipeout pitch — but he hasn’t always gotten elite results from both of them until recently.\n\nSo what’s been the difference lately? Díaz’s slider is still a better swing-and-miss and strikeout pitch, but his fastball has pulled closer. He’s also significantly suppressed the damage hitters have been able to do against the fastball and has been holding opponents to a sub-.200 batting average against both pitch types.\n\n**Díaz from 2020-22:**\n\n* **Slider:** .132 BA / .155 SLG allowed, 53% whiff rate, 51% strikeout rate, 165 K’s\n* **Fastball:** .241 BA / .388 SLG allowed, 34% whiff rate, 34% strikeout rate, 92 K’s\n\n**Díaz from 2024-25:**\n\n* **Slider:** .182 BA / .304 SLG allowed, 42% whiff rate, 39% strikeout rate, 104 K’s\n* **Fastball:** .160 BA / .249 SLG allowed, 38% whiff rate, 38% strikeout rate, 78 K’s\n\nThe slider numbers for 2024-25 might not be as ludicrous as they were from 2020-22, but they’re still really, really good. And so are the fastball numbers.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”

Edwin Díaz, K’ing the Side. 🎺🎺🎺 pic.twitter.com/WdTnyRN0M4

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 22, 2025

\n\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:” encouraging to see how Díaz has found such a lethal balance between his fastball and slider, because his fastball numbers have improved even as he’s lost a little bit of velocity coming back from his injury.\n\nDíaz averaged 98.6 mph on his four-seamer from 2020-22, and has averaged 97.3 mph since 2024. Obviously, that’s still high-end velocity. But lower velo carries the risk of more damage allowed, even in the upper 90s, and Díaz has found a way to avert that.\n\nHow? Part of it is, he’s getting his fastball to more effective locations. From 2020-22, Díaz elevated his fastball — threw it in the upper third of the strike zone or higher — just over 50% of the time. Since 2024, he’s elevated his fastball 60% of the time. It’s easier to rip a heater by a hitter at the top of the zone.\n\nA big part of it is also Díaz’s more even pitch mix.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Image”,”caption”:null,”contextualCaption”:null,”contextualAspectRatio”:null,”credit”:null,”contentType”:null,”format”:”png”,”templateUrl”:” his most dominant seasons with the Mariners and first few years with the Mets, Díaz leaned on his fastball more heavily before putting hitters away with his slider.\n\nSeeing the completely dominant results he was getting from that slider, Díaz flipped the script in 2022, and just started firing slider after slider. No one could hit it. That was the season Díaz had a 1.31 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 62 innings for the Mets.\n\nBut then he got hurt. And when he came back, Díaz adjusted his pitching style.\n\nFor the last two seasons, Díaz has been close to a 50-50 split between his four-seamer and slider, against both right-handed and left-handed hitters.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Image”,”caption”:null,”contextualCaption”:null,”contextualAspectRatio”:null,”credit”:null,”contentType”:null,”format”:”jpg”,”templateUrl”:” even with a little less heat on the fastball, and a little less swing-and-miss on the slider, the unpredictability between the two — particularly when Díaz gets ahead in the count, and in putaway situations — has let him keep overpowering hitters with both offerings.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Image”,”caption”:null,”contextualCaption”:null,”contextualAspectRatio”:”1:1″,”credit”:null,”contentType”:null,”format”:”png”,”templateUrl”:” balance, and success, he’s achieved with both pitches is not something every reliever can pull off. Díaz is one of six relievers whose four-seamer and slider have both been worth at least +10 runs prevented over the last two seasons.\n\n**RP with +10 run value on both 4-seamers and sliders, 2024-25**\n\n* Edwin Díaz (+12 on 4-seamers, +12 on sliders)\n* Mason Miller (+12 on 4-seamers, +23 on sliders)\n* Jason Adam (+11 on 4-seamers, +10 on sliders)\n* Carlos Estévez (+14 on 4-seamers, +11 on sliders)\n* Alex Vesia (+16 on 4-seamers, +10 on sliders)\n* Dennis Santana (+11 on 4-seamers, +11 on sliders)\n\nDíaz isn’t your typical two-pitch closer, he’s a two-elite-pitch closer. His fastball is electric, his slider is electric, and the combination of the two of them is electric. That’s why he’s *the* closer to get in free agency this winter.”,”type”:”text”}],”relativeSiteUrl”:”/news/edwin-diaz-fastball-slider-combo-top-free-agent-reliever”,”contentType”:”news”,”subHeadline”:null,”summary”:”Edwin Díaz, the best reliever on the free-agent market, is a two-pitch pitcher. Fastball, slider, that’s it.\nAnd there’s nothing out of the ordinary there. Elite closers relying on two pitches is par for the course. But what’s interesting for Díaz entering 2026 is how his balance of his two”,”tagline({\”formatString\”:\”none\”})”:null,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”storytype-article”,”title”:”Article”,”type”:”article”},{“__typename”:”ContributorTag”,”slug”:”david-adler”,”title”:”David Adler”,”type”:”contributor”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-621242″,”title”:”Edwin Diaz”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:621242″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”rumors”,”title”:”rumors”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”savant”,”title”:”savant”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”apple-news”,”title”:”Apple News”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”type”:”story”,”thumbnail”:” 2-pitch combo that makes Edwin Díaz the top free agent 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As is often the case early in baseball’s offseason calendar, the reliever market has seen some significant movement before the other segments of free agency really get rolling, as several notable bullpen arms have found new contracts and/or new teams in recent weeks.

It began with the Cubs inking right-hander Phil Maton to a two-year, $14.5 million deal, a sensible match considering the vacancies in Chicagoâ€s bullpen and Matonâ€s sneaky strong 2025. Then a couple of arms with prior late-inning experience but also significant recent injury issues found new homes, with former Tigers closer Alex Lange signing with Kansas City and talented lefty Sam Hentges joining San Francisco after some stellar years with Cleveland.

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The action continued as December approached, with Ryan Helsley agreeing to a two-year, $28 million deal to be Baltimoreâ€s closer, a modest pact considering his Cardinals credentials but also a reflection of his ugly post-trade struggles with New York. Unsurprisingly uninterested in a reunion with Helsley, the Mets then struck a three-year, $51 million deal with Devin Williams, indicating their confidence in the right-hander after an uneven season in the Bronx. Earlier this week, Emilio Pagán agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal to stay in Cincinnati, joining Raisel Iglesias — who agreed to a one-year, $16 million deal with Atlanta last month — as a certified closer opting to stay put this winter.

The reliever market has been moving — and with the winter meetings next week, that trend is expected to continue — but there are still enticing options available for bullpen-needy clubs to address their later innings. With Williams (No. 27), Helsley (No. 33) and Iglesias (No. 45) off the board, hereâ€s a look at the status of and potential landing spots for the four other relievers on our Top 50 free agent rankings, plus one more high-profile closer who joined the free-agent pool unexpectedly last month.

No. 11: RHP Edwin Díaz, 32 years old

Profile:Díaz is a game-ending monster, plain and simple. His overpowering fastball-slider combination presents a particularly unpleasant coin-flip for opposing hitters trying to start any sort of rally against him, and while his command and control occasionally elude him, his stuff is often more than good enough to overcome any shortcomings with location. 2025 was also one of his best seasons yet, prompting Díaz to opt out of the two years and $38 million remaining on his contract and reenter the open market as the best closer available.

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Potential fits:If Díaz is indeed seeking a contract similar to the record-setting, five-year, $102 million deal he garnered during his first trip to free agency three years ago, that obviously limits the number of teams that could plausibly be in pursuit of the right-hander. Interestingly, one of those teams, the defending champion, deep-pocketed Dodgers, is reportedly not as inclined to chase a reliever at that exorbitant price and length of contract — perhaps in response to how poorly last yearâ€s outlay to land Tanner Scott went.

If the Dodgers are focusing their efforts elsewhere in the reliever market, a reunion with the Mets — the other team most willing to stretch their payroll to stratospheric heights — looks like where this is headed. By signing Williams and trading away outfield staple Brandon Nimmo, president of baseball operations David Stearns has made it clear heâ€s willing to shake up the Mets†roster, regardless of sentimentality. But adding Williams should not preclude New York from retaining Díaz, considering how badly the bullpen needed upgrading at the outset of the winter.

Indeed, pairing Williams with Díaz rather than replacing him would go a long way toward turning the relief corps in Queens into a legitimate strength, rather than running it back with an undermanned unit. It might take some time for the two sides to find common ground on another mega-deal, but Díaz staying put still feels like the likeliest outcome.

No. 28: RHP Robert Suarez, 35

Profile:Suarez is a bit older than some of the other top names on our free-agent rankings, having not debuted in the majors until age 31 following a tremendously successful run as a reliever in Japan. But his four seasons as a Padre — and particularly the past two, when he racked up an MLB-leading 76 saves — were plenty good enough to warrant Suarez declining his $8 million player option for 2026 in search of a more lucrative multiyear deal, even as he enters his late-30s.

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Suarez throws extremely hard and attacks relentlessly with both a four-seamer and a sinker, relying on a nasty changeup when he needs a whiff; thereâ€s no breaking ball to be found here (at least not recently). But because of his top-tier velocity and rare ability to fill up the strike zone as a modern, late-inning reliever, Suarez has been tremendously effective and should continue to be as long as heâ€s lighting up radar guns. How long his elite heat will last, however, is a worthy question for teams to ponder as they consider committing big dollars to Suarez.

Potential fits:If Díaz ends up returning to Queens, Suarez could be primed for a bidding war between the defending pennant winners to land him on a shorter-term, high-AAV deal. The Dodgers might not want to give Suarez or any reliever more than two years, and that might not be a problem here, considering Suarezâ€s age. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have been as aggressive as any team in upgrading their pitching so far this winter, and if they are willing to add the extra year, that could give them an edge.

(From right) Edwin Díaz, Robert Suarez and Luke Weaver are among the relief arms still available on the free-agent market.

(Joseph Raines/Yahoo Sports)

No. 32: RHP Luke Weaver, 32

Profile:After a full-blown breakout with New York in 2024 as a reborn relief ace following years as an unremarkable starter, Weaver continued to shine early in the 2025 season amidst Devin Williams†dramatic struggles. But while Williams quietly excelled down the stretch, Weaver got notably worse as the season went on and never looked the same after returning from a midseason hamstring injury.

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Like Suarez but with merely good, not elite, velocity, Weaver succeeds without much of a breaking ball, leaning heavily on his four-seam fastball and changeup, with the occasional cutter mixed in. Even with the limited mix, Weaver generally throws strikes and yields both chase and whiff at high rates, a promising combination of skills for a late-inning arm. His most glaring weakness is a proclivity to allow a ton of airborne contact and, in turn, a few too many long balls for comfort for someone handling high leverage. That could make his next home ballpark a worthwhile factor to consider when evaluating his potential landing spots.

Potential fits:Unlike Díaz and Suarez, who in all likelihood will handle the ninth inning for whichever team signs them, Weaver does not need to go to a team that needs a capital-C closer. He has proven effective both in a closing role and as more of a traditional setup guy, broadening his appeal to a wider array of teams seeking bullpen reinforcements. Funnily enough, several of Weaverâ€s former clubs with which he didnâ€t have much success look like solid fits for him now, such as Arizona, Cincinnati and Seattle.

But for the purposes of this exercise, letâ€s pair Weaver with a new team that would mark the seventh major-league club of his winding career: San Francisco. Oracle Park is exactly the kind of homer-unfriendly venue that could help mask Weaverâ€s flyball tendencies, and the Giants clearly need bullpen help, ranking 29th on FanGraphs Depth Charts†projecting WAR at each position. Without Randy Rodriguez, who will be rehabbing from Tommy John surgery to start 2026, Ryan Walker is the only proven Giants reliever in-house. Adding Weaver wouldnâ€t break the bank and would address an obvious need.

No. 44: RHP Brad Keller, 30

Profile:By far the least accomplished free-agent reliever on our Top 50, Keller emerged as a surprising late-inning weapon for the Cubs in 2024, thanks to newfound velocity and decent command of an unusually deep pitch mix for a reliever. That varied arsenal makes sense considering Kellerâ€s background as a starter in Kansas City and could play a role in his future, as some teams might contemplate signing Keller with the intention of converting him back to a rotation role.

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Kellerâ€s relative youth could also factor into the calculus for teams, as it makes it far more likely he could command a two- or even three-year deal, even with just one year of great performance to his name. With encouraging underlying indicators suggesting that his 2025 was far from a fluke — he was getting a ton of ground balls andwhiffs as a Cub — Keller is clearly a name to watch for teams targeting upside. Thatâ€s true whether he stays in the bullpen or returns to the rotation.

Potential fits:With the possibility of Keller starting and the wide range of opinions his age-29 breakout has inspired, Kellerâ€s market is particularly difficult to pin down; he has a vast array of possible suitors. To highlight one, letâ€s go with the one team that ranks below San Francisco in projected bullpen WAR as things stand: the Texas Rangers.

Outside of left-hander Robert Garcia, who was acquired in a trade last winter, the Rangers have a boatload of bullpen innings to backfill, with the likes of Hoby Milner, Shawn Armstrong, Jacob Webb, Chris Martin and Phil Maton hitting free agency. Keller could be an intriguing start to those efforts — or even a low-cost candidate to compete for a spot in a Texas rotation that could also use some help.

NR: RHP Pete Fairbanks, 32

Profile:Tampa Bay somewhat surprisingly declined its $11 million option on Fairbanks for 2026, opting to allocate their limited resources to other parts of the roster and make way for a wealth of younger (and cheaper) relievers to step up and handle the high-leverage innings moving forward. Itâ€s something of an abrupt end to the right-handerâ€s Tampa tenure, as Fairbanks was the teamâ€s longest-tenured pitcher, having arrived via trade in 2019 and establishing himself as a trusted late-inning arm for manager Kevin Cash. A reliable setup man early in his career, Fairbanks eventually evolved into a more traditional closer; heâ€s one of just nine relievers with at least 20 saves in each of the past three seasons.

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The most encouraging thing about Fairbanks†2025 was that he avoided the injured list, appearing in a career-high 61 games after battling a bevy of ailments over the prior three years. Less promising was a second straight season with a strikeout rate hovering around 24%, a steep decline from the gaudy 35% he posted from 2020 to ‘23. Still, Fairbanks recorded a career-high 27 saves with a 2.83 ERA, so he found ways to get the job done.

Potential fits:Fairbanks†declining velocity and strikeout rates might not portend many more years as a no-doubt ninth-inning option, but heâ€s still pretty clearly someone who can improve a lot of bullpens around the league, as evidenced by the rapidly growing list of teams that have reportedly been connected to the right-hander early in his free agency.

Of those teams, Arizona and Detroit look like the best fits. The D-backs represent an ideal landing spot if Fairbanks is hoping to remain a closer in the short-term, and the Tigers could be a nice fit if he wants a pitcher-friendly ballpark and is cool with handling setup duties in deference to Will Vest.

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With the calendar flipping to December, the hockey season enters an exciting segment of the year with the world junior championship at the end of the month in Minnesota.

Itâ€s also a good time to check in with the progress previously drafted players are making as they continue to develop with their club teams around the world.

As part of my ongoing updates on prospects from Canadian NHL teams, hereâ€s a look at how the first players selected by each team last June in Los Angeles have been trending this fall:

Braeden Cootes: Six feet, 185 pounds, right-shot centre, first round (15th overall)

Cootes trained hard for his first pro camp this fall with the Canucks and impressed Vancouverâ€s brass enough to break camp with the team at the start of the season.

Cootes appeared in only three games at the NHL level before being returned to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, but the experience served him well. Heâ€s the captain again this year and being deployed in all situations for the T-Birds.

Cootes averages over 20 minutes per game and his scoring touch has gone to another level in his third season of major junior hockey. Heâ€s produced nine goals and 12 assists in 14 games and is on pace for a career-high 38 goals and 51 assists. Heâ€s a potential top-six NHL forward whoâ€s engaged in all three zones, pushes back in the trenches and wins well over 50 per cent of his faceoffs.

Here’s an example of Cootes executing a set-play off a faceoff in the offensive zone with his group on the power play.

Cole Reschny: five-foot-11, 183 pounds, right-shot centre, first round (18th overall)

Reschny is one of the CHL players who made the move to the NCAA this season. Heâ€s a freshman at North Dakota after playing two years for the Victoria Royals and is a potential top-six NHL forward.

Reschny put up huge offensive numbers in Victoria, putting up 47 goals and 104 assists over two seasons. Heâ€s adjusted well to the NCAA level offensively, contributing two goals and 13 assists in his first 14 games. Reschny continues to impress me the overall detail he provides. When he isnâ€t producing offence, the team can count on his commitment defensively.

Reschny is averaging well over 20 minutes ice time for a long stretch of games and being used in all situations at North Dakota. Heâ€s second in team scoring but, as described, his defensive effort and overall detail stand out for me.

Hereâ€s an example of Reschny working to win possession of a defensive-zone draw on the penalty kill. The draw is scrummed but Reschny is fully engaged, tracks the play, and ends up exploding up ice and distributing the play on the two-on-one rush.

Logan Hensler: six-foot-three, 198 pounds, right-shot defenceman, first round (23rd overall)

Hensler is a sophomore at Wisconsin and the potential second-pairing NHL defenceman is off to a solid start. His size and skating ability have always stood out and heâ€s starting to use those tools to impact the game more offensively. Last season, Hensler contributed two goals and 10 assists in 32 games. He has three goals and four assists in 13 games this season and averaging between 16-21 minutes per game of ice time. All of his shifts come at even strength and the power play. Iâ€ve also been impressed with his defensive-zone detail. After ending last season with a minus-13 rating, heâ€s plus-two so far this year and much more consistent with his routes to kill plays and contain opponents.

As Hensler continues to evolve offensively, and attempts to direct more pucks on net, Iâ€m monitoring his shot-attempt volume and how many of his shots end up on net. He has the agility to walk the blue line or change the angle of his shot, but several of his shot attempts have been blocked by opponents and can result in turnovers.

Hereâ€s a look at how many of his shots have connected on net, over his last 10-game segment, compared to how many have been blocked:

Note: the shots blocked are marked with an “X”

Sascha Boumedienne, six-foot-two, 190 pounds, left-shot defenceman, first round (28th overall)

Boumedienne is a sophomore at Boston University and, like most of his teammates, off to an uneven start this season. He has two goals and four assists and is minus-nine on the season. The Terriers are a streaky .500 team. Boston has three-game winning and losing streaks in its first 15 games and sits 7-7-1 overall.

Boumedienne is a potential middle-pairing NHL defenceman who logs a massive amount of ice time. Heâ€s deployed in all situations and averages between 22-26 minutes per game. Heâ€s one of the most elite skaters in the NCAA. Heâ€s quick to front opponents defensively, can lead the breakout with the puck on his stick or join the rush as an extra layer, and walks the blue line efficiently to open up shooting and passing lanes.

Considering Boumedienneâ€s skating ability, I was surprised to notice how he rarely pinches down in the offensive zone to direct pucks on net and equally as surprised to notice how many of his attempts are actually making it to the net. Itâ€s an area of his game that has room for improvement. Hereâ€s a look at how many of his attempted shots have reached the net in his last 10-game segment:

Alexander Zharovsky, six-foot-one, 163 pounds, left-shot winger, second round (34th overall)

Zharovsky was my favourite pick in the second round last June and Montreal could have another future top-line winger in its stable of prospects.

Zharovsky was drafted out of the Russian junior league (MHL). Heâ€s graduated to the KHL, playing for Ufa, and having a fantastic rookie campaign. Zharovsky has eight goals and 12 assists in 24 games. In his latest 10-game segment, he had three goals and three assists and averaged over 15 minutes ice time per game. All of his shifts come at even strength and the power play. He has a primary role on the top power-play unit. Zharovsky is a highly skilled winger who needs time to add more weight and strength to his frame, but his offensive hockey sense is elite.

Here’s an example of Zharovsky lurking high in the offensive zone, collapsing to extend the play behind his opponentâ€s net, and escaping a small-area check on his way to the net for a tuck:

Tinus Luc-Koblar, six-foot-three, 190 pounds, left-shot centre, second round (64th overall)

Luc-Koblar hails from Norway and plays for Leksands in the Swedenâ€s top pro league, the SHL. He has only three goals and two assists in 21 games, but I see potential with his approach and believe he has a chance to evolve into a third-line NHL player in time.

Despite his numbers, Koblar has a strong understanding of his responsibilities in all three zones and provides consistent compete from shift to shift. Heâ€s a very good skater and a threat to make plays off the rush in transition. He also digs in around the crease and uses his size and leverage to screen goaltenders and extend plays.

Itâ€s going to take some time for Koblar to maximize his potential but his combination of size, speed and hockey sense will provide him offensive opportunities. Iâ€m comfortable saying he can be deployed in a variety of roles.

Hereâ€s an example of what Iâ€m describing. Koblar enters the play via a line change. He tracks back into his zone and stops in the faceoff circle to scan how the play is developing. He eventually pounces on the puck and leads the rush up ice before scoring:

Tommy Lafreniere, six feet, 183 pounds, right-shot centre, third round (83rd overall)

Lafreniere plays for the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. Heâ€s an interesting prospect. He has a very quick release and a shoot-first mentality. Pucks are on and off his stick in a hurry and he works to make plays to the net from high-danger areas of the ice.

Lafreniere is deployed in all situations with the Blazers. Heâ€s generally engaged defensively and proficient at seeking out quick-strike opportunities offensively. Lafreniere had 24 goals and 32 assists in 68 games last season already is up to 19 goals and 16 assists in 26 games this year. I describe him as an average-plus skater who has decent quickness out of the blocks, but isnâ€t a pure burner in open ice. Hereâ€s a look at what areas of the offensive zone Lafreniere has scored his 19 goals this year:

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Weâ€ll provide some targetswho will likely improve their value by next offseason, plus some sleepers you should take a shot on before the rest of your league catches up. Then we’ll round out the group with two fades who might be at the peak of their value right now.

Targets

Austin Riley, 3B, BravesÂ

Is it over for Riley? Did his prime just whistle past with no chance of redemption? After three consecutive seasons of 30-plus home runs and 90-plus RBIs, Riley has struggled to stay on the field over the last two years. Limited to 110 games in 2024 and 102 in 2025, could it be the injuries taking a toll on Riley the last two seasons? Perhaps, but what’s for sure is that the walk rate and strikeout rate have trended in the wrong direction. On the other side of the coin, Riley has underperformed his expected stats each of the last two seasons while showing no decline in contact quality. Iâ€m willing to take the discount at the draft table this offseason and bet on Riley returning to form. After all, he’s only 28 and had a three-year run as one of the best power hitters in the game. [Geoff]

Maikel Garcia, 3B, Royals

In redraft so far this offseason, Garcia is going in the sixth round, which is ahead of players like Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suarez. This is likely because those two are currently unsigned (which naturally leads to ADP slippage), but it’s also because Garcia is one of the few options for speed at the position. I’m sure that, because of this current cost, Garcia will be making a lot of “fade†lists in the preseason, naturally leading to a wide perception that he is overvalued. However, I think that this provides an opportunity. He has one of the highest floors at the position thanks to his 90th percentile bat-to-ball skills and elite defense, both of which contributed to a ridiculous 6 fWAR season in 2025. When a hitter has what looks like a career year, his value doesnâ€t rise as much as it should, because fantasy managers want to see it for more than one year. In that scenario, if you can find the hitter that has a better-than-average chance of repeating his career year, you will have fantasy gold. With his high floor and long leash, it is entirely conceivable that not just in 2026, but for the next five years, Garcia averages.275/.340 with 12-15 home runs and 25 stolen bases. [Dylan]

Sleepers

Kazuma Okamoto, 3B, Free Agent

Earlier this month, Geoff provided a scouting report on Okamoto that highlighted how the 29-year-old six-time NPB all-star has 50 hit and 55 power grades. That translates to a .250 batting average with 20-25 home runs in MLB. As an above-average defender at the hot corner, he should have a high floor for at least three years. Iâ€m betting that his bat-to-ball skills will translate better to the major leagues and be closer to .280 than .250, with an accompanying OBP around .340. If Okamoto is capable of that type of production, it compares to recent-era Alex Bregman. If a top 20% outcome is to produce on par with the 11th-ranked third baseman in dynasty—while likely playing on a competitive team—thatâ€s a sleeper. [Dylan]

Brock Wilken, 3B, Brewers

Itâ€s been a pair of trying seasons for Wilken, who dealt with a scary injury in 2024 after being hit in the face. In 2025, Wilken was enjoying the best season of his career prior to an injury sustained while celebrating Double-A Biloxiâ€s first-half championship. Wilken is healthy heading into 2026 and could be on a trajectory to see time with the Brewers next season. He has plus game power and projects as a 30-home run bat. He could ascend to the majors by midsummer and produce big power numbers down the stretch without sacrificing on-base skills. [Geoff]

Fades

Royce Lewis, 3B, TwinsÂ

Heading into his age-27 season, Lewis still hasn’t played more than 127 games in a season (and that career high came all the way back in 2019). Lewis has simply never been healthy enough to be counted on to play 140 games in a season. Despite nice counting stats in 2025, Lewis had the worst offensive season of his career, hitting .237/.283/.388 for a line 15% wors than a replacement-level hitter. A former No. 1 overall pick, Lewis†time to prove heâ€s not a bust is running out. [Geoff]

Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Free Agent

I don’t think calling Suarez a fade is low-hanging fruit. Heâ€s most likely to sign back with the Mariners, and although thatâ€s a solid enough reason, Iâ€m not completely positive that your league mates account for ballpark factors. Itâ€s also not just because the inevitable pending regression after 49 home runs in his age-33 season makes Suarez an easy “sell highâ€. All of this is true, but there are some underlying factors suggesting regression might be more severe than projections are accounting for. All of Suarez’s expected stats were far below his surface production, potentially accelerating the “natural†mean regression that is forthcoming. Additionally, whereas Suarezâ€s defense in 2023 and 2024 was in the top 25% of the league, his defense cratered in 2025, especially his range. This might make his stay at the hot corner shorter than it looked like it would be even one year ago. Finally, although Suarez overcomes his bottom-fifth percentile strikeout rate with his excellent hard-hit and barrel rates, having this much swing-and-miss in his profile—especially entering his mid-30s—is flirting with falling off the cliff. Especiallyif he starts off strong in 2026, I would try to trade Suarez even though I know that he should still accumulate 75 home runs over the next three seasons. [Dylan]

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